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Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree that Changed America
The definitive story of Charles Starkweather, often considered to be the first mass killer in the modern age of America
On January 21, 1958, nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather changed the course of crime in the United States when he murdered the parents and sister of his fourteen-year-old girlfriend (and possible accomplice), Caril Ann Fugate, in a house on the edge of Lincoln, Nebraska. They then drove to the nearby town of Bennet, where a farmer was robbed and killed. When Starkweather’s car broke down, the teenagers who stopped to help were murdered and jammed into a storm cellar. By the time the dust settled, ten innocent people were dead, and the city of Lincoln was in a state of terror. Schools closed. Men with rifles perched on the roofs of their houses. The National Guard patrolled the street. If there is a cultural version of PTSD, the town suffered from it.
Starkweather and Fugate’s capture and arrest, and the resulting trials about the killing spree, received worldwide coverage. The event would serve as the inspiration for the movie Natural Born Killers and Springsteen’s iconic album Nebraska. Today, the story has dropped far from the national consciousness. With new material, new reporting, and new conclusions about the possible guilt or innocence of Fugate, the tale is ripe for an updated and definitive retelling. In Starkweather, bestselling author Harry N. MacLean tells the story of this shocking event and its lasting impact, a crime spree that struck deep into the heart of the heartland.
On January 21, 1958, nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather changed the course of crime in the United States when he murdered the parents and sister of his fourteen-year-old girlfriend (and possible accomplice), Caril Ann Fugate, in a house on the edge of Lincoln, Nebraska. They then drove to the nearby town of Bennet, where a farmer was robbed and killed. When Starkweather’s car broke down, the teenagers who stopped to help were murdered and jammed into a storm cellar. By the time the dust settled, ten innocent people were dead, and the city of Lincoln was in a state of terror. Schools closed. Men with rifles perched on the roofs of their houses. The National Guard patrolled the street. If there is a cultural version of PTSD, the town suffered from it.
Starkweather and Fugate’s capture and arrest, and the resulting trials about the killing spree, received worldwide coverage. The event would serve as the inspiration for the movie Natural Born Killers and Springsteen’s iconic album Nebraska. Today, the story has dropped far from the national consciousness. With new material, new reporting, and new conclusions about the possible guilt or innocence of Fugate, the tale is ripe for an updated and definitive retelling. In Starkweather, bestselling author Harry N. MacLean tells the story of this shocking event and its lasting impact, a crime spree that struck deep into the heart of the heartland.
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2023
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6401 people want to read
About the author
Harry N. MacLean
10 books110 followersHarry MacLean, an Edgar Award winning true crime writer (In Broad Daylight) has changed genre's with his new novel, "The Joy of Killing." Variously described as a literary thriller, a psychological thriller or philosophical thriller, the book earned a rave review from Kirkus:
"MacLean’s writing is lyrical, ebbing and flowing like a deep riptide that conceals the danger beneath; there is something unsavory and even panic-inducing about being pulled inside his tale. . . A dizzying and delirious meditation on desire, violence, guilt, and philosophical justification."
The book will be on sale in early July.
MacLean's first book was “In Broad Daylight,” published by Harper Collins. This book tells the story of the killing of a town bully on the main street of a small town in northwest Missouri. It won an Edgar Award for Best True Crime and was a New York Times Bestseller for 12 weeks. Brian Denehey stars as the bully in the movie version. “In Broad Daylight” became available as an e-book July 2012.
MacLean’s second book was “Once Upon A Time, a True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law.” Also published by Harper Collins, it tells the true story of a man on trial for murder based solely on his daughter’s “repressed memory” of witnessing him murder her playmate 20 years earlier. “Once Upon a Time” was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Basic Books published his third book, “The Past Is Never Dead, The Trial of James Ford Seale and Mississippi’s Search for Redemption,” which was shortlisted for the William Saroyan Award, given by Stanford University.
MacLean released “About In Broad Daylight, the Story Behind the Book,” in the fall of 2014.
MacLean’s first career was as a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law, magna cum laude, and also received a master’s degree in Law and Sociology from DU. He worked as a trial lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a magistrate in Denver Juvenile Court. He taught as an Adjunct Professor at DU Law. He served as First Assistant Attorney General for the state of Colorado, and as General Counsel of the Peace Corp during the Carter Administration.
For the past twenty years he has worked as a labor arbitrator and author.
His next effort, a memoir, will tell the story of his year working undercover as a prison guard in a maximum security prison in Delaware.
"MacLean’s writing is lyrical, ebbing and flowing like a deep riptide that conceals the danger beneath; there is something unsavory and even panic-inducing about being pulled inside his tale. . . A dizzying and delirious meditation on desire, violence, guilt, and philosophical justification."
The book will be on sale in early July.
MacLean's first book was “In Broad Daylight,” published by Harper Collins. This book tells the story of the killing of a town bully on the main street of a small town in northwest Missouri. It won an Edgar Award for Best True Crime and was a New York Times Bestseller for 12 weeks. Brian Denehey stars as the bully in the movie version. “In Broad Daylight” became available as an e-book July 2012.
MacLean’s second book was “Once Upon A Time, a True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law.” Also published by Harper Collins, it tells the true story of a man on trial for murder based solely on his daughter’s “repressed memory” of witnessing him murder her playmate 20 years earlier. “Once Upon a Time” was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Basic Books published his third book, “The Past Is Never Dead, The Trial of James Ford Seale and Mississippi’s Search for Redemption,” which was shortlisted for the William Saroyan Award, given by Stanford University.
MacLean released “About In Broad Daylight, the Story Behind the Book,” in the fall of 2014.
MacLean’s first career was as a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law, magna cum laude, and also received a master’s degree in Law and Sociology from DU. He worked as a trial lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a magistrate in Denver Juvenile Court. He taught as an Adjunct Professor at DU Law. He served as First Assistant Attorney General for the state of Colorado, and as General Counsel of the Peace Corp during the Carter Administration.
For the past twenty years he has worked as a labor arbitrator and author.
His next effort, a memoir, will tell the story of his year working undercover as a prison guard in a maximum security prison in Delaware.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
February 9, 2024
“In the next seven weeks, the law failed to arrest anybody for the murder of Robert Colvert. The law operated on the mistaken assumption that the killer was a transient and long gone. The law failed to come across a young man who would in hindsight seem like an obvious suspect. A short, red-haired young fellow who hung around the station and bummed change for cokes and candy bars and, when locked out of his room for nonpayment of rent, often slept outside in his car…Who suddenly had lots of bills and pockets full of silver to pay back his rent…Who bought his girlfriend presents…A physical description was given to the cops, but the man had never stood for a mug shot. No one put two and two together. The murder had major consequences for Charlie [Starkweather]. As he would say later, the crime seemed almost to make him whole; it seemed to move him from a life of fiction and fantasy into action…The killing made him feel good; that was the short of it…”
- Harry N. Maclean, Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America
Chances are you’ve heard of Charles Starkweather, his 1958 killing spree, and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate who – depending on what you believe – was either a hostage, an accomplice, or the mastermind of the whole bloody mess. The murders – eleven in all, six men, four women, and a two-year-old girl – has been the subject of movies, documentaries, books, articles, and television specials. Starkweather is name-checked in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire, and is the subject of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album, which the Boss considers his masterpiece.
