(NAPSI)—In A Second Shot: The Pursuit of Justice in Maryland’s Oldest Cold Case Murder, Michael F. Weisberg, M.D. tells a deeply compelling story that transcends the true crime genre. At its heart is not just the decades-old murder of a deputy sheriff, but the enduring love of a daughter who refused to let her father’s case be forgotten—and the unlikely author who helped bring the story to light.
In October 1971, Captain James Tappen Hall kissed his grandchildren goodbye and took a last-minute patrol shift at a Rockville country club. Hours later, the beloved officer was found face down in a pool of his own blood.
Despite an initial investigation, the case went cold and remained unsolved for over 50 years. Hall’s daughter Carolyn and her husband Bob Philo never gave up hope. Their friendship with Weisberg, a physician and novelist, led to this book, which offers both a meticulously researched account of the case and a heartfelt meditation on justice.
What makes A Second Shot stand out is its emotional clarity and warmth. Weisberg weaves the procedural details of the investigation with intimate, firsthand accounts from the Hall family, giving the narrative both structure and soul. When cold case detectives finally secured a confession in 2021—uncovering a key detail never made public—it brought long-awaited closure and gave the book its name, and its power.
Reminiscent of In Cold Blood and Zodiac, Weisberg’s account is cinematic in structure and quietly powerful in tone. He includes himself in the story, not for effect, but to illustrate the transformative nature of witnessing justice long delayed. His personal health struggles during the writing process give the theme of “second chances” added resonance.
This Amazon bestseller, which launched to coincide with National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, will be of special interest to members of the law enforcement community and their families.
A Second Shot isn’t just a murder story—it’s a gripping account of persistence and loss. Weisberg has delivered a propulsive true crime book that reads like a film.
A Second Shot: The Pursuit of Justice in Maryland’s Oldest Cold Case Murder is available now from Intelligentsia Books in paperback and eBook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers.
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"A Second Shot: The Pursuit of Justice in Maryland’s Oldest Cold Case Murder, by Michael Weisberg, M.D., is a testament to memory, truth, and faith. Weisberg has delivered a quietly riveting true crime book that reads like a film."