Doppelgangland
the true crime that's worth your time
Today’s thread is inspired by Naomi Klein’s Doppelgänger, and, yes, I did just reopen it on my Kindle the confirm the author name. The book, which is arguably true crime-adjacent, begins with how frequently folks would confuse Klein with once-respected feminist author Naomi Wolf. I can’t look down my nose at any of the people who — to Klein’s face — confidently assert that she is the other; I have made the same mistake.
I also make the same mistake when it comes to some major cases, blunders that Sarah usually saves me from (and if she misses a pre-send edit, one of y’all frequently catch). Which Peterson was accused of which crime — was it Drew who went down for killing Laci? Is Scott the best-selling author played onscreen by Colin Firth? No, and no, but my brain —again, Mandela-level certain — disagrees.
It made me wonder how many of you all suffer from similar doppelcase confusion, and if so, which cases get mixed up in your brains. Do you say “Carmine Galante” (shot at Joe & Mary's) when you mean “Albert Anastasia” (shot at the Park Sheraton)? Have you described the details of the Andrea Yates case, then realize you’re actually explaining the Susan Smith trial? I think you know where we’re going with this, so let’s hear your personal true-crime conflations in the comments. — EB