A great retelling of the true crime case of Leopold and Loeb. True crime is all the rage right now with my students but it's hard to find age appropriate nonfiction. Murder Among Friends is perfect for the YA population and would fit in any middle school or upper school collection. Its nonfiction that reads as fiction and does a great job of exploring one of the first "crime of the centuries."

I think that true crime stories are SUPER popular with kids, so I think they would definitely pick it up and start it. It does get a tiny bit dry, so I wonder if they would make some students put it down. I think it does a great job of telling a famous case without sensationalizing it. Fleming doesn't give any gruesome details and barely goes into that specific day. I think it's an interesting exploration of 2 disturbed individuals. We get a strong sense of both of their personalities without making them out to be some kind of antihero

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. "Murder Among Friends" recounts the shocking case of Leopold and Loeb, two teenagers who murder another child for thrill of it in 1924. This book discusses the then groundbreaking field of what would come to be known as Freudian psychology and the defense of diminished capacity. This was a well researched and interesting book, that did not read as too gruesome for the target age.

A true crime that's almost to horrible to be real. From 1924 college Students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnap and murder a young boy. It's violent even by both 1920s standards and murder day. But what shocked me is that they were saved from the death penalty. Candance Fleming does a brilliant job of explaining her it happened and why.

Another great non-fiction by Candace Fleming. This one is sure to capture the attention of teens who have been sucked in to the true-crime genre by podcasts and Netflix specials.

This was such an engrossing read! I could not put it down.

Leopold and Loeb occupied such an interesting cross-section of identities, and I think that's part of what makes the story so interesting. Additionally, it highlights issues that are still seen in our criminal justice system and that we're still reckoning with today - nearly 100 years later.

As someone who consumes a decent amount of true crime content, you can tell this is toned down for a younger audience, but not so much that it becomes unappealing. Highly recommend for people looking for a less detailed true crime read.

Before reading this book, I had only a vague familiarity with the Leopold & Loeb case. I was excited about the opportunity gain a greater understanding of both the events that led up to the case as well as the trial/aftermath.

I found this book to be thorough and engaging. Fleming weaves a compelling narrative that follows the two young men from their separate precocious childhoods, through their tumultuous friendship, and eventually to their murder pact. I knew that Clarence Darrow defended Leopold & Loeb, but I didn’t know about the interesting parallel between his defense and the infamous affluenza defense almost a hundred years later. Darrow also referred to the duo by their boyhood nicknames: Babe and Dickie, in order to capitalize on their youth. On that note, I didn’t know about the outcome of the trial either and the result surprised me, although perhaps it shouldn’t have.

The book is written for a young adult audience, but it never felt juvenile to me—nor did I get the sense that details were being imparted for the sole purpose of being sensationalistic. Yes, the facts of the case—two extremely privileged young men killing a younger boy just to see if they could get away with this—are inescapably sensationalistic, but it’s important to convey information without being lurid for the sake of being lurid. And this book achieves that goal effortlessly.
I would absolutely recommend Murder Among Friends. This book will appeal to true crime fans, and while some of the details might not be appropriate for precocious readers, it’s perfect for teen readers. I am looking forward to more fascinating nonfiction from Fleming in the future.






I received a digital ARC of this book from Random House Children’s/NetGalley

While I had of course heard of Leopold and Loeb, I didn't know the details. Candace Fleming has done an amazing job of researching the case and setting forth the details in a compulsively readable fashion. The crime is horrific, and the dynamic between Leopold and Loeb reminded me so much of the awful, fateful pairing of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in Columbine. The legal maneuvering of Clarence Darrow was also really interesting. A fascinating book.

The Leopold & Loeb trial was shocking on several fronts. Young, wealthy, intelligent young men were indicted for a heinous act - the abduction and murder of Bobby Franks, Richard Loeb's younger cousin. Both young men confessed. Their families hired the firebrand attorney Clarence Darrow who, the next year, would expand his reputation in the Tennessee vs. John Scopes trial a year later. And in an unprecedented act, Darrow opted not to have the men plead not guilty on the basis of insanity, rather he instructed them to enter a guilty plea so the trial-by-jury phase would be passed over, sending the case directly to the sentencing phase. Even that lasted multiple weeks. His goal was not to prove Leopold & Loeb innocent, but to avoid the death penalty.

The story involves cold calculation and execution of a murder by a pair of callous, entitled young men who believed themselves superior to others. They believed they had committed the perfect crime. Once caught, the brilliant criminal defense lawyer Darrow masterfully navigated what was, at the moment, considered "the crime of the century."

I always expect a good story from Candace Fleming. She utilizes a narrative nonfiction style that easily engages readers. With many teen readers drawn to true crime stories, this book will definitely find a home in my library.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow. I am not a nonfiction person, but I was intrigued by the idea that the event was dubbed the "crime of the century". The story involves Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, two teens who tried to commit the perfect murder and got caught. And although Illinois at the time held the death penalty for murder, their lawyer, Clarence Darrow, got them off on life in prison.

This was such a fascinating story. We learn about the upbringing of these two boys and of their complex and co-dependent relationship with each other. Based on the personalities of both boys, it was determined that each boy revered the other in some way that made the them dependent on each other for committing the murder. In other words, separately, neither of them would have gone through with committing a murder. I found the dynamic of their relationship to be incredibly intriguing.

