A Voice Unheard: Why It’s Important to Remember the Victims of True Crime Stories
By Courtney Summers
July 26, 2018Read Courtney Summers's exclusive guest post about remembering the victims of true crime stories, then make sure you're signed in and comment below for a chance to win a copy of Sadie!
At the heart of true crime narratives are its victims, voices (often) lost to brutal acts of violence. Their lives are hopefully painted in the recollections of their friends, family, acquaintances, and colleagues while we, the audience, circle their bodies in search of truth and justice. If we’re lucky, we uncover both in what remains. But even then, the victim’s voice is absent, and in that absence, sometimes, a troubling distance can take shape.
I first considered this distance when the inaugural season of Serial came out. I thought of Hae Min Lee and everything she could no longer tell us. I thought of the way the podcast’s story expanded and contracted around her, the emotional distance that created within me, and how uncomfortable that made me with myself—and the questions it forced me to ask.
Don’t get me wrong; I’ll always enjoy true crime and its commitment to the truth and dogged pursuit of justice. This emotional dissonance was not created by nor was it a failure of the brilliant and innovative Serial. I had just reached a point of desensitization, and exposure to this exciting new format of true crime—a podcast!—revealed that to me about myself.
From there, I became preoccupied with how well we’re serving the narratives of people no longer around to tell their own stories and what my responsibility to those people might be.
These questions largely drive my new novel, Sadie.
Sadie is about a girl who disappears on the hunt for her sister’s murderer and the blockbuster podcast that’s created with a dedication to finding her. Its reluctant host, West McCray, isn’t convinced another missing girl makes for a compelling show (after all, “girls go missing all the time”), but he soon finds himself at the center of a profoundly disturbing mystery he never anticipated.
Will he be able to find Sadie before it’s too late?
Sadie alternates between two different perspectives in two different times: Sadie’s, with her tight, first-person point of view as she drives across Colorado on her relentless pursuit of revenge; and West’s, which details the aftermath solely in podcast transcripts.
This format gave me the opportunity to explore the way true crime approaches the stories of its victims, the way we consume those stories as an audience, and where exactly the truth might lie—and what critical details might be lost in the process of uncovering it.
And who those missing details might hurt the most.
When Sadie finds herself in the darkest corners of big cities and small towns, sometimes interacting with people who pose an immediate threat to her life, readers can accept her recounting of those events at face value. After all, Sadie doesn’t know she’s telling her story to anyone. When West McCray arrives after the fact, he can only recreate those moments in what’s left behind, often via the recollections of others—people who might bend or omit what happened because they have reason to protect themselves. Sometimes, the conclusions he arrives at pushes West closer to finding Sadie—and sometimes, it’s at a cost to her that he can’t foresee. And the whole time this is happening, there’s an unwritten third point of view: that of an eager audience voraciously tuning in episode after episode.
Sadie is not a condemnation of true crime or the people who create or love it—I am, after all, one of those people! But I’m forever interested in the spaces in those stories that can’t ever truly be told, and fictionalizing the category gave me an opportunity to explore them. I got to take a good look at myself and ask those questions I mentioned at the start of this post: how well are we serving the narratives of victims, and what is our responsibility to them?
What I realized in writing Sadie is that the answer will vary depending on the story and who is telling it. Maybe it’s less about the answers than it is making sure those questions are asked.
For me, juxtaposing Sadie’s and West’s perspectives is meant to shine a light on the humanity of the girl at the center of her story, even as it’s commandeered and retold by someone else with the best of intentions. I think it’s important we don’t lose that humanity amid evidence, suspects, alibis, and the gruesome details of the unconscionable acts so readily available to us. It’s easy to get desensitized to a cruel world, as I found out—but when that comes at the expense of its victims, it can also come at the expense of ourselves.
Comment below for a chance to win a copy of Sadie by Courtney Summers!
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Sadie Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/a-voice-unheard-why-its-important-to-remember-the-victims-of-true-crime-stories-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) July 26, 2018. Sweepstakes ends at 2:59 p.m. ET September 4, 2018. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
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I tried for a Sadie ARC at NetGalley and sadly was turned down. Then they had 24 hour free download and I couldn’t get one because I has previously been turned down. While this doesn’t make me a true crime victim, I was really bummed.
I’ve entered every SADIE contest on Earth and also a few in outer space, so I’m hoping this will be the one!
This book sounds fantastic, and I can’t wait to read it.
I am so so so excited for Sadie. Courtney Summers has never disappointed me with her books and I am looking forward to finally read her next work!! I know this story will be one that will keep me up all night trying to finish it.
I have never read Courtney Summers~ I love the mystery thriller books! I will add her to my TBR.
So excited for Sadie! <3
I’m so excited to read SADIE! Even if I don’t win, I’m definitely going to purchase it. <3
Looking forward to reading this book.
Me, too
Everyone looks so excited to read this book, guess I should be too!
My bookish friends have all been raving about this book and I don’t want to miss out on this emotional journey either. Thanks for the chance.
I love this type of book. So intriguing.
Sadie sounds like the perfect book to read while soaking up the sun’s rays here in Florida…
Sounds fascinating
Sadie sounds like an incredibly interesting book that will keep me on the edge of my seat while reading it. I love to read and Sadie is the type of book I truly enjoy.
I keep hearing amazing things about Sadie!
This book looks so interesting. My teen daughter and I would love to read it.
I love this genre of book. So intriguing!
It will be interesting to try to see from yet another point of view.
I’m just getting more into true crime, sounds like a book I want to read.
