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
- Can Birth Control Help Solve the World's Rat Problem?
- About That Devastating Tom-Shiv Scene in Succession's Premiere
- Why Humza Yousaf's Win Is 'Historic' for Scotland
- For Both Donald Trump and Alvin Bragg, the Central Park Jogger Case Was a Turning Point
- If Donald Trump Is Indicted, Here's What Would Happen Next in the Process
- Alison Roman Won't Sugarcoat It
- Why Not All Observant Muslims Fast During Ramadan
- It's Time to Say a Loving Goodbye to John Wick
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
- Column: Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement
