Book

Katwala, Amit, author.

Tremors in the blood : murder, obsession, and the birth of the lie detector / Amit Katwala.

First US edition.

New York : Crooked Lane, 2023.

©2023

ix, 335 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

"A thrilling account of the creation of the so-called lie detector, exploring shocking murders and dramatic trials to uncover the true nature of the polygraph"-- Provided by publisher.

Summer, 1922. Henry Wilkens burst through the doors of the emergency room covered in his wife's blood. Was he a grieving husband, or a ruthless killer who had conspired with bandits to have her murdered? San Francisco police turned to a new machine that had just been invented in Berkeley. The inventors, John Larson, Gus Vollmer and Leonarde Keeler, hoped the lie detector would make the justice system fairer. Instead the flawed device poisoned their lives, turned fast friends into bitter enemies, and transformed our relationship with the truth in ways that are still being felt. Katwala reveals the incredible truth behind the creation of the polygraph. -- adapted from back cover

Larson, John A. (John Augustus), 1892-1965

Vollmer, August, 1876-1955.

Keeler, Leonarde.

Lie detectors and detection -- History.

Criminal investigation -- History.

Crime -- History.

Criminals -- History.

True crime stories.

Murder, obsession and the birth of the lie detector

"First published in the UK in 2022 by Mudlark."--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-334).

The Sunset District -- Written in blood -- Arguments and alibis -- The town marshal -- College cops -- The rookie -- The apparatus -- Secrets of the soul -- The magician -- The baker and the priest -- The infernal machine -- Pacific Heights -- Sap and sawdust -- Imps and demons -- The third degree -- A wild sort of country -- Wholesale slaughter -- Chicken dinners -- An aid to the stork -- The rising tide -- The case for the defense -- A true mariner -- Bridge of sighs -- Truth serum -- Fire and venom -- Stool pigeon -- Prisoner #32147 -- An unpolished diamond -- A painted sparrow -- The reporter -- A malignant heart -- Frankenstein's monster -- E. Normous Wealth -- An untimely end -- The last mile -- Divine intervention -- Judge and jury -- Epilogue -- Coda.

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