Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 195
July 8, 2020
July 8, 2020: July?!! Did we skip June this year?
I am amazed by the variety of chocolate bars that made of your respective Top 10 lists, especially considering I’d never even heard of most. Looks like I’m overdue for a trip to my local convenience store. I will, of course, report back once I’ve completed my research.
Ladies and gentlemen, the next President of the Unites States…
Kanye West says he has had COVID-19, calls vaccines “the mark of the beast”
Kanye sounds like he's going for cheap heat here in the lead up to #SummerSlam. #WWE https://t.co/ytyYapbrAZ
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 8, 2020
Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked….
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The fantastic Rick Fernandez oversaw construction on our incredible #DarkMatter sets. Hard worker, great attitude, and just a pleasure to have on board. (Pictured making a fashion statement in shorts). pic.twitter.com/AekBjiGTrR
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 13, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Zachary Beckwith (@zb_man) was our Location Manager on #DarkMatter, tirelessly sourcing, scouting, and locking down everything from abandoned warehouses to forest clearings large enough to accommodate a landing ship. I'm a huge fan. pic.twitter.com/mEpRGknOHL
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 14, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The fantastic Liz Gregg was part of the equally fantastic #DarkMatter wardrobe department. A diligent costume assistant with a consistently fun, upbeat attitude. pic.twitter.com/HJX87WkZS4
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 15, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Robbie Graham-Kuntz (@robsgk) played the role of Tempo-3 in #UtopiaFalls. He's grounded, thoughtful, and an incredibly gifted dancer. pic.twitter.com/pmD1MtC7UP
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 16, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Phillip Lewitski played the role of Apollo-4 on #UtopiaFalls, a thoughtful and compassionate character who is, honestly, not all that different from Phillip himself. pic.twitter.com/l6GoYI8RH4
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 17, 2020
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July 7, 2020
Top 10 Chocolate Bars!
In honor of National Chocolate Day, I’m counting down my Top 10 Favorite Chocolate Bars.
No high-end bars here. No Amedei Chuao or Pralus Papouasie. Just your standard chocolate bars you’ll find in most convenience stores (depending, of course, on where you live in the world).
#10. Snickers
Love the chocolate and peanut combo, but this one loses a few marks for the caramel. It’s actually better deep-fried.
#9. Kit Kat
This one gets bonus marks for the sheer variety of flavors you can pick up in Japan. My favorite = the matcha.
#8. Aero
This one lands at the 8 spot on the strength of its unique texture.
#7. Caramilk
Liquid caramel always trumps the chewy variety.
#6. Flake
When I was a kid, one of my first jobs was working weekend clean up at a chocolate factory where we ate these for lunch. Another bar with a great texture.
#5. Coffee Crisp
I hear this one is only available in Canada. If true, you’re really missing out.
#4. Oh Henry
Similar to a Snickers but I feel the combination of ingredients just work better here.
#3. Almond Joy
While I love coconut bars like Bounty and Mounds, the addition of almonds puts this one in a league of its own.
#2. Zero
Remember to store them in the freezer for a unique taste experience!
#1. Reeses Peanut Butter Cup
The snappy, soft, sweet and salty combo can’t be beat.
Disagree? Let’s see your Top 10!
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July 6, 2020
July 6, 2020: A lot on my reading plate!
Akemi is apparently fully recovered from her back injury – only three days later! It took me 6 months+ to recuperate from my pulled back! And that included weeks of physiotherapy. She just…slept it off! This is an outrage!
Okay, looks like I have my work cut out for me this week – and next. I’ve got to work on ten pitches. No, that wasn’t a misprint Ten. But modest ones for the most part. Six one-pagers based on existing I.P. Three sci-fi originals. And a polish on a more official, fully formed pitch of that other time anomaly series. I also owe notes on a couple of projects and am about to sign a deal to develop an overview for an adaptation of a fantasy series (6+ books!). Looks like I have a lot on my reading plate for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday’s movie-themed question:
What's a great movie hardly anyone talks about anymore?
Answer with a gif. pic.twitter.com/HNosflvEvX
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 5, 2020
Today’s movie-themed question:
What was the first movie you were dragged to go see?
