Note: The following post was is a book I reviewed on Reedsy Discovery. Check out the review on Reedsy Discovery here. Be sure to check out Reedsy Discovery for high-quality reviews of new indie book releases in all genres.
When it comes to true crime, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is the gold standard. His retelling of the Clutter family murders at the hands of Perry Smith and Richard Hickock in Holcomb, Kansas, have resonated with readers for more than half a century. Surely there can't be any more to the story than Capote's famous work? Under A Kansas Moon by Tommy Wilkens and Hilde Wilkens begs to differ.
Under A Kansas Moon takes the reader through the Clutter family murders to Hickock's and Perry's joint trial and the men's (astonishingly long) time on death row in a neat, journalistic fashion. Readers unfamiliar with the American legal system's Byzantine inner workings will be astonished to see it in action. The thoroughness of the Wilkens's research reveals a number of hitherto unknown details about the killers' life behind bars, which excitingly includes insight on how Capote became involved with the story. There can be no doubt that the Wilkens's speak with authority on this subject matter.
However, in keeping with my philosophy that a book's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness, the authors' keen insight for detail on the Clutter murders causes some narrative hiccups. Lengthy archival documents are quoted verbatim without pause in some chapters, squeezing out page real estate for other, related events. As a result, certain aspects of story feel overrepresented while other sections feel underrepresented. The very documents that help the authors tell the story also make for the occasional lopsided perspective, which might frustrate some readers.
Archival grief aside, Under A Kansas Moon takes the reader to a time in America long past and proves that an interesting story can be found anywhere if one simply looks. Essential reading for fans of In Cold Blood; all other readers are encouraged to give it a try.