By VANESSA McCRAY
TRAVERSE CITY -- For years, Glenn Puit has been mired in murder.
Serial killers, quadruple homicides, even matricide.
The newspaper reporter-turned-true crime author tries to find the truth and a good story in the most despicable acts.
"My books are real journalism, real literature," Puit said. "A lot of the true crime stuff out there can be sensationalized. Mine is advocacy for victims."
Puit is an investigative reporter and policy specialist with the Michigan Land Use Institute in Traverse City. He splits his time between here and the Upper Peninsula, where he built a house. His fourth book "In Her Prime: The Murder of a Political Star" was released this week by Berkley.
He keeps a strict writing schedule, working on his books from 7 to 11 p.m. every night. When he sits down to write, he imagines he's back in the newsroom, cranking out a story on a tight deadline. He spends vacation time traveling for research.
"(It) takes a lot of discipline ..., but I have a dream to be on the best-seller list," Puit said.
Prior to his job with the institute, Puit covered the crime beat for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he reported on the seedier side of society, horrific violence and "the worst of the worst." His true crime books explore high-profile cases in Nevada. "In Her Prime" delves into the murder of Nevada politician Kathy Augustine and the drug succinylcholine. The drug is the "perfect murder weapon" because of its difficulty to detect if not tested for immediately, Puit said. The prime suspect in Augustine's death was her fourth husband, a critical care nurse. Puit is especially interested in cases that involve criminal forensics.
"I think every good reporter knows when they are on to a really great story," he said.
The writer strongly believes in the power of journalism and the lessons that can be "learned from human stories, especially the true ones."
Puit is scheduled to appear on an upcoming episode of the CBS program "48 Hours" and plans to sign copies of his books from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Horizon Books in Traverse City.
