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The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett
The Edge of Innocence is a work of historical non fiction based on the 1964 murder trial of Casper Bennett, a man accused of drowning his wife in a bathtub of scalding water in Lorain, Ohio. Bennett's sensational trial pitted an aggressive, mercurial county prosecutor against the author's father, a civil trial attorney who had never before defended anyone for murder.
The book not only recreates the tension and excitement of this courtroom battle, but also highlights the uncertain edge that often divides guilt from innocence. The author was ten years old when he answered the phone late at night when Bennett called his father from jail, seeking his legal representation.
Forty years later and long after his father's death, the author found the Bennett file in the bottom of his mother's closet. From the moment he began reading the papers, the long-forgotten drama cast a spell on him. As he uncovered more and more of the facts, the story he had known as a child disappeared, replaced by one far different.
The Edge of Innocence takes the reader through the criminal justice system and ultimately to the trial where the reader, like a juror, must sift through competing claims and conflicting evidence. Full of twists and turns and colorful characters, The Edge of Innocence is all the more entertaining because it tells a true story.
The book not only recreates the tension and excitement of this courtroom battle, but also highlights the uncertain edge that often divides guilt from innocence. The author was ten years old when he answered the phone late at night when Bennett called his father from jail, seeking his legal representation.
Forty years later and long after his father's death, the author found the Bennett file in the bottom of his mother's closet. From the moment he began reading the papers, the long-forgotten drama cast a spell on him. As he uncovered more and more of the facts, the story he had known as a child disappeared, replaced by one far different.
The Edge of Innocence takes the reader through the criminal justice system and ultimately to the trial where the reader, like a juror, must sift through competing claims and conflicting evidence. Full of twists and turns and colorful characters, The Edge of Innocence is all the more entertaining because it tells a true story.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2017
574 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
David Miraldi
5 books43 followersDavid Miraldi is an author, attorney, and artist hailing from Lorain, Ohio. With a career in civil law that spans over four decades, David has dedicated himself to championing the cause of the common man against insurance conglomerates and corporate giants.
A graduate of The College of Wooster (1975), David earned his law degree with honors from The Ohio State Moritz College of Law. Driven by an innate sense of duty, he returned to his hometown to practice alongside his father and brother, serving the community that shaped him.
An author with a flair for narrative nonfiction, David made waves with his debut book, "The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett," which was crowned the 2018 Book of the Year by the prestigious International Rubery Book Awards. He further cemented his reputation as a storyteller with his sophomore release, "The Edge of Malice: The Marie Grossman Story," earning accolades from Kirkus Reviews as a "superbly crafted nonfiction drama" and receiving a shortlisting by Rubery for its 2021 awards.
Beyond the courtroom and the written page, David's creative spirit finds outlets through photography and music. His evocative photographs often grace local exhibits, and he generously donates the proceeds from their sales to charity. A pianist with eclectic tastes, David composes original pieces and has a predilection for classical, ragtime, and contemporary music. He is also a fitness enthusiast and engages in tennis, swimming, cycling, and gardening.
David shares his life with his beloved wife, Leslee, also a lawyer, and they are the proud parents of three children and doting grandparents to three grandchildren. They continue to make Avon, Ohio, their home.
You can learn more about David at his website: http://www.davidmiraldi.com
A graduate of The College of Wooster (1975), David earned his law degree with honors from The Ohio State Moritz College of Law. Driven by an innate sense of duty, he returned to his hometown to practice alongside his father and brother, serving the community that shaped him.
An author with a flair for narrative nonfiction, David made waves with his debut book, "The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett," which was crowned the 2018 Book of the Year by the prestigious International Rubery Book Awards. He further cemented his reputation as a storyteller with his sophomore release, "The Edge of Malice: The Marie Grossman Story," earning accolades from Kirkus Reviews as a "superbly crafted nonfiction drama" and receiving a shortlisting by Rubery for its 2021 awards.
Beyond the courtroom and the written page, David's creative spirit finds outlets through photography and music. His evocative photographs often grace local exhibits, and he generously donates the proceeds from their sales to charity. A pianist with eclectic tastes, David composes original pieces and has a predilection for classical, ragtime, and contemporary music. He is also a fitness enthusiast and engages in tennis, swimming, cycling, and gardening.
