Press & Media
Media Resources
Press materials, book information, author biography, interview topics, and downloadable resources for The Secret History of the Binghamton.
Book Synopsis
A true story of a Hudson River landmark, the people who shaped its extraordinary history, and the crime that cast a shadow over its final decades.
Built in 1905, the Binghamton spent decades carrying passengers across the Hudson River before beginning an unlikely second life as a floating restaurant on the Edgewater, New Jersey waterfront.
Over the years, she became a celebrated dining destination, a local landmark, and a place where people gathered for special events. But behind the celebrations and waterfront views lay a complicated history of changing partnerships and a shocking 1997 kidnapping and murder involving her owner.
Drawing on historical archives, property records, newspaper accounts, and original research, The Secret History of the Binghamton reconstructs the vessel's remarkable journey from working ferry to area institution – and ultimately to abandoned wreck.
About the Author
Marilyn Rodriguez grew up in Hudson County, New Jersey, where the Binghamton was a fixture of the waterfront landscape. A Seton Hall alumna, she spent seven years as a licensed private investigator before building a three-decade career in branding, marketing, and design. She is also the author of the 2025 business book Design Delusions & Marketing Myths. The Secret History of the Binghamton is her first narrative non-fiction book. She lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
For interview requests, review copies, or media inquiries, please use the contact form on this site.
Interview Topics
The Extraordinary Life of the Binghamton
From a 1905 railroad ferry to a celebrated floating restaurant, and ultimately a crumbling landmark on the Hudson.
The Nelson Gross Kidnapping and Murder
The 1997 crime, its investigation, and the lasting impact on the Binghamton and the people connected to it.
The Detective Work Behind the Book
Following archival clues, tracing ownership records, resolving conflicting historical accounts, and uncovering unexpected connections.
The Changing Hudson River Waterfront
How industrial communities, transportation, redevelopment, and changing attitudes toward historic preservation reshaped New Jersey's waterfront.
From Private Investigator to Marketer to Author
How investigative experience, personal connections to Hudson County, and years of research came together in the writing of the book.
Downloadable Assets
High-resolution author photo, book cover images, and press kit available upon request. Please use the contact form to request media assets.
Author Photo
Available upon request
Book Cover (hi-res)
Available upon request
Press Kit (PDF)
Available upon request
Book Details & Sales Sheet
Download the book synopsis, publication details, and ordering information.
Get in Touch
For interviews, podcast appearances, review copy requests, speaking engagements, or additional press materials, please get in touch using the contact form.
Contact the Author