Shortlistedforthe2021AgathaAwardforBestNon-Fictionandthe2022AnthonyAwardforBestCriticalorNonfictionWorkAttheendofthe1976footballseason,morethanfortyHarvardathleteswenttoBoston’sCombatZonetocelebrate.Inthecity’sadultentertainmentdistrict,drugsandprostitutionranrampant,violentcrimewascommonplace,andcorruptpoliceturnedtheotherway.Attheendofthenight,ItalianAmericanstarathleteAndyPuopolo,raisedinthecity’sNorthEnd,wasmurderedinastabbing.ThreeAfricanAmericanmenwereaccusedofthecrime.Hismurdermadenationalnewsandledtotheeventualdemiseofthecity’sred-lightdistrict.Startingwiththisbrutalmurder,TheCombatZonetellsthestoryofthePuopolofamily’sstrugglewithbothadevastatinglossandacriminaljusticesystemthatproducedtwotrialswithopposingverdicts,allwithinthecontextofaraciallydividedBoston.BrogantracesthecontentiousrelationshipbetweenBoston’ssegregatedneighborhoodsduringthebusingcrisis;shinesalightonacourtsystemthatallowedlawyerstostrikepotentialjurorsbasedpurelyontheirracialorethnicidentity;andlaysbarethedeep-seatedcorruptionwithinthepolicedepartmentandthroughouttheCombatZone.Whatemergesisafascinatingsnapshotofthecityatatransitionalmomentinitsrecentpast.