David shares his life with his beloved wife, Leslee, also a lawyer, and they are the proud parents of three children and doting grandparents to three grandchildren. They continue to make Avon, Ohio, their home.
You can learn more about David at his website: http://www.davidmiraldi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 13, 2017
This is a gem of a book. I liked the narrative style of this true crime story, and enjoyed reading about the interesting backgrounds of the principal characters. I woke at 5:30 this morning to devour the last 120 pages, absorbed in the twists and turns of the trial and its aftermath.
March 5, 2018
Casper Bennett allegedly killed his wife in the bathroom of their home in Lorain, Ohio just before Christmas 1963. This book is a detailed and very interesting telling of the aftermath and the trial.
Having grown up in Lorain, many of the names and the places mentioned are very familiar to me; but I was in college in Toledo at the time...so I don't remember the details or the trial.
But...I couldn't finish this book fast enough! Mr. Miraldi is a new but accomplished writer who was able to take the unknowns of the deed and the sometimes dull workings of an investigation and trial and weave a very compelling accounting of the Bennett case. If you like puzzles, I bet you'll like this one.
...Oh! and then there is the surprise at the end.
Having grown up in Lorain, many of the names and the places mentioned are very familiar to me; but I was in college in Toledo at the time...so I don't remember the details or the trial.
But...I couldn't finish this book fast enough! Mr. Miraldi is a new but accomplished writer who was able to take the unknowns of the deed and the sometimes dull workings of an investigation and trial and weave a very compelling accounting of the Bennett case. If you like puzzles, I bet you'll like this one.
...Oh! and then there is the surprise at the end.
January 1, 2024
Great read! Was especially neat when the different locations of my hometown were brought up. Although it took place before I was born, some of the places I still was familiar with. Along with some of the names of the people as well. I of course knew/know of their relatives.
April 28, 2024
If you’re a Lorain native you need to read this book, great story of how the justice system was 50 years ago
July 27, 2018
Rubery Prize Book of the Year 2018
This is a legal drama based on a trial that took place in early 60s America: when Casper Bennett was accused of murdering his wife by drowning her in a bath full of scalding water, Miraldi’s own father represented him in court. Miraldi has pieced together the story from an archive of documents bequeathed to him by his father, and he creates a convincing and tense drama out of that material. The characterisation is very strong, and he manages to make some fairly complex and detailed legal material accessible and interesting. It becomes something of a page turner, and builds to a gripping climax. There is much to think about here, beyond the immediate interest of the trial. The judges have debated its status as fiction or non-fiction, a dilemma considered by the author himself. He concludes that because he is not quoting directly from most of the characters it must be fiction. We disagree and feel that even with non-fiction there is room for imagination. The facts presented at the end of the book pull such a punch that they have to be considered as part of the book itself.
There is a force of intellect behind it too, which is appealing – it offers an insight into the jury system, and reveals how much of it depends on presentation, persuasion, and spin, regardless of how the legal world strives to privilege objectivity and fact. Miraldi, who is himself an attorney, tells it with an insider’s understanding of that world, and he seems to be a natural storyteller. It also gives an appealing view of America at a certain point in history: the sense of community; the significant contribution of immigration; the inevitable demise of that world when confronted with technology, a loss of innocence and cynicism. It’s a very impressive book.
This is a legal drama based on a trial that took place in early 60s America: when Casper Bennett was accused of murdering his wife by drowning her in a bath full of scalding water, Miraldi’s own father represented him in court. Miraldi has pieced together the story from an archive of documents bequeathed to him by his father, and he creates a convincing and tense drama out of that material. The characterisation is very strong, and he manages to make some fairly complex and detailed legal material accessible and interesting. It becomes something of a page turner, and builds to a gripping climax. There is much to think about here, beyond the immediate interest of the trial. The judges have debated its status as fiction or non-fiction, a dilemma considered by the author himself. He concludes that because he is not quoting directly from most of the characters it must be fiction. We disagree and feel that even with non-fiction there is room for imagination. The facts presented at the end of the book pull such a punch that they have to be considered as part of the book itself.
