Book: We Keep the Dead Close
Author: Becky Cooper
Pub Date: November 10, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Synopsis: Becky Cooper is a Harvard undergraduate student when she hears an “urban legend”/rumor about an Archaeology professor who allegedly murdered Harvard student Jane Britton in 1969 after having an affair with her and fearing she would tell. Cooper is immediately intrigued and soon finds out that the case is cold and has largely been given up on. Cooper makes it her mission to bring justice to Britton’s case, once and for all.
My Thoughts: This was an extremely well researched book, I cannot overstate that. The way Cooper is able to present an enormous amount of research without the reader getting lost is impressive. Cooper is also able to tell the story in a compassionate, thoughtful way. I felt like I truly got to know Jane Britton in a way that I deeply cared about her and wanted justice for her. I could also tell that the author felt connected to Britton, which added to the caring way she told the story and presented the research.
I also appreciated that the author lifted a veil on the patriarchal influences and misogyny that existed and still exist at Harvard and other institutions of higher education. The sexist influences in academia are often passed off as “the way it has always been” and I liked that this book challenged that. This book is as much about exposing inequality in this way as it is about the loss of Britton.
I highly recommend this book!
For fans of: Well Researched Books, True Crime, Stories Set on College Campuses, and Cold Cases.
Okay In My Book 