In 1882, Elmer Palmer was convicted of poisoning his grandfather Francis in rural northern New York State. In a famous decision in 1889, the New York Court of Appeals denied Elmer the right to inherit from Francis, even though the statute governing wills seemed to entitle him to the legacy. Twentieth-century commentators have treated Riggs v. Palmer as a model of the judicial craft and a key to understanding the nature of law itself; however, the case’s history suggests that it is neither of these things. In its own time, the decision was radically at odds with legal doctrine as then understood by American judges. Rather than a quintessentially principled ruling, it was most likely ad hoc and ad hominem, concocted to thwart a particular individual thought to have been punished too lightly for his crime. The book illustrates the value of two approaches to interpreting decisions, those of "case biography" and "legal archaeology." Both draw upon historical sources neglected in conventional legal scholarship. In doing so, they may challenge—or confirm—the validity as precedent today of classic cases from the past.

In the 1950s and 60s, the Coors dynasty reigned over Golden, Colorado, seemingly invincible. When rumblings about labor unions threatened to destabilize the family's brewery, Adolph Coors, Jr., the septuagenarian president of the company, drew a hard line, refusing to budge. They had worked hard for what they had, and no one had a right to take it from them. What they'd soon realize was that they had more to lose than they could have imagined. What happened next set off the largest U.S. manhunt since the Lindbergh kidnapping. State and local authorities, along with the FBI personally spearheaded by its director J. Edgar Hoover, burst into action attempting to locate Ad and his kidnapper. The dragnet spanned a continent. All the while, Ad's grief-stricken wife and children waited, tormented by the unrelenting silence. The Death of an Heir reveals the true story behind the tragic murder of Colorado's favorite son.

In Peter the Great, Yale historian and Russian scholar Paul Bushkovitch offers a brilliant, but concise, biography of this enigmatic leader.

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death offers readers an extraordinary glimpse into the mind of a master criminal investigator. Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy grandmother, founded the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard in 1936 and was later appointed captain in the New Hampshire police. In the 1940s and 1950s she built dollhouse crime scenes based on real cases in order to train detectives to assess visual evidence. Still used in forensic training today, the eighteen Nutshell dioramas, on a scale of 1:12, display an astounding level of detail: pencils write, window shades move, whistles blow, and clues to the crimes are revealed to those who study the scenes carefully. Corinne May Botz's lush color photographs lure viewers into every crevice of Frances Lee's models and breathe life into these deadly miniatures, which present the dark side of domestic life, unveiling tales of prostitution, alcoholism, and adultery. The accompanying line drawings, specially prepared for this volume, highlight the noteworthy forensic evidence in each case. Botz's introductory essay, which draws on archival research and interviews with Lee's family and police colleagues, presents a captivating portrait of Lee.

THE GREATEST BRITISH DETECTIVES - Boxed Set encompasses an era-defining collection of over 190 stories, ranging from murder mysteries and thrilling escapades to profound crime tales, illuminated by the greatest minds of early 20th century British literature. This anthology celebrates a golden age of detective fiction, marked by its stylistic diversity and intricate plotting, establishing a legacy that continues to captivate. The compilation features hallmark works that have shaped the detective genre, offering readers a panoramic view of the literary landscape during this period, without the emphasis on any single author, but rather, highlighting the collective brilliance that has forged this timeless genre. The authors, including luminaries like Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and G.K. Chesterton, come from varied backgrounds but share a common genius for entwining suspense with the subtle intricacies of human nature. Their contributions reflect not only the evolving societal norms and the complexities of the human psyche but also mirror the philosophical and moral dilemmas of their time. These narratives, rooted in different historical, cultural settings and literary movements, together weave a rich tapestry that provides a multifaceted exploration of the themes of justice, morality, and the human condition. This anthology is an indispensable treasure for readers keen on delving into the depths of detective fiction, offering a unique lens through which the evolution of the genre can be appreciated. It stands as an educational journey, a source of entertainment, and a testament to the enduring appeal of the detective story. Readers are encouraged to immerse themselves in this comprehensive collection, not only for its historical and literary value but also for the engaging dialogue it fosters between the epochal works of these master storytellers.

Malcolm's riveting new book tells the story of a murder trial in the insular Bukharan-Jewish community of Forest Hills, Queens, that captured national attention.