Trial by Ambush

Murder, Injustice, and the Truth About the Case of Barbara Graham

By: Marcia Clark

Narrated by: Marcia Clark

In this dramatic true account about the power of sensationalized crime, one woman’s case is exposed for its sexism, flagrant disregard for the truth, and, ultimately, the dangers posed by an unbridled prosecution.

Unwanted and neglected from birth, Barbara Graham had to overcome the odds just to survive. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse—offering her too many options of all the wrong kind. Her innate sensitivity left her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the street, where she was left to fend for herself before she reached double digits. Her record of petty crimes spoke to a life that constantly teetered on the brink of disaster.

But in 1953, a catastrophic twist of fate would catapult her out of obscurity and into the headlines.

When a robbery spiraled out of control and escalated into a brutal murder, Barbara became the centerpiece of a media circus. Her beauty enraptured the press, and they were quick to portray her as a villainous femme fatale despite abundant evidence to the contrary—a fiction the prosecution eagerly promoted.

The frenzy of public interest and willful distortion paved a treacherous path for Barbara Graham. In Trial by Ambush, author and criminal lawyer Marcia Clark investigates the case exposing the fallacies in the demonizing picture they painted and the critical evidence that was never revealed.

©2024 by Marcia Clark. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Clark (the Samantha Brinkman series), the former lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson case, brings new insights to a sensational killing from the 1950s in this standout true crime narrative….Impressive research, combined with breakneck pacing and a trenchant critique of the media circus surrounding Graham’s arrest, bring the verdict down decisively in Clark’s favor. This is masterful.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Clark uses her expertise to bring fans into a world that wasn’t revealed in the original case. True crime fans, and suspense fans in general, will love her approach. She brings the reader into a world that uncovers how power and biases can ruin lives. Clark was born to write and Trial by Ambush could be her best book yet.”—John Raab, Suspense Magazine

“A must read for those who love courtroom drama.”—Charlene Giannetti, Woman Around Town

Brilliant MRI of a bungled prosecution!

A vile travesty of justice exposed in Marcia Clark’s research, analysis and reasoned conclusion! Brava!

Well researched. Well written.

An excellent book about true events. Ms Clark has done a wonderful job of telling a compelling story.

Great Book!

I saw the movie "I Want to Live" about the Barbara Graham case and when I heard about this book, I knew it would be a great read. Very interesting and sad story about Barbara Graham. Between the prosecuting attorney and the press, this woman did not get a fair trial. Marcia Clark did a great job of researching material for the story and reading her book.

Just Wow…

This kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. It was well written and researched. I resisted the urge to google the case to find out how things ended and it was worth hearing the author’s ending as well as her final thoughts.

While flawed, as it always will be, we are quite fortunate to have the justice system that we have today. If nothing else, this book is an in your face reminder of how unfair things once were and how ego can trump fairness with no thought of the human consequences.

Extremely well researched and objectivity throughout

Clarke is awesome all the way around. Excellent narration. Book us well researched and the author stays objective throughout.

Woman’s Bias

I wanted to share some reflections on Marsha Clark's presentation. She narrates the story from a woman's perspective, which adds a unique dimension to the discussion. Marsha expressed her belief that Barbara was present and played a role in luring the victim into opening the door.

Given this insight, I feel it highlights a significant aspect of the situation. It raises questions about accountability, as Barbara was aware of her accomplices and their intentions.

Interesting story about our legal system

When I first started listening, I questioned my choice thinking it was going to be boring. but once I got into it, I became thoroughly invested in the past case. I have read every book by Marcia Clark and it threw me a little because of it being non-fiction compared to all her prior fiction.
She really picked up on so many details if the case that were overlooked. I learned a lot about the legal system back then and present day. It is definitely worth listening to. And it is narrated by the author, so all her personal emotions were conveyed, instead of it being read by a random narrator.

Great details

The author did an amazing job bringing the story to life. I was hesitant at first if I was going to enjoy this book, but I thoroughly lost myself in it. Fantastic read.

Hooked from the start

This was my first true crime book and I am hooked. Marcia’s recounting of the case and details that as a prosecutor she was able to contrast for the audience, chef’s kiss. The author was able to bring her audience with her and see all the ways in which. Barbara did not have a fair trial. I felt both rage and sadness that this happened to a young woman, whose guilt or innocence did not matter- not to the prosecutor nor the media. To Miller it was about winning no matter what, and to the media it was about who sold the most papers. It’ll be 70 years in June since Barbara was executed and this injustice still happens to innocent defendants, especially people of color and women. In 70 years, we have not, as a society, progressed enough.

Interesting story told in an uninteresting way

Very, very dry. The story never came to life. I didn’t feel a sense of Barbara.