Wicked City
by Ace Atkins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ace AtkinsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-04-07
ISBN: 0425227073
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Book Reviews of Wicked City
Book Review: Amazingly Accurate for a Work of Fiction
Summary: 4 Stars
Having grown up in Phenix City, Alabama during the 1940s and 1950s, and witnessed the city's cleanup in 1954, I was amazed at the historcal accuracy of the events portrayed by Mr. Atkins. Many readers express surprise at how and why Phenix City acquired its reputation as "Sin City U.S.A." One must recognize that the city was relatively poor with a work force mainly comprised of workers in the cotton mills of Columbus, Georgia just across the Chattahootchie river. There was little by way of legitimate business in the city comprising a tax base. For many years, until the 1954 cleanup, the local mob had convinced most of the people that the city, including its churches and schools, could not survive without the mob's financial support. The beneficiaries didn't complain. There was also an understandable reluctance by so-called "law-abiding citizens" to complain for fear of making themselves the target of mob retribution. And, reacting like ordinary folks usually do in any circumstance, some just "didn't want to get involved."
As Mr. Atkins writes, there were a handful of principled, determined, and couragous citizens who took on the mob and helped overthrow the lawless regime. Sheriff Lamar Murphy was certainly one of those individuals. Among other things, Sheriff Murphy identified the eye witness to the murder of Albert Patterson, the Democrat nominee for Alabama Attorney General, and this witness' testimony was instrumental in convicting the triggerman in the murder. Some commenters expressed surprise that a fellow who pumped gas for a living could take on the job of sheriff and perform it so well. Mr. Atkins' book shows that it can and did happen in Phenix City, Alabama.
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