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Books > Fiction > True stories
"Peter and I stared at each other, digesting the shocking news.
What was this misguided loose cannon of a prosecutor doing? Would
he really take the risk of ruining our lives without any evidence
of a crime? The answer was obviously yes.The thought of being
arrested! The very idea pierced my heart. My mind raced at hyper
speed. I had never committed a single criminal act. I was a wife, a
mother, and a hard-working professional in the field of real estate
development. After many years of faithful service, my bosses, Peter
Durkee and Jack Wood, made me an equity partner in Durkee
Development Group, a developer of golf course communities in
Naples. Now I was being accused of being a partner in crime, a
corrupt individual, an influence peddler, who had sought to bring
illegal pressure on government authorities with respect to a golf
course development called Colisseum Golf.My life had just spun
totally out of control."
In this story based on true events, author Nelson Rodriguez
explores the effects of an online game called Mobster on its
players. Rodriguez examines how people interact with others when
they are involved-or even obsessed-with online gaming, delving into
the relationships that are built through the game-sometimes with
others who live a completely different part of the world For Sam,
the game Mobster became an extremely personal and real experience;
he began acting out his crimes in real life, without giving any
thought to the law or the lines that he was crossing. To "win," he
did everything in his power, regardless of the consequence-making
bribes and intimidating anyone he perceived was in his way. But
would he take to ultimate step and actually kill someone? Mark was
committed to his job as a police officer, and so he never imagined
that one day he would have to engage in the very acts that he had
sworn to fight. It seemed that destiny had a different path for
him-a life he never imagined for himself. Despite their strong
personal relationships, once these players get caught up in the
game, all that matters to them is the game-and everything they
cared about before is in jeopardy.
During her career, Julie Grace worked for several political
icons, including Paul Simon, Alan Dixon, Joseph Kennedy, Walter
Mondale, and Jimmy Carter. In 1991, she accepted a job with "TIME"
magazine, where she specialized in social issues and was touted as
one of "TIME"'s best human drama reporters.
Although Julie appeared to have a solid career, her world began
to crumble when the stresses of her job became more than she could
handle. In order to cope, she turned to alcohol. Eventually her
addiction cost her the job. It was then that she sought help in an
alcohol rehabilitation program. There, she met George Thompson, and
they soon developed an extremely close relationship.
Unfortunately, the relationship was rocky and George physically
abused Julie on numerous occasions. Tragically, on May 20, 2003,
the abuse ended when Julie died three days after one of their
abusive encounters. George initially confessed to her murder but
when his case went to trial, he was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter rather than first degree homicide.
Ruth Grace, Julie's mother, was shocked. She blamed the Illinois
judicial system for miscarriage of justice. Now, with the help of
author Nancy Hoff man, she examines her daughter's case in detail.
Read the witnesses testimonies and judge for yourself-"Was Justice
Served?"
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF LYNCHING Published by the NAACP in 1919 to
promote awareness of lynching in the United States, this seminal
study provides information on the lynchings of 3,224
African-Americans between 1889 and 1918. With a new introduction by
noted slave historian, Paul Finkelman. "The book reprinted here is
one of the most comprehensive studies of lynching in U.S. history.
The NAACP data shows that most lynchings were not about interracial
sex-the great paranoia of the southern white Americans. Many blacks
were lynched because they had allegedly committed murders. However,
many of these "murderers" were never tried and the evidence against
them was speculative at best. But other blacks were lynched for no
apparent reason, or for some minor transgression of social and
racial rules-as understood by whites-such as 'inflammatory
language, ' 'insulting remarks to a white woman, ' 'being
disreputable, ' or just 'race prejudice.' This last cause-racial
prejudice-was indeed at the root of almost all lynchings of
African-Americans." -- Paul Finkelman, Introduction CONTENTS
Summation of the Facts Disclosed in Tables The Story of One Hundred
Lynchings Appendix I-Analyses of Number of Persons Lynched Appendix
II-Chronological List of Persons Lynched in United States 1889 to
1918, Inclusive, Arranged by State
THE CRIMES. THE STORIES. THE LAW 'Fascinating' - Sunday Times
'Masterful' - Judith Flanders 'A page-turning read' - Prof. David
Wilson Totally gripping and brilliantly told, Murder: The Biography
is a gruesome and utterly captivating portrait of the legal history
of murder. The stories and the people involved in the history of
murder are stranger, darker and more compulsive than any crime
fiction. There's Richard Parker, the cannibalized cabin boy whose
death at the hands of his hungry crewmates led the Victorian courts
to decisively outlaw a defence of necessity to murder. Dr Percy
Bateman, the incompetent GP whose violent disregard for his patient
changed the law on manslaughter. Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged
in England in the 1950s, played a crucial role in changes to the
law around provocation in murder cases. And Archibald Kinloch, the
deranged Scottish aristocrat whose fratricidal frenzy paved the way
for the defence of diminished responsibility. These, and many more,
are the people - victims, killers, lawyers and judges, who
unwittingly shaped the history of that most grisly and storied of
laws. Join lawyer and writer Kate Morgan on a dark and macabre
journey as she explores the strange stories and mysterious cases
that have contributed to UK murder law. The big corporate killers;
the vengeful spouses; the sloppy doctors; the abused partners; the
shoddy employers; each story a crime and each crime a precedent
that has contributed to the law's dark, murky and, at times,
shocking standing.
