The murder of a lifetime

Being in AP Language Composition myself, I was enthralled with the idea our class would be reading a murder mystery where murderers were running from the cops. We readers learn their back story, and the best part: it’s nonfiction.  

In Cold Blood was written by Truman Capote, published in 1966, a very famous author at the time who decided to try something completely new and different. Capote based the book on real facts that he spent over six years collecting through interviews and testimonies, even going to the murder trial himself. Capote wrote dialogue using real facts, making In Cold Blood the first “non-fiction novel” ever published. Capote made a killing from the book, making it the second best-selling true crime book in history, second to Party Monster: A Fabulous but True Tale of Murder in Clubland by James St. James. 

This book looks closer into the true story of the Clutter family’s murders through firsthand accounts of everyone involved in the Clutter affair. In Cold Blood includes everything from interviews with the murderers themselves to postal workers in the small town. Anyone who had anything to say about the perfect Clutter family was captured by Truman Capote. 

Just like the story itself, the Clutter family was perfect; everyone in Holcomb, Kansas, admired Herbert, Bonnie, Nancy, and Kenyon Clutter. The murders shocked the entire town, slowly turning each family against each other. Killing the most beloved family in town was not the smartest decision for Perry Smith and Richard Hickock (known in the book as Dick). Being captured only six weeks after they killed the Clutters by Alvin Dewey, Dick and Perry traveled great lengths to get rid of their trail by traveling all the way to Mexico. 

In the book, we learn about the twisted minds of Dick and Perry and connect with not only their sense of logic through it all but get to see parts of Capote himself as he writes about their past. Truman Capote is really an incredible and dedicated author for pursuing the story for as long as he did, sacrificing everything to live in Holcomb for six years.  

His fixation on the murders sparked many readers to join his obsession to get every fine detail perfected.  Even Richard Brooks, a producer nominated for eight Oscars in his career, decided to make the film Capote, showing the true obsession Capote had for this case and the murders themselves as well. Anyone who reads the book will quickly catch on to the attachment Capote has to this story, even though he is never mentioned once in the book. The details and backstory that look to defend the murders make you question the motives for the stories.  

Personally, I found the book, along with the movie, entirely compelling. Like other good books, you will have to give it until the middle to really judge the story, especially with the blue sky on the cover and the talk about weather, you never know what you’re in for until you’re in. The character development reminded me of Stranger Things, having so many characters that eventually play a role in the end, all wrapping up to the perfect conclusion.  This cast of real-life characters definitely makes this a strong read. There will be times when you are scared to walk in the dark and times where you just can’t quite seem to put the book down, but it’s all worth it for the story of the murder from actual police and the shocking ending that’ll leave you asking many questions.  

If you are planning on taking AP Language and Composition junior year, you are in for a treat. If you are not, I urge you to pick up this book right away. You never know; it might just leave you In Cold Blood.