Even if you don’t know the Starkweather name per se – despite its memorability, its terrible aptness – you’re probably familiar with the derivative media. Both Terrence Malick’s lyrical, visually poetic Badlands, and Oliver Stone’s chaotic, emptily provocative Natural Born Killers, are based on Charlie and Caril Ann, and their lethal sojourn through the backroads of western Nebraska.
With so much already written, said, shown, and sung, you might ask whether Harry Maclean’s Starkweather serves much of a purpose.
I think it does, for two reasons.
First, having been just recently published, it is a summation of sorts, imbued with the advantages that come with the fullness of time.
Second, it is meant as a corrective, a reframing of a story you think you know, but probably really don’t. Part of the reason that the tale of Charlie and Caril Ann has endured – despite the grim reality that mass murder is as American as baseball and apple pie – is the legend that they were a romantic couple shooting their way out of midwestern conformity. The reality, as Maclean strenuously – and at times pedantically – argues, is that Caril Ann was a victim, a fourteen-year-old dragged along on a traumatic nine-day nightmare, fearing for her life every minute.
***
Besides writing true crime, Maclean worked as a lawyer, and it shows in Starkweather’s methodical structure. With the exception of the introduction and the epilogue, in which Maclean – a Nebraska native who grew up in Lincoln at the same time as Charlie Starkweather – discusses his own connection to the murders, while proudly extolling the virtues of the Cornhusker State, the book proceeds directly from point to point.
There is crisp opening chapter introducing us to Charlie and his girlfriend, Caril. Then there is a long chapter that recounts each of the killings, followed by an even longer one covering both Charlie’s and Caril’s trials, appeals, and punishment. Maclean then switches into advocacy mode, in which he argues at length for Caril’s innocence, before ending with a discussion of the crime’s impact and cultural resonances, in an attempt to support the book’s preposterous subtitle.
At about four-hundred pages, this is pretty lengthy, and its thoroughness – and more than occasional reiterations – make it feel longer.
***
Starkweather worked for me, but it felt wildly uneven. The chapter on the killings, for instance, was extremely frustrating. Maclean presents it Rashomon-style, separately telling the woeful tale of each murder from the perspective of both Charlie and Caril, even reverting to the present-tense for more immediacy.
This is in an interesting gambit, and seems good in theory, demonstrating the subjective underpinnings of what we accept as objective truth. In practice, though, it is repetitious and confusing. There is already a lot of information to hold in your head, without having to parse very different recollections. Additionally, as we learn throughout, much of what Charlie Starkweather said was false, meaning we are wasting time exploring his point of view. This would’ve been more effective if Maclean had used his own judgment – based on his voluminous research – to choose the most likely sequence of events by comparing statements to forensic evidence.
***
Other parts of Starkweather were far more engrossing. Maclean’s narrative of Charlie and Caril’s confused road trip is carefully pieced together, and captures the oft-unacknowledged beauty of Nebraska. Late in the book, Maclean notes that he drove their route, and it shows.
The trials are also well handled, despite the fact that it often covers the exact same ground already trod. As a lawyer myself, I think that Maclean did a fine job explaining the various aspects of a criminal proceeding, and noting how different things were back in the late 1950s, in a time before Miranda rights and Gideon v. Wainwright, when sheriffs still lived in their jails, with their wives doing the cooking for inmates.
***
This book isn’t for everyone. In fact, I hesitate to recommend it, though I liked it. The repetition mentioned above gets tedious. Excellent episodes – such as Charlie’s appeals and execution – are interspersed with lawyerly listing and re-listing of evidence. There is an entire chapter in which Maclean pretends he is a judge, and then relitigates Caril’s trial. At another point, he delves into the realm of psychoanalysis, discussing sublimation, dissociation, and sociopathy. Nothing illustrates Starkweather’s essential qualitative inconsistency better than the epilogue, which is disorganized, meandering, off-topic, and somehow still engrossing.
But here’s the thing: this case obsessed me. It beguiled me. I spent more time than I’m willing to admit watching interview clips on YouTube, and staring at black-and-white photos of Caril and Charlie, trying to get past their eyes, trying to get beyond. I rewatched Badlands. I watched the documentary The Twelfth Victim, which movingly argues for Caril’s innocence over four episodes. I read – in some cases reread – the numerous state and federal court opinions concerning Charlie and Caril. Finally – much to the chagrin of my kids – I put an end to the endless succession of Taylor Swift songs playing in my house, and listened to Nebraska from start to finish. It was time extremely well spent.
For me, then, Starkweather – in its too-much-ness – proved to be exactly what I wanted.
***
It’s an interesting question, who gets to tell a story. After all, most significant events have multiple participants, each with their own viewpoints, and their own claim to authorship. With regard to the Starkweather murders, only two people knew exactly what happened.
One of them was a young girl who told the same story over and over again. And in telling that story, she was willing to make admissions against her own interest, which is a powerful indicia of reliability. After her conviction, she spent eighteen years in prison with an immaculate record. Upon her parole, she lived a quiet life within the bounds of the law.
The other was a young – but older – boy with strong sociopathic tendencies, a history of violence, and a love of guns. This boy gleefully admitted to eleven murders, and then told ten separate stories, each one of them different. He sexually mutilated one of his victims and – if we believe his claims that he had sex with Caril – he was a statutory rapist, too. Despite the hideousness of his actions, his glib relationship with truth, he was called by the State of Nebraska as a star witness.
For nearly seventy years, we’ve ignored the girl and listened to the boy, even though the boy was convicted of murder, never professed his innocence, and rode the lightning.
Perhaps it’s about time we listened to Caril’s version, and at least considered it.
- Harry N. Maclean, Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America
Chances are you’ve heard of Charles Starkweather, his 1958 killing spree, and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate who – depending on what you believe – was either a hostage, an accomplice, or the mastermind of the whole bloody mess. The murders – eleven in all, six men, four women, and a two-year-old girl – has been the subject of movies, documentaries, books, articles, and television specials. Starkweather is name-checked in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire, and is the subject of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album, which the Boss considers his masterpiece.
Even if you don’t know the Starkweather name per se – despite its memorability, its terrible aptness – you’re probably familiar with the derivative media. Both Terrence Malick’s lyrical, visually poetic Badlands, and Oliver Stone’s chaotic, emptily provocative Natural Born Killers, are based on Charlie and Caril Ann, and their lethal sojourn through the backroads of western Nebraska.
With so much already written, said, shown, and sung, you might ask whether Harry Maclean’s Starkweather serves much of a purpose.
I think it does, for two reasons.
First, having been just recently published, it is a summation of sorts, imbued with the advantages that come with the fullness of time.
