Booktalk: Boulder True Crime writer Silvia Pettem’s “In Search of the Blonde Tigress. The Untold Story of Eleanor Jarman”

Silvia Pettem’s “In Search of the Blonde Tigress” dips into the world of sensationalized Chicago newspaper headlines in the 1930s that claimed Eleanor was not only “the blonde tigress,” but also “the most dangerous woman alive.”

But a closer look at her life shows that she was an otherwise ordinary woman who got caught up in a Chicago crime spree, then was convicted as an accomplice to murder, and sent to prison for 199 years. She escaped seven years later and managed to live out her life as America’s longest-running female fugitive.

Pettem’s research led to police and prison records, court transcripts, and her opinion of where the grave of the “blonde tigress” is today. She is the author of more than 20 books.

Silvia is having a joint presentation and book signing with Alan Prendergast, Colorado author of Gangbuster: One Man’s Battle Against Crime, Corruption, and the Klan. At the Boulder Book Store, Wed. Aug. 23rd, 6:30pm.

Top authors are interviewed on this 10-minute program that captures their words about their books and ideas and often the story behind the story. The show, hosted by Diana Korte and engineered by Gene Korte, has been in production for over 25 years.

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