Unveiling the Dark Secrets Behind John J Lennon’s The Tragedy of True Crime: A Must-Read Review
Reviewed by Vicki Mayk
I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t admit that I’ve watched some of the true crime documentaries and series that are a significant part of the programming on most streaming services. While not exactly a fan of the genre, I’ve used these shows as a welcome distraction, a kind of junk food for my brain.
Now that I’ve read John J. Lennon’s The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and The Stories That Define Us (Celadon Books; September 2025), I’ll never think about true crime in the same way. Brilliantly blending reported nonfiction, immersive journalism, and memoir, Lennon — a convict who has so far served 24 years for murder — writes, “The stories we tell about the worst of humanity are a reflection on all of us. True crime is the antithesis to the notion that we are more than our crimes.” Then Lennon shows us how it should be done, as he tells the stories of four convicts – including himself.
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