61 years ago this week, Vladimir Nabokov’s book Lolita was published, spurring scores of creepy old men to think that their creepiness was somehow okay. It wasn’t until last year, however, that a journalist managed to uncover the true crime tale that provided the skeleton of the novel.

According to Sarah Weinman, the author of The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World, it was the 1948 abduction of an 11-year-old girl that sent Nabakov on his literary way, to the point that he “depended more on a real-life crime than Nabokov would ever admit.”

Forward describes Weinman’s book as “a provocative, deeply researched tale” as well as “a work of literary sleuthing in which Weinman goes beyond the work of previous scholars and journalists.” Speaking to journalist Philip Eil, Weinman says that “Millions of readers missed how Lolita folded in the story of a girl who experienced in real life what Dolores Haze suffered on the page. The appreciation of art can make a sucker out of those who forget the darkness of real life.” You can check out Weinman’s book on the case here. -- EB

The Cut is wondering “Is True Crime Over?” You guys know Betteridge's law of headlines, right? For those of you who are not nerds, it’s an adage that’s been in circulation since at least 1991 (but got its current name after a British tech journo brought the idea into wide circulation). Basically, the rule is that “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word ‘no.’” (There’s even a website devoted to answering “no” to heds that evoke the law.)

So, that headline for The Cut was either A) written by someone unfamiliar with the adage; B) an accurate depiction of the contents, as the article is about to explain exactly how true crime is over; or C) a troll that I just fell for 100 percent.

The answer, it appears, is a qualified B, as writer Katie Haney says that the genre has “has passed its prime” and that “Most of the new podcasts coming out are hurried facsimiles of earlier successes, and how many times can the Ted Bundy story possibly be told?”

All this is to preface an interview with Rachel Monroe, whose book Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession we have mentioned a couple times in the past. On the face, it might be weird to lead with “true crime is over!” then interview someone who’s writing about the subject, but I see what Haney’s going for here -- this is the bandwagon argument, in a certain sense, as well as the “cheap knockoff” one. So, basically, right now true crime is like if the Fendi Baguette were heading into the playoffs. At a certain point, though, the crowds will die down and we’ll all get purses that can hold things again, we just need to wade past the “How Did This Get Murdered?” and “All My Exes Live In Texas (Prisons)” (two podcasts I just made up and now kind of want to listen to) to get there. -- EB

Quit worrying about if The Irishman is true and start wondering where you might actually get to watch it. As you already know, the Martin Scorsese film is likely based on a load of lies -- and I hate how that trailer starts with a ringing phone, which always makes me think that I forgot to mute my mobile. But now there are other considerations to mull, as Netflix and most major U.S. movie chains can’t come to terms about how the fill will be presented.

According to the New York Times, as part of Scorsese’s 2017 deal with Netflix, his work would get a big screen release in addition to its inevitable streaming presentation. Even now, however, chains like AMC and Cineplex are balking at efforts for a “robust national theatrical release” of a product from a company that’s arguably out to destroy them. (Regal and Cinemark, the nation’s other dominant chains, haven’t even sat down with Netflix.) According to the Times, “a crucial sticking point has been the major chains’ insistence that the films they book must play in their theaters for close to three months while not being made available for streaming at the same time, which does not sit well with Netflix.” -- EB

Book Riot has been releasing loads of true crime-specific reading lists. Maybe they heard from The Cut that the genre’s over and they want to get under the wire, maybe it’s an SEO play, or maybe they just got into it? (My guess: this is a sponcon play to promote Chase Darkness with Me, as it’s featured at the top of each page. Now that’s an impressive marketing budget!)

But here are some of their crime-focused lists that I found most worthy -- just note that the top of most of these pages has sponcon, so keep scrolling to get to the actual list.

• 7 true crime books not about murder. A solid list for when you’re more in the mood for a con than gore.

• The best international true crime books you’ve never heard of. How dare you assume that I “haven’t heard of” anything, Book Riot? Okay, I haven’t heard of A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China. You got me.

• 10 historical true crime books that are stranger than fiction. I like this list because it makes me feel like I could describe myself as a “history buff” while reading these instead of “a person who’s interested in mayhem.”

Here are all the other lists Book Riot issued on what they called “Crime Day” (yeah, I think my sponcon theory is on the money), including some fiction that might appeal to fans of the facts. Better add room on those Kindles! -- EB

True Crime writer Phil Chalmers is leading seminars on how to spot teen shooters. On his website, Chalmers lists appearances on a lot of networks that make me uncomfortable, so and says that after three decades “researching homicide and interviewing offenders,” he’s decided to start offering “homicide class” to teachers, parents, and cops interested in stopping the next…whatever shooting we’re horrified by today.

According to Chalmers, “the number one trigger for male school shooters is when a girlfriend dumps them,” a statement that I am not sure is borne out by the facts. One of his recent classes was covered in depth by the Polk County (Florida) Ledger; can you guys please read the coverage and tell me if it’s actually rubbing me the wrong way, or if I’m just bummed that my super short Palm Springs vacation is over? Thanks. -- EB

Monday on Best Evidence: I’m listening to this weird U.K podcast and want to tell you all about it.

What is this thing? This should help.

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