What do Lizzie Borden and O. J. Simpson have in common? Or the Lindbergh baby and Gary Gilmore? The answer: they were all the focus of famous crimes and/or trials in the US. In this five-volume set, historical and contemporary cases that not only "shocked the nation" but that also became a part of the popular and legal culture of the country are discussed in vivid, and sometimes shocking, detail. Each chapter focuses on a different crime or trial, and explores the ways in which each became famous in its own time. The fascinating cast of characters, the outrageous crimes, the involvement of the media, the actions of the police, and the trials that often surprised combine to offer here one of the most comprehensive set of books available on the subject of famous US. crimes and trials. Everyone remembers the Manson murders, and who can forget Bonnie and Clyde? But from colonial times to the present, there have been many crimes and trials that have captivated and impacted American culture in a variety of ways. Gathered here are detailed accounts of the most infamous and celebrated crimes and trials, and lively considerations of the media's and the public's fascination with them. What makes a crime so famous? Why do certain trials hit the headlines while others do not? The elements of these stories are carefully outlined to illustrate the continuing interest we all have in the gruesome, the sensational, the devious, the notorious, and the controversial cases that have coloured US history from its beginnings.