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No Saints in Kansas
A gripping reimagining of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and the brutal murders that inspired it
November is usually quiet in Holcomb, Kansas, but in 1959, the town is shattered by the quadruple murder of the Clutter family. Suspicion falls on Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend, Bobby Rupp, the last one to see them alive.
New Yorker Carly Fleming, new to the small Midwestern town, is an outsider. She tutored Nancy, and (in private, at least) they were close. Carly and Bobby were the only ones who saw that Nancy was always performing, and that she was cracking under the pressure of being Holcomb’s golden girl. The secret connected Carly and Bobby. Now that Bobby is an outsider, too, they’re bound closer than ever.
Determined to clear Bobby’s name, Carly dives into the murder investigation and ends up in trouble with the local authorities. But that’s nothing compared to the wrath she faces from Holcomb once the real perpetrators are caught. When her father is appointed to defend the killers of the Clutter family, the entire town labels the Flemings as traitors. Now Carly must fight for what she knows is right.
November is usually quiet in Holcomb, Kansas, but in 1959, the town is shattered by the quadruple murder of the Clutter family. Suspicion falls on Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend, Bobby Rupp, the last one to see them alive.
New Yorker Carly Fleming, new to the small Midwestern town, is an outsider. She tutored Nancy, and (in private, at least) they were close. Carly and Bobby were the only ones who saw that Nancy was always performing, and that she was cracking under the pressure of being Holcomb’s golden girl. The secret connected Carly and Bobby. Now that Bobby is an outsider, too, they’re bound closer than ever.
Determined to clear Bobby’s name, Carly dives into the murder investigation and ends up in trouble with the local authorities. But that’s nothing compared to the wrath she faces from Holcomb once the real perpetrators are caught. When her father is appointed to defend the killers of the Clutter family, the entire town labels the Flemings as traitors. Now Carly must fight for what she knows is right.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2017
18 people are currently reading
1550 people want to read
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August 4, 2023
Overall Rating : D
"Death is a test everyone passes. But sometimes you get extra points for creativity."
This book wishes it was at Nancy Drew's level. More like the Great Value brand.
"Death is a test everyone passes. But sometimes you get extra points for creativity."
This book wishes it was at Nancy Drew's level. More like the Great Value brand.
setting-aside-for-now
September 22, 2019For the record, I love Truman Capote's writing and true crime in general. And a re-imagining of Capote's In Cold Blood (which itself is Capote's take on a real life 1950s-era murder) sounds like a cool idea to me.
But the first few chapters of this were not very gripping. For reasons that were not clear to me, a (fictional) girl named Carly is investigating the murders of her (based on a real person) classmate Nancy and Nancy's family. Carly keeps telling us she's a fish out of water, a transplanted New Yorker.
I really wanted that to be the case, because having a brassy, sassy 1950s New Yorker poking around a small town murder investigation could have been interesting. (In fact, that was sort of what really happened, as Capote came to town at the time of the murders to investigate the case for his own book.) Unfortunately, Carly came off to me as a nervous wreck who's afraid of her own shadow. Her palms sweat. She "squeaks." At one point she's wracked with guilt and anxiety because she realizes she's coming home late one afternoon. Then a native Kansan has to coach her on telling a lie (!).
I quickly realized I didn't trust her to solve any murders and closed the book.
[In a nice meta detail, Carly is reading Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's which was sent to her by her aunt Trudy, who claims to have been the inspiration for Holly. Yeah, I don't think so, Aunt Trudy, but that did made me wish Aunt Trudy would show up and solve the murders. Or that I could be reading Breakfast at Tiffany's instead. If you've only seen the movie, try the book, which is gripping and surprisingly dark.]
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free advance copy of this book at Book Expo.
But the first few chapters of this were not very gripping. For reasons that were not clear to me, a (fictional) girl named Carly is investigating the murders of her (based on a real person) classmate Nancy and Nancy's family. Carly keeps telling us she's a fish out of water, a transplanted New Yorker.
I really wanted that to be the case, because having a brassy, sassy 1950s New Yorker poking around a small town murder investigation could have been interesting. (In fact, that was sort of what really happened, as Capote came to town at the time of the murders to investigate the case for his own book.) Unfortunately, Carly came off to me as a nervous wreck who's afraid of her own shadow. Her palms sweat. She "squeaks." At one point she's wracked with guilt and anxiety because she realizes she's coming home late one afternoon. Then a native Kansan has to coach her on telling a lie (!).
I quickly realized I didn't trust her to solve any murders and closed the book.
[In a nice meta detail, Carly is reading Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's which was sent to her by her aunt Trudy, who claims to have been the inspiration for Holly. Yeah, I don't think so, Aunt Trudy, but that did made me wish Aunt Trudy would show up and solve the murders. Or that I could be reading Breakfast at Tiffany's instead. If you've only seen the movie, try the book, which is gripping and surprisingly dark.]
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free advance copy of this book at Book Expo.
March 27, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Fans of Truman Capote and his infamous In Cold Blood may be intrigued by this new YA novel that fictionalizes how the teens in Holcomb reacted to the tragic events of the time. While it may seem like an interesting concept to focus on the teen perspective of the notorious Clutter family murders, No Saints in Kansas is an inadequate historical fiction novel that has an unrelatable main character, and is a true story that is better left alone.
No Saints in Kansas is an historical fiction that is a poor attempt to retell Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood in a young adult voice. Many of the details surrounding the actual crime are included in this reimagined story, however there are many strange additions to this narrative that are unnecessary and at times disturbing. For example, there is an odd section in the book that details the slaughtering of an animal, which has no real connection to any of the facts or the plot. There are many random inclusions of characters as well, such as JFK, which just seems to add more confusion for the reader.
Carly is a fictional character that Brashear has created to be the teen voice for No Saints in Kansas. Unfortunately, Carly is such a whiny, and unrealistic character that she just makes no sense at all. It is almost as though her character is trying to take on a Nancy Drew role in the novel. However, the behaviours Carly exhibits are impetuous and not well-planned. It really disappointed me as I was reading, just how ridiculous Carly’s character is.
