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Books > Fiction > True stories
*THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* Could you leave behind all that you know and live in solitude for three decades? This is the extraordinary story of the last true hermit - Christopher Knight. 'This was a breath-taking book to read and many weeks later I am still thinking about the implications for our society and - by extension - for my own life' Sebastian Junger, bestselling author of The Perfect Storm 'A wry meditation on one man's attempt to escape life's distractions and look inwards, to find meaning not by doing, but by being' Martin Sixsmith, bestselling author of Philomena and Ayesha's Gift 'Not all heroes wear capes. My latest one is a man called Christopher Knight - a silent idol for anyone who has felt the urge to just sack it all off and live the life of a hermit' Lucy Mangan, Stylist 'An extraordinary story about solitude, community, identity and freedom' Guardian 'A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival. It is also, unexpectedly, a tribute to the joys of reading' The Wall Street Journal In 1986, twenty-year-old Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the woods. He would not speak to another human being until three decades later when he was arrested for stealing food. Christopher survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store food and water in order to avoid freezing to death in his tent during the harsh Maine winters. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothes, reading material and other provisions, taking only what he needed. In the process, he unwittingly terrified a community unable to solve the mysterious burglaries. Myths abounded amongst the locals eager to find this legendary hermit. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life and the challenges he faced returning to the world. The Stranger in the Woods is a riveting story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude and what makes for a good life. Above all, this is a deeply moving portrait of a man determined to live life his own way.
Here is the shocking true saga of the Irish American mob. In Paddy Whacked, bestselling author and organized crime expert T. J. English brings to life nearly two centuries of Irish American gangsterism, which spawned such unforgettable characters as Mike "King Mike" McDonald, Chicago's subterranean godfather; Big Bill Dwyer, New York's most notorious rumrunner during Prohibition; Mickey Featherstone, troubled Vietnam vet turned Westies gang leader; and James "Whitey" Bulger, the ruthless and untouchable Southie legend. Stretching from the earliest New York and New Orleans street wars through decades of bootlegging scams, union strikes, gang wars, and FBI investigations, Paddy Whacked is a riveting tour de force that restores the Irish American gangster to his rightful preeminent place in our criminal history -- and penetrates to the heart of the American experience.
The brutal murder of Richard Jennings in December of 1818 would gain notoriety as the first murder for hire in New York. It would also be remembered as an imperfect crime. Four men - James Teed, David Dunning, David Conkling and Jack Hodges - and one woman, Hannah Teed, had conspired to murder Jennings after losing a protracted court battle over a parcel of land. Poorly made plans and rumors in the close knit community of Sugar Loaf led to a quick unraveling of the conspiracy and arrest of the perpetrators. Future President Martin Van Buren assisted in prosecuting the case which ended up with two men in prison and two men to face the hangman before a crowd of almost 20,000 people. One of the men spared the noose would later end up a renowned Christian with a memorial in his honor. Author and police detective Michael J. Worden explores the complexity of this incident in an entertaining yet historically accurate manner. Worden examines the case from the origins of the dispute, to the plot, murder, and aftermath. Worden has redefined what a true crime book should be.
Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Financial Times and Fortune, this New
York Times-bestseller exposes how a 'modern Gatsby' swindled over $5
billion with the aid of Goldman Sachs in 'the heist of the century'.
Mark Borovitz was a mobster, gangster, con man, gambler, thief, and a drunk. He's seen it all. In this inspiring memoir, he takes you on a journey from the streets to discovering his soul in a prison cell. When Mark was fourteen, his father died and his world came crashing down. He stole, gambled, and drank, beginning a twenty-year life of crime, all the while trying to be the good son, the good brother, the good boy, but his life only spun more out of control until the mob put a hit out on him. After his release from prison, the drinking and thieving continued until, at the edge of oblivion, he experienced a moment of true divine intervention, a startling revelation that saved his life. Mark Borovitz proved that you can change your life -- profoundly. He is now the rabbi at Beit T'Shuvah in Los Angeles, the House of Return, a rehabilitation facility for addicts of all kinds. The Holy Thief is the remarkable memoir of an amazing man. It is a true-life gangster story, a passionate love story, and a case of study in redemption. Regardless of your faith, you will find his story tragic, funny, uplifting, and inspirational.
Frontier Justice highlights eighteen crimes and subsequent punishments of the most interesting, controversial, and unusual executions from an era when hangings and shootings were a legal means of capital punishment. Learn about the bungled hanging of Tom Ketchum who was beheaded by the noose; the unique trigger for the trapdoor used to hang Tom Horn; "Big Nose" George Parrott who was skinned, pickled, and made into a pair of shoes; the double trials of Jack McCall, assassin of Wild Bill Hickok; the hanging of a woman-Elizabeth Potts; the shooting of John D. Lee of Mountain Meadows Massacre infamy; and the only use of a double "twitch-up" gallows; etc. Each action-packed chapter includes biographical information, the pursuit, the investigation, legal maneuvers, trial information, and rarely-seen photographs.
