47 pages • 1 hour read
Casey CepFurious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Furious Hours by Casey Cep is a work of literary nonfiction in the true-crime genre that details the story of Willie Maxwell, an Alabama minister suspected of murdering several family members for insurance money, and Robert Burns, who killed Maxwell at a funeral. The book also covers Harper Lee’s unsuccessful effort to document these events. The story involves themes of violence, murder, and mental health challenges.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Furious Hours by Casey Cep expertly combines true crime, biography, and literary history, delving into novelist Harper Lee's unfinished work. Reviews commend its meticulous research, narrative depth, and engaging prose. However, some find its multi-layered structure occasionally disjointed. Despite this, it is praised for its illuminating and evocative storytelling.
Who Should Read Furious Hours?
Readers who appreciate true crime and Southern Gothic literature will enjoy Casey Cep's Furious Hours. Comparable to books like Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, this book delves into murder, courtroom drama, and racial tensions in the Deep South. Fans of meticulously researched narratives with a historical backdrop will be enthralled.