In Cold Blood

Written by Truman Capote

Narrated by Scott Brick

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The most famous true crime novel of all time "chills the blood and exercises the intelligence" (The New York Review of Books)—and haunted its author long after he finished writing it.

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues. 

In one of the first non-fiction novels ever written, Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, generating both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 3, 2006
• ISBN: 9780739333655

Truman Capote

Truman Capote (1924-1984) es uno de los mejores escritores norteamericanos del siglo XX. Anagrama le ha dedicado una Biblioteca Truman Capote: Otras voces, otros ámbitos, Un árbol de noche, Desayuno en Tiffany’s, A sangre fría, Música para camaleones, Plegarias atendidas, El arpa de hierba, Retratos, Tres cuentos, Los perros ladran, Cuentos completos y Crucero de verano.

Reviews for In Cold Blood

[bethdouglas911 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The writing style was very interesting. I really enjoyed how the author went back and forth between what happened and the history of the perpetrators.

[Feliz1964 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply: Brilliant! To read it again. (Translated from Spanish)

[mipedtor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An impressive, well-written, and very well-structured nonfiction novel. It narrates the real crime committed against four members of the Clutter family in a rural town in the United States. Truman Capote became interested in the case and took nearly seven years to piece together the events, interview its protagonists, and write this work in four distinctly separate parts.

The first part focuses on telling the story of Herbert Clutter, a prosperous farmer from Kansas, and his family. A respected individual in his community who was happy with his farm in the midst of the fields of Holcomb. On the other hand, we have two ex-convicts taking a long road trip with a clear objective: to rob the Clutter family and leave no witnesses. This may be the slowest part of the novel, but it's where the characters are introduced, and the author seeks for us to empathize with this model family living a happy moment despite the mother's depressive problems, oblivious to the tragedy that is about to befall them. We also begin to learn about the personalities of Rick Hickock and Perry Smith, their differences, and the bonds that unite them. The coldness and insensitivity in planning the crime but, at the same time, the need for attachment and friendship that keeps them together. Capote pays special attention to the feeling of tranquility and security of that rural society about to collapse due to such an unexpected crime.

The second part narrates the discovery of the crime by the neighbors and the journey that Rick and Perry undertake afterward. Obviously, this event shakes the entire state and generates a feeling of insecurity and distrust among the neighbors. The investigation at the time has few leads in the face of such a violent murder with no known motives. And, on the other hand, the reader discovers that Rick and Perry have barely obtained any loot, continue with their plan to head to Mexico as if nothing had happened, and squander their money within days. We find the pressure that the media and neighbors exert on the puzzled investigators. We also get to know the families of the killers which add greater depth to their characters.

The investigation progresses in the third part, as does the erratic path filled with improvisations and a sense of impunity of Rick and Perry. A crucial testimony from a fellow inmate puts investigators on the definitive trail of the people who may be behind the crime. With no money in their pockets, the criminals retrace their steps, commit new crimes of fraud and theft that, sooner or later, allow them to be located. It is also when the love-hate relationship between them starts to become clearly visible, with doubts and thoughts of betrayal. Ultimately, they are captured.

The last part describes the confessions of Rick and Perry, as well as the reconstruction of the events of that tragic night. It is surprising how easily and cold-bloodedly they killed the Clutter family. It continues with all the media process that follows their capture and the trial in which they end up being sentenced to death. And although at first, there are still no signs of remorse and sensitivity about the victims, it is surprising how Capote exposes the thoughts and reflections of the crime's perpetrators in a way that touches the reader's sensitivity. I wouldn't say it's a feeling of understanding why they did what they did, but rather understanding the context in which they operated and feeling at least a minimal empathy in their final moments of life.

"In Cold Blood" is a highly recommended work. Sometimes it is of a harsh violence, without being particularly gruesome. But very well-written despite lacking surprising twists. It is the perfect anatomy of a crime that shook and forever changed the sense of tranquility of an entire community. (Translated from Spanish)

[Carlos83 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

Published in 1966, this novel breaks the conventions of the genre by combining the non-fiction narrative with the emotional intensity of fiction, creating what came to be called "non-fiction novel" or "factual narrative." (I had to look that up). The work narrates the shocking true story of the brutal murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Capote, with his detailed and penetrating style, reconstructs the events surrounding this crime, from the motives and the planning of the killers to the devastating repercussions in the small rural community.
Notably, Capote's ability to explore not only the crime itself but also the psychological complexities of the characters involved, both victims and perpetrators. Through exhaustive interviews and meticulous research, Capote creates deeply human portraits of each individual, showing their fears, aspirations, and tragedies.
As a reader, it was a book that I found hard to get into because it presents the daily life of the Clutter family, transitioning into the crime itself and the beginning of the true story with the protagonists of the work, Perry and Dick. I have not been a great reader of noir fiction, but I acknowledge that this one is worth it.

