Lawrence P. Gooley

North Country / Adirondack Author

Book Tag: Jefferson County

Adirondack Murders of Passion: New & True Stories of Killing for Love, Money, or Both in the Mountains & Foothills

Adirondack Murders of Passion-Front Cover

Discover the dark and captivating history of the Adirondacks with Adirondack Murders of Passion: New & True Stories of Killing for Love, Money, or Both in the Mountains & Foothills by Lawrence P. Gooley. This gripping true crime collection dives deep into the most notorious and sensational murder cases that rocked upstate New York from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Each chapter unravels a tale of love, jealousy, betrayal, and greed—crimes committed in the heat of passion that left communities reeling.

Explore chilling accounts, such as:

  • The multiple graves of Harriet Van Auken’s husband
  • Charles Harrison’s jealous rage on the streets of Plattsburgh
  • Edward Haynes, whose web of lies led to a double murder

Meticulously researched and rich with period newspaper accounts, trial details, and local lore, this book brings to life the real stories behind the headlines. Perfect for fans of true crime, regional history, and the mysterious allure of the Adirondacks, Adirondack Murders of Passion is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the darker side of human nature.

Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer: The Story of Prohibition in Northern New York, Volume 1

Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer, Volume 1-Front Cover

Prohibition was the wildest, most chaotic period in northern New York’s history. America’s so-called “Great Experiment”—banning the social and recreational use of alcohol—led to unforeseen and unfortunate consequences. Thousands of speeding bootleggers presented potentially deadly hazards to casual drivers. The number of gun-toting highwaymen (robbers) skyrocketed with the emergence of new and irresistible targets—bootleggers carrying cash north to buy alcohol, and bootleggers carrying valuable booze loads south.

Even more alarming were the almost daily wild shootouts, often on village and city streets, the air heavy with bullets as lawmen and smugglers fought it out during high-speed chases. Worse yet in the eyes of many were the extremely aggressive tactics of lawmen, who were sworn to provide enforcement (the offenses were mostly misdemeanors) and protect the public, but killed bootleggers and innocent citizens alike in the process, and were rarely held accountable. They falsified charges, lied, stonewalled, withheld evidence, and did whatever it took to avoid prosecution. » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 7

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 7-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 6

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 6-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 5

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 5-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 4

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 4-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 3

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 3-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 2

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 2-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

People & Places of the Adirondacks & Foothills, Volume 1

People & Places of the Adirondacks, Volume 1-Front Cover

The People & Places of the Adirondacks collection contains a variety of story types: original works of hard history, the lives of unusual people, noteworthy accomplishments, groundbreaking inventions, remarkable mishaps, oddities, and humor.

They all have one thing in common: each is rooted in the North Country, defined here as the Adirondacks and foothills. The region’s past is filled with relative or complete unknowns who were, in fact, highly accomplished individuals. Many of the chapters here reveal their stories, which are well worth preserving. Those and others are presented with a purpose that is threefold: to educate, amuse, and entertain.

In this volume… » More Details

25 Diabolical Adirondack Murders: The Twisted, Fiendish Deeds of North Country Killers

25 Diabolical Adirondack Murders-Front Cover

Within these pages are twenty-five complete stories of murder in the North Country. The perpetrators range from average citizens to some of the worst degenerates imaginable. Their methods run the gamut from poison to clubs to knives to guns to axes, while their stories contain shocking revelations and remarkable twists, far too many to count. And some are just plain unusual.

These true chronicles from long ago once held readers spellbound, and are as riveting as many of the high-profile murder cases in modern media. It’s at once fascinating and disturbing to explore the devious minds of those who walk among us. » More Details