The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett

From the Rubery Prize-winning author David Miraldi:

A Chilling Crime That Shocked Lorain, Ohio, and a Defiant Attorney Determined to Unearth the Truth.

1960s Lorain, Ohio: Casper Bennett is accused of the unimaginable—drowning his wife in a scalding bath. Rumors swirl, and whispers pervade every corner of town. But there's one man, untested in the vicious waters of murder trials, willing to wade in and defend him: the author's father.

David Miraldi unveils a riveting tale intertwined with personal history. In a time before DNA, when a man's fate hung precariously on human intuition, can true justice emerge from the fog of doubt?

But this isn't just a courtroom drama. It's a son's journey into his father's legacy, a town's desperate quest for truth, and a chapter of American history where technology was new, but deception was age-old.

"The Edge of Innocence" isn't merely a true crime narrative—it's a masterful exploration of memory, responsibility, and the ever-elusive nature of truth. Amidst shifting memories and contested facts, will you discern the reality lurking in the shadows?



Readers are RAVING about this compelling True Crime Legal Drama:


***** “This is a gem of a book. I liked the narrative style of this true crime story, and enjoyed reading about the interesting backgrounds of the principal characters. I woke at 5:30 this morning to devour the last 120 pages, absorbed in the twists and turns of the trial and its aftermath.” –Goodreads Reviewer

***** “This courtroom drama bristles with all the intensity of a tennis match as the two sides in a murder trial fight to score points and win each game, set, and, ultimately, the match. David Miraldi's historical novel… pulls the reader in immediately with its realistic dialogue and fully drawn characters… David Miraldi draws on all his courtroom experience to make the fine points of criminal law add to the drama and drive the story along. The narrative tension never lets up, and the denouement holds many surprises for the reader.” –Goodreads Reviewer

***** “Wow…This book is incredibly well written with a smooth, even pace. The personalities of key people in the book are fully fleshed out and aspects of law are explained clearly in a conversational tone. And, yes. I was surprised at the end -- twice. I recommend this book wholeheartedly…”–Goodreads Reviewer

***** “There is a force of intellect behind [this book], which is appealing… Miraldi, who is himself an attorney, tells it with an insider’s understanding of that world, and he seems to be a natural storyteller. It also gives an appealing view of America at a certain point in history: the sense of community; the significant contribution of immigration; the inevitable demise of that world when confronted with technology, a loss of innocence and cynicism. It’s a very impressive book.” –Goodreads Reviewer

***** “I was immediately drawn in by the author's style and command of the subject, making it easy to follow the twists and turns of the story. I really enjoyed the pacing and the clear, crisp, creative prose that Mr. Miraldi wrapped around the facts of this very interesting case, and found it hard to put down before getting to the end… An excellent book that I heartily recommend!” –Goodreads Reviewer