Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge, by Rebecca Godfrey. By twists and turns, Under the Bridge examines a terrible crime in which middle-class teenagers obsessed with film idols and hip-hop culture turn on one of their own with tragic results. Who were the seemingly ordinary suburban teenagers who found themselves under the bridge on a moonlit Friday night? Why would a girl who longed to be their friend be beaten and killed? And how did so many teenagers keep the knowledge of a murder from parents, teachers, and police for eight days? Under the Bridge answers these questions in a stunning account that takes us into bedrooms and classrooms, into a fateful night, into the hearts of grieving families, and finally, into police stations and courtrooms as adults reckon with a shocking and brutal crime.

A skillful blend of hard journalism and riveting narrative, Under the Bridge is the first book to explore the real story behind the "schoolgirl murder" that made international headlines. Author Rebecca Godfrey draws on six years of research -- including exclusive interviews with the accused -- to produce a portrait of this modern tragedy. We come to know the lonely victim, the provocative troublemaker, a pair of young lovers, a determined investigator, a dynamic prosecutor, and a compelling cast of supporting characters whose every move reveals a clue not only to the crime itself, but also to the social tensions that provoked it. Under the Bridge is a deeply moving and timely exploration of violence and redemption, a richly detailed look at real people forever transformed by their role in a drama of envy, betrayal, loss, and courage.

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Using Roses in the Kitchen