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Book Review By Pat Sommer
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

The small town of Holcomb, Kansas is rocked by the murder of the prominent and beloved Clutter family. The brutal crime is committed with no apparent motive and no clear suspect. Truman Capote recreates the murder, investigation, trial and execution of the murders.

The book begins with the murders of the Clutters. The quiet town of holcom becomes the center of attention, and residents become paranoid that they might be the next targets of the murderers. Alvin Dewey, a resident of Holcomb, is on the investigation.

Capote follows the investigation and recreates what the killers did in the mean time. He follows them as they return to their parents house and then leave for travels to Mexico and Las Vegas where they are eventually caught and brought to justice.

A trial is held in Holcomb and the murders, Dick and Perry, are found guilty. Their reason for the murder was because they heard in prison that the Clutters had money, but were disappointed when there was nothing but pocket change in the house.

Capote follows the murders to death row until their hanging, painting an emotional protrait of the murder.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - depressing/sad
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Special suspect? - investigator him/herself
Murder of certain profession?
Misc. Murder Plotlets - "All in the family" murder
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
The crook is.... - on the run from the law
Any non-mystery subplot?
descript. of violence and chases - 20 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture
Explicit sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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