Our bookshelves are full of true crime books thanks to the reading habits of my husband. I’ve read quite a few, but much prefer fiction because I know the terrible things happening in a novel aren’t real.

This is not the case with true crime. But this genre is compelling, and has expanded to podcasts with hosts recounting some of the most grisly crimes and unsolved mysteries.

Some of the most interesting stories are about events in the Pacific Northwest — although these also frighten me more. (Is that the draw of true crime? That humans need to feel all the emotions, even fear?)

On road trips in the last few years, we’ve toured areas tied to these crimes — but don’t let this bring to mind horrific scenes of murder. Many times, we are driving through tranquil neighborhoods or quiet country roads.

Our most recent adventure was definitely eerie, as we drove a back road near the Oregon coast — the same route taken by French bicyclist Alain Malessard, whose two-wheeled tour of the United States came to a terrible end when he was murdered in a campground near Neskowin in November 1987. The crime was never solved.

Malessard’s story is recounted in “Old-Growth Murder,” a documentary available on Amazon Prime.

It was raining the day we detoured by the campground, which has since been closed. We pulled on raincoats and walked down a muddy path overgrown with trees and lush coastal vegetation.

There is no marker for Malessard, and it was hard to figure out where he may have camped.

Although the damp day curtailed an extended exploration, I felt better that we spent a bit of time remembering Malessard, who was described as a “cheerful young Frenchman” and certainly didn’t deserve his fate.