In the annals of history, few figures stand out as boldly and enigmatically as Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Grace, or Gráinne Mhaol as she is known in Irish, was a formidable and captivating historical figure, renowned for her audacious exploits on the high seas, her indomitable spirit, and her relentless pursuit of…
Stats can be a powerful thing. When used in fun, lighthearted ways, they can color the world around us and make us think twice about what we see, read, and know. For example, did you know that the city of Reno, Nevada is actually further west than Los Angeles, despite being hours inland and a…
In the annals of American crime history, the name “BTK Killer” stands out as a chilling and perplexing chapter. The BTK Killer, whose real identity turned out to be Dennis Rader, terrorized the Wichita, Kansas area for over three decades, leaving a trail of fear and unanswered questions. This is the real story of the…
The American Wild West, with its vast deserts, rugged landscapes, and untamed spirit, has long been a source of fascination and intrigue. It was a time when lawlessness and chaos reigned, and outlaws roamed freely, leaving behind a legacy of daring heists, gunfights, and legends that continue to captivate our imaginations. In this blog post,…
When most people do something wrong and get caught for it, the punishment incentivizes us not to do the bad thing anymore. Whether it’s being grounded as a child for getting into trouble, or being imprisoned as an adult for something nefarious, we all learn that actions have consequences. And the vast majority of us…
As you may recall, we published an excerpt earlier this week from Truman Capote’s novel ‘In Cold Blood.’ If you missed the post, you may click here to read that Capote excerpt for yourself. Related: Excerpt From John Fante’s ‘Ask The Dust’ That proved to be so popular with readers that we have decided to…
Would you kill to win an election? Would you kill if it meant keeping your office as a public official? These aren’t exactly common questions faced by everyday people. And to be fair, these aren’t even common questions faced by most politicians. (Uh, we hope.) But there are quite a few elections taking place around…
Truman Capote’s groundbreaking work “In Cold Blood” stands as a seminal achievement in the realm of true crime literature. Published in 1966, the book meticulously reconstructs the horrifying events surrounding the 1959 Clutter family murders in Holcomb, Kansas. Blurring the lines between fiction and non-fiction, Capote’s narrative engrosses readers with its vivid storytelling and deep…
Murder is a devastating act. In addition to being terrible for the life lost in such a violent and evil way, the victim’s loved ones are left to grapple with that tragedy for the rest of their lives. Whether justice is handed down to murderers or not, the loss of a loved one is a…
The ‘Final Destination’ series of horror movies are meme-worthy at this point, right? The broad idea behind the films is pretty simple: when death has it out for you, there’s really nothing to be done. Fate has signed the proverbial check, and death has come to collect on the payment. No matter how far you…
Being famous isn’t always as easy as it seems. Sure, many celebrities make lots of money. Having access to untold riches and social influence doesn’t seem like such a bad deal. And (theoretically) living out your life with throngs of adoring fans supporting your every move would be a nice ego boost, too. But there…
In the harsh urban jungle, where despair and violence thrive, Jill Leovy unflinchingly plunges into the heart of darkness with her riveting masterpiece, “Ghettoside.” A haunting symphony of shattered dreams and broken lives, this gripping exploration captures the raw essence of a city pulsating with crime and bloodshed. Leovy, a fearless chronicler of the streets,…
The Victorian Era in England was a time of major social change. Industrialization was sweeping across the land—and much of the rest of western Europe—and full-scale lifestyle change was coming to millions of people. Along with it, there was a large-scale migration into large cities, like London. And as more people became more closely-packed into…
Prison is meant to rehabilitate those convicted of crimes while they are held far away from free society. In an ideal world, prisoners do the time as mandated by their crime, reform themselves while in prison, and then are released into the world as functional members of society. Sadly, things don’t often happen that way….