The Best American Crime Reporting 2008

by Jonathan Kellerman (Editor), Otto Penzler (Editor), Thomas H. Cook (Editor)

Overview

Fifteen examples of great American true crime writing, edited by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Alex Delaware novels.

Thieves, liars, killers, and conspirators—it’s a criminal world out there, and someone has got to write about it. An eclectic collection of the year’s best reportage, The Best American Crime Reporting 2008 brings together the murderers and the master­minds, the mysteries and missteps that make for brilliant stories, told by the aces of the true-crime genre. This entry in the highly acclaimed series features guest editor Jonathan Kellerman, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including Unnatural History and Ghost Orchid.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061982507
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/21/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

THOMAS H. COOK was born in Fort Payne, Alabama. He has been nominated for Edgar Awards seven times in five different categories. He received the Best Novel Edgar, the Barry for Best Novel, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.

Hometown:

Beverly Hills, California

Date of Birth:

August 9, 1949

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Education:

B.A. in psychology, University of California-Los Angeles; Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1974

Website:

http://www.jonathankellerman.com/

Table of Contents

Preface Otto Penzler Thomas H. Cook ix Introduction Jonathan Kellerman xiii The Story of a Snitch Jeremy Kahn 1 A Season in Hell Dean LaTourrette 25 I'm with the Steelers Justin Heckert 41 The House Across the Way Calvin Trillin 53 The Caged Life Alan Prendergast 69 Badges of Dishonor Pamela Colloff 87 Dangerous Minds Malcolm Gladwell 111 Dean of Death Row Tad Friend 129 The Tainted Kidney Charles Graeber 155 The Ploy Mark Bowden 179 Day of the Dead D.T. Max 205 Just a Random Female Nick Schou 231 The Serial Killer's Disciple James Renner 255 Mercenary Tom Junod 271 Murder at 19,000 Feet Jonathan Green 309

Editorial Reviews

Crime novelist Kellerman, guest editor of this seventh annual collection, features 15 essays, all but two of which appeared previously in periodicals ranging from the Atlantic and The New Yorker to the Cleveland Free Times and ESPN magazine. The essays feature stories of crime and criminal investigations. For example, Jeremy Kahn writes of a small-time criminal and his problems after snitching on a neighborhood drug dealer and killer. In another story, Charles Graeber reports on a serial killer who wants to donate a kidney. The book also features some essays that discuss past events, such as D.T. Max's review of the death of author Malcolm Lowry in 1957. Each entry features a coda by the author either to bring the story up to date or give the author a chance to add some more background. As a whole, this book is engaging to read and will definitely be of interest to fans of true-crime books. Recommended for most public libraries.
—Joel W. Tscherne

Library Journal

…this book is engaging to read and will definitely be of interest to fans of true-crime books.” — Library Journal

From the Publisher