Picture this: It's June 2010, and cops in Louisville, Kentucky, stumble upon a gruesome discovery in the basement of a grand but decaying Victorian home. James Carroll's body, shot and stabbed nearly a year earlier, has been stashed in a plastic storage bin like some macabre temporary coffin. The homeowners—Jeffrey Mundt and Joseph Banis—immediately turn on each other, sparking what locals call the Pink Triangle Murder. On the surface, it screams crime of passion in a house straight out of a horror flick. But dig deeper, and you find layers of scandal that stretch back decades.
Author David Dominé didn't just report from the sidelines; he sat through the messy trials, sifting through contradictory testimonies and he-said/he-said accusations. What emerged was no simple lovers' spat. It's a tale of clashing worlds: dreams of a brighter future versus the iron grip of old money and privilege. Dominé chats up neighbors, drag queens, and folks from the vibrant LGBTQ scene to stitch together the real story. You'll read about the mansion's own shadowy past—previous owners, hidden lives, and whispers of intrigue that make the walls practically bleed gossip.
Unlike dry case files or sensationalized TV recaps, A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City feels like eavesdropping on Louisville's juiciest secrets. The Southern eccentricity shines through—the glitter ball city vibe, crumbling elegance, and that unmistakable Kentucky charm masking darker truths. Sensory details pull you in: the musty chill of the wine cellar, the drag of court proceedings, the buzz of neighborhood chatter. It's not just about who-dun-it; it's about why, and what it says about power, love, and loyalty in a changing South.
Grab this paperback and lose yourself on a rainy afternoon, or spark heated discussions at your next true crime night. Whether you're into historical scandals, LGBTQ stories woven into real events, or just creepy house mysteries, it delivers. At around 400 pages of meticulously researched narrative, it's the kind of book that sticks with you, making you side-eye old mansions forever. Dive in, and let the glitter—and the grit—of Old Louisville pull you under.
