Most people know at least the bare bones of the original "Crime of the Century" - two super rich white teenagers who thought they were so massively intelligent that they could get away with the perfect crime. It's true they were all of those things - Loeb graduated from the University of Michigan at 17 and had chosen the University of Chicago for graduate school. Leopold had just graduated at 18 from the University of Chicago, and would soon be off to Harvard Law. But they were also incredibly arrogant, as a result of all of these things, and there's no way they would ever going to actually get away with it.

Their victim, Bobby Franks, was fourteen years old when he was brutally murdered - all because Leopold and (Bobby's distant cousin) Loeb, wanted the thrill of out-smarting everyone.

Add to the mix Clarence Darrow as their defense attorney and you also have the "Trial of the Century".

The story has always been that Loeb was the mastermind, a pure psychopath who had Leopold on a leash and could get him to do anything because Leopold was so madly in love with Loeb. While the latter part is true, this examination of the evidence paints a bit of a different picture. Make no mistake, they were both guilty and deserved the death penalty, but Darrow's supposed "greatest defense summation of all time" won them life in prison instead of the death.

I feel it is always dangerous to try and diagnose historical figures. I have read so many books positing what made Henry VIII turn into such a raving psychopath, the reason all of Catherine's babies died except Mary, etc. However, I think it is marginally more possible for those like Leopold and Loeb, who lived and died in the 20th century. There's far more evidence and documentation that has been carefully preserved for us to examine - photographs, witness statements, everything possible to "solve" a case that hs been already solved.

Because that's the draw of cases like this, isn't it? We know they did it. They confessed, they had no remorse, everyone and everything was beneath them. But we want to know WHY. Why did these two eighteen year olds, the world at their fingertips, brilliant young men who could have done anything, decide that a thrill kill was the thing they wanted most?

Sadistic and psychopath sum it up, basically.

The authors spend a fair amount of time examining the relationship between the two young men and the power dynamic between them. All previous discussion has indicated, as I said before, that Loeb was the mastermind and Leopold his faithful follower. Something to keep in mind though, is that Loeb was dead by 1930, having been murdered in prison. That left decades for Leopold to rehab his image and lay the blame all at Loeb's feet - which he promptly did. Though both men had confessed to taking part in the murder upon being arrested, neither would admit to being the one who delivered the blows that ultimately killed Franks. Yet in examining the evidence left behind, the authors paint a different picture - one with Leopold the actual leader.

Leopold's obsession with Loeb is clear from the start. The fact that the young men were in a secret sexual relationship was something that added to the sensationalism of the crime, trial, and aftermath. Yet most sources from the time show that Leopold was the more sexually aggressive of the two and Loeb wasn't necessarily quite as into that aspect of the relationship all the time. Both young men were deeply troubled and existed in their own violent and dangerous little world and neither should be absolved for their roles in the murder. Something that did not quite sit well with me is the authors attempt to somehow make Loeb the lesser of two evils? I don't know if that was their intention, but that is how it came across at times.

The book is incredibly in-depth, digging into the lives of Leopold and Loeb before murdering Franks. How they met and the activities they participated in as any other 18 year old college students would - it was strange to see them doing such normal things, all the while trying to plan the perfect crime.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in this case specifically or true crime in general.

The original Trial of the Century occurs when two young men kidnap and murder a 14yr old boy then demand ransom.

If you like true crime you will like this book. I had not heard of this “crime of the century” and found the book to be detail oriented. Clearly the author researched this case. I enjoyed the way the author set the book up. This book left me with disgust for what humans can do to other humans.

The murder of a young teenage boy shocked the Chicago area - and then horrified an entire nation. Two young men, both from a privileged background, were accused, and later convicted of the crime.

Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb had everything one could think of - but they craved adventure. From petty crimes, they eventually graduated to murder. Their victim was a relative of one of the young men. It seemed to be an unsolvable case - until a pair of glasses led to a suspect, and eventually confessions from the killers.

This case - no matter how many times you read or hear about it still sparks anger within communities. It was senseless, and just used as a thrill for two young men.
Nothing But The Night dives into the lives of the men, the families, and eventually through the case and their life in prison. I enjoyed this book, and the informative way it was laid out.

Well I’m a sucker for true crime so this book was right up my alley! You could really tell there was a lot of research done to make everything about the original case accurate. I loved learning new things that weren’t in easily accessed articles. It was a lot of information, but it was present in a very clear way and wasn’t boring to read. I do wish it spent less time on the trial, but that was so minuscule that I still rate it 5 stars!

This book was a marvelous, detail-rich deep dive into the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb in Prohibition Age Chicago. Meticulously researched and put together in a fashion that was intriguing and informative, I couldn't put the book down; wanting to devour every little detail. I'd heard of the murder previously, being an avid true crime fan, but the famous case often has the facts mangled and the background of the time isn't often taken into context. I very much appreciate the work the authors did on this.

