This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How I Became a True Crime Junkie, a Murderino
True crime is all the rage these days. It seems every week there’s a new true crime podcast you have to listen to, or a new documentary on Netflix or Hulu that is just so addicting. Of all topics, I’ll admit, it seems like a strange obsession. And, generally, the audience is women. So, why are women obsessed with true crime?
I can’t speak for all women, but I can certainly tell you why I’m obsessed, and why maybe some others are too. My obsession started my junior year of high school. I signed up for AP Comp because I heard BSing papers in college would be a breeze with it under my belt. It turned out I learned a lot too, and to this day still think of writing maneuvers and tricks from that class. But we also did some reading.
Generally, I was reluctant with school books because they are old, uninteresting, and unrelatable. I expected this to be the case when my comp teacher passed out In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and was surprised when I couldn’t put it down. If you don’t know, In Cold Blood pioneered the investigative journalism novel. It covers the very real event of a family in Kansas murdered in cold blood but it is written like a novel. Of course every bit is meticulously researched, but it’s written as an interesting narrative rather than a boring recitation of facts — and thus was born the true crime novel.
The story shocked me. I couldn’t understand how someone could just murder a family of four in cold blood, for seemingly no reason. I wanted to understand the ‘why,’ though I knew I never would. I’ve consumed true crime content ever since because it’s fascinating, in a horrible way. I can’t fathom how a human being can act in this way, and I also want to learn how to protect myself and prevent a situation like that. Mostly this just makes me jumpy on a daily basis, but that’s okay.
We Keep The Dead Close reminded me of the first time I read In Cold Blood and I just have so much praise for it.
Synopsis
Becky Cooper first heard of Jane Britton’s 1969 murder during her undergrad at Harvard University. She couldn’t shake the case and found herself continually drawn to the unsolved murder, the small amount of facts, and the wide array of rumors.
What I Liked
Like Capote’s trailblazing work, We Keep The Dead Close is meticulously researched, yet a gripping narrative of the case as well as the darker sides of academia. The writing is imbued with the fears and biases of Cooper, but in a way that wraps the reader up in the story and plants a desire for the truth. At no point do the biases of Cooper infect a truthful telling of the story. If anything, it goes to show our human desire for the truth and our willingness to craft stories that give us the answer we want.
I didn’t expect a nonfiction retelling of a 1969 cold case to bring such suspense to the table, yet I found myself wanting to know more information with each page. Any facts or new piece of information wasn’t enough to quell my thirst for the truth. What happened to Jane Britton?
The novel dives into the sometimes darker side of academia and the reality of women in academia. It isn’t always the indie and grainy tableau often depicted in movies and books. It can often be competitive, unfair, dishonest, and, as Cooper shows, misogynistic. Harvard may be an Ivy League institution hailed for its academics, but is it worthy of all the praise? As someone who grew up romanticizing Harvard (thanks, Gilmore Girls), it was interesting to learn of some of the history and deeper issues that plague the institution.
When I got the book in the mail, I wondered how I could possibly finish a 500 page nonfiction book within the month of October. I quickly found out that the last 100 pages were notes and acknowledgements, so it’s really only about 400 pages. Truthfully, I read the book in four nights. Once I started, I found that the only thing I wanted to do after work was pick up the book because I wanted so desperately to know how the case ended. It is daunting when starting, but the writing is engaging, the story gripping, and the chapters are so short giving the reader the sense that they’re flying through the book.
What I Didn’t Like
The ending. Now, I know that this is something that actually happened, but I wasn’t satisfied. And I have theories. But, I can’t give my theories away without spoiling anything for you. Feel free to reach out and chat with me once you’ve read this because I’m dying to discuss.
Overall
I stumbled upon this title scrolling on Instagram and the title intrigued me enough to seek out the synopsis. We Keep the Dead Close is as much an investigative account of a 1969 cold case murder as it is an exploration of the darker sides of academia. Becky Cooper’s obsession with Jane Britton is both a desire to be a voice for the voiceless and a search for self. The reader gets the sense, almost immediately, that each word of the 500 page account was chosen with precision and care, a quality that captivates and holds the attention. Admittedly, I found the book intimidating once I was holding it in my hands. A 500 page nonfiction, thoroughly researched crime novel is both a feat to write and a feat to read. However, I found myself immediately immersed and unexpectedly reading it in 4 nights. The reader follows Cooper along her quest for the truth, mourns with her as she runs into dead ends, and celebrates when headway is made. An exciting read that, truthfully, had me checking the dark corners of the house upon waking and before sleeping. I highly recommend squeezing this into your October/November TBR stack. Grab it on Bookshop!
Kelliemarie Mash 