Tag: true crime

  • The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghosts of Eden Park: Prohibition was so stupid. Quick synopsis: The story of George Remus, a famous bootlegger who became famous for something else afterwards. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: George Remus was the “king of the bootleggers” and at one point owned one seventh of the bonded liquor…

  • Lost Paradise by Kathy Marks

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lost Paradise: These people make the Tiger King look downright classy. Quick synopsis: A short history of the people of Pitcairn Island with a specific focus on the sexual assault trials of 2004. It is all really gross. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The people of Pitcairn Island are the…

  • The Last Duel by Eric Jager

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Duel: This is why we have lawyers. Quick synopsis: The story of the last trial by combat in France in 1386. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are set to write and act in the movie version of this book. That is all the…

  • The Phantom Killer by James Presley

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Phantom Killer: Another win for the press with cool serial killer names. Quick synopsis: A true crime story from 1946. The Phantom Killer murdered 5 people and assaulted 3 more in Texarkana, Texas. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Texas Rangers were so frazzled by this guy that they…

  • Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich: I needed a shower after this. Quick synopsis: The story of Jeffrey Epstein and yeah we all know who he is. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Dude got murdered. Fun Fact for History Nerds: See previous fact. MUR-DURRRRRED. My Take on Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich: I’m…

  • The Nuns of Sant’Ambrogio by Hubert Wolf

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Nuns of Sant’Ambrogio: Lesbian nuns. Don’t give me a dirty look. It’s literally true.  Quick synopsis: It’s 1858 at a convent in Rome. Stuff is about to go down.  Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Lesbian nuns. Am I appealing to the lowest common denominator? Yes. It’s still true.  Fun…

  • The Innocence Files (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Innocence Files: Don’t worry about leaving teeth marks at a murder. You’re all good. Quick synopsis: A look at various cases of exonerations by the Innocence Foundation. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Teeth mark impressions are extremely unreliable. You can basically only eliminate someone and not identify someone. Bite…

  • Holy Hell (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Holy Hell: Buddhafield is a dumb name for a cult. Quick synopsis: A documentary about the Buddhafield cult which the filmmaker was in for 22 years. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This cult still exists in Hawaii. Fun Fact for History Nerds: This cult leader, Michel, had his people under…

  • Freedom’s Detective by Charles Lane

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Freedom’s Detective: Even criminals hated the KKK. Quick synopsis: The life of Hiram C. Whitley, one of the earliest leaders of the Secret Service and renowned KKK detective. He was also a criminal. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Why does the President have the ability to pardon criminals? It was…