This work examines the 1980 murder of Dr. Herman Tarnower and the subsequent trial of Jean Harris, questioning the intersection of social class, gender roles, and personal obsession. Diana Trilling, a prominent cultural critic, utilizes her background in literary analysis to dissect the courtroom proceedings and the psychological profiles of both the victim and the defendant. She argues that the trial functioned as a public spectacle that revealed deep-seated anxieties about the changing status of women in American society during the late twentieth century.

Critics often note that Trilling provides a sophisticated, albeit dense, analysis that elevates the case beyond simple true crime reporting. Scholars frequently cite this work as a significant example of how literary critics can apply cultural theory to high-profile legal events.