Crimes of the century cover

Crimes of the century

by Gilbert Geis

Five dramatic trials of the twentieth century that dazzled the media and captivated the American public are the subject of this provocative book. Each case study details the crime, the police investigation, and the court proceedings, profiles the major players, and examines the outcome and aftermath of the trial. The authors untangle the perplexities surrounding the cases and illuminate the many mysteries that remain unsolved today. Taken together, these well-publicized, highly controversial crimes of the century and the public battleground on which they sought resolution disclose the tensions, inadequacies, and underlying elements of criminal justice adjudication.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?