The Fact of a Body
The Fact of a Body by *Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich is a true crime memoir. After encountering the child murderer Ricky Langley, Alexandria’s desire to work as a lawyer to fight against the death penalty is up-ended. They spend several years investigating Ricky’s story as a way to confront the story of their own child abuse. This is a deeply moving book, and a relatively easy read given the morose topic – a testament to the author’s skill.
Our conversation ranges from the effects of trauma on individuals and communities to the genre itself. If you haven’t read it yet, beware that we assume you’ve read it, spoiler alert!
Featuring Jeffery A. Jenkins (@jaj7d), Lisa Schweitzer (@drschweitzer), Brettany K. Shannon (@brettanyshannon), and Deborah Winters
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for sending us review copies!
Links & further reading:
My Dark Places by James Ellroy
Intergenerational trauma
Beowulf (unknown author, translated by Seamus Heaney)
Rashomon effect
Clive Stafford Smith
Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic by Alexander Stille
Ann Rule
Johnnie Cochran
OJ Trial
Next Month …
This podcast was produced by Aubrey Hicks and Jonathan Schwartz, recorded and mixed by Corey Hedden.