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A Killer Named Hatch Massacre on Potato Hill: A True Story
There was nothing ordinary about the 365 days in 1973. The memorable names that were headlined were: Nolan Ryan, Bobby Seale, Ken Norton, Spiro Agnew. The news featured: Wounded Knee, Watergate, Boston Celtics and microwave ovens. Cadillac's sold for under $8,000, the minimum salary for major league ballplayers was $15,000. The Viet Nam war came to an end and the crime rat...more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
August 1st 2009
by Authorhouse
(first published 2009)
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Blanchfield's collection of stuff that is technically a book is so poorly edited and written that it's a lot like reading student work ( a first draft, at that): missing punctuation, random capitalization, random details, complicated sentences to no positive effect, and most importantly, a disorganized jumble of facts & narratives that fail to communicate or convince. What a disorganized mess!
Blanchfield had very little to work with, it seems. He repeated the same information ad nauseum, fa...more
Blanchfield had very little to work with, it seems. He repeated the same information ad nauseum, fa...more
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This is probably the worst written book I've ever read. Not only are there a ton of grammar and punctuation errors, but the flow is terrible. The author will start a paragraph with one thought and never finish it, instead going on to something else by the end of the paragraph. Some paragraphs are never even finished and just stop in the middle of a sentence. I found myself having to re-read many paragraphs because I thought I must have missed something. The author makes it clear in the prologue...more
1 like · like · see review
A rather badly-written, true crime venture about a notorious set of serial killings that occurred in Central New York, around the town of Steuben, in the early 1970s. Bernard Hatch was ultimately convicted of one of the murders, but there is today some doubt about his guilt. Blanchfield was a police investigator involved with the New York State Police at that time and weaves together, (pretty incoherently) a broad swath of damning coincidences and circumstances that seem to point heavily towards...more
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I grew up down the road from the trailer where Hatch lived, my family having moved there shortly after he was arrested and heard about the killings for years at school. For the longest time, I thought it was just an urban legend, but it always intrigued me.
The book gives a lot of facts, but it's not well written. Facts are presented out of order and out of context and it's never really stated why Hatch was first suspected by the cops. If you can muddle through the mess, it's a fascinating read,...more
The book gives a lot of facts, but it's not well written. Facts are presented out of order and out of context and it's never really stated why Hatch was first suspected by the cops. If you can muddle through the mess, it's a fascinating read,...more
This is an interesting case, but the book is very poorly written. The punctuation is all over the place. Sometimes there are quotation marks when people talk, other times there are not. Sometimes a paragraph will end mid-sentence and pick back up with the beginning of the next paragraph. The thoughts are so jumbled that it was difficult to keep everyone straight.
If you're looking for any good true crime book, I'd say look elsewhere. I'd only recommend this book if you really want to know about...more
If you're looking for any good true crime book, I'd say look elsewhere. I'd only recommend this book if you really want to know about...more
This book needs a proof reader !! The grammar and punctuation was ignored by the publisher. It is a confusing book, with poor flow. I finished this book because I have a personal interest in the crimes, because they occurred in my region. As a child, I remember hearing of the murders on Potato Hill, and I was looking for more information about the crimes, the investigation, and the murderer. I am almost as confused as BEFORE I read this book. Sorry, but I cannot recommend it.
I was excited to read this book because it combines two loves: local history and true crime. Unfortunately, it is extremely poorly written and not very comprehensive. That said, it's an OK introduction to the Potato Hill murders if you are unfamiliar with the case, as I was. The definitive story has yet to be written. Someone please write a better book about this very interesting case!
I think it's safe to say the only reason this book even kept my attention was because I grew up and currently live near where these events took place. And of course as a teen we all heard the stories about what took place on Potato hill. Had I not know the area, rumored stories, etc. I don't think I would have given this three stars.
Mar 19, 2013
Christine Casebolt
added it
This book could use a good editor, but is a fascinating read if you remember the events relating to the Hatch murder and trial in the early-mid 70s.
Some grammatical errors, but the author explains to the readers in the prologue to expect them. Great bit of local history and true crime : )
Apr 24, 2013
Dale
marked it as to-read
Mar 04, 2013
Mlearnard
marked it as to-read
Dec 18, 2012
Kayla Boyer
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Aug 12, 2011
Lindsey Meeker
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Jun 05, 2011
Anthony Sparano
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Dec 31, 2009
Painting
marked it as to-read
Dec 30, 2009
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
marked it as to-read
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