Who is the author?
Jake Anderson is a true-crime author and journalist whose debut non-fiction book, Gone At Midnight: The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam, was published by Kensington Books. Jake’s Gonzo-style journalism features deep-dive investigations into cold cases and crime mysteries with a particular focus on police corruption, violence against women, and mental illness stigmatization. He believes the best true-crime stories are those which illuminate broader social truths and give agency to forgotten victims and communities.
Why read Malice Aforethought?
Jake also believes true-crime journalists and “websleuths” have ethical responsibilities in the Internet age. Much of the industry has devolved into sensationalized clickbait and serial killer worship that normalizes and almost celebrates sadistic violence. True-crime media sleuths—whether they are writers, podcasters, YouTubers, etc.—should aim to conduct original investigations with credible reporting, so they are not simply regurgitating uncorroborated misinformation and conspiracy theories. They should also humanize the victims and treat the victims’ families and friends with respect.
Jake wants to help usher in a new movement of crowdsourced crime investigations and decentralized criminal justice.
More on Gone At Midnight
Gone At Midnight is currently in its 4th hardcover printing and was featured by The New York Times in its 2020 summer reading guide. The New York Journal of Books said the book “represents an evolution of the genre” and New York Times bestselling author M. William Phelps wrote that it is “expertly told…[and] remarkably sketched by an up-and-coming author who has complete control over his narrative.”
