Published by Thread Genres: True Crime
Format: ARC, Audiobook
September 6,1949
The first recorded mass shooting occurred on this date when twenty-eight-year-old Howard Barton Unruh opened fire and shot thirteen people in less than twelve minutes. Howard Unruh plotted the revenge on his neighbors for their bullying, mistreatment, and shunning. They never let Howard have a minute’s peace. Their taunting was constant and unrelenting.
Howard lived with his mother and kept mainly to himself. He had a secret life and kept an apartment in Philadelphia where he could be his true self. Where he could date, meet other men and have relationships with them.
When not being taunted and ridiculed by his neighbors, he kept a shooting range in his basement. He was honorably discharged from the service after the war. Was this a way to let off steam or was this practice for the massacre that was yet to come?
Raymond Havens went to get a haircut that morning and was a witness. when his friend and neighbor, Howard opened fire. So many lives were forever changed that day.
This book is told through eyewitness accounts, psychiatric records, diary entries and police reports. I had not heard of this case prior to seeing this audiobook being available on NetGalley. The author did a tremendous amount of research, and I did not want to stop listening.
In addition to being a riveting and gripping book, I thought the narrator did an amazing job. Howard is presented as a sympathetic character. I kept thinking how much one person could take before reaching a breaking point. What would have happened if that door had not been messed with?
This whole book is sad. So many lives lost, so many lives changed. A man taunted and beaten down. A man who was already changed by war. A man who screamed in his sleep. A man who had been bullied his entire life. A young man who bore witness, who visited Howard and was forever changed as well. A mother who can’t understand the actions of her son, who can’t understand how her sweet bible reading son could do such a thing.
This is a powerful read/listen.
Howard did a horrible thing, there is no doubt. But I could not help but feel for him as I did his victims.
True crime fans will enjoy this book. It is thought provoking, powerful, evoking emotion and well written.
Thank you to Thread and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.