Introducing my first nonfiction of the year and the first true crime novel ever…. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

Unlike last year I’m planning to read some nonfiction works as well as regular fiction. I feel like nonfiction is often overlooked when it comes to fun books to read, but in my opinion they are such wonderful tools to learn more about the world in the best way possible. That is to say, by reading a book! I started this novel on the plane back from San Francisco to Amsterdam, so I could experience a bit of the U.S while flying over it. I had never read a true crime before and this is in fact the first one ever, so it seemed like a good place to start.

This impressive piece of journalism is about the 1959 Clutter family murder in Kansas.  A husband, his wife and their two kids are brutally murdered without a clear motive. In this real murder case we follow the two killers and learn more about their lives. We also see the perspective of the detective on the case and how this murder affects the people surrounding it.

Capote’s narration style in this novel is so cool. You have actual testimonies mixed with dialogue and vivid descriptions, which makes for a unique experience of reality and fiction. I thought it was amazing to read the actual people’s reactions and the fact that it was real made it so much more engaging. The balance between fiction and reality was perfect most of the time, but there were times where there was a little too much dry information and names being thrown at me.

I definitely think it was a great book and while you read it you can imagine how much work must have gone into it. The details are amazing! Although Capote can definitely write quite beautifully sometimes, I also found the novel hard to get through. The language wasn’t very easy and when you combine that with a lot of details, it can become a bit boring.

Even though I was a bit bored at times, I did learn a lot and the psychological aspect was so interesting. To get into the minds of the killers was a weird experience, quite unsettling actually, and something that I think you have to have done once in your life. One moment you feel empathy, and the next you’re disgusted when they do something horrible. That constant roller coaster was really fun and I think putting yourself in other people’s shoes is very important for a functional society; even and maybe especially when they’re murderers.

My experience overall was quite positive. The book is interesting, well written, funny, unsettling and a great place to start reading true crime as a regular reader. As I’ve said, the language can be tricky and you have to plough through some parts, but it’s really rewarding when you do. I’m glad I chose this book to start my nonfiction reading journey this year . I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a deep dive in a murder case and is ready to go the distance and learn all the nitty gritty details which Truman Capote masterfully constructed into an impressive coherent story.