Ashes from a Burning Corpse

An American True Crime Reporter in the 20th Century, Book 3

By: Noel Hynd

Narrated by: Ben Collins

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

On a hot rainy summer night in Nassau, the Bahamas, in 1943, someone murdered Sir Harry Oakes, one of the richest men in the world, as he slept. When police found him the next morning, there were four wounds to his skull. His corpse had been abused, covered ritualistically with feathers and set on fire. The murder was perverse, horrific, and jaded by anyone’s standards. A few evenings later in New York City, the phone rang in the home of Alan Hynd, identified in that era by the NY Times as America’s highest paid true crime reporter. The Oakes case would send the writer, with a quarter of a century of experience covering murders, to the Bahamas in wartime. He would try to bring truth to a case that was littered with a colorful cast of international characters and which, in its resolution, became unique in the annals of true crime.

Ashes from a Burning Corpse is the fictionalized story of that writer’s coverage of the case - and how it changed his life forever. It is also a literary and cultural journey into New York and the colonial Bahamas of the World War Two era, a story touching upon Hemingway, Sinatra, and FDR, big-shot film and Broadway producers, crooked cops, gangsters, and a murder trial so big that it knocked the world war off the front pages. Welcome to what is also a literary journey into true crime, politics, book publishing and magazine work in the World War Two era, with allusions to writers from Edmond Pearson to Scott Fitzgerald. This audiobook is part of a trilogy titled "An American True Crime Reporter in the 20th Century," three cases which were the centerpieces of a veteran real-life crime reporter’s legacy. The trilogy will also include first person novels on the original Charles Ponzi swindling case, The Pied Piper of Boston, and the Charles Lindbergh kidnapping case, The Crimes of The Century. The latter two titles will appear in early 2018 and feature the same writer/reporter at earlier stages of his long career.

©2018 Noel Hynd (P)2019 Noel Hynd

Similar to old school mystery novels, recommend!

This book is third in a series, and I’m interested to read the other two based on this book. “Ashes From a Burning Corpse” was similar to an old school mystery novel such as Agatha Christie, in that it was a slower pace, but paradoxically graphic in its details without being too lurid. I appreciated the style and willingness to share the scenes with the reader, and given a little more detail than the usual author. Would recommend to a reader that enjoys the original mystery style!

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great Fictionalized True Crime Story

"Please note I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

This book really brings you in from the very beginning to an intriguing story that most would probably have never heard of before. It also takes you into a different era all the way from the 1920's to 1950's and really makes you feel like your there. The Narrator Ben Collins does a solid job and keeps your engaged and doesn't take you out of the story as unfortunately some narrators do for me. The whole Harry Oakes case was very engaging and it is something/someone I had never heard of before, which is always good. I also learned a lot about the History of the Bahama's, The British Royalty and other Historical facts that I never knew before which is always a plus especially when it is done in an entertaining way. There are a whole cast of colorful characters, most of whom I had never heard of but many that people would be somewhat familiar with.

It was a well written story that I think anybody who likes True Crime, Mystery or period pieces would enjoy.

Brilliant

Ashes from a Burning Corpse: An American True Crime Reporter in the 20th Century, Book 3
A true crime told from the perspective of the time. Engaging and eye opening, well written and superbly narrated.
An easy to listen too book. I will be looking for more from this author.
I was given a free copy of this audio book at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

Bahamian History

I grew up between the Bahamas and Florida. My family can be traced to the first established settler in the Bahamas. Growing up there I used to hear a lot of people talk about Sir Harry Oakes and the case, but no one would give me the details (now I can understand why.)

My mum has read every book ever written on the Sir Harry Oakes murder and so I was so excited when I got a chance to sample this book. I had a hard time stopping it and could of easily listened to it all the way through, in one sitting. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time. I got a little bored in places that were not in the Bahamas, but overall a great book and I think those parts make more sense later on in the book.

The accuracy in this was great. A lot has not changed in Nassau since this time sadly, just a little more modern and with more air conditioning. I could picture most of this book so vividly.
I enjoyed the perspective from the journalist's point of view.

Ben Collins also does a great job with the narration. He has a pleasant voice and it is easy to listen too. I felt like I was sitting and listening to the reporter more than the narrator which I really enjoy when that happens.

You should give this book a listen if you love true crime and historical fiction since it is a blend of the two. I have already recommended it to a few people.

I received this audiobook at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Fascinating Crime

Great story right from the first page. This was a fascinating crime with several colorful characters that kept me well entertained and intrigued. This author did a fine job of presenting facts and the narration was excellent. For any true crime lover, this is one I can recommend. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

so so

Received bonus credit for honest review. Story didn't hold my interest. Narrator was rather bland.

Insightful

Reading this book was the first time I heard about this murder and I was astounded by how many people were connected to this event. The author did a great job providing the reader with background information and other historical information from the time frame, but at times it was a bit too much. I found a lot of it interesting, but I also felt that sometimes it was losing its way from being primarily about the murder to being a historical non-fiction book. Though I must admit I found quite a bit of the historical information fascinating.

The narrator did a great job conveying the book and using inflection and voices to keep the reader entertained.

I was provided with a free audio version of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

interesting story

loved the book it had great narration, I love those story's lost to history. Great Book

Love the historical facts with the crime summary

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would gladly listen to another. Although this is a true crime story, I am glad the book did not just focus on the crime and the trial. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical side of the story and I think it puts everything into better focus by being able to get an understanding of the people and politics of the time, in the Bahamas and abroad. It’s a fascinating book. It held my interest from beginning to end.
I wonder if Hynd knew what a harrowing task covering this murder could be.

This is the third book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Ben Collins ) and I would listen to another. I think he did a great job reading this book. His narration was clear and well paced.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.