When I first saw this book was coming out, I have to admit that I was really excited by it. I don’t know much about Bobby Rupp and his connection to Nancy Clutter, so my interest in this book was really piqued. While I was reading No Saints in Kansas, I started searching the internet for details and was surprised to find that many of the individuals included in the narrative are still living, including Bobby. I also discovered that many of these people who lived through this horrifying time are still grieving. This information really made me stop to think about the difference between Capote’s non-fiction book versus the fictionalization of the facts in No Saints in Kansas. It saddens me that there are characters in this book that are still living and to have a fictional story written about them is just wrong.
Fans of Truman Capote and his infamous In Cold Blood may be intrigued by this new YA novel that fictionalizes how the teens in Holcomb reacted to the tragic events of the time. While it may seem like an interesting concept to focus on the teen perspective of the notorious Clutter family murders, No Saints in Kansas is an inadequate historical fiction novel that has an unrelatable main character, and is a true story that is better left alone.
No Saints in Kansas is an historical fiction that is a poor attempt to retell Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood in a young adult voice. Many of the details surrounding the actual crime are included in this reimagined story, however there are many strange additions to this narrative that are unnecessary and at times disturbing. For example, there is an odd section in the book that details the slaughtering of an animal, which has no real connection to any of the facts or the plot. There are many random inclusions of characters as well, such as JFK, which just seems to add more confusion for the reader.
Carly is a fictional character that Brashear has created to be the teen voice for No Saints in Kansas. Unfortunately, Carly is such a whiny, and unrealistic character that she just makes no sense at all. It is almost as though her character is trying to take on a Nancy Drew role in the novel. However, the behaviours Carly exhibits are impetuous and not well-planned. It really disappointed me as I was reading, just how ridiculous Carly’s character is.
When I first saw this book was coming out, I have to admit that I was really excited by it. I don’t know much about Bobby Rupp and his connection to Nancy Clutter, so my interest in this book was really piqued. While I was reading No Saints in Kansas, I started searching the internet for details and was surprised to find that many of the individuals included in the narrative are still living, including Bobby. I also discovered that many of these people who lived through this horrifying time are still grieving. This information really made me stop to think about the difference between Capote’s non-fiction book versus the fictionalization of the facts in No Saints in Kansas. It saddens me that there are characters in this book that are still living and to have a fictional story written about them is just wrong.
March 28, 2018
”’ I thought that Mr. Clutter was a very nice gentleman. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat.- In Cold Blood”
Synopsis: A wannabe Nancy Drew detective takes it upon herself to bungle up the investigation of what will become the inspiration for Truman Capote’s legendary book, In Cold Blood.
Biblio-Babble
My Masterpiece Destroyed: Let me just preface this by saying that I have never read the book that was the inspiration for this, In Cold Blood. However, I do know that out of all the movies, plays, and books that Capote wrote, he considered this one his masterpiece. He and Harper Lee busted a gut to write this book, which took six years to write. It was basically created a whole new genre of book and entertainment, true crime. So I think it’s fair to say that if he read this tribute, homage, and reimagining of his original book, he would probably be displeased. And I’m sad to report that he would’ve been right. Retellings and reimaginings have to walk a very fine line between honoring the original source material while keeping an original voice. And apart from having the same players be involved, the author made this book entirely her own. Too much her own, as readers of the original novel will probably find this book unrecognizable.
LOOK AT ME, I’M SANDRA DEE: There were several drawbacks for this novel, but none were as major as Carly Fleming. Carly Fleming is the fictional daughter of Arthur Fleming, the man who would later go on to defend the two men who murdered the Clutter family. They recently moved to Holcomb, Kansas from New York City, making her a city kid in a town of so-called country bumpkins. She tutored Nancy Clutter in geometry and became close to her in private, so when Nancy, her brother, and parents are brutally murdered, Carly obviously wants to get to the bottom of it. However, Carly has got to be one of the most infuriating, conceited, arrogant, gullible and downright annoying protagonists I have read about this year. For one thing, her “investigation” into her “friends” murder (more about that later), was a bumbling mess. It felt more like a kids detective show than an actual teenager trying to find the killers who carried out a brutal attack. I was just waiting for corny music to come on and Carly to shout “LOOK! A CLUE!” every time she found something. But the most annoying quality that Carly has is that throughout the entire novel, it seemed like she wasn’t so much trying to find justice for her friend than keep the attention entirely on herself. Every time she found a clue and someone would say that a person found said clue in the investigation, she damn made sure that person knew that she found the clue. When Truman and Harper come to town to do research for their book, Carly is front and center in wanting to talk to them and when they studiously ignore her, she’s miffed. And when Truman and Nelle finally do talk to her, she’s mad that they don’t ask her more about herself. AN ENTIRE FAMILY WAS MURDERED, INCLUDING YOUR SUPPOSED BEST FRIEND! IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!!!! She’s like that person who if something bad happens, is the first person to talk to the news cameras, making sure not that there’s justice for the family, but that they get their 15 seconds of fame. And that really, REALLY didn’t sit well with me.
Character Assassination: Like I said earlier, I have not read Capote’s book, where he describes the crime and the family involved. So therefore, I don’t know what Nancy Clutter was really like. From the online reading that I did, she was the perfect model daughter and all-around American girl, apple pie and all. Her one rebellion was dating Bobby Rapp despite her parent’s objections, but other than that she was a pretty good kid. The author characterizes Nancy Clutter as perfect on the inside, but actually kind of terrible on the inside. From lying about her parents to her geometry grade to not acknowledging Carly Fleming as her friend because, ya know, popularity, I actually found her portrayal to be kind of disturbing. It’s one thing to reimagine a character for a retelling of a story. That issue can get a little thorny when that person is based in reality. And frankly, I think the author didn’t reimagine Nancy Clutter so much as assassinate her character. I just hope none of the remaining Clutter family members are alive to read this book, because I don’t think they would have liked this portrayal of Nancy, whether it be a fictional reimagining or not. Perfection can indeed hide imperfections in character, but if that simply isn’t the case, then it dishonors the memory of the fallen then trying to bring something new to the table.
