The best crime book and one of the best books I have ever read in my life.

If you are looking for events and mysteries, this book is probably not a suitable option for you; however, if you want to fully and perfectly understand a crime, you cannot find better than "In Cold Blood".

This book is the story of people, the reality of people, without a veil, their minds and personalities, all the individuals related to a crime, from the murderer and the victim to the interrogator and the people of a city.

The space setting of this book and the unique and very deep characterization. Every detail that is talked about is a part of the complete picture that Capote wants to form in our minds to reach a true understanding of the concept of crime, not only this case, but crime in general.

I love to know people. To understand people's personalities, their stories, and their minds. This book makes us go beyond the superficial understanding of good and bad people and absolute judgment and know how complex the human soul is and how the judicial system is flawed and insufficient.

This book is a life, a completely ordinary life in which a crime happens by chance.

Now that I have finished it, I have doubted about a series of things such as the personalities of criminals, rights, executions, etc. that my attitude towards them was relatively clear before and this is the best thing that can happen to us by reading a book: the collision of prejudices.

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Memories of the book:

He knew exactly what to do in each hour and how much time that task would take.

... It is very important that a person always has something in front of him that belongs to himself, something that really belongs to him.

... Something around here has been finished forever.

... The problem is that you can empty your mind from all other voices. Be completely silent and listen very carefully. But a person can never be as silent as he should...

... Honestly, I think none of us can put the thing that we have done with our personal life on someone else's neck.

... I am very sensitive; I often understand what goes on in people's minds.

... The moment I read the letter, I realized that I had to do this because I had claimed that I was the friend of this person.

In Cold Blood has been a true crime classic for nearly 60 years, and deservedly so.

Still, let's acknowledge that it's a difficult read.

Part of the struggle lies in the 1960s grammatical convention. This was the era of long paragraphs. Many of Capote's paragraphs span multiple pages, crammed with varied thoughts, sources, and quotes. Editors now recognize this as cruel to the reader. More white space could transform tedious sections into riveting prose.

Capote's quotations could be more efficient. He quotes extended conversations and documents almost in their entirety rather than weaving the important pieces into a clear narrative. The result is excess content and a jarring mix of voices. It takes time to get used to this style. While I eventually understood what he was doing, it often felt unnatural.

As a narrative, there's little sense of motion. We know the killers from the start, so there's no mystery to solve. The motive is also revealed early on. I'm not sure how Capote could have structured it better, but modern true crime unfurls information in a more teasing way, making the reader eager to turn the pages. I was intrigued but never desperate to learn more details. That's why it took me months to finish rather than a few intense sittings. I might have given up if not for feeling duty-bound to read this classic.

Despite the negatives, this book is a masterpiece. Capote's depiction of Kansas and its people is perfectly authentic. The killers are complex, a mix of hardships, hang-ups, and perhaps a touch of evil. By the end, we understand them, though not necessarily sympathize.

From a research perspective, Capote was at the right place at the right time. He also understood the importance of seemingly minor details. Unless many quotes are fictional, he interviewed everyone associated with the crime. His focus on the people shows great insight into the real story of murder.

Knowing the historical backstory adds extra satisfaction. We know Capote was infatuated with Perry Smith. While he's not a character in the book, we can imagine him interviewing the attractive killer. Smith sometimes seems to be hiding homosexual desire and is given a more sympathetic gaze. How much of himself did Capote see in Smith and how did that influence his portrayal?

There's also the glorious image of flamboyant Truman Capote gallivanting across rural Kansas with Harper Lee, talking to judges, police, and locals. It's hard to read this book and not be more interested in how it came to be. I've read biographies, but they don't go into the detail I want.

Another win is that this book was among the first of its kind. True Crime wasn't an established genre yet. Capote gave us the template and made it a bestseller. Like any pioneering work, it has room for improvement, but aside from a few flaws, it holds up well.

I had this book in my library for a long time.

