An exciting, gripping book: Killer Colt is the very well-written true story of John C. Colt's trial for murder.
Most people have heard of his brother, Samuel, inventor of the Colt pistol. But John Colt was as infamous in his day as Samuel would be famous. This book brings to life the scandals surrounding John's trial--an event as widely publicized and debated as our most famous modern trials.
Schechter draws a complete picture of the political and social atmosphere that influenced (and was influenced by) the trial. Authors, abolitionists, Congressmen and popular entertainers all enter into the story and add the color that can only come from the best non-fiction.
I won my copy of Killer Colt through First Reads. ( )

Killer Colt is a nonfiction account of the murder trial in 1841 of John Colt, the brother of Sam Colt of revolver fame. This is a very well-written tale of one of the sensational murders of the period, complete with celebrities and tabloid journalism. It would be an interesting read without the connection to Colonel Samuel Colt. However, it is essential for anyone interested in Sam Colt’s family and his early career. It will be enjoyed be mystery readers as well as history buffs. ( )

Killer Colt is a great non-fiction crime story about the brother of the famous Sam Colt and a grisly murder. The book does a great job of showing how this murder interweaves with the tragic and triumphant Colt family and also paints a great picture of the times (early to mid 1800s), showing all too well that our current blood lust and love of a media frenzy are nothing new.

For me this is 4 stars instead of 5 because it tends to get a bit bogged down in details and wordiness, which ...moreKiller Colt is a great non-fiction crime story about the brother of the famous Sam Colt and a grisly murder. The book does a great job of showing how this murder interweaves with the tragic and triumphant Colt family and also paints a great picture of the times (early to mid 1800s), showing all too well that our current blood lust and love of a media frenzy are nothing new.

For me this is 4 stars instead of 5 because it tends to get a bit bogged down in details and wordiness, which sometimes lessened the impact of major events in the story. From a true historical perspective, the details are great, but I tend to prefer a faster paced story.

My review is based on an advance uncorrected proof. ( )

In September 1841, the cargo of an outbound ship in New York harbor was searched. As expected, a corpse was found sealed in a crate. And John C. Colt, brother of gun-maker Samuel Colt, was suspected of murder.

Although just a blip in general American history, this story of a 19th century murder is fascinating. If you don't know whether or not John committed murder, if you don't know this story, as I didn't, I'm not going to ruin the surprise.

This book was well researched, with comprehensive end notes, even though the copy I read was an uncorrected proof. As such, it had fewer mistakes than I've come to expect in proofs, and I expect the book as published will be very well edited.

In the beginning, while alternating between John's and Samuel's stories, I had to pay close attention to know which story I was reading. That got much easier as the book progressed. I enjoyed the details about Samuel's inventions, both the successful and unsuccessful, and appreciated his loyalty to his brother. I get frustrated, as do so many people, with what now passes for objective journalism. This book proves that it was no better more than 150 years ago.

The book was, in some areas, too detailed for me, and with too many long quotes. The language of the author seemed too formal, more like it had been written in the time of the murder. Nevertheless, I want to read more of the author's earlier works. For readers interested in the history of the time, this is a very enlightening read.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. ( )

I really have to start reading the book blurbs more carefully when I enter the Book Giveaways. This is the second book I have received that is not what I thought it was when I signed up. I thought this book was about Samuel Colt and the invention of the Colt Revolver, a nice segue from the previous Giveaway, "They Rode for the Lonestar"; the Texas Rangers having made the Colt Revolver famous.

Instead, this book is about John Colt, Samuel’s brother, and the murder he committed for which he was tried and condemned. To make things more confusing, throughout the book both brother’s lives are described in tandem, switching back and forth between them, leaving the reader to wonder just exactly who the book is about. Or is it both of them? A nice little twist at the end, which I won’t reveal, explains how and why the brothers’ lives were so entwined despite their very different temperaments, professions and places of residence.

Both brothers are interesting, but I was particularly fascinated by John. Growing up, he was a cut-up and ne’er-do-well who as an adult finally found his calling as an accountant. None of the accountants that I know could be even remotely described as rabble-rousers. They are all terribly straitlaced and conventional. John Colt, despite his troubled past, was not only a good accountant, but he also wrote a book on accounting that was so popular it went through nine editions. It was the final edition of the book, "The Science of Double Entry Book-Keeping", that was the cause of the quarrel between him and Samuel Adams, his printer, that resulted in the murder of Mr. Adams. Fully half of the "Killer Colt" is devoted to the trial of John Colt.

I was also unaware that the author, Harold Schechter, is a noted writer of true crime books. Not normally a fan of true crime books, I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Schechter writes from a historical point of view rather than the usual lurid and titillating approach typical of that genre. He quotes extensively from the contemporary press to provide the emotional color of the trial. He provides enough background on the City (Manhattan), the press and the various figures involved to allow the reader to fully appreciate the crime, the trial and the emotions swirling around them.

I am a huge fan of history so I loved this book. Through it, I gained a snapshot view of a particular time and place and really felt like I was able to enter into the lives and feelings of the people populating the narrative. ( )