There is a force of intellect behind it too, which is appealing – it offers an insight into the jury system, and reveals how much of it depends on presentation, persuasion, and spin, regardless of how the legal world strives to privilege objectivity and fact. Miraldi, who is himself an attorney, tells it with an insider’s understanding of that world, and he seems to be a natural storyteller. It also gives an appealing view of America at a certain point in history: the sense of community; the significant contribution of immigration; the inevitable demise of that world when confronted with technology, a loss of innocence and cynicism. It’s a very impressive book.
May 7, 2018
This novel is based on the true trial of Casper Bennett accused of killing his wife. He stated that one evening when he arrived home he found his wife dead in the tub filled with scalding water, and that he had nothing to do with it. He claimed that she was an alcoholic and that she had suffered several falls when drunk and that twice she ended in the hospital, so he imagined she fell and drowned. He was by no means a kind soul; he also used to be an alcoholic and a well-known fact is that he was cheating on her. The book was written by the son of the defense lawyer, a lawyer himself as well, after he found his file of the case in a closet, a case his father never wanted to talk about. When he read it and learnt how difficult, controversial, and heated trial had been, he decided to tell the story. Being a lawyer, the story is told very clearly, never knowing what the verdict will be. I felt I was a member of the jury, listening to all the evidence, and felt truly involved with the characters. There was not one boring page and more than once I found myself reading until the wee hours of the morning.
August 29, 2017
This courtroom drama bristles with all the intensity of a tennis match as the two sides in a murder trial fight to score points and win each game, set, and, ultimately, the match. David Miraldi's historical novel, based on a case in which his father defended an adulterous tavern owner accused of drowning his alcoholic wife in a bathtub, pulls the reader in immediately with its realistic dialogue and fully drawn characters. The reader is carried back to a cultural moment in the early 1960s when Middle America was an ideological battleground pitting the forces of law and order against a society whose institutions' moral authority seemed to be crumbling. Defense attorney Ray Miraldi emerges as an aggressive defender of truth and justice who is not above playing outside the lines if it helps him win a case. David Miraldi draws on all his courtroom experience to make the fine points of criminal law add to the drama and drive the story along. The narrative tension never lets up, and the denouement holds many surprises for the reader.
August 19, 2017
Wow . . . my mother bought this book and then told me that I absolutely needed to read it. She made me promise that I wouldn't look at the end first (even though I never do!) because she said I needed to fully appreciate the surprise when it happened. And, she was right. This book is incredibly well written with a smooth, even pace. The personalities of key people in the book are fully fleshed out and aspects of law are explained clearly in a conversational tone. And, yes. I was surprised at the end -- twice. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. The only other comment I'd make is that, early on, the author calls this historical fiction when in fact he takes a creative writing approach to fill in information that couldn't be found through research. It is much further along on the nonfiction side of the writing spectrum than the term "historical novel" would suggest.
February 5, 2022
4.0-4.5 stars. I wouldn't reread it so that's the only reason it isn't a 5 star rating for me.
A patient recommended this book to me. Her husband had gotten it for her for Christmas. It's a fictionalized version of a true trial from the 1960s. The crime happened in Lorain, Ohio and the trial took place in Elyria, Ohio which is the county seat.
I was not in Lorain County, Ohio during the time that this takes place, but it was nice to read about a time when Lorain was a bustling mecca, prosperous, with an active downtown on Broadway. (They are trying to revive the area again now with some success, but with different stores.) It was nice to see mention of stores I've heard about but never got to visit. I recognize some of the last names though I don't know any of the people/characters mentioned.
The author is the son of one of the defense attorneys. By the time he researched this, much of the original material was lost to time. He calls this a fictionalized historical version because he does not have a transcript of conversations that happened during the investigation or a transcription of the actual trial, so he had to do the best he could with researching the law(s) in place at the time and the pieces of evidence he could find and take his best guess at some of the dialogue.
The author introduces the main characters in chapters early in the book and then the second part of the book focuses on the trial. At the end, there is a bit of a surprising revelation as well as some remarks on how investigations and the law have changed since the time this trial took place.