Answer with a gif.
In my case, my little sister wanted to go and my cousins wouldn't let me stay home. pic.twitter.com/5mlSvbCwjJ
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 6, 2020
Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked:
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The lovely and talented Gary Jones (@TheGaryJones) played the role of Master-Sergeant Walter Harriman (aka Norman Davis) on #Stargate, appearing across all three series and both movies. pic.twitter.com/L33qV1ypeX
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 9, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Christopher Heyerdahl (@CHeyerdahl) played the roles of the stalwart Athosian Halling and the colorful wraith Todd on #Stargate #Atlantis. An immensely talented actor with unbelievable range, Chris can do it all! pic.twitter.com/uq6OQPEPV3
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 10, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Ryan Kosmynka was a second assistant director on all three #Stargate series, and more recently a first assistant director on #Travelers and #iZombie. A good guy and a huge asset to any production. pic.twitter.com/I1cnMEQogS
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 11, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Robyn Alomar (@RobynAlomar) played the part of the disaffected Aliyah-5 on #UtopiaFalls, her first major role – but certainly not her last. After casting her, I discovered I already knew her mom, a former neighbor and fellow dog park regular! pic.twitter.com/KWUDBwn2Q6
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 12, 2020
And finally…
Happy Birthday to the lovely and talented @martingero, gourmand, bon-vivant, and creator/writer/producer of sundry stuff. pic.twitter.com/0bzbLD5YUI
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 6, 2020
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July 5, 2020
July 5, 2020: Suji Sunday!
Let’s get this party started.
In her Hawaiian cruise wear.
Tongue action.
Chillin’ with her pal Tinkleberry.
Defiance.
Suji’s “Are you serious???” look.
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July 4, 2020
July 4, 2020: My back is very bendy!
“My back is very bendy!”
— Akemi this morning during her Kpop dance exercise, letting me know her back was feeling much better today.
She’s moving around much better now and as a result, doesn’t look so silly when she’s out walking Suji…
Note Suji’s look of utter bewilderment.
Akemi is (as you can see) quite careful when it comes to sun exposure. As she puts it: “Everybody makes fun of me, but twenty years from now, everyone age except me!”
Today’s movie-themed question is…
A movie death that made you end up hating the movie.
Answer with a pic or gif. pic.twitter.com/5oFjJsESn3
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 4, 2020
Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked…
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Dwain Murphy (@heartlesstudios), who played Moore Times on #UtopiaFalls, is an incredibly accomplished actor. Meticulously controlled and powerful in his performance, he makes it all seem effortless. pic.twitter.com/lqf7bz1sVs
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 4, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The lovely and talented David Hewlett (@Dhewlett) played the role of Rodney McKay, on #Stargate. He was a late addition to the Atlantis cast but did such a great job with the character that he quickly became a fan (and writer!) favorite. pic.twitter.com/FGTG4FkfBR
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 5, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Andrew McNeill (@andrewmcn11) was a second assistant director on #DarkMatter. Focused, well-organized, and a great communicator, he is also a film aficionado. pic.twitter.com/EJjwxwaNfa
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 6, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
She acts! She dances! She fears no spiders! She is the incredible Devyn Nekoda (@devynnekoda12) who played the role of Sage on #UtopiaFalls. And I look forward to working with her again in the not too distant future. pic.twitter.com/lLPmkHbok2
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 7, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Humberly González plays the role of Brooklyn-2 in #UtopiaFalls, conveying confidence, control, and bewitching swagger. She's both a fantastic actress and a talented singer. pic.twitter.com/dYQZgrMvVa
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 8, 2020
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July 3, 2020
July 3, 2020: Lift with your back; take pressure off your knees!
There’s a moment late in the Dark Matter pilot, as the boys are loading weapons crates onto the shuttle, that THREE casually warns ONE to: “Lift with your back. Takes pressure off the knees.” I remember rewatching that episode and being hit with a momentary twinge of panic when THREE offered that advice because, in fact, it’s actually: “Lift with your knees to take pressure off your back.” Lifting with your back could result in serious injury! At which point I realized – yes, that was the gag. At which I point I also realized – I actually wrote that joke into the script.
