Author: Genyc79

Blogger, IT Admin, Nyctophile, Explorer and Brooklynite in the city that never sleeps.

Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris – Eric Jager

On By Genyc79In True Crime, World HistoryLeave a comment

On the night of November 23, 1407, Louis I, duke d’Orléans (1372-1407), younger brother of Charles VI (1368-1422), was violently murdered in Paris, France, by a group of masked assailants who escaped on horseback. Initially, investigators had little information but tasked a local detective named Guillaume de Tignonville (d. 1414) to find Louis’s killers. This book caught my attention due to my fondness for true crime material. The title alone gave me the idea that the material might be macabre, and to a certain extent it is. However, it is also a classic detective story with a plot twist that is shocking and unbelievable. Author Eric Jager takes us back to medieval France in 1407 to unravel a murder that sent chills down my spine.

Prior to reading the book, I was not aware of this historical event and had little knowledge of medieval France. As a result, the book felt like a new lesson in world history. I must warn readers that Louis’s murder is gruesome, and the description of the crime by the author is graphic. The crime is horrific, but what I also noticed was the descriptions of the living conditions for Parisians and the system of rule under Charles and Louis. Frankly, life in the medieval era was not for the faint of heart. Dysentery, pestilence, famine, and warfare routinely threatened people as they did their best to survive each day. After learning about daily life, the story changes when a mysterious man in a robe appears looking for a place to rent. After initial difficulty, he succeeds in renting space from a local family who could not have known that this act would set off a chain of events which lead to the duke’s assassination.

The back story to the duke’s reign is discussed, and it becomes apparent that Louis is anything but ordinary. Further, he has a few vices which earned him his fair share of enemies. And even for the medieval world, some of his actions were both appalling and egregious. The lead investigator de Tignonville finds himself facing a monumental task in finding the duke’s assassins. And here is where the art of solving crimes takes center stage. There are no modern-day forensic tools, this is a classic whodunit with the investigator using the established process of elimination and a laser focus to track down the murderers. But when his investigation takes him to a place he never expected, the story takes a sharp turn which guarantees the fallout will leave no one unscathed.

When the murderer was revealed in the book, I recoiled in shock. But as Jager explains the history between Louis and the person who plotted his death, the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. A deadly cat and mouse game had developed ensured that France would never forget its blood climax. Eventually, the public learns of the plotter’s identity, but what happens next is nothing short of surreal. In fact, it will make you question the concept of justice. Humiliation and absurdity become recurring themes, and even the famed detective is not immune. Complicating matters are personal issues among people in high positions of power, which are centered around fame, money, and infidelity. I guess in that sense, not much has changed today. Louis’s death left the nation in a vulnerable position and when England becomes aware of the turmoil in Paris, all bets are off, and the suspense heightens as conflict arrives at France’s doorstep. The descriptions of violent encounters and their aftermath are raw but also show the reality of those on the losing end of conquest during that time. Invasion was merciless and there was little pity for the losing side. But France did not take British encroachment lying down, and many Frenchmen would answer the call to serve at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415). Sadly, some people we learn about do not survive the conflict. But their determination to resist Brutal rule in service of France is noted.

Francophiles may possess in depth knowledge of this time in the country’s history. But for the rest of us learning for the first time, Jager’s book is a good place to begin. It is a well-researched and thorough account of a vicious crime that is straight out of a horror film. And that crime brought France to the brink of ruin. It is a case study of the dangers of greed and gratuitous violence. Paris is a different country today, but it too has its dark past which comes alive in the pages of this investigative report which will satisfy the curiosity of true crime lovers.

“Louis’s murder had plunged France into a bloody civil war, leading to a devastating English invasion under Henry V, followed by a brutal foreign occupation that began to lift only with Joan of Arc”.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CO7FI54
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; Illustrated edition (February 25, 2014)

My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir – Katherine Johnson with Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

On February 24, 2020, Katherine Johnson (1918-2020), a mathematician and aerospace technologist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) died at the age of 101 years of age. Her remarkable life had ended, but her legacy and importance to the American space program did not. In 2016, the film ‘Hidden Figures‘ was released with actress Taraji P. Henson starring as Johnson. The motion picture received positive feedback but there is more to the story and there is no one better able to tell it than Johnson herself. And that is exactly what she does in this autobiography that is bound to inspire those who read it. And though the book is only two hundred fifty-three pages, her story is unbelievable and a testament to the fact that life is unpredictable.

Johnson’s story begins in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918, and from an early age she learns the ugliness of racial hatred but is supported by a loving family. School becomes her second home, and she develops a fondness for numbers. She did not know it at the time, but her ability to solve complex mathematical equations would take her places in life she could only dream of. And she soon learns that education is the vehicle to success. After leaving high school she was chosen to integrate West Virginia State University. The memories she shares of integration are not pleasant, but they do not stop her momentum. In fact, the adversity only spurs her to reach higher goals. And she makes friends in many places due to her pleasant nature and advanced intellect.

Amid continuing education, Johnson also finds love in first husband James with whom she begins a family. Career wise, she continued to push forward and finds herself at The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (“NACA”), the predecessor to NASA. And it is here that the story changes gears as the space mission intensifies. Johnson is joined by other women portrayed in the film, most notably Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008). The story takes a tragic turn with James’s departure in 1956, but Johnson’s story was far from finished. On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) signed legislation which created NASA whose mission was gaining consistent support through Congress. And the arrival of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) proved to be the spark that NASA needed to reach heights once thought unreachable. Johnson watches it all unfold as a crucial component of the space mission and can hardly contain her joy when Kennedy pledges support and additional funding for NASA’s objectives. And although the United States did not beat the Soviets to space, NASA did launch successful missions of its own. Johnson provides an interesting anecdote about the role of astronaut John Glenn (1921-2016) and her role in making sure his mission was a success. Her account is fascinating, and a reminder of the importance of merit. There is a statement she makes which has remained with me, and these words may resonate with you as well:

“The point is this: if you want to know something or don’t understand, ask questions. The path to your destiny may start with a simple question“.

