Minnesota Mayhem

This true crime history recounts more than a century of crime, deviousness, and disaster in the North Star State. In Minnesota Mayhem, local historian and author Ben Welter explores the best of the state's worst moments. Culled from the archives of the Minneapolis Tribune and its successor newspapers, these stories and photos range from the catastrophic to the chillingly curious and the simply strange. Among the true tales told in these pages, Welter recounts the career of a successful con man in 1871; an 1881 fire that destroyed the State Capitol; a flu outbreak that killed more than 10,000 Minnesotans in 1918; the arrest of Frank Lloyd Wright at a Lake Minnetonka cottage in 1926; an arrested stripper who claimed wardrobe malfunction in 1953; and the 1977 murder of a wealthy matron in Duluth.

The 1960s were a heady time to come of age. The British Invasion transformed pop music and culture. The fledgling space program offered a thrilling display of modern technology. The civil rights movement and Vietnam War drew young people to American politics, spurring them to think more critically about the state of the nation. And the assassinations Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 shook the United States to the core. During these turbulent times the Minnesota Twins were the pride of the North Star State—an elite team that advanced to the World Series in 1965 and played in dramatic pennant races in the years thereafter. After an uneven 1964 season the Twins set themselves up for a turnaround that would last the rest of the decade. At the end of his playing career with the Twins, Billy Martin was hired as third base coach in 1965, giving them a more aggressive base-running style. Mudcat Grant became the first African American pitcher to win at least twenty games in the American League, and Tony Oliva won his second batting title to help lead the Twins to the World Series, which they lost in seven games to the Dodgers. In 1967 rookie Rod Carew joined the Twins as they engaged in a historic pennant race but finished second to the Red Sox during their “Impossible Dream” season. In 1969 Martin took over as manager, and both Carew and Harmon Killebrew led the Twins to the American League Championship Series, only to lose to the Orioles, after which Martin was fired in part for a now-legendary bar fight. Bill Rigney took the helm in 1970 and steered the Twins to a second-straight division title and ALCS loss to the Orioles. In The Pride of Minnesota Thom Henninger details these pennant races, from the key moments and games to the personalities of the players involved, in the context of state and world events. Although the Twins won only one AL pennant in this stretch and failed to win the World Series, these memorable seasons, played in remarkable and compelling times, made for an important first decade in the team’s early history.

Turn back the yellowing pages of Minnesota's past and explore the best of the state's worst moments, as chronicled in the Minneapolis Tribune and its successor newspapers. These stories and photos, culled from the Star Tribune's microfilm archive by author Ben Welter, range from the catastrophic to the merely curious. From a fire that destroyed the State Capitol in 1881, to a wordless fistfight that broke out on a Minneapolis street in 1898, a flu outbreak that killed more than 10,000 Minnesotans in 1918 and the arrest of Frank Lloyd Wright at a Lake Minnetonka cottage in 1926.

Ten-year old Grace recounts to the psychologist her woeful tale of becoming an orphan. Grace describes each of her family members and discusses how the tragedy unfolded. In an already unhappy household, evil comes alive when Grace’s father, Luke discusses with her, at the hanging site the specifics of the deplorable event resulting in the death of hundreds. The hateful act of hanging has led the town into being a hotbed for holding the earthbound dead as prisoners for eternity. Each situation leads to another darker, more sinister event when the dead come alive.

When fresh-faced rookie, Wyatt, scores an unexpected goal with the fiery sister of the team's star goalie, the rink's temperature isn't the only thing that's frozen! Cue the drama, on and off the ice, landing Wyatt in a chilly PR debacle. Enter Emily - the sizzling PR maestro with a penchant for South Beach sun and salsa. She's dispatched by Wyatt's agent to defrost his tarnished reputation, but will she melt his icy exterior? With sandy beaches in her heart and winter in his, the sparks fly, not only from their clashing preferences but also a tantalizing age gap. Dive into a whirlwind romance where sun meets snow and see if true love can bridge the divide. Will they end in a chilly standoff or warm up to a fiery finish? Find out in "Rookie in Love" – a tale of unexpected passions and the magnetic pull of opposites! Grab your next hockey read today! 🌞❄️💕