******************************
As Capote himself once said, “You can’t blame a writer for what the characters say.” However, I think he would make an exception to his own rule if he read this reimagining of his self-proclaimed magnum opus. In attempting to retell the horrific Clutter murders of Holcomb, Kansas, Amy Brashear creates an exceedingly unlikable main character, destroys the memory of one of the victims, and creates a book that Capote himself would not want any association with. He probably wouldn’t even like the fact that he was mentioned in the acknowledgments. Retellings can be difficult, and I am fully aware that this wasn’t supposed to be an exact retelling of Capote’s masterpiece. However, since so much was made out of the fact that In Cold Blood was the inspiration for this “reimagining”, it should bear some resemblance to the plot. But apart from the inclusion of most of the real life players, there is none. Just a jumbled, garbled mess.
Synopsis: A wannabe Nancy Drew detective takes it upon herself to bungle up the investigation of what will become the inspiration for Truman Capote’s legendary book, In Cold Blood.
Biblio-Babble
My Masterpiece Destroyed: Let me just preface this by saying that I have never read the book that was the inspiration for this, In Cold Blood. However, I do know that out of all the movies, plays, and books that Capote wrote, he considered this one his masterpiece. He and Harper Lee busted a gut to write this book, which took six years to write. It was basically created a whole new genre of book and entertainment, true crime. So I think it’s fair to say that if he read this tribute, homage, and reimagining of his original book, he would probably be displeased. And I’m sad to report that he would’ve been right. Retellings and reimaginings have to walk a very fine line between honoring the original source material while keeping an original voice. And apart from having the same players be involved, the author made this book entirely her own. Too much her own, as readers of the original novel will probably find this book unrecognizable.
LOOK AT ME, I’M SANDRA DEE: There were several drawbacks for this novel, but none were as major as Carly Fleming. Carly Fleming is the fictional daughter of Arthur Fleming, the man who would later go on to defend the two men who murdered the Clutter family. They recently moved to Holcomb, Kansas from New York City, making her a city kid in a town of so-called country bumpkins. She tutored Nancy Clutter in geometry and became close to her in private, so when Nancy, her brother, and parents are brutally murdered, Carly obviously wants to get to the bottom of it. However, Carly has got to be one of the most infuriating, conceited, arrogant, gullible and downright annoying protagonists I have read about this year. For one thing, her “investigation” into her “friends” murder (more about that later), was a bumbling mess. It felt more like a kids detective show than an actual teenager trying to find the killers who carried out a brutal attack. I was just waiting for corny music to come on and Carly to shout “LOOK! A CLUE!” every time she found something. But the most annoying quality that Carly has is that throughout the entire novel, it seemed like she wasn’t so much trying to find justice for her friend than keep the attention entirely on herself. Every time she found a clue and someone would say that a person found said clue in the investigation, she damn made sure that person knew that she found the clue. When Truman and Harper come to town to do research for their book, Carly is front and center in wanting to talk to them and when they studiously ignore her, she’s miffed. And when Truman and Nelle finally do talk to her, she’s mad that they don’t ask her more about herself. AN ENTIRE FAMILY WAS MURDERED, INCLUDING YOUR SUPPOSED BEST FRIEND! IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!!!! She’s like that person who if something bad happens, is the first person to talk to the news cameras, making sure not that there’s justice for the family, but that they get their 15 seconds of fame. And that really, REALLY didn’t sit well with me.
Character Assassination: Like I said earlier, I have not read Capote’s book, where he describes the crime and the family involved. So therefore, I don’t know what Nancy Clutter was really like. From the online reading that I did, she was the perfect model daughter and all-around American girl, apple pie and all. Her one rebellion was dating Bobby Rapp despite her parent’s objections, but other than that she was a pretty good kid. The author characterizes Nancy Clutter as perfect on the inside, but actually kind of terrible on the inside. From lying about her parents to her geometry grade to not acknowledging Carly Fleming as her friend because, ya know, popularity, I actually found her portrayal to be kind of disturbing. It’s one thing to reimagine a character for a retelling of a story. That issue can get a little thorny when that person is based in reality. And frankly, I think the author didn’t reimagine Nancy Clutter so much as assassinate her character. I just hope none of the remaining Clutter family members are alive to read this book, because I don’t think they would have liked this portrayal of Nancy, whether it be a fictional reimagining or not. Perfection can indeed hide imperfections in character, but if that simply isn’t the case, then it dishonors the memory of the fallen then trying to bring something new to the table.
******************************
As Capote himself once said, “You can’t blame a writer for what the characters say.” However, I think he would make an exception to his own rule if he read this reimagining of his self-proclaimed magnum opus. In attempting to retell the horrific Clutter murders of Holcomb, Kansas, Amy Brashear creates an exceedingly unlikable main character, destroys the memory of one of the victims, and creates a book that Capote himself would not want any association with. He probably wouldn’t even like the fact that he was mentioned in the acknowledgments. Retellings can be difficult, and I am fully aware that this wasn’t supposed to be an exact retelling of Capote’s masterpiece. However, since so much was made out of the fact that In Cold Blood was the inspiration for this “reimagining”, it should bear some resemblance to the plot. But apart from the inclusion of most of the real life players, there is none. Just a jumbled, garbled mess.
October 15, 2017
My (former?) friend and fellow librarian handed me this ARC, because she knows I am a fan of IN COLD BLOOD, and because she can’t read them all. I will NOT be recommending this book for purchase in our library.
I question the amount of interest that the average teen will have in a nearly 60 year old murder case, but I guess you never know.
This book felt, from the start, like a BAD idea. Most people realize that Truman Capote took liberties (to put it mildly) with the facts in his book detailing the Clutter family murders, so if that was the author’s sole source of information, she might have done a bit more research.
I am certainly willing to suspend my disbelief, but the author of this book stretched my disbelief to the breaking point. This work features obscure references that few, if any, teens will get (eg. the main character’s father being involved in the execution of two spies in ‘53), a main character who reads like a combination of Nancy Drew on steroids and Forrest Gump without the charm, and improbable language.
To cite a few grievances, Carly Fleming, our daring heroine, breaks into the crime scene, the court house, Truman Capote’s hotel room (dressed as a maid, no less...I love Lucy, too, but give me a break!), and the jail where Perry Smith is being held. There are others, but I’m just going to sit here and shake my head, rather than list them.