Second, it is meant as a corrective, a reframing of a story you think you know, but probably really don’t. Part of the reason that the tale of Charlie and Caril Ann has endured – despite the grim reality that mass murder is as American as baseball and apple pie – is the legend that they were a romantic couple shooting their way out of midwestern conformity. The reality, as Maclean strenuously – and at times pedantically – argues, is that Caril Ann was a victim, a fourteen-year-old dragged along on a traumatic nine-day nightmare, fearing for her life every minute.
***
Besides writing true crime, Maclean worked as a lawyer, and it shows in Starkweather’s methodical structure. With the exception of the introduction and the epilogue, in which Maclean – a Nebraska native who grew up in Lincoln at the same time as Charlie Starkweather – discusses his own connection to the murders, while proudly extolling the virtues of the Cornhusker State, the book proceeds directly from point to point.
There is crisp opening chapter introducing us to Charlie and his girlfriend, Caril. Then there is a long chapter that recounts each of the killings, followed by an even longer one covering both Charlie’s and Caril’s trials, appeals, and punishment. Maclean then switches into advocacy mode, in which he argues at length for Caril’s innocence, before ending with a discussion of the crime’s impact and cultural resonances, in an attempt to support the book’s preposterous subtitle.
At about four-hundred pages, this is pretty lengthy, and its thoroughness – and more than occasional reiterations – make it feel longer.
***
Starkweather worked for me, but it felt wildly uneven. The chapter on the killings, for instance, was extremely frustrating. Maclean presents it Rashomon-style, separately telling the woeful tale of each murder from the perspective of both Charlie and Caril, even reverting to the present-tense for more immediacy.
This is in an interesting gambit, and seems good in theory, demonstrating the subjective underpinnings of what we accept as objective truth. In practice, though, it is repetitious and confusing. There is already a lot of information to hold in your head, without having to parse very different recollections. Additionally, as we learn throughout, much of what Charlie Starkweather said was false, meaning we are wasting time exploring his point of view. This would’ve been more effective if Maclean had used his own judgment – based on his voluminous research – to choose the most likely sequence of events by comparing statements to forensic evidence.
***
Other parts of Starkweather were far more engrossing. Maclean’s narrative of Charlie and Caril’s confused road trip is carefully pieced together, and captures the oft-unacknowledged beauty of Nebraska. Late in the book, Maclean notes that he drove their route, and it shows.
The trials are also well handled, despite the fact that it often covers the exact same ground already trod. As a lawyer myself, I think that Maclean did a fine job explaining the various aspects of a criminal proceeding, and noting how different things were back in the late 1950s, in a time before Miranda rights and Gideon v. Wainwright, when sheriffs still lived in their jails, with their wives doing the cooking for inmates.
***
This book isn’t for everyone. In fact, I hesitate to recommend it, though I liked it. The repetition mentioned above gets tedious. Excellent episodes – such as Charlie’s appeals and execution – are interspersed with lawyerly listing and re-listing of evidence. There is an entire chapter in which Maclean pretends he is a judge, and then relitigates Caril’s trial. At another point, he delves into the realm of psychoanalysis, discussing sublimation, dissociation, and sociopathy. Nothing illustrates Starkweather’s essential qualitative inconsistency better than the epilogue, which is disorganized, meandering, off-topic, and somehow still engrossing.
But here’s the thing: this case obsessed me. It beguiled me. I spent more time than I’m willing to admit watching interview clips on YouTube, and staring at black-and-white photos of Caril and Charlie, trying to get past their eyes, trying to get beyond. I rewatched Badlands. I watched the documentary The Twelfth Victim, which movingly argues for Caril’s innocence over four episodes. I read – in some cases reread – the numerous state and federal court opinions concerning Charlie and Caril. Finally – much to the chagrin of my kids – I put an end to the endless succession of Taylor Swift songs playing in my house, and listened to Nebraska from start to finish. It was time extremely well spent.
For me, then, Starkweather – in its too-much-ness – proved to be exactly what I wanted.
***
It’s an interesting question, who gets to tell a story. After all, most significant events have multiple participants, each with their own viewpoints, and their own claim to authorship. With regard to the Starkweather murders, only two people knew exactly what happened.
One of them was a young girl who told the same story over and over again. And in telling that story, she was willing to make admissions against her own interest, which is a powerful indicia of reliability. After her conviction, she spent eighteen years in prison with an immaculate record. Upon her parole, she lived a quiet life within the bounds of the law.
The other was a young – but older – boy with strong sociopathic tendencies, a history of violence, and a love of guns. This boy gleefully admitted to eleven murders, and then told ten separate stories, each one of them different. He sexually mutilated one of his victims and – if we believe his claims that he had sex with Caril – he was a statutory rapist, too. Despite the hideousness of his actions, his glib relationship with truth, he was called by the State of Nebraska as a star witness.
For nearly seventy years, we’ve ignored the girl and listened to the boy, even though the boy was convicted of murder, never professed his innocence, and rode the lightning.
Perhaps it’s about time we listened to Caril’s version, and at least considered it.
May 22, 2023
As a true crime fan, the subject matter was interesting to me, but there was SO MUCH unnecessary repetition in the narrative. I understand how the author wanted to organize how he told the story, but it just didn’t work for me. So many of the same details were repeated over and over again. I made myself finish the book because I really did want to know how this true story ended, but the writing style just wasn’t my taste.
January 27, 2024
4 Stars
February 20, 2024
In January of 1958 19 year old Charles Starkweather went on a killing spree in rural Nebraska, he killed 10 people, including his 14 year old girlfriend Caril's mother, stepfather and 2 year old sister. After killing her family Charles and Caril went on the run racking up more dead bodies. Charles was convicted and executed in 1959. Caril was convicted as well but was she guilty?
Charles Starkweather is considered by many to have been the first mass murder in modern America. His killing spree inspired songs by Bruce Springsteen and multiple movies including Badlands and Natural Born Killers. The Starkweather trial was at the time "The Trial of the Century". Charles admitted his guilt and wanted the death penalty. At first he said that Caril wasn't involved in the actual murders but later changed his mind and decided that it would be more romantic if Caril also got the death penalty. He wanted Caril on his lap when he was executed. She luckily wasn't given death but she still served too many years for crimes she most likely didn't commit.
The author of this book grew up not far from where these killings took place and he was around the same age as Caril. This author Harry Maclean makes a very good case for Caril's innocence. I went only have minimal information about this case but I assumed she was guilty...After this book I definitely think she's innocent. Caril was a very traumatized 14 year old girl in rural 1950's Nebraska who was dating a grown man with a history of violence. He had already killed someone before the murder spree started. Charles Starkweather was psychopath who showed no remorse. Caril was a terrified little girl in way over her head. Also the police were useless idiots and the press was as always blood thirsty.
Starkweather is an interesting look at how America has changed in many ways for the worst. In 1958 mass murder was unheard of and the term Serial Killer hadn't been invented. But in the next few years more and more mass murders would be committed. Today a mass happens in the U.S. almost every day. Most don't make the national news because there are just too many. Mass shootings are unfortunately just a normal part of American life and I don't see it ever changing.
