I just finished the best book.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

Honor Killing by David E. Standard.

This story has all the elements of a great true crime story—rape, a contract killing, racism and two trials with corrupt police, prosecuting attorneys, lying witnesses, etc. But there are larger social-historical ramifications.

Thalia Massie is married to navy officer Tommie & moved with him to Hawaii in the late 1920s. Thalia & Tommie argued, drank, argued, drank. Tommy gives her an ultimatum to straighten up or he's getting a divorce. After getting into a fight at a party where she'd again had too much to drink, Thalia claims to have been raped by five men, all Hawaiian, Japanese & Chinese. The men are arrested & tried. The public is in an uproar & the press is inflaming passions on all sides. Their trial ended in a hung jury only because some of the jurors were to chicken to do the right thing & acquit. Thalia's mother, Grace Fortescue, then arranged the abduction and murder of one of the alleged rapists. Her attorney was Clarence Darrow.

The outcome of the trials, the subjugation of the Hawaiians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, in fact all people of color, & the injustices done to them (not just in this case but working conditions & pretty much every other aspect of life) brought about some incredible political changes. After the trial, something like 90% of the registered people of color actually voted. Prior to the trial it was somewhere in the 20's. Also, the repugs were used to being swept into office. All of a sudden the DemS were in control.

Anyhow, I'm not much of a book-review writer but I just thought this was great. If it was just another true crime, that would be one thing, but when you throw in all the great political changes that came about & how the author goes into such great detail I just thought it was something my fellow liberals might like to read.

best

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Sounds like a great book indeed -- and quite a decent book review

as well. :thumbsup:

Is it known if Thalia was raped at all?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. It's not really a spoiler

since you figure out early in the book, but no, she wasn't raped. She did end up with a broken jaw that is never explained. She slapped some guy at this party, then stormed out. Maybe he found her & smacked her, or maybe Tommy hit her before she left.

As far as the decent book review-thanks but I sort of plagiarized it. I read several reviews so I would remember to hit the highlights. Haven't done a book review since junior high.

There was a TV movie done years ago with Kris Kirstopherson (spelling?) called Blood & Orchids. It's really a fictional account based on the Massie case.