Anyway, I was reminded of this Dark Matter moment yesterday when Akemi apparently followed THREE’s doubtful advice in attempting to move a grow bag – and pulled something in her lower back. Since then, she’s been shuffling around like a 95 year old speed walker – swift but stiff. She’s still got it!
This, in turn, reminds me of the time I pulled a muscle in MY lower back, the result of something as seemingly innocuous as using my foot to drag a dog bed over. “How long did it take you to recover?”Akemi asked me. “A few months,”I told her. Although “a few months” was more like six months. And it only really improved after I went to physio, something she’s not all that eager to pursue.
Alrighty. Time to announce the winners of the (first?) Joseph Mallozzi group chat! Who knows, if this one goes off without serious injury, I may do more and six months from now, we’ll all be trading casserole recipes.
The winners are…
Corinne Crook
Shinyhula
Tam Dixon
I’ll be reaching out to you via email and look to arrange a suitable time when we can all get together to discuss Stargate, Dark Matter, and my wife’s back issues!
Exciting, no?
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July 2, 2020
July 2, 2020: The Thursday Update!
As I impatiently await word on TimEscape and that other heavyweight sci-fi project, I’ve been keeping busy on other development fronts. I just delivered a rough pitch (and admittedly overly-detailed pilot breakdown) for the time travel series I’m working on with Doug and Kristin, signed a deal to script consult on a big foreign sci-fi series that looks to be a lot of fun, and had a phone call today about developing a mixed genre series for an old friend. In the meantime, I’m pursuing news on that epic sci-fi comic book, the North American adaptation of that Korean series, and development discussions with that other comic book company.
Hey, did you remember to add a comment to this blog’s June 30th 5000th Anniversary entry for a chance to be one of three entrants to take part in a ultra-special zoom call with yours truly and three other blog readers? There’s no telling what we’ll discuss. Stargate? Dark Matter? These weird cluster headaches I’ve been getting lately? Winners will be announced in tomorrow’s blog post!
Today’s movie-themed question…
What's a movie that would make a great (live-action) t.v. series?
Answer with a gif. pic.twitter.com/TAOUSqMOIF
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 2, 2020
Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked…
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Louis Ferreira played the role of Colonel Everett Young on #Stargate Universe. He's a brilliant actor and fun, and funny, guy. pic.twitter.com/kfkCwhSUCM
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) May 30, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Foodie, Potterhead, and comics connoisseur Natalie Cooper was the development and social media coordinator on #DarkMatter. She championed the show at Prodigy Pictures, putting it on the radar and on the road to a sale and eventual green light! pic.twitter.com/FrhOImj6d6
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) May 31, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Anita O'Toole was the Head Cutter in the #DarkMatter wardrobe department, a key contributor to show's amazing costumes, and the designer-creator of an awesome two tone tie. pic.twitter.com/ESRkgtNfDQ
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 1, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Akiel Julien (@akieljulien) played the role of Bohdi-2 in #UtopiaFalls. A young up-and-comer, he seized the opportunity presented, demonstrating incredible range and depth as a multi-talented performer. pic.twitter.com/4eIOQ6hSJK
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 2, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Bruce Woloshyn was a digital effects supervisor and senior digital composing artist on #Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. A great guy who delivers incredible work. pic.twitter.com/8UyRTAonGE
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 3, 2020
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July 1, 2020
July 1, 2020: Stargate, smash burgers, and suspect wardrobe choices!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a comment on my 5000th entry. As promised, I will be selecting three random winners – say, Friday – for our extra special zoom call. And who knows? If it goes off without a hitch and no one ends up seriously injured, I may do another one down the line.
Over on twitter, I’ve joined the #30DayComicsChallenge. Each day, I answer a comic-related question and post my answer in the form of a comic book. Questions like “What was the first comic book you ever read?” or “What comic book would you recommend on a date?” The other day, it was…
#30DayComicsChallenge Day 18
A comic you'd share with a child
Shiver by Junji Ito
P.S. Not fond of kids. pic.twitter.com/MlPpe2E0LM
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 30, 2020
Quick! Name the episode!
