Book description
Shortlisted for the 2021 Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction and the 2022 Anthony Award for Best Critical or Nonfiction Work At the end of the 1976 football season, more than forty Harvard athletes went to Boston's Combat Zone to celebrate. In the city's adult entertainment district, drugs and prostitution ran rampant, violent crime was commonplace, and corrupt police turned the other way. At the end of the night, Italian American star athlete Andy Puopolo, raised in the city's North End, was murdered in a stabbing. Three African American men were accused of the crime. His murder made national news and led to the eventual demise of the city's red-light district. Starting with this brutal murder, The Combat Zone tells the story of the Puopolo family's struggle with both a devastating loss and a criminal justice system that produced two trials with opposing verdicts, all within the context of a racially divided Boston. Brogan traces the contentious relationship between Boston's segregated neighborhoods during the busing crisis; shines a light on a court system that allowed lawyers to strike potential jurors based purely on their racial or ethnic identity; and lays bare the deep-seated corruption within the police department and throughout the Combat Zone. What emerges is a fascinating snapshot of the city at a transitional moment in its recent past.
Bat Magenta
The smart recommendation feature keeps surprising me with books I never knew I'd love. I've found solace and relaxation in the pages of countless audiobooks. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better.
Boost Princess
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. 📱🔊 The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Prof. Smirk
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
Grabber
This app's ease of use has made reading a seamless part of my daily routine. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Sun Runner
No more straining my eyes – this app lets me 'read' with my ears! ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features.
Flame OUT
The app's attention to detail is commendable. It's evident in every feature. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. I can't imagine going back!
Boost Princess
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences – it's a fantastic touch. ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a thoughtful touch I appreciate. With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback.
Dr. Cocktail
Looping playback helps me focus on challenging content and grasp complex concepts. A study must-have! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Bombay Shivers
The controls on ListenBook are intuitive and user-friendly, making it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. Thanks to ListenBook, I'm now exploring different genres and formats I never thought I would. 🌟 Elevating everyday moments – this app adds an extra layer of magic to every aspect of my day. 📚✨ Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
BloodEater
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! 📖📱 I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers. The app supports background playback, which is a must for me. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Nightmare King
Streamlining audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is truly impressive. ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an indispensable part of my routine.
Intimidation Station
ListenBook has brought the joy of audiobooks back into my life in a whole new way. 🎉 Making each day a new chapter – this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! 📖🌄 The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience.
Dark Burn
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary journeys of the mind. I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
Uncle Psycho
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly. I love the auto-rewind feature. ListenBook always picks up right where I left off. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Jungle King
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's functionality is a reader's delight.
ZenaCake
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Tweety Bun Bun
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. I'm grateful for this app's ability to fit seamlessly into my lifestyle, making learning a part of my day. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is a game-changer. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
Sokol
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. ListenBook has become my go-to app for exploring a diverse range of audiobooks. It offers a wide array of features that cater to different preferences and needs. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience.
Pixie Taze
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. With this app, I'm experiencing the joy of reading in a whole new light. 💪 Doubling the impact of my workouts – exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! 💪🎧 Flawless support for various audio formats. Highly satisfied. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Hobo Samurai
As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. Binaural audio processing on ListenBook is a thoughtful addition that keeps my ears comfortable during extended listening sessions. With this app, I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and real life. Accessing literary treasures has never been this straightforward – thank you, app! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience