by Amit Katwala
Paul Bellantoni (Narrator)
ABOUT THE BOOK
Late one evening in the summer of 1922, Henry Wilkens burst through the doors of the emergency room covered in his wife’s blood. But was he a grieving husband or a ruthless killer who conspired with bandits to have her murdered?
To find out, the San Francisco police turned to technology and a new machine that had just been invented in Berkeley by a rookie detective, a visionary police chief, and a teenage magician with a showman’s touch. John Larson, Gus Vollmer, and Leonarde Keeler hoped the lie detector would make the justice system fairer, but the flawed device soon grew too powerful for them to control. It poisoned their lives, turned fast friends into bitter enemies, and, as it conquered America and the world, transformed our relationship with the truth in ways that are still being felt.
As new forms of lie detection gain momentum in the present day, Tremors in the Blood reveals the incredible truth behind the creation of the polygraph, through gripping true-crime cases featuring explosive gunfights, shocking twists, and high-stakes courtroom drama. Touching on psychology, technology, and the science of the truth, Tremors in the Blood is a vibrant, atmospheric thriller and a warning from history: beware what you believe.
| Length | 10 hours and 35 minutes |
|---|---|
| Author | Amit Katwala |
| Narrator | Paul Bellantoni |
| Audible.com Release Date | March 07, 2023 |
| Publisher | Dreamscape Media |
Advance Praise
“[A] fascinating look at the history of lie detectors . . . Katwala has real storytelling chops.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A lively, engrossing combination of true crime, biography, and history.”—Booklist
“Rollicking true-crime . . . fast-paced and elegant and fun.”—WIRED
“Tremors in the Blood, Amit Katwala’s beautifully told origin story of the lie detector, contains just about everything a reader wants in a true crime book – murder, mystery, gunfights, courtroom theatrics and dogged police work – along with a solid exploration of the ethically troubling issues that continue to haunt criminal justice and its sometimes dubious tools.”—Deborah Blum, bestselling author of The Poisoner’s Handbook
Have you ever wondered what the thought process was behind the development of the polygraph machine? This captivating audiobook, written by Amit Katwala and narrated by Paul Bellantoni shares an interesting story about the history of the lie detector.
Katwala’s story takes us through the concept, development, and use of the polygraph machine in court cases. He even delves into how the machine affected the lives of its founders.
While several were responsible for developing the polygraph, these three were very instrumental:
- Leonarde Keeler, a Berkeley high school student and amateur magician.
- John Larson was a Berkeley police officer who had an academic doctorate in psychology. And
- August Vollmer, a medical student and police officer in Berkeley, California.
The idea of the machine feels rather elementary. (But don’t most inventions when they are complete and we experience that aha moment?) The polygraph monitors blood pressure, respiration, pulse, and perspiration while the person is being asked a series of questions. In most cases, spikes in the reading indicate that the person is lying.
However, not all people respond the same, so the lie detector isn’t considered a completely reliable source. Thus it’s not generally admissible in court.
My Concerns
Though I found the court cases interesting, I would have loved more information about the continual development of the polygraph machine. However, it all ties together, and the court cases were fascinating.
Final Thoughts
This audiobook contains the stories behind the development of the polygraph and the involvement of Larson, Keeler, and Vollmer. Plus the true crime cases involving the use of the lie detector.
I found this well written story enjoyable and informative.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An Interview With The Author
Amit Katwala is an award-winning journalist and editor.
He is an editor and writer at WIRED, based in London. He writes about the collision between technology and culture, and has covered everything from the race for quantum supremacy to the hunt for the mysterious Planet Nine. He has been shortlisted for multiple awards by the Sports Journalists’ Association and the Association of British Science Writers, and has contributed to a wide range of titles including the Times, the Guardian, FourFourTwo and Sport magazine. He has also appeared on the BBC, CNN, Sky Sports and BT Sport, and spoken at the SXSW conference and other events.
He grew up in Bournemouth, and studied experimental psychology at St Hugh’s College, Oxford.
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