Furious Hours by Casey Cep Summary
Overview of Furious Hours
"Furious Hours" unravels a suspected serial killer, his lawyer, and Harper Lee's obsession with their story. This NYT bestseller and Baillie Gifford Prize finalist reveals why America's most beloved novelist couldn't write her second masterpiece. What dark Alabama secrets silenced Harper Lee forever?
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Key takeaways
When Murder Met Justice in a Small Alabama Town
Three gunshots echoed through the House of Hutchinson Funeral Home on a sweltering June afternoon in 1977. Reverend Willie Maxwell collapsed at his adopted daughter's funeral, blood pooling beneath the pews. Hundreds of mourners stampeded through doors and windows in blind panic. The shooter, Robert Burns, calmly handed his gun to police and confessed immediately. Yet this wasn't a simple case of murder-it was the violent culmination of seven years of mysterious deaths, insurance fraud, whispers of voodoo, and a community's simmering rage. What made this story even more remarkable was the woman sitting unnoticed in the courtroom: Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, who had spent a year investigating what she hoped would become her triumphant second book. Instead, her manuscript vanished into one of literature's greatest mysteries, leaving behind only fragments and questions about truth, justice, and the stories we can never finish telling.
The Reverend's Trail of Death
The Lawyer Who Defended Both Sides
A Trial That Put the Victim on Trial
Harper Lee's Unfinished Return
The Abyss Between Reporting and Writing
The Stories We Leave Unfinished
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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