Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC (in audiobook format).

"Genealogy of a Murder: Four Generations, Three Families, One Fateful Night" by Lisa Belkin, narrated by Erin Bennett, is a compelling dive into the depths of family history and the ripples of decisions that span generations. This audiobook is not merely a recounting of a tragic event but an intricate exploration of the human condition and the complex web of factors that lead to a single moment in time.

Belkin masterfully weaves a narrative that stretches back to the Great Depression, tracing the lives of three men from disparate backgrounds whose destinies converge on one fateful night in 1960. The murder of a young police officer in Stamford, Connecticut, serves as the central axis around which the story unfolds, but it is the rich tapestry of life stories that gives this work its heart and soul.

Erin Bennett's narration brings a nuanced clarity to the tale, capturing the emotional gravity of the subject matter while maintaining a steady pace that keeps the listener engaged. Her ability to give voice to the multitude of characters and their experiences is a testament to her skill as a narrator.

The audiobook delves into themes of immigration, the American Dream, prison reform, and the nature versus nurture debate, all while examining the impact of war, politics, and medical experiments on the lives of individuals and their families. It is a story that questions the very essence of fate and choice, and how closely they are intertwined.

Belkin's journalistic background shines through in her meticulous research and the vividness of her storytelling. The listener is not just presented with facts but is invited to ponder the moral complexities of second chances, the justice system, and the human propensity for seeking alternative endings.

In conclusion, "Genealogy of a Murder" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant audiobook that offers more than just a true crime story. It is a historical journey, a psychological inquiry, and a meditation on the forces that shape our lives. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricacies of human nature and the unforeseen consequences of our actions.

"Genealogy of a Murder" by Lisa Belkin, narrated by Erin Bennett, presents a narrative with an ambitious scope, exploring four generations and three families on one fateful night. Unfortunately, the execution may not resonate with all readers.

One of the notable challenges of the book lies in the multitude of characters introduced simultaneously, creating a narrative akin to a phone book. The sheer volume of individuals to keep track of may make it difficult for readers to engage fully with the story. For some, this may result in a disjointed reading experience, potentially leading to a lack of connection with the characters.

My decision not to finish the audiobook suggests that the narration, performed by Erin Bennett, might not have alleviated the complexities of the story. A cohesive and well-paced narration is crucial for a narrative with numerous characters, and if this aspect falls short, it can impact the overall enjoyment of the audiobook.

In summary, "Genealogy of a Murder" may prove challenging for readers due to its extensive character cast and potentially disjointed storytelling. The decision to discontinue the audiobook hints at issues with engagement and narration, emphasizing the importance of a balanced narrative approach, especially in stories with intricate family sagas.

So the title really caught my eye because I always wonder if there are genes that are passed down that can show if someone is likely to murder another Person. So in this book its following families through generations and talking about all the different struggles they had gone through.
I found the book very well researched. The author really made sure to g0 in depth on the families, their struggles and what it was like in society at that time. My biggest issue comes from that its a very hard audio book to listen to. You really need to be able to keep track of every one and their years and their families.
I did really enjoy the narrator they had a good cadence to their voice and did not detract from the story.

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of Lisa Belkin's Genealogy of a Murder: Four Generations, Three Families, One Fateful Night. I am giving three and a half stars.

I received this as an audiobook. Typically audiobooks are easy for me to listen to. I am completely engrossed and transported into the story. However, this story is so dense. There is a lot of well researched information in this book. But it is so much information.

It was hard for me to keep the information straight with each generation discussed in the story. Overall I give it 2 stars.

this is complicated, the story is riveting, but as an audiobook I am so lost I had to stop listening. there as so many families and children, births and deaths. I have no sense of who or how they will connect. Perhaps as a written book, the broad list of relatives and associates would be more clear. I am interested in the topic, but audiobook format is not the correct medium for me.

As a huge fan of true crime and an amateur genealogist, I feel like the target audience for this book. I enjoyed the stories and the detail. However, it dragged on for too long. Somewhere in the middle, I lost sight of where we were going with this story.

