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41st out of 190 books
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196 voters
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Blood and Money
Power, passion, oil money, murderthen examines the bizarre consequences that followed it. For in 1972, having been charged by his father-in-law with Joan's death and having survived a mistrial, John Hill himself was killed, supposedly by a robber. So was the robber, by a cop, supposedly for resisting arrest. From the exclusive haunts of Houston's super-rich to the city's s...more
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
August 10th 2001
by Running Press
(first published 1976)
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This bleak story is one of the best true-crime books around.
Joan Robinson, the daughter of Ash Robinson, a rich oil millionaire, dies mysteriously, and her husband, John Hill, is brought to trial for murder. It ends in a mistrial, and John is murdered by a contract killer before he can be tried again. The books then follows the people involved in the murder as the law attempts to bring them to justice.
Now, I don't believe John murdered his wife. If I recall the book corre...more
Joan Robinson, the daughter of Ash Robinson, a rich oil millionaire, dies mysteriously, and her husband, John Hill, is brought to trial for murder. It ends in a mistrial, and John is murdered by a contract killer before he can be tried again. The books then follows the people involved in the murder as the law attempts to bring them to justice.
Now, I don't believe John murdered his wife. If I recall the book corre...more
A long time ago, I found it among the old books at home but I have just finished reading it. It's Turkish translaton of the book but still it's a story impressing me in a strong way. Ambition, resentment, greed, violence, passion and of course blood and money combination with them or natural result of them. It was written in 80s and set in notorious Houston, especially. But 2010 in which we live today witnesses this emotions around the world, that's very upsetting.
Anyway, our author is so ...more
Anyway, our author is so ...more
One of the best true-crime books of all time, in my opinion. Which feels odd to say when the ending is so ... unsatisfying. I walked away from "Blood And Money" thinking "I hung on for some 500 pages ... for ... THIS?"
And yet, it worked in its way, because I was pretty I knew who did what to who, even if those people were never going to get a fair day in court. And that wound up being good enough for me, largely because everything that had built up to that feelin...more
And yet, it worked in its way, because I was pretty I knew who did what to who, even if those people were never going to get a fair day in court. And that wound up being good enough for me, largely because everything that had built up to that feelin...more
It's a classic. I re-read it, and somehow had forgotten EVERY freaking detail. Except of course how totally bizarre the rich Texans are. That stuck with me from decades ago when I read this for the first time.
The crime of the murdered wife/daughter was all resolved by halfway through, then the obsessed old rich guy (the original victim's father) just basically went out and hired people and made sure that the murderer paid.
Wonder what ever happened to the kid? Time to goog...more
The crime of the murdered wife/daughter was all resolved by halfway through, then the obsessed old rich guy (the original victim's father) just basically went out and hired people and made sure that the murderer paid.
Wonder what ever happened to the kid? Time to goog...more
I found this fascinating because I lived in Houston when this happened... and I even stayed at the hospital where the Dr. took his wife
Excellent if you like true crime.
Very good book! I still wonder if John Hill really killed his wife?
view all 5 comments
A cast of colorful characters, this anatomy of murder first chronicles the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death in 1969 of Joan Robinson--the pampered daughter of a Texas oil millionaire and the wife of plastic surgeon Dr. John Hill--then examines the bizarre consequences that followed it. In 1972, having been charged by his father-in-law with Joan's death and having survived a mistrial, John Hill himself was killed.
This is one of several books that I re-read frequently; in the true crime genre, I have found few that draw me back repeatedly, but this depiction of "maybe-murder" among the Texas wealthy is rife with "only in Texas" characters and intrigue. Though not one of the characters is wholly sympathetic, and though I certainly know the outcome(s), I am drawn back by Thompson's style which maintains the suspense.
Loved every page. Wanted it to keep going even when I finished.
This is my second reading of this terrific true crime book. I just started it tonight but it's just as good as I remember it being. This book is rich in Houston history and will keep you interested to the very end.
This true crime book is chilling, particularly if you grew up in River Oaks like I did and went to Christmas parties in the house where everything happened. I'm not much into the true crime genre, but I highly recommend this book for people who are... and even people who aren't, now that I think about it.
I read this book a long time ago and it's still the best True Crime book ever! I live in Houston and whenever we had company we'd always take them on the "John and Joan Hill Tour" Also - Andy Griffith made a great Ash Robinson and of course Farrah was the perfect Joan!!
Best true-crime book I've read since In Cold Blood. A fascinating case and the "characters" are well-drawn. I dock it a star only because the prose sometimes gets a little purple (e.g. "Soon would begin a dance of death"- not necessarily an exact quote, but close to one).
This true crime is very interesting, especially if you know Houston at all. The descriptions really take you back there! I have family who knew the family and that made it even more interesting. The house still sits prominently on a corner lot in River Oaks.
This book is a page turner about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death in 1969 of a pampered daughter of a Texas oil millionaire and the wife of plastic surgeon. The book examines the bizarre consequences that followed it.
This is an amazing, amazing true story of a Houston debutante who mysteriously died and her plastic surgeon husband who was suspected of murdering her. So many crazy twists and turns. I never say this, but I could *not* put this book down.
This was a good read. True story. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to rush to finish by Friday. :( Definatly want to locate the TV movie.
Charla
is currently reading it
I have been reading this book for 2 years now!!! I can't get through it although it is pretty interesting. The writing is that of a newspaper, kind of...
Good read, very interesting if you like true crime and are familiar with Texas/Houston. The end kind of leaves you hanging
This was listed in the Wall Street Journal as one of five best murder mysteries. Its 500+ pages are gripping and enjoyable.
This story is unbelievable! You can't even comprehend the crazy details!!
Couldn't put this book down. Being from Texas made it especially good for me.
Too long - too convoluted.
Excellent read.
364.1523
murder in Houston.
Kylady361
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