"The Meaning of Malice"

New true crime book by author John Leake

Dear Substack Readers,

I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book, The Meaning of Malice: On the Trail of the Black Widow of Highland Park. The book tells the story of a beautiful and mysterious woman who lived down the street from my family home when I was growing up. The following is a brief description of the story and my relationship with the subject.

THE MEANING OF MALICE

SANDRA BRIDEWELL was a beautiful socialite in the affluent Dallas suburb of Highland Park in 1978-82, when DALLAS was the world's most popular TV show and the Dallas Cowboys were America's favorite team. Her husband, Bobby Bridewell, was a top hotel developer and the most popular man in Dallas society. When Bobby died of lymphoma in 1982, Sandra quickly fell from grace in her tight-knit society. Four years later, she left Dallas and moved to the Bay Area under a cloud of suspicion that she had committed multiple murders. In 1987 she was the subject of a sensational D Magazine feature titled "The Black Widow" that suggested she had indeed murdered two of her husbands and the wife of the prominent cancer doctor who had treated Bobby Bridewell. But had she really? If, as many in her community believed, she was a Black Widow serial killer, why was she never arrested?

JOHN LEAKE has followed the story since the D Magazine feature was published. He grew up in Highland Park, just down the street from Sandra, and often visited her home to socialize with one of her children. Since 2007, when Sandra was arrested for stealing the identity of an elderly lady who lived near Cape Fear, North Carolina, he has documented her life and wanderings. He has also meticulously investigated four violent deaths among her family and friends in Dallas. With this book, he finally answers the question that has tantalized Highland Park society ever since. Is Sandra Bridewell a serial killer, or is she a victim of circumstance?

NOTE TO SUBSTACK READERS: I’d been working on this book for almost three years when the COVID-19 pandemic began, at which point I directed much of my attention to working with Dr. McCullough on our book, The Courage to Face COVID-19. Recently I was galvanized to complete this project when the mother of Sandra’s third husband (who was murdered in 1985) called me and earnestly requested that I publish the book as soon as humanly possible. As she explained, she is now in her nineties and wants to see the story told before she reaches the end of her days.

The book lies squarely in the TRUE CRIME genre, but much of it reminds me of the "Suburban Noir" films of the forties and fifties, of which Sandra was also a fan. For more information, please click on the cover image below to visit the book’s (still rudimentary) website and to purchase the book on Amazon. Many thanks and best regards, John Leake