In episode seven of the “History Behind The Mystery” series, Creator/Producer Max Allan Collins takes aim at the trials of Cermak’s killer, Giuseppe Zangara, and noted Chicago mobster Frank Nitti. He also provides insights into some of the ways this chapter of Nathan Heller’s first mystery defines the heroic detective in the future.

And finally, Max explains the “mystery” behind the sequel to his first Nathan Heller novel: TRUE CRIME.

It’s all part of the historical details and editorial choices that make the episode “Trial Run” such a standout episode of TRUE NOIR: The Assassination of Anton Cermak, a 10-episode, immersive audio drama from Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited.

In this video:

00:15 – Was the rush to justice for Giuseppe Zangara as frenetic as how it’s depicted in this episode?
01:15 – Did Frank Nitti’s trial play out like it did in this episode?
01:59 – Nathan Heller’s “coming of age” moment and his conflicts with Major Dawes and Uncle Louis.
03:11 – How does the scene with Mary Ann’s father differ from how it’s depicted in the source material?
05:02 – When did you decide to turn Nate Heller’s casebooks into a series of detective/crime stories?
06:38 – What’s the story behind the sequel to this first Nathan Heller mystery – and how did it come about?

The nearly 5-hour audio drama stars Michael Rosenbaum (SMALLVILLE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2) as Detective Nathan Heller, David Strathairn (LINCOLN, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK) as Frank Nitti, and a host of other actors from television and film.

TRUE NOIR is produced by Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited, LLC, in association with M.A.C. Productions. TRUE NOIR was created by Mike Bawden, Robert Meyer Burnett, and Max Allan Collins.

For more information about Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited, please visit our website: www.icu.co