Grievous Deeds

The True Story of Four Years of Fury in Chattanooga, Tennessee

By: Kimberly Tilley

Narrated by: Samuel Burst

Chattanooga 1906. The town erupts when a young white woman is assaulted in a dark cemetery. After a quick, flawed trial, a black man named Ed Johnson is convicted of the crime and sentenced to death. Despite a direct order from the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the execution, a mob lynches Johnson. The infuriated high court holds Captain Joseph Shipp, the ambitious county sheriff, responsible for the outrage and charges him with contempt.

As the sheriff's case progresses, another crime rocks Chattanooga. The body of a beautiful young woman is found murdered on Lookout Mountain and her killer slips through the sheriff's fingers.

Desperate to save his career, Captain Shipp makes a wild gamble on Dave Edwards, a charming but notoriously insane inmate in the county jail. Dave is released and deputized to apprehend the fugitive killer but his madness soon manifests, with dreadful consequences.

©2024 Kimberly Tilley (P)2026 Kimberly Tilley

Amazing storytelling!

Listening to Grievous Deeds, I felt transported to Chattanooga, Tennessee at the turn of the century. Well researched and suspenseful, you won't want to miss this one!

Must Read!

Grievous Deeds is a masterfully crafted true crime narrative that immerses readers in a historical mystery. Tilley's meticulous research brings the past to life, offering a thought-provoking read. Highly recommended for true crime enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Five stars!

Masterpiece Audiobook

What an incredible story! The narrator has an outstanding voice that really brings the book to life, and the perfect southern accent for a story that takes place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The sound quality is great and there is also original music incorporated in the audiobook which really adds to the uniqueness and the drama! Not only is this a true story from 1906, but it is still to this day the only criminal case that the U.S. Supreme Court has ever heard. I love everything this author publishes including her short stories on OldSpirituals.com! Thank you, Kimberly Tilley for bringing forgotten stories like these to our attention!

A must read for historical fiction readers.

The descriptions of the people involved as well as the places were so vivid. Narration was done well.

A compelling story! I'm all about being drawn into the story and this book, combined with great narration, did not disappoint.

Well researched yet the telling of the story remains at the forefront, I feel like I visited Chattanooga and know the people from long ago.