"2019 Winner of the Eric Hoffer Book Award"
Extra! Extra! Read all about ten sensational stories of murder and justice at the dawn of the twentieth century in Minnesota's Headline Murders! 1900-1919. Author Patrick L. Shannon's well-researched and compellingly told tales from the front pages of Minnesota's past will fascinate any fan of true crime.
Patrick L. Shannon is a graduate of De La Salle High School and the University of St. Thomas. He worked for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and then spent most of his career with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as a special agent in narcotics and death investigations. He now writes and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and has two grown children.
"If you like true crime stories you won't want to miss this book. Author Patrick L. Shannon tells the tales of ten murders from Minnesota's history in the voice of someone involved in either the murder itself or the resulting trial. The cases are full of twists and turns desperate schemers jilted lovers and all the captivating peculiarities of people who commit murder. Shannon's accounts of the trials are extremely well researched and told with excellent attention to historical detail. Through the telling of these cases he weaves the evolution of criminal law and capital punishment in Minnesota. Each case also includes a fascinating epilogue in which the reader learns the ultimate fate of all the major players. This is a captivating read for those interested in Minnesota history true crime and criminal justice." -Katie Jean Davey reference librarian
"A valuable addition to Minnesota's library of crime literature." -Larry Millett author of Murder Has a Public Face Strange Days Dangerous Nights: Photos from the Speed Graphic Era and Strongwood: A Crime Dossier
"Patrick L. Shannon has captured the history and the mystery of several 1900s Minnesota murders. His style of storytelling is riveting and unique. Great reading." -Michael Campion former special agent and superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
"It's great. No doubt-each case was researched precisely and then described accurately. Yet it reads as easily as a fine novel. Engaging from the first page to the last." -Timothy O'Malley JD former FBI special agent Minnesota BCA superintendent administrative law judge
"Minnesota's Headline Murders! is a must-read for Minnesota history buffs and fans of whodun-its. Patrick L. Shannon put his lifetime of police work to our benefit to bring back murder cases that covered the news headlines of the day. Shannon's cases will keep you up late as he brings you into courtroom dramas that will stick in your mind well after you put the book down." -Peter Orput JD Washington County attorney
