Tucson Festival of Books

Lise Olsen


Lise Olsen is investigations editor at the Texas Observer and the author of "The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys," a deeply researched tale about dozens of young men who were kidnapped and killed by Dean Corll in the 1970s. Her first book, "Code of Silence," was honored by the Texas Institute of Letters and by Investigative Reporters and Editors as 2022 best nonfiction book. Her reporting has contributed to the prosecution of a congressman and a federal judge, and freed dozens of wrongfully held prisoners.  

Awards: Prior book received Texas Institute of Letters Carr P. Collins Award and Investigative Reporters and Editors' Book award; this book was a finalist for CLUE's True Crime Book of the Year.

Communities: woman journalist, working mom


Scheduled events:
Solved
Join us as three true-crime experts share the gripping stories and the investigative breakthroughs that helped solve some of America's most haunting murders.

Integrated Learning Center Room 130 (Seats 143, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
True Crime
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Troy Hillman, Lise Olsen, Casey Sherman
Moderator: Sheryl Kornman
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Sara Cohen, The Neymeyer Family, Philip and Missy Russ
Looking for the Lost Boys
Investigative reporter Lise Olsen is here with a true story about two dozen teenage boys who were murdered by a serial killer 50 years ago in Houston. Who were they? Why did no one seem to care? Even now the case is chilling.

Arizona Daily Star Stage (Seats 250)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
True Crime
Signing area: Signing - Arizona Daily Star (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelist: Lise Olsen
Moderator: Emily Bregel
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Daily Star
Investigating the Crime
Investigations aren't just for the police. These three three true-crime authors will discuss what it takes to be an investigative journalist, and how they get to the bottom of the crimes they cover.

Integrated Learning Center Room 120 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
True Crime
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Lise Olsen, Harold Schechter, Casey Sherman
Moderator: Anne Segal
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Hudson Group, Marshall Foundation
Lise Olsen
The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys Code of Silence: Inside the Case That Led to the First Federal Judge to be Impeached for Sexual Misconduct Lise Olsen is investigations editor at the Texas Observer and the author of "The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys," a deeply researched tale about dozens of young men who were kidnapped and killed by Dean Corll in the 1970s. Her first book, "Code of Silence," was honored by the Texas Institute of Letters and by Investigative Reporters and Editors as 2022 best nonfiction book. Her reporting has contributed to the prosecution of a congressman and a federal judge, and freed dozens of wrongfully held prisoners. Awards: Prior book received Texas Institute of Letters Carr P. Collins Award and Investigative Reporters and Editors' Book award; this book was a finalist for CLUE's True Crime Book of the Year.

Tucson Sentinel, Booth #406 (Seats 1)
Sun, Mar 15, 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
True Crime

Author: Lise Olsen

Books:
The Scientist and the Serial Killer
The Search for Houston's Lost Boys
True Crime
Random House
April 2025
ISBN 9780593595688
464 pages
Buy now

Code of Silence
Inside the Case That Led to the First Federal Judge to be Impeached for Sexual M isconduct
True Crime
Beacon Press
August 2022
ISBN 9780807007280
288 pages
Buy now