Eugene Izzi: Difference between revisions

Reviews of ''Tribal Secrets'' were poor, as were sales. Bantam quickly [[Remaindered books|remaindered]] the title, angering Izzi, who believed the publisher failed to properly market and support his work. The dispute between author and publisher became contentious, eventually resulting in an unusual agreement. Izzi would be allowed to keep his advance, but was forbidden to publish under his own name for the next three years.<ref>http://www.essortment.com/all/eugeneizzichic_rgcp.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612014518/http://www.essortment.com/all/eugeneizzichic_rgcp.htm |date=2008-06-12 }} Writer biography from essortment.com</ref>

His most successful title was '''''The Criminalist''''', published [[List of works published posthumously|posthumously]] in 1998.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120720224808/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/34401297.html?dids=34401297:34401297&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+20%2C,+1998&author=Gary+Dretzka.+Gary+Dretzka+is+a+Tribune+senior+writer.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=9&desc=POSTHUMOUS+SUCCESS+EUGENE%27S'S+IZZI%27S'S+DARK%2C,+SUSPENSEFUL%2C,+STREET-LEVEL+LOOK+AT+CHICAGO Chicago Tribune "Books" section, September 20, 1998 (archived)]</ref>

==Suspicious Deathdeath==

On December 7, 1996, Izzi was found [[hanging|hanged]], his body dangling outside the 14th-story window of his writing office in downtown Chicago. When his body was discovered, Izzi was wearing a [[bulletproof vest]]. In his pockets, investigators found [[brass knuckles]], a can of "disabling spray" (likely [[mace (spray)|mace]] or [[pepper spray]]), and a computer disc containing an unfinished manuscript.<ref>http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,286382,00.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023655/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,286382,00.html |date=2008-10-13 }} Entertainment Weekly, January 10, 1997</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120714152525/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/10885499.html?dids=10885499&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS&type=current&date=Dec+10%2C,+1996&author=O+Brien%2C,+John&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=2C.6&desc=Mystery+writer%27s's+death+leaves+police+with+questions Chicago Tribune, December 10, 1996 (archived)]</ref>

Although officially ruled to be [[suicide]] <ref>[https://archive.today/20120712104602/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/10855248.html?dids=10855248:10855248&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+16%2C,+1997&author=John+O%27Brien%2C'Brien,+Tribune+Staff+Writer.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=1&desc=EXAMINER+RULES+IZZI+DEATH+WAS+A+SUICIDE++RULING+MIGHT+NOT+END+THE+CONTROVERSY Chicago Tribune, January 16, 1997 (archived)]</ref> and his family accepted the coroner's verdict,<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20143482,00.html ''People'' v. 47, no. 6, 17 Feb. 1997]</ref> the strange manner of Izzi's death and unusual items found with his body have led to numerous [[conspiracy theories]]. Among these were claims that Izzi had infiltrated a [[white supremacist]] group and was planning to detail their activities in a future book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~gizmo/izzi.html |title=Printed Matter - Eugene Izzi - Page |publisher=Dcn.davis.ca.us |date= |accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref> In addition, the bizarre scene is said to resemble one portrayed in the unfinished manuscript.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120713190940/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/10733605.html?dids=10733605:10733605&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+8%2C,+1997&author=John+O%27Brien'Brien+%3BAndrew;Andrew+Martin%2C,+Tribune+Staff++Writers.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=1&desc=IZZI+STORY+PARALLELS+HIS+DEATH++MANUSCRIPT+DETAILS+FEED+POLICE+THEORIES Chicago Tribune, January 8, 1997 (archived)]</ref>

* ''Mr. X'' (1995,)

[[Category:Suicides by hanging in Illinois]]

[[Category:WritersNovelists from Chicago]]

[[Category:Male20th-century suicidesAmerican male writers]]