Love re-enters the story in the form of second husband Jim who she remained married to until his death in 2019. She found another source of happiness and in 1986 she retired from NASA. But little did she know that life had more in store for her. The epilogue follows her post-retirement which includes being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack H. Obama. And then came Hollywood and an appearance at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony. The stories are heartwarming and may leave you shedding a tear. All that takes place in her later years is the comeuppance for a lifetime of government service where she played critical roles in the most momentous events in the history of America’s space program. NASA also made sure to keep her legacy alive, and its actions as explained in the end will ensure that she lives forever. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and did not want it to conclude. If you are looking for a delightful read, this is an uplifting story that is sure to leave a smile on your face.

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” – President John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08G1MTFMS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amistad (May 25, 2021)

Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam -Frances Fitzgerald

On By Genyc79In Vietnam WarLeave a comment

Last summer at a family cookout, I noticed my uncle who had served in the Vietnam War, wearing a baseball cap which indicated that he was a veteran of the conflict. It was the first time I had seen him wear anything connected to Vietnam or the military. As I watched him, I asked myself why it took so long for Vietnam veterans to find acceptance and peace. He is from a generation which fought in a deeply unpopular war that saw America fall short of its stated goal. The official policy was to help South Vietnam withstand communism and survive as its own democratic republic but the reality on the ground was far more complicated. The truth about South Vietnam is a bitter pill to swallow but necessary in understanding the failures which took place. Author and Pulitzer Prize winner Frances Fitzgerald originally wrote this book in 1971 and it was published in 1972, three years before the conflict’s end. But contained in its pages is an insightful discussion about Vietnamese history, French colonialism, and America’s entry into Indochina. And having finished the book, I can say with certainty that it is one the best books I have ever read about the war in Vietnam. 

Fitzgerald did not serve in the military and the book is not written from a soldier’s point of view. Her focus is on South Vietnam, particularly the instability of its government and the complex social structure in Vietnam which western minds struggled to understand. The book excels is explaining how and why the Vietnamese lived as they did. These lessons seemed to have been lost to officials as the conflict heated up. Readers do not need prior knowledge of the war to find value in this book. In fact, no prior knowledge is needed. Fitzgerald covers the country’s history, the French occupation, and the buildup to American intervention. Her narrative is smooth and flows  beautifully, which makes the book easy to read and engaging from start to finish. 

I have read and reviewed several books on Vietnam, each with its own approach to the war. But the book I found to be the closest in comparison to this discussion by Fitzgerald is Fredrik Logevall’s ‘Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam‘, which I strongly recommend for anyone interested in the war’s history. However, I believe Fitzgerald’s account in regard to South Vietnam is absolute gold. And the nexus of President Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963), brother Ngo Dinh Nhu (1910-1963) and sister-in-law Madame Nhu (Trần Lệ Xuân)(1924-2011) is explored thoroughly in one of the most thorough explanations I have read.  This trifecta of power would affect Vietnam in many ways and haunt the American effort in the years that followed their removal from power in 1963. But this was no secret in Washington as we see in the book. Readers may also want to take a look at the book by former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara (1916-2009) ‘In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam‘, which is a fair analysis of the failures by officials in handling the conflict. McNamara is seen as a villain by some, and the war’s chief architect by others. His role and errors are discussions for another time, but his book is still a valuable source of information. 

Prior to American troops landing in Vietnam, warnings had been issued by both foreign governments and the United States intelligence apparatus. A young and well-traveled senator from Massachusetts named John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) was convinced that a war in Indochina was a disaster, but he would be forced to confront the matter himself when he was elected to the presidency in 1960. But despite numerous warnings, the stage was set in the wake of the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) asked for and received congressional authority to use military force in Vietnam.  In four years, the war became an “albatross” around his neck and played a significant role in his decision not to seek or accept the Democratic nomination for the 1968 presidential election. In Vietnam, American military commanders continued to face an enemy encouraged by deception and a mindset that seemed inexplicable to the west. And added to the mix is the National Liberation Front (“NLF”) whose goal was to remove the Diem regime from power and seek reunification with North Vietnam. As I read, I found my view of the conflict changing as I understood more about the NLF and the dislike of the Diem regime. Further, the author highlights the degradation of Vietnamese society due to its American occupiers. This part of the book may be difficult for some to accept, but what the author discusses is crucial in understanding why South Vietnam could never stand on its own. 

As the war rages on, American officials and military commanders are forced to accept uncomfortable truths. Publicly, the belief in American victory remained strong, but behind closed doors, Washington knew that the war was not going as planned and victory not as certain as one would believe. And the Tet Offensive in January 1968, was a sobering wake up call for anyone who assumed the war would be over soon. Fitzgerald discusses the offensive and its impact here as well, and she also pulls no punches regarding American atrocities in Vietnam. The war had turned Indochina into hell, and she drives home the point that instead of liberating South Vietnam, America flipped it upside down in ways which officials had not anticipated. The Vietnamese people had their lives upended for a cause which many of them had no strong feeling in support of.

