Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best true crime novels I’ve ever read. The bonus for me is twofold: 1. I learned more about Harper Lee and Truman Capote and as I’m a new resident to Alabama (and actually visited Monroeville on a whim last fall), I was thrilled to learn far more about Harper Lee than I anticipated. 2. I got to meet Casey Cep at a book signing Mobile and she was incredibly passionate about her work. She answered question after question and always added more insight. Her admiration for Harper Lee is deep and admirable.

The story begins with the Rev. Maxwell, then moves into the trial of his killer. The story then shifts to Harper Lee. What I enjoyed most about this shift was Cep didn’t pick Lee’s life up at the trial. She went into Lee’s life biographically and it was a marvelous journey.

Cep is an exceptional writer. She is descriptive and turns phrases beautifully. I could highlight the book JUST to admire the way she phrased a sentence.

This is well worth your time!