Did Harper Lee write a true-crime novel? Lawyer's wife says she has the first chapter
After writing To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee researched and began writing a true-crime book about a possible serial murderer, according to the family of the lawyer who represented an acquitted suspect.
Lee worked on the book for months and possibly years, but there is no indication that her notes and supporting documents are anywhere to be found, the Associated Press reports. But family members of defense lawyer Tom Radney say they have the first chapter of her manuscript, titled The Reverend, according to AP and the New Yorker.
The chapter is six paragraphs in length, comprising four pages. And there was more, Lee promised Radney, according to his widow, Madolyn. She and other Radney family members had hoped the discovery of Go Set a Watchman would lead to a manuscript for The Reverend. Madolyn Radney says her husband gave Harper Lee all of his notes, transcripts and court documents, and the materials were never returned.
Tom Radney won an acquittal for preacher Will Maxwell in the death of his first wife, who was found beaten and strangled in her car. The chief prosecution witness, a neighbor, married Maxwell and changed her testimony to provide an alibi. Maxwell was never accused in the deaths of other relatives: a brother who died of alcohol poisoning, the second wife who was found dead in her car, a nephew who disappeared, and a stepdaughter found dead under Maxwell’s car.
The stepdaughter’s uncle killed Maxwell at the funeral. Radney defended the uncle and won a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