I bitched about this book so much that my book group actually asked me to stop reading it.
I also took the liberty (I can take them, as well!) of asking a few people I know who were ACTUAL teenagers in 1959, if the language and behavior of this character was accurate. Despite Carly Fleming’s being a sassy New Yorker, the resounding answer was NO! The language is too modern, the character is too bold/fearless/stupid, and the situations she puts/finds herself in are completely unrealistic. The best word I can use to describe this book is ridiculous.
It pains me to lambaste a book. I realize that authors put their hearts and souls into their work. I have just called your baby ugly, Amy Brashear, and I am sorry to have to do it...but this is one ugly baby! Go back to the drawing board. Better yet, don’t quit your day job. I’m sorry, truly...but no. Just...no.
The real question now is this: Do I forgive my friendly YA librarian or make her read this book for herself as punishment?
***Okay.... I have had some time to get the bad taste out of my mouth, and I would like to edit this review, slightly. DON’T stop writing, Amy Brashear. I apologize for calling your baby ugly. Just try reading an Ally Carter or two...and then MAKE STUFF UP! Your main character would have been okay, had you not tried to insert her into an actual event. If you want a sassy, daring heroine, send her to spy school or something a bit fantastic. Steer clear of historical fiction. Your character did not fit the time and place that you dropped her into...and it’s wrong to try to force her into the lives of people who actually lived and brutally died.***
I question the amount of interest that the average teen will have in a nearly 60 year old murder case, but I guess you never know.
This book felt, from the start, like a BAD idea. Most people realize that Truman Capote took liberties (to put it mildly) with the facts in his book detailing the Clutter family murders, so if that was the author’s sole source of information, she might have done a bit more research.
I am certainly willing to suspend my disbelief, but the author of this book stretched my disbelief to the breaking point. This work features obscure references that few, if any, teens will get (eg. the main character’s father being involved in the execution of two spies in ‘53), a main character who reads like a combination of Nancy Drew on steroids and Forrest Gump without the charm, and improbable language.
To cite a few grievances, Carly Fleming, our daring heroine, breaks into the crime scene, the court house, Truman Capote’s hotel room (dressed as a maid, no less...I love Lucy, too, but give me a break!), and the jail where Perry Smith is being held. There are others, but I’m just going to sit here and shake my head, rather than list them.
I bitched about this book so much that my book group actually asked me to stop reading it.
I also took the liberty (I can take them, as well!) of asking a few people I know who were ACTUAL teenagers in 1959, if the language and behavior of this character was accurate. Despite Carly Fleming’s being a sassy New Yorker, the resounding answer was NO! The language is too modern, the character is too bold/fearless/stupid, and the situations she puts/finds herself in are completely unrealistic. The best word I can use to describe this book is ridiculous.
It pains me to lambaste a book. I realize that authors put their hearts and souls into their work. I have just called your baby ugly, Amy Brashear, and I am sorry to have to do it...but this is one ugly baby! Go back to the drawing board. Better yet, don’t quit your day job. I’m sorry, truly...but no. Just...no.
The real question now is this: Do I forgive my friendly YA librarian or make her read this book for herself as punishment?
***Okay.... I have had some time to get the bad taste out of my mouth, and I would like to edit this review, slightly. DON’T stop writing, Amy Brashear. I apologize for calling your baby ugly. Just try reading an Ally Carter or two...and then MAKE STUFF UP! Your main character would have been okay, had you not tried to insert her into an actual event. If you want a sassy, daring heroine, send her to spy school or something a bit fantastic. Steer clear of historical fiction. Your character did not fit the time and place that you dropped her into...and it’s wrong to try to force her into the lives of people who actually lived and brutally died.***
May 15, 2017
“People always think highly of the dead when they’re dead. It’s definitely not how they thought of them when they were alive.”
No Saints in Kansas is a reimagining of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. We follow Carly Flemming as she and the town come to grips with the grisly murders of the Clutter family and trying to find out what happened and why.
Things I Liked :
This book had really short chapters, which I always love. They let me really get into the story quickly and fly through it.
I like that when we started off the murders have already occurred. This helps us get right into the action and hook us in the beginning. I thought the beginning of the story was strong.
The writing feels emotional and reactionary to events happening. It’s easy to connect with and it draws you in!
Things I Didn’t Like :
The characters are introduced with little backstory and discussed like we already know them. We get some info on them but I always felt a little lost when we met a new character. And the information we get is from tangent backstories, like their first meeting or something else that is trivial.
Carly wasn’t the smartest when looking into the murders. She constantly made bad decision after bad decision. She was often assisted by Mary Claire and Landry and then abandoned by them. It became a repetitive cycle of doing something stupid then being ignored, making up, and repeat.
Along with bad decisions, Carly was pretty unlikeable to me. She constantly make the murders about herself and her relationship to Nancy. She was upset that everyone else was talking to Truman Capote and she hadn’t got to tell her story. When she does meet with him, she’s upset he doesn’t really care about her.
I felt like the ending was unsatisfying. Everything came together quickly and neatly. There wasn’t much tension, besides the petty high school drama, even though Carly and her family was ostracized by the town and physically and verbally threatened.
This book was ok, but largely forgettable. I liked where the story started and the intrigue of the murders in the quiet, unassuming town, but I wanted more character development, more tension, more sleuthing. This book had a lot of potential and is a really quick read, but it’s not really one that will stay with you.
I received a copy of the book from the Soho Press via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2017
Carly Fleming has been recently transplanted from NYC to Holcomb, KS and is trying to fit in with the kids at her new high school. In the midst of her struggle, the Clutter family is massacred by unknown assailants and Carly is determined to find out what happened to Nancy, the Clutter daughter she had been trying to befriend. There are references to Carly being like Nancy Drew, but she came off as annoying rather than resourceful, rebellious rather than motivated. Carly's family is drifting apart and having her father represent one of the alleged murderers does not help. I must say that the addition of Aunt Trudy to the plot was an innovative way to keep the NYC connection open and added an extra layer to the Truman Capote presence. The visit of a well-known presidential candidate was perhaps my favorite part of the book.