Following Johnson’s decision not to see re-election in 1968, a new president arrives and inherits the war in Vietnam. The administration of Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) would have its own difficulties with the raging infernor which he pledged to bring to an end. But he would soon find out that doing so was far more difficult than that implied. The war’s expansion into neighboring Cambodia set off alarm bells and revealed the uncomfortable truth that the nightmare in Vietnam was far from over. The heartbreaking saga plays out in the book but ends in 1971 when Fitzgerald finishes her analysis. Hauntingly, her words proved to be prophetic and the departure of American forces in 1975 was confirmation that without permanent U.S. involvement, reunification was bound to happen. 

After I finished the book, I sat silently for a few minutes thinking about the war and its many casualties. I thought of my uncle who carries scars from the war, both physically and mentally. In a rare moment of admission, he once told me that people asked him why he had answered his draft call. He never wanted to go to Vietnam but did not have the money or connections to avoid being called to serve. So, he took his draft card and arrived at his assigned location. And several months later, he found himself three thousand miles away in a country he had never seen to fight in a war he wanted no part of. And that is the story of many Vietnam veterans who are still with us today. I can only hope that they receive the acknowledgment and acceptance they have not always been given. If you are a student of the Vietnam War, you will appreciate this book. 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0028MM2MM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company (May 5, 2009)

 

In the Ghost Shadows: The Untold Story of Chinatown’s Most Powerful Crime Boss – Peter Chin with Everett De Morier

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The Chinatown section of Manhattan in New York City has always had an aura of attraction and mystery. The Cantonese and Mandarin languages spoken by its inhabitants have provided the neighborhood with a form insulation which kept the eyes of outsiders at bay. But for those who venture into the area, there is an abundance of outstanding cuisine, endless shops, and the realization of a city within a city. I personally have walked the streets of Chinatown as an eager shopper and have driven its streets on my way to the Manhattan Bridge to return to Brooklyn. But what many are unaware of is the dark history of Chinatown and the powerful crime bosses who once ruled with iron fists. This book is the story of the former boss of the Ghost Shadows gang, Peter Chin. Readers may recognize Chin from his appearance on the YouTube channel called Vlad TV. Here, his unbelievable story is presented by author Everett De Morier as told to him by the former crime boss. And it is a deep dive into a world most New Yorkers did not know existed.

You may be wondering why a former crime boss decided to tell his life story. It is a good question, and the long road taken by the author in telling Chin’s story is explained. Chin could take what he knows with him to the grave when he takes his final breath. But a suggestion by a former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officer plants a seed in his mind which results in Chin agreeing to tell his story. And once he begins, the book becomes a roller coaster ride as we run the streets of Chinatown and explore the criminal underworld. The story begins in China but when Peter is eight, the family emigrates to New York City where they are reunited with his father Bark Chin, who forms a dark cloud over the home. Also, he makes an appearance late in the story in a role that is interesting and puzzling. Father and son did not have a good relationship, and what Chin recalls left me shaking my head at times. Any questions regarding the importance of a strong father in the home are answered here.

Sadly, Chin’s personal life provided the perfect pretext for his gravitation towards the streets. And through a series of events, he soon finds himself running with the Ghost Shadows. But he quickly learns that Chinatown is a hotbed of turf battles and throughout the story we see the rise and fall of other gangs such as the White Tigers, Flying Dragons under Michael Chen (1950-1983) and the Hip Sing Tong led by the Godfather of Chinatown Benny “Uncle Seven” Ong (1907-1994). Gunfights, fistfights, back door deals and homicides are on the menu as Chinatown turned into a battle zone. While I read, I was taken back because as a New Yorker, I know that geographically, Chinatown is not as big as one might expect. Encounters between gangs often occur due to their proximity to each other. And when they cross paths, the tension escalates at breakneck speed. Chin finds himself a target more than once in the book, and one incident leaves him at Downtown Beekman Hospital for an extended stay. But despite the dangers, Chin continues to rise to the top and along the way as he makes friends with powerful crime figures and others holding access to vast amounts of wealth. It is the type of gangster story Hollywood loves to produce but this is non-fiction and Chin’s life was on the line daily.

There is one area of the story that I wish had more content and that is Chin’s marriage and his son Anthony. His wife and son are mentioned but rarely, and this is likely because Chin was telling the story and chose to keep them out of it. In fact, the author does explain that Chin kept them hidden in Brooklyn for their protection while he conducted business on the streets. As the cash rolls in and he gains fame and respect, his exposure to law enforcement also grows, drawing the attention of the NYPD’s Jade Squad and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). Readers will see that his fall is inevitable but there is still time before that happens, and that means more violence on the streets of Chinatown. The swift pace in which situations escalate gives new meaning to the term “on sight”. Actions are instant and deadly, with shocking displays of rage and destruction which claim innocent lives and places Chinatown’s gangs in the crosshairs of prosecutors who had been given a tool unlike anything courts had seen before: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, simply known as “RICO”.  This new law would devastate criminal organizations across the country and takedown Chinese gangsters, the Italian Mafia and other crime figures who remain behind bars.

