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readingwithmamakenna 's review for:
Book Club Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an interesting and eye-opening read, though not always an easy one. At first, I found it tough to get into—the beginning is dense with information and names, and it was a challenge to keep everyone straight. It also served as a heavy, painful reminder of how cruel and terrifying people can be, especially when fueled by mob mentality and hate.
But once the story reached the trial of D.C. Stephenson—the KKK’s Grand Dragon in Indiana—it really picked up. Stephenson was truly a nightmare of a man, and watching the justice system begin to catch up with him was both satisfying and disturbing. I appreciated how Egan highlighted the power of one brave woman and the legal system’s role in trying to hold him accountable, even if imperfectly.
What stood out to me the most was how much more I learned about the Ku Klux Klan. I had no idea how widespread their hatred was—it extended far beyond racism, touching almost every corner of American society at the time.
This is a heavy read with difficult subject matter, so reader beware. But if you’re interested in history, true crime, or stories of courage in dark times, it’s worth pushing through the dense parts. By the end, it left me both heartbroken and hopeful.
This was an interesting and eye-opening read, though not always an easy one. At first, I found it tough to get into—the beginning is dense with information and names, and it was a challenge to keep everyone straight. It also served as a heavy, painful reminder of how cruel and terrifying people can be, especially when fueled by mob mentality and hate.
But once the story reached the trial of D.C. Stephenson—the KKK’s Grand Dragon in Indiana—it really picked up. Stephenson was truly a nightmare of a man, and watching the justice system begin to catch up with him was both satisfying and disturbing. I appreciated how Egan highlighted the power of one brave woman and the legal system’s role in trying to hold him accountable, even if imperfectly.
What stood out to me the most was how much more I learned about the Ku Klux Klan. I had no idea how widespread their hatred was—it extended far beyond racism, touching almost every corner of American society at the time.
This is a heavy read with difficult subject matter, so reader beware. But if you’re interested in history, true crime, or stories of courage in dark times, it’s worth pushing through the dense parts. By the end, it left me both heartbroken and hopeful.