Non-Fiction | topshelfmerricklibrary

Hold on to you hats, folks! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael Cannell to talk about the jaw-dropping, true story of law enforcement and the Mafia in the 1970s. Absolutely compelling interview – thank you so much, Michael!

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell unearths the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia in, Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation. The book is based on entirely new research and never-before-released interviews with mobsters themselves, including Sammy “the Bull” Gravano. Eppolito and Caracappa’s story is more relevant than ever as police conduct comes under ever-increasing scrutiny.

Michael Cannell recommends: Brooklyn and Long Island both by Colm Toibin; the work of Erik Larson; Laura Hillenbrand; David Grann

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A “terrific, harrowing, true-crime account of an elusive serial killer who preyed upon gay men in the 1990s.” ~ New York Times (Editor’s Pick)

It was great to sit down with author, Elon Green to talk about about his true-crime bestseller, Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York . This book presents a compelling and important look at the victims of the killer before they became victims: Fred Spencer, Peter Anderson, Tom Mulcahy, Anthony Marrero, Michael J Sakara. It’s an incredible and heartbreaking true story that is not to be missed. I spoke with Elon Green about his focus on the victims, investigative techniques, fingerprinting, and more. This episode is our first foray into the non-fiction genre, with a focus on true-crime in particular, and I am so grateful to Elon Green for taking the time.

“Using meticulous research and engaging prose, The Last Call tells the complete stories of the men who died in these killings, giving them dignity after death and shining a light on the issues queer people faced several decades ago that still ring true today.” ~ Stephen Ashley, Booklist