Chin’s fall, which we know is coming eventually does but I surprised at the sentenced he received and did not anticipate the judge’s ruling. It hits Chin like a stack of bricks, but jail proves to be the place he needed to be. His time in prison is interesting and shows that old habits die hard. The seasoned gangster moves like you would expect inside prison walls revealing that the world within its walls has its own structure which outsiders would not understand. However, prison also proves to be a turning point when he meets an inmate who gives him two gifts which change his life permanently. And when readers reach this point in the book, the realization that Chin rose to surreal heights without a full formal education will set in. It did for me. And it is here that his redemption begins. Luckily for him, there is life after prison which we learn of towards the end of the book when he is reborn and comes full circle. And in an ironic twist of fate, a prosecutor who once chased him, finds himself facing criminal charges. Further, the prosecutor in Chin’s case would later gain infamy for her role in a case which shook New York City to its core, and later revealed disturbing questions of misconduct, bigotry, and wrongful prosecution. In this story, Chin rides off into the sunset, but his story is not over, and he has many years to live and can look back on his time as the leader of the Ghost Shadows. If you love history and the stories from New York City, you will love this.

“Anyone who thinks criminals don’t follow the news coverage about them is dead wrong. They follow it avidly. That’s how Chin’s gang came by their name. A newspaper reporter had written a story about their crimes and concluded with a bit of a poetic flourish: They came in like a shadow and left without a trace . . . like a ghost shadow.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D2SNJV9Z
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Citadel Press (January 21, 2025)

Black Hawk: The Battle for the Heart of America – Kerry A. Trask

On By Genyc79In American HistoryLeave a comment

While reviewing recommendations from Bookbub, I came across this book from author Kerry A. Trask about Black Hawk (1767-1838), a war chief in the Sauk tribe in North America. Today their descendants can be found in the States of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The title grabbed my attention, and I began to ask myself how much I knew of Black Hawk and the Sauk people. I soon realized that I knew extraordinarily little and decided to make the purchase and rediscover a piece of American history. And what I found is a haunting yet important book about our nation’s past.

Prior knowledge of the Sauk tribe or the Black Hawk War of 1832 is not necessary to appreciate this book. The author provides a thorough explanation of Sauk history. The only trouble I initially had was keeping a mental picture of locations in the story. A map nearby may be a useful tool and keeping track of their movements, particularly after the treaty signed between Sauk representatives and the U.S. Government in 1804. This agreement would prove to be the pivotal moment in the story and set the Sauk on a collision course with the United States military. However, America was also going through growing pains, and the author discusses the horrid shape of the army in the early 1800s as confrontations with the native tribes increased with deadly consequences.

It should be noted that the book is not an easy or lighthearted read. In fact, there are parts of the story which will be uncomfortable. There are no glorious moments or riding off into the sunset. This story is vivid, raw and touches on a dark time in American history which should be known, understood, and never forgotten. That does not mean that the book is a story of American aggression against native tribes. While there are moments in which foresight would have helped, actions by the native tribes are equally as haunting and focus on the life and death situations which occurred frequently outside of the borders of the United States. I was mindful that in 1804, there were only seventeen states in the union and territory further west was “unorganized”. I say that loosely due to the fact that British and French fur traders continued to operate outside of America’s borders and further north in Canada.

After learning about the Sauk way of life, the story changes gears when Indiana Territory Governor and future President William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) signs the Treaty of St. Louis with Sauk representatives in November 1804. Each side had their view of the treaty, and the author explains the series of events for the reader to decide. Strangely, the Sauk returned years later and agreed once again on the conditions offered. However, Black Hawk and the older leaders decided that they would not surrender their land and the arrival of white settlers in Sauk territory set the stage for dark acts of retribution which Washington could not ignore. Readers familiar with America’s wars with the “Indians” will not be surprised at the descriptions of violence towards settlers. The text is grim, and emphasizes the risk taken by those venturing into unknown territory. While I read, I was reminded of the Fort Parker Massacre in 1836, discussed extensively in S.C. Gwynne’s ‘Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History‘, a book which left me speechless. It may be tempting to view the natives as “savages”, but it is imperative to remember that they lived in a world far different from Europeans and had their own customs in regard to conflict resolution and protection of their territory.

The Sauk had been forced to move west in 1831 by military intervention but decided to re-claim their land in 1832. And here is where things escalate. Our ringside seat allows us to see the suspense build as Black Hawk and the association of Fox and Kickapoos, form their war council in response to increasing pressure from the United States. And once the military campaigns begin, the heat is turned up and the months between April and August of 1832 would be remembered for the bloodshed and heartache as the Black Hawk War claimed its victims. Early in the campaign, the native tribes maintain an advantage over American troops, but the military might of the United States and a Iowa County militia Colonel Henry Dodge (1782-1867) would prove to be too much. Interesting, two highly important figures in American history make an appearance in the story: future President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and future Confederacy President Jefferson Davis (1808-1889). This caught me completely off guard and added more intrigue to the story. The climatic Battle of Bad Axe would be the final nail in the coffin of the Sauk but Black Hawk’s story was far from over. However, he could not run forever and eventually accepts defeat, but the story takes a few unexpected turns. Following his death in 1838, the story becomes even more bizarre and disturbing as post-mortem events play out.

This book is a gem, and I did not anticipate the impactful story contained within. It is well-researched, well-written and a frank but enlightening discussion of America’s past. A friend once told me that history should never be erased but always understood. The indigenous tribes of North America endured heartache, separation, betrayal, and death as the United States expanded its borders. However, the tribes also battled each other and committed acts of unspeakable violence against settlers looking for greener pastures. History can be uplifting but it can also be sobering and haunting. As I stated before, there is no glory to be found in this raw look at the past. But we can find value in understanding the story of the Sauk and all that they lost.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GET19F6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt and Co.; First edition (December 24, 2013)

King: A Life – Jonathan Eig

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

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The late Huey P. Newton (1942-1989) once stated that “the first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man“. These words by Newton have proven to be accurate when examining the lives of those who sought to enact radical change throughout the world. At 6:00 p.m., on the evening of April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) was standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee embracing the fresh air when the sound of a gunshot was heard. The members of his entourage looked up to the balcony to see him lying on his back and mortally wounded. He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was declared dead at 7:05 p.m. An icon of the Civil Rights Movement had been silenced but his impact and words were not. Dr. King did not live to see the fruits of his labor, and he had come to accept that reality before his tragic death. His story has been told numerous times over the years, but when I saw this Pulitzer Prize winning book by Jonathan Eig, I decided to add it to my reading list. And what I found is a well-written, well-researched and balanced account of Dr. King’s short but extraordinary life.