The Definitive Account of the Crimes of Alaska Serial Killer Robert Hansen...the case that inspired the Frozen Ground movie starring Nicholas Cage and John Cusack . *** This edition includes a 16-page "2013 Afterword" *** __*__First published 9 years after Robert Hansen's sentencing, FAIR GAME exposed law enforcement and judicial bungling that allowed the 12-year murder spree of Alaska's most prolific serial killer. With an Anchorage police officer risking his career, and FBI profiling assistance, Alaska State Troopers finally brought Hansen to justice. __* *__Robert Hansen was never someone you'd call normal. A teenager bullied for having acne and a stutter, he became a loner with emotional problems. After prison time for arson in his native Iowa, and arrests for shoplifting in the Minnesota Twin Cities, he and his bride moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Becoming the father of two, a successful bakery owner, crack bush pilot and world-record holding big-game hunter, he seemed the solid "normal guy next door." But no one REALLY knew Robert Hansen ...or what he was capable of From 1971 to 1983, he went on a rampage. Usually stalking his prey in the seedier corners of Anchorage, he kidnapped and raped dozens of women, murdering at least twenty. FAIR GAME reconstructs Hansen's 12-year reign of violence, a victim's harrowing escape that led to his arrest and chilling confession, and reveals why the Hansen case didn't go to trial.__* *** EXCERPTS FROM EDITORIAL REVIEWS FOR THE 1st EDITION OF FAIR GAME (St. Martin's Press,1993). *** Anchorage Daily News___ ..". an impressive piece of research and reporting." We Alaskans Magazine___ ..". a gripping narrative."
Bob Woodward, the best investigative reporter in the country, spent six years examining the CIA using hundreds of inside sources and secret documents to paint a picture of the world's largest espionage apparatus.
Things are not always as they appear, as Cyril Wecht shows in this behind-the-scenes look at nine famous murder cases. Drawing on police reports, deopsitions, trial testimony, and autopsy reports, he raises important issues and offers fresh perspectives on each case.
Set amidst South Australia's beautiful but isolated mid-north, The Railway Dog tells the true story of Bob, a scruffy brown stray, bought on impulse by a local railway man as a gift for his wife - and setting in motion the beginnings of a legend...Recognised near and far for his cheery bark, waving tail, and devotion to train travel - Bob quickly became a beloved member of the tight knit railway community. Charming, humorous, and at times intensely moving, the adventures of Bob the Railway Dog, entwined with the lives of the fascinating people he meets on his journeys - make for an inspiring and touching Australian story.
1969, Chappaquiddick, Martha's Vineyard: Mary Jo Kopechne is the unsuspecting victim of a fatal car accident. The driver is Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy. This is a story that details the investigation, inquest,and grand jury deliberations into the young woman's untimely death. Leslie H. Leland, jury foreman, gives his own account of how the entire grand jury was stymied in seeking evidence relating to the accident caused by Senator Ted Kennedy and the threats made on his and his family's lives. A never before reported analysis of how the grand jury was denied its own legal rights, Left to Die is one example of how power and corruption can override America's justice system. Upon hearing the details, one judge stated, "That was not only intimidation, that was tampering with the grand jury." The grand jury attempted to investigate the accident but was stymied by the DA and judge unwilling to cross the Kennedys. "The rich and powerful can change the outcome of justice and they did in this case." - The Boston Globe The story that really needs to be told...fascinating stuff! - WQXA-FM If you ever thought you knew the story pick up this book and be prepared to learn a whole lot more! Wow! - K.E. Amazon.com The American justice system is responsible for maintaining social control, deterring crime, and sentencing those who violate laws with penalties. The American justice system protects and services the American people, or does it? Based on true events, Left to Die is a powerful vindication of one man's witness to the 1969 Chappaquiddick case against Senator Ted Kennedy. A blockbuster new book - Left to Die - Jerry Shaffer and Leslie H. Leland blow wide open the untold scandal surrounding the drowning of Mary Jo. - National Enquirer Jerry Shaffer was born and raised in Chicago; he received a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois and served in the U.S. Navy. After working for a trade magazine and several advertising agencies, he started his own company. In 1982,he founded a marketing services company that specialized in co-op advertising programs, which became an industry leader. During his career, he wrote advertising copy and articles for trade magazines. Mr. Shaffer is currently retired and lives in southeast Florida. Leslie H. Leland was born and raised in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He graduated from Mass College of Pharmacy in 1963 and then moved to Chappaquiddick Island to work for his grandfather, later buying Leslie's Pharmacy from his grandmother after his grandfather's death. He owned and ran the pharmacy for 43 years, retiring several years ago. Mr. Leland served as a captain on the Tisbury Volunteer Fire Department, also for 43 years, and has been involved politically on the island as a county commissioner for the past 11 years. http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/LeftToDie.html
The crime was unthinkable: a respected doctor is convicted of brutally murdering his pregnant wife. The trial that followed was a media circus--one often compared to the O.J. Simpson trial. The popularity of the case would go on to be one of the alleged inspirations of the TV show "The Fugitive" (and later the Harrison Ford movie of the same name)-something the creators deny, but fans insist is true. This book proves that truth is always more interesting than fiction. It looks at the murder, the suspects, and the ultimate outcome of one of the most notorious murders of all time. |
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