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from AMELIA ISLANDER
(December 2022)
"Trial of the Century," by Teri Sopp
"With lots of historical detail and a gripping narrative, Fernandina Beach author Louise Stanton Warren has penned a book on a sensational Jacksonville murder trial."
Read the complete article at issuu.com/ameliaislander/docs/ai1222/51
FASCINATING HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF JUSTICE IN THE LATE 1800'S SOUTH: If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, you'll love this book. I actually liked it much more than Where the Crawdads Sing because it is based on a true historic crime. The book is a very well researched, the characters are interesting, and the situations give you an authentic sense of the old south including race, gender and elitism. The book is descriptive, entertaining and keeps you involved until the very end. Well done, Louise Stanton Warren! Hollywood should be calling~ --B.D.
Well researched and beautifully written: Louise Stanton Warren has written an impeccably researched account of a murder that shocked the country at the turn of the century, and the dramatic trial that followed. This book immerses the reader in 1897 Jacksonville, Florida, including the prejudices that shaped southern society at the time. The author's prose is elegant, her descriptions of characters vivid, and her legal expertise informs how a judge's ruling on a rule of evidence made all the difference. This one's for fans of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. --C.F.
A complete and compelling crime story: As someone who grew up in a house filled with True Detective magazines due to my police detective father, I appreciate this well-told story as the opposite of those lurid magazines. This book lays it out for me. So much dedicated research and timelines and photos and historical quotes from this real and tragic tale. It’s so well written, and compelling with lots of colorful, historical background. Louise Stanton Warren’s book is most worthy and a real true detective story. Highly recommended! --LB
Great book, beautifully written!: It captivates you from the beginning and leaves you wanting more! Very intriguing to read about this story and the writer is a fantastic storyteller! You should definitely read this book! --J.W.
Fascinating Account: Having been born in Florida, I found this book a fascinating account of an era I knew nothing about. A great read. --K.J.
I've heard it said that history repeats itself: I found many parallels with today's societal issues. I don't usually read non-fiction. However, this gripping true crime narrative is so well researched that I felt invested in the characters and their lives. In my mind they became much more than figures of historical note. --C.T.W.
Artful, Insightful, Compelling: The artful and insightful writing style of Louise Stanton Warren comes as no surprise to residents of Jacksonville, since it was displayed repeatedly in her newspaper columns on local history in The Florida Times-Union. And it's also no surprise that this true-life tragedy/courtroom drama is presented with such compelling and comprehensive detail, since the credentials mentioned on the author's website include both attorney and librarian, the perfect combination for researching and expounding such a truly sensational murder case. The biggest hope now is that a copy lands in the hands of some big-time movie producer...--H.L.
Thoroughly Captivating: Louise Stanton Warren gives us an epic tale unfolding the rich color and flavor of a straightforward historical event: a beautiful young Cuban woman, Marie Louise Gato, daughter of a prosperous cigar manufacturer in Jacksonville, Florida, is shot dead on 4/20/1897. Ms. Stanton Warren takes a deep dive into the context of that historical notation, giving us the texture and complexity of human nature as well as life as it was, once upon a time in Jacksonville, in a thoroughly captivating manner, with rock solid historical veracity.--M.B.
True Crime Drama Reads Like a Novel: Taut suspense from the beginning and gripping courtroom drama had me reading into the wee hours of the morning. This is remarkably well researched! The characters are well developed and are enhanced by actual photos illustrating homes, hairstyles and fashions of the day. Having previously lived in Jacksonville for more than twenty years, I had basic knowledge of the setting. But I had no idea about its fascinating history as a destination for Cuban businessmen, challenges with racism and its role in supporting Cuba in the Spanish-American War. A great read for lovers of mysteries, courtroom dramas and history.--RKDY
A real find for true crime fans: A fascinating account of a disturbing 1897 Jacksonville murder case involving a young Cuban woman and her alarming suitor. The intensive research the author undertook is impressive but her colorful narrative style brings the bare facts to vivid, compelling life. -- T.
Exceptionally written!: This book was exceptionally written. It will keep you captivated and intrigued page after page. --K.A.
Very Good!: I enjoyed Fatal Switch very much! I think Louise Warren is an excellent writer and look forward to her next novel! -- A User
A gift from a very happy reader
Thank you for all your artful work sharing insights into Jacksonville's surprisingly colorful past! It was very disappointing when The Florida Times Union removed the archive of its older columns from their website, especially since it resulted in the loss of access to your detailed tour-guides through local history. Since everyone wasn't lucky enough to read them the first time around, I hope there's a plan to bring more of them back online via this blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautifully stated compliments. I do hope to bring them back. There were quite a few.
DeleteLouise, just found your blog and read the story. I enjoyed your book and now get to enjoy more of your wonderful and interesting stories. Durema
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