Novel Inspired Real Murder

Monday, 15 November 2010 | by Pat's Picks

The Miami Herald looks at an interesting case of life imitating art in today’s paper. Apparently, a novel published this summer may have influenced—even caused—a bizarre killing on Halloween. The author, Patrick Quéré, says his main character was based on a childhood friend, a man named Beau Henri Bruneau, who is now charged with murder.

The book, called “Grognard,” has been pulled by its publisher while police investigate the crime. According to the Herald, the author’s friend used the same grizzly technique—bludgeoning and eviscerating—to kill his mother as the character based on him had used to off a prostitute in the novel.

Scroll down to listen to Bruneau’s call to 911 after the death of his mother: