In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Book Title: In Cold Blood
Author: Truman Capote
Genres: True Crime
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Goodreads, Amazon UK

Goodreads Summary: On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.

As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.

What did I think? Mostly: HOLY COW. Also: I feel sick.

I did not know this was true crime when I started to read this book. I didn't read the blurb properly. I knew Truman Capote, but this is the first time I read one of his books. At one point in the middle of the story, I browsed through Goodreads to see what others thought of this book and I realised it's based on real events. (Never heard of the Clutter family before.) And it's not just based on real events, this book is one of the very first true crime novels ever written.

Capote describes the events leading up to and following the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas in a chilling and detailed way. It's a gripping read with wonderful prose. Capote's writing is sharp, on point and captivating. The killers are described in such great detail that by the end of the book you think you know them, and you feel disgusted by them, but you also feel sympathy for them. Or at least I did and I think that was the main reason I liked In Cold Blood so much.