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Ashes From A Burning Corpse
On a hot rainy summer night in Nassau, the Bahamas, in 1943, someone murdered Sir Harry Oakes, one of the richest men in the world, as he slept. When police found him the next morning, there were four wounds to his skull. His corpse had been abused, covered ritualistically with feathers and set on fire. The murder was perverse, horrific and jaded by anyone’s standards. A few evenings later in New York City, the phone rang in the home of Alan Hynd, identified in that era by the NY Times as America’s highest paid true crime reporter. The Oakes case would send the writer, with a quarter of a century of experience covering murders, to the Bahamas in wartime. He would try to bring truth to a case that was littered with a colorful cast of international characters and which, in its resolution, became unique in the annals of true crime. "Ashes From A Burning Corpse" is the fictionalized story of that writer’s coverage of the case – and how it changed his life forever. It is also a literary and cultural journey into New York and the colonial Bahamas of the World War Two era, a story touching upon Hemingway, Sinatra and FDR, big-shot film and Broadway producers, crooked cops, gangsters and a murder trial so big that it knocked the world war off the front pages. Welcome to what is also a literary journey into true crime, politics, book publishing and magazine work in the World War Two era, with allusions to writers from Edmond Pearson to Scott Fitzgerald. "Ashes" is part of a trilogy titled "An American True Crime Reporter in the 20th Century," three cases which were the centerpieces of a veteran real-life crime reporter’s legacy. The trilogy will also include first person novels on the original Charles Ponzi swindling case, "The Summer of Charlie Ponzi" and the Charles Lindbergh kidnapping case, "The Crimes of The Century." The latter two titles will appear in early 2018 and feature the same writer/reporter at earlier stages of his long career. Noel Hynd is the author of more than a dozen novels, originally published by Doubleday, Dial, Bantam, Tor, Kensington, Zondervan/HarperCollins, and currently, his own imprint, Red Cat Tales LLC Publishing of Los Angeles, California. He has sold more than 7 million books worldwide, including hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, Literary Guild and digital editions. His best known titles in the espionage genre are "Flowers From Berlin" and "Truman's Spy." In the supernatural genre, his best known titles are "Ghosts" and "Cemetery of Angeles.""Ingenious...Suspense fiction that stands out!" - New York Times"Noel Hynd knows the ins and outs of Washington's agencies both public and private" - Publishers Weekly"A few notches above the Ludlums and Clancys of the world." - Booklist
- GenresTrue Crime
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2017
244 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Noel Hynd
62 books218 followers I've been a published novelist for longer than I care to admit, since 1976. I'm frequently asked, however, how I first got published. It's an interesting story and involved both Robert Ludlum and James Baldwin, even though neither of them knew it --- or me --- at the time.
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2017
Noel Hynd has an uncanny ability to get into the language and culture of an era. In this instance it is from the writings and talks that he had with his father, the main character in this fictionalized true crime novel.(As well as having thoroughly researched the case.) I was mesmerized by the story and the depiction of the corruption at the highest level of Bahamian society and its legal system. I had never heard the name Sir Harry Oakes before this novel. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world when he was brutally murdered in 1943. There are many theories and suspects including notorious mobsters, but the local authorities are hell bent on the prosecution of one man. And any reporter, journalist, private detective or other force that confronts that result oriented prosecution finds themselves in harm's way. Hynd makes the story come to life with characters that include the high society of that era; some of whom were friendly with Alan Hynd the main character. (Mike Todd) Ernest Hemingway, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and other celebrities play significant roles in this foreboding mystery of political intrigue. It's an engrossing tale that gives the reader a first hand examination of what life was like during World War 11 in Nassau and the cultural divide between the rich and the native Bahamians. I have read two other works by Noel Hynd and have enjoyed them all. Thanks for an entertaining read.
March 12, 2019
Reading this book was the first time I heard about this murder and I was astounded by how many people were connected to this event. The author did a great job providing the reader with background information and other historical information from the time frame, but at times it was a bit too much. I found a lot of it interesting, but I also felt that sometimes it was losing its way from being primarily about the murder to being a historical non-fiction book. Though I must admit I found quite a bit of the historical information fascinating.