December 23, 2017
1.5 STARS
In 1959, the 4 members of the Clutter family were murdered. Truman Capote wrote the famous fictionalized non-fiction account, IN COLD BLOOD spawning a few movies and documentaries.
**Factoid “Nell” Harper Lee accompanied her friend Capote during the days following the murders to assist with the investigation.**
The story of the Clutters, and even the story of Capote writing about the murders are both more interesting than NO SAINTS IN KANSAS, Amy Brashear’s fictionalized account of Capote’s fictionalized account of the Clutter murders.
Brashear created narrator Carly, the fictional classmate of Nancy Cutter who longed to be a closer friend to the murdered fifteen-year-old. Wannabe Carly inserts herself into the investigation by tromping through the crime scene and searching for clues without fear in a manner so unbelievable, the entire story lacked credulity. Carly’s curiosity felt more like a children’s character like Harriet the Spy or Nancy Drew, not like an actual teenager in the 1950s.
I stopped reading mid through NO SAINTS IN KANSAS to watch the 2017 documentary COLD BLOODED, three hours about the real murders. I wanted to know the real story vs what I was reading. Coming back to the book was difficult, as the fictionalized version felt even more inferior to fact.
While Brashear writes very readable prose, NO SAINTS IN KANSAS isn’t a book that needs to be read. If you’re interested in the murders, read IN COLD BLOOD or watch a documentary.
In 1959, the 4 members of the Clutter family were murdered. Truman Capote wrote the famous fictionalized non-fiction account, IN COLD BLOOD spawning a few movies and documentaries.
**Factoid “Nell” Harper Lee accompanied her friend Capote during the days following the murders to assist with the investigation.**
The story of the Clutters, and even the story of Capote writing about the murders are both more interesting than NO SAINTS IN KANSAS, Amy Brashear’s fictionalized account of Capote’s fictionalized account of the Clutter murders.
Brashear created narrator Carly, the fictional classmate of Nancy Cutter who longed to be a closer friend to the murdered fifteen-year-old. Wannabe Carly inserts herself into the investigation by tromping through the crime scene and searching for clues without fear in a manner so unbelievable, the entire story lacked credulity. Carly’s curiosity felt more like a children’s character like Harriet the Spy or Nancy Drew, not like an actual teenager in the 1950s.
I stopped reading mid through NO SAINTS IN KANSAS to watch the 2017 documentary COLD BLOODED, three hours about the real murders. I wanted to know the real story vs what I was reading. Coming back to the book was difficult, as the fictionalized version felt even more inferior to fact.
While Brashear writes very readable prose, NO SAINTS IN KANSAS isn’t a book that needs to be read. If you’re interested in the murders, read IN COLD BLOOD or watch a documentary.
Read
May 11, 2017Unfortunately, this reads like a first draft, with poor pacing, poor plotting, and no character development or emotional arc at all. Readers who don't know IN COLD BLOOD will be bored to tears, and the historical accuracy, particularly when it comes to teens and how they interact and speak with one another, is questionable at best. There were so many places of potential and it fell apart through poor craft and weak writing. The turn in the story happens in the last 1/6 or so of the book and it pushes so fast that we never actually see things happen; it's all telling and no showing and for a book written in first person present about a murder that is lush with details and opportunity, this is such a let down.
Fortunately, because I love IN COLD BLOOD, I enjoyed the reading experience. But I wouldn't recommend this nor encourage fans to rush out and experience something new and fresh. It's mostly forgettable.
Maybe it's because when I was disappointed with everything I put on my editor brain, but I saw where the potential was and so wished someone could have done stronger work with the writer to make this so much more than what it is. Don't go in expecting a mystery nor much emotional connection and for readers without a sense of the original story, don't bother. Read Capote's book and then maybe find some good forums and conspiracy theory discussions.
Fortunately, because I love IN COLD BLOOD, I enjoyed the reading experience. But I wouldn't recommend this nor encourage fans to rush out and experience something new and fresh. It's mostly forgettable.
Maybe it's because when I was disappointed with everything I put on my editor brain, but I saw where the potential was and so wished someone could have done stronger work with the writer to make this so much more than what it is. Don't go in expecting a mystery nor much emotional connection and for readers without a sense of the original story, don't bother. Read Capote's book and then maybe find some good forums and conspiracy theory discussions.
November 23, 2017
DNF'd this one. Brashear had a really good idea but failed to bring it to fruition. The MC, an angsty, whiny teenager named Carly Fleming tries to "solve" the Clutter murders, made famous by Truman Capote's book, "In Cold Blood". I did not like Carly at all. Her character was annoying and weak and constantly rolled over to take shit off from everyone without even attempting to stand up for herself. Her narrative voice began to grate on my nerves fairly early on, so I never connected to her at all. Aunt Trudy might've been interesting, but she was reduced to a caricature of "ditzy New Yorker". I also found it hard to believe she couldn't remember the names of her niece and nephew, even though their names were extremely unique for the era.
I also question the historical accuracy. Some of the phrases used, along with the character names of Carly and Asher (her younger brother) are modern-day. Carly isn't even listed on the Social Security Index of female names for that era.
The writing itself was more "tell" than "show" and Brashear often reused the same word, sometimes within the same paragraph. It's very simplistic writing and doesn't have much depth to it. Paragraphs are short, chapters are even shorter. I realize no one wants to bloat up their story with a ton of purple prose, but Brashear doesn't use description very well to set her scenes. There's also no true emotions to the characters...oh sure, there's a lot of crying and angsting and even some anger, but it's all surface feelings and nothing more.
The "intrigue" is blah as well. Brashear doesn't develop any of it out and thanks to the bland, emotionless characters, the whole novel winds up being as flat as the state it takes place in. The part where Carly disguises herself to go in to talk to Perry Smith was laughably implausible. I came away feeling like Brashear wanted to "experience" the Clutter homicides, so she Marysue'd herself into the story. That way she got to "play" with not only the murder victims, but also with Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, the state investigators, Truman Capote and his crew, and other assorted real-life characters connected to the case.
I also question the historical accuracy. Some of the phrases used, along with the character names of Carly and Asher (her younger brother) are modern-day. Carly isn't even listed on the Social Security Index of female names for that era.
