Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis

The tragic but true love affair of two young American women.

“With prose that simmers with intellect and longing, conscience and sly eloquence, Alexis Coe has finally granted Alice and Freda the one thing they so desperately lacked in life: the grace of a story beautifully told.” —Avi Steinberg, author of Running the Books

"Alice and Freda's tragic story gives a fascinating glimpse of 19th Century America's attempts to comprehend passion it has no language to acknowledge. Hauntingly enhanced by Sally Klann's illustrations, Alexis Coe's skillful research and documentation never distract from her heartbreaking narrative." —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity "Though the history recounted in Alexis Coe's Alice + Freda Forever is captivating in its own right, Coe also provides a larger context for it, elevating this to the level of a societal indictment. This story of a star-crossed love with a violent ending at times reads like a microcosm of Memphis at the end of the 19th century. As Coe's narrative delves into perceptions of sexuality and the ways in which the case touched on different aspects of daily life, it never loses sight of the tragic romance at its core." —Tobias Carroll, Managing Editor, Vol.1 Brooklyn “With prose that simmers with intellect and longing, conscience and sly eloquence, Alexis Coe has finally granted Alice and Freda the one thing they so desperately lacked in life: the grace of a story beautifully told.” —Avi Steinberg, author of Running the Books  "Alexis Coe rescues a buried but extraordinarily telling episode from the 1890's that resonates in all sorts of ways with today. That in itself would be an accomplishment. But this is a book that is truly riveting, a narrative that gallops. Lizzy Borden eat your heart out. Here's a real crime of passion. Or was it? "And so Alice carried the razor around every day in her dress pocket, just in case Freda came to town..." I dare you to pick this one up and try, just try to put it down." —Peter Orner, author of Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge and Esther Stories 

“(A) lively, provocative history....a well-written effort that makes the most of its source material on two levels, both as true crime and as social commentary” —Publishers Weekly

"Alice and Freda's tragic story gives a fascinating glimpse of 19th Century America's attempts to comprehend passion it has no language to acknowledge. Hauntingly enhanced by Sally Klann's illustrations, Alexis Coe's skillful research and documentation never distract from her heartbreaking narrative." —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity "Though the history recounted in Alexis Coe's Alice + Freda Forever is captivating in its own right, Coe also provides a larger context for it, elevating this to the level of a societal indictment. This story of a star-crossed love with a violent ending at times reads like a microcosm of Memphis at the end of the 19th century. As Coe's narrative delves into perceptions of sexuality and the ways in which the case touched on different aspects of daily life, it never loses sight of the tragic romance at its core." —Tobias Carroll, Managing Editor, Vol.1 Brooklyn “With prose that simmers with intellect and longing, conscience and sly eloquence, Alexis Coe has finally granted Alice and Freda the one thing they so desperately lacked in life: the grace of a story beautifully told.” —Avi Steinberg, author of Running the Books  "Alexis Coe rescues a buried but extraordinarily telling episode from the 1890's that resonates in all sorts of ways with today. That in itself would be an accomplishment. But this is a book that is truly riveting, a narrative that gallops. Lizzy Borden eat your heart out. Here's a real crime of passion. Or was it? "And so Alice carried the razor around every day in her dress pocket, just in case Freda came to town..." I dare you to pick this one up and try, just try to put it down." —Peter Orner, author of Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge and Esther Stories