Murder at Dusk: How US soldier and smiling psychopath Eddie Leonski terrorised wartime Melbourne

Description

Far away from any World War II battlefront, the citizens of Melbourne lived in fear of a serial killer - the Brownout Strangler. May 1942: Melbourne was torn between fearing Japanese invasion and revelling in the carnival atmosphere brought by the influx of 15,000 cashed-up American servicemen. But those US forces didn't guarantee safety. Not long after their arrival, the city would be gripped by panic when the body of a woman was found strangled, partially naked and brutally beaten. Six days later another woman was found dead and her body told the same horrific story. A murderer was stalking the streets. As women were warned not to travel alone, an intense manhunt ensued. Not long after a third woman was murdered, American soldier Eddie Leonski was arrested. A calculating psychopath, he had a twisted fascination with female voices, especially when they were singing . . . Acclaimed author Ian W. Shaw brings World War II Melbourne to life, and takes us into the mind of the Brownout Strangler, and a very different kind of terror. 'enthralling . . . makes for a fascinating read.' Canberra Times on Ian W. Shaw's The Rag Tag Fleet

Ian W. Shaw is the author of six books: The Bloodbath, On Radji Beach, Glenrowan, The Ghosts of Roebuck Bay, The Rag Tag Fleet and Murder at Dusk. The Bloodbath was nominated for a Victorian Premier's Literary Award and was shortlisted in the Local History category. Ian is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and holds postgraduate degrees from Monash University and the University of Michigan. After ten years as a secondary school teacher, Ian worked in the Commonwealth public service and private enterprise for three decades, and is an expert on security issues. He lives in Canberra.

told with detailed research and a flair for dramatic narrative. The main personalities are much more than just names. This is a splendid contribution to our military history. - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD on Ian W. Shaw's THE GHOSTS OF ROEBUCK BAY Fast paced and rich in historical detail, this book is a pageturner for war and law buffs alike. - Law Society Journal ON RADJI BEACH is a great read and an invaluable historical text. Ian Shaw has written a driven, suspenseful and realistic narrative, even for those who know the history and outcome of the period. It's essential reading for anyone interested in Australia's war history and the role of women in war. ON RADJI BEACH is an insightful and tragic excursion into an aspect of Australian history that has often been overlooked or forgotten. - OVERLAND on Ian W. Shaw's ON RADJI BEACH enthralling . . . makes for a fascinating read. - CANBERRA TIMES on Ian W. Shaw's THE RAG TAG FLEET