The writing itself was more "tell" than "show" and Brashear often reused the same word, sometimes within the same paragraph. It's very simplistic writing and doesn't have much depth to it. Paragraphs are short, chapters are even shorter. I realize no one wants to bloat up their story with a ton of purple prose, but Brashear doesn't use description very well to set her scenes. There's also no true emotions to the characters...oh sure, there's a lot of crying and angsting and even some anger, but it's all surface feelings and nothing more.
The "intrigue" is blah as well. Brashear doesn't develop any of it out and thanks to the bland, emotionless characters, the whole novel winds up being as flat as the state it takes place in. The part where Carly disguises herself to go in to talk to Perry Smith was laughably implausible. I came away feeling like Brashear wanted to "experience" the Clutter homicides, so she Marysue'd herself into the story. That way she got to "play" with not only the murder victims, but also with Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, the state investigators, Truman Capote and his crew, and other assorted real-life characters connected to the case.
August 14, 2017
This is a marvelous book! As soon as I saw the synopsis for this book I had to get my hands on it! I am an avid fan of Truman Capote and love thriller type books. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had already known before I read this book who had murdered the Clutter family due to me reading Capote’s book and researching the actual murders themselves, but this didn’t stop me from needing to keep reading on and turning the pages as fast as possible to see what would happen next! Amy definitely did her research as she stayed with as many true facts as possible including who was Nancy’s boyfriend at the time of the murders. This book was fascinating and great as a young adult read. Amy does a wonderful job at handling the murder scenes without being over the top or adding in too many details to where it would cross any lines of respect due in part to the actual family. I also loved all the extra tidbits to that time period that were slipped in. Such as: JFK running for president, Truman Capote and how he actually was as a person, the strain for that period between the social classes, and the way the town was as a whole. I found the writing wonderful and well done. While this is my first book by this author it wont be the last. I also thoroughly enjoyed the cover to this book. This is a high recommendation and 5 stars from me.
September 19, 2017
It's all but impossible not to refer back to Capote's beautiful classic prose and storytelling (fact telling) in "In Cold Blood" and in fact brashear includes many clever references back to Capote's work but that isn't her focus. Her focus is to retell the story through a fellow teenager's eyes for a teenage audience.
Carly Fleming, her younger jock brother Asher and their defense lawyer father and '50's housewife mother move from Manhattan, the one in New York not Manhattan, Kansas and the family gets busy trying to assimilate to the mainly farming community. It's difficult. Like most teenagers Carly longed to fit in and have friends. She considers it her first big break when her math teacher talks her into being math tutor to the popular Nancy Clutter. Then the murders happen anc Carly's on shaky ground again. She's determined to play Nancy Drew and find out who killed her friend and her family.
"No Saints in Kansas" is a gritty book that will appeal to more mature teens who can handle such a dark theme. I know kids are used to reading apocalyptic tales but this one feels personal because of the more finely honed psychology Brashear incorporates. As an adult I also enjoyed the book though I couldn't help pulling Capote's book off my shelves and delving in from time to time.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy.
Carly Fleming, her younger jock brother Asher and their defense lawyer father and '50's housewife mother move from Manhattan, the one in New York not Manhattan, Kansas and the family gets busy trying to assimilate to the mainly farming community. It's difficult. Like most teenagers Carly longed to fit in and have friends. She considers it her first big break when her math teacher talks her into being math tutor to the popular Nancy Clutter. Then the murders happen anc Carly's on shaky ground again. She's determined to play Nancy Drew and find out who killed her friend and her family.
"No Saints in Kansas" is a gritty book that will appeal to more mature teens who can handle such a dark theme. I know kids are used to reading apocalyptic tales but this one feels personal because of the more finely honed psychology Brashear incorporates. As an adult I also enjoyed the book though I couldn't help pulling Capote's book off my shelves and delving in from time to time.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy.
February 9, 2018
Ouch, why all the hate, Goodreads? No Saints in Kansas is not Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and that’s perfectly fine because author, Amy Brashear, isn’t trying to rewrite In Cold Blood. As she explains in her author’s note, Ms. Brashear became fascinated by the Clutter family murders (the focus of Mr. Capote’s book) when she moved to a town near the scene of the crime, Holcomb, Kansas. She decided to write this book because of that fascination. She tells the fictional story of the daughter of one of the attorneys defending one of the murderers. This fictional daughter was a friend (well, sorta) of Nancy Clutter. This story is one of the murders and the investigation and trial and how it affected the town of Holcomb, told through the eyes of a teenage girl who likes to do some detective work on her own. Is it believable? Nope. And that’s okay. Will it peak a teen’s interest in Mr. Capote’s classic work? You bet. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read In Cold Blood, but you better believe I’ll be reading it now as well as watching the movie, Capote.
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October 25, 2017I wasn't a big fan of the character - she irritated me, although I think a lot of teens can connect to her - but I kept reading because I had hope for the plot but it never had that big moment I was waiting for. It all just felt like it could've been so much more than it was; there was so much left unexplored and so much that just relied on stereotypes. Definitely a disappointment.
October 24, 2018
This was probably the least emotional, most boring rendition of any murder mystery I ever could have read in my entire life. Choppy as hell, surface level relationships, and juvenile 'detective' main character. Yeah, no.
May 29, 2023
‼️SPOILER alert‼️ ok i know i read this really fast but it was ok it was a lot like the perfect marriage but like teenager form i didn’t like the plot twist i did really like the book until like page 160 but after carly found out it was fricking landry i wanted to cry bc i loved him as a character
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2019
As someone who read In Cold Blood very recently, I was super excited about this book and concept, but wanting to grab and shake some sense into to the main character throughout the whole book made it hard to enjoy.
This story is told from the point of view of Carly Fleming who was a classmate of Nancy Clutter. I believe that Carly is the only fictional character in novel. The thing about Carly is she was very “single white female” when it comes to Nancy. She is oddly fixated on Nancy’s death to the point of not listening to any of the adults directly involved with the investigation or even her friends. I think we are suppose to thing of her as an amateur detective, but I found her more of a nuisance than someone trying to solve a crime. She was just nosy and wanted to know everything and her crush on Bobby and fixation with Nancy drove her to do everything. This book is told in 1st person point of view of Carly. Because of my strong dislike of her, I could not get behind this book.