Genealogy of a Murder by Lisa Belkin is not the true-crime novel that I expected. Though the book revolves around the murder of a police officer by a paroled criminal, it is more the story of how the circumstances of several lives and historical practices and flaws in the parole system resulted in a police officer and a career criminal crossing paths on one fateful night.

This book makes a great case for the butterfly effect--change one instance in the course of several lives, and the murder does not take place. Through much of the book, I struggled with how the information being detailed was relevant to the case, and why the author was going into such intricate detail about medical trials on prisoners or the multiple children of certain families. Rest assured, the information does have relevance in the end, and the book is more of a history of certain aspects of several prisons than about a murder.

The audio narration by Erin Bennett was excellent, though I think this book is better in print due to the extensive detail and numerous characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Highbridge Audio for the digital audiobook of Genealogy of a Murder, and Goodreads and W.W.Norton for the print copy. The opinions in this review are my own.

I was honestly really impressed with how the author linked this all together. At first, you don’t see the connections but then as the story winds on you start to put pieces together. I thought it was a really interesting tale of politics, genetics, and how lifestyle can impact a person. Then on top of that, how a person can impact so many other people as well. It made me question the prison system, which is a good thing because I don’t look at it like others do.

While I did enjoy this book, I also thought it was a little too detail heavy and as a result my mind would drift at times. At times I really was into the book and hated that I had to pause it for real life. At other times I had to force myself to focus on it. All and all I would say it was a 2.5 star book.

I am a true crime junkie so was very excited to have the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. However, I felt that the author got far too bogged down in detail and placed too much focus on events and information that did not ultimately seem to pertain to the crime at the center of the story. Furthermore, the crime itself isn't introduced until 80% of the way through the book. While the "genealogy" aspect was intriguing, I think it may have made sense to focus more on the generations impacted by the aftermath of the crime, rather than the several generations leading up to it. Overall, this is unfortunately not a book I would recommend.

Reads like a novel. I will say I got lost a few times as to the overall tale being told, but I did enjoy learning about the different families. The narrator of the audio version did an excellent job.

Genealogy of a Murder: Four Generations, Three Families, One Fateful Night by Lisa Belkin is a mesmerizing and deeply moving multigenerational tale that weaves together the lives of three families whose destinies intersect on a summer night in 1960 with the shocking murder of a police officer. Set in Stamford, Connecticut, the novel takes readers on a gripping journey through history, exploring themes of immigration, the working class, prison reform, medical experiments, politics, and war.

The heart of the story revolves around Alvin Tarlov, David Troy, and Joseph DeSalvo, three men whose backgrounds are shaped by the struggles of the Great Depression and the aspirations of their grandparents who sought the American Dream in a new land. Belkin deftly unravels their life paths, from one becoming a doctor, another a cop, and the third a convict, each carrying their unique burdens and choices.

At the core of this intricate narrative is a young Army doctor, who, while on vacation, comes face to face with a chilling realization: he knows the identity of the killer, a parolee who had reached out to him just days before. Through richly detailed storytelling, the author delves into the complexities of human nature, the power of choices, and the consequences they can bring.

Belkin's extensive research and narrative ingenuity shine through as she explores various historical events and influences that shape the characters' lives. The book takes readers on a thought-provoking journey that spans decades, touching on topics such as epigenetics, the nature/nurture debate, and the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. Additionally, the history of motorcycle racing serves as a captivating backdrop to the unfolding drama.

Throughout the pages, the author examines the connections and coincidences that culminate in the tragic events of July 1960, prompting readers to ponder how our actions and decisions can profoundly impact the course of history. With a deft hand, Belkin illuminates the intricate workings of the human mind and heart, leaving us with a profound understanding of the intricacies of the human experience.

Genealogy of a Murder is an impeccably researched and brilliantly executed narrative that resonates with readers on multiple levels. Lisa Belkin's masterful storytelling and insightful exploration of human nature make this book a captivating and thought-provoking read from start to finish.

