Penguin - In Cold Blood covers

From a quick google search, the majority of the book cover designs for In Cold Blood are typographical. This indicates the preferred artistic style that appeals to its intended audience. The type is set in a composition that evokes mystery and a foreshadowing of a murder from the use of red.

From a marketing point of view Amazon, Waterstones and Penguin themselves use the same cover to sell In Cold Blood. Unlike majority of the covers Jim Stoddart prefers to use photographic representations to communicate the atmosphere and narrative of the book. The greyscale pictures create a somber and serious tone for the story. The larger set type of 'Truman Capote' against the title indicates the authors importance and reputation in selling the book. 

With much of the history of the book covers representing a typographic approach, an illustrative approach could be a possibility and welcome direction for In Cold Blood. The illustrations style however will have to be designed around the target audience and the mature themes surrounding the book.