The Lost Tomb: And Other Real Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder
Douglas Preston
“There is not one word of fiction in this collection, even though some of the stories in the book will strike you as being as crazy and improbable as any of my thrillers.”
Like many authors, Douglas Preston is often asked where he gets the ideas for his popular thriller novels. As a former investigative journalist his answer is easy: truth is stranger than fiction. The Lost Tomb is a collection of Preston’s research that has inspired him to write about everything from dinosaurs to buried treasure to mysterious deaths and beyond.
After a stretch of reading tough or not-great books, it was time for a palate cleanser; for me, nothing is better than something about murder and/or weird shit happening in far-flung places. I loved this book because Preston is a great writer who focuses on topics I also find interesting — it was an extra bonus to discover how these true situations inspired his fiction writing. And of course I’ve added a couple of his books to my TBR.
Excellent narrative non-fiction about unexplained (and mostly horrible) things.
God Save Texas: A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State
Lawrence Wright
“You’ve got East Texas, which is Creole, with the field greens and okra. In West Texas you have the Hispanic influence and the chiles. North Texas, you had the cattle drives. In the south and the Gulf, I wanted to give the sense of a true Southern fishing camp. Then in Central Texas you have the Czech and German influences.”
Texas is…complicated. As is its residents’ relationship with it. With a history rooted in conquest and pocket lined with cash from cattle and oil, the state is a melting pot of rightwing/leftwing nutjobs, techies, musicians, and people who can’t imagine living anywhere else. Wright’s book is a series of love letters to, and critiques of, the Lone Star State.
Being from Texas is like being part of a big family of weirdos you love even though they embarrass you sometimes; reading this book felt like hearing those family stories that make you go, “So that’s why they’re bonkers.” I would have preferred a little more history and a little less politics, but it can be hard to separate the two. It’s clear that Wright has a deep appreciation for Texas, and wants his readers to better understand and appreciate it too.
A solid read, whether you’re Texan or not.
Words of a Goat Princess
Jessie Reyez
“For I know men are afraid of women / Who are not afraid of them”
A short book of poems (in English and Spanish) about love, risks, time, betrayal, loneliness, anger, and beauty.
Poetry isn’t one of my go-to genres, but when someone presses a book into my hands it feels rude to not at least give it a try. The overall vibe was too angsty for me (they cheated on you, we get it — burn their stuff and get on with your life, girl!), but the couple that fell into the “feminist rage” category were *chef’s kiss*.
Not my jam, but I appreciate the artistry.
Fangs
Sarah Anderson
“ ‘We should have a baby.’
‘For dinner?’ ”
Jimmy and Elsie are like any other couple. They met at a bar, they have similar hobbies, and they like making each other laugh. Who says a werewolf and a vampire can’t make it work?
When I wasn’t giggling my way through these vignettes, I was busy sending photos of the pages to my husband so he could giggle at them. Talk about #RelationshipGoals! These bite-sized stories come from the mind of illustrator Sarah Anderson, and are sweet, macabre, and hysterical by turns. I need more! This has earned a permanent spot on my shelves.
Try this if you enjoy reading about relationships that have humor, heart, and just the right amount of bloodshed.
American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America’s Jack the Ripper
Daniel Stashower
“Ness faced a criminal who not only flouted the law but whose motives were only dimly understood. Here was a problem that couldn’t be solved with a steel-nosed truck.”
From 1934 to 1938 the city of Cleveland lived in the shadow of a demon. Long before the term “serial killer” existed, the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run slaughtered and dismembered at least 12 people, then scattered their remains along train tracks and riverbeds. Terrified Clevelanders believed the famous Eliot Ness, the man who finally “got” Al Capone, was their best chance at solving the crimes. But collaring a jazzy bootlegger is worlds away from unmasking a brutal killer.
Nothing says “vacation read” like a book about grisly historical murder! American Demon is well-researched — Stashower is able to take the reader through an incredible amount of detail while not losing the thread. Along with information about the murders themselves there’s also plenty about the state of criminal investigations and our understanding of killers’ psychology, plus tales of Ness’ fight against police corruption in the post-Prohibition era. My quibble is that the Ness angle felt unnecessary. This case is so massive — and Ness so ultimately impactful on it — that it was kind of distracting. That said, I enjoyed the reading experience.
Give this a try if you like true crime and/or David Grann and Roseanne Montillo.
The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne
Kate Winkler Dawson
“Like so many other victims and survivors before and after her, Sarah Cornell had been abandoned that wintry night in December 1832—voiceless. Not anymore.”
This is not the first book written about the death of Sarah Cornell. That honor goes to Fall River, penned by Catherine Read Arnold Williams the summer after that headline-grabbing event. Almost 200 years later, author Kate Winkler Dawson takes a fresh look at the case. Did Sarah end her own life, or was it taken from her? Would modern forensics have helped investigators uncover the truth? And what do true crime authors owe their readers and the victims whose stories they tell?
This book has solidified Dawson as one of my auto-buy authors. Not only does she cover Sarah Cornell’s death with her usual attention to detail, she also investigates Williams’ motivations and biases. I appreciate Dawson’s focus on advocating for victims, as well as understanding the facts — no matter where they lead.
Add this to your TBR if you’re a fan of well-researched true crime.
Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land
Walter R. Borneman
“Alaska’s historic themes are surprisingly consistent and reocurring: new land; new people; new riches—and ever-present competing views over their use.”
The land known today as Alaska has been the home of fur and oil empires, witnessed explorers and armies battle its extremes, and been the center of countless debates of how and by whom it should be used. While author Walter R. Borneman cannot predict the future, he believes the past shows us that Alaska will always be crossing the next frontier.
I love a theme read, so my recent trip to Alaska meant I needed to brush up on my knowledge of the area. According to this 580-page chunkster, there’s quite a bit worth knowing. There was a bit too much detail for me on certain aspects — I don’t care about the minutiae of oil companies fighting over drilling rights and laws — but I enjoyed how it filled in the bigger picture of the history bits and bobs I picked up on various tours. It was a fun way to wrap up my time in America’s 49th state.
Perfect for a history buff looking to learn more about the “last frontier.”
Photo by Polina Rytova on Unsplash