As I began to read the book, I noticed that the footnotes are placed at the end of the book as opposed to the end of each chapter. This approach made the narrative flow much smoother, and I hardly noticed the page count while reading. The book does move chronologically as one would expect from a biography, but it feels more like a discussion than a timeline of King’s life. Further, the author pulls no punches when it comes to King’s faults but also gives credit to his successes, and this gives the book a well-rounded feeling to it. I do caution readers that it is necessary to approach the biography as unbiased as possible because there are parts of the story that do not show King is the most favorable light. But he was a human being and had his flaws like everyone else and there is more to the story than you will find in history textbooks.

The crucial historical moments in America’s past are discussed as they should be, but the private side of his life is where the book excels. His personal emotional struggles with fame and purpose, and infidelity are intense sections of the book but also revealing. Personally, I was aware of his romances outside of his marriage but the scale of it was larger than I had previously known. In fact, Eig’s book shows that the real number of women may be higher than anyone suspected. King was aware of his weakness but his statements regarding his father Martin Luther King, Sr. (1899-1984) are revealing. Women had always been a soft spot for the Kings, and Martin Jr., would find one of his most challenging experiences in his romance with a white woman named Amelia “Betty” Moitz. This is a part of Dr. King’s life I never learned about through any school textbook. In hindsight we know that the relationship did not last but the story is interesting and will have you asking yourself questions about the couple and how their lives would be in the year 2025. Of course, this was during the reign of Jim Crow and interracial dating and marriages were extremely taboo and, in some states, illegal. This section of the book alone should be a reminder of the many freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

Following his courtship of Coretta Scott (1927-2006), the couple elopes and begins to expand their family. However, we soon begin to see that Martin’s calling to the growing movement meant extensive time away from home. Although he did have strong bonds with his children, his rigorous travel schedule, and the amount of territory he covers in the book are surreal. Coretta authored her own book titled ‘My Life, My Love, My Legacy‘ which is a valuable resource regarding the couple’s home life.  Thankfully, help in the movement comes in the form of other activists whose own lives would be deeply affected by their determination for equality. King’s friend and close colleague Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy (1926-1990), and mentors Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) and Stanley Levison (1912-1979) prove to be anchors to keep him grounded as the intensity of the movement increased. The relationship between King and Levison is a focal point in the story due to the latter’s affiliation with communist parties and the interest taken towards both men by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) led by J. Edgar Hoover (1924-1972), whose obsession with King was nothing short of paranoia. The FBI weighs heavily on the story not only due to its surveillance of King, but also due to the bureau’s actions towards other figures in the story such as Malcolm X (1925-1965) who is part of the story on a handful of occasions but represented a far more frightening alternative to Dr. King.

Throughout the book, King fights battles on every front, and his relationship with President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) produced some of the highest achievements in the lives of both men. However, it also marked the initial descent of their influence and popularity due to circumstances each struggled to control. The buildup and fallout are riveting and tragic but a critical part in the final four years of Martin’s life. Readers who lived through the events discussed in the book may feel a surge of memories coming flooding back to a time in America my father has described as the “scariest years of his life” due to the civil unrest, assassinations, and the war in Vietnam. While Martin was traveling, speaking, and laying his life on the line, Coretta was at home, but that does not mean she was immobile or insignificant. In fact, she was a source of strength and sanity for Martin when he arrived home. And had he retired from the movement as friends had suggested, this book would have a different ending. However, King had found his purpose and the last speech he gave in the days leading up to his assassination continues to give me chills.

Slowly but surely, the moment we know is coming arrives and the darkness surrounding it is no less pronounced today than it surely was then. An epilogue follows the narrative and provides a short follow-up to the post-assassination events. After finishing the book, I found a deeper appreciation for Dr. King’s work and legacy while at the same time accepting his flaws. J. Edgar Hoover was convinced that Dr. King was a “fraud”, but the truth is far more complex. While he may not have measured up to Hoover’s standards, he did place his life on the line for what he believed in, and in doing so he became an icon around the world.  We can disagree on his approach and character, but his impact and achievements stand on their own merits. If you like this book, I also recommend Ralph Abernathy’s ‘And the Walls Came Tumbling Down‘ in which he discusses his friendship with Martin and the mission to break down Jim Crow.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BBD5GXTF
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux (May 16, 2023)

Wyatt Earp: A Vigilante Life – Andrew C. Isenberg

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The Wild West, also known as the American Frontier or Old West, remains a special era in United States history. Historical figures such as Jesse James (1847-1882) and Billy the Kid (1859-1881) are a part of American pop-culture with latter the subject of two Hollywood films in which actor Emilio Estevez plays the famed outlaw. But there is another figure equally as popular and controversial, whose life was also adapted for the silver screen. Anyone familiar with the Old West certainly knows the name of Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (1848-1929), portrayed in films as noble lawman who survived a shootout with Ike Clanton (1847-1887) and his gang of bandits. When I saw this book, I thought of the films ‘Tombstone‘ and ‘Wyatt Earp‘ which are both fun to watch. Earp’s life was portrayed well, but did Hollywood get it right? The answer is both yes and no, and unsurprisingly, there is more to Earp’s story than shown on the silver screen. This biography by Andew C. Isenberg explores Earp’s life to separate fact from fiction. 