Rachel's life is in the penalty box. After a disastrous fallout with her ex-boyfriend that destroyed her influencer status, she's trying to rebuild in the quiet town of Maine. But starting over isn't easy, especially when your new boss happens to be the smoking-hot star hockey player, Blake, who's also your brother's best friend. Blake's got his own issues. He's the heartthrob of the ice rink and the neighbor next door, and he's sworn off serious commitments. But there's something about his new assistant that he just can't resist. And when an island charity event strands Rachel without a way back due to a visa glitch, he offers a solution: a fake marriage. But with paparazzi lurking at every corner and their sizzling chemistry harder to ignore, the lines between pretense and reality blur. Can they stick to the game plan, or will they end up scoring a real love goal? Dive into this steamy hockey romance and find out. Hotter than Puck will have you rooting for love on and off the ice. One click today!

When the puck drops in the heated world of NHL, Alexandre slides effortlessly across the ice, but nothing could prepare him for the slippery slope of his own emotions. In a high-stakes game, where loyalty is paramount, he ventures beyond the rink's barriers, seeking help from an unexpected ally — the brilliant team statistician. As the tension of the playoffs rises, so does the chemistry between them, melting the ice that once divided their worlds. But as secrets unravel, Alexandre's intentions come under the spotlight. Is he playing for love, or is he just playing? Dive into "Jagged Ice" and let the thrilling blend of strategy, romance, and raw emotion grip you till the final buzzer. 🥅❤️🔥 Whether you're a hockey aficionado or a hopeless romantic, this tale promises chills, thrills, and heart-pounding moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

"A masterfully woven tale of mystery, reconciliation, and familial love." –Abby Jimenez, New York Times Bestselling Author Readers of Olga Dies Dreaming and fans of Julia Alvarez will be captivated by this spellbinding story told from multiple perspectives and spanning a generation, as a baffling genealogy test connects two young women across cultures and class and sets in motion the events that might unravel a decades-old crime at last. "With every turn of the page, readers are drawn to exploring the complexities that bind every person to their roots, celebrating the tenacious pursuit of identity." –LA Times Book of the Month Club Add-On Selection | GoodReads Readers' Most Anticipated Books | The Daily Mail Best New Books | Indie Next Pick | LibraryReads Selection | GoodReads The Fall Books Goodreads Editors Can't Wait to Read | Library Journal Fall Book Preview, The Titles to Read in 2023 What if your most basic beliefs about your life were suddenly revealed to be a lie? As the fact checker for a popular magazine, Gabby DiMarco believes in absolute, verifiable Truths—until they throw the facts of her own life into question. The genealogy test she took as research for an article has yielded a baffling result: Gabby has a sister—one who’s been desperately trying to find her. Except, as Gabby’s beloved parents would confirm if they were still alive, that’s impossible. Isabella Ruiz can still picture the face of her baby sister, who disappeared from the streets of San Juan twenty-five years ago. Isabella, an artist, has fought hard for the stable home and loving marriage she has today—yet the longing to find Marianna has never left. At last, she’s found a match, and Gabby has agreed to come to Puerto Rico. But Gabby, as defensive and cautious as Isabella is impulsive, offers no happy reunion. She insists there’s been a mistake. And Isabella realizes that even if this woman is her sister, she may not want to be. With nothing—or perhaps so much—in common, Gabby and Isabella set out to find the truth, though it means risking everything they’ve known for an uncertain future—and a past that harbors yet more surprises . . . "A compulsive story with engaging characters that hooked me from the start. This is a must read!" –Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post & Bestselling Author "Lauren Rico’s FAMILIA has it all. By page 30, I would have walked on coals to finish reading this story." –Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean "An absolute delight. I couldn't stop turning the pages." –KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Chicken Sisters (A Reese's Book Club Pick) “A moving story about the bonds of sisterhood and unraveling the mysteries of your past. A wonderful debut!” –Annette Chavez Macias, bestselling author of Big Chicas Don’t Cry