The Lewiston Shootings

An All-American Tragedy

De: Robert Conlin

Narrado por: Kevin Pierce

October 25, 2023 was just an ordinary night in Lewiston, a small, working class city of 37,000 in central Maine. Friends and families had gathered to do what they loved to do with the people they wanted to be with at a bowling alley called Just-in-Time Recreation Center and Schemengees, a popular sports bar and restaurant. They felt immune from the violent crime that seemed to wrack the rest of the country in a state that the FBI had just named the safest in America.

Then Robert Card II, a deeply paranoid Army Reserve soldier, walked into both places with a high-powered rifle and opened fire, killing 18 people and wounding 13 more. He then fled to a third location, where according to the evidence and the testimony of his best friend, he likely planned to lay in wait and kill his ex-co-workers when they came to work the next morning.

The tragedy is that the numerous red flags he had raised in the months before weren't enough to stop him before he carried out his terrible plan. A combination of watered-down gun control laws and law enforcement and military negligence made sure of that.

In THE LEWISTON SHOOTINGS—An All-American Tragedy, author and award-winning journalist Robert Conlin traces the shootings that deeply scarred a community that thought it was the last place on earth where a mass shooting would take place. Never again could anyone in Lewiston or the state of Maine say, "It will never happen here."

Because it did.

©2024 WildBlue Press (P)2024 WildBlue Press

It will never happen here! So, they used to say

This book, THE LEWISTON SHOOTINGS the listener is introduced to the second largest town in Maine, Lewiston Main, which was once deemed as the safest place to live in Maine. I did read the print version of the story, and enjoyed it, but I also really enjoyed this audiobook. I am a fan of true crime stories. This is the first book on audiobook by Robert Conlin that I've listened to. In October of 2023. Robert Card went hunting, but it wasn't game he was after, it was a shooting spree that killed 18 people, and injured 13. The town itself was injured, and the events is something they wish to forget, but also should not forget. It was detailed and terrifying, especially because of items that not even the news showed. Robert Card walked into a bowling alley, and then to a local Bar and Grill. Later, Card was found dead from self-harm. There were a few unsung heroes who tried to stop him, but they were unable to do. Some persons died immediately, and three died later at the hospital. He discharged his weapon at least 54 times. This book was written with diplomacy and detailed the accounts of that October day, but never stopped acknowledging the victims and survivors. THE LEWISTON SHOOTINGS on audiobook is a definite listening recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to listening to many more titles by this author. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who listens to this book, to also write a review.

Why Now?

The inquiries are still ongoing. No new information or insight that can't be found with a quick Google search and if you are from Maine, you know everything in this book. I wasn't expecting a deep dive, but this felt exploitive and like the author was trying to make a quick buck off of this terrible tragedy. And I helped by wasting a credit. The saving grace is Kevin Pierce who is amazing as always. However, for me, having such a well known and respected narrator gave this a false sense of legitimacy to what is essential a 7 hour newspaper editorial.

BOYCOTT THIS SERMON!

This is primarily a long-winded editorial regarding gun control laws in the US. I'm an avid pro-gun-control advocate, but I strongly object to the misleading title of this novel and subsequent reviews that fail to point out the true nature of what is billed as a "mystery" and "thriller" novel. Perhaps such subterfuge is the only way Robert Conlin can sell his material, but I don't want it at my unknowing expense.