A patient recommended this book to me. Her husband had gotten it for her for Christmas. It's a fictionalized version of a true trial from the 1960s. The crime happened in Lorain, Ohio and the trial took place in Elyria, Ohio which is the county seat.
I was not in Lorain County, Ohio during the time that this takes place, but it was nice to read about a time when Lorain was a bustling mecca, prosperous, with an active downtown on Broadway. (They are trying to revive the area again now with some success, but with different stores.) It was nice to see mention of stores I've heard about but never got to visit. I recognize some of the last names though I don't know any of the people/characters mentioned.
The author is the son of one of the defense attorneys. By the time he researched this, much of the original material was lost to time. He calls this a fictionalized historical version because he does not have a transcript of conversations that happened during the investigation or a transcription of the actual trial, so he had to do the best he could with researching the law(s) in place at the time and the pieces of evidence he could find and take his best guess at some of the dialogue.
The author introduces the main characters in chapters early in the book and then the second part of the book focuses on the trial. At the end, there is a bit of a surprising revelation as well as some remarks on how investigations and the law have changed since the time this trial took place.
May 18, 2020
A story featuring your home town is a natural draw. Lorain, Ohio U.S.A. is a small town, blue collar, economically challenged city that, while almost never used by Hollywood nor featured in classical novels, is still the definition of the heart of American. Back in the day 1963-64 pre Miranda, tough cops and politically connected local heroes in the Prosecutor and Corner's office are challenged by author David Miraldi's father Ray, in defense of a local wise guy know by all as a fast talking, adulterous tavern owner named Casper Bennett. Lorain Police are called to the scene of Florence Bennett's death by her husband Casper. Mrs. Bennett is found, lifeless after having been removed by Casper from scalding bathwater and placed on her bed. Casper is immediately suspected by all present at the scene, with everything that he says, eventually, being held against him in the court of law. Co-councils Ray Miraldi and Lon Adams give it their all in defense of Bennett in a story developed by David Miraldi from his research and interpretation of his father's case notes and police archives. David gives the reader an introductory lesson in criminal trial law, a history of the city of Lorain, and insightful view of many local characters (names are not changed to protect the innocent) and most importantly serves as a tribute to his father, Attorney Ray Miraldi, one of Lorain's finest.
November 23, 2025
The Edge of Innocence is a compelling true crime story that doubles as a fascinating courtroom drama and a deeply personal journey. David Miraldi masterfully blends historical detail with narrative tension, taking readers to 1960s Lorain, Ohio, where a shocking crime rattles a community and a young attorney steps into the trial of a lifetime.
The book is immersive, full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Miraldi’s experience as an attorney shines through in the courtroom scenes, making the legal strategy and dialogue feel authentic and gripping. Beyond the trial, the story explores memory, responsibility, and the elusive nature of truth, showing how personal history and societal expectations intersect in unexpected ways.
What stands out is how Miraldi balances suspense with humanity, portraying the people involved with depth, warmth, and complexity. I was captivated from start to finish, and the ending left me reflecting long after the last page. This is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a well-told story that delves into the heart of justice and family.
The book is immersive, full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Miraldi’s experience as an attorney shines through in the courtroom scenes, making the legal strategy and dialogue feel authentic and gripping. Beyond the trial, the story explores memory, responsibility, and the elusive nature of truth, showing how personal history and societal expectations intersect in unexpected ways.
What stands out is how Miraldi balances suspense with humanity, portraying the people involved with depth, warmth, and complexity. I was captivated from start to finish, and the ending left me reflecting long after the last page. This is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a well-told story that delves into the heart of justice and family.
September 23, 2017
This my first real crime book and probably my last. I read this book because it is based on death that happened in 1963 only a couple blocks from where I lived in Lorain, OH. I don't remember this trial, as I was a 21 year old that had other things to think about, but I know all the places and people that David Maraldi mentioned in his book. His father was one of the defense lawyers. It was before the Miranda act and before it was required that lawyers share what they were going to present in court. As I read it I wondered how many innocent people were sent to prison because the cops had a hunch.
