Star Spangled Scandal Audiobook By Chris DeRose cover art

Star Spangled Scandal

Sex, Murder, and the Trial That Changed America

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Star Spangled Scandal

By: Chris DeRose
Narrated by: Traber Burns
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About this listen

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.
Americas Murder Politicians Politics & Activism True Crime United States Marriage Exciting
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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.

Boring

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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.

Narration detracts from story

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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.

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

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

Yawn

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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.

Interesting topic but poor narration

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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.

Decent book. Really cool story.

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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.

Terrible Narrator

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