12/12/23 - 15/01/24 (Translated from Spanish)

[Aguferr31 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The town of Halcomb is in the high plains of western Kansas, a lonely area. From this precise location, Truman Capote captures the reader in a gripping story and inaugurates a genre; the nonfiction novel.

The story is about the four members of the Clutter family, brutally murdered in their home. (Translated from Spanish)

[Ceci Damiani ✨ · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this novel reminded me of the impression that "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" left on me. I thought, what can excite me when I already know the ending?.... The reading showed me that the ending is just a detail in a tremendous narrative.

Truman Capote begins the genre of non-fiction with this American classic that dazzles from the very first page. It is public knowledge the fact that gave rise to this story, so in this case, "how it will end" is not what drives our reading. It mixes a real event: a brutal murder "in cold blood" suffered by a Christian family in Kansas, in a quiet neighborhood (which, by the way, starts to have a different appreciation after this); and polished literary fragments that leave us in awe. Moreover, the stories of the criminals are also very interesting, how they met, how they committed the act, the interrogations, testimonies, and other elements drawn from journalism. I think there is a reason this classic has endured over time and has established itself as the author's best work. Intriguing, disturbing, dark, and majestic✨?

I don’t want to go on because the reading experience surpasses any review. ? (Translated from Spanish)

[philosophico · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A masterpiece with one of the best endings that have ever been written. (Translated from Spanish)

[Yisnabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book!

It is not a light read. It takes its time and masterfully narrates the entire investigation typical of the True Crime genre.

The author takes you to the scene of the events, introduces you to the Clutter family, showing what kind of people they were, their day-to-day lives, and how they were perceived by their community. At the same time, it provides glimpses of the other side; how the crime was planned, what motivations were behind it, and who the people who committed it were and what they were like.

It's very captivating because even though we already know what will happen and who the culprits are, there is a constant tension throughout the narrative, a feeling of both anticipation and a desire to avoid reaching that moment.

I think the author presents us with a moral dilemma by showcasing the crime and, on the other hand, the childhood of both Perry and Dick.

This dilemma between justifying the death penalty or condemning it by appealing to the human side we all possess, while at the same time acknowledging the terrible reality of the facts.

What legal loopholes exist, how inflexible can we be regarding psychology in these cases? What happens when society forgets the victims to make room for the spectacle of tragedy?

Interesting questions from a very interesting book. The arduous research behind it and all the life experiences the author infused into this work are perfectly conveyed.

Totally recommended. This is my first book by the author, and it won’t be the last. (Translated from Spanish)

[1gabrielpaz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When narrative and journalism (thanks to fieldwork) come together to form a hybrid, we get "In Cold Blood." Considered by many as the first work of journalistic non-fiction; although in 1957, Argentine Rodolfo Walsh had already published "Operation Massacre," which has been overlooked by many and has not received the spotlight that Capote continues to enjoy.

Holcomb is a rural community in the state of Kansas, where something rarely happens. The lives of its inhabitants are quiet, taciturn, bucolic. They know each other and live peacefully, to the extent of leaving their homes unlocked at night, as they do not expect harm to occur.
All this changes when the Clutter family, one of the wealthiest and most well-known in the area, is brutally murdered on a Sunday morning. Father, mother, son, and daughter perish at the hands of Dick and Perry, two ex-convicts who come to the house looking for a safe.

The events that unfolded in 1959 shook a large part of the American population. Capote, being a journalist and also a writer, realizing this, decides to move to the scene of the crime (with his friend Harper Lee, yes, the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird") and immerse himself in everything that happened, even establishing a kind of friendship with the criminals, especially with Perry.
Thanks to the rigorous work the author undertook, within the novel we have several stories within the same narrative line: 1) the story of the Clutter family days before their murder, 2) the residents of the area and their reaction to the events, 3) the authorities seeking to capture the murderers, and 4) Perry and Dick, the murderers and protagonists of the work.

