The Sadist, the Hitman and the Murder of Jane Bashara

by George Hunter, Lynn Rosenthal

"Big Bob" Bashara put on a respectable face. To his friends in Detroit's affluent suburb of Grosse Pointe, he was a married father of two, Rotary Club President, church usher and soccer dad who organized charity events with his wife, Jane.

To his "slaves," he was "Master Bob," a cocaine-snorting slumlord who operated a sex dungeon and had a submissive girlfriend to do his bidding--and he wanted more slaves to serve him. But Bashara knew he couldn't rule a household of concubines on his income alone. He eyed his wife's sizable retirement account and formulated a murderous plan.

This meticulous account tells the complete story of the crime, the nationally watched investigation and trials, and the lives affected.

Genres: True Crime, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Crime

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2018

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Bashara was arraigned on first degree murder charges in the death of his wife Jane on May 1, 2013. I still lived in Michigan at the time and followed the bizarre trial revelations, twists and turns. This investigation goes into a lot more detail on the overlap with the BDSM world. I am surprised on how many candid revelations the author got from amenable to the slave role and how many of them had children, careers, etc. The, to me, unintentionally comedic part is that narrator Richard Powers seems to have only one voice for all women characters. This sounds matronly to me as if a middle aged women with a cat on her lap, doing needlepoint is casually talking about her experience with dungeons and flogging while the aroma of fresh baked cookies wafts in from the kitchen.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime Story

This book was a true crime story, but I has the feeling it was written more because of the BDMS lifestyle rather than about a murder. Everything about the book seemed to take a back seat to the murderer's sexual life rather than the murder that took place.

[Karen]

I guess my reading of the Swedish true crime book led this one to show up on my recommendation list. Even though this crime took place in metro Detroit when I was living there, I don't remember hearing anything about it. Guess it wasn't on NPR. A sad and infuriating story. There's some repetition in the telling here that detracts from the unfolding of the tale.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly straightforward true crime retelling of the case of Bob Bashara, who had his wife killed by a hitman b/c he wanted her money, his freedom and a kinky BDSM lifestyle. Bob was a narcissistic sociopath with a double life and his case was mostly interesting b/c of all the lucky breaks he got along the way.

One of the most infuriating things about this trial was the fact that local police were so overwhelmed with protecting a politician from home-grown terrorists that they totally dropped the ball and didn't give this case their full attention. Unfortunately, one life being protected trumped another life getting justice. This is the price our society pays for giving a platform to conspiracy theorists, neo-nazis and white nationalists. Crimes go unsolved b/c we have to protect our elected leaders from idiots who contribute nothing but mayhem. I feel terrible for the Bashara family and the way this case was mishandled. I hope they're able to finally find peace.

[River Scott Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've finished listening to The Audiobook of The Sadist, The Hitman and The Murder Of Jane Bashara and I rate it 4 stars 🌟


Bob and Jane Bashara were thought to be a happy married couple but after Jane is brutally murdered the attention is soon turned on her husband and his secret life is out for the whole world to see,

Thus really was a shocking murder committed by a ruthless psychopath a manipulative liar, the lengths Bob Bashara went too to keep his BDSM life a secret was shocking, the lies he repeatedly told people including his children and his secret girlfriend, its so sad that he chose to have his wife murdered rather then divorce her, this book is fully researched and goes into alot of detail, I found it shocking the extremes he went to to try and stop witnesses testifying against him.

This was a very interesting read a shocking and uncomfortable story but its a book I'd highly recommend.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sad story. As a true crime book it is interesting and it left me with little doubt of the jury’s decision. I wish, however, that the book had been written with a little more mystery. Perhaps there is no way to wonder about the crime in light of the preponderance of the lies and manipulation of Jane Bashara’s husband. What amazes me is how so many people overlooked the amount of lies that were told to them. That is why I think it is such a sad book. Those who wanted to love or enjoy Mr. Bashara kept making excuses or giving him more chances. Also, I agree with what another reviewer observed that too much about the book focused on lifestyle. Yes, that is interesting, but to my mind, it was not as significant as the selfish desire to obtain Jane’s money.

I listened to this book and think the narrator did a good job.