It was Christmas 1942 when eleven young women boarded the troopship
Strathaird and braved the attentions of U-Boats in the deep
Atlantic. Borrowing a cricketing phrase, they called themselves the
First Eleven. But they were not the first to arrive at the Special
Operations Executive's secret North African base near Algiers.
Code-named Massingham, it was formed by SOE to spearhead subversion
and sabotage in what Winston Churchill called 'the soft underbelly'
of Europe. Massingham was hidden away at the Club des Pins, a
former luxury resort nestling among pines next to a Mediterranean
beach. By the time SOE had got to work, there was little luxury
left. Setting the Med Ablaze tells the true stories of the men and
women of Churchill's secret base. Its life was short. Less than two
years after its formation, its job was done. But Massingham played
a key role in the Allied offensive in the Mediterranean islands,
Italy and France. If you enjoy historical nonfiction, this book is
for you.
Jump aboard and travel along on this unsettling journey through
trials, convictions, incarcerations and finally that point of no
return. Partner with a desperate father as he decides to take
revenge on the person he holds responsible for a series of crimes
that tear his life apart.
Compare your actions to those of this man and see how they
affect you. What would you do? As I put this together I tried to
figure what I would do and I must admit I was shocked at my
reaction at times. Whatever your final decision I am sure you will
have as many questions at the end as you did in the beginning.
The strange situation that I found myself in was how willing I
was to accept this mans solution. I guess we all see things through
our own filter and in many cases we are able to justify even the
unsavory acts if they are couched in the right set of
circumstances.
Good reading.
Capital DJ Roman Kemp has achieved much success but he hasn't had
an easy ride. He's battled depression since the age of 15, once
contemplated suicide, and has bravely fought to smash the stigma
still surrounding medication and mental health. The lifelong
Arsenal supporter grafted his way to Capital's highly coveted
Breakfast slot - and pulled in record-beating listeners with his
cheeky sense of humour. Who else could convince Ed Sheeran to
tattoo Roman's leg on air, drive around London playing cab-roulette
with James Corden, get Craig David to freestyle rap, or rope Lewis
Capaldi into a life-drawing class? Then, in 2019, Roman won over
yet more fans coming third in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here,
with his uncanny impressions of everyone from Ant and Dec to his
mate Harry Styles. Here, for the first time, Roman's ready to
reveal the things that weren't captured on camera, and how his time
in the jungle changed his whole outlook on life. During the
pandemic Roman's life changed when his best friend - the producer
who'd nurtured his career every step of the way - tragically took
his own life. Amidst the shock, loss and confusion, Roman bravely
made a moving BBC3 documentary about the alarming rates of suicide
amongst young males. He's well aware he too, could have been a
statistic. In this page-turning book - peppered with hilarious and
surprising anecdotes from his youth - Roman also unflinchingly
tackles the taboo of suicide, in the hope that by talking about his
own struggles and sharing advice, he can help others. Roman shares
all the experiences that have shaped him, and why love, marriage
and having his own family one day are so important to his future
dreams.
History is filled with stories of the famous crashing to earth,
whether through an ill-judged statement, an overweening arrogance,
a lust for power or money, or simply a stroke of bad luck. Today,
more than ever, the world of the successful is littered with
'banana skins' lying in wait for the unwary, as film stars,
politicians, soldiers, scientists, business tycoons, royalty,
criminals, sports idols and others make that fatal decision, gaffe
or slip. It covers 220 fascinating entries. Packed in a gift size,
it is highly illustrated in colour. It is ideal travel and present
book. It tells the stories behind the stories. "The Hidden Secrets"
- this beautifully illustrated book charts the hidden secrets
behind some of the biggest 'banana skins' of all time - the
riveting stories of 200 figures who fell from grace - some for
ever, some for a while, some evoke sympathy, a great many do not.
The picturesque vineyards of California's Napa Valley, one of the
world's premier tourist destinations, disguise a tangled history of
lawlessness, depravity and frontier justice. Some crimes were
committed over debts, some for retribution and others in the name
of love. Famed photographer Eadweard Muybridge killed a man for
seducing his wife but was acquitted. Other criminals were not so
lucky and met the gallows, like murderer William Roe, the state's
final public execution. From the Pomo massacre--the first criminal
case heard by the California Supreme Court--to the cold cases that
continue to haunt the region, Napa Police Detective Todd Shulman
decants the crimes of the Napa Valley, memorializing the victims
and honoring the efforts of local law enforcement.
On April 15, 1920, five bandits robbed and killed a paymaster and
his guard in a Boston suburb. The police charged Nicola Sacco and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti with the crime. They were local immigrant
workers associated with a detested anarchist group. A year later, a
jury convicted Sacco and Vanzetti of murder during a period of
anti-communist hysteria in America. They were executed after six
years of failed appeals, despite proven misconduct by prosecutors
and the judge and a confessed participant in the crime who swore
that the two Italians were not involved. Worldwide protests
erupted. Millions claimed the two were framed and executed for
their political beliefs.Author Ted Grippo takes the reader through
the trial, disclosing and examining new documents and other
recently discovered evidence supporting a conspiracy to frame Sacco
and Vanzetti. While the debate over their guilt may continue for
some, "With Malice Aforethought" will end the argument for many.* *
* *"A comprehensive history of shocking abuses of the criminal
justice system that resulted in the conviction and execution of
Sacco and Vanzetti." -Greg Jones, former First Assistant US
Attorney"An important story revealing the treatment of Italian
immigrants in 1920s America."-Bill Dal Cerro, President, Italic
Institute of America.
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