Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 30

Discovering the Background of a Child Killer

Timothy Jones, Jr. mugshot

Whenever we see a news story about an act of violence against a child, one of our first thoughts is to wonder what could be going on inside the mind of a person who would harm one of the most innocent among us. In a story that has grabbed national headlines over the past week, the father of an accused killer is speaking out and sharing that his son’s mental issues did indeed play a role in the heinous crimes with which his son is charged.

Timothy Jones, Jr. has confes...

Gearing up for the BOUCHERCON 2014 #Mystery #Thriller Conference in Long Beach, California

BOUCHERCON is the Annual World Mystery Convention, where every year readers, writers, publishers, editors, agents, booksellers and other lovers of crime fiction gather for a long weekend of education, entertainment, and fun.

What a fantastic event!

This is the first year that I will be attending the convention and I’m extremely excited. For one thing, it’s in Long Beach, California. It’s one of my favorite cities in my state. The event is aptly described as “Murder at the Beach”. I have been as...

DEAD GAME is on the Menu

A BOOK AND A DISH featured Dead Game with a review and one of my favorite recipes. Thank you Martha A. Cheves! It’s a wonderful site with authors, their books, and a recipe to boot. If you’re looking for a new author and books to read, check it out.

***

Review and recipe re-posted by permission:

California Style Mango Guacamole

3 medium ripe avocados

1 ripe mango, peeled and diced

2 limes, juiced

2 tbsp. minced red onion

¼ cup red bell pepper, diced

½ small habanero pepper (with or without spicy seeds...

Do You Escape Real Violence with Fictional Violence?

When you turn on the nightly news, there is no shortage of stories that qualify as disturbing. From world events to the way people are treating one another in our own neighborhoods, the reality that surrounds us can be difficult to consume. So, what do we seek as our escape from the violence? Do you watch a funny movie or cheer on your favorite sports team or spend some time on the floor playing board games with your kids?

One famous actor quit a popular television show because he was concerne...

San Antonio Police Rethink How to Handle Mental Illness

As a student of the criminal mind, I know there are some individuals who need to be placed in prison for the safety of society. They are sociopaths who know that committing rape or murder is wrong, but simply do not care. They are the child predators whose compulsion and tendency to be repeat offenders regardless of intervention must mean they are locked away from the most innocent among us.

What about the instances, though, when a man or woman is struggling with mental illness and commits les...

Sometimes a Picture is Worth More Than a Thousand Words #EmilyStone #Thriller

***

A single picture can tell an entire story. It can inspire, frighten, enlighten, and even provoke. Here are actual screen grabs from the upcoming Emily Stone Thriller Series “live action” trailer. It would not have been possible without and amazing cast and crew that helped to bring my series to life. Here’s a sneak peek.

Enjoy!

***

Focused.

Determined.

Hunting.

Disillusioned.

Desperation.

Closing-in.

Does the end justify the means?

COMING SOON!

Photos courtesy of Andy Palmer and Petri-Entertainment.

*...

A Book and A Dish Compulsion Style!

I wanted to thank Martha A. Cheves from the book review siteA Book and A Dish for the wonderful 5-Star review of COMPULSION, the first in the Emily Stone Thriller Series. It’s a great blog with new book reviews and the added bonus of a new recipe. I highly recommend checking this site out.

***

Here’s my book review and recipe reposted by permission:

3-Way Spinach Artichoke Dip

(Emily’s favorite)

1 small can (8 ½ ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

½ package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spin...

Preteen Who Wanted to Please a Fictional Character is Currently Incompetent to Stand Trial

I have studied criminal psychology. I am fascinated by what triggers an individual to commit horrible acts of violence against a fellow human being, and have spent countless hours in classrooms, talking to forensic psychologists, learning from members of law enforcement, and reading numerous books and articles to learn all I can. The killer’s mind is featured prominently in all of my novels.

With all of the case studies I have reviewed, each one is still shocking and upsetting. This is true ex...

Serial Killer in Indiana Proudly Shares His Evil Deeds through a Tattoo

Photo Courtesy: Daily Mail

The sentencing hearing for an admitted serial killer is underway in Indiana. William Clyde Gibson pleaded guilty to strangling Stephanie Kirk two and half years ago, before violating and then burying her body in a shallow grave in his yard. He already has been sentenced to death for the murder of another woman, also in 2012, and is serving sixty-five years for a third murder that took place more than a decade ago.

A psychiatrist who testified earlier this week spent t...

Proceed Carefully When Diagnosing Violent Criminals

When we read about a horrific crime that has been committed or we watch a news clip of an alleged murder smiling as he walks in handcuffs into a courtroom, we often ask the question, “How could someone be so evil?” or “What was going on in that person’s mind to cause such behavior?” Maybe we think if we get some answers, we can take some solace in concluding we are nothing like that person. But as one clinical psychologist warns us in a recent article, we need to be careful about the diagnose...