Also, let’s talk about the real people in this novel. This book is about real people who lived and some died in a horrific way. Nancy was made out to be a liar and somewhat of a mean girl. This was a girl that was horrifically murdered for no reason. I get that she might not have been perfect in real life, but was it necessary to make her a little bit nicer Regina George? Beyond that, I think her only research was reading In Cold Blood. I think an opportunity was missed to do a little research and find out what really happened to characters like Bobby and Sue.
Overall, great concept, but super annoying main character.
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019-Novel Based on a True Story
This story is told from the point of view of Carly Fleming who was a classmate of Nancy Clutter. I believe that Carly is the only fictional character in novel. The thing about Carly is she was very “single white female” when it comes to Nancy. She is oddly fixated on Nancy’s death to the point of not listening to any of the adults directly involved with the investigation or even her friends. I think we are suppose to thing of her as an amateur detective, but I found her more of a nuisance than someone trying to solve a crime. She was just nosy and wanted to know everything and her crush on Bobby and fixation with Nancy drove her to do everything. This book is told in 1st person point of view of Carly. Because of my strong dislike of her, I could not get behind this book.
Also, let’s talk about the real people in this novel. This book is about real people who lived and some died in a horrific way. Nancy was made out to be a liar and somewhat of a mean girl. This was a girl that was horrifically murdered for no reason. I get that she might not have been perfect in real life, but was it necessary to make her a little bit nicer Regina George? Beyond that, I think her only research was reading In Cold Blood. I think an opportunity was missed to do a little research and find out what really happened to characters like Bobby and Sue.
Overall, great concept, but super annoying main character.
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019-Novel Based on a True Story
September 2, 2017
I finished In Cold Blood shortly before reading this novel and perhaps Capote's masterful depiction of the Clutter murders made this one pale in comparison. However, it seems more than that to me.
The author made the strange decision to portray Nancy Clutter as something of a "mean girl," a character trait that was absent from Capote's account. Turning an actual beloved victim of a brutal murder into a vain, snooty schoolgirl seems inappropriate to me.
While sticking mostly to the facts, the author inserted Carly and her friends into the narrative, but didn't manage to add anything new to the story. Choosing to make Carly's mother a close friend of "Jack," otherwise known as the future President Kennedy, seemed a superfluous addition to Carly's tale. Additionally, Carly's descriptions of her life and the vernacular used by her and her friends didn't seem entirely period accurate to me.
Carly herself was a dreadful character. She makes the murder of Nancy and her family all about how she feels (now she will never get the chance to be Nancy's friend, or even worse perhaps she can now be Sue's best friend?). She continually makes horrible decisions and can't seem to make up her mind whether she is grounded or not (granted I read an advanced galley and this may be corrected by the final draft).
On the whole, readers would be better served by sticking with Capote's original narrative.
The author made the strange decision to portray Nancy Clutter as something of a "mean girl," a character trait that was absent from Capote's account. Turning an actual beloved victim of a brutal murder into a vain, snooty schoolgirl seems inappropriate to me.
While sticking mostly to the facts, the author inserted Carly and her friends into the narrative, but didn't manage to add anything new to the story. Choosing to make Carly's mother a close friend of "Jack," otherwise known as the future President Kennedy, seemed a superfluous addition to Carly's tale. Additionally, Carly's descriptions of her life and the vernacular used by her and her friends didn't seem entirely period accurate to me.
Carly herself was a dreadful character. She makes the murder of Nancy and her family all about how she feels (now she will never get the chance to be Nancy's friend, or even worse perhaps she can now be Sue's best friend?). She continually makes horrible decisions and can't seem to make up her mind whether she is grounded or not (granted I read an advanced galley and this may be corrected by the final draft).
On the whole, readers would be better served by sticking with Capote's original narrative.
September 16, 2017
1.5
I never read In Cold Blood, and maybe that was my problem, but I just could not get into No Saints in Kansas no matter how hard I tried. Ugh.
The main character, Carly, was really annoying and did not make good decisions. However, it wasn't the kind of bad decisions where you can see where she was coming from or at least see her reasoning behind it, rather, they were the kind of bad decisions that made me sit there and just think "why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why."
I didn't like the romance. It was forced and predictable, and I kept reading Landry's name as Laundry.
I got about halfway through before I sat back and realized that I was indifferent towards literally everything in this novel. It wasn't exciting. I was just feeling apathy and was also vaguely annoyed.
The only thing that was compelling in this novel is the fact that the murder in this book actually happened, but in the end I just put down the book and read the In Cold Blood wikipedia page instead.
I never read In Cold Blood, and maybe that was my problem, but I just could not get into No Saints in Kansas no matter how hard I tried. Ugh.
The main character, Carly, was really annoying and did not make good decisions. However, it wasn't the kind of bad decisions where you can see where she was coming from or at least see her reasoning behind it, rather, they were the kind of bad decisions that made me sit there and just think "why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why."
I didn't like the romance. It was forced and predictable, and I kept reading Landry's name as Laundry.
I got about halfway through before I sat back and realized that I was indifferent towards literally everything in this novel. It wasn't exciting. I was just feeling apathy and was also vaguely annoyed.
The only thing that was compelling in this novel is the fact that the murder in this book actually happened, but in the end I just put down the book and read the In Cold Blood wikipedia page instead.
December 19, 2017
This book lived up to many of my expectations of a retelling of the classic "In Cold Blood". Although I felt that some characters were less developed and could have been more integral to the plot, this was a great look at Holcomb, Kansas from the outside. Carly Fleming even reminded me of Scout Finch in a way, the same determination for justice and being active in the community. I wished this book had gone on even longer because it was such a great story. Overall this was a great, quick read with enough drama and mystery to keep the story going.
November 6, 2017
Let me start by saying that In Cold Blood is one of my all time favorite books. I was so excited that this was a young adult book teaching a new generation about this horrific crime and about such a classic book. I was a little let down though. I was not crazy about the narrator Carly. She is not very reliable and in some parts her actions seem a little unbelievable and over the top. I did enjoy that the book touched on high school bullying and how tough it can be to be in high school. I would recommend this to fans of In Cold Blood and younger readers curious about this story!