Your interview had me at the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to see how Sadie turns out.
AN intriguing novel which I would enjoy greatly. Interesting interview and feature.
I am a huge true crime fan too but I often feel guilty about it, like I’m exploiting someone’s pain for my own entertainment. It’s a tough issue and I can’t wait to see how Sadie deals with it!
Sadie sounds captivating and compelling.
Wow! That sounds intense.
I am very excited to read this book! I have read many great reviews for it and it sounds very interesting.
I cannot wait to rrad this book!
Looking forward to reading this one. Actually heard about it through Jay Kristoff’s posts. 🙂
This looks so amazing. Would be my first read by her!
This sounds great. I would love to win a copy!
Sounds great! Would love to win.
I would love to read the book.
Lifesahoot@yahoo.com
intriguing
Sounds like one I’d love to read!
Oops it pasted my email address.
Can’t wait to read this and add to my collection!
Hello, thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Sadie. I’ve been trying to win this book for months and I would be thrilled to win a copy!
This is the first I have heard of this book and it sounds intriguing. I would love to win a copy!
Looking forward to it.
This sounds like a very nuanced book, and I would be interested in reading it–on many levels.
Looking forward to it
Cant. Wait. To. Read. This. One
Sounds like it will be an interesting read!
This one sounds awesome.
Count me in, please!
As a fan of true crime, it would be interesting to see the unseen aspect.
Wow, this sounds really good!
We often do forget the victims in the excitement of getting inside the perpetrator’s head, don’t we? It’s not right. I’d love to win a copy of Sadie, thanks for the chance.
I like the format — 2 different perspectives
Can never get enough well written mysteries! Please!
Very intriguing. Now I want to know what happens in the end!
Looking forward to Sadie! The #bookstagram community has been raving!
I am an avid true crime fan. Sounds like an interesting book.
book sounds great thanks
Fascinating post. I like that the story goes back & forth.
Interesting perspective, I’m wanting to read it soon.
I’m interested in reading Sadie.
I’ve entered every contest I’ve found for Sadie. I’m very selective when it comes to true crime. Sadie hooked me from the 1st time a came across it!
This sounds like a very intriguing story.
Sounds like a great read.
Great thing to infuse a compelling read with a few lessons in humanity.
Great article. Book looks fascinating.
Thanks for the opportunity !
Thought provoking. Sometimes we get too caught up in the gory details and forget it is a real person we are talking about. Would like to read this, thanks.
I just read Saving Beck and it was so good! I really want to read Sadie!!
The book and premise sound great. I think it’s very important to tell the victim’s story, not just focus on the killer and the killing.
I love true crime stories!!! This book sounds amazing!!
Sadie sounds awesome. It will be on my TBR list win or lose. Thank you!
Sounds like an interesting read.
Looking forward to trying this one out!
This sounds very timely and fresh.
Sounds like a fascinating read.
This book sounds sooo good cant wait to read it
This book sounds soooo good cant wait to read it
Find the missing! Yes!
Looking forward to reading more from this author! Hope I win!
I’ve been eyeing this book for a couple months now….can’t wait to read it!
Very excited to read this book. It’d be great if I won. Wish me luck!
I can’t wait to read it.
This sounds like a really great read.
I think this book sounds wonderful!
I would love to win this book!
Here’s hoping I win! Sounds like a great book.
I would love to win this amazing book.
The reviews of this book have been stellar. I am always on the lookout for a promising good book. Sadie seems to fit that bill!
Looking forward to reading this one.
this sounds like a book that would keep me up all night reading!
would love to read thanks
so excited to read this one!
Love the cover!
I read this as an ARC and was blown away! I’d love to have my own copy so I can read it again and again.
It looks amazing!
I think the novel presents an often forgotten part of any mystery As a Mystery Book Club member I would enjoy reading it.
Sounds like an intriguing concept.
Sounds like an intriguing and thought provoking read.
Looks like an exciting book! Thanks :).
Looks very interesting!
Would love to read it .
Sadie looks incredible, and this is a good piece!
This sounds great~!
looking forward to reading.
interesting!
Sounds Great!
Thanks for offering! I have been seeing this book online everywhere and I would love to read it.
Sounds quite compelling!
would love to read it — sounds like a good book
Revenge, vengeance, and justice make for a great read.
Sounds like an amazing read. I’m a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, in the young adult genre in particular. I get very invested in true crime, so much so that I often have to take a step away from it. They’re all devastating but the unsolved ones tug at me the most. For example, it’s been over 13 years since Natalee Holloway disappeared and it still bothers me not knowing. And other women (and men) around the world, some here in my own area in the U.S. Someone has to know something! Add in corrupt government and/or law officials and my blood just boils. But I always hope for a miracle! Thanks for the chance to win the book.
I’ve known well 3 murder victims in my life. I’ve known others not as well to have the killers name become notorious while the victims names are forgotten by all but those who loved them is so sad. Thanks for covering this subject that always hits all my buttons
You are a new author for me! I enjoy reading this genre very much. The book’s cover draws me to it…
Many thanks, Cindi
This book sounds so good. New author for me.
The excerpt has me salivating for more! And a very interesting way to tell the stories. Can’t wait to get my hands on it! Ty for the chance to win!
I’d love to win this one.
Yes, please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks!
What a great post—I would love to win a copy of Sadie! Thanks!
love to read the book thanks
Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I am so excited to read Sadie! It sounds awesome
looks very good
I love this genre of writing! Can’t wait to read this book!
Sadie sounds so good, would love to read it!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I really like your content. Your post is really informative.