In Cold Blood : A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences (Modern Library)

Rating:
Summary: in my opinion: the only true classic in the true crime genre
Review: when In Cold Blood was released, the title was flashed in Times Square...to date, I believe no true crime book has ever achieved such a reaction from the reading public, and such honor. I read In Cold Blood more than once over the years, there is a depth and richness added to the telling of a horrible crime story, that goes well beyond reciting cold facts. Capote lends a special psychological insight to the reader, as one reads about not just the crime, the act, but the people that were involved. Capote makes it possible to reconstruct the lives of the dead innocents simply from the life residue they left behind and he allows us to venture safely into the dangerous animalistic minds of the killers. In Cold Blood impacts you not only intellectually, but emotionally---and that is what the great craft of writing is all about.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: When my Sophomore English teacher explained what this book was about, I was very upset. I hated books about murders, they've always upset me. But this book is fantastic! It makes you think about how people work, what makes people tick. I've become more interested in this genre of "true crime" because of how interesting this book is. The way Capote took this newspaper story and made it into a book, like it came from his imagination. You want to feel sorry for Perry, while you want to hate Dick. It's heartbreaking about this family and the book lets you see what's in a killer's mind.

Excellent read. Well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Capote's Masterpiece
Review: While reading this book one must keep in mind that Truman Capote had two very distinct objects in mind as he worked on this project. First, he wanted to write a Nonfiction Novel and in that area he has succeeded marvelously. Many critics have in fact proclaimed this to be Capote's best work. The author's other intent was to make a statement against the death penalty, an object in which he is less successful.

Capote could not have picked a better case to write a novel about but he could hardly have found two condemned men who would illicit less sympathy. My own faith inclines me to oppose the death penalty but I would be hard pressed to stick to my convictions in this case. The crimes perpetrated by these two were of the worst kind and no matter their backgrounds I could muster little sympathy for either of them. Fortunately, Capote spends relatively little time overtly pleading his political case and the novel is not harmed much in this effort.

The novel itself is nothing short of a masterpiece and will keep the reader on the edge of their seat for almost it's entire length. Capote begins what is probably the first True Crime Novel by introducing the reader to both the Clutter family (the intended victims) and Perry Smith and Dick Hickock (the killers) along with the small Kansas town where the crime would take place. The reader follows the Clutter clan as they live their normal lives in the days before their murder and also rides along as Smith and Hickock plan their crime. From there, one rides the roller coaster through the crime, it's discovery, the getaway, the investigation, and the capture, trial, and execution of the perpetrators. Capote weaves his story in such a masterful manner that there will be times when the reader gets completely caught up in the story just as if he/she were there. While reading this book you will become very aware of every little noise outside your house so it may be better to read it during daylight hours.

I would advise anyone who likes Crime Novels or just good novels to put this book near the top of their to read list. The story is disturbing and a little graphic in places but this is the work of a master wordsmith and he has done his job well. This book deserves to be placed much higher than it is in the pantheon of great works of literature.