Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

“The mystery in the courtroom that day was what would become of the man who shot the Reverend Willie Maxwell. But for decades after the verdict, the mystery was what became of Harper Lee’s book.” 

Cep’s description of the two mysteries at this point in the book highlight that Furious Hours includes elements of true crime and elements of literary nonfiction.

“It was the first but not the last marriage of the future Reverend Willie Maxwell, and whatever else can be said about it, this much is true: it lasted, as he promised that day that it would, until death did them part.”

This ominous statement at the end of Chapter 1 demonstrates how Cep adds suspense to her work. This use of foreshadowing is one element of the book that reflects its true-crime roots.

“Violence has a way of destroying everything but itself. A murdered person’s name always threatens to become synonymous with her murder; a murdered person’s death always threatens to eclipse her life. That was especially true of an economically marginal black woman in Alabama.” 

Cep shows great self-awareness in this quote about how (and why) representations of crime and crime victims can further victimize people. In this particular case Cep acknowledges the role of race and class in determining what kind of justice a victim receives.