I'm glad this book was my first real introduction to this story. Harry Maclean found a way to humanize not only the victims( Caril was a victim too) but also Charles Starkweather. Despite this book being titled Starkweather, this book is Caril's story. She was still alive but very sick at the end of this book. I hope that she finds peace. She experienced something unimaginable at the age of 14. She was painted as a Lolita, a killer, a liar and a monster. But I don't think any of those things were true.
I think she's innocence but I think you my fellow readers should read this book and come to your own conclusions. I'll probably watch Badlands in the future...it's not currently streaming anywhere so I might need to see if my library has a copy...if they do ill have to find a dvd player somewhere to watch it.
I highly recommend this book but I will say that it does start off a little slow but once the pace picks up you won't be able to put it down.
Charles Starkweather is considered by many to have been the first mass murder in modern America. His killing spree inspired songs by Bruce Springsteen and multiple movies including Badlands and Natural Born Killers. The Starkweather trial was at the time "The Trial of the Century". Charles admitted his guilt and wanted the death penalty. At first he said that Caril wasn't involved in the actual murders but later changed his mind and decided that it would be more romantic if Caril also got the death penalty. He wanted Caril on his lap when he was executed. She luckily wasn't given death but she still served too many years for crimes she most likely didn't commit.
The author of this book grew up not far from where these killings took place and he was around the same age as Caril. This author Harry Maclean makes a very good case for Caril's innocence. I went only have minimal information about this case but I assumed she was guilty...After this book I definitely think she's innocent. Caril was a very traumatized 14 year old girl in rural 1950's Nebraska who was dating a grown man with a history of violence. He had already killed someone before the murder spree started. Charles Starkweather was psychopath who showed no remorse. Caril was a terrified little girl in way over her head. Also the police were useless idiots and the press was as always blood thirsty.
Starkweather is an interesting look at how America has changed in many ways for the worst. In 1958 mass murder was unheard of and the term Serial Killer hadn't been invented. But in the next few years more and more mass murders would be committed. Today a mass happens in the U.S. almost every day. Most don't make the national news because there are just too many. Mass shootings are unfortunately just a normal part of American life and I don't see it ever changing.
I'm glad this book was my first real introduction to this story. Harry Maclean found a way to humanize not only the victims( Caril was a victim too) but also Charles Starkweather. Despite this book being titled Starkweather, this book is Caril's story. She was still alive but very sick at the end of this book. I hope that she finds peace. She experienced something unimaginable at the age of 14. She was painted as a Lolita, a killer, a liar and a monster. But I don't think any of those things were true.
I think she's innocence but I think you my fellow readers should read this book and come to your own conclusions. I'll probably watch Badlands in the future...it's not currently streaming anywhere so I might need to see if my library has a copy...if they do ill have to find a dvd player somewhere to watch it.
I highly recommend this book but I will say that it does start off a little slow but once the pace picks up you won't be able to put it down.
September 9, 2023
I once rode shotgun with a quiet coworker, and we shared hours of silence during our daily car rides. The only disruption to our monotony was his choice of true crime podcasts as the soundtrack to our journey. Although I had a personal connection to a famous case, I usually steered clear of true crime as a genre. But lately, it seems everyone is binge-watching true crime shows on Netflix, and those car rides immersed me in a world of gruesome murders that I found unsettling.
Enter "Starkweather," the chilling surname of the killer chronicled in Harry MacLean's book. It is the start of spooky season in America, and a series of small events led me to this book. Admittedly, I don't fit the typical true crime reader profile, but MacLean manages to captivate a broader audience.
One standout aspect of the book is MacLean's approach to detailing the killings. He not only recounts the events but also presents the conflicting narratives of the individuals involved, Charlie and Caril. Throughout the book, these testimonies evolve, leaving readers to ponder where the truth truly lies. MacLean's primary focus is unraveling Caril's role in the murders: was she a hostage, a participant, or a victim of an imperfect justice system?
In my opinion, the weakest part of the book is MacLean's deep dive into the technical aspects of the legal system. He delves into topics like fight or flight responses and includes references to other cases, even recent ones like the college student killings in Idaho. While these details aim to shed light on Caril's situation, I found them somewhat excessive.
What truly resonated with me was how MacLean vividly set the stage in 1950's Nebraska, transporting readers to that era. His ability to provide clear imagery of the events, blending facts with idealized portrayals, makes the book accessible to those who don't typically read about real-life crimes or murders. Overall, "Starkweather" is an intriguing read that goes beyond the typical true crime narrative.
Enter "Starkweather," the chilling surname of the killer chronicled in Harry MacLean's book. It is the start of spooky season in America, and a series of small events led me to this book. Admittedly, I don't fit the typical true crime reader profile, but MacLean manages to captivate a broader audience.
One standout aspect of the book is MacLean's approach to detailing the killings. He not only recounts the events but also presents the conflicting narratives of the individuals involved, Charlie and Caril. Throughout the book, these testimonies evolve, leaving readers to ponder where the truth truly lies. MacLean's primary focus is unraveling Caril's role in the murders: was she a hostage, a participant, or a victim of an imperfect justice system?
In my opinion, the weakest part of the book is MacLean's deep dive into the technical aspects of the legal system. He delves into topics like fight or flight responses and includes references to other cases, even recent ones like the college student killings in Idaho. While these details aim to shed light on Caril's situation, I found them somewhat excessive.
What truly resonated with me was how MacLean vividly set the stage in 1950's Nebraska, transporting readers to that era. His ability to provide clear imagery of the events, blending facts with idealized portrayals, makes the book accessible to those who don't typically read about real-life crimes or murders. Overall, "Starkweather" is an intriguing read that goes beyond the typical true crime narrative.
March 8, 2025
2/2 (already) so the cops go to the house with the grandmother. Two people were shot with a sawed off shotgun and another was stabbed not to mention the various blows to various heads and nothing seems amiss? (Pronounced in my best sarcastic questioning British accent) where the hell did all of the blood go?
2/27 this book in general is written well. I have no complaints with how the information is laid out. It just seems so rote. I think I’m about 70% in and personality traits, more in-depth explanations, etc seem they need sharper, deeper investigation. Otherwise I feel like I could find everything that is in this book anywhere else like Wiki or an hour or two documentary. I don’t like reading and hearing the extra voices in my head shouting excellent interview questions or items that were just not hunted down like they should have been.
3/8 FINALLY I’m finished (but ever since this last apple update I’ve had the oddest autocorrected typos imaginable. Who knows? I guess Gates wants to tic people off before his name shows up on an island manifest) anyway, the end has a sentence that introduced me to the song, “ Nebraska”. I just want to know whose bright idea was it to tell this Mr. Springsteen that he could sing well? I did appreciate the verses though. Did the tale justice, but I could only suffer his voice one time. Went off topic again. It’s fine I’m diagnosed with brain issues. I feel drained now. I think the book could have been edited a bit more. Ran on in places, repeated many times. I think I would have been satisfied with a library copy. Oh well, one more true crime book for my collection and it is an American iconic crime.
