Murder, Injustice, and the Truth About the Case of Barbara Graham
By: Marcia Clark
Narrator: Marcia Clark
Brilliance Audio
ISBN: 978-1662515965
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication Date: 12/01/2024
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: Currently Reading
In this dramatic true account about the power of sensationalized crime, one woman’s case is exposed for its sexism, flagrant disregard for the truth, and, ultimately, the dangers posed by an unbridled prosecution.
Unwanted and neglected from birth, Barbara Graham had to overcome the odds just to survive. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse—offering her too many options of all the wrong kind. Her innate sensitivity left her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the street, where she was left to fend for herself before she reached double digits. Her record of petty crimes spoke to a life that constantly teetered on the brink of disaster.
But in 1953, a catastrophic twist of fate would catapult her out of obscurity and into the headlines.
When a robbery spiraled out of control and escalated into a brutal murder, Barbara became the centerpiece of a media circus. Her beauty enraptured the press, and they were quick to portray her as a villainous femme fatale despite abundant evidence to the contrary—a fiction the prosecution eagerly promoted.
The frenzy of public interest and willful distortion paved a treacherous path for Barbara Graham. In Trial by Ambush, author and criminal lawyer Marcia Clark investigates the case exposing the fallacies in the demonizing picture they painted and the critical evidence that was never revealed.
Praise
“Clark (the Samantha Brinkman series), the former lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson case, brings new insights to a sensational killing from the 1950s in this standout true crime narrative….Impressive research, combined with breakneck pacing and a trenchant critique of the media circus surrounding Graham’s arrest, bring the verdict down decisively in Clark’s favor. This is masterful.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
From the Publisher
Marcia Clark made a name for herself when she was the lead prosecutor in the O. J. Simpson trial. Her appearance—from her hair to her suits—was given a great deal of attention. All Marcia cared about was justice—not what she looked like while fighting for it. That’s what drew her to Barbara Graham’s story.
When Marcia first began reading about the prosecution of Barbara—circa 1950s Los Angeles—she became transfixed by the newspaper accounts that centered on Barbara’s appearance. Barbara was cast as the femme fatale, the harlot, and “bloody Babs.”
Never mind the fact there was little evidence tying her to the murder of Mabel Monahan. The prosecutors and the court of public opinion found their villain, and nothing was going to change the narrative.
In Trial by Ambush, iconic lawyer Marcia Clark once again seeks justice. This time posthumously for a young woman who had no friends or family—and absolutely no reason to commit murder.
—Liz Pearsons, Editor
About the Author
Author photo credit: Coral von Zumwalt
California native Marcia Clark is the author of Final Judgment, Snap Judgment, Moral Defense, and Blood Defense, all part of the Samantha Brinkman series. A practicing criminal lawyer since 1979, Clark joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office in 1981, where she served as prosecutor for the trials of Robert John Bardo, convicted of killing actress Rebecca Schaeffer, and, most notably, O. J. Simpson. The bestselling Without a Doubt, which she cowrote, chronicles her work on the Simpson trial. Clark has been a frequent commentator on a variety of shows and networks, including Today, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, and MSNBC, as well as a legal correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. WEBSITE
Follow Marcia on X at @thatmarciaclark.
