A federal prosecutor in Mississippi for over thirty years, John Hailman routinely worked with federal agents, lawyers, judges, and criminals of every type imaginable. Encouraged by the acclaim for his first book, From Midnight to Guntown, he has opened even more of the astonishing cases within the over thirty-five boxes full of trial stories he carried into retirement. And these are the stories he’s gathered in this new volume. Hailman has shared these anecdotes with friends, colleagues, and students for years, as well as telling them at informal gatherings of civic clubs and book clubs.
Hailman recall the colorful exploits of eccentric modern criminals from William Faulkner’s Mississippi, where savvy victims often outwit their criminal perpetrators. Characters range from rich but incompetent drug lords and nationwide gun-runners to bumbling Dixie Mafia kidnappers. Hailman divides his anecdotes into captivating sections such as “Guns, Bombs, and Moonshine Whiskey,” “Drug Kingpins Have Troubles Too,” “Crime Victims Fight Back,” and “Mere Theft.” The book ends with a section titled Fancy Frauds in which ingenious con men (and women) offer hilarious but surprisingly sophisticated “special deals” on tax-free gold mines in Mexico and bargain (but bogus) Viagra.
A lively, humorous, beautifully-written memoir featuring the colorful exploits of eccentric modern criminals from William Faulkner’s Mississippi where savvy victims most often outwit their criminal predators. Return to Guntown is intended to entertain and enlighten, these stories will delight any fan of the true crime genre and anyone who appreciates good writing and the skill of a master storyteller.
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John Hailman is a retired federal prosecutor at the US attorney's office in
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