J. Dennis Robinson

This is a brilliant read. J. Dennis Robinson has thoroughly researched the ax murders of two women on Smuttynose Island that has been talked about for over 100 years. Anita Shreve wrote a fascinating fictional account of these murders in her novel, The Weight of Water, but Robinson explains how Shreve got it wrong. He takes the reader through the murders, through the evidence against the man who was tried and found guilty and eventually executed for the murders. I highly recommend this. I had an audible copy and the narration was fantastic.… (meer)

On Smuttynose Island, in 1873, two women were brutally murdered. The third woman, Maren, escaped, spending a harrowing night hiding on the island from the man she would identify as Louis Wagner.

It seems a straightforward tragedy. But ever since the crime, despite all the evidence against Wagner, there have always been theories floating around that Maren herself did the killing. Anita Shreve's The Weight of Water, while highly fictionalized, has been used by some theorists as proof that Wagner was innocent and Maren guilty.

Robinson makes it very clear from the beginning of his book that he firmly believes Wagner was the killer. Robinson carefully and clearly lays out the evidence against Wagner, building the story, through the murders, the trial, the public execution, and the way modern society continues to view the case.

Robinson has clearly done his research, and this book reads as the definitive account of a murder that still fascinates us to this day.… (meer)

Founding the colony of Maryland was the brainchild of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, but it was his son, Cecil, who actually made it a reality after his father's death. This book focuses on his role as founder of the colony, and includes accounts of its early history and the political situation in England. Cecil struggled to keep alive his intention to found a colony that allowed an unusual degree of religious tolerance, at least for Christians. Keeping his dream going in the face of the English Civil War, religious strife and jealous courtiers was a struggle, and Calvert was never able to visit his colony, Lavishly illustrated with mainy color pictures, and billed as a juvenile, this is a good, brief biography for adults who want the basic facts about Calvert and the early history of Maryland. The books contains sidebars explaining issues (such as the English reformation) that affect the history, but are not directly part of it. There is a chronology, and a list of resources, including some websites. There is a mediocre index.… (meer)