NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT: Leopold & Loeb and the truth behind the murder that rocked 1920's America by Greg King & Penny Wilson


Chicago, 1924 

It's been called the first "crime of the century." Two rich, highly educated teens kill a boy for the "fun of it." They were tight friends only because each was scared the other might spill secrets about their sexual relationship. 

Authors Greg King and Penny Wilson revisit the crime in the book NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT: LEOPOLD & LOEB and the truth behind the murder that rocked 1920s America (StMartinsPress).  Up until that fateful day, the two had committed petty crimes and property damage. They kidnapped the young boy, killed him in the back of a rented car, drove him out into the woods and dumped his body in a water drain. Police were soon on to Leopold and Loeb after the discovery of the body. The case started to unravel beginning with the discovery of Loeb's special glasses. They arrogantly thought they had planned a perfect crime. It was anything but clever. Loeb was the first one to cave in to cops' interrogation and Leopold soon followed. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb never showed remorse for the murder.

Their parents rallied around them, hiring the best defense money could buy and hoping to save them from being hanged. Their highly paid, famous defense attorney pulled all kind of tricks out of his hat to get them life in prison, even repeatedly lying. It was the first court case to introduce psychologist and psychiatrist's testimony.

Greg King has written several books about notorious crimes. This book unfolds flawlessly, is well researched and provides thoughtful insight for those aware or unaware of the crime. I'd never heard about this crime before reading this book and was captivated. A perfect novel for true crime aficionados.

                                                                     *****

Greg King (born 1964) is an American author, best known for his biographies of prominent historical figures.

He is the author of eleven internationally published works of royal and social history, specializing in late Imperial Russia and Edwardian-era royalty, including The Fate of the Romanovs, The Court of the Last Tsar, and the UK bestseller The Duchess of Windsor. A frequent onscreen expert and commentator for historical documentaries, his work has appeared in Majesty Magazine, Royalty Magazine, Royalty Digest, and Atlantis Magazine.

Source: wikipedia.com & us.macmillan.com

Thanks to St. Martin's Press we have one copy to giveaway. Just tell us the most interesting true crime story novel you've ever read. We'll announce a winner soon. Good luck.

GIVEAWAY: USA only please.

Comments

  1. Sylvia BuonanniSeptember 20, 2022 at 10:13 AM

    The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer has stayed with me for decades.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tracy WirickSeptember 20, 2022 at 10:41 AM

    The crime story that has stuck with me since early teens is In Cold Blood. I actually did a paper on it in school. Very shocking and very sad. The poor Clutter family 😢. Would love to read and review this book! Thanks so much for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2022 at 11:18 AM

    Wow, this book sounds very intriguing ! The Menendez Brothers book about the 2 brothers that killed their dad and mom.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2022 at 11:20 AM

    This book sounds like a very good read. One of the books that l read about murder that was something else was the one about The Menendez Brothers that murdered their mom and their dad it was very cold blooded. Alicia Haney. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  5. travelerSeptember 20, 2022 at 12:16 PM

    If You Tell by Gregg Olsen. A heartrending story. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. diannekcSeptember 20, 2022 at 4:38 PM

    In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nancy PSeptember 28, 2022 at 2:23 PM

    In Cold Blood - it compelled me to research the case in depth.

    ReplyDelete

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