Reddit reviews In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is non-fiction, but parts are written in a fiction-esque manner based on interviews with both witnesses and the murderers themselves to flush out some detail. It gets into the mindset of the murders, why they did it, what kind of people they were, etc. and is considered a classic.

I hope that helps.

I’ll be gone In the dark:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Be-Gone-Dark-Obsessive/dp/0062319787

In cold blood
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580

Bad blood
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Secrets-Silicon-Startup/dp/152473165X

Try In Cold Blood from Truman Capote. It’s nonfiction, but reads like a fiction novel (and this is coming from someone who prefers fiction). Very detailed - Capote spent a lot of time researching.

Without giving much away, I will tell you that it meets your criteria of a murder mystery set in a small town. It is set in the early ‘60s. The only differences from what you wanted is that the murder happens in Kansas, and it’s not your typical mystery because you learn very quickly who (most likely) did it - but not how and why. And there’s still some doubt about who exactly did it.

It’s a bit hard to get into at first, but trust me, it’s well-worth the read.

the only suggestion i have is "In Cold Blood" by Capote. it's non-fiction. his use of descriptive language, i feel, is unparalleled.

although not on your roster, i would also vouch for 1984. everyone should read it at least once in their life. it will give you a new perspective on things, particularly present day issues.

edit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_cold_blood

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376609328&sr=1-1&keywords=in+cold+blood

I can't find original news articles, but there were a series of robberies in Indianapolis when I was growing up. The robbers would bind the victims with duct tape, and slit their throats on the way out. One of the robberies was of a toy store at closing time. Another was a home invasion where they killed a friend-of-a-friend from high school.

I thought about those killings a lot in 2000 when a pair of robbers in Queens tied up seven Wendy's employees, stole about $2400, and shot every one of them in the head.. It's one thing to talk about "leaving no witnesses" in a crime movie, but in real life I don't think it's the product of that sort of calculation. Especially since there are other, higher-yielding/less-violent types of theft, I think that what drives one person to tie up another and slaughter them like an animal is a long-festering sadistic impulse.

This is a minority of robberies. Most thefts are committed by some fuckup who needs quick cash. I'm actually impressed how rarely stickups end in bloodshed. But these aren't isolated incidents either. You can find some horrible stories by googling robbery + "execution style". Also, there's a book with a similar story.

I'm a little baffled by your assertion that violent criminals are imaginary.

Well if you are into true crime at all, then two that jump to mind are In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and The Devil in the White City. The first is an older book written about a small town murder while the latter is about the serial killer H. H. Holmes. Both are fantastic reads despite their subject matter.


Speaking of serial killers, Gary Stewart makes a compelling argument in his book The Most Dangerous Animal of All that his biological father might have been the Zodiac Killer. What started out as a simple story of an adopted son trying to find his biological parents turns into a quest of discovery of a murderer. Many "experts" on the subject aren't sure about Stewart's claims, but his discoveries make a compelling argument.


Lastly, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand was recently made into a pretty decent movie, and In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis is often featured on shark week and will soon have a movie made as well. Both are fascinating WWII-related reads that seem to cross the line from being biographical to novelized due to the content and excellent writing.

Natural Born Killers. I think it's interesting for the dynamic of a couple who are both into the killing.

Not exactly about a serial killer but In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a very compelling account of the brutal murder of Kansas family. It reads like a work of fiction, but is very well researched and accurate. The movie, Capote is also very good but it is more about the writing of the book than the book itself. Also, Philip Seymor Hoffman does an amazing job as Truman Capote.

Beafka, the problem I often find with nonfiction books are that they're written so dryly. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote Escapes that stigma by having Capote's innate talents as a writer. Though it is very much clouded by his vices as a person, it is still considered True Crime.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Even though the subject matters is on the disturbing side, Capote really does a wonderful job of capturing the bleak beauty of the Midwest and its communities.