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Title details for Nothing but the Night by Greg King - Available

Nothing but the Night

Leopold & Loeb and the Truth Behind the Murder That Rocked 1920s America

by Greg King
Penny Wilson
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available

"With the enthusiastic delivery of an entertainment news anchor, narrator Armando Riesco emphasizes the shocking and obsessive elements of one of the most sensational crimes of all time." - AudioFile Magazine
"This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a compelling, well-researched, historical true crime presented in an in-depth and engaging manner."- Library Journal
Includes a bonus conversation between the authors and editor, Charles Spicer.
Greg King and Penny Wilson turn the original crime of the century on its head in Nothing But the Night, a riveting new exploration of the murder trial of Leopold & Loeb.
Nearly a hundred years ago, two wealthy and privileged teenagers—Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb—were charged and convicted in a gruesome crime that would lead to the original "Trial of the Century". Even in Jazz Age Chicago, the murder was uniquely shocking for the motive of the killers: well-to-do Jewish scions, full of promise, had killed fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks for the thrill of it. The trial was made even more sensational by the revelation of a love affair between the defendants and by defense attorney Clarence Darrow, who delivered one of the most famous defense summations of all time to save the boys from the death penalty. The story of their mad folie à deux, with Loeb portrayed as the psychopathic mastermind and Leopold as his infatuated disciple, has been endlessly repeated and accepted by history as fact. And none of it is true.
Using twenty-first century investigative tools, forensics, and a modern understanding of the psychology of these infamous killers, Nothing but the Night turns history on its head. While Loeb has long been viewed as the architect behind the murders, King and Wilson's new research points to Leopold as the dominant partner in the deadly relationship, uncovering a dark obsession with violence and sex. Nothing but the Night pulls listeners into the troubled world of Leopold and Loeb, revealing a more horrifying tale of passion, obsession, and betrayal than history ever imagined.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 20, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250870629
      • File size: 314796 KB
      • Duration: 10:55:49

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 6, 2022
      King and Wilson, coauthors of The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria, return with an intriguing deep dive into the horrific 1924 murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago. Affluent friends Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb abducted Franks, Loeb’s second cousin, on his way home after school, and, after striking him on the head with a chisel and shoving an ether-soaked rag down his throat, stripped his body, stuffed it in a pipe, and sent his family a ransom demand. Their scheme unraveled quickly, however, when police found Leopold’s glasses near Franks’s corpse. Their families retained Clarence Darrow, who managed to get his clients life sentences rather than the death penalty. The authors demythologize Darrow’s advocacy, noting that he manipulated the trial record to edit out portions of his actual remarks, and investigate theories about the four other crimes Leopold said the pair had committed, but refused to name. Most sensationally, King and Wilson suggest that Leopold may have had Loeb killed in prison to enhance his own parole bid. Unfortunately, the psychology that led to the murder remains speculative. Still, this is a disturbing and well-documented look at one of the 20th century’s most infamous murders.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      With the enthusiastic delivery of an entertainment news anchor, narrator Armando Riesco emphasizes the shocking and obsessive elements of one of the most sensational crimes of all time. In 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two promising and privileged 19-year-old scions of Chicago wealth, intricately planned the kidnapping, torture, and murder of a 14-year-old boy. Riesco keeps the facts and accusations clear as the audiobook sifts through the details of troubled childhoods, sexual deviance, affluence, and anti-Semitism, which were put forth as mitigating circumstances in "the trial of the century." A few mysteries remain in this grisly case, such as who actually wielded the knife, making this a riveting true-crime tale. B.P. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      December 1, 2022

      Nearly 100 years have passed since Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold committed the "original crime of the century," when they murdered and mutilated 14-year-old Bobby Franks. The murder shocked their Chicago suburb, and eventually the nation, as did the careless attitude of the murderers, compelled by delusions of superhuman freedom from morality. King and Wilson, coauthors of The Resurrection of the Romanovs, team up again for this richly detailed and disturbing analysis of Leopold and Loeb. Through preparation, perpetration, and punishment, the authors explore each aspect of the horrific crime. From affluence to anti-Semitism, King and Wilson discuss all of the factors at play in the Franks murder, as well as other crimes the pair may have committed. Narrator Armando Riesco's casual, somewhat conversational tone will transport listeners to the Roaring Twenties, and they may feel as though they are hearing about the sordid tragedy firsthand. Riesco's fast-paced delivery enhances the menace of the sinister storyline. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a compelling, well-researched, historical true crime presented in an in-depth and engaging manner. Recommended for fans of Erik Larson and Cara Robertson.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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