As She Lay Sleeping: A Shadowy Figure, a Brutal Murder, an Anonymous Tip. Will Justice Prevail?

In 1985, Austin, TX, resident Natalie Antonetti was brutally murdered. In 1995, after years of fruitless investigation, the case was essentially closed. In 2007, an anonymous tip prompted police detective Thomas Walsh to reopen this cold case, which led him to a highly likely suspect: Antonelli's ex-boyfriend, Dennis Davis. Journalist-turned-prosecutor Pryor details every step of the affair in this riveting, meticulous reconstruction of the police investigation and subsequent trial. He draws back the curtain to reveal the magician's tricks of the courtroom, providing a compelling, intimate tale, of how justice was sought decades after the fact. While occasionally inclined to purple prose, he replays entire conversations as they happened, allowing the reader to essentially look over his shoulder. From retracing the moments of a long-ago murder, to negotiating with the judge, handling recalcitrant witnesses, and making passionate statements to the jury, Pryor moves through the case step by step like only an insider can. True crime aficionados may find his explanation of every detail a little tedious, but most readers should enjoy Pryor's cozy, accessible style and passion for justice. Agent: Ann Collette, Rees Literary Agency. (Jan)