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  • In Cold Blood

  • By: Truman Capote
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (287 ratings)

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In Cold Blood cover art

In Cold Blood

By: Truman Capote
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's Summary

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.

©1965 Truman Capote (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A masterpiece ... a spellbinding work." —Life

"A remarkable, tensely exciting, superbly written 'true account'. " —The New York Times

"The best documentary account of an American crime ever written ... The book chills the blood and exercises the intelligence ... harrowing." —The New York Review of Books

What listeners say about In Cold Blood

Average Customer Ratings
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I understand why it is a classic

A gruesome story written with great care and detail. The character insights and plot development were not laboured. This made the plot engaging the story something I was easily immersed in.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A chilling listen.

A fine narration of a masterful work. I listened through headphones at 1.15 speed.
Capote's insight into the psychology of the killers is chillingly brilliant.

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amazing

truly amazing. not just a recount but a critical analysis of crime and its repercussions both public and private. well read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Well written

Well narrated. Capote describes each character in detail. Very thoroughly written. Sad waste of lives, the perpetrators were victims in someway as well as the murdered family.

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Good book

Thrilling story by an amazing author, the connection you develop between not only Dick and Perry but the entire town is wonderful
orchestrated by the narrator

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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unnerving account of true crime

incredible portrayal of human nature and relationships under the strains of immense and darkest tragedy. Magnificently written and told.

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Classic quality

Beautifully written and performed. A very thoughtful reflection on crime, punishment and justice with heaps of value given to the things that matter such as family life and love

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A classic.

Capote truly was a gifted writer. Riveting story of a sad event. We get to know everyone involved.

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Interesting story- beautifully read

I read this years ago but wanted to return to it as an audiobook. I’m glad I did. The narrator does such a good job in telling the story. Truman Capotes words give life to the victims making their deaths all the more tragic. I appreciated getting to know them and not just what happened to them.
It’s a fascinating character study.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Very well told true crime.

Very good retelling of both sides of the story. It tells a long and detailed story of the life and trauma of the two murderers, and can show you how much childhood trauma can affect a person.

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