First up is a true crime story that occurred just after the beginning of the 1900s in New York City. The Belle of Bedford Avenue: The Sensational Brooks-Burns Murder in Turn-of-the-Century New York is by Virginia A. McConnell.
"At the turn of the 20th century, many affluent Brooklyn teens and young adults were bucking the constraints of their immigrant parents and behaving badly: drinking, having sex, staying out all night, stealing, scamming local businesses, and engaging in other more serious activities.
When 20-year-old Walter Brooks was murdered in a seedy Manhattan hotel in 1902, the ensuing court case was front-page news throughout the country. The hearings featured testimonies about these young people’s secret lives that shocked parents and inspired much editorial commentary in the newspapers. From start to finish, the case was viewed as a cautionary tale for parents, for boys who could be led astray, and for girls who risked their reputations to be popular.
Set against the colorful backdrop of Coney Island, roadhouses, forbidden dance halls, and vaudeville, The Belle of Bedford Avenue follows the young woman at the heart of the case from her trial for the murder of Walter Brooks to her adulthood.
The crime itself, interestingly, occurred in the location of Ground Zero and today’s September 11 Memorial. The trial was conducted by William Travers Jerome, who went on to become a legendary New York City prosecutor."
To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.
"Ten years after a tragic incident on the lake, an AA meeting in a small, religious town in the deep south of the USA descends into bitterness and chaos when a flood hits. Trapped within the local church, tempers escalate and well-buried secrets begin to emerge. Personalities clash, reputations are dissected and questioned, and everybody's demons are laid bare. Cast:
Vincent - Andy Harrington
Pastor Talbot - Jeff Moon
Samuel - John Burlinson
Delilah - Amanda Friday
Jael - Lee Ann Howlett
Audio edited by Leanne Yau."
To listen to the sample and/or purchase this one, you can find it on Audible here.