March 25, 2024
The cover sounded intriguing-‘What if In Cold Blood (Truman Capote) didn’t tell the whole story” ? However, this YA novel No Saints in Kansas by Amy Brashear, unfortunately, doesn’t really tell us anything new. A fictional character, Carly becomes Nancy Clutter’s high school tutor and tries to solve the murder mystery. Filled with a lot of high school drama and an unrealistic ending. Rounded up to 3 stars.
May 17, 2024
This book was… decent? I have somewhat mixed feelings. It’s not that I DIDN’T enjoy it, but I think that the resolution was rather abrupt/painful/dissatisfying. The plot before that also dragged on at a slow and slightly agonizing pace. I would’ve loved to see more of the side characters (like her love interest, Leonard/Larry/Landry??) and more character development in Carly herself.
February 24, 2018
An interesting take on In Cold Blood, with a fictitious heroine.
October 12, 2024
everyone was so mean to carly just because she was an “outsider” i felt so bad
this was super fast paced i was so into it!
this was super fast paced i was so into it!
July 8, 2020
I liked the concept of this book more than the execution. I think teenagers would be interested in revisiting a case like this one with a fictionalized Nancy Drew-esque narrator, but the pacing didn't move quickly enough for me.
November 5, 2017
Pretty hard to not compare it to Truman Capote, and In Cold Blood is hard to beat.
November 25, 2017
I thought this was a well written and compelling book, it’s interesting to read about people, even if they are fictional, reacting to real events. I read In Cold Blood last year and thought that it was also well written, if not disturbing because of the subject matter. A family of four is killed in their own home by two ex-cons who thought there was a safe in the house.
No Saints in Kansas tells the story of Carly Fleming, the new girl in town. Carly knew Nancy Clutter, the murdered girl, because she tutored her in math. When the family is killed, Carly feels both horrified and guilty because she thought herself to be Nancy’s friend. She, along with the rest of the residents of the small Kansas town of Holcomb, want answers. Things like this aren’t supposed to happen, the Clutters were a good family.
Needless to say Carly begins investigating on her own. Because she’s an outsider, she feels like if she gets some answers, maybe it’ll help her fit in. She does have some friends, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that because she’s from New York, a place of ten times the size, she could never fit in anywhere. I get what some other reviewers are saying about Carly being somewhat naive and annoying, but we have to remember that this is taking place in a very small town in the late 1950s, it literally was a different time. Carly is still a teenager trying to find her way.
I also liked the fact that we got to meet Truman Capote and Harper Lee. This book goes to show you that you that just because you thought you knew someone and live in a small town, bad things do happen and victims can get lost.
No Saints in Kansas tells the story of Carly Fleming, the new girl in town. Carly knew Nancy Clutter, the murdered girl, because she tutored her in math. When the family is killed, Carly feels both horrified and guilty because she thought herself to be Nancy’s friend. She, along with the rest of the residents of the small Kansas town of Holcomb, want answers. Things like this aren’t supposed to happen, the Clutters were a good family.
Needless to say Carly begins investigating on her own. Because she’s an outsider, she feels like if she gets some answers, maybe it’ll help her fit in. She does have some friends, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that because she’s from New York, a place of ten times the size, she could never fit in anywhere. I get what some other reviewers are saying about Carly being somewhat naive and annoying, but we have to remember that this is taking place in a very small town in the late 1950s, it literally was a different time. Carly is still a teenager trying to find her way.
I also liked the fact that we got to meet Truman Capote and Harper Lee. This book goes to show you that you that just because you thought you knew someone and live in a small town, bad things do happen and victims can get lost.
December 1, 2017
NO SAINTS IN KANSAS by Amy Brashear
If you are at all familiar with Truman Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD, you will recognize the story Brashear has used as the backdrop for her teen angst novel. Outsider Carly is a “friend” of Nancy Clutter who is the ultimate insider. The novel revolves around Carly’s obsession with solving the murders of the Clutter family in 1959 and clearing Bobby Rupp, Nancy’s boyfriend.
The characters are believable; the situations and conversations spot on. Capote and Harper Lee make cameo appearances and bring a bit of New York brashness to the Nebraska Midwestern wholesomeness. When Carly’s father is appointed to defend the murderers, she (and her whole family) becomes an instant pariah to the entire town. Small town morals and infighting come to the fore as the novel progresses.
Although billed as a young adult novel, anyone with an interest in the Clutter murders or small town life will find this novel appealing. Carly is a fictional character, most other characters and situations are based on the actual murders.
5 of 5 stars
If you are at all familiar with Truman Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD, you will recognize the story Brashear has used as the backdrop for her teen angst novel. Outsider Carly is a “friend” of Nancy Clutter who is the ultimate insider. The novel revolves around Carly’s obsession with solving the murders of the Clutter family in 1959 and clearing Bobby Rupp, Nancy’s boyfriend.
The characters are believable; the situations and conversations spot on. Capote and Harper Lee make cameo appearances and bring a bit of New York brashness to the Nebraska Midwestern wholesomeness. When Carly’s father is appointed to defend the murderers, she (and her whole family) becomes an instant pariah to the entire town. Small town morals and infighting come to the fore as the novel progresses.
Although billed as a young adult novel, anyone with an interest in the Clutter murders or small town life will find this novel appealing. Carly is a fictional character, most other characters and situations are based on the actual murders.
5 of 5 stars
December 5, 2017
This was a retelling of the classic In Cold Blood story. Teenage Carly was best friends with (okay really like the nerdy tutor of) Nancy Clutter, one of the family who was murdered by an unknown killer. Carly finds herself obsessed with finding the answers, along with the local police, and famous author Truman Capote. Can Carly find the answers before anyone else who is important to her gets hurt?
The story moved fast. Carly was a likeable character. Even though many will already know who the real murderer(s) is/are, the plot twists found in this novel will continue to push readers along.
The story moved fast. Carly was a likeable character. Even though many will already know who the real murderer(s) is/are, the plot twists found in this novel will continue to push readers along.
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