Murder Book Review

A humorous graphic investigation of the author's obsession with true crime, the murders that have most captivated her throughout her life, and a love letter to her fellow true-crime fanatics.

Why is it so much fun to read about death and dismemberment? In Murder Book, lifelong true-crime obsessive and New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell tries to puzzle out the answer. An unconventional graphic exploration of a lifetime of Ann Rule super-fandom, amateur armchair sleuthing, and a deep dive into the high-profile murders that have fascinated the author for decades, this is a funny, thoughtful, and highly personal blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and true crime with a focus on the often-overlooked victims of notorious killers.

General Impressions

This was another book requested because of the shambles my Goodreads Reading Challenge has become and because true crime entertainment is so ingrained in our culture, I was curious about what I might learn about the phenomenon.

This was by no means an unforgettable book but I did find it interesting if nothing more because I liked the rambling style the narrator employed and to learn about famous serial killers and crimes from her. I would learn about every crime from Hilary.

The negative part of me was that this was very difficult to read: the entire book was drawn in a cartoonish style that can be very hard on your eyes and is not the most digital-friendly.

Conclusions

This is as good as it is because the passion and knowledge the author has for this subject seep from every page. Not only is she talking about something that matters to her but that matters to a lot of people we know so she takes the reader on a journey as to why.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this DRC.

Rating: 3/5