We Keep the Dead Close - Becky Cooper

⭐ 8.5/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

I'm pretty sure this is the first true crime book I've ever read, and it was a good experience. The author, Becky Cooper, is a Harvard alumna, and one day she hears about the murder of a student named Jane in the 50s that was never solved and got hushed up. She becomes obsessed and starts looking into it herself. The book is the story of Cooper's search for the truth and everything she learned.

Reading true crime is interesting because it reads a lot like a novel, but since it's something real, you might not get what we'd consider a "good" ending. The main focus was of course the murder, and investigating the victim and all of the suspects and theories. But it's also a really interesting look at academia and its dark side, especially when it comes to institutions like Harvard. Jane was an anthropology student, so it's also about how we explore human history and tell our stories. The book drags a bit and could have been cut down, especially at the end, but it was still a fascinating story and book.