In Cold Blood
By: Truman Capote
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best for: Mature 16+

If you’re looking for a book about the minute details surrounding the random and gruesome 1959 murder of a family of 4, you can stop your search now. You’ve found it.

Me? I’m buddy reading it with my daughter who has to read it for school.

I didn’t intend to like it.

Turns out, I couldn’t put it down.

My only complaint? We get details on EVERYONE. There are detailed histories of tertiary characters that I skimmed through without losing anything of the story.

Other than that, I found the narrative riveting. I held my Oasis in one hand and my phone in the other so I could fact check, look up pictures, and learn about Truman Capote while I read.

We get it all…the lead up, the Clutters actions leading up to their ignominious end, the discovery, the investigation, the chase, the arrest, the confession, the trial, the execution–and of course the murders themselves, complete with all the twisted and tragic details.

Perhaps more impressive than the story is the groundbreaking nature of Capote’s work in bringing this book to life. That’s a story in itself, and the basis for two separate movies.

Definitely a grown up book. I’m glad I’m reading it along with my High Schooler…there’s a lot to talk about.

If true crime is your thing, In Cold Blood is considered a classic. Now I see why.

Get your copy here

Happy Reading!