Newtown - by Matthew Lysiak (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the vein of Dave Cullen's Columbine, the first comprehensive account of the Sandy Hook tragedy--with exclusive new reporting that chronicles the horrific events of December 14, 2012, including new insight into the dark mind of gunman Adam Lanza. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and a decade's worth of emails from Lanza's mother to close friends that chronicled his slow slide into mental illness, Newtown pieces together the perfect storm that led to this unspeakable act of violence that shattered so many lives. Newtown explores the two central theories that have permeated the media since the attack: some claim Lanza suffered from severe mental illness, while others insist that, far from being a random act of insanity, this was a meticulously thought out, premeditated attack at least two years in the making by a violent video-gamer so obsessed with "glory kills" and researching mass murderers that he was willing to go to any length to attain the top score. Lanza's dark descent from a young boy with adjustment disorders to a calculating killer is interwoven with the Newtown massacre as it unfolded at the time, told from the points of view of eye witnesses, survivors, parents of victims, first responders, and Adam's relatives. A definitive account of a tragedy that shook a nation, Newtown features exclusive material including initial misinformation reported by the media and commentary on how this catastrophic event became a lightning rod for political agendas, much like Columbine did more than a decade ago"--

Book Synopsis

A definitive work of true crime journalism, this meticulously reported account examines the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and the unresolved questions that continue to shape America's debate over gun violence and mental health.On December 14, 2012, the world was shaken by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty children and six educators were murdered in a place meant to be safe. The nation remembers the numbers, the names--including teacher Victoria Soto, who died protecting her students--and the shooter, Adam Lanza. What quickly faded, however, was a clear understanding of how the tragedy unfolded and why. Drawing on previously undisclosed emails, police reports, and extensive interviews, this book presents the most comprehensive journalistic account of Newtown and its aftermath. It traces the complex web of mental health issues, warning signs, institutional failures, and public misinformation that preceded the attack, while also examining the political, cultural, and emotional fallout that followed. Clear-eyed, compassionate, and unflinching, this book cuts through speculation and conspiracy to document what truly happened--and why confronting those facts remains essential if future tragedies are to be prevented.

Review Quotes

"Lysiak's examination of our burgeoning mental-health crisis, and how poorly equipped our health care system is to handle the needs of those who suffer from mental health issues, [is] something of a welcome surprise."