Nothing but the Night

Leopold & Loeb and the Truth Behind the Murder That Rocked 1920s America

By: Greg King, Penny Wilson

Narrated by: Armando Riesco

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

"With the enthusiastic delivery of an entertainment news anchor, narrator Armando Riesco emphasizes the shocking and obsessive elements of one of the most sensational crimes of all time." - AudioFile Magazine

"This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a compelling, well-researched, historical true crime presented in an in-depth and engaging manner."- Library Journal

Includes a bonus conversation between the authors and editor, Charles Spicer.

Greg King and Penny Wilson turn the original crime of the century on its head in Nothing But the Night, a riveting new exploration of the murder trial of Leopold & Loeb.

Nearly a hundred years ago, two wealthy and privileged teenagers—Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb—were charged and convicted in a gruesome crime that would lead to the original “Trial of the Century”. Even in Jazz Age Chicago, the murder was uniquely shocking for the motive of the killers: well-to-do Jewish scions, full of promise, had killed fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks for the thrill of it. The trial was made even more sensational by the revelation of a love affair between the defendants and by defense attorney Clarence Darrow, who delivered one of the most famous defense summations of all time to save the boys from the death penalty. The story of their mad folie à deux, with Loeb portrayed as the psychopathic mastermind and Leopold as his infatuated disciple, has been endlessly repeated and accepted by history as fact. And none of it is true.

Using twenty-first century investigative tools, forensics, and a modern understanding of the psychology of these infamous killers, Nothing but the Night turns history on its head. While Loeb has long been viewed as the architect behind the murders, King and Wilson’s new research points to Leopold as the dominant partner in the deadly relationship, uncovering a dark obsession with violence and sex. Nothing but the Night pulls listeners into the troubled world of Leopold and Loeb, revealing a more horrifying tale of passion, obsession, and betrayal than history ever imagined.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2022 Greg King and Penny Wilson (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Greg King and Penny Wilson do a masterful job of capturing the personalities of both the killers and the victim, the atmosphere of the times, the courtroom drama, and the final years of Leopold.” --AirMail

“[Reveals] new dimensions to the horrifying crime and [offers] evidence that what we think we've known all along might not have been the entire story.” –Town & Country

“An intriguing deep dive into the horrific 1924 murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago...a disturbing and well-documented look at one of the 20th century’s most infamous murders.” –Publishers Weekly

Excellent!

I am more of a history buff than a true crime follower, but this book was excellent. I enjoyed it a great deal. Normally, I am opposed to the death penalty, but it was warranted in this case.

Sad but interesting

A very well written account of a horrible crime that changed so many lives. It can feel monotonous at times with overstated facts and court records, overall a very interesting listen.

Terrible crime, fascinating story

Nothing but the Night delves deep into the "crime of the century"-the murder of Bobby Franks in Chicago, IL. It was fascinating! The story is told in a linear style, which works very well for a historical true crime, and especially when you are listening!

First, the author explores the families of all the players-the victim and the two perpetrators. Then they get into all the events that led Leopold and Loeb to the murder, because exploring the psychology of these two was important. There is a lot of psychology to cover, but also a lot of sociology of the time. Understanding the world at the time of the crime really adds to the reader/listener's understanding. Part two really focuses on the trial and their defense lawyer (the famous Clarence Darrow), and then their time in prison. Overall, the story is surprising in depth for a crime that occurred in the 1920's!

The authors did a wonderful job of condensing their research into the salient information without being salacious or torrid. The narrator was great and didn't detract from the story. I highly recommend this to those who are interesting in psychology and sociology of crimes as this book addresses both.