Review by Booklist Review
The facts of the case are well known: in May 1924, university students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped and murdered Loeb's cousin, 14-year-old Bobby Franks. They were caught, tried, and convicted, but Clarence Darrow saved them from a death sentence. The case has inspired numerous books (Meyer Levin's classic novel Compulsion; Simon Baatz's essential nonfiction account For the Thrill of It), as well as movies (Hitchcock's Rope), plays, and even an opera. But is what we know about the case entirely true? Here, frequent collaborators King and Wilson (The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria, 2020) challenge some of our common assumptions. For example: although the two are usually depicted as devotees of the nihilist philosopher Nietzsche, Leopold was the real Nietzsche fan; Loeb, not so much. Another: although it's generally accepted that Loeb was the more dominant of the boys, it was actually Leopold who "dictated the terms of the friendship." Even their motive itself comes under new scrutiny. While not the definitive account, this one offers true-crime fans some new angles to consider. A worthy addition to the voluminous literature on this famous case.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
King and Wilson, coauthors of The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria, return with an intriguing deep dive into the horrific 1924 murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago. Affluent friends Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb abducted Franks, Loeb's second cousin, on his way home after school, and, after striking him on the head with a chisel and shoving an ether-soaked rag down his throat, stripped his body, stuffed it in a pipe, and sent his family a ransom demand. Their scheme unraveled quickly, however, when police found Leopold's glasses near Franks's corpse. Their families retained Clarence Darrow, who managed to get his clients life sentences rather than the death penalty. The authors demythologize Darrow's advocacy, noting that he manipulated the trial record to edit out portions of his actual remarks, and investigate theories about the four other crimes Leopold said the pair had committed, but refused to name. Most sensationally, King and Wilson suggest that Leopold may have had Loeb killed in prison to enhance his own parole bid. Unfortunately, the psychology that led to the murder remains speculative. Still, this is a disturbing and well-documented look at one of the 20th century's most infamous murders. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Nearly 100 years have passed since Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold committed the "original crime of the century," when they murdered and mutilated 14-year-old Bobby Franks. The murder shocked their Chicago suburb, and eventually the nation, as did the careless attitude of the murderers, compelled by delusions of superhuman freedom from morality. King and Wilson, coauthors of The Resurrection of the Romanovs, team up again for this richly detailed and disturbing analysis of Leopold and Loeb. Through preparation, perpetration, and punishment, the authors explore each aspect of the horrific crime. From affluence to anti-Semitism, King and Wilson discuss all of the factors at play in the Franks murder, as well as other crimes the pair may have committed. Narrator Armando Riesco's casual, somewhat conversational tone will transport listeners to the Roaring Twenties, and they may feel as though they are hearing about the sordid tragedy firsthand. Riesco's fast-paced delivery enhances the menace of the sinister storyline. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a compelling, well-researched, historical true crime presented in an in-depth and engaging manner. Recommended for fans of Erik Larson and Cara Robertson.--Lauren Hackert
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
King and Wilson team up again, this time to chronicle the notorious 1924 murder case dubbed the "crime of the century." On May 21, 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy University of Chicago students, picked up their neighbor, 14-year-old Bobby Frank, while he was walking home from school. They proceeded to bind, gag, and bludgeon him to death and demand a ransom from his parents. Although meticulously planned over months--they wanted "to see if they could commit the perfect crime as if it was some childish game pitting their wits against the police"--their plan soon unraveled when Frank's body was found in a nearby forest where Leopold frequently went birding. Further incriminating details included bloodstains in a rented car, the typewriter on which the ransom letter was likely composed, and bottles of ether and strychnine and two loaded guns at the Leopold house. The authors' meticulous research is apparent throughout this thrilling narrative, as they reveal crucial aspects of the boys' lives and families, especially their codependent relationship and interests in grim Nietzschean philosophy, sadism, and other dark subjects. Observers attributed the crime to a variety of factors, including the "corrupting modern influences" of the Roaring '20s; "perversion," which was "the common and unmistakable code for homosexuality"; or the idea that the perpetrators had strayed from their Jewish roots. The authors argue that Leopold was the actual murderer. "Individually, Richard and Nathan were damaged but probably not dangerous," they write. "It was their coming together that proved deadly." Clarence Darrow took up the case in order to argue against the death penalty. The defendants pled guilty to avoid a jury trial, although Darrow did enlist psychiatrists to suggest that the pair were "mentally diseased" rather than insane or evil. This defense brought another massive wave of media frenzy, which the authors capture in colorful detail. An absorbing, psychological work of historical true crime. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
