Boston Tabloid

Don Stradley is the author of The War: Hagler-Hearns and Three Rounds for the Ages (one of The Progressive magazine’s “Favorite of Books 2021”); Berserk: The Shocking Life and Death of Edwin Valero; Slaughter in the Streets: When Boston Became Boxing's Murder Capital; and A Fistful of Murder: The Fights and Crimes of Carlos Monzon, all from Hamilcar Publications. Slaughter in the Streets was named by CrimeReads in 2020 as one of “The Classics of Boxing Literature.” Stradley’s work has also appeared in The Ring, Cinema Retro, and on ESPN.com. He lives on Boston's North Shore.

"A thoughtful, compelling reexamination of an intriguing story of fatal obsession and its enduring mysteries."—Kirkus Reviews"Well-researched and a page-turner..."—Library Journal"An exceptionally well written, organized and presented study of a notorious homicide and the mysteries that surrounded it... A riveting read from cover to cover."—Midwest Book Review"Boston Tabloid answers the call to take to take true crime to the next level—a true page-turner, it brings the reality of Boston's underbelly to the forefront for perhaps the first time."—M. William Phelps, New York Times bestselling author and host of iHeartMedia's podcasts Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps and Paper Ghosts“Boston Tabloid is everything a top-notch true-crime book should be and more.”—Linda Rosencrance, author of Murder at Morses Pond and co-author of The Mafia Hit Man's Daughter“Don Stradley has captured perfectly the addictive, exhilarating hopelessness and desperation embodied in a sunken part of Boston that no longer exists.  Taking no shortcuts and never showing off, Stradley’s restraint and interest in getting details right combine to elevate true crime writing to a level that turns it into something brand new.  Unsettling and unflinching, Boston Tabloid will stay with you whether or not you want it to.”—Charles Farrell, author of (Low)life: A Memoir of Jazz, Fight-Fixing, and the Mob“Boston Tabloid is a remarkable book written by a giftedstoryteller. Don Stradley tells the gripping tale of the professor and theprostitute in captivating prose that may just keep you up at night! Once again,Stradley exposes Boston’s seedy history in a way that reimagines true crime andcontemporary American history.” —Bob Batchelor, author of The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes ofGeorge Remus, Prohibition’s Evil Genius“With the panache of a tabloid newspaper scribe, Don Stradley recountsthe sordid but undeniably fascinating case of the prostitute murdered by arenowned college professor. With a wealth of detail, Stradley traces the spiralof obsession and addiction that led to the death of Combat Zone hooker RobinBenedict at the hands of professor William Douglas. Even more fascinating are Stradley’sdescriptions of the investigation and how the shifting tides of public perceptionin the 1980s could turn a perpetrator into a victim.”—Stephanie Schorow, author of Insidethe Combat Zone: The Stripped Down Story of Boston's Most NotoriousNeighborhood"The author takes a deep dive into one of Boston's most notorious murders in the 1980s. He offers compelling theories related to the case's many unanswered questions. The book will reignite interest in a particularly vicious but nearly forgotten homicide, as well as the Combat Zone, a sleazy part of Boston that no longer exists. Excellent reporting in classic noir-like tabloid fashion made this a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience."—Robert Mladinich, author of Case Files of the NYPD: More than 175 Years of Solved and Unsolved Crimes

• ContentsProloguePart I: Bloody HammerFound at Rest Stop on I-95Part II: “PROF SAYS: “I’M NO SEX MANIAC!”Part III: Will Prostitute Slayer Go Free?