Little, Crazy Children

By: James Renner

Narrated by: James Renner

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

In September of 1990, in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, sixteen-year-old Lisa Pruett was on her way to a midnight tryst with her boyfriend when she was viciously stabbed to death only thirty feet from the boy's home.

The murder cast a palpable gloom over the upscale community and sparked accusations, theories, and rumors among Lisa's friends and peers. Together they wove a damning narrative that circled back to a likely suspect: "weird" high school outcast Kevin Young. Without a shred of evidence the teen was arrested, charged, and tried for the crime. His eventual acquittal didn't squelch the anger and outrage among those who believed that Kevin got away with murder.

With a fresh perspective and painstaking research, James Renner reconstructs the events leading up to and following that heartbreaking night. What emerges is a portrait of a community seething with dark undercurrents.

Who had the capacity for such unchecked violence? What monsters still lurk in the dark? After more than thirty years, questions like these continue to fester among the community of Shaker Heights, Ohio, still deeply scarred by wounds that remain hidden, unspoken, and unhealed.

©2023 James Renner (P)2023 Tantor

Solid True Crime and a Mature Evolution

James Renner's 'Little, Crazy Children' is a meticulously researched and eloquently written addition to the True Crime genre. I will refrain from delving into the content to avoid revealing too much, but I would like to shed light on the author's approach.
It's evident that Renner faced significant challenges while crafting this book, which, at times, seems to have affected the narrative. The impact of the Covid pandemic and personal struggles, such as his battle with alcohol, are subtly reflected in the writing. Renner includes personal anecdotes, but unlike his previous work (like 'Amy: My Search for her Killer'), these stories don't contribute as significantly to the overall narrative in 'Little, Crazy Children'.

This book represents a more mature and focused approach to True Crime than Renner's previous works. It narrates the stories, presents the theories, and leaves it at that. The execution is so proficient that it's unlikely to leave any reader disappointed. However, it does lack the intimate personal touch that was a hallmark of his earlier books. We are offered a glimpse into Renner's mind, but not as deep a dive into his soul.

That being said, this book is not about Renner. Perhaps he has faced criticism in the past for being too self-referential, and this book is a response to that. Despite these minor shortcomings, 'Little, Crazy Children' is a commendable work, and a must-read for any True Crime enthusiast.

New Yorker

Just kidding. I love Renner’s writing. He has a level of commitment to stories that is obsessive, as highlighted in True Crime Addict. Compared to True Crime Addict, this book is very concise and feels more like journalism; True Crime Addict weaves between his own personal story and the story of Maura Murray. Moreover, I’m from Akron and and his rust belt attitude and personality comes through in his writing — I hope Renner continues to write about stories set in this area of the county. Furthermore, this is probably projection, but I also sense an underlying feeling of contempt for the kids from Shaker Heights. Kids from that town in general. For some reason, I feel like Young could have been one of the weirdos drinking too much coffee, smoking too many cigarettes, behind the Nervous Dog in Wallhaven (the same neighborhood where Arabica’s Akron location once stood). The other individuals in this story feel like the privileged unapproachables from Shaker Heights we only knew of in high school. Regardless, everything about this case is a tragedy. I wish Young had the chance to read/listen to this book.

Fascinating!

I could not stop listening to this expertly researched, well written account of this tragic story. As a lifelong follower of true crime and a fan of the author for years now, I thought I knew this case well. I was mistaken. This book is a deep dive into every fascinating (and maddening) detail. I would highly recommend it!

Thoroughly enjoyed

Compelling but sad story and I appreciated how deeply the author went into the court transcript’s

Great reporting leads to new insights

Does it again, forgotten case brought new life and makes it fresh and personal, raw to the bone honesty and integrity

A little slow in the middle but worth sticking around until the end

I got a little bored about midway through the trial but really am glad I finished it because it finished strong.

Excellent- Thanks

I found the story engaging and thought provoking. I guess you could say there is a (sort of) surprise ending. I’ll definitely keep following all the murder cases referenced in the book. If you like true crime I definitely recommend this book.

Well done

An interesting case, and the author made a great narrator. I’m keeping my eye out for more from Renner.

James Renner - the best!

Another great book by my favorite true crime author. Interesting look at an inclusive world of rich kids and a tragic murder.

Great story

Great as always James! Loved the ending where you share your personal interpretation. You are doing a great job helping solve cold cases, don’t listen to the haters!