SYNOPSIS
On 21 May, 1924, 14-year-old Robert “Bobby” Franks was found brutally murdered. Bobby was the son of a millionaire business owner. Although murders were commonplace, Bobby Franks killing was, arguably, the first of its kind for America; its first “thrill killing.”

The two accused, both teenagers, viewed themselves as Übermensch; a phrase meaning Supermen as described by nihilist and philosopher Frederick Nietzsche in his book1 Thus Spake Zarathustra. Übermensch is a term to describe men for whom the normal rules do not apply. The grim truth of the crime was even more vomitus than anyone could ever imagine.

Dubbed “the crime of the century,” the court case proved to reveal more than the details of a crime, but introduced America to a sickening new criminal trend; the thrill killers! In the dock were the two accused: 18-year-old Richard “Dick” Loeb and 19-year-old Nathan “Babe” Leopold Junior.

Richard Loeb was the son of a wealthy lawyer who became a senior executive at Sears, Roebuck & Company. He was handsome, well-healed, charming and liked by his peers. Next to Loeb sat his co-conspirator, Nathan Leopold Jr. In contrast to Loeb, Leopold was described as “sinister.” He was once admired for his prodigious intelligence and yet he appeared to some of his cohorts to be “peculiar” because of his haughty attitude and aloof nature; preferring book-learning to social situations.

Due to the nature of the crime, the two teenagers faced a charge of murder in the first degree. Their legal counsel was the highly esteemed defense attorney, 67-year-old, Clarence Darrow Esquire. Who was arguably the most feared attorney in America at the time.

Their case was infamous for being the first recognized case of a ‘thrill kill.’ It was also noteworthy due to the fact that it was extensively planned and coordinated for the sole purpose of committing the ‘perfect’ crime and escaping subsequent justice. You can probably appreciate by now that the latter part of the plan failed, or we would not be here analyzing it today. A crime committed not by the usual suspects, but exceptional because of the social status of the individuals, their education and their religious/national identity.

The horrendous crime that Leopold and Loeb committed was so complex, notorious and shocking to the world, that it inspired Alfred Hitchcock to write the 1948 movie Rope starring James Stewart.

CONCLUSION
In a carefully crafted narrative, King and Wilson breathe new life into an old case of murder and mayhem with this, their latest literary masterpiece. Nothing But The Night is a high quality detailed accounting of ‘the murder of the century,’ as it was labeled at the time. The authors provide an unocculted view into the devious nature of the two murderers covering how they conspired together to kill without risk of capture. They guide us through the comprehensive, elaborate, and intricate planning that preceded the crime; to the actual murder, their eventual apprehension and their subsequent trial.

The trial is the end of the book, but the beginning of the conundrum. It is a view into the minds of men who believe that they were outside the norm, superior in every way, exceptional, special and entitled. They believed they held dominion over the life of their chosen, hapless victim.

King and Wilson avoid the trap of focusing on the deviancy of the two men, Leopold and Loeb. Hints of sexual indiscretion are implied but not explicit. Some things are obvious without reference, and this technique adds to the power of the work overall.

There are some books that one reads and discards without a second thought, and then there are others that resonate with us. Well, this is a work that you will contemplate for some time. You will find yourself dwelling on some aspect of the story, and weeks or months later still remember the contents and imagery of this book.

Nothing But The Night is written with consummate skill and unrivaled clarity. It is an exceptional work of its kind, and an absolute must have for true crime aficionados, students of psychology, law, or criminal justice.

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1Nietzsche F. Thomas Common (trans.), New York: The Modern Library Press, 2017 (1883–5).

I found the organization of this book appealing - it really encompasses the whole story of the infamous murder by Leopold and Loeb of Bobby Franks (aka the “Crime of the Century”). It includes all aspects of this case - the victim and his family, the murderers and theirs, 1920s society (specifically around wealth, homosexuality, and psychology), the trial, prison. and the years after.

I did find the trial section rather dull and hard to get through but found the epilogue to be a good ending. To see how utterly useless the judicial system was in the end was disheartening but not surprising.

I think the book sheds newfound light on the book (but mostly due to how society has change its views vs, new facts introduced) it is another retelling of the murder case and you might as well read the latest.

I do wish photos were included of the different people involved.

Who doesn’t love a real life true crime book!?

Well this one is fantastically messed up! I hadn’t heard this story before and it was fascinating.

This was interesting. I had heard about the Leopoldo and Loeb case for years but never really read about it before now. I can see why it was so shocking back in the day, it would be shocking now still. It seems well researched, detailed without being graphic and was enlightening.