The following has nothing to do with the plot or crimes of this book, but it’s slightly brushed over, and It's just something I want to share with you because if any of you ever come to this region on vacation you cannot pass this up, and I'll be happy to answer questions.
So I'm not far into the book. There's been the mandatory introduction of the integral figures etc and now Im learning about the geography, history, etc of the area, you know, typical stuff. But let me just say something that ALWAYS irritates me as a Hoosier and Lvillian: Lewis and Clark DID NOT begin their massive, influential, and unbelievable exploration of the Louisiana purchase in St Louis. They began in Clarksville, IN at the falls. At the time Clarksville was a fast-paced, populous city because of its prime location in accordance with Louisville and the ability to circumvent the local rapids (which are racing, foaming waters very deadly). Clark's sister's house is a few miles away from me. Clark's cabin where he burned himself in his bonfire drunk as all getout is right across the river from me. The fossil beds down the road from that cabin are older than the oldest dinosaur beds. I could talk for hours about the Great Falls. When I was a teacher I taught there every summer, developed my own curriculum supported by all of their amazing materials. Children love it there; their imaginations run wild, especially if their classroom teachers have exposed them to enriching subjects. I love it there. Adults need to plan to go deep into summer. That way the Ohio River is drier and you can cross so far out into the beds. It can be a bit of a climb, hop, jump in areas so watch your children out there. I've never gone all the way across because I'm not a hiker. It's pretty far. At that time the citizens of Louisville would walk right across the dried bed to Clarksville and vice versa.
2/27 this book in general is written well. I have no complaints with how the information is laid out. It just seems so rote. I think I’m about 70% in and personality traits, more in-depth explanations, etc seem they need sharper, deeper investigation. Otherwise I feel like I could find everything that is in this book anywhere else like Wiki or an hour or two documentary. I don’t like reading and hearing the extra voices in my head shouting excellent interview questions or items that were just not hunted down like they should have been.
3/8 FINALLY I’m finished (but ever since this last apple update I’ve had the oddest autocorrected typos imaginable. Who knows? I guess Gates wants to tic people off before his name shows up on an island manifest) anyway, the end has a sentence that introduced me to the song, “ Nebraska”. I just want to know whose bright idea was it to tell this Mr. Springsteen that he could sing well? I did appreciate the verses though. Did the tale justice, but I could only suffer his voice one time. Went off topic again. It’s fine I’m diagnosed with brain issues. I feel drained now. I think the book could have been edited a bit more. Ran on in places, repeated many times. I think I would have been satisfied with a library copy. Oh well, one more true crime book for my collection and it is an American iconic crime.
The following has nothing to do with the plot or crimes of this book, but it’s slightly brushed over, and It's just something I want to share with you because if any of you ever come to this region on vacation you cannot pass this up, and I'll be happy to answer questions.
So I'm not far into the book. There's been the mandatory introduction of the integral figures etc and now Im learning about the geography, history, etc of the area, you know, typical stuff. But let me just say something that ALWAYS irritates me as a Hoosier and Lvillian: Lewis and Clark DID NOT begin their massive, influential, and unbelievable exploration of the Louisiana purchase in St Louis. They began in Clarksville, IN at the falls. At the time Clarksville was a fast-paced, populous city because of its prime location in accordance with Louisville and the ability to circumvent the local rapids (which are racing, foaming waters very deadly). Clark's sister's house is a few miles away from me. Clark's cabin where he burned himself in his bonfire drunk as all getout is right across the river from me. The fossil beds down the road from that cabin are older than the oldest dinosaur beds. I could talk for hours about the Great Falls. When I was a teacher I taught there every summer, developed my own curriculum supported by all of their amazing materials. Children love it there; their imaginations run wild, especially if their classroom teachers have exposed them to enriching subjects. I love it there. Adults need to plan to go deep into summer. That way the Ohio River is drier and you can cross so far out into the beds. It can be a bit of a climb, hop, jump in areas so watch your children out there. I've never gone all the way across because I'm not a hiker. It's pretty far. At that time the citizens of Louisville would walk right across the dried bed to Clarksville and vice versa.
December 20, 2023
2.5 stars I guess...
Interesting book on a topic I knew nothing about. Certainly not a book that will ever be promoted by the Nebraska Board of Tourism (if there is such a thing)... It's pretty stark.
I will say the book could have used a better, more competent editor. The text is liberally sprinkled with typos, the occasional redundant/repeated sentence (see if you can find the nearly verbatim repeat on pages 17 & 18!), and even some factual errors which I picked up despite not knowing the story: One of the key locations in the story is "924 Belmont Street" in Lincoln, Nebraska. However, according to Google it should actually be Belmont Avenue as there appears to be no Belmont Street in modern day Lincoln. The author also states the current day address is a field, which also appears incorrect according to Google. Maybe I am looking at the wrong place?
Additionally there is an obviously incorrect photo caption stating the fugitives' car was abandoned the night of Jan 21, 1958, when it is in fact perfectly obvious from the text the car was abandoned on the 27th. That kind of mistake just seems really sloppy and makes me wonder what other errors are sprinkled throughout the text that I didn't (or couldn't) pick up on.
Speaking of photos, the author makes many repeated references to a widely circulated photo of Starkweather and Fugate sitting on a love seat. This photo is referenced dozens of times, yet it is not included in the book. Sure, the photo can easily be found on the web... But still... It seemed odd not to include it... A pretty big miss in my opinion.
And then there is the epilogue where the author pays an uninvited visit to the elderly and infirmed Caril Fugate Clair in her nursing home. Although according to his account the visit goes well (until the nursing home staff chases him away) I can't help but feel a little... Ick. That scene feels a bit stalkerish and fanboy.
Also in the epilogue, the author pays a visit to the Nebraska State Historical Society because he wants to see (and hold!) the three guns used in the crime spree. C-R-E-E-P-Y. But even here another miss: He claims to have photographed the guns, so why not include the photos? What was the point other than to scratch the authors personal itch?
All-in-all a good read. The courtroom/trial sections are a bit of a drag if I'm being honest. But worth the read I think.
Interesting book on a topic I knew nothing about. Certainly not a book that will ever be promoted by the Nebraska Board of Tourism (if there is such a thing)... It's pretty stark.
I will say the book could have used a better, more competent editor. The text is liberally sprinkled with typos, the occasional redundant/repeated sentence (see if you can find the nearly verbatim repeat on pages 17 & 18!), and even some factual errors which I picked up despite not knowing the story: One of the key locations in the story is "924 Belmont Street" in Lincoln, Nebraska. However, according to Google it should actually be Belmont Avenue as there appears to be no Belmont Street in modern day Lincoln. The author also states the current day address is a field, which also appears incorrect according to Google. Maybe I am looking at the wrong place?
Additionally there is an obviously incorrect photo caption stating the fugitives' car was abandoned the night of Jan 21, 1958, when it is in fact perfectly obvious from the text the car was abandoned on the 27th. That kind of mistake just seems really sloppy and makes me wonder what other errors are sprinkled throughout the text that I didn't (or couldn't) pick up on.
