Where to Start Reading Andrew E. Stoner
Because Andrew E. Stoner wrote exclusively in the non-fiction genre, there is no single overarching narrative thread or fictional timeline to follow. Instead of reading his entire catalog in strict chronological order, most readers will find it more rewarding to dive into his books based on their specific thematic interests. Stoner's works are generally divided into three major categories: true crime and legal history, LGBTQ+ media studies and biographies, and Indiana-specific political history.
For readers who want to experience Stoner at his most engaging and research-heavy, the recommended starting point is The Journalist of Castro Street: The Life of Randy Shilts (2019). This biography serves as the perfect entry point because it showcases Stoner's strengths as both a meticulous media historian and a compelling storyteller, chronicling the life of the pioneering journalist who broke stories on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. If you prefer high-stakes true crime, the best place to start is Cobra Killer: Gay Porn, Murder, and the Manhunt to Bring the Killers to Justice (2012), which provides a fast-paced, detailed look at a infamous national murder case. For readers interested in political science and rhetorical analysis, Fear, Hate, and Victimhood: How George Wallace Wrote the Donald Trump Playbook (2022) offers a sharp, timely study of campaign strategies and populist communication.
Thematic Reading Guide
1. True Crime & Legal History Books
Before his academic career, Stoner worked as a journalist and a public information officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. This experience deeply informed his true crime writing, which blends public record searches with a narrative focus on how these crimes affected local communities.
- Notorious 92: The Most Infamous Murders from Each of Indiana's 92 Counties (2007; updated third edition in 2017) – A comprehensive state-wide directory of history's darkest moments, detailing one major murder case from every single county in Indiana.
- Wicked Indianapolis (2011) – A localized look at the history of vice, corruption, and crime in Indiana's capital city, from the early pioneers through mid-century scandals.
- Cobra Killer: Gay Porn, Murder, and the Manhunt to Bring the Killers to Justice (2012, co-authored with Peter A. Conway) – This is Stoner's most famous true-crime title. It details the murder of adult film producer Bryan Kocis and the subsequent nationwide investigation. The book served as the inspiration for the 2016 film King Cobra.
- Courthouse Chaos: Famous and Infamous Trials, Mob Violence, and Justice (2021) – An examination of historical American courthouses as battlegrounds for justice and flashpoints for mob violence, exploring cases ranging from the Manson Family to the KKK.
- Wanted in Indiana: Infamous Hoosier Fugitives (2021) – A chronicle of notorious individuals who fled from the law in Indiana, detailing their crimes and the manhunts that followed.
2. Politics, Media, and LGBTQ+ History
As an associate professor of communication studies at California State University, Sacramento, Stoner focused much of his research on media history and how public communication shapes societal perceptions of marginalized groups.
- The Journalist of Castro Street: The Life of Randy Shilts (2019) – Stoner's landmark biography of Randy Shilts, the author of And the Band Played On. This book traces Shilts's groundbreaking work, his struggles with substance abuse, and his complicated relationship with the gay community during the AIDS crisis.
- Dear Abby, I'm Gay: Newspaper Advice Columnists and Homosexuality in America (2021) – An analysis of how popular syndicates and advice columns like Dear Abby and Ann Landers helped normalize and frame discussions of homosexuality to mainstream American households in the 20th century.
- Fear, Hate, and Victimhood: How George Wallace Wrote the Donald Trump Playbook (2022) – Stoner's final book, published shortly before his death. It compares the political rhetoric and campaign communication styles of Alabama Governor George Wallace and Donald Trump, focusing on themes of populism, media distrust, and victimhood.
3. Indiana Political & Regional History
Stoner's roots were firmly planted in Indiana, where he grew up and worked as the deputy press secretary for Governor Frank O'Bannon. These books offer a deep dive into the state's political landscape.
- Legacy of a Governor: The Life of Indiana's Frank O'Bannon (2006) – Stoner's debut book. Part biography and part memoir, it chronicles the leadership and sudden passing of O'Bannon, whom Stoner knew and worked with closely.
- Campaign Crossroads: Presidential Politics in Indiana from Lincoln to Obama (2017) – A study of how presidential candidates have campaigned in Indiana, highlighting the state's historic role as a critical swing state and testing ground for national political strategies.
4. Pop Culture & Tributes
Stoner also wrote lighter, commemorative non-fiction pieces celebrating prominent pop culture figures and eras.
- 70's TV Trivia (2010) – A nostalgic collection of trivia questions, facts, and challenges focused on the television landscape of the 1970s.
- Betty White: The First 90 Years (2012; later revised as Betty White: A Century of Love and Laughs) – A tribute celebrating the life and career of the legendary television actress, which won the Silver Medal Benjamin Franklin Digital Award.
Chronological Publication Order
If you prefer to read Stoner's books in the order he wrote them to see how his writing style evolved from local reporting to scholarly analysis, follow this chronological list:
- Legacy of a Governor: The Life of Indiana's Frank O'Bannon (2006)
- Notorious 92: The Most Infamous Murders from Each of Indiana's 92 Counties (2007)
- 70's TV Trivia (2010)
- Wicked Indianapolis (2011)
- Cobra Killer (2012)
- Betty White: The First 90 Years (2012)
- Campaign Crossroads: Presidential Politics in Indiana from Lincoln to Obama (2017)
- The Journalist of Castro Street: The Life of Randy Shilts (2019)
- Courthouse Chaos: Famous and Infamous Trials, Mob Violence, and Justice (2021)
- Wanted in Indiana: Infamous Hoosier Fugitives (2021)
- Dear Abby, I'm Gay: Newspaper Advice Columnists and Homosexuality in America (2021)
- Fear, Hate, and Victimhood: How George Wallace Wrote the Donald Trump Playbook (2022)
Reader's Advice & What to Know
Since these are standalone non-fiction books, they can be read in any sequence. However, readers should note that Stoner's earlier works (from 2006 to 2012) tend to lean more toward regional history, local trivia, and traditional true crime reporting. His later books (from 2019 to 2022) are more academic, offering deep communication theory, rhetorical criticism, and national media studies, while remaining highly accessible to the general public. If you are reading to understand modern political communication, pair Fear, Hate, and Victimhood with Dear Abby, I'm Gay to see how Stoner maps the intersection of media coverage and political influence.