History is filled with fascinating stories that once filled newsstands and enthralled readers. Journalism has been the storyteller informing people of the most current news for a century now. In The Murder of the Century, Paul Collins focuses on a New York murder that created a fight between two competing journalism powerhouses: Hearst and Pulitzer, in the summer of 1987. As the story unravels from the discovery of a human’s torso washed up, reporters compete with police and each other, to solve the mystery of who the murdered was and who did it.
Mr. Collins keeps the narrative moving and exciting as he transitions from the investigation, to the trail, to sentencing, and finally to after the sentencing. The book gives a good view of different sides’ perspective in this case, whether it be William Randolph Hearst from New York Journal, Joseph Pulitzer from New York World or a police officer. Mr. Collins provides a good background on the specifics as well, keeping the reader informed of the details of the current court procedure, the “politics of New York,” and other important aspects that help a reader understand the time period.
Though the detailing and intrigue of The Murder of the Century was high, Mr. Collins missed the mark with his editing abilities. At times the language comes across as hurried and off-beat. The word “bristles” is used multiple times throughout the text, when other words could better describe the action.
What Collins lacks with his editing job, he makes up with his use of many real eyewitness accounts as recorded by the contemporary press, which greatly adds to the book. This book will appeal to fans of early 20th century social history and crime, as well as the aspiring journalist. Either way, readers will not be disappointed with The Murder of the Century which transports you back to a time when journalism was first at the scene of the crime.