Speaking of photos, the author makes many repeated references to a widely circulated photo of Starkweather and Fugate sitting on a love seat. This photo is referenced dozens of times, yet it is not included in the book. Sure, the photo can easily be found on the web... But still... It seemed odd not to include it... A pretty big miss in my opinion.
And then there is the epilogue where the author pays an uninvited visit to the elderly and infirmed Caril Fugate Clair in her nursing home. Although according to his account the visit goes well (until the nursing home staff chases him away) I can't help but feel a little... Ick. That scene feels a bit stalkerish and fanboy.
Also in the epilogue, the author pays a visit to the Nebraska State Historical Society because he wants to see (and hold!) the three guns used in the crime spree. C-R-E-E-P-Y. But even here another miss: He claims to have photographed the guns, so why not include the photos? What was the point other than to scratch the authors personal itch?
All-in-all a good read. The courtroom/trial sections are a bit of a drag if I'm being honest. But worth the read I think.
December 22, 2023
For those familiar with this killing spree in Nebraska in 1958 there may not be anything new here. But I wasn't familiar with it, nor did I realize Springsteen's song Nebraska is about it, nor have I seen the movie Badlands, so for me it was all new and fascinating. The writing is spare and surgical and this nonfiction story is told in several parts, various scenes, such as the murders, are written from the POV of Charles Starkweather, the 19 year old killer, and then from the POV of Caril Fugate, his 14 year old girlfriend, with the details increasing, augmenting, changing, cancelling out what came before. Nebraska comes to life, as does what happened in America afterwards. Told in exacting detail, it sometimes felt a bit repetitive to me, but then I came to see it wasn't. The author has a direct connection to the story, from the same town in Nebraska, was 15 when this killing spree occurred, went to the same school as Starkweather. Very interesting and compelling. I kept turning the pages.
March 3, 2024
The story itself is fascinating, the research is good but as others have said, the author is incredibly repetitive. He states what happens, then tells it again from each of the two primary characters perspective. The book is easily 200 pages too long.
April 6, 2024
explicit. and, obviously, so dark.
a factual clinical feel of retelling. meticulously detailed. repetitive, purposefully (pov’s) and then annoyingly (trial statements). there was a section on the impact on America that wasn’t as impressive as the catchy synopsis made it seem; it’s not really conclusive that this one killing spree—yes shocking and uncommon—inspired and motivated all future mass murderers and killing sprees.
but the story itself, really is so strange. otherworldly.
there’s a statement with no further speculation given, that after all of it, Charlie Starkweather had changed in prison, on death row, by a visiting chaplain and his Bible. that He knew the Lord reigns and that he was sorry for what he’d done.
there had been a lot of lies and other evils, but if that was true... the Lord knows the heart. and what a testament of God’s mercy if we get to heaven and meet Starkweather there.
a factual clinical feel of retelling. meticulously detailed. repetitive, purposefully (pov’s) and then annoyingly (trial statements). there was a section on the impact on America that wasn’t as impressive as the catchy synopsis made it seem; it’s not really conclusive that this one killing spree—yes shocking and uncommon—inspired and motivated all future mass murderers and killing sprees.
but the story itself, really is so strange. otherworldly.
there’s a statement with no further speculation given, that after all of it, Charlie Starkweather had changed in prison, on death row, by a visiting chaplain and his Bible. that He knew the Lord reigns and that he was sorry for what he’d done.
there had been a lot of lies and other evils, but if that was true... the Lord knows the heart. and what a testament of God’s mercy if we get to heaven and meet Starkweather there.
December 19, 2024
This is a story that I knew very well prior to reading this. However, I did still learn a lot of new contextual details that add to the greater story. As a Lincoln native this will always be a topic that sparks interest for me.
January 2, 2026
Creepy.
May 7, 2024
Surprisingly enough for a Navy kid, I spent about a year and a half in Nebraska when I was a teen. My father was stationed to Offutt AFB in Bellevue during the transition from Strategic Air Command (SAC) to US Strategic Command (STRATCOM). I don’t know if it’s because we lived in Nebraska and I picked it up through osmosis, or because we share a first name, but the name Caril Ann Fugate is quite familiar to me, though I didn’t really understand why. This book brings both Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend Caril to life, vividly.
I appreciated that MacLean wanted the reader to know both sides of the story, that from Charlie’s view and also from Caril’s view. However, this did lead to a great deal of repetition that could have been cut from the final edition of this book. MacLean would retell the story of one of the murders again and again, and the repetition was a bit distracting. However, it was easy to skip over or skim those parts.
I realized early on that MacLean was going to be rather sympathetic towards Caril, though how can you not be? She was so young when she met Charlie, only twelve years old. As the mother of two daughters, I cannot fathom letting them run around with a boy five years older, but then, times were different. I agree with the author that she was probably so badly traumatized by the idea that Charlie’s gang was going to harm her family (though they were already dead), that she felt totally under Charlie’s thumb and forced to go along with his wishes. It nearly beggars belief that she could be this bloodthirsty murderer for a couple of weeks at age 14 and then spend 18 years in prison as an exemplary prisoner and go on to live a quiet and nonviolent life for many more years. My heart hurts for how badly the justice system let Caril down as well, not allowing her counsel for so long when she was arrested and letting the media paint a one-sided view of her as a sly, murderous vixen. She was just a kid!
That said, while I am not a fan of capital punishment, I am very glad that justice was served regarding Charles Starkweather. But I do wish he’d gotten life in prison. MacLean shows us a picture of Charlie as a man who wanted to go down in a blaze of glory, and sending him to death solidified that image of himself. He got what he wanted — infamy.
I appreciated that MacLean writes so vividly about Nebraska. I really loved living there; it was my favorite of all my father’s duty stations growing up. I wish I had known about the Sandhills, however. That area sounds fascinating, and now I want to go there. I’m blown away by how closely the author lived to Starkweather, even casually knowing him. MacLean’s meeting with Caril Fugate in the nursing home is so poignant and touching. I’m glad he went to see her. I hope somehow she knows that he’s written her story as well as could be.
I appreciated that MacLean wanted the reader to know both sides of the story, that from Charlie’s view and also from Caril’s view. However, this did lead to a great deal of repetition that could have been cut from the final edition of this book. MacLean would retell the story of one of the murders again and again, and the repetition was a bit distracting. However, it was easy to skip over or skim those parts.
I realized early on that MacLean was going to be rather sympathetic towards Caril, though how can you not be? She was so young when she met Charlie, only twelve years old. As the mother of two daughters, I cannot fathom letting them run around with a boy five years older, but then, times were different. I agree with the author that she was probably so badly traumatized by the idea that Charlie’s gang was going to harm her family (though they were already dead), that she felt totally under Charlie’s thumb and forced to go along with his wishes. It nearly beggars belief that she could be this bloodthirsty murderer for a couple of weeks at age 14 and then spend 18 years in prison as an exemplary prisoner and go on to live a quiet and nonviolent life for many more years. My heart hurts for how badly the justice system let Caril down as well, not allowing her counsel for so long when she was arrested and letting the media paint a one-sided view of her as a sly, murderous vixen. She was just a kid!