Prior to starting the book, I did read reviews from others who were critical of the book as not being extensive enough. However, most agreed that it is well-researched and a fair look at Wyatt’s life. I cannot say whether this is the “definitive” biography, but I can say that for readers in search of a good starting point from which to learn about Earp’s life, this book is sufficient. I did not see Earp as a villain or hero before I purchased the book. And I have always felt that characters from the Old West were products of their time. Of course, that in no way diminishes the importance of morality but in the Old West, the rules of engagement were different, and life could be exceedingly difficult. 

I was fascinated to learn about the Earp family, particularly Wyatt’s brothers Virgil (1843-1905) and Morgan (1851-1882), both of whom were present during the famous shootout with Clanton’s gang. The Earp family story is surreal, and I found myself glued to the book as the Old West came alive. But I also began to see that the Earps were not as “righteous” as we may have been led to believe. They are best known as lawmen but did not always wear badges. And their actions at times during the story are far from law-abiding. Brothels which were a staple of Old West lore, weigh heavily in the story. The “ladies of the night” had both customers and partners, making the Earp story even more convoluted. Added to this are Wyatt’s  love life and his nomadic movements across North America. The book evolves into a roller coaster ride as Wyatt leaves one town for the next. But during one stop he met a man who became a life-long friend and legend in the Old West himself, John Henry “Doc” Holliday (1852-1887). And on October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers and Holliday became legends of the Old West in a shootout that history could not get enough of. 

If you decide to read this book, you may be asking yourself what really happened at the O.K. Corral? It  lasted less than a minute, was deadly and the result of a feud. The conflict is discussed by the author and is thorough, but I also had the feeling that there was more to the story. Of course, none of the participants are alive and surely took to the grave, smaller details they knew about why the shooting took place. The real-life gun battle had none of the flair and slow-motion of Hollywood. It was fast, vicious, and left people shaken. And it was far from the end of the Clanton-Earp saga which continued to play out well after the shootout. The drama is also discussed within, and at times I felt that it would never end between Clanton and the Earps. 

Following the deadly shootout, further tragedy occurs in the book, and Wyatt is forced to confront the deaths of those closest to him. However, his relationship with Holliday becomes a little unusual, and left me slightly puzzled at what happened. Of course, no explanation will be forthcoming, and it is known that Wyatt visited Holliday before the latter succumbed to the tuberculosis that plagued him. Wyatt eventually made his departure from Tombstone and caught the attention of Hollywood. And it is here that the legend was born. In his final years, he was living with his common-law wife, but the drama surrounding his union with Josephine “Sadie” Earp (1861-1944) is crazy but also in line with Earp’s history. And there are  also the tragedies of his first wife Urilla Sutherland Earp (1850-1870) and second wife by common law, Cecilia Ann “Mattie” Blaylock (1850-1888). Wyatt lived an unorthodox life. But is life truly “normal” for any of us? 

The shootout at the O.K. Corral is forever linked with Earp, Holliday and Clanton names, and Wyatt continues to be seen as a lawman of the Old West. This book is a thorough account of his time of earth, and it encouraged me to explore other biographies about the famed gunslinger. But I wondered if he was a hero, villain, pimp, degenerate, murderer, or opportunist? The truth is complex and nowhere as glamorous as Hollywood productions but it was the life he led. But this is only my opinion. You can be the judge. 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009LRWHV8
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hill and Wang; 1st edition (August 6, 2024)

Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom – Catherine Clinton

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The Merriam Webster dictionary defines courage as the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. This definition applies unquestionably to Araminta Ross, better known as Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), whose efforts on what is known as the “Underground Railroad” helped change the fates of enslaved and free blacks across America as the nation grappled with the issue of human bondage. When I saw this book in a list of recommendations, I instantly made the purchase and felt my curiosity increase. In grade school, I learned about Harriet Tubman, but the passage of time and a limited curriculum, left me with a lack of factual information which I found in this gripping biography by author Catherine Clinton.

The lack of knowledge regarding Tubman’s life increased my anticipation as I began to read the book. And from the beginning, I found myself glued to it as I learned about the life of a woman who took courage to a whole new level. Her story begins in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1822 when she is born into an enslaved family. And like other enslaved people, birth records and other vital information are typically incomplete. Added to the confusion is the lack of literacy, a tool commonly used by slaveowners. This afflicted Tubman as well, but it later proved to have its advantages, as we see in the story when her work on the Underground Railroad intensified.

Readers who are sensitive to the subject of slavery and its horrors may find parts of the story upsetting. However, it is a part of American history which can never be erased. Further, the dark moments in the book eventually pave the way for the triumphs later in the story. In 1849, she finally made her escape north, but at the time she was married to her first husband John Tubman (d. 1867). The circumstances surrounding their union are interesting and highlight the complexities enslaved and freed men and women faced in trying to find love. The story of their union is both tragic and shocking, and the author returns to John later in the story after Harriet finds her calling.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 sent alarm bells ringing across America and forced slaves to realize that crossing into free territory was not enough. Harriet understood the implications and began to master the art of subterfuge. But before she changes gears, the story moves to Canada, where Tubman finds solace. However, the country was not without racial prejudice, and the author pulls no punches about the difficulties former slaves faced as they escaped north. For Harriet, her own freedom was not enough, and she became determined to bring down the system of slavery across America, much like her acquaintance and fellow abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859), who makes an appearance in the book. And it is at this point that the legend is born and the story kicks into high gear. Readers will see why she was nicknamed “Moses”.

