The Best American Crime Reporting 2009 by Jeffrey Toobin, Thomas H. Cook, Otto Penzler

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Synopsis

Thieves, liars, and killers—it's a criminal world out there, and someone has to write about it. A thrilling collection of the year's best reportage by the aces of the true-crime genre, The Best American Crime Reporting 2009 brings together the mysteries and missteps of an eclectic and unforgettable set of criminals. Gripping, suspenseful, and brilliant, this latest addition to the highly acclaimed series features guest editor Jeffrey Toobin, New Yorker staff writer, CNN senior legal analyst, and bestselling author of The Nine.

Library Journal

Series guest editor Toobin (staff writer, The New Yorker; The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court) here brings together his selection of the year's best articles on crime and criminals, the eighth annual compilation. As editor, he maintains the high quality for which the series is known. The subjects are diverse: lighthearted stories of cons and shoplifters are interspersed with horrific political killings, domestic disputes turned deadly, and the grisly story of the trade in human body parts. The murders covered in these pieces are both famous (Robert A Hawkins, the Nebraska Christmas gunman) and obscure (the senseless murder of Thien Minh Ly by Gunner Lindberg), recent (hedge-fund manager Seth Tobias) and historical (JFK). Fascinating as the criminals are, the best articles are about the crime stoppers. In "Mr. Non-Lethal Weapons," Sid Heal examines the difficulty of stopping a criminal without using deadly force. And "American Murder Mystery" documents the depressing failure of one of the most celebrated urban antipoverty programs. VERDICT With consistently interesting content and beautiful writing, this collection will be devoured by fans of true crime and narrative nonfiction. Highly recommended.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH

Biography

Jeffrey Toobin has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1993 and is the senior legal analyst for CNN. In 2000 he received an Emmy Award for his coverage of the EliÁn GonzÁlez case. He is the author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, which spent more than four months on the New York Times bestseller list. Before joining The New Yorker, Toobin served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Brooklyn, New York. He lives in Manhattan.