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Beauty Killers: The True Story of a Successful Businessman, His Young Lover, and Their Murderous Rampage
Janeen Snyder was only fourteen when she moved in with Michael Thornton, his wife, and teenage daughter. Michael was a successful entrepreneur and family man with eight beauty salons and a six-figure income-but two years later, he gave it all up to run away with Janeen. At last, on the road with his new young lover, Michael could indulge his darkest, wildest obsessions ... They worked together as a team, luring girls into their twisted world of violence, and depravity. They drugged them, trained them, bound them, abused them. And for many years, Michael and Janeen were never caught...until police uncovered the body of a Las Vegas teen in a horse trailer. One by one, detectives found other victims-the lucky ones who survived, but had been too terrified to come forward. Soon, the world would learn just how sick and deranged these lovers really were. Beauty Killers is a terrifying true story of sex, torture and murder--an illicit affair between two people who discovered a desire to kill...
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 31, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 23, 2022
Okay true crime authors repeat after me: blood SPATTER not SPLATTER
Ugh 🙄 automatic star loss
Oh they are so precious talking about how you get ice chests with body parts inside how to sink…lack of brain cells and common sense IDIOTS Murdey 101
Ugh 🙄 automatic star loss
Oh they are so precious talking about how you get ice chests with body parts inside how to sink…lack of brain cells and common sense IDIOTS Murdey 101
September 20, 2021
This was an exceptional read. Well-written, well-organized. Braidhill imposed order on a nightmarishly crazy story. It's full of most of the worst things you can expect to find in a true-crime book but the reader comes away with the definite impression that many, many more crimes were committed that never came to light. It's a wild ride. Don't