What is it about real-life murders that captivates us? I'm speaking of the small, twisted cadre of true crime aficionados. Yes, I’m talking about the YouTubers who reduce complex cases into palatable, clickbait summaries, often disregarding vital details, pointing fingers erroneously, and displaying a blatant ignorance of the facts—all in the pursuit of fleeting views. You may have noticed that this is my second true crime review this month, and some of you might wonder if I'm steering this blog in a different direction. The answer, for now, is no. But I do intend to challenge myself as a reader, and that may lead me toward more nonfiction.

This brings us to today’s focus: In Cold Blood ^[*] by Truman Capote. A peculiar figure in American literature, Capote was not only a gifted writer but also a childhood neighbor and friend to Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. Although many of you may not have cracked open Capote’s “nonfiction novel,” you’ve likely encountered it through discussions or the acclaimed 2005 film Capote, in which Philip Seymour Hoffman portrayed the author. This film beautifully captures Capote's journey alongside Harper Lee as they traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, fueled by an article about the 1959 Clutter family murders he read in The New York Times. Capote became so engrossed in the case that he set out to write what would become In Cold Blood. With Capote’s flamboyant style often viewed as off-putting by locals, Lee took on the role of interviewer, taking reams of notes that would go largely unacknowledged. Over the years, Capote formed a complex relationship with the killers, Perry Edward Smith and Richard "Dick" Hickock, visiting them in prison, corresponding through letters, and eventually witnessing their executions in 1965. He was also the subject of the 2006 film Infamous, and In Cold Blood has been adapted into both a 1967 feature film and a 1996 miniseries.

Welcome back, dear readers. It feels like I’m welcoming myself back to my Gunsmoke & Grit series, which has been collecting dust in the corner while I navigated the fog of burnout over the last few months. But here I am with a review of Clint: The Man and the Movies ^[*], published by Marnier in 2025 and written by Shawn Levy—not to be confused with the director. Now, I know this isn’t Western fiction, but let’s face it: Rowdy Yates graces the half-jacket, which made it impossible for me to resist featuring it in my Gunsmoke & Grit reviews.

Somehow, this book slipped under my radar when it was released last summer. It wasn't until I unwrapped it as a Christmas present that I discovered its existence. I cracked it open on January 5th and savored every page until I finished it on January 13th. Yes, I took my time, but that was intentional—I wanted to relish every word and fact about my favorite actor, Clint Eastwood.

Here’s my take on the blurb: From Shawn Levy, an acclaimed film critic and New York Times bestselling biographer known for his work on Paul Newman, this definitive biography of Clint Eastwood offers a revelatory glimpse into the life of a Hollywood titan. For more than sixty years, Clint has dominated the silver screen as one of the most prolific and versatile actors and directors in cinema history, embodying the very essence of American culture.

C-L-I-N-T. This single, sharp syllable has become a symbol of American manhood, morality, and a fierce, unyielding spirit—both on-screen and off—for over six decades. Whether he’s confronting villains in a dusty Western (Old West or new, it makes no difference) or commanding the director’s chair, Clint’s presence is as raw, honest, and solid as his name suggests. He’s not just another star of the old-school variety; he’s one of the most accomplished actor-directors of his time; a man forged from rock and iron—a relentless force named Clint.

Key Takeaways 

• Advancements in vision correction surgeries, such as LASIK and SMILE, are helping people enjoy clearer vision and reducing reliance on glasses and contact lenses. 

• The integration of advanced technologies, such as AI and 3D eye modeling, is boosting the safety and precision of these procedures. 

• Scientific studies show a direct connection between vision correction surgeries and increased happiness and overall quality of life. 

The Evolution of Vision Correction Surgery 

In recent decades, the landscape of vision correction surgery has undergone a revolutionary transformation. Procedures like LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) now stand at the forefront of ophthalmology, offering those with refractive errors such as nearsightedness or astigmatism the possibility of life without dependency on glasses or contacts. These surgeries are now more accurate and less invasive, which means improved safety and faster results for patients eager to regain clear vision. 

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

How do you feel about the current state of romance novels?

My Answer:

Believe it or not, I've immersed myself in one too many romance novels. I can't quite explain it—maybe I was just going through a phase. You can find my poorly written reviews somewhere on this blog. Anyway, I don't keep up with the current state of the romance genre. Besides the Harlequin titles, I hardly see any traditional romances anymore. The shelves are filled with overpriced YA fantasies that just collect dust. I live in a small town in Missouri, and the few readers we have aren't particularly interested in those specific books, even though publishers are shoving them down our throats. Does anyone else read romances? 

Hello, my fellow Friday 56ers! 

It's been a while since I last participated in the meme. I just finished reading a nonfiction book, and now I'm unsure what to tackle next. There are several ARCs I need to get to, including Star Trek: Identity Theft by Greg Cox, which has been sitting on my desk collecting dust for a few months. I think I should finally crack it open this weekend. 