To be honest, it never really caught my attention. But due to the circumstances of life, I decided to read it to see how it was... and wow!! I was pleasantly surprised by the decision I made and it is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

After reading it, I started to read a bit more about the context and the author and it turns out that apparently it is a mix of fiction and reality.

As for the book itself, I really liked the way the whole story was told. It changed from the perspective of the characters and the description of both the lives of the killers and the Clutters took shape and it was very easy to become interested in them. The same happened even with the secondary characters.

There were days when I didn't do anything at work and instead read this book.

I found it very interesting that the whole context was set and the life and childhood that Hickock and Smith had were talked about. And in that way, they weren't just the bad guys in this novel for no reason, but they were bad with a foundation, there was an explanation behind it, which in my opinion gives it a very big plus.

Totally captivating and with a great rhythm. I loved it and I have nothing bad to say. I loved it.

With the overwhelming number of crime-related programs, both factual and fictional,占据着 primetime television, and the daily onslaught of crime news we receive from the media, one might be inclined to think this would just be another ordinary crime story. However, the fact is that it is an extremely compelling description, not only by those directly involved but also by Capote, of the brutal murder of a family and the subsequent investigation, trial, and execution of the perpetrators.

The accounts of those who first discovered and initially investigated the murder scene, as well as the confession of Perry Smith (one of the murderers), are among the most powerfully gripping passages I have ever had the privilege of reading.

Capote's intention is to pose the question - without providing a definitive answer - of whether an individual should be held accountable for their actions if they are unable to control themselves due to traumas that have affected their personality. He reveals that the psychiatric professional community is divided on this issue, and that the courts at that time tended to assume the individual's accountability.

Having read "East of Eden" within a month before completing "In Cold Blood," I couldn't help but draw a contrast between Steinbeck's view that we each possess free will and are thus responsible for the choices we make between the constant battle of good and evil within us, and the view - which Capote seemed to lean towards - that circumstances can render us incapable of choosing between good and evil, thereby absolving us of responsibility for our actions.

Although the book doesn't offer solutions to many of the questions it raises, it is one that will keep you up late reading, even though you already know the outcome.

I read it some years ago and I loved it. I have reread it in time. I realized that I didn't have it on Goodreads so I take the opportunity to add it and leave you my review.

It's truly a remarkable piece of work. The story is engaging from the very beginning, pulling you in and making you eager to know what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and you can't help but become invested in their lives.

The writing style is also excellent. It flows smoothly and makes the reading experience a pleasure. I found myself completely immersed in the world that the author has created.

If you haven't read this yet, I highly recommend it. You can watch the related video at https://youtu.be/rTjbWR6RXwk. It might give you a better idea of what to expect. Give it a try and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Every once in a while, I find myself feeling the urge to regain a few IQ points by delving into something that is regarded as a "classic" or has won prestigious prizes.

This particular book is centered around a real murder that took place way back in the 1950s. A family was brutally killed in a small town in Kansas, and it was a significant event. Unlike today, when we seem almost desensitized to the weekly reports of killing sprees on the news. Truman Capote was completely obsessed with this case and brought along his friend, Harper Lee, to Kansas. There, they conducted extensive interviews with everyone in the small town. The result of their efforts was this book, which took Capote a whopping 6 years to complete. He firmly believed that it was completely factual, despite being accused of being a liar. Personally, I don't really care. Whether he exaggerated or presented "alternative facts," the book is still good. It's a sign of the times we live in. We are so accustomed to facts being distorted that we no longer expect absolute truth.

The only aspect of this book that I found challenging was the incredibly detailed and descriptive writing. I have little patience for long, flowing sentences filled with numerous adjectives used to describe a wheat field. I get bored very easily, and it's a real problem. However, I persevered because I'm brave like that, and I ended up getting really immersed in the story. I'm not sure if it was because all that flowery language helped me envision the story better than other books or what, but it worked. I'm still not a fan of the excessive use of adjectives, though. I made only one exception. Now, can I go back to reading my vampire smut books?