December 17, 2019
I originally read the book because it is set in my hometown and occurred in my lifetime when I was a very young child . But I don’t remember ever hearing anything about it. I knew the streets, buildings and many of the people in this book so that made it even more interesting to me. But I really liked his writing style. He tells a complicated story very clearly and concisely and makes it easy to follow. His character descriptions really help you to get to know each person involved and how they will react. DO NOT jump ahead and read the end of the book. I hope he writes another book - I would read it.
Read
October 13, 2020Setting in Lorain, Ohio. Tale of an unsolved murder that takes place in a small town - reminiscent of the court room scenes of the 1950's - drama and mystery. At a friend's recommendation - both have ties to Lorain. The suspect had a bar at the corner of 14th and Lexington and my grandma used to send my mom and her sister there to buy pull tabs! I guess to get her gambling fix between bingo games. Lol. My mom said when they walked in he would shush the guys in the bar bc so they wouldn't swear in front of kids!
I can't remember where you said your grandparents lived but I know it was close to where my mom grew up on 14th close to Long.
I can't remember where you said your grandparents lived but I know it was close to where my mom grew up on 14th close to Long.
May 5, 2018
Interesting because it's based on a true story.
I only have it a 4 because it's a little dry and pedantic sometimes but overall, it was very well done to make a novel based on a true story. I was curious about some of us things that happened during the trial but it was explained at the end of the book that trial procedures had been revised since the trial and the Miranda law was also passed. If you like legal stories, I think you'll like this. It's certainly different than books written under current laws and trial procedures.
I only have it a 4 because it's a little dry and pedantic sometimes but overall, it was very well done to make a novel based on a true story. I was curious about some of us things that happened during the trial but it was explained at the end of the book that trial procedures had been revised since the trial and the Miranda law was also passed. If you like legal stories, I think you'll like this. It's certainly different than books written under current laws and trial procedures.
December 7, 2018
This story takes place in my hometown of Lorain, Ohio. It was recommended to me by a couple of former classmates. I thought, "OK, I'll read it in support of another 'Lorainite' (the author, David Miraldi)" not thinking that I would like it so much. And, at first I wasn't sure, but as it unfolded, it was quite compelling. I read a lot of books and am no longer easily impressed. I love authors like Donna Tartt, Joe Ide, and Tana French. Of course this is different from their writing, but excellent in its own right. Quite a story!
February 22, 2024
exceptionally excellent
Loved this book from beginning to end. Well researched and superbly written. It is somewhat historical in nature and at times you question the legal rules governing trial history but then you remember rules have changed a great deal as this story predates Miranda. I generally dislike copious detail but this story is an exception. It drew me into the story to the point I found myself sometimes rereading detail to assure I was fully understanding of what was transpiring. First book I’ve read in quite some time that kept me riveted throughout.
Loved this book from beginning to end. Well researched and superbly written. It is somewhat historical in nature and at times you question the legal rules governing trial history but then you remember rules have changed a great deal as this story predates Miranda. I generally dislike copious detail but this story is an exception. It drew me into the story to the point I found myself sometimes rereading detail to assure I was fully understanding of what was transpiring. First book I’ve read in quite some time that kept me riveted throughout.
April 28, 2018
Great Read
For those of you that enjoy true crime stories this is a must read. Very interesting that the writer is the son of the attorney who defended Casper Bennett. Courtroom scenes are very well written and I felt like I was actually sitting in the galley observing. As all murder trial stories you always wonder if the verdict was accurate. This one is no different and just shows how errors can be made that impact our judicial system.
For those of you that enjoy true crime stories this is a must read. Very interesting that the writer is the son of the attorney who defended Casper Bennett. Courtroom scenes are very well written and I felt like I was actually sitting in the galley observing. As all murder trial stories you always wonder if the verdict was accurate. This one is no different and just shows how errors can be made that impact our judicial system.
