Urban Arson

In 1966 Truman Capote wrote his quintessential work, In Cold Blood, a non-fiction narrative about the brutal murder of a  wealthy Kansas family, the Clutters. Capote spent 4 years researching the vicious killings before he even wrote a single word. The story is told from an objective perspective, following the killers Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith before, during, and after their barbaric mass murder. It’s a beautifully dark tale told with the expertise of a master author. Capote held me in a state of suspense the entire time, giving subtle clues to the savage violence that was certain to take place.

It’s vicious and raw, often showing both the lightest and darkest of human emotions within the span of a few sentences. He eventually reveals the soul of each of the characters. Slowly peeling back their varied and layered personalities to reveal the simplistic clockwork which makes them tick. The strangest thing about the book is the mock Stockholm syndrome I experienced; rooting for the killers, understanding them despite their illogical inhumanity. But once you see them for the downtrodden losers they are there isn’t much to admire, respect, or applaud. I simply felt that death was the only answer for them; whether by their own hands or the hands of another. These men had to die for their actions.

This is an incredibly powerful book, deserving of its reverent praise. Truman Capote is one of the great American authors and I look forward to reading and reviewing his other works.

5/5 Stars