Thanks to a couple of e-galleys, I had the opportunity to dip my toes into the waters of true crime. I hate to say it, but I probably wouldn’t recommend either of them, except in very specific circumstances. I would not pick either of the following titles for pleasure reading. However, if you’re a student of sociology or racial studies, read on below.
Thirty-Eight Witnesses by A.M. Rosenthal
Rosenthal covers the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese. An assailant attacked Genovese repeatedly for nearly an hour in the presence of thirty-eight witnesses, none of which reported the crime in progress. The book itself is very short and repetitive. It focused more on the witnesses than the crime, raising the question of what causes a person to turn a blind eye to someone in desperate need of assistance. I first heard of this story in my sociology courses as an undergraduate, and this is precisely the audience I would recommend the book to: those who are interested in social behavior. Genovese’s story makes for interesting conversation, not only about others’ propensity to ignore a horrific situation rather than help, but also about the need to look inward and decide how you would react in such a position.
Release date: December 15, 2015 (Open Road Integrated Media)
Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso by Kali Nicole Gross
This book about the mysterious circumstances surrounding an 1887 murder is certainly a history lesson for anyone interested in post-Reconstruction era race issues. Gross details how the Philadelphia area’s white law enforcement and the case’s jury (also white) dealt with a complicated murder case involving black suspects and a victim, also presumed to be black, whose life came to a sudden and gruesome end. She also examines complexities within black communities of the late 1880s. The story wasn’t quite as thrilling as I expected it would be, but I did learn a lot about America’s approach to crime committed by African Americans during that time period.
Release date: January, 28, 2016 (Oxford University Press)
Both books revealed the murder suspects almost right away and wrapped up the cases pretty quickly. While I don’t think I would like a true crime story to be too long and drawn out, I would appreciate more suspense. In addition, both books went into issues much larger than the crime itself. I think I would prefer more objective analyses that really focus on the case and bring out the details in a way that keeps me up all night reading to find out what happens. Although these two books weren’t for me, I definitely plan on giving the genre another chance. I know there are plenty of options out there, and I look forward to exploring them. Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions!
Disheveled Shelf 