While All the Dangerous Things is a work of fiction, a central tenant of its plot hinges on true crime. Isabelle is a woman who tries to use the true crime fan community to unearth information about her missing son. This fictious account provides a broader examination and critique of true crime and its enthusiasts.

True crime is a genre that includes literature, podcasts, film, and television in which a writer or producer studies crimes and the people associated with them. True crime reports began as early as 1550, as public fascination with the gruesome, paired with improved literacy linked to the invention and use of the printing press, led reporters to circulate information on murders and robberies. These crime pamphlets also contributed to the development of the detective fiction genre, as fictional crimes gained similar attention to actual crimes. As the 20th century saw a rise in scientific research and reasoning, true crime reports also included medical and scientific ruminations, mirroring the evidence presented in court proceedings (Burger, Pamela. “The Bloody History of the True Crime Genre.” JSTOR Daily, 24 Aug. 2016).

In 2022, half of Americans reported enjoying true crime content, and one third of those polled consumed some form of true crime each week.