Who says historic true crime is a dead genre? Well, a lot of folks do, but they're wrong. 
Here's just a few recent examples to disprove that perpetuated genre myth.
Recalling the Blackout Ripper The women of London were blitzed in 1942, and not just by the Germans. The "Blackout Ripper" was a serial killer who savaged females for five awful days until nailed by Scotland Yard. In the Dark: The True Story of the Blackout Ripper is the new book by Simon Read that delves into the details. "Read didn't set out to be that rare breed - a historic true-crime author - but he was drawn to history and fascinated by crime," says the Scripps News.
Gangster City Which one? Well, the big one. Author Patrick Downey has put together a site about his book, which takes on the whole shebang. It's Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935. "There is a reason why there are so few biographies written on early 20th Century gangsters," Downey explains. "Most were killed before their 35th birthday. Where as we congratulate those few who were wily enough to make the system work for them and managed to die of natural causes, we will profile those who just didn't have what it took to make it to the finish line. Plus we just like talking about tommy guns, one way rides and dead guys in suits."
Lie Detectors - An American Gimmick? "Why have Americans, and Americans alone, been obsessed with the lie detector?" That's the central question (per Bloomberg) in a new book titled The Lie Detectors: The History of an American Obsession, in which author Ken Alder explores the development of the dubious devices.
The Big UnEasy Author Tom Smith's book, Crescent City Lynchings: The Murder of Chief Hennessy, the New Orleans "Mafia" Trials and the Parish Prison Mob, exploring the murder of the New Orleans police chief in 1890 by "dagos" (the victim's dying whisper), is receiving terrific reviews from the toughest of critics, who find parallels to the city's current woes.
And some author interviews True crime author Sam Adams (Precious Blood) gave an interview to the blog Emerge-New Authors. Says Sam: "It's really rare to find a true-crime book written about an unsolved case, though there are a few of those out there. What publishers are looking for are heroic cops, nasty criminals and sympathetic victims. If the case doesn't fit that mold, it's not going to be picked up as a book."
Meanwhile, it looks like true crime author Carlton Stowers is done with true crime. Matt Phelps also may be done with true crime. Gregg Olsen has been wooed by the fiction Muse, and critics express genuine enthusiasm. Are we losing our best true crime authors?
Comments