The narrator did a great job conveying the book and using inflection and voices to keep the reader entertained.
I was provided with a free audio version of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The narrator did a great job conveying the book and using inflection and voices to keep the reader entertained.
I was provided with a free audio version of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
December 31, 2017
Another winner by Noel Hynd!
First, I want to discuss author Noel Hynd, who has become one of my favorite all time authors. I started by reading all of his ghost and horror stories, which I truly loved. (Please, Noel, write some more). He has a wonderful way of bringing his writings to life. His characters and scenes are always wonderfully described with his wonderful way with words. He also has an enjoyable subtle humor at times.
This book is about a case his crime writer father Alan Hynd was involved in starting in 1943 Bahamas. Alan Hynd was a world famous true crime writer and reporter back in the days when reporters were like detectives, not only reporting on crimes, but trying to solve them. He covered more than 1,000 cases, writing for newspapers, magazines, as well a many books that he authored. His career lasted over fifty years, starting in the 1920's.
This book was written as if Alan Hynd was writing the story. It was the first person account of the still unsolved murder of Sir Harry Oaks of the Bahamas, who was one of the richest men in the word at the time. The murder, which took place in 1943 was especially gruesome. Alan was not only covering the murder, and trial of a wrongly accused suspect, he actually spent years trying to uncover the truth, only to discover that there was a deadly coverup by the Bahamian government and others that almost cost him his life.
Not only was this true case extremely interesting, I truly loved the feeling of almost watching one of the noir genre black and white crime and detective films that were so popular in the 40's and 50's.
At the end of the book, Noel Hynd included a story written by his father that was the basis of Arsenic and Old Lace. I was so impressed by Alan Hynd's writing, I plan to read more works by him as well as by his son Noel Hynd.
First, I want to discuss author Noel Hynd, who has become one of my favorite all time authors. I started by reading all of his ghost and horror stories, which I truly loved. (Please, Noel, write some more). He has a wonderful way of bringing his writings to life. His characters and scenes are always wonderfully described with his wonderful way with words. He also has an enjoyable subtle humor at times.
This book is about a case his crime writer father Alan Hynd was involved in starting in 1943 Bahamas. Alan Hynd was a world famous true crime writer and reporter back in the days when reporters were like detectives, not only reporting on crimes, but trying to solve them. He covered more than 1,000 cases, writing for newspapers, magazines, as well a many books that he authored. His career lasted over fifty years, starting in the 1920's.
This book was written as if Alan Hynd was writing the story. It was the first person account of the still unsolved murder of Sir Harry Oaks of the Bahamas, who was one of the richest men in the word at the time. The murder, which took place in 1943 was especially gruesome. Alan was not only covering the murder, and trial of a wrongly accused suspect, he actually spent years trying to uncover the truth, only to discover that there was a deadly coverup by the Bahamian government and others that almost cost him his life.
Not only was this true case extremely interesting, I truly loved the feeling of almost watching one of the noir genre black and white crime and detective films that were so popular in the 40's and 50's.
At the end of the book, Noel Hynd included a story written by his father that was the basis of Arsenic and Old Lace. I was so impressed by Alan Hynd's writing, I plan to read more works by him as well as by his son Noel Hynd.
April 4, 2019
Disclaimer.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
Having had recently finished watching I Am the Night, the sickening story about George Hodel's crimes, I'm addicted to true-crime historical fiction genre. "Ashes From A Burning Corpse" fit perfectly for that craving. It's a very well written book, giving you an in-depth view of the era and this murder trial that had rocked the country. (which I had no idea of, until reading this book.). The crime-thriller style of writing prevents it from becoming a boring documentary. It was unputdownable.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing specific that I can think of.
