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A review by sam_vimes_75
Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan, Thomas Wolf
5.0
I read the book in barely more than a day. I couldn't put it down even though there were several moments when I wanted to stop and think about what was happening.
I found this book because I often teach Susan Glaspell's short story "A Jury of Her Peers." It is one of my favorite short stories for its heartbreaking analysis of a community that could have, and should have done more. Glaspell was a young reporter who covered the murder trial. She based her story on the emotional details of the crime. As a teacher, I was thrilled to see the authors not only included Glaspell's role in covering the trial, but also included quotes from several of her articles.
The book itself is a thrilling read that moves at a quick pace. The writers do a great job of establishing the domestic scene before covering the murder that happened. Despite the somewhat "click bait" nature of the of the book's title, the book goes into great depth and does not sensationalize the case. They show, as Glaspell saw, the social and emotional context of the tragedy. All of the Hossack family, as well as the residents in the complicit community, are shown with their virtues and faults equally. The writers do a fantastic job of presenting the facts and letting the audience draw our own conclusions.
I look forward to rereading the book and seeing, as the authors did, what new nuances I might find on another glance through the scenes.
I found this book because I often teach Susan Glaspell's short story "A Jury of Her Peers." It is one of my favorite short stories for its heartbreaking analysis of a community that could have, and should have done more. Glaspell was a young reporter who covered the murder trial. She based her story on the emotional details of the crime. As a teacher, I was thrilled to see the authors not only included Glaspell's role in covering the trial, but also included quotes from several of her articles.
The book itself is a thrilling read that moves at a quick pace. The writers do a great job of establishing the domestic scene before covering the murder that happened. Despite the somewhat "click bait" nature of the of the book's title, the book goes into great depth and does not sensationalize the case. They show, as Glaspell saw, the social and emotional context of the tragedy. All of the Hossack family, as well as the residents in the complicit community, are shown with their virtues and faults equally. The writers do a fantastic job of presenting the facts and letting the audience draw our own conclusions.
I look forward to rereading the book and seeing, as the authors did, what new nuances I might find on another glance through the scenes.