Meanwhile, came across this interesting concept art the other day. In the likely event you’re looking to build your own gate…
Food-related question of the night. How do you prefer your burgers cooked? I was watching this last night…
And was quite captivated by Goldburger’s smash technique of really flattening out these corners for maximum crispness.
Okay, tonight’s film-related question of the day is…
Worst wardrobe decision in a movie?
Answer with a gif or pic. pic.twitter.com/T5I3E8y7Mj
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 1, 2020
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June 30, 2020
June 30, 2020: Happy 5000!
Hard to believe, but this is my 5000th post. Back on November 21st, 2006, in an entry titled, appropriately enough “The Beginning”, I started this blog, initially as a food journal to document at two-week trip to Asia. When I returned home, however, I decided to keep it going. I figured that it would be a good thing in that it would force me to write on a daily basis. For as long as it lasted. And, well, it’s lasted somewhat longer than I’d originally imagined. Closing in on 14 years. In that 14 year span, I have written an entry for every day (sometimes two) on topics ranging from film production to pugs to rambling rants. And you have all been kind enough to come along for the ride. So thanks for that.
Some interesting stats:
The #2 and #3 most popular search terms that led people to this blog were “Joe Mallozzi” and “Joseph Mallozzi” (for a combined 141,644 total searches)
However, the #1 most popular search that led people to this blog was “Julia Benson” (150,270 searches).
This blog’s most popular entries were this one:
May 12, 2011: Stargate: Universe, Beyond Season 2! What Might Have Been!
And this one:
My second most popular month of blogging was May of 2011, which I believe coincided with the Stargate: Universe cancellation.
My most popular month of blogging was September of 2017, which I believe coincided with the Dark Matter online campaign.
5000 posts
12,613,867 views
2,216,351 visitors
185,711 comments
And counting.
So how to celebrate this milestone? Besides virtual birthday cake? I gave it some thought and came up with…a zoom call. I mean, it’s all the rage so why not?
Simply leave a comment on this blog entry for a chance to be one of three lucky blog readers to be selected for the 5000th Anniversary Zoom call with yours truly (with a possible guest appearance by my pug, Suji, although her schedule is pretty tight so no promises). Later this week, I’ll announce the three winner after which I will coordinate a time for all four of us to jump on a 30 minute zoom call during which we will discuss…well, whatever you like. Stargate, Dark Matter, any of my projections in progress, food, current events, or why The Princess Bride remake is such an awful idea.
Happy Blog Anniversary!
And grab a slice of cake before you go!
The post June 30, 2020: Happy 5000! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 29, 2020
My Top 12 Favorite True Crime Novels
Alright. Moving on to the very best in True Crime. THESE are my Top 12 favorites…
#12. Down City: A Daughter’s Story of Love, Memory, and Murder – Leah Carroll
Leah Carroll’s mother, a gifted amateur photographer, was murdered by two drug dealers with Mafia connections when Leah was four years old. Her father, a charming alcoholic who hurtled between depression and mania, was dead by the time she was eighteen. Why did her mother have to die? Why did the man who killed her receive such a light sentence? What darkness did Leah inherit from her parents? Leah was left to put together her own future and, now in her memoir, she explores the mystery of her parents’ lives, through interviews, photos, and police records.
DOWN CITY is a raw, wrenching memoir of a broken family and an indelible portrait of Rhode Island- a tiny state where the ghosts of mafia kingpins live alongside the feisty, stubborn people working hard just to get by. Heartbreaking, and mesmerizing, it’s the story of a resilient young woman’s determination to discover the truth about a mother she never knew and the deeply troubled father who raised her–a man who was, Leah writes, “both my greatest champion and biggest obstacle.”
#11. Siberian Education:Growing Up in a Criminal Underworld – Nicolai Lilin
n a contested, lawless region between Moldova and Ukraine known as Transnistria, a tightly knit group of “honest criminals”—exiled there by Stalin-live according to strict codes of ritualized respect and fierce loyalty. Here, tattoos tell the story of a man’s life, “honest” weapons are separated from “sinful” ones, and authority is always to be distrusted. Beyond the control of any government and outside the bounds of “society” as we know it, these men uphold values including respect for elders and an unwavering adherence to the truth with passion-and often by brute force.