I had never heard of the Loeb and Leopold case but I enjoyed reading this updated view of it. I love a book that immediately grabs my attention and this book does that.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A story that I knew nothing about though I heard of Clarence Darrow many times just for some reason don’t remember this case. It evolves two rich young boys who murder another boy and then Clarence Darrow argues against the death penalty for them and wins a sentence of life without parole. That he was able to do this a hundred years ago is amazing. Parts of this book are slow like some true crime but still, it was a good read

Unfortunately dull and nothing included which I couldn't find from another source. Sadly, this one was not at all what I hoped it would be.

Thank you for sending this book to me.

NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT is a fresh, trade-press book on the notorious Leopold and Loeb story. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were rich, young geniuses who read Nietzsche, felt bored, and gruesomely murdered their neighbor Bobby Franks. crime resulted in the death penalty going on trial. Clarence Darrow presented a case against the death penalty, winning life sentences for Leopold and Loeb. a quintessentially early-twentieth century media circus surrounded the trial. NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT covers all of the above and more, examining deeper than the themes of capital punishment, media and modernism. for example, the authors criticize Darrow’s renowned closing argument: “His arguments about responsibility, or lack thereof, were absurd: Darrow blamed the killers’ parents, the University of Chicago, Nietzsche, the philosopher’s publisher – anyone and everyone except Richard and Nathan.” American reception history of Friedrich Nietzsche is captured in historian Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen’s 2011 book AMERICAN NIETZSCHE.

I had no idea about the Leopold and Loeb murder scandal that rocked Chicago in 1924. I dived right into this true crime book head first. I was fascinated with the wealth and the why of how they could kidnap and kill a child.
The authors did a great job of piecing together all of the evidence of this duos nefarious ways.
It was like watching a fast moving runaway train.

The only downside is that the authors spent a LOT of time on the closing arguments of the court case. It was so repetitive that I began to skim the pages.
OVerall a great true crime book that highlights an important crime from almost 100 years ago.

Nearly one hundred years ago Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, both intelligent, privileged teenagers, were accused of killing young Bobby Franks in a gruesome fashion. What followed these atrocious events was the “Trial of the Century,” a trial that garnered a lot of attention from the press and Chicagoinas, and people's fascination with the case continues even today. With the advances in forensics and psychology, King and Wilson investigate the case, aided by the advances in these fields, bringing the case and motives into a new light. 

I liked this piece of nonfiction. While there was a lot in it that I already knew, there were some new things that I was unaware of, and my previous knowledge didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the novel. I found Nothing but the Night easy to read. It read like a story; while full of facts, information and insights, I didn’t feel overloaded with information and I could simply enjoy the novel’s telling of the horrors that occurred and the aftermath. 

I highly recommend Nothing but the Night: Leoplod & Loeb and the Truth Behind the Murder that Rocked 1920s America to any fan of true crime novels. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for gifting to me an electronic copy of Nothing but the Night, given in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

Chicago, 1924
It's been called the first "crime of the century." Two rich, highly educated teens kill a boy for the "fun of it." They were tight friends only because each was scared the other might spill secrets about their sexual relationship.

Authors Greg King and Penny Wilson revisit the crime in the book NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT: LEOPOLD & LOEB and the truth behind the murder that rocked 1920s America (StMartinsPress). Up until that fateful day, the two had committed petty crimes and property damage. They kidnapped the young boy, killed him in the back of a rented car, drove him out into the woods and dumped his body in a water drain. Police were soon on to Leopold and Loeb after the discovery of the body. The case started to unravel beginning with the discovery of Loeb's special glasses. They arrogantly thought they had planned a perfect crime. It was anything but clever. Loeb was the first one to cave in to cops' interrogation and Leopold soon followed. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb never showed remorse for the murder.

Their parents rallied around them, hiring the best defense money could buy and hoping to save them from being hanged. Their highly paid, famous defense attorney pulled all kind of tricks out of his hat to get them life in prison, even repeatedly lying. It was the first court case to introduce psychologist and psychiatrist's testimony.

Greg King has written several books about notorious crimes. This book unfolds flawlessly, is well researched and provides thoughtful insight for those aware or unaware of the crime. I'd never heard about this crime before reading this book and was captivated. A perfect novel for true crime aficionados.

This book is a true story, serial killers and their background, how they grew up has a big play in how they turned out in adulthood. Many were abused, some had head injuries, many just normal childhood. This book was eye opening and a disturbing to say the least. I'm glad I read it and got an insight on what's in the head of serial killers.

I thought this was very informative book. Honestly I skipped through quite a few sections because they were very graphic. I don’t think it was necessary to go into such specific detail about the angry and sadistic sexual events of the boys (from age 8-12) when they were very young. A general description would have still allowed the understanding of their lives. I was fascinated by these two men and thought this book covers new in-depth ground and gives us the true story and dynamic between the two killers.

I thought this was really well-researched. I usually have a few hang-ups with the true crime genre, but this wasn't exploitative at all. Having not heard of L&L until a few years ago, and then watching a few movies inspired by/about them, I was very interested to read this book and I definitely recommend it for those interested in the case.