Clews The Historic True Crime Blog

Clews The Historic True Crime Blog

"Welcome to my study of historic true crime, where the chairs rest at the intersection of history, journalism, law, and murder, and the shelves are filled with the finest true crime literature. P.S. Steal from this library, and it's pistols at dawn."

Author: Laura James is "a former news reporter turned trial lawyer" who "took an early retirement from the practice of law in favor of family life in an old farmhouse in suburban Detroit."

Blawg Related Categories: Criminal Justice • Legal History

Recent Posts from Clews The Historic True Crime Blog


  • Another Father Robinson book

    True crime author Randall Radic has a unique perspective: he was once Pastor Randall Radic, and subsequently he was an inmate of the State of California. The Seattle Times has featured the author's curious story.…

  • In the brilliant category, Jack Olsen

    So this summer I found a copy of Son: A Psychopath and his Victims [Amazon; B&N] by Jack Olsen for a measly quarter. I vaguelly recalled reading it. Son was on my first draft of…

  • Capote links

    " True crime " has such a florid, overdressed reputation that it pays to remember the genre's monuments - "In Cold Blood" or "The Executioner's Song" - are marked by their bloodless eloquence. -- Newsday…

  • Tonight's Ann Rule movie

    The LMN Channel (Lifetime Movie Network) is broadcasting the newest Ann Rule adaptation tonight and tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 18 - Sunday Nov. 19, at 8 pm and offers details in the meantime. The movie's gotten…

  • Edgar nominations (so far)

    These are the books which, with two weeks to go before the deadline, have been submitted by their publishers for the Best Fact Crime award from the Mystery Writers of America, the most important award…

  • LInks in the theme

    Some of these links are things readers have sent to me or that I've come across, and some may be a little stale, but on a site devoted to historical crime, there are no "best-by"…

  • Genre News

    Ann Rule's Taking Notes in the trial taking place in a Washington courtroom now. The local press says her book on the case comes out next May. And more: Renowned Crime Author Follows Case Patricia…

  • Q&A on Zeo Zoe

    Crime historian and author E.J. Wagner was kind enough to read The Love Pirate and the Bandit's Son, and she asked me to answer a few questions she had about the book and its subject,…

  • Is Dwayne Provience innocent?

    The University of Michigan Innocence Project has won a new trial for a convicted murderer here in Detroit. The Detroit News has a few details. The opinion affirming his conviction can be found here. Hmm.…

  • New Regional Books

    Short story collections in the historical true crime theme are some of my favorites. Several authors I know have produced new titles of late, and here is just a sampling of recent titles from the…