Redbone: Money, Malice, and Murder in Atlanta

by Ron Stodghill

At forty–one, Lance Herndon is at the top of his game. A self–made millionaire, he is the owner of ACCESS, Inc., a thriving information systems consulting company. As a prominent member of Atlanta's young, wealthy, and powerful set, he is surrounded by black Atlanta's "beautiful people" whom he wines and dines with finesse. But when he fails to show up for work one day, friends and family start worrying. Their worry soon turns to horror when he is found murdered in his own home, his head smashed in –– in what appears to be either an act of jealous–fueled rage or a seedier sex crime. Now, with a laundry list of ex–wives and lovers, competitors, critics and admirers in hand, detectives must break through the city's upper crust to discover his killer. Part investigative thriller, part social commentary in the tradition of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Redbone offers a truly intriguing story that channels insight into one of America's great metropolises.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, African American

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2006

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...........a rather boring read about the murder of an up and coming businessman in Atlanta who is intent on making a name for himself by spending truckloads of money, driving flashy cars, and sporting a different woman on his arm everyday. Although his business (data systems) appeared to be flourishing and he had important contacts with the right people, his lifestyle began to overwhelm his business sense and things were not quite what they appeared. Then he is found at his home with his head bashed in and no clues to the identity of the attacker. Eventually the murderer (or not) is arrested and brought to trial on the skimpiest of evidence.

This is one of those books that has your mind drifting to other things instead of the story. It just didn't hold my attention although I did finish it.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read about a case that was at once totally average and really, really unusual. The motive and method were nothing to write home about, but the man who was murdered was a self-made IT millionaire living in a custom-built palace in Atlanta, GA, where he wined, dined, and distributed handfuls of cash, pricey gifts and luxury cars to his many, many acquaintances -- especially the women. The author did a great job of paring away everything but the key factors in the trial, focusing more on the personalities involved -- and there wasn't a dull personality anywhere in the bunch. I learned more about this odd corner of American history -- rich blacks in Atlanta and the community they've built -- than about the crime, but that works for me.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can become tedious reading if you don't like investigative news writing. Yet, it gives a good and interesting look at the events it covers. Without this book the rich details of this case would have been forgotten.

[Michelle Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the murder of Lance Herndon by Dionne Baugh. Lance was a tech mogul in Atlanta who made a lot of money and went through women like clothes. That all caught up to him when he met Dionne. Dionne was much younger than Lance and an immigrant from Jamaica. Dionne’s goal was to find a rich man so she can live a successful life in America and she was willing to do that by any means necessary. When Lance decided Dionne wasn’t for him anymore, Dionne didn’t agree and the thought of losing Lance sent her over the edge. So far it culminated in Lance’s death.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. It was like reading a true crime documentary.

[Courtney Echols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize the book was non fiction until the very end when I actually read it. I was getting strong hints to that fact in the last several chapters dealing with the trial of the woman accused of the murder which definitely was told like a listing of events instead of a narrative. This is important to how I perceived the book because while I enjoyed the opening chapters the middle started feeling tedious. It felt like I was re reading similar details over and over and this lessened my enjoyment of the book. But once I realized that I'm reading a recounting of how things actually went down for this murder it changed my perspective. Enjoyable read for me mostly because of the in depth description of the social scene in Atlanta during many of the year I lived there.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, how I love stories about crimes of passion!

This is a gripping account of the 1996 murder of black millionaire and entrepreneur Lance Herndon in Atlanta.

Stodghill's writing is engaging and accessible, and the story is fascinating.

I love the "cautionary tale" note at the end: while striving to ascend yourself (and your race) to higher levels and success, it's all too easy to get caught up in the trappings of greed, status, sex, power and material wealth...and the pitfalls that come with it.

[Chanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lance Herndon seemed to have it all. He was college educated, good looking, the life of the party, had plenty of friend/family that loved him and had his own computer business.

But he had weakness that would become his downfall. He liked fast money, flashy cars and lots of women.

In this true story that took place in Atlanta, GA, would discover that everything that glitters is not gold and solid.

[Amiee]

I thought I would really enjoy this book...but I didn't. I think because there were so many questions about Lance's life and death. I thought talking about all the women in his life was unnecessary and distracting - especially when it seemed like none of the random women had anything to do with his death.