November 24, 2018
My mother recommended this book to me after she finished it in a few days, and I can see why she recommended this book. The dialouge and the mystery aspect is extremely fascinating. The author is a lawyer in Lorain, Ohio and he kept the names of all the streets and businesses that were in Lorain at the setting of the book the same (1960s). I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery novels. Easily 5/5 stars
April 18, 2025
I thought this was a really well done book. I listened to it and the narration was fantastic also. I stumbled across this title on Hoopla and took a chance on it and loved it. It's a work of fiction based on fact and is about a murder trial back in 1963 about a man that might have drowned his wife in a tub of scalding water. You as the reader/listener get to hear all the facts/testimony and decide for yourself whether you think he did it or not. Really entertaining book.
September 4, 2017
I was amazed at the thoroughness of the character development and detail of events. The book is both thought provoking and intense. It portrays a time when life may have been simpler but relationships were as complex as ever. Dave Miraldi does a masterful job of weaving these complex relationships into to a fantastic journey for the reader. Excellent Work!
Bob DAndrea
Bob DAndrea
September 7, 2017
A really fun read. Not bogged down with legalese but portraying the human elements of the players in the drama from lawyers, judge & witnesses to the accused. The drama builds as the outcome remains in doubt until the final verdict. Plus the ending twist was a shocker! Am anxious for David's next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
Interesting read
It was a very interesting read, because it happened in my hometown. It was a rollercoaster read for sure. One minute, I believed he did it, then the next minute I thought maybe not. Once I started to read this, I couldn't stop.. I also knew and remembered the law enforcement involved in this case and attorneys.
It was a very interesting read, because it happened in my hometown. It was a rollercoaster read for sure. One minute, I believed he did it, then the next minute I thought maybe not. Once I started to read this, I couldn't stop.. I also knew and remembered the law enforcement involved in this case and attorneys.
January 8, 2018
Once you start reading David P. Miraldi's The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett, you can't stop! Inspired by true events, the author's tale of his father's role in the Casper Bennett murder trial is replete with legal drama and questions of moral character. It's a perfect novel for a wintry evening.
November 3, 2018
Interesting
Took me a while to get through this book. It was frustrating and sad. I read it as if Bennet was innocent. The details of each attorney and Bennet ' s life, got over played ( my opinion ). Summing up, I did skip some of the longer attorney speaches, and finished the book. Surprise, just wait for it!
Took me a while to get through this book. It was frustrating and sad. I read it as if Bennet was innocent. The details of each attorney and Bennet ' s life, got over played ( my opinion ). Summing up, I did skip some of the longer attorney speaches, and finished the book. Surprise, just wait for it!
May 2, 2019
Did he or did he not?
At first I wasn't sure whether I would finish this book, but the further I got into it, the more gripping it became. I found myself pulling for the defense, but was never quite certain. Read and judge for yourself!
Be sure to read all the author's words both before and after the "story" part. You won't regret it!
At first I wasn't sure whether I would finish this book, but the further I got into it, the more gripping it became. I found myself pulling for the defense, but was never quite certain. Read and judge for yourself!
Be sure to read all the author's words both before and after the "story" part. You won't regret it!
April 22, 2024
Surprise ending
Spoiler alert: I felt from the beginning Casper was guilty. I think the palm burns were from holding her head under water causing her legs to pop up. God knows the truth and he will meet his maker. This is a very interesting read with unsettling news of how Mrs Bennett died.
Spoiler alert: I felt from the beginning Casper was guilty. I think the palm burns were from holding her head under water causing her legs to pop up. God knows the truth and he will meet his maker. This is a very interesting read with unsettling news of how Mrs Bennett died.
June 7, 2018
Captivating Read
Mr. Miraldi’s ability to recreate this 1964 trail was brilliant. A wonderful debut historical novel. A captivating read, hard to put down was anxious for the verdict. Hold on for the surprise! Look forward to reading move from this author.
Mr. Miraldi’s ability to recreate this 1964 trail was brilliant. A wonderful debut historical novel. A captivating read, hard to put down was anxious for the verdict. Hold on for the surprise! Look forward to reading move from this author.
June 16, 2018
We are proud to announce that THE EDGE OF INNOCENCE: The Trial of Casper Bennett by David P. Miraldi is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
August 3, 2018
A superb description of the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife. Presented in sequence of actual investigation and courtroom testimony, the reader doesn't know the jury's findings in advance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews