An Early Grave (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

By Gary C. King

Book Overview

On September 17, 1998, police found Las Vegas gambling magnate Ted Binion lying dead on the floor of his palatial home, an empty bos of Xanax beside him. The police had been called by Binion's live-in lover, Sandra Murphy, 23, a California girl who had been working in a Vegas strip club when Binion had first met her. At first it seemed it was a fatal drug overdose that killed the handsome multi-millionaire. But was it? A few days later, Binion's "friend" Rick Tabish was arrested for trying to break into a vault where the eccentric millionaire had stored seven million dollars' worth of silver bars and coins. Family members hired ex-homicide detective-turned-private investigator Tom Dillar to start digging into the case. Dillard turned over the evidence he collected to Las Vegas police. What they found led to Binion's death being ruled a homicide and Murphy and Tabish's arrest for murder. The state said they were greedy lovers who'd conspired to kill Binion before they could strike Murphy out of his will, while the defense claimed that his vengeful family was trying to railroad Murphy to keep her from inheriting her fair share of the estate. The two sides collided in court, amid lurid charges and countercharges of physical abuse, drug use and illicit passion, in what became the Southwest's Murder Trial of the Century

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312979266
• ISBN13: 9780312979263
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A Real Page Turner!

I beg to differ with the reader from Scottsdale, AZ. I found King's book to be a real page-turner, as are all of King's books, from beginning to end. I particularly liked the historical aspects of the book, from background about Las Vegas and Nevada to background on the Binion family history. King doesn't pad his books with filler--instead he tells a story the way a story should be told. If you like romance and/or Gone With the Wind type stuff, or descriptions of city streets that take up eight pages or so every time a descriptive passage presents itself, then you should stick with the so-called and self-proclaimed "Queen of True Crime." If you're after hard-hitting true crime that really moves, page after page, then you'll like this book and just about anything else this guy has written.

An Early Grave

Gary's book is outstanding! It is an accurate depiction of the investigation into the murder of Ted Binion. "An Early Grave" will hold your attention from start to finish. I was the lead detective in the case and had a hard time putting down the book. Gary King is a brilliant writer!

Absolutely Great

I have read all the synopis, i watched the whole trial, and the specials on TV about the murder it is great! GARY C. King is my very favorite true crime author! I got married in vegas and have been in Binion Horseshoe Casino many times! this book has it all flaky characters, greed, fame, ambition, adultry, infidelity, drugs, mafia! I ordered 10 books i want all my family and friends to read this one! Happy reading!