Synopses & Reviews
From the best-selling true crime writer, author of
The Devils Rooming House, and star of the new Investigation Discovery television series Dark Minds comes the horrific legacy of death and destruction in the gun-making Colt family during the nineteenth century, a legacy largely remembered for a lurid murder case that inspired Edgar Allan Poes story “The Oblong Box”—but one that encompassed so much more.
M. William Phelps reveals an unfathomable pattern surrounding repeating-arms inventor Samuel Colt—from the death of all the Colt children, including Sams sea captain sons mysterious demise aboard his yacht, to the eccentric and pious life of Sam Colts widow. But the tip of this iceberg was the 1841-42 murder case of John C. Colt, one of New York Citys most sensational scandals. Printer Samuel Adams went to collect a debt from bookkeeper and author John Colt and was never seen alive again. His mangled corpse was found in a crate addressed to New Orleans aboard a ship in New York harbor. Shocking revelations followed: Did John shoot Adams with one of his brothers Colt firearms before hacking him up and packing him in the crate? Did John marry the pregnant Caroline Henshaw in prison on the day of his execution to protect the reputation of his brother, the womans true lover and father of her child? Did Sam Colt invent the revolving pistol, or steal the idea?
Part historical true-crime, part family biography and cultural history, The Devils Right Hand is a stirring narrative about a terribly cursed American dynasty.
Review
Praise for M. William Phelps
“Phelps is the best in the business! A historical crime master.”
—New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen
Synopsis
From the author who brought you the shocking true story that inspired Arsenic and Old Lace comes the horrific legacy of death and destruction in the gunmaking Colt family during the 19th Century, a legacy largely remembered for a lurid murder case that inspired Edgar Allan Poes story “The Oblong Box” but one that encompassed so much more...
Synopsis
The epic story of a great American dynasty, beset by scandal, tragedy, and a dark curseFrom the author of The Devil's Rooming House and the New York Times Bestseller Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy comes the horrific legacy of death and destruction in the gunmaking Colt family during the nineteenth century, a legacy largely remembered for a lurid murder case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe's story The Oblong Box--but one that encompassed so much more. . . .M. William Phelps reveals an unfathomable pattern surrounding repeating arms inventor Samuel Colt--from the death of all the Colt children, including Sam's sea captain son's mysterious demise aboard his yacht, to the eccentric and pious life of Sam Colt's widow. But the tip of this iceberg was the 1841-42 murder case of John C. Colt, one of New York's most sensational scandals. Printer Samuel Adams went to collect a debt from bookkeeper and author John Colt and was never seen alive again. Shocking revelations followed: Did John shoot Adams with one of his brother's Colt firearms before hacking him up and packing him in an oblong box? Did Sam Colt invent the revolving pistol, or steal the idea?Part historical true-crime, part family biography and cultural history, The Devil's Right Hand is a stirring narrative about a darkly cursed American dynasty.
Synopsis
The epic story of a great American dynasty, beset by scandal, tragedy, and a dark curseFrom the author of The Devil's Rooming House and the New York Times Bestseller Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy comes the horrific legacy of death and destruction in the gunmaking Colt family during the nineteenth century, a legacy largely remembered for a lurid murder case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Oblong Box"--but one that encompassed so much more. . . .
M. William Phelps reveals an unfathomable pattern surrounding repeating arms inventor Samuel Colt--from the death of all the Colt children, including Sam's sea captain son's mysterious demise aboard his yacht, to the eccentric and pious life of Sam Colt's widow. But the tip of this iceberg was the 1841-42 murder case of John C. Colt, one of New York's most sensational scandals. Printer Samuel Adams went to collect a debt from bookkeeper and author John Colt and was never seen alive again. Shocking revelations followed: Did John shoot Adams with one of his brother's Colt firearms before hacking him up and packing him in an oblong box? Did Sam Colt invent the revolving pistol, or steal the idea?
Part historical true-crime, part family biography and cultural history, The Devil's Right Hand is a stirring narrative about a darkly cursed American dynasty.
About the Author
M. William Phelps is the national bestselling author of more than twenty nonfiction books, and star of the Investigation Discovery series, “Dark Minds.” Winner of the 2008 New England Book Festival Award for Ill Be Watching You, Phelps—in addition to writing his popular contemporary true-crime books—has written for the Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, New London Day, and consulted on the first season of the Showtime series “Dexter.” He is also the author of The Devils Rooming House, Jane Doe No More, and Murder, New England (all from Lyons Press). He lives in a small Connecticut farming community.