And while everyone believed that Nathan and Richard were sane in their decision to commit murder, Clarence Darrow did the unthinkable and with the help of new age psychologists, he was able to argue that the boys themselves were mentally disabled based on their upbringing and other neurological abnormalities. It was a complete risk having the boys plead guilty in order to avoid a trial by jury and then to prove that the boys more or less had psychopathic tendencies. By pleading guilty, Darrow only had to argue his case in front of the judge, instead of putting the fate of the boys' hands in twelve jurors. It was interesting how Darrow's argument made parents question how they raised their children and how to recognize mental disabilities. Essentially, Darrow argued that based on these two boys mental psychosis, it was inevitable that they would end up killing someone. He also believed punishing death with death was a vicious cycle and did not accomplish anything. He was well known for his lengthy and passionate closing statements.

The whole story was completely fascinating from how the boys planned to commit the perfect murder, to how they eventually got caught and confessed, to how they managed to avoid the death penalty. I highly recommend this piece of nonfiction!

A highly interesting look at a horrible crime. Candance Fleming writes nonfiction as if it is fiction and puts you right in the time period. Definitely for older teens who are interested in true crime.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! I was nervous when I started this book because, as a parent, I get way more feels when it comes to murder, especially a murder of a child. I knew I was going to read about that and put in a request for the book because I found the overall premise really interesting. I also read the Rominov book by this author and really enjoyed it, so I wanted to give this one a try. Final verdict-I was hooked. I felt the kind of morbid fascination I felt when I read Radium Girls. It is like an accident where you cannot look away. These boys were so disturbed, and their reactions and planning were just something I found it hard to wrap my mind around happening in real life. Anyone into True Crime type things like podcasts and shows will eat this one up. I am not into those things, and I still could not put it down. I love a nonfiction book that leads me to Google search things because I become so interested, and that is what happened. I felt like the author did a nice job of covering details but not making it as gruesome as it could have been. Honestly, I found more disturbing descriptions when I googled their names than I found in there, and that was good for me as a reader. I could see teens grabbing this title and reading it if they are into crime pieces. It is written in a simple style that gives it good readability, but it does not take away from the content. Overall, I highly recommend this one!

Murder Among Friends is a solid addition to the true crime genre about teenage killers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb who decided to commit the perfect murder by killing a kid, Bobby Franks, who they both knew. The book follows the crime and court case that follows. It's well-researched, while remaining entertaining and not bogged down by unnecessary details. This is one that will turn you into a true crime fan. Highly recommended!!

For a generation of youth addicted to true crime, here is the story of original teenage criminals, Leopold and Loeb. This timely memoir details the shocking tale of the murder of Bobby Franks. Readers are made to feel uncomfortable, as they should, as the emotionless planning, conduction, and aftermath of the murder are detailed. Fleming poignantly expounds on the cultural, socioeconomic, and political factors of the case leading to several important questions. Is justice different for the wealthy? What is the role of religion in crime and in our court systems? What about the ethics of the death penalty? What is our own obsession with the macabre and murder?

The only area where this title lacks in the story of Bobby Franks. We learn loads about Leopold and Loeb, but Franks is just a side-note in his own murder. Still, the book forces readers to confront the mortifying truths of the story rather sensationalism. Youth will pick up this title expecting another tale of true crime, but will leave it learning a little more about themselves and the world in which we live.

Put this in the hands of those who love true crime podcasts and readers of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.

We.l researched. A look at what motivation two young men of privilege to commit midterm and the relevance of the crime.

When Candace Fleming writes narrative non-fiction, you are in for a meticulously researched book that leaves no stone unturned.

A number of years ago I read another book on this duo's crime. I found it very interesting and looked forward to reading this look at the crime. I found it to be very interesting. A look into the minds, lives, and motivations of the two perpetrators. While I enjoy true crime stories, I sometimes get bored with the already know details. This book kept the story moving and there was no loss of attention. Well done.

I wish there had been more on the lives of Leopold and Loeb's time while incarcerated. Their adaptation to an entirely different life, etc. but still a very informative and interesting read.

This was an incredibly interesting yet disturbing book.
The author seemed to have a lot of primary sources to put together the events that led up to and followed a grizzly murder. I still can't believe that this is a true-crime story. Lovers of true-crime podcasts and books will really appreciate the detail and meticulousness of this book.
I'll admit, I had to put the book down several times because I just couldn't stomach the amoral personalities of the murderers. Their lack of consciousness or morality was sickening.
This was my first exposure to this story but later found out there have been books, movies, and even a play about this event and aftermath. But for a first-time look, I think the author did a phenomenal job of making the story flow, keeping to facts, and bringing the reader's emotions to the forefront.

You know a nonfiction book is thorough when 25% of it is composed of source notes.

Fleming, as always, delivers a compulsively readable, well researched, and to the point work if ya nonfiction that is as enjoyable for adult readers as it is accessible to teens.

I've been interested in Leopold and Loeb since I watched that garbage Murder by Numbers movie during my early 2000s Ryan Gosling phase, but I don't think I ever read a full book about their crime. What struck me, in the end, was how amateurish and teenage it truly was, relying as much on the incompetence of the Chicago police department and limited forensics as it attempted to be "the perfect crime." (Does the perfect crime, even 100 years ago, REALLY involve returning a rented car that hasn't entirely been scrubbed of blood?) Fleming does an amazing job of creating context for readers raised on CSI and 21st century morality, whether regarding homosexuality, mental health, Chicago police and politics, or anti Semitism.

The parallels to the Columbine pairing kept coming back to me. It just takes one psychopath and one disordered soul to commit a horrific crime. I would definitely recommend Dave Cullen's fantastic book on Columbine to anyone who enjoyed this title.

The Leopold and Loeb case is fascinating for many reasons, and the author captures the crime and the criminals in an easy-to-read manner. She does a deep dive into the backgrounds of both young men, which goes a long way in explaining their personalities and decisions surrounding this murder. Great non-fiction book for high school students interested in true crime.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.