The real locations of In Cold Blood

The real locations of In Cold Blood

This, like Picnic at Hanging Rock, was a book I read and  was confused and intrigued about the line between what was real and what was fictional. In Cold Blood is a non-fiction novel and was one the first of its kind. The author took one real life case and made it into a story, a fictionalised version of a case that shocked America.

It was written by Truman Capote and was first published in 1966. It details the 1959 murders of four members of the Clutter family in the small farming community of Holcomb, Kansas. The author learned about the murders just after they had happened. No- one knew about who had done it and why, but Capote felt intrigued to go to Kansas and collect information in order to write a book. He came with his friend, fellow author, Harper Lee and he ended up spending around six years on his writing.

Halcomb, Kansas

The book was ahead of its time in the way it was written – a fictionalised version of a real life crime, a triple narrative which takes into account the POVs of the murderers, the victims and others in the community.

Clutter farm (c) Wikipedia

In real life, killers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were arrested six weeks after the murders and later executed.  In the book, they are given special attention. We meet them early on and delve into their backgrounds and personalities in an attempt to try and ‘ understand’ the context for what followed.

The two men had been in prison and had somehow heard that the Clutters had a safe on the premises. One of them had done work for them in the past it would seem. Whatever is the truth, the two men thought the farmer had money, and they wanted it. In fact, there was no safe in the house at all. When they couldn’t find it and when they thought Herb was hiding it, they shot the entire family.

The farm in Halcomb (c) Google

 Herb Clutter, his wife, Bonnie, and their teenage children Nancy and Kenyon died by gunshot.

In real life, killers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were arrested six weeks after the murders and later executed.

It’s a bit eerie that the house stands and pretty much looks the same as it did back then. There are apparently still people who try and go and see the house, but it is a private residence and people are advised not to even try and approach it. There are signs and fences to remind passers by.

BookTrail Boarding Pass: In Cold Blood