[Mary Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked at the Detroit News and this book was written by Detroit News crime reporter George Hunter (still at the paper) and his wife, who works in Detroit courts. Hunter covered this very high-profile case while it was happening and wrote this true book after the trial. The murder of Jane Bashara transfixed the nation - unfortunately because of its salacious details of a wealthy Grosse Pointer (GP) who secretly doubled as Master Bob, an BDSM “master” known as Master Bob, owner of a “sex dungeon” under a restaurant he owned in the very wealthy GP neighborhood rather than out of care for the victim. Hunter tries to remedy that with a caring portrayal of Jane and interviews and transcripts from family members. Plus the story is - as they say - stranger than fiction, even had shock crime journalist Nancy Grace shaking her head LOL. Highly recommended.

[Jilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A note to the authors: this case made national headlines because Jane was white and lived in an affluent neighborhood. Also, because of her husband, the eventual convicted killer. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s deeply problematic to openly dismiss that race and SES were factors in the media coverage.

[Sergeant Apone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Bashara is a buffoon. The guy thought he was a big shot and wasn't anything more than a big idiot. His poor wife and kids didn't deserve the shit he put them through. Get a divorce if you aren't happy.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sordid tale of middle aged people with kinky sex habits . It is also tragic. The murderer is sexually impaired which led to expected psychological distress. The writing is somewhat repetitive.

[Carol Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short time in the summer of 2005, I rollerbladed a couple of miles in the early-evening hours in my neighborhood because apparently I used to think myself invincible. It ended when I was honked at by a fat man in an SUV while waiting to cross busy Jefferson Avenue and flipped him off, and he then started swerving too close and stopping suddenly. What a fucking loser, right? But what I remember most about that, besides the "Big Bob" vanity plate, was the look of utter, checked-out, staring-straight-ahead nonchalance of the sad-ass wife who sat beside him in the passenger seat.
There was also a time in my life where I worked as a doorperson at bars & events for extra $$$. This led to an offer to work Noir Leather's nightmarish Fetish parties, private events that attracted the saddest, dorkiest bunch of freaks I've ever seen assembled in a single room. Not a single one of them was fuckable, so I guess I get it, but it was funny to read this book's chapters on the BDSM subculture and remember what a bunch of vile losers like Bob Bashar and his "slaves" those Noir Leather parties attracted.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Sadist, the Hitman, and the Murder of Jane Bashara" by George Hunter is a true crime narrative that delves into a chilling and gruesome murder case. While the book presents a compelling story, it falls short in certain aspects, warranting an average rating of three out of five stars.

The narrative unfolds with a gripping portrayal of the characters involved in the tragic demise of Jane Bashara, providing readers with a detailed account of the investigation and trial. The author, George Hunter, demonstrates commendable research skills, piecing together a complex puzzle of motives and actions.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to maintain a sense of suspense and intrigue throughout. Hunter skillfully weaves together various perspectives and pieces of evidence, creating a narrative that keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the truth behind the crime.

However, the storytelling occasionally falters with a lack of depth in character development. The personalities of the key figures in the case are portrayed rather superficially, leaving readers wanting a more profound understanding of their motivations and backgrounds. This lack of depth makes it challenging to fully empathize with the characters, diminishing the emotional impact of the narrative.

Furthermore, the pacing of the book can be uneven, with certain sections feeling rushed while others linger excessively on less crucial details. This inconsistency affects the overall flow of the story, making it harder for readers to stay fully immersed.

Despite these drawbacks, "The Sadist, the Hitman, and the Murder of Jane Bashara" is still a decent addition to the true crime genre. Fans of the genre who can overlook some narrative shortcomings may find the book to be a satisfactory read, especially if they appreciate a well-researched account of a real-life crime. However, those seeking a more nuanced exploration of characters and a smoother narrative flow may be left wanting more from this particular true crime tale.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly good true crime story. Well paced and definitely got as many interviews as possible. As a local I feel like they could have done more to explain the particular strangeness of Grosse Pointe v. Detroit but they at least capture to Tony nature of the place.

Glad they were able to capture the feeling of being in Judge Evans courtroom where attorneys are often facing against not just opposing counsel but the judge herself just bulldozing attorneys with her own cross examination.

[Ann Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awful and disgusting.

I regret having read into this trashy plot...... I can’t read past chapter 4. Only if a reader thrives on this kind of evil can there be any excuse for its publication