In a voice utterly compelling and unforgettable, Nicolai Lilin, born and raised within this exotic subculture, tells the story of his moral education among the Siberian Urkas. A bestseller in his home country of Italy, this unique tale of an extreme boyhood “will produce a thrill of pleasure that is hard to forget”
#10. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Live in a Vanishing Land – Monica Hesse
Shocked by a five-month arson spree that left rural Virginia reeling, Washington Post reporter Monica Hesse drove down to Accomack County to cover the trial of Charlie Smith, who pled guilty to sixty-seven counts of arson. But Charlie wasn’t lighting fires alone: he had an accomplice, his girlfriend Tonya Bundick. Through her depiction of the dangerous shift that happened in their passionate relationship, Hesse brilliantly brings to life the once-thriving coastal community and its distressed inhabitants, who had already been decimated by a punishing economy before they were terrified by a string of fires they could not explain. Incorporating this drama into the long-overlooked history of arson in the United States, American Fire re-creates the anguished nights that this quiet county spent lit up in flames, mesmerizingly evoking a microcosm of rural America – a land half gutted before the fires even began.
#9. Bloodlines: The True Story of a Drug Cartel, the FBI, and the Battle for a Horse-Racing Dynasty – Melissa del Bosque
Drugs, money, cartels: this is what FBI rookie Scott Lawson expected when he was sent to the border town of Laredo, but instead he’s deskbound writing intelligence reports about the drug war. Then, one day, Lawson is asked to check out an anonymous tip: a horse was sold at an Oklahoma auction house for a record-topping price, and the buyer was Miguel Treviño, one of the leaders of the Zetas, Mexico’s most brutal drug cartel. The source suggested that Treviño was laundering money through American quarter horse racing. If this was true, it offered a rookie like Lawson the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the cartel. Lawson teams up with a more experienced agent, Alma Perez, and, taking on impossible odds, sets out to take down one of the world’s most fearsome drug lords.
In Bloodlines, Emmy and National Magazine Award-winning journalist Melissa del Bosque follows Lawson and Perez’s harrowing attempt to dismantle a cartel leader’s American racing dynasty built on extortion and blood money.
#8. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer – Michelle McNamara
For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.
Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.
At the time of the crimes, the Golden State Killer was between the ages of eighteen and thirty, Caucasian, and athletic—capable of vaulting tall fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim—he favored suburban couples—he often entered their home when no one was there, studying family pictures, mastering the layout. He attacked while they slept, using a flashlight to awaken and blind them. Though they could not recognize him, his victims recalled his voice: a guttural whisper through clenched teeth, abrupt and threatening.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by her husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by Michelle’s lead researcher and a close colleague. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true crime classic—and may at last unmask the Golden State Killer.
#7. El Narco: Inside Mexico’s Criminal Insurgency – Ioan Grillo
The world has watched stunned at the bloodshed in Mexico. Thirty thousand murdered since 2006; police chiefs shot within hours of taking office; mass graves comparable to those of civil wars; car bombs shattering storefronts; headless corpses heaped in town squares. And it is all because a few Americans are getting high. Or is it? The United States throws Black Hawk helicopters and drug agents at the problem. But in secret, Washington is confused and divided about what to do. Who are these mysterious figures tearing Mexico apart? they wonder. What is El Narco? El Narco draws the first definitive portrait of Mexico’s drug cartels and how they have radically transformed in the last decade. El Narco is not a gang; it is a movement and an industry drawing in hundreds of thousands from bullet-ridden barrios to marijuana-growing mountains. And it has created paramilitary death squads with tens of thousands of men-at-arms from Guatemala to the Texas border. Journalist Ioan Grillo has spent a decade in Mexico reporting on the drug wars from the front lines. This piercing book joins testimonies from inside the cartels with firsthand dispatches and unsparing analysis. The devastation may be south of the Rio Grande, El Narco shows, but America is knee-deep in this conflict.