In Auburn, New York, she was able to make a home for herself due to the actions of former Secretary of State William Seward (1801-1872) who became a lifelong friend. And once she embraced her role as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, things are never the same. The story is unbelievable and the courage she had is nothing short of incredible. Frankly, she was fearless and demonstrated this repeatedly in the story. The author brings her actions to life in a vivid but smooth narrative that maintains the right pace and suspense as former slaves are ushered out of the South in search of life as free men and women. But though Tubman had success in her missions, she did pay a heavy price in the form of personal sacrifice, both physically and emotionally. Her reunion with John later in life does not go as planned and leaves her devastated. But a successful reunion with her parents is a high point in the book which is a roller coaster ride until the very end.

Because the book is set during the 1800s, we know the American Civil War will become a part of the narrative and here is no different. But what is incredibly heartwarming are her actions in service to the Union as the war against the Confederacy raged. The conflict was beyond brutal, and its graphic nature is on display here. Tubman’s view of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is interesting, although the two never met. I wish they had for that would have been quite the discussion. Nevertheless, Lincoln’s death was a shock to her as it was to millions of Americans. The war had ended in April 1865, but the fight for equality and respect was still on. Tubman continued to serve the people and later in life she reaped the benefits, and even finds a new companion Pvt. Nelson C. Davis (1844-1888) who provides her with a sense of normalcy after her days on the Underground Railroad are over. And when she is called home to rest, the conclusion marks the end of a story that left me inspired and speechless. The Underground Railroad was a complex network of locations, resources, and people both black and white who were united in their belief that slavery must end. Harriet Tubman was part of the apparatus that kept it running and on time. This book is a gift that will keep on giving.

“If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going.” – Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FC1AN4
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (February 2, 2004)

The President and the Freedom Fighter : Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Their Battle to Save America’s Soul- Brian Kilmeade

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On December 6, 1865, Congress ratified the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which marked the end to slavery and indentured servitude in the United States. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) had approved the version presented before in January of that year but did not live to see it ratified, having been assassinated at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865. The ratification of the amendment was a bittersweet vindication of Lincoln and a former slave who became one of America’s strongest voices for abolition. Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) outlived Lincoln by thirty years but remained committed to the goal of equality and an America representative of all its inhabitants. This book is the story of their lives, friendship and the issue of slavery, over which America pulled itself apart.

This book is a not a standard biography of either Lincoln or Douglass, but author Brian Kilmeade does provide enough background information to give readers a solid understanding of their beginnings which stand in stark contrast. Lincoln, who was born free as a White American, was the extreme opposite of Douglass who was born enslaved in Maryland. But as they both matured, America began to go through a metamorphosis and each man would find his calling in pushing the nation forward. However, to appreciate the crossing of their paths in life, Kilmeade moves back and forth between he key events which shaped their views of America and their purposes in life.

Although the book is not a standard biography of either figure, I did find a wealth of information in the book. And for readers who are well read on both, Kilmeade’s narrative can still be of value. While reading the book I could see the importance in the contrast between Douglass and Lincoln setting the stage for future events. And this is a strong aspect of the book. Each man came to detest slavery but through extremely different paths. Lincoln would use the courts and politics, but Douglass’s journey was far more difficult and dangerous and would take him through abolitionist circles which results in the appearance of notable historical figures in the story which heightens the suspense.

Any story regarding Federick Douglass is incomplete without mention of William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879), a staunch abolitionist and strong influence in Douglass’s life, and the abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859). Each man plays a significant role in the book, and Brown’s story is fascinating on its own. He remains both famous and infamous depending on who you ask. However, we cannot deny the impact of his raid on the Harper’s Ferry federal arsenal in 1859. That event sent shockwaves across the United States and might have been far more deadly if other noted abolitionists had stood behind Brown’s actions. The relationship between Brown and Douglass is a moving part of the story and highlights the difference between conviction and recklessness.

While the abolitionists are fighting the battle against slavery in public, Lincoln comes into his own as a politician with a bright future. His rise to fame in what became the Republican Party is part of the story as well, and what we witness is an odyssey taking place as Lincoln’s views on slavery are challenged and changed. And part of that progression was his relationship with Douglass, which is the crux of the book. As a history lover, I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story. Of course, we cannot ignore the “elephant in the room” which is the looming American Civil War. The buildup is part of the account, particularly the growing resentment in South Carolina when it becomes clear that Lincoln is the favorite to win the 1860 presidential election. His victory that November was seen as proof by the newly formed Confederate States of America in January 1861 that secession was the only option. And on April 21, 1861, the first shots of the war were fired, sending America into darkness for the next four years. For Douglass and Lincoln, the conflict brought them closer together and saw the end of their friendship.

As the war heats up, both men are watching with uneasiness as Confederate forces prove to be tougher than expected. The Union needed an advantage and here is another crucial part of the story when the subject of black fighting units takes center stage. Ironically, the idea of colored troops caused division as deeply as the war itself. In hindsight we know that the Union eventually formed units of black soldiers who performed equally as courageous as white troops. The saga of the Union’s colored soldiers is captured with grace and respect by the author who has given us a valuable book regarding a dark time in American history. In April 1865, the war comes to a bloody end, but Douglass’s story is not yet finished. And the South was determined to rise again.