Capote masterfully captures and pieces together the events, and using an omniscient narrator, allows us to delve into the minds of the characters.
Perhaps this reading may not be to everyone's liking, due to some gruesome scenes described, but it is worth reading a story about one of the most famous murders in U.S. history. (Translated from Spanish)

[NaviruShorno · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Cold Blood is a work published by Truman Capote in 1966 and has 440 pages. It belongs to the genre of criminology and is a classic in American literature.

On November 15, 1959, in a small town in Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were murdered in their home… This event shocked the entire country, and when Truman Capote read the crime news in the press, he was so impacted that he decided to write this nonfiction work based on real events. To do this, he interviewed the murderers several times, purchased the trial transcripts, and spent several years researching the Clutter family and their executioners.

The book can be divided into four well-defined parts: the Clutter family, the killers, the events that occurred, and the trial. The prose of this work is impeccable, with deeply moving and harsh moments. To say that the author did a good job with this book is an understatement: the psychological descriptions of the characters (especially the murderers), the different phases of the plot, such as the impotence of the law in not finding any clues about the murders, or the atmosphere in the town where the events occur… I also really appreciated the moral reflection on the death penalty that the author presents in the last section.

What I liked most about the book is how the murderers are described; they have so many nuances and details that are fascinating; they are humanized in a heartbreaking way, and there are moments when one feels pity for them because I believe they are broken inside, and that is why they do what they do. In contrast, the second part of the book felt somewhat lengthy to me; I also found the pacing a bit slow due to the lack of dialogue in some parts.

In summary, a work that every literature lover should read, not only for the story (which is incredible) but also for how groundbreaking the book was in its time. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lumus EI · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A murder, two guilty parties, a novel, and the beginning of a genre: new journalism takes on fiction, hand in hand with Truman Capote. (Translated from Spanish)

[mariabv2012 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A true story told in the form of a novel, "In Cold Blood," depicts the 1959 murder of a family—the parents and two teenage children—in a small town in Kansas.

Truman Capote recounts the entire story without omitting any details. He provides background by narrating the daily lives of the victims and their relatives and acquaintances before the tragic events, as well as the lives and backgrounds of the murderers and their families before and after the brutal killing. Even knowing the story from the beginning, the author tells it in such a way that it creates an addiction to reading, as you seek to uncover the gruesome details and possible motivations of the killers. The reading captivates you, and you feel the need to continue.

I particularly enjoyed the final part of the book, which describes the trial and the psychiatric evaluations of the murderers, which were not accepted by the judge, as well as their time on death row until their execution.

An extensive research effort, consulting official records and conducting numerous interviews with people directly affected, all transformed into a very interesting book that I recommend.

Happy reading... or maybe not so happy!
September 13, 2022 (Translated from Spanish)

[objectid-5f871435fcf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is a chilling book based on a true story that manages to captivate you.

The story takes place in 1959, in a small American town, narrating the brutal murder of a family in their own home, the investigations that led to the discovery and arrest of the criminals.

It describes the investigation in a heartbreaking way, their murderers, their motives, delving into the psychology of the criminals... it is very well told.

More than a detective novel, it resembles more of a journalistic investigative work on a crime. (Translated from Spanish)

[MarcosAndrade · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Truman Capote made me, at some point in the book, wish that Perry and Dick had a different fate than the one they had... (Translated from Spanish)

[BigPoppaNeko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A raw and meticulous description of the criminal mind and the psychopathologies that are part of it. Taking as an example the case of these two murderers who are so different yet part of a rough complicity, stemming from their past and the triggering of certain situations that make them part of this macabre adventure. (Translated from Spanish)

[brytcelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing. A very comprehensive journalistic piece, full of details, sometimes too many. However, overall, a very interesting and easy-to-read piece. It highlights human nature with its many nuances; its cruelty, its madness, its vengeance, its justice. And in the end, as life goes on, even if it hurts, it maintains its rhythm. Time stops for no one. (Translated from Spanish)

[g.longo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The truth is that it is a difficult book to digest, but Truman Capote, having researched so well, captures every dark feeling of unease and sadness in this work of Non-Fiction.

The first two parts of the book are very well crafted and well written, but the last two become a bit overwhelming and slow down the pace of the novel.

A tough but good novel, though only to read once. (Translated from Spanish)

[EreinionLmion · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very sad non-fiction novel, not only because of the royal family but also for how the case ruined the writer's life as well. Recommended, but with discretion. (Translated from Spanish)

[MaiteGil · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For years I wanted to read a work by the author, but I had the idea that they were going to be very dense. Since I needed a book based on a true crime for a challenge, and everyone recommended it to me, I decided on this one. And it has been a great choice.

