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littleladyluna's review
4.0
I won this book through the goodreads giveaway. I was familiar with Sam Colt but had never heard of the the history of his brother John. This was a very well written book that had a lot of facts but read more like a novel than non-fiction.
tipsytarsier's review
3.0
I received this book free through the Goodreads giveaway.
I found this book very interesting and incredibly detailed. Sometimes I think the author got a little carried away with tangential details, but all in all it was well-written and did a great job examining the Colts, the murder, and the role of the press.
I found this book very interesting and incredibly detailed. Sometimes I think the author got a little carried away with tangential details, but all in all it was well-written and did a great job examining the Colts, the murder, and the role of the press.
librarianonparade's review
2.0
I have to confess to being disappointed with this book. I have read a number of Harold Schechter's books, and he has a real talent for bringing a time and a place to life via the retelling of historical murder cases. However, the problem I found with this book is that the murder was really not all that remarkable, and to my mind all that elevated this case above other such run-of-the-mill cases was the identity of the murderer's brother, the famous Samuel Colt of the Colt pistol fame. If John Colt had not been Sam Colt's brother I think this case would have faded from the public view and historical record like many other cases.
The book alternates the story of John Colt with the story of his brother Sam Colt's efforts to get official backing for his military experiments, from his reloading pistols and rifles to his early versions of the torpedo. I found this side of the story far more interesting, but once John Colt went to trial Sam's story was pushed to one side.
The main issue with this book, and the case against John Colt, is that there was no denying he killed his publisher, Samuel Adams, and attempted to dispose of the body. He was guilty of that, no question. The issue was whether it was premeditated murder or manslaughter in self-defence and the legal wrangling thereof, and this just failed to hold my interest. Regardless of whether he intended it or not, there was no doubt that he killed Samuel Adams, so there was no mystery to solve other than one of motive - and I felt this book entirely failed to penetrate John Colt's motives, indeed I felt it failed to illuminate very much about John or Sam Colt at all.
The book alternates the story of John Colt with the story of his brother Sam Colt's efforts to get official backing for his military experiments, from his reloading pistols and rifles to his early versions of the torpedo. I found this side of the story far more interesting, but once John Colt went to trial Sam's story was pushed to one side.
The main issue with this book, and the case against John Colt, is that there was no denying he killed his publisher, Samuel Adams, and attempted to dispose of the body. He was guilty of that, no question. The issue was whether it was premeditated murder or manslaughter in self-defence and the legal wrangling thereof, and this just failed to hold my interest. Regardless of whether he intended it or not, there was no doubt that he killed Samuel Adams, so there was no mystery to solve other than one of motive - and I felt this book entirely failed to penetrate John Colt's motives, indeed I felt it failed to illuminate very much about John or Sam Colt at all.
brandie185's review
3.0
The story was interesting - and one I had never heard before.
I knew of Sam Colt in relation to the guns and it was definitely interesting to hear more about his family. I wasn't aware he had a brother who had committed a crime much less had a trial that can only be compared to OJ Simpson, Scott Peterson, etc.
However, the book was so difficult to get through. I had to reread many passages more than once. Now, I have talked before about how I struggle to read nonfiction since going through chemo. However, I push through these books (even though it's so tough for me) as a way to get my brain working again!
It took a long time to finish this book. I had to renew it several times! I think more fascinating to me was the treatment of the case in the press - not the murder, the trial, but how it was handled.
Interesting read, but not my favorite. If you love history and crime though, I think this book would be right up your alley!
I knew of Sam Colt in relation to the guns and it was definitely interesting to hear more about his family. I wasn't aware he had a brother who had committed a crime much less had a trial that can only be compared to OJ Simpson, Scott Peterson, etc.
However, the book was so difficult to get through. I had to reread many passages more than once. Now, I have talked before about how I struggle to read nonfiction since going through chemo. However, I push through these books (even though it's so tough for me) as a way to get my brain working again!
It took a long time to finish this book. I had to renew it several times! I think more fascinating to me was the treatment of the case in the press - not the murder, the trial, but how it was handled.
Interesting read, but not my favorite. If you love history and crime though, I think this book would be right up your alley!
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