Following the war, the story continues with Douglass’s life and the changes he endured as America was altered for better and worse. Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and southern resentment would affect the lives of Black Americans for decades to come. Douglass remained steadfast in the movement for civil rights, but he could not escape father time and makes his departure from the story in 1895. Both men were gone but their legacies were cemented in history. And through books like this we can step back in time to revisit an era when America was at a crossroads with morality, technology, and the very constitution our nation is founded on. There are tragic moments in the book, but it is a story which provides enlightenment, humility and an appreciation for the things we take for granted. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08Z7RC9N6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sentinel (November 2, 2021)

The Hillside Stranglers: The Inside Story of the Killing Spree That Terrorized Los Angeles – Darcy O’Brien

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During the 1970s and 1980s, the City of Los Angeles became home to some of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Serial murder was not a new concept, but the Robbery Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department had its hands full as death spread across the City of Angels. Among these notorious killers were two cousins originally from Rochester, New York, who turned Los Angeles into a hunting ground and became known to the public as the Hillside Stranglers. Angelo Buono, Jr. (1934-2002) and Kenneth Bianci unleashed a wave of terror across Southern California as they lived out their sadistic fantasies. Their convictions and imprisonment were a relief to the people of Los Angeles, but their story is more extensive than the infamous crimes. Award-winning author Darcy O’Brien looks at the story in this book that is chilling, haunting, and true crime at its best.

Before continuing, readers should be aware that the descriptions of crimes committed by Buono and Bianci by the author are graphic and will be upsetting to readers sensitive to true crime material. I winced several times as I read the details of their crime spree, and I typically have a strong constitution regarding the subject matter. Franky, the story is not for everyone. But I also understood that the severity of their crimes could not have been told any other way and the text by O’Brien drives that point home. The real-life events which transpired across Los Angeles were far more brutal in nature and I can only imagine the terror and physical pain the victims felt at the hands of the merciless killers. At one point it felt as if the two were invincible, but the LAPD assigned its best to the case and the two detectives who stand out in the story are storied investigators Frank Salerno and Bob Grogan. The case would prove to haunt everyone involved, and Grogan’s life goes through a transformation of its own as the book progresses. But at no point does he waver in his determination to catch the murderers. 

In between the crime spree and detectives’ investigation, we also learn the back stories of Buono and Bianci. Their roots are in my home state of New York, but their crimes consumed the West Coast. The dysfunction of both, combined with criminal activity and psychopathic tendencies, set the stage for the darkness to engulf Los Angeles. Buono’s life is nothing short of mind-bending, and Bianci’s was not much better. I soon realized that they were dangerous many years before the string of murders. In the beginning of the book Buono is residing by himself and Bianci later joins him after moving to the West Coast. And what develops is a co-dependence which functions on anarchy. It would have deadly consequences for the young women of Southern California. 

The story of their crimes is shocking enough but added to this is that both fathered children of their own. And that casts an even darker cloud over the story which descends into further insanity with each passing crime. But a decision by Bianci to leave the Los Angeles area after detectives begin to suspect the two, would have life-altering consequences for the two and prove to be the first stage of failure of the Hillside Stranglers. Seeking to reconcile with the mother of his son, Bianci relocated to Bellingham, Washington. At first, there seems to be the sense that he has found a new life and escaped justice. But as we soon see, Bianci was nowhere close to reformation and soon turned Bellingham upside down and caught the attention of the LAPD.

Once the investigation heats up, the graphic descriptions of the crimes begin to subside. The focus shifts to police work and this part of the book pulled me in as Grogan and other homicide detectives begin to piece together the disturbing actions of Buono and Bianci, the latter of which helps blow the case open. But before that happens, a charade of multiple personalities takes place with the added component of a stolen identity. Added to the circus is the groupie Veronica Compton, who landed an extensive prison sentence of her down due to unwavering devotion to the incarcerated Bianci. The story is surreal and makes one wonder how people become enamored with the darkest segments of society. 

Buono’s subsequent arrest and the trial of both consume the remainder of the book, and it is also a roller coaster ride. The actions by the district attorney, defense counsel and even a juror left me wondering about the merits of the criminal justice system. However, there is a voice of reason in Judge Ronald M. George who issues a critical ruling on a motion which changed the course of the trial. And despite the evidence, prosecutors still had to prove their case which they do and secure a conviction for both. The jury had its own issues as explained in the book, and it reminded me of the problems that arise when people are sequestered for extended periods of time. As the trial reached its conclusion, I also felt relieved even though it is 2025 and I am nowhere close to Los Angeles. The book kept me glued to its pages even though I previously knew who Buono and Bianci were and was aware of other aspects of the case. While reading, I could easily picture Los Angeles and feel the suspense gripping the streets. I have previously visited the city and told my fiancé at the time that I felt a strange vibe there but could not explain it fully. Part of the feeling was that I was aware that Los Angeles has a very dark side to it.

The case of the Hillside Stranglers concluded forty-one years ago and Bianci remains in prison, but their legacy remains a haunting reminder of the dangers which lurk all around us necessitating vigilance and the dedication of the people of law enforcement. Hollywood has attempted to capture the crimes of the stranglers for the silver screen with both a television drama called ‘The Case of Hillside Stranglers‘ (1989) and motion picture called ‘The Hillside Strangler‘ (2004), but their story, as told here, will stay with you long after you have finished this book.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KQZY3LQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (July 1, 2014)