About this Event
ABOUT NEELY YOUNG
Neely Young is a native of Cedartown, Georgia, a graduate of the University of Georgia and a proud journalist. In 1968, he joined his family-owned newspaper, the Valdosta Daily Times, working in the photography department. After leaving Valdosta, he worked in various positions, and as both editor and publisher, for Georgia newspapers in Valdosta, Marietta, Canton, Dalton and Clayton County. In 1986, he became CEO of Morris Newspaper Corporation, which owned and operated forty newspapers in six states. He has served as a curator on the Georgia Historical Society and often wrote about historical figures in his columns for Georgia Trend magazine. This book is a continuation of his long-standing interest in Georgia history and historical figures.
ABOUT NOTORIOUS GEORGIA
Dark history lives beneath Georgia’s southern charm. In this gripping work of Georgia true crime history, veteran journalist Neely Young investigates the Peach State’s most chilling stories of crime, corruption, racial violence, and injustice. Blending narrative journalism with deep historical research, this book reveals the hidden side of Georgia history—where power, prejudice, and profit often collided with law and conscience.
Travel to July 11, 1964, when U.S. Army reservist Colonel Lemuel Penn became the victim of a shocking Ku Klux Klan M**der on the Broad River Bridge, an act of civil rights era racial terror that helped galvanize national outrage. Step back to 1873 and the violent world of Reconstruction-era Georgia, where a young Doc Holliday was linked to deadly clashes long before becoming the legendary gunfighter of Tombstone fame. Through stories of mob vigilantism, political corruption, backroom deals, lawmen, outlaws, and unsolved crimes, Young uncovers the events that shaped the state’s darker legacy.
Perfect for fans of Southern true crime, American crime history, and historical crime nonfiction, this book offers a compelling look at real crimes that influenced culture, justice, and memory. Readers interested in civil rights history, historical murders, and true crime books about the American South will find a powerful blend of investigative storytelling and historical insight.
From hidden archives to notorious crime scenes, these unforgettable accounts show how the echoes of Georgia’s violent past still resonate today.
Event venue & nearby stays
Bookmiser-East Cobb, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta, United States
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