The Somerville Times has recently reviewed attorney Margo Nash's new true crime book, THE POLITICS OF MURDER, that details the possible wrongful imprisonment of 15-year-old Eddie O'Brien. The article praises Nash's retelling of the story and shows support for Eddie's case being accepted for re-evaluation by the Innocence Program. Despite lack of evidence, "twenty-seven months after the murder, Eddie was sentenced to life without the … [Read more...]
THE POLITICS OF MURDER Featured In Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
“… Nash delivers a riveting, highly detailed procedural … she lays out a compelling and ultimately convincing case for O’Brien’s innocence.” - Kirkus Reviews Attorney Margo Nash's new true crime book, THE POLITICS OF MURDER: The Power And Ambition Behind "The Altar Boy Murder Case", was recently reviewed by Robert V. Ward Jr. in the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Ward gave the book an excellent review and even said that Nash has convinced him … [Read more...]
Margo Nash: Tough On Crime
Back in the day, say 1992 or so, when Massachusetts was changing all of its juvenile laws every time there was a horrendous newsworthy homicide, Wayne Budd was advising Governor Bill Weld (his predecessor at the U.S. Attorney’s office). He was the one, according to Fox Butterfield of the New York Times, who advised Weld to appoint an African American District Attorney to Suffolk County. This was an effort to head off any rioting like what … [Read more...]
THE POLITICS OF MURDER’s Margo Nash On When Writing Stirs Up Controversy
Here is something that writers don’t think enough about. If you write a true crime book, the people who were hurt so deeply by the crime are most likely still around. They’ve been trying to put the trauma behind them, sometimes for years and your book will open all the wounds for them again. That’s a heavy burden to bear as the writer. If you are retelling a story that has already been solved, let’s say the Oklahoma Bombing case, it may be … [Read more...]
Attorney Margo Nash Sheds Light On One of Boston’s Most Controversial Murder Cases In True Crime THE POLITICS OF MURDER
On a hot night in July 1995, Janet Downing, a 42-year-old mother of four, was brutally stabbed 98 times in her home in Somerville, a city two miles northwest of Boston. Within hours, a suspect was identified: 15-year-old Eddie O’Brien, the best friend of one of Janet’s sons. But why Eddie? He had no prior history of criminal behavior. He was not mentally ill. He had neither motive nor opportunity to commit the crime. … [Read more...]
THE POLITICS OF MURDER Receives Great Review By The Somerville News Weekly
WildBlue's new true crime book, THE POLITICS OF MURDER: The Power And Ambition Behind "The Altar Boy Murder Case" by Margo Nash, just received an excellent review by Victoria Hewlett in The Somerville News Weekly. Read the full review here: https://thesomervillenewsweekly.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/the-politics-of-murder-was-the-convicted-teenager-eddie-obrien-and-in-one-of-bostons-most-infamous-murder-trials-actually-innocent/ This book is the … [Read more...]
True Crime Author Margo Nash On Her Writing Process For THE POLITICS OF MURDER
Once I’d committed to writing the story of Eddie O’Brien’s arrest, legal journey and trial, I sat down at the computer and wondered exactly how one organizes a book. Should I start with an outline? I realized I had no idea how to organize a book. I didn’t know anyone who had written a book who I could ask. Finally I decided that perhaps I should just start writing and see where that took me. I knew I wanted to start with the day of Janet … [Read more...]