{"product_id":"murder-new-england-a-historical-collection-of-killer-true-crime-tales-9780762778430","title":"Murder, New England: A Historical Collection of Killer True-Crime Tales","description":"\u003cp\u003eBestselling true-crime author M. William Phelps, star of the new investigative television series \"Dark Minds,\" takes readers to his own backyard in these eight bloodcurdling murder cases. Think New England is all bucolic landscapes and Robert Frost poems? Think again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In \u003ci\u003eMurder, New England\u003c\/i\u003e, Phelps explores different motives, themes, and community reactions to horrific crimes: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** Murder by Blood: The Strange Death of Rebecca Cornwell (1673, Narragansset Bay, RI). A 73-year-old widow burned to death in front of her bedroom fireplace...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** William Beadle: Husband, Father, Murderer (1782, Wethersfield, CT). A man murders his wife and kids before taking his own life... \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** The Angry Man: Murder in Manchester (1821, Manchester, NH). A poor widow killed in her home by a \"ruffian\" looking for food and drink...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** Better Off in Heaven: John Kemmler Kills His Three Children (1879, Holyoke, MA). After losing his mill job, a man kills his daughters because he fears they will become prostitutes... \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** Birth of the \"Big Seven\" Gaspare Messina's Mafioso (1917, Boston). An ol' fashioned Mafia murder tale...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** Electronic Kill Machine: \"Forensic Files\" Murder (2001, Somerville, MA). Teenage slackers, the show \"Forensic Files,\" and the murder of a grandmother blamed on TV, youth, drugs, sex, money, and rock-n-roll...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e** Sings of Life (2006, Lanesborough, MA). A woman employs the help of her cocaine-snorting daughter and Goth son to help her get rid of their step-father.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e** Sesame Street Murder: Death on Big Bird's Estate (2008, Woodstock, CT). A young woman out for a jog murdered by the groundskeeper of an estate owned by the puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e[Page Two of spread] \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA chilling scene unfolds on the Woodstock, Connecticut, estate of the Sesame Street puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNear the end of the access road was a picnic area with a large pagoda-like structure topped by an A-framed roof. Two paddle boats were stored under the ceiling of the open-air building. The pagoda had that sacred, spiritual look one would expect of a place to relax and meditate. Here was a haven separated from the main living space where one could retreat and disconnect from the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e What upset the serenity of the scene was the trail of blood. It lead from the roadway directly to the pagoda--and yet stopped in the center of the ground under the ceiling. The paddle boats, investigators noticed, had blood spatter and smudge marks on them. But what did it mean that the trail of blood just stopped?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e As they continued to search, troopers looked above them and spied a set of pull-down stairs. There was a storage area or attic within the pagoda's A-frame. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The blood trail had stopped directly beneath the pull-down stairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eM. William Phelps is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty nonfiction books, and star of the Investigarion Discovery show, \"Dark Minds.\" Winner of 2008 New England Book Festival Award for I'll Be Watching You, Phelps--in addition to writing his hugely popular contemporary true-crime books--has written for the Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, New London Day, and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series \"Dexter.\" He is also the author of The Devil's Rooming House and The Devil's Right Hand (both from Lyons Press).\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Lyons Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50327880204562,"sku":"9780762778430","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e9f30c5c-100a-4f6a-ae7a-b21a899db462.jpg?v=1727723196","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/murder-new-england-a-historical-collection-of-killer-true-crime-tales-9780762778430","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}