Empire of Sin

Gary Krist transports listeners to early 20th-century New Orleans, where a fierce cultural war erupts between the city's moral reformers and its notorious Storyville district. At the center of this conflict stands Tom Anderson, the powerful vice lord who rules over a sprawling empire of brothels, gambling halls, and jazz clubs. As reformers launch crusades to clean up the city and federal authorities threaten to shut down legalized prostitution, Anderson must navigate treacherous alliances with corrupt politicians, violent criminals, and colorful madams to preserve his domain in America's most decadent city.

Robertson Dean's masterful narration captures the sultry atmosphere and larger-than-life personalities that populated this extraordinary chapter in American history. His nuanced performance brings distinct voices to the cast of prostitutes, jazz musicians, reformers, and gangsters while maintaining the narrative's propulsive energy across nearly eleven hours. Dean's pacing allows listeners to savor Krist's vivid historical details without losing momentum during action-packed sequences involving murder and political intrigue. The audio format proves ideal for this story, as Dean's delivery evokes the rhythm and cadence of jazz-age New Orleans itself.