The Crescent City is a land of good music, food, and people, known more for warm smiles and loud conversations than for the sepulchral tones that often lurk around the corner. The days in this animated city are full of bright colors and eclectic sounds, but the nights, under the cover of darkness, are when the drama ensues. Glamour and drama have always suited each other well, and when it comes to New Orleans, nothing makes for a better murder setting.

This collection of seven of the most renowned murders of the early twentieth century, compiled by beloved New Orleans novelist,...