Like The Wire, set on Cass
April 6, 2010 10:38 PM Subscribe
True crime in Detroit or Southeast Michigan? Or great crime fiction set there (preferably based on real events)?
I've read about the Nurse Murders—I'd like more true crime, especially anything similar to David Simon's Homicide, set in Detroit. Or around Detroit. Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, even Adrian or Birmingham, all fine.
Also curious about other noir or crime writing set in Detroit. What do you recommend? Or any fantastic stories that I can access in newspaper archives through the internet?
I've read about the Nurse Murders—I'd like more true crime, especially anything similar to David Simon's Homicide, set in Detroit. Or around Detroit. Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, even Adrian or Birmingham, all fine.
Also curious about other noir or crime writing set in Detroit. What do you recommend? Or any fantastic stories that I can access in newspaper archives through the internet?
For fiction, Elmore Leonard's Detroit might be a good place to start.
Out of Sight
Swag
Mr Paradise
Stick
City Primeval
52 Pick Up
Unknown Man #89
... probably a few others.
posted by philip-random at 10:57 PM on April 6, 2010
Out of Sight
Swag
Mr Paradise
Stick
City Primeval
52 Pick Up
Unknown Man #89
... probably a few others.
posted by philip-random at 10:57 PM on April 6, 2010
I remember reading something about John Norman Collins, the guy who murdered a bunch of coeds in the late '60's; I think it was called The Michigan Murders or something equally prosaic. As philip-random mentions above, you can't go wrong with Elmore Leonard, who is pretty much the go-to guy for Michigan-related crime fiction. And is also acknowledged as being The Master Of The Slide Guitar, too.
posted by motown missile at 12:23 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by motown missile at 12:23 AM on April 7, 2010
Blood Justice, the true story of Northwest flight attendant Nancy Ludwig who was murdered at the Metro Airport Hilton.
Angel in the Snow is a fictionalized account of the Oakland County Child Murders.
Masquerade, the true story of Dr. Alan Canty, a successful psychologist who was leading a double life and ended up murdered in the Cass Corridor.
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:07 AM on April 7, 2010
Angel in the Snow is a fictionalized account of the Oakland County Child Murders.
Masquerade, the true story of Dr. Alan Canty, a successful psychologist who was leading a double life and ended up murdered in the Cass Corridor.
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:07 AM on April 7, 2010
The family was from Detroit but the crime was up north in When Evil Came to Good Hart. It's further away towards Lansing, but the Burning Bed is another I can think of.
posted by motsque at 4:02 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by motsque at 4:02 AM on April 7, 2010
I'm not familiar with the nurse murders. Are you referring to the Michigan Murders?
That's the only story of this type that I'm really familiar with from SE Michigan, but I found it particularly gripping, because I was living in Ypsilanti at the time, not half a mile from them murderer's home.
That book is a great trashy read.
posted by orville sash at 4:10 AM on April 7, 2010
That's the only story of this type that I'm really familiar with from SE Michigan, but I found it particularly gripping, because I was living in Ypsilanti at the time, not half a mile from them murderer's home.
That book is a great trashy read.
posted by orville sash at 4:10 AM on April 7, 2010
Mardi Link (author of _When Evil Came to Good Hart_) has a new true crime book out, _Isadore's Secret_, but it's set earlier (1907 or so) so maybe not as interesting to you as her earlier book.
posted by philokalia at 4:15 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by philokalia at 4:15 AM on April 7, 2010
Response by poster: Yeah, the nurse murders are the Michigan murders are the co-ed murders. The co-eds were primarily nursing school students. (It is wild that they only caught the guy because he repainted his uncle's basement).
posted by klangklangston at 8:56 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by klangklangston at 8:56 AM on April 7, 2010
Yeah, I was coming in to recommend Masquerade, which is no work of art but fits your perimeters.
posted by Bookhouse at 9:56 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by Bookhouse at 9:56 AM on April 7, 2010
INTERNAL COMBUSTION: A Story of a Marriage and a Murder in the Motor City by Joyce Maynard. True crime, Detroit suburbs and Joyce Maynard. I don't need much more.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:30 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:30 PM on April 7, 2010
So I asked my friend Ingrid, the true crime lit specialist in my life, what she would recommend. She immediately gimped over (she's laid up with a bad back right now) to her true crime shelves - which we have been ordered to empty should she ever be arrested for anything - and pulled out a book called The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson. Her aunt was presumed murdered by the Michigan Murders guy. Ing says I shouldn't say more, except that it's beautifully written.
posted by rtha at 8:35 PM on April 9, 2010
posted by rtha at 8:35 PM on April 9, 2010
Per rtha's answer: The Red Parts, by Maggie Nelson.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:26 PM on April 10, 2010
posted by gingerbeer at 2:26 PM on April 10, 2010
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posted by klangklangston at 10:40 PM on April 6, 2010