Cool! See you later!

The Clutter family is composed of parents, a son, and a daughter. They are Methodists.

The farm they own is not only beautiful but also impeccably maintained, with an abundance of cultivated land. It is a discreet family that plays an essential role in the small community.

On the other hand, there are two young boys, or rather, "bad boys," who have made their way to this farm, firmly believing that there is money hidden there. Richard Hickock and Perry Edward will brutally kill the entire family only to find nothing.

Truman Capote tells us about an actual news item that shocked America. Bennett Miller made an excellent film based on it in 2005, titled "Capote."

Hickock and Perry will already be long gone. However, unfortunately, the Kansas police have no leads. So the two young people travel from state to state, leaving a trail of a few deaths in their wake.

This book is written wonderfully well and is very thought-provoking. It is truly fascinating to read.

I picked up this book not only because it is one of "those classics" that I think I should read, but also because after listening to the excellent Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders, which was also narrated by Scott Brick, I have been on a True Crime kick.

I was really looking forward to reading this and being amazed. However, unfortunately, it was the opposite. I am extremely shocked by how little I liked this book. I found myself irritated by the writing from the very beginning. You can sense that there is a captivating story there, but it was so exaggerated and embellished in a way that completely put me off. This feels more like historical fiction rather than true crime.

This is the kind of story that I like, but it is definitely not the kind of book or writing that I enjoy at all. It's a pity that the way it was written didn't live up to the potential of the story.

I also dream of being that girl who indulges in classic novels, adheres to a nighttime face routine, and wakes up early to take her dog for a walk and engage in exercise. However, my experience with In Cold Blood has shattered that illusion. It turns out I'm far from that ideal, and classic novels can be dreadfully boring.

This morning, I rolled out of bed a mere fifteen minutes before I had to leave the house. But you know what? I don't really care. Or maybe I care just a little bit. And it's not fair to say all classic novels are terrible.

To be honest, I'm extremely disappointed that I didn't like In Cold Blood. I felt like I should have. It's almost a must-read, so popular and influential that it changed an entire genre. But here I am, not a fan.

In Cold Blood was written over seven years and published in 1966. It wasn't the first true crime novel, but it was the one that brought the genre to the mainstream. Capote was a pioneer, creating the blueprint for others to follow.

Yet, I'm sorry to say, this book is as dull as dishwater. It details the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. Capote became obsessed with the case before the killers were caught and traveled to Kansas with Harper Lee to interview the community, including the killers. The result was a novel that became an instant success and is the second-best-selling true crime novel in history.

But still, I just couldn't get into it. The amount of detail and description was overwhelming. Capote took the facts and blew them out of proportion, filling in the gaps with his own assumptions and fictionalized drama. The case itself was fairly simple, so it's no wonder he felt the need to jazz it up.

The most fascinating aspect of this novel for me now is the controversy surrounding it. Capote was accused of changing facts to fit his narrative, adding scenes and creating dialogue that he claimed was 100% accurate. But later, he had to backtrack on those claims.

I'm really conflicted about what star rating to give this book. On one hand, if it were just any ordinary book, I wouldn't have given it more than two stars. But it's a classic that had a huge impact on the true crime genre. So, I'm giving it an extra half star because I'm in a good mood thanks to the legalization of weed in Canada. In the end, I'm awarding it 2.5 stars, rounded down.

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There is no doubting that Truman Capote is an extraordinary writer.

For those who haven't read this classic piece (I felt like I was the only one on the planet not to do so - and there were others like Antoinette, Annie, Jonathan, Rebecca, Lori, etc.), it's truly an excellent work of journalism. Capote spent six years researching the brutal murders of the four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas in 1959. During this time, he got to know the two murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock.

