Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects

LIZZIE BORDEN’S HATCHET, A CLOWN PAINTING BY JOHN WAYNE GACY, THE UNABOMBER’S TYPEWRITER   Feed your morbid curiosity with stories of 100 objects connected with some of the most gruesome murders ever committed. And don’t feel sheepish about it—until the police started roping off crime scenes, hordes of onlookers would walk through, grabbing any kind of souvenir they could.   Murder relics possess an unusual and sinister power. It can be something as obvious as the luger used by Harold Unruh, the “Father of Mass Murder.” Or a seemingly innocuous crucifix belonging to Augusta Gein, who railed against sin and was the mother of real-life monster Ed Gein, whose crimes inspired Pyscho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs.   Using one significant object per spectacular crime as a way to retell its chilling story, no gory details spared, Murderabilia weaves a historic tapestry of 100 unthinkable spasms of depravity and violence that have captivated readers for hundreds of years and continue to hold us spellbound.   Praise for Harold Schechter’s work:   “Harold Schechter is America’s dean of true crime, plundering the darkest corners of our history…”                    --Robert Kolker, author of Lost Girls   “Harold Schechter is the best teller of twisted true-crime stories working today…”                    --Deborah Blum, author of The Poisoner’s Handbook   “The dark prince master of American true crime history.”                    --Peter Vronsky, author of Serial Killers