Mapping Murders: Interview with True Crime Travel Writer Dawn Barclay

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of real-life violence. Listener discretion is advised, and this content definitely isn't suitable for children. We approach travel from a new angle in this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast. Dawn Barclay — suspense author, award-winning travel journalist, and true crime enthusiast — joins us to discuss her latest book, Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England. Part travelogue, part criminal history deep dive, Dawn’s book uncovers the darker side of New England. From haunted hotels and former prisons to crime scene landmarks and ghost tours, she maps out a chilling yet fascinating journey through the region’s most notorious sites. In our conversation, Dawn takes us under the hood of her book. We chat about what draws people to dark tourism, how to write responsibly about real-life violence, and why true crime continues to captivate readers and travelers alike.