Narration -
Ben Collins did a good job narrating this book. His distinct voices kept me clued in and engaged in the story and distraction free.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
Having had recently finished watching I Am the Night, the sickening story about George Hodel's crimes, I'm addicted to true-crime historical fiction genre. "Ashes From A Burning Corpse" fit perfectly for that craving. It's a very well written book, giving you an in-depth view of the era and this murder trial that had rocked the country. (which I had no idea of, until reading this book.). The crime-thriller style of writing prevents it from becoming a boring documentary. It was unputdownable.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing specific that I can think of.
Narration -
Ben Collins did a good job narrating this book. His distinct voices kept me clued in and engaged in the story and distraction free.
January 14, 2018
What a story Noel Hynd has written about his fathers reporting and life. Alan Hynd had guts to go report on a murder and trial in the Bahamas during a time of total corruption. Even putting himself in danger by continuing to write about it. It is an amazing story, scary, thrilling and exciting. It is so well written it's like you are there experiencing it yourself. A fantastic and compelling story...........
February 3, 2020
Murder in the Bahamas - Engrossing, Incredulous and True
Noel Hynd is an accomplished storyteller with a penchant for historical accuracy. As a storyteller myself, I appreciate the weaving of details into a plot. The setting of the book includes World War II and references to some of the major players. I often diverted myself from the story to investigate a number of the references Hynd included throughout his novel. Thus my enjoyment was realized on a number of levels.
Noel Hynd is an accomplished storyteller with a penchant for historical accuracy. As a storyteller myself, I appreciate the weaving of details into a plot. The setting of the book includes World War II and references to some of the major players. I often diverted myself from the story to investigate a number of the references Hynd included throughout his novel. Thus my enjoyment was realized on a number of levels.
July 7, 2023
Are you kidding me?! Probably the worst ending ever! The story was enjoyable, albeit long. I don’t know what is true or not. He writes of Paradise Island, but I think at that time (WWII era) it was still called “Hog Island “…
September 28, 2018
Good true crime story
True crime in the Bahamas with lots of well known historical figures to excite history buffs. Well worth reading believe me.
True crime in the Bahamas with lots of well known historical figures to excite history buffs. Well worth reading believe me.
August 29, 2021
Very6 go,od
Plot is excellent and very entertaining. Hunt is a first rate author and WI well is a master of English!
Plot is excellent and very entertaining. Hunt is a first rate author and WI well is a master of English!
December 15, 2019
I grew up between the Bahamas and Florida. My family can be traced to the first established settler in the Bahamas. Growing up there I used to hear a lot of people talk about Sir Harry Oakes and the case, but no one would give me the details (now I can understand why.)
My mum has read every book ever written on the Sir Harry Oakes murder and so I was so excited when I got a chance to sample this book. I had a hard time stopping it and could of easily listened to it all the way through, in one sitting. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time. I got a little bored in places that were not in the Bahamas, but overall a great book and I think those parts make more sense later on in the book.
The accuracy in this was great. A lot has not changed in Nassau since this time sadly, just a little more modern and with more air conditioning. I could picture most of this book so vividly.
I enjoyed the perspective from the journalist's point of view.
Ben Collins also does a great job with the narration. He has a pleasant voice and it is easy to listen too. I felt like I was sitting and listening to the reporter more than the narrator which I really enjoy when that happens.
You should give this book a listen if you love true crime and historical fiction since it is a blend of the two. I have already recommended it to a few people.
I received this audiobook at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
My mum has read every book ever written on the Sir Harry Oakes murder and so I was so excited when I got a chance to sample this book. I had a hard time stopping it and could of easily listened to it all the way through, in one sitting. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time. I got a little bored in places that were not in the Bahamas, but overall a great book and I think those parts make more sense later on in the book.
The accuracy in this was great. A lot has not changed in Nassau since this time sadly, just a little more modern and with more air conditioning. I could picture most of this book so vividly.
I enjoyed the perspective from the journalist's point of view.
Ben Collins also does a great job with the narration. He has a pleasant voice and it is easy to listen too. I felt like I was sitting and listening to the reporter more than the narrator which I really enjoy when that happens.
You should give this book a listen if you love true crime and historical fiction since it is a blend of the two. I have already recommended it to a few people.
I received this audiobook at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews