Furious Hours audiobook cover - Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

Furious Hours

Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

Casey Cep

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Categories:
Biography & Memoir

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Furious Hours
William Maxwell's Crimes+
The Vigilante Trial+
Harper Lee's Quest+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
What was William Maxwell's primary apparent motive for the suspected murders, and what was a recurring theme in how the victims were found?
  • A. He wanted to inherit their property; the victims were all poisoned.
  • B. He sought life insurance payouts; the victims were all found dead in or near cars.
  • C. He was performing voodoo rituals; the victims were all found in the woods.
  • D. He was hiding his extramarital affairs; the victims were all shot.
Question 2 of 6
How did William Maxwell manage to escape conviction for the murder of his first wife, Mary Lou?
  • A. The police discovered that her death was caused by a motor neuron disease.
  • B. His lawyer provided undeniable proof that he was out of state during the murder.
  • C. The prosecution's star witness drastically changed her story on the witness stand.
  • D. The jury believed he was temporarily insane due to voodoo influences.
Question 3 of 6
What was the bizarre but ultimately successful defense strategy used by lawyer Tom Radney to get Robert Burns acquitted of murdering William Maxwell?
  • A. He argued it was self-defense because Maxwell had reached for a concealed weapon first.
  • B. He claimed Burns was driven temporarily insane by Maxwell's voodoo preaching and alleged dark magic.
  • C. He provided an alibi proving Burns was not actually inside the church when the shooting occurred.
  • D. He argued that the 300 witnesses had conspired to frame Burns because they hated Maxwell.
Question 4 of 6
According to the text, what personal struggle significantly hindered Harper Lee from publishing a second novel for decades after 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?
  • A. A severe lack of financial resources that forced her to return to her airline job.
  • B. Constant legal battles with Truman Capote over the co-authorship of 'In Cold Blood'.
  • C. Crippling perfectionism and the immense pressure to top the phenomenal success of her first book.
  • D. A widespread boycott of her work by readers in the American South.
Question 5 of 6
How did Harper Lee's view of true-crime writing differ from Truman Capote's approach in 'In Cold Blood'?
  • A. She believed true-crime should be strictly factual, whereas Capote invented conversations and manipulated facts for narrative effect.
  • B. She thought true-crime should focus entirely on law enforcement, while Capote focused almost entirely on the victims.
  • C. She preferred writing about wealthy families, whereas Capote preferred stories about marginalized communities.
  • D. She believed true-crime authors should insert themselves into the story as characters, which Capote refused to do.
Question 6 of 6
What were the primary obstacles that ultimately caused Harper Lee to abandon her true-crime book about William Maxwell?
  • A. Tom Radney refused to share his legal files, and Robert Burns threatened her life.
  • B. She lost interest in the case after realizing Maxwell was innocent and the deaths were purely coincidental.
  • C. She ran out of the funds gifted to her by her friends and had to return to her life in New York.
  • D. There was a lack of official records for Black Americans, and she refused to include the community's literal belief in voodoo in a factual book.

Furious Hours — Full Chapter Overview

Furious Hours Summary & Overview

Furious Hours (2019) shines a light on the twin mysteries of a 1970s serial killer and the career of the celebrated author Harper Lee. By exploring the shocking case of the alleged serial killer William Maxwell and his victims, these blinks retrace Harper Lee’s steps and finally tell the true crime story that Lee always wanted to write.

Who Should Listen to Furious Hours?

  • True crime addicts looking for their next scare
  • Bookworms who want to learn more about the life of a celebrated author
  • Law enthusiasts interested in courtroom dramas

About the Author: Casey Cep

Casey Cep is a writer with a degree in English Literature from Harvard University and an MPhil in Theology from Oxford University. Cep was a Rhodes Scholar, and her writing is featured in the New Yorker, the New York Times and the New Republic. 

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