In this exclusive interview with Writers and Authors, author D.L. Scarpe dives deep into the making of her gripping new novel Übermensch, a historical crime thriller inspired by the notorious 1924 Leopold and Loeb case. Through a lens of psychological intrigue and moral complexity, Scarpe brings readers into the minds of two privileged young men who believed they were above the law—and committed one of the most chilling crimes in American history.
What Inspired the Writing of Übermensch?
While researching market trends for her debut novel, D.L. Scarpe stumbled upon the infamous case of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb—two wealthy and intelligent teenagers who murdered a young boy seemingly for the thrill of it. Though she’d heard the names in pop culture references like Seinfeld and James Patterson’s Kiss the Girls, she had no idea of the gruesome reality behind them. The more she researched, the more she questioned their confessions—and the more her fiction writer’s mind began to wonder, “What if it didn’t happen the way they said it did?”
“Fiction is what I do,” Scarpe says, “and a novel idea was born.”
Balancing Truth and Fiction
Scarpe’s approach to historical fiction is meticulous yet imaginative. She weaves real events—particularly those from 1924—with fictionalized backstory beginning in 1920, when Leopold (renamed Noah “Babe” Lieberman) and Loeb (Roman) first meet. Her decision to alternate time frames between the factual and the fictional not only enhances the pacing but also allows deeper character exploration.
One of the most captivating sources she encountered during research was the mysterious Hulbert-Bowman Report, which referenced other unnamed crimes the pair may have committed. These “ABCD crimes” lit the creative spark for her novel’s expanded narrative.
Exploring Nietzsche and the Psychology of Evil
The novel’s title, Übermensch, directly references Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of the “superman”—a being who transcends traditional morality. Noah, like the real Nathan Leopold, is enamored with this philosophy and believes his intellect places him above the rules of ordinary men.
But for Scarpe, the philosophical undertones are just one layer of the story. What truly fascinated her was the psychological bond between Noah and Roman—how intellect, manipulation, privilege, and unmet emotional needs can combine in dangerous ways.
“The hidden stuff that lies deep inside, unleashed only when something—or someone—triggers it. That’s what I wanted to explore.”
Writing with Sensitivity and Purpose
Though the novel delves into the chilling world of a real-life murder, Scarpe chose not to depict the crime itself in real time. As a mother and grandmother, she found the act too disturbing and instead focused on confessions and courtroom accounts. Even factual inaccuracies were handled with care—she originally wrote Bobby Franks as Richard Loeb’s cousin but removed this detail after discovering it was likely untrue.
Her approach was never to sensationalize, but to understand. As she notes, “The best we can hope for is to educate ourselves and our children, look out for each other, and learn to recognize warning signs.”
It’s the early 1920s and arrogant teenagers Noah “Babe” Lieberman and Roman “Manny” Loewe have it all: money, brains, freedom. They reside in the same affluent Chicago neighborhood, come from successful, respectable families, and enjoy privileged lives. Both are intelligent prodigies who graduated high school early. But Roman, an extrovert, is handsome and popular whereas Noah is average-looking and spends most of his time with birds and books. After meeting, they embark on a wild journey of vandalism, burglary, and arson. Their personal relationship escalates, and their criminal acts morph into more sinister behavior as the two flout the laws of the “common” man and live their version of the Übermensch, or “superman” as defined by Friedrich Nietzsche.
One hundred years ago, the world was stunned to learn that Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy, brilliant university students, had confessed to kidnapping and murdering fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks. Why did Leopold and Loeb do it? For “pure love of excitement, or the imaginary love of thrills, doing something different,” they said.
D.L. Scarpe’s Übermensch fictionalizes the Leopold and Loeb case, focusing on the reason why the gifted teenagers’ lives took such an unexpected turn, destroyed three families, and captivated the country in what was dubbed at the time as the “crime of the century.”
A Unique Take on a Familiar Case
Unlike previous retellings, Übermensch offers a fresh perspective by focusing on the relationship between Noah and Roman, the philosophical justifications they clung to, and their descent into darkness. Told from Noah’s chillingly intimate point of view, the novel challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable reality of moral distortion, manipulation, and the fragility of conscience.
“Even when you win, you lose—so it isn’t worth it,” Scarpe says.
What’s Next for D.L. Scarpe?
Though Übermensch marks her first foray into historical fiction, Scarpe isn’t ruling out future projects in the genre. She’s currently working on her fifth novel, set in 1985, and is planning to publish a near-future thriller in 2026.
For readers intrigued by psychological thrillers, moral complexity, and reimagined history, Übermensch offers a disturbing yet thought-provoking look at what happens when intellect and ego overpower empathy.
Call to Action:
Discover the chilling depths of Übermensch by D.L. Scarpe—available now wherever books are sold. Step into the minds of Leopold and Loeb like never before.
