Five dramatic trials of the twentieth century that dazzled the media and captivated the American public are the subject of this provocative book. Each case study details the crime, the police investigation, and the court proceedings, profiles the major players, and examines the outcome and aftermath of the trial. The authors untangle the perplexities surrounding the cases and illuminate the many mysteries that remain unsolved today.

Taken together, these well-publicized, highly controversial crimes of the century and the public battleground on which they sought resolution disclose the tensions, inadequacies, and underlying elements of criminal justice adjudication.