That said, while I am not a fan of capital punishment, I am very glad that justice was served regarding Charles Starkweather. But I do wish he’d gotten life in prison. MacLean shows us a picture of Charlie as a man who wanted to go down in a blaze of glory, and sending him to death solidified that image of himself. He got what he wanted — infamy.
I appreciated that MacLean writes so vividly about Nebraska. I really loved living there; it was my favorite of all my father’s duty stations growing up. I wish I had known about the Sandhills, however. That area sounds fascinating, and now I want to go there. I’m blown away by how closely the author lived to Starkweather, even casually knowing him. MacLean’s meeting with Caril Fugate in the nursing home is so poignant and touching. I’m glad he went to see her. I hope somehow she knows that he’s written her story as well as could be.
March 18, 2024
Very good book. It is very, very long, and at some points felt unnecessarily so, but in general, the story is fascinating and Harry Maclean has painstakingly recreated and reexamined the first spree killing in American history. In 1958, Charlie Starkweather killed 11 people in Nebraska and Wyoming over a matter of about 8 days. His girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, has long been considered his willing partner and an active participant in the killing spree, but Maclean paints a very different picture of her role in tragedy. The book feels repetitive at times as Maclean spends multiple chapters examining first the killing spree itself, then going over the same events from both Starkweather’s and Fugate’s points of view, and then repeating everything again through the lenses of the resulting murder trials. It’s a lot to take in and definitely wasn’t easy to read, but I definitely came away with a clearer understanding of not only the events themselves but how Caril Ann was really Starkweather’s 12th victim rather than his partner in crime.
December 22, 2023
2.5 I love a good true crime novel and this one appealed to me because it is the real life story upon which the film Badlands is based upon. In 1958 Charlie Starkweather and 14 year old Caril Fugate go on a killing spree in Nebraska. The crimes were shocking and sent fear rippling through the state and shocked the nation. Why did they do it? Was Caril an innocent accomplice or a cold-blooded killer like her boyfriend? The subsequent trials seek to answer these questions. Much as been written about this case but the author has sought to record the definitive version of events, which unfortunately makes for a lot of repetition as we hear many sides of the story. He also gets way into the weeds on mental issues and other topics.
January 23, 2024
A fantastic extraordinarily dense account of the 1950s Charles Starkweather murders from a solid true crime writer/investigator who actually has ties to the Lincoln, Nebraska area. This will clearly be the definitive work following the Showtime documentary about the killing spree, The 12th Victim. It does run very long and is very exhaustive and dense. No stone is left unturned and I recommend it.
October 30, 2023
I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.
I have heard about the story of the Starkweather spree killing in the past on podcasts and other media but I was very impressed with the different approach taken by this author. I liked that he had a question to pose and focused in on that by looking into whether Caril Ann Fugate was a victim or part of the killings. The authors use of the differing accounts of both Caril and Charles was very interesting and overall I generally liked this book.
I have heard about the story of the Starkweather spree killing in the past on podcasts and other media but I was very impressed with the different approach taken by this author. I liked that he had a question to pose and focused in on that by looking into whether Caril Ann Fugate was a victim or part of the killings. The authors use of the differing accounts of both Caril and Charles was very interesting and overall I generally liked this book.
May 21, 2024
Exhaustive dive into the loss-of-innocence murder spree by Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, in and around Lincoln Nebraska during a very bloody January week in 1958.
Pluses: Solid timeline, identifying victims and family members, elements of each crime, requisite background on the two main players.
Minuses: A near-constant insertion of why a particular version or part of a crime pointed to the innocence of Fugate; a difficult section on trauma psychology that seemed cyclical enough to repeat on itself; not nearly enough background analysis of the title character, Charles Starkweather (though the book title bears his name, he is not the focus of the research)—I’d been hoping for more psychological commentary on his motivations.
Overall, good coverage of the crime spree, but misses a central focus
Pluses: Solid timeline, identifying victims and family members, elements of each crime, requisite background on the two main players.
Minuses: A near-constant insertion of why a particular version or part of a crime pointed to the innocence of Fugate; a difficult section on trauma psychology that seemed cyclical enough to repeat on itself; not nearly enough background analysis of the title character, Charles Starkweather (though the book title bears his name, he is not the focus of the research)—I’d been hoping for more psychological commentary on his motivations.
Overall, good coverage of the crime spree, but misses a central focus
January 21, 2024
I loved this book! The author does a great job of portraying Lincoln during the 1950s. I do feel the author has bias based on his writing. He makes great points about the court system, and the police work done during this case. The reader is given facts and must make a decision on Carils innocence!
January 21, 2024
This was too long by half.
March 29, 2024
The story was interesting but SOO repetitive and just felt like so much information was included that didn't need to be. This could have been a much shorter story and been much better.
December 13, 2023
After thinking it over, I think I'll settle on 3.5/5 stars for this one.
I found Starkweather to be an interesting read, but I think the author got too bogged down in the details at times. I think I remember seeing the Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugate case on some TV show (American Justice, maybe? But it doesn't matter) and thought it was a disturbing case of two young people who go on a killing spree across Nebraska in January of 1958. The pair grew up in Lincoln, the state capital. Charles Starkweather was 19, had quit school and was a garbage man. Caril was fourteen and an eighth grader. The two were dating and were very close....apparently.
Charles Starkweather killed Caril's mother, stepdad and two year old sister Betty. He then kept Caril hostage in her own home for six days (while some believe that Caril knew about the killing of her parents and she was hiding in plain sight). To keep people away, because they kept stopping by the house, Caril initially said that everyone had the flu. Eventually a note appeared on the back door stating that no one could come into the house. After those 6 days, Charles and Caril left Lincoln and Charles would end up killing a total of 11 people. This included a teenage couple and a wealthy couple and their maid.
I appreciated the author's attempts to how this crime spree changed the way people in Nebraska saw their young people. While Nebraska is seen as boring now, this crime put Lincoln on that map. Caril was essentially vilified, made out to be a jealous and was oversexualized--seen as the reason she helped Starkweather. But what people don't seem to realize, or remember, was that Caril was a teenage girl, who's brain wasn't fully developed. I do tend to agree with the author that she wasn't at home when Starkweather killed her family, and didn't know what to do when he just kept killing people.
But MacLean's description of the trial and how Caril's brain wasn't fully and trauma was so much. Too much detail that could've been simplified in a short chapter. Yes, Caril grew up poor on the "wrong side of the tracks," as it were, but there was probably a better way to explain all of this. And that was part of the problem, anyone who isn't in the norm is obviously a bad person in the 195os when "sameness," was everything. People didn't want to look deeper into the case, because it was tragic but went against everything that people stood for: that teens could go wrong in such a big way.
I think I was just expecting something else from this, I didn't need the author's discussion of his own time growing in Lincoln (contemporary of Starkweather and Caril).
