Rachel Monroe is an American author, journalist, and contributing writer at The New Yorker. Born in September 1982, she has established a prominent career writing deeply reported essays and investigative articles that frequently focus on true crime, human obsession, and subcultures. Her work has appeared in numerous high-profile publications, including New York magazine, Slate, The New Republic, and The Guardian.
Monroe gained significant recognition for her longform journalism throughout the 2010s. Her 2014 profile of Bryce Reed was celebrated as an outstanding piece of non-fiction, while her 2015 article "Have You Ever Thought About Killing Someone?" earned a nomination for the prestigious Livingston Award for national reporting. Another notable piece, published in The Believer in 2017, was selected for inclusion in The Best American Travel Writing 2018 anthology, showcasing her versatility as a writer.
In 2019, Monroe published her debut non-fiction book, Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession. The book, which explores the complex, historical, and psychological relationship between women and the true crime genre, was critically acclaimed and named one of the best books of the year by Esquire and Jezebel. Beyond her print journalism and books, Monroe has expanded into audio media, hosting the 2022 BBC Radio 5 podcast Lost at Sea, and she continues to contribute to anthologies exploring crime and deceit.