Genealogy of a Murder is really a deep, deep historical dive into three men from three different families, raised in the same time period but with different paths taken, that basically collide one unfortunate tragic night and how those events, timelines, generations and paths lined up in intricately investigated detail by Lisa Belkin. It's a fascinating story with a horrible ending that reads more historical than true crime, but yet is absolutely true. Very well done.
On a side note, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Erin Bennett, who was a pleasure to listen to, sounded very real and not monotonous, and really did a fantastic job keeping me engaged in listening. Would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by her.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I don't normally have this much trouble getting into a true crime book, especially when it's an audiobook. DNF @ 5% for me. I couldn't spend another 13 hours listening to this. It reads more like a fiction story and the narrative is sort of all over the place.

Thank you the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook download in exchange for my honest review.

Read 7.10 - 7.14.2023
NetGalley Audiobook [Erin Bennett, Narrator]
4 stars

My 4 star rating for this is for the audiobook only as that is what I received from NetGalley to review.
I like Erin Bennett as a narrator, but I don't think that I have ever had her as a narrator of nonfiction - after this book, I can only hope that I get more nonfiction audiobooks narrated by her as she does a superb job and really brings this book to life [given the length and the amount of information she has to get through, I really applaud her] and I was never bored [even with this book dragging on at many points] with how she was telling the story. I am glad that I was able to listen to this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Belkin, Erin Bennett - Narrator, and HighBridge Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Genealogy of a Murdered follows 3 immigrant families through their paths to success or a life of crime over decades.

While this book was certainly very well researched, it was clear that nothing was really edited out of the story. There are SO MANY characters, and things are lined up in a fashion that feels very much like a board with red string vs a cohesive, well flowing story.

There were parts that I wish would have been explored more (specifically the start of the parole system and how it became part of the incarceration cycle), and other parts (extended family trees with no real importance to the story) really drug the story down.

Overall, I wondered what the goal was for the author, other than to share a part of her family’s past. I can’t say I would recommend this one, but I also can’t say I wouldn’t. I think it just depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your time spent with the book. I walked away wondering much more about parole, and hopeful that I can find another book on the topic specifically to jump into.

I think what happens in the family coming full circle generations later is an interesting concept but I think the author went about it in the clunky way not to mention having to go through the chapters with the research that was done at the prison in a clinic ran by prisoners was also very interesting but I really was hoping to read more about the crime and the judicial happenings that come after as that is where my interest‘s leg but to say I didn’t enjoy this book would be a lie. I just think the first couple of chapters had so much to shotgun end it then I found myself zoning out only Tizón back in and hear other people who married someone else it was a lot to take in in for a book that in my opinion wasn’t going to be about family genealogy I really could’ve done without that but if you can get past all of that and bear the lot and then you’ll hear a true crime story. This book is about one of the authors relatives and she went the long way around to tell it end it it sounds like something you would like to definitely read the book I myself enjoyed some of it but not most of it. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Death can start a ripple that affects many people, and this case is no different. The murder of a police officer is discussed in depth and the many people that were involved - either directly or indirectly. The families of the man who pulled the trigger, their backgrounds, prison records, medical experiments, and so much more.

I really enjoyed this book, it was an interesting look into the dichotomy of not only murder, but family and backgrounds.
The author does a great job of pulling together all the information, and laying it out in a way that was easy to understand, and yet kept you engaged throughout the entire book. I enjoyed it, and the many different people that were discussed.

Genealogy of a Murder is a very well-researched true-crime novel. Lisa Belkin paints the buildup of three different families through four generations leading up to July 4, 1960, when a cop is murdered. This is a multigenerational story of three emigrant families and how there grandsons collide on that night - one is a cop, the other a doctor and one is a convict.

As stated above, this was an extremely well researched book. But it was all over the place and really difficult to read. There was so much history and very little about the actual crime. If there had been some editing to shave it down a bit, I think that it would have been a much better reading experience.

Overall, this is a great read for lovers of Al Capote and true crime addicts. The narrator for the audiobook was really enjoyable to listen to. This book could have just benefited from some editing and formatting to make it shorter and flow a little better. As it is, it is a bit of a slog.