Portrait by Nafis Azad
Susan Clare Zalkind is an investigative reporter, writer, and producer. She lives in New England and likes to swim in the ocean.
Zalkind has spent more than a decade investigating the September 11, 2011 murder of Brendan Mess, Raphael Teken, and Erik Weissman in Waltham, Massachusetts and the connection between the officially open homicide case and the Boston Marathon bombing.
Her book The Waltham Murders: One Woman’s Pursuit to Expose the Truth Behind a Murder and a National Tragedy was published in March 2024.
Library Journal hailed the book as “a definitive resource” in a starred review. Publishers Weekly called Zalkind’s debut “gripping” and predicted that “readers will be captivated.” The book was also featured in The Boston Globe, Lawyers Weekly, and Cambridge Day. She will be taking notes on how those in power respond to the new reporting in the book in the newsletter Zalkind Notes. She will post additional resources here.
Zalkind also created, wrote and produced the three part docu-series The Murders Before The Marathon. Read her producer’s note here. The series was inspired by her book proposal, began streaming in the US on Hulu in September 2022, and is available on streaming platforms around the world.
The Wall Street Journal called the series “damning” and listed it as one of the best TV shows of 2022. The Boston Globe compared Zalkind’s work to Paradise Lost and The Thin Blue Line.
Zalkind’s earlier reporting on the case for This American Life and Boston magazine was hailed as "blistering" by Rachel Maddow, and listed as one of the best stories of the year by Longform.org and Longreads.
Zalkind also writes about other things at other places. She was a New England correspondent for The Daily Beast, Vice, and The Guardian US. She likes trials and breaking news. She studied History and African Studies at Boston University. She is more fun in person.
Twitter: @susanzalkind
Instagram: @susanclarezalkind
Threads: @susanclarezalkind
Substack: Zalkind Notes
Facebook: Zalkind Notes
Rep: Bridget Wagner Matzie, Aevitas Creative
