Acclaimed author Ron Hansen uses the salacious details of the 1927 Snyder-Gray homicide case for the basis of his new novel A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion (Scribner, 256pgs). Mixing historical fact with fictionalized dialogue, he spins a titillating tale of lust, murder and human tragedy. A chance meeting of stylish lingerie salesman Judd Gray and oversexed housewife Ruth Snyder in a Manhattan diner, sparks a torrid, secret affair. The wild and vengeful Ruth wants not only to be free of her husband Albert, but wants him dead, and uses her sensual wiles to manipulate Judd into executing her plan. The police investigation and the murder trial that follows reveal the ruinous hold Ruth has on Judd and his inability to escape the “death spiral” the two have created. In the end both must face the harsh consequences of their cruel actions. Read more…