In Cold Blood: Plot Summary (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

In Cold Blood: Plot Summary

1. In 1959, the Clutter family lived on River Valley Farm in Holcomb, Kansas.
2. Herb Clutter, a wealthy and devout Methodist, heads the family.
3. Bonnie, Herb's wife, suffers from nervousness, causing speculation about their marriage.
4. Their teenage children, Nancy and Kenyon, are hardworking and well-adjusted.

5. One night in mid-November, four gunshots signal the murder of the Clutter family.
6. The murderers, Perry Smith and Richard "Dick" Hickok, recently paroled, believe Herb Clutter has a large amount of cash.
7. Perry is dreamy and artistic, with a traumatic past; Dick has a poor work ethic and a history of writing bad checks.
8. Finding no cash, they kill the Clutters, shooting each in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun.

9. Dick and Perry flee to Kansas City, writing bad checks, then escape to Mexico.
10. In Mexico, Perry dreams of becoming a treasure hunter, but they soon run out of money.
11. The murders shock Holcomb and Garden City, filling residents with terror and disbelief.
12. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) takes the case, initially with little evidence.

13. The case breaks when Dick's former cellmate, Floyd Wells, reveals Dick's plan to rob and kill the Clutters.
14. With this lead, the KBI launches a nationwide manhunt for Dick and Perry.
15. Broke in Mexico, Dick and Perry return to Kansas City, writing more bad checks to fund a trip to Florida.
16. Tensions rise between them: Perry is disgusted by Dick's behaviour, and Dick is frustrated with Perry's dreams.
17. They move to Las Vegas, where Perry retrieves belongings, including the boots worn during the murders.
18. Dick and Perry are arrested in Las Vegas as they collect their final box of belongings.
19. Their trial in Garden City ends with both being sentenced to death.
20. They are sent to Death Row at Kansas State Penitentiary, where Dick applies for several appeals.
21. Perry briefly goes on a hunger strike, experiencing visions, but resumes eating after a postcard from his father.
22. Dick and Perry are hanged on April 14, 1965, with investigator Alvin Dewey present.
23. Dewey, a friend of the Clutters, finds no closure from the hanging.

24. Dewey finds solace in a chance meeting with Nancy's best friend, Susan Kidwell, at the Clutter's grave plot, representing hope for the future.