One aspect I really like about this work is that Capote humanizes these two characters. It's so easy to simply label Perry Smith and Dick Hickock as monsters and be done with it. But, as heinous as their crimes are, they still have stories to tell. Capote manages to do this with great finesse, striking a balance between not being supportive and not being hostile to these two men. It's a fine example of objective storytelling.

Capote presents this as a story. It could have easily been written as a gruesome piece of fiction. There's no need to describe the murders in this review, but the fact that two guys could commit such acts shows that these kinds of people walk among us.

"In Cold Blood" is relatively short at 340 pages, but it reads like a much longer 800-page book. You know the type? Every page is filled with text in a small font, and each paragraph is packed with intricate detail. You can't skim read here as every word is important. If you're tired and try to "flick" through a paragraph or two, you'll be caught - GOTYA!! I had to re-read some sections.

The reasons I didn't give this 5 stars are twofold. First, I'm going to be more stingy with my stars in 2022. I've been giving out stars too freely, devaluing the currency. Second, there were some sections of the book that I found too difficult to get through. Capote went off on several historical tangents with incredible detail, and sometimes, especially after a long day, I just thought "Enough Already". But it's more my issue than Truman's - perhaps I wasn't up to his writing?

There's plenty in this book for one to research the murders, the Clutter family, and the perpetrators. The physical descriptions of Smith and Hickock are really accurate. There are also plenty of other details to cross-reference if you enjoy that sort of thing - and who doesn't?

I watched a Johnny Carson interview of Capote on YouTube yesterday where he explained that watching the hanging of the two murderers was enough to put anyone off capital punishment. Apparently, it can take up to twenty minutes for the heart to stop beating. Gruesome stuff, and this observation in no way lessens the severity and brutality of the crimes that took place in Holcomb, Kansas in 1959.

If you take the time to read this, you'll find it's worth it.

4 Stars (maybe a bit stingy, but 2022 is the year of Miser Mark).

“I thought that Mr. Clutter was a very nice gentleman. I thought so right up to the moment that I cut his throat.” ― Truman Capote, In Cold Blood.

So glad I finally got around to reading this classic. It's truly remarkable.

You would never know that this ground-breaking true crime novel was written over 50 yrs ago. The way the story is constructed makes it feel like reading fiction. The characters are vividly developed, and so are the events and circumstances of the crime. Even though there aren't any 'twists' as we know the outcome, I was surprised to find myself initially placing most of the responsibility on one individual, only to have my opinion completely changed upon finishing.

However, the writing does have a few flaws. There is some repetitiveness and too much unnecessary detailing in events told at different points. While I understand the author's desire to fully develop the characters, it did make the story slow in places.

I chose to listen to this on audio, and Scott Brick did an outstanding job with the narration. I highly recommend listening to it rather than reading a hard copy.

Again, I'm so glad I finally read this. Any fan of the true crime genre will surely enjoy it. It's a true classic that has endured the test of time. I give it 4 stars.

**Spook-A-Thon: Reading a Book with a Spooky Word in the Title**

I first read "In Cold Blood" during my high school days. At that time, I thought it was just okay. It didn't really have a significant impact on me. Then again, I wasn't truly into True Crime back then, and I preferred a more snappy and fast-paced writing style.

Rereading "In Cold Blood" as an adult, with a changed reading style and interests, I absolutely loved this book. I completely understand the hype surrounding it. I wholeheartedly agree with those who claim this book is a masterpiece because it truly is.

With "In Cold Blood", Truman Capote revolutionized modern True Crime. While there may have been previous True Crime books, "In Cold Blood" elevated the genre to an entirely new level.

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family - Herb Clutter, his wife Bonnie, and their two children Kenyon (15) and Nancy (16) - were brutally murdered. Capote painstakingly reconstructs the crime and the search for the killers. In the process, he befriends the two killers and attempts to humanize them without ever making excuses for their disturbing crime.

This book can be difficult to read at times. Truman Capote is a highly skilled writer who spares no details when vividly describing every brutal aspect.

In conclusion, "In Cold Blood" is a must-read!