It is a novelized account created from interviews, and the complete documentation work is evident. The reading is very enjoyable and interesting and is not at all heavy. It's not my usual type of reading, but I found it very easy to immerse myself in the story.

You empathize with the victims from the first page due to the way the author presents them. At the same time, we get to know the killers, their circumstances, and the motives that lead them to commit the crime.

The author intertwines the stories of the Clutter family and their executioners with those of the investigators. In an engaging and comprehensive way, we learn details that allow us to understand how the police managed to identify the culprits despite the lack of clues, and we also discover the crimes they commit after the quadruple murder.

The novel is easy to read, despite the subject matter, thanks to the way it is written. The characters are very well described, and Capote manages to transport you to America in the late fifties.

If you like books based on true crimes, you must read this one; I encourage you to do so. (Translated from Spanish)

[Dedos de Dedalo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yesterday I heard that this is the novel of novels, and it seems a bit exaggerated to me. It is true that Capote does an instructive job of documentation here and has the ability to create an entertaining novel with events from real life, but for me, it is nothing more than a pastime.
The story is real; it talks about the murder of a family from Kansas by Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Capote provides an in-depth look at everything surrounding this event, from the last days of the family to the escape of the killers, including the interactions between neighbors and the police investigation.
Certainly, Perry and Dick are two iconic characters, and the Clutter family is endearing, but it is a novel that limits itself to recounting events, even though it has notable moments, and ultimately remains a fictionalized report. (Translated from Spanish)

[Ines Tezanos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book. Written over 50 years ago and knowing the ending, it captivates you and you can't stop reading it. Don't miss it!!! (Translated from Spanish)

[RubenOsorio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredible (Translated from Spanish)

[Lector de Colectivo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is worth more for the "invention" of the genre and for the transformation of the collected information into a novel than for the novel itself. In any case, it uses interesting prose resources. At times, it becomes entangled in its own density, but it is undoubtedly a must-read if you are navigating through this life. (Translated from Spanish)

[RomanAngelini · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't really know what I expected from this work. I found the first part unbearable with so many descriptions and details. Then it seems to flow a bit more. I thought the portrayal of the killers was brilliant, a great job of research. Just for that, I give it that score. Send me to "THE CORNER" those who consider it a great work... But for me, it's not. (Translated from Spanish)

[Cecilia77 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had seen the movie Capote and was left wanting to read the book. It is the story of how two people come to become criminals. Perhaps what chills the reader the most is knowing that while the family was still living a normal life, hundreds of kilometers away, in a prison, someone had already decided their fate. (Translated from Spanish)

[alparra87 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A social radiography of an event that will continue to repeat itself as long as humanity keeps making the same mistakes. The narrative that Capote achieves in this book… will be hard to find elsewhere. (Translated from Spanish)

[Marlene Estrada · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What I liked about this book is the depth with which the author presents the characters, from the secondary to the main ones, in such a way that he manages to humanize them and show us their personalities. The difficulty of the book is that it is so abundant in details that the sheer amount of monstrosity can overwhelm you.

You can notice all the research work that the author undertook to embark on the writing of this text, and I think it brings important issues to the table for reflection, such as the upbringing in the early years of life, psychological and psychiatric study and attention, the effectiveness of the prison system, its usefulness for social reintegration, the debate about the types of punishment provided by laws, and the death penalty as ways to rectify the damage and shape behavior.

Definitely a must-read book. (Translated from Spanish)

[Monika · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had been wanting to read this book for a long time, and I'm glad my intuition didn't let me down; I found it amazing. Due to the theme of the multiple murders, which is based on a true event, and how well I think it is written, it left a very pleasant impression on me. The way it narrates each situation of every character, what they experienced in the past, what they recount in the present, the life of the murderers, everything surrounding the lives of their respective families, and it's not at all tedious. This makes it a pleasure to keep reading classics. (Translated from Spanish)

[brownchoco · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After good journalistic documentation work, the events take place in Holcomb, a town in Kansas in the deep America. He had quite a few problems gathering information about where the murders occurred; he was not well received. Nevertheless, he was able to spectacularly narrate the lives of his characters in that place of traditional and closed-minded people. The main focus of this novel is how Truman manages to delve into each of his characters, both the victims and the killers, without justifying what happened. American society is also not portrayed in a very good light, both in terms of justice and the treatment of homosexuals. A completely recommendable work; it took me a while to read it, but it’s never too late if... (Translated from Spanish)

[joseantonio1959 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good, I recommend reading it. (Translated from Spanish)