#6. Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland – Patrick Radden Keefe
In December 1972, Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten, was dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders, her children clinging to her legs. They never saw her again. Her abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of the vicious conflict known as The Troubles. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the I.R.A. was responsible. But in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one would speak of it. In 2003, five years after an accord brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach. McConville’s children knew it was their mother when they were told a blue safety pin was attached to the dress–with so many kids, she had always kept it handy for diapers or ripped clothes.
Patrick Radden Keefe’s mesmerizing book on the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath uses the McConville case as a starting point for the tale of a society wracked by a violent guerrilla war, a war whose consequences have never been reckoned with. The brutal violence seared not only people like the McConville children, but also I.R.A. members embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united Ireland, and left them wondering whether the killings they committed were not justified acts of war, but simple murders.
#5. The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir – Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
Before Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich begins a summer job at a law firm in Louisiana, working to help defend men accused of murder, she thinks her position is clear. The child of two lawyers, she is staunchly anti-death penalty. But the moment convicted murderer Ricky Langley’s face flashes on the screen as she reviews old tapes―the moment she hears him speak of his crimes―she is overcome with the feeling of wanting him to die. Shocked by her reaction, she digs deeper and deeper into the case. Despite their vastly different circumstances, something in his story is unsettlingly, uncannily familiar.
Crime, even the darkest and most unsayable acts, can happen to any one of us. As Alexandria pores over the facts of the murder, she finds herself thrust into the complicated narrative of Ricky’s childhood. And by examining the details of Ricky’s case, she is forced to face her own story, to unearth long-buried family secrets, and reckon with a past that colors her view of Ricky’s crime.
But another surprise awaits: She wasn’t the only one who saw her life in Ricky’s.
An intellectual and emotional thriller that is also a different kind of murder mystery, The Fact Of a Body is a book not only about how the story of one crime was constructed―but about how we grapple with our own personal histories. Along the way it tackles questions about the nature of forgiveness, and if a single narrative can ever really contain something as definitive as the truth. This groundbreaking, heart-stopping work, ten years in the making, shows how the law is more personal than we would like to believe―and the truth more complicated, and powerful, than we could ever imagine.
#4. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – David Grann
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. One Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, watched as her family was murdered. Her older sister was shot. Her mother was then slowly poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances.
In this last remnant of the Wild West—where oilmen like J. P. Getty made their fortunes and where desperadoes such as Al Spencer, “the Phantom Terror,” roamed – virtually anyone who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll surpassed more than twenty-four Osage, the newly created F.B.I. took up the case, in what became one of the organization’s first major homicide investigations. But the bureau was then notoriously corrupt and initially bungled the case. Eventually the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including one of the only Native American agents in the bureau. They infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest modern techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history.
#3. Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found – Gilbert King
In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a “husky Negro” did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial.
But crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who was protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence begin to surface.
Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful, page-turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still.
#2. Wise Guy – Nicholas Pileggi
“Wiseguy” is Nicholas Pileggi’s remarkable bestseller, the most intimate account ever printed of life inside the deadly high-stakes world of what some people call the Mafia. “Wiseguy” is Henry Hill’s story, in fascinating, brutal detail, the never-before-revealed day-to-day life of a working mobster – his violence, his wild spending sprees, his wife, his mistresses, his code of honor.
#1. The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer – Philip Carlo
There were times at home when Richard would have one of his outbursts and break things and then lock himself in his office. Merrick would ask him to please calm down, to “please relax, Daddy.” During these episodes, Richard would explain in a matter-of-fact way, “You know if . . . if I kill Mommy, if something happens and she dies, I’ll have to kill you all . . . I can’t leave any witnesses.”
“Yes, Daddy. I know, Daddy,” she said.
As strange and horrible a thing as this was to tell a child, Richard was trying to let Merrick know in advance—out of consideration—what might happen. He wanted her to understand that he was doing such a thing out of . . . love. Only out of love.
He loved Barbara too much.
He loved the children too much.
That was the problem. The only way he could deal with their loss, if he inadvertently killed Barbara, was to kill them. That was how Richard had dealt with all his problems since he was a child.
“But you, Merrick . . . You’ll be the hardest to kill. You understand that?”
“Yes. Daddy,” she said, and she did understand this. She knew she was his favorite, and she coveted that.
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