These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
In 1957, Edgar Smith—a new father in his early 20s—was sentenced to death for the murder of a 15-year-old girl named Victoria in Ramsey, N.J. In 1971, as he maintained his innocence, his sentence was commuted, and he was released from prison. Within a few years, however, he had stabbed a woman and was again imprisoned, this time for the rest of his life. While he was on trial, he admitted to Victoria’s murder. In her latest true-crime offering, Sarah Weinman delivers what she describes as “a story of a wrongful conviction in reverse,” diving deep into Smith’s life, crimes, and ability to con. —Angela Haupt
Buy Now: Scoundrel on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness