Angel White
As a long-time true crime fan, I was intrigued when Celadon Books offered me a review copy of The Tragedy of True Crime. The author, an inmate himself, brings a unique perspective that immediately piqued my interest.
While the insider viewpoint is interesting, the book’s structure leaves much to be desired. Within the same chapter (and sometimes paragraph ) the different stories are mixed together without clear transitions, making the narrative feel jumbled and disjointed. The author frequently inserts his own story mid-way through another, which disrupts the flow and made it hard to stay engaged.
That said, the inmates’ stories—how they ended up incarcerated and how they cope— were compelling. Despite the frustrating format, the content itself is worthwhile.
This one wasn’t quite for me, but true crime fans who can look past the structural flaws may find it a fascinating read. The Tragedy of True Crime releases September 23, 2025—thank you to Celadon Books for the review copy.
As a long-time true crime fan, I was intrigued when Celadon Books offered me a review copy of The Tragedy of True Crime. The author, an inmate himself, brings a unique perspective that immediately piqued my interest.
While the insider viewpoint is interesting, the book’s structure leaves much to be desired. Within the same chapter (and sometimes paragraph ) the different stories are mixed together without clear transitions, making the narrative feel jumbled and disjointed. The author frequently inserts his own story mid-way through another, which disrupts the flow and made it hard to stay engaged.
That said, the inmates’ stories—how they ended up incarcerated and how they cope— were compelling. Despite the frustrating format, the content itself is worthwhile.
This one wasn’t quite for me, but true crime fans who can look past the structural flaws may find it a fascinating read. The Tragedy of True Crime releases September 23, 2025—thank you to Celadon Books for the review copy.