New Book, Wicked Atlanta, is Released

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the only American city to have been destroyed by fire as an act of war, and it has its share of salacious stories. Wealthy felons hosted elaborate parties inside the federal penitentiary. Billionaire bootleggers and murderous rich boys practiced corruption that reached all the way to the White House. Fast and fearless drivers, complete with glamorous reputations and criminal careers, gave rise to auto racing.

Atlanta author Laurel-Ann Dooley navigates the underworld of Atlanta's past, filled with kidnapping, bribery, wives hiring hit men and all sorts of criminal debauchery. Her new book, "Wicked Atlanta: The Sordid Side of Peach City History," debuted June 17, published by The History Press (http://www.HistoryPress.Net).

Dooley is an Atlanta-based writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Palm Beach Post, the National Law Journal and the Boston Globe. Having lived in Atlanta for many years, she has come to know and love the city she calls home and considers writing about its hidden stories both a privilege and a pleasure.