Life Detonated: The True Story of a Widow and a Hijacker
"A raw, somber emotional journey that concludes with hope and a measure of forgiveness." - Kirkus Reviews
The gripping true story of Kathleen Murray, a young mother whose life was changed on September 11, 1976 when her husband, Brian Murray, a NYPD bomb disposal expert, was killed by a terrorist's bomb. It details her childhood in the Bronx, her journey out of poverty with Brian's help, and her own determination to take care of her two young sons after Brian's death. While Kathleen heals, she launches a lawsuit against the city of New York to find out the real reason the bomb exploded, and at the same time begins a relationship through letters with one of the hijackers, Julie Busic. All the while, Kathleen becomes one of the founders of Survivors of the Shield, a group that advocates for and provides support and assistance to the spouses and children of New York City police officers killed in the line of duty.
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"A raw, somber emotional journey that concludes with hope and a measure of forgiveness." - Kirkus Reviews
--Kirkus Reviews"An impressively candid, extraordinarily detailed, ultimately inspiring read from cover to cover, 'Life Detonated' is a consistently compelling and exceptionally personal story that is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections."
--Midwest Book Review"In this inspiring memoir, Moran recounts her story of overcoming grief after the death of her husband, NYPD bomb squad member Brian Murray. On September 11, 1976, Murray died attempting to defuse a bomb that was planted in Grand Central Station by husband and wife Zvonko and Julie Busic, who were involved with the Croatian freedom fighters and later sentenced to life in prison for hijacking a TWA flight. After her husband's death, Moran looked to the NYPD's other bomb squad members for more information on how the detonation went wrong and why there appeared to be no safety equipment in use. They refused to speak, so she sued the city. Moran lost the suit, but refused to give up, and teamed up with other NYPD widows to successfully push for vital legislation that offer support and assistance to spouses of police officers. Moran's journey to overcome grief led her to begin a letter correspondence with Julie Busic. Seeking comfort in the source of her pain, Moran writes of their relationship, "Who would better understand what I went through than the person who put me there in the first place?" Moran, who founded the nonprofit organization Survivors of the Shield, shares a remarkable journey in this well-written debut."
--Publisher's Weekly
