• Star Spangled Scandal

  • Sex, Murder, and the Trial That Changed America
  • By: Chris DeRose
  • Narrated by: Traber Burns
  • Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (71 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Star Spangled Scandal  By  cover art

Star Spangled Scandal

By: Chris DeRose
Narrated by: Traber Burns
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.16

Buy for $18.16

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The year is 1859, and Congressman Daniel Sickles and his beautiful wife Teresa are the toast of Washington society. President James Buchanan is godfather to their daughter. Philip Barton Key, US Attorney for the District of Columbia (and the son of Francis Scott Key), is one of the couple's closest friends - so close, in fact, that he often escorts the beautiful Mrs. Sickles to social events when the congressman is too busy. Revelers in DC are accustomed to the sight of the congressman's wife with the tall, Apollo-like Philip Barton Key, who is considered "the handsomest man in all Washington society...foremost among the popular men of the capital." Then one day, Congressman Daniel Sickles receives an anonymous note about his wife and Key, setting into motion a tragic course of events that culminates in a bloody confrontation in the street that leaves one man dead and the other charged with murder.

This is the riveting true story of the murder and historic trial that shocked 19th-century America, now brought to vivid life by historian Chris DeRose with the help of Mrs. Sickles' writings and other primary sources.

©2019 Chris DeRose (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Star Spangled Scandal

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    21
  • 4 Stars
    25
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Boring

I usually enjoy Traber Burns but this was a lack luster performance. The story was
Boring and repetitive. Why it was called the trial that changed America is beyond me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book grew on me. It unfolded like a rose.

In my pursuit of all things the American Civil War era, I came upon this book. Giving it a listen, I initially thought that I'd just keep going for the sake of finishing it. As it progressed further, this surprising book became highly interesting. I talked about the "Unwritten Law" and so many historical cases where someone had murdered a person committing adultery with their spouse and walking free. There were a lot of fascinating details in it. I'm glad that I stumbled upon this treasure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration detracts from story

The story is interesting, but the narrator reads everything as if it's in quotations. It takes away from the characters and the happenings of the time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decent book. Really cool story.

This is a really interesting story about important historical figures that many have long forgotten. There are certainly a few chapters that could have been deleted and the reader sounds like a 1930s radio news broadcaster but all in all a really cool book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Yawn

I usually love books like this. History, scandal, sex, etc. but this was really boring and put me to sleep.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting topic but poor narration

I found the subject matter interesting and that is why I persevered to the end. However I will not start any other book narrated by Traber Burns. He is too lack luster for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrible Narrator

I really am interested in this story but the narrator is not very interesting to listen to. I may just stop listening because I don’t like his voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!