I found Starkweather to be an interesting read, but I think the author got too bogged down in the details at times. I think I remember seeing the Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugate case on some TV show (American Justice, maybe? But it doesn't matter) and thought it was a disturbing case of two young people who go on a killing spree across Nebraska in January of 1958. The pair grew up in Lincoln, the state capital. Charles Starkweather was 19, had quit school and was a garbage man. Caril was fourteen and an eighth grader. The two were dating and were very close....apparently.
Charles Starkweather killed Caril's mother, stepdad and two year old sister Betty. He then kept Caril hostage in her own home for six days (while some believe that Caril knew about the killing of her parents and she was hiding in plain sight). To keep people away, because they kept stopping by the house, Caril initially said that everyone had the flu. Eventually a note appeared on the back door stating that no one could come into the house. After those 6 days, Charles and Caril left Lincoln and Charles would end up killing a total of 11 people. This included a teenage couple and a wealthy couple and their maid.
I appreciated the author's attempts to how this crime spree changed the way people in Nebraska saw their young people. While Nebraska is seen as boring now, this crime put Lincoln on that map. Caril was essentially vilified, made out to be a jealous and was oversexualized--seen as the reason she helped Starkweather. But what people don't seem to realize, or remember, was that Caril was a teenage girl, who's brain wasn't fully developed. I do tend to agree with the author that she wasn't at home when Starkweather killed her family, and didn't know what to do when he just kept killing people.
But MacLean's description of the trial and how Caril's brain wasn't fully and trauma was so much. Too much detail that could've been simplified in a short chapter. Yes, Caril grew up poor on the "wrong side of the tracks," as it were, but there was probably a better way to explain all of this. And that was part of the problem, anyone who isn't in the norm is obviously a bad person in the 195os when "sameness," was everything. People didn't want to look deeper into the case, because it was tragic but went against everything that people stood for: that teens could go wrong in such a big way.
I think I was just expecting something else from this, I didn't need the author's discussion of his own time growing in Lincoln (contemporary of Starkweather and Caril).
December 28, 2023
I love true crime stories. I’ve always loved them; I don’t know why I don’t read more of them. This was an excellent book about a murder spree that took place in the 1950s and that was one of the first of its kind in that the crime gained fame and notoriety for the killer, Charlie Starkweather, and his young girlfriend. This crime influenced Natural Born Killers, one of my all-time favorite movies. Furthermore, it happened in Nebraska, which then as well as now was considered one of the safest places in the country. It showed that the horror could happen anywhere, even in Nebraska. The thing that made this book extra special is that the author was a native of, Lincoln, Nebraska, where the crimes started, and he was approximately the same age as Charlie Starkweather, so the crimes were personal for him. In fact, one of the best chapters was the last one, where the author explained his background growing up in that environment and how the crime influenced him as well as all of the people of Nebraska. I had never heard of Charlie Starkweather, except as a line in the Billy Joel song, but this was a story I will not ever forget. An especially interesting facet of this case is the question of how much guilt his much younger girlfriend bore for these crimes, and whether she actually helped him to carry up any of the killings or not. It was a question that was never fully resolved, however, Carol did go on to live a normal life, and I believe she died at peace.
January 27, 2024
"Charlie wanted to become famous, he wanted to go down in history as a very, very bad outlaw, and he proved to whoever was watching or listening or reading that you could do that with a knife and a gun."
True crime stories and the behavior of killers like Starkweather, and what drives them to destroy other people has always interested me, so when I selected this book about the case I expected to like it much better than I did. Unfortunately the first word that comes to mind after reading it is tedious, in his attempt to provide all accounts and statements by those involved, the author has written a book that becomes painfully repetitive and at times boring. At the end of it all I am still not sure if Caril Ann Fugate was another victim or a willing participant in a terrible tragedy, I guess I'll never know.
True crime stories and the behavior of killers like Starkweather, and what drives them to destroy other people has always interested me, so when I selected this book about the case I expected to like it much better than I did. Unfortunately the first word that comes to mind after reading it is tedious, in his attempt to provide all accounts and statements by those involved, the author has written a book that becomes painfully repetitive and at times boring. At the end of it all I am still not sure if Caril Ann Fugate was another victim or a willing participant in a terrible tragedy, I guess I'll never know.
January 12, 2024
I enjoyed this book but didn't feel that it added any new information that isn't already generally known. It was clear from the beginning that the author didn't believe that Caril Fugate actually killed any of the victims and I agree with him. But as to whether she was completely innocent remains, for me, a question. The author cites several examples of hostages, including Elizabeth Smart and Patty Hearst, who did not try to escape their kidnappers. I don't think these are comparable examples as each of these women was held for years, not days, as was Caril Fugate. Also, even the author mentions that the Bartlett home had blood splatter on the walls, door frames, etc. Caril was in the house after the killings for six days. Did she not notice this? Are we to believe the Charlie Starkweather did such a good job of cleaning up the blood and other substances from 3 victims who were brutally killed as to leave no evidence of their killings? This has always bothered me. And as to Charlie's assertion to Caril that her stepfather, mother and baby sister were being held by his gang as they were going to rob a bank, this also doesn't make sense. Did she question what gang? He was a loner and suddenly he has a gang. I was hoping that perhaps the book would offer new insights on this terrible tragedy but was disappointed.
October 13, 2024
I’m not usually into the true crime books, but met Lawrence alumnus Harry MacLean who told me about it and I found it to be one of the most compelling books I’ve read in a long time. A murder spree in the 1950s involving a 19 year old sociopath and his 14 year old (!) girlfriend. The horror, the legal process and system, psychology, mass media all mixed together with a dose of compassion. The best part is the epilogue. I won’t say why, but it made me give this book five stars.
November 26, 2025
The fact that this happened 21 months before the Clutters were killed blows my mind. I put this book down a few times and just cried. I imagine Charles and Caril just hitchhiking out of town, getting jobs on some ranch two states over and raising a bunch of messy brats. They could have just ran away together.
I liked this book very much, it really made me pine for what could have been. Like what if Truman Capote wrote about this case instead of the Clutters? 💥💥💥💥💥
I liked this book very much, it really made me pine for what could have been. Like what if Truman Capote wrote about this case instead of the Clutters? 💥💥💥💥💥
December 26, 2023
Meticulously researched, heartfelt and openly honest. I haven't read such a detailed, human true crime like Maclean since Jack Olson.
Decades after a mass murder spree in his childhood hometown, Maclean begs the question, what of the 14 year old girl convicted in the killings alongside her 19 ex-boyfriend, was actually a victim too.
Fantastic book
Decades after a mass murder spree in his childhood hometown, Maclean begs the question, what of the 14 year old girl convicted in the killings alongside her 19 ex-boyfriend, was actually a victim too.
Fantastic book
June 24, 2024
400 plus pages of repetition after repetition on details the author lays out in the first 100 pages of the book. Not a terrible read, but a long one. It was hard to stay interested after reading the same thing for 400 pages with added commentary and legal background he felt was “necessary” for his argument.
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February 11, 2024DNF. I made a deal with myself that I HAD to get through my gigantic list of books I am currently reading before I’m allowed to start anything new. This is fine but just not written in a style I prefer and it’s very repetitive. I don’t want to renew it at the library so I’m letting it go!
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