In Cold Blood is a non-fiction novel by Truman Capote, published in 1966. The book tells the story of the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas on November 15, 1959, and the subsequent investigation and trial of the perpetrators, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock.
The story is told in a chronological order, starting with the introduction of the Clutter family and their peaceful life in Holcomb. The reader is introduced to Herb Clutter, the head of the household, his wife Bonnie, and their children, Nancy, Kenyon, and Bobby. Capote also introduces the community of Holcomb and the role that the Clutter family played in it.
The story then moves on to the night of the murders, describing in detail the events leading up to the killings and the crime itself. Capote describes the brutal nature of the murders, with the Clutter family being bound and gagged before being shot execution-style. The reader is also introduced to the suspects, Smith and Hickock, who were former cellmates and had planned the murders in order to steal money from the Clutter household.
The rest of the book follows the investigation and trial of Smith and Hickock. Capote describes the efforts of the local police to track down the killers and the eventual capture of the suspects. The trial and sentencing of the men are also detailed, with Capote providing a thorough account of the proceedings and the testimony of the various witnesses.
Throughout the book, Capote also delves into the backgrounds and motivations of Smith and Hickock, providing insight into their troubled lives and the circumstances that led them to commit the murders. The book concludes with the execution of Smith and Hickock, and the aftermath of the murders on the community of Holcomb and the surviving members of the Clutter family.
In Cold Blood is a compelling and well-written account of a shocking crime and its aftermath. The chronological order of the story allows the reader to fully understand and follow the events leading up to the murders, the investigation, and the trial, and provides a deeper understanding of the motivations and backgrounds of the perpetrators. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that remains a classic of true crime literature to this day.