Greg Cox is a talented author, so I'm hopeful that Identity Theft will be a good read. It is set in the timeline of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). From what I gather, the main plot takes place aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-A, in between the movies Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The story is connected to events that occurred twenty years earlier when the pre-refit U.S.S. Enterprise intervened in a civil war on the planet Voyzr. According to the blurb, this story features a significant focus on Pavel Chekov. After reading several true crime books in a row, I'm definitely looking for something lighter, and I think Star Trek: Identity Theft will fit the bill.

I found myself plunging into a maelstrom of thoughts that kept me awake for days, questioning my own grip on sanity while reading William J. Mann's riveting nonfiction release, Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood ^[*]. I lost track of time, crossing the threshold of late-night hours, a period traditionally reserved for the likes of vampires, witches, and serial killers. Even when I finally set the book down and placed a trusty bookmark to mark my place, sleep eluded me. My mind raced back to Elizabeth Short, known to the world as the Black Dahlia. I found myself time-traveling to January 1947, imagining the last moments of her life as she stepped out of the Biltmore Hotel. Where had she gone? Who had she encountered? What secrets lay buried in the six days before her lifeless body was discovered on the morning of January 15, 1947, cruelly severed at the waist, drained of blood, and left in a vacant lot in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, her mouth twisted into an eerie Glasgow smile? The identity of her killer or killers remains a haunting enigma after nearly eight decades, their anonymity a cruel twist in a tragic tale. Many have claimed to unravel the mystery—detectives, amateur sleuths, and researchers peddling the thrill of their theories for a quick profit. Yet I refuse to buy into the claims tying the Zodiac Killer or George Hodel to her tragic demise. What we have here is an unsolved murder, and the darkness it casts lingers still to this day.

Elizabeth Short has been unjustly painted as nothing more than a wayward wannabe actress or a wandering prostitute—a stereotypical femme fatale in a film noir flick deserving of her fate. Mann shatters these misconceptions with his extensive research, revealing her as a spirited young woman of curiosity and resolve, daring to push against the confines of a postwar society that expected women to settle down, marry, and raise children. It’s high time we reexamine the woman beneath the Black Dahlia moniker. Through a modern lens, Mann intricately weaves Short’s narrative into the fabric of a nation grappling with shifting ideals, demographics, and the ghosts of old fears masquerading as new ones. Only by situating her story in this tumultuous landscape can we grasp the tragedy of her existence.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

What drives you to read? 

My Answer:

You’ll have to excuse me; I'm at a loss for words this week. I honestly don’t know what drives me to read. Maybe it’s escapism or something else entirely.

Changing our perspective over time can reshape our attitudes toward the authors we've previously dismissed. It’s an intriguing phenomenon, reminiscent of the adage that a person evolves every seven years. Perhaps this evolving mindset explains my renewed appreciation for the works of Joyce Carol Oates, an author I had once cast aside. My initial dismissal stemmed from a rather unfortunate experience: I had read her 1995 horror novella Zombie, inspired by the notorious Jeffrey Dahmer, for an eighth-grade book report. Despite my passion for horror movies, the novella sickened me profoundly, causing me to overlook Oates's works for nearly two decades. However, with the passage of time and a broader literary palate, I've revisited her writing and found value in much of it, even though I don't always connect with her narratives on a personal level.

Oates is a prolific author known for her explorative and often dark storytelling, and like many writers, she has adopted various pen names throughout her career, notably Rosamond Smith. Her latest work, Double Trouble, published by Hard Case Crime, is set to be released tomorrow in hardcover ^[*], paperback ^[*], Kindle ^[*], and other eBook formats. This collection features two previously released complete novels, Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon and Soul/Mate, alongside two rare short stories, The Murderess and An Unsolved Crime. 

Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon, the seventh novel under the Rosamond Smith pseudonym, is a noir-infused crime thriller first published in 1999. It delves into the life of Lily Merrick, a seemingly devoted housewife and mother in upstate New York, who teaches pottery classes. When her estranged twin sister Sharon reappears after fifteen years, seeking refuge from her life as a Las Vegas stripper, the family initially welcomes her with open arms. However, Sharon, under the alias of Starr Bright, harbors a sinister secret—she’s the most wanted female serial killer in the country. 

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

Do you struggle to start a new read after finishing a truly amazing one?

My Answer:

Absolutely! I often find myself reflecting on a book that left a lasting impression on me, especially when it's exceptionally well-written, and the story continues to linger in my mind as I move on to a new read. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, really. I know that comparing the two can cloud my judgment, and it feels unfair to let the brilliance of one author overshadow another's work. Yet, it’s nearly impossible not to make those comparisons, as I weigh the unique styles and narrative techniques against each other. However, I try to keep those thoughts from influencing my final rating of the new book.

〜B.J. Burgess

It’s all too easy for intriguing titles to slip beneath the radar, often eclipsed by more prominent releases or overlooked due to lackluster cover art. This brings us to Paper Cut ^[*], a thriller by debut author Rachel Taff, published by William Morrow. I might never have read it had I not received a heads-up in a press release and an eGalley to review. The cover, while it transports me back to a vague late '90s aesthetic, lacks the punch to compel casual browsers. As for Rachel Taff, her name was new to me, though I later discovered her background in television production.

Paper Cut centers on Lucy Golden, a true-crime celebrity forever marked by the brutality of a murder she committed while escaping a California cult two decades ago. In the ever-watchful public eye of Los Angeles, Lucy is haunted by the specter of fading notoriety. As she grapples with the perils of fame—from an obsessive stalker to a simmering feud between her mother, a celebrated photographer, and her rock-star sister—she finds herself in a precarious balance between the past and present. Online trolls are rehashing the dark details of her infamous crime, amplifying the anxiety that’s already woven into her existence.

When a brash documentarian approaches her about making a film that centers on her case, Lucy perceives a golden opportunity to reclaim her narrative and quell the swirling doubts about her past. However, this venture demands a return to the California desert, where her history is as thick and deceptive as the sands themselves. Unraveling buried secrets amidst present-day perils, she must fight to protect the story she has long sold to the world. 

The heart of this book lies in the tension between public perception and personal truth—a dance between the various layers of identity, all while examining the obsessive fascination with the true-crime phenomenon itself.

Key Takeaways: 

• Early orthodontic evaluations, recommended by age 7, can identify and address potential dental issues before they become more complex. 

• Proactive assessments can guide jaw growth, correct harmful oral habits, and improve overall oral hygiene. 

• Timely interventions may reduce the need for more invasive treatments in the future, leading to cost savings and improved self-esteem. 

The Importance of Early Orthodontic Evaluations 

Lifelong oral health starts with proactive habits and timely professional guidance in childhood. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7, as this is an age when developing issues with jaw growth or alignment can be reliably detected, even while baby teeth remain. Catching these dental challenges early is crucial, as it enables orthodontists to intervene while facial bones are still developing, which leads to better long-term results. 

If you're seeking trusted local expertise for your child’s first evaluation, visiting a reputable Omaha orthodontist such as McAllister Orthodontics can make all the difference. With a longstanding presence in Omaha, McAllister Orthodontics specializes in early assessments, tailored treatment plans, and family-centered care throughout the metropolitan area. Their clinical team leverages advanced diagnostic techniques and a compassionate approach to ensure every child receives the highest caliber of preventive orthodontic care.

Early orthodontic evaluations provide parents with peace of mind, while giving children the best opportunity for a healthy and beautiful smile as they grow. By identifying subtle jaw discrepancies or improper eruption patterns early, it’s often possible to simplify—or even avoid—more complex treatments in adolescence. This approach supports not only oral health but also saves on costs and reduces the risk of disruptive procedures later in life.

Well, here I am again, riding back into the world of Westerns. Now, some of you might have thought I’d hung up my spurs and ridden off into the sunset, abandoning the Western genre entirely. Fear not! Life sometimes pulls me in different directions, but I assure you, I’m still firmly planted in the saddle. This week, I’m tackling The Gunsmith: The Jingle Bell Trail ^[*], a “Special Christmas Edition” adventure published in 2020. And yes, I hear your thoughts: "Isn’t Christmas over?" Technically, yes, the tinsel has been packed away. I planned to read this under the glow of twinkling lights, but fate had other designs. I finally got around to it between January 1st and 2nd—about a month ago now, so my recollection may be a bit dusty, but let’s give it a shot!

As the holiday season approaches, our rugged hero, Clint Adams, rides into Buckley, North Dakota—a town that appears to have been pulled right out of a snow globe—festooned with garlands draping from light posts and adorning the windows and balconies of every building like a Christmas card come to life. But before Clint can even hang his hat at the local hotel, he’s intercepted by Sheriff Owens from neighboring Goodwill, who is desperate for assistance in tracking down three cold-blooded killers. The sheriff's wish? To get home to his young boy in time for Christmas. Clint, ever the good Samaritan, agrees to lend a hand. But as fate would have it, things take a dark turn, thrusting our gunslinger into a treacherous journey along the Jingle Bell Trail. The stakes? Not just saving one little boy’s Christmas, but also rescuing an entire town that teeters on the brink of a fatal holiday.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

Which book pairs perfectly with a certain snack in your opinion?

My Answer:

Absolutely nothing! When I read a book, the last thing I want is a pesky snack threatening to mar the delicate pages with unsightly stains. It’s a sacrilege in my mind. The same goes for my Kindle—one smudge on that pristine screen and my heart sinks. If coffee counts as a snack, then I suppose I’m guilty as charged; there’s something beautifully indulgent about sipping a rich Java while lost in the labyrinth of a good story: just me, my book, and a steaming mug.

〜B.J. Burgess