Laurence Leamer’s Capote’s Women is a really well written but ultimately surface level look at Truman Capote and the high-society women that he both idolised and betrayed.

Having enjoyed Leamer’s deeply researched Kennedy biographies, I expected a similar depth, but the shorter length of this book left little room for real character exploration. While you get some insight into Capote’s background, addictions, and personal struggles, the women themselves feel more like a list of marriages, affairs and divorces than fully realised figures. This made it hard to connect with them or feel much sympathy after Capote’s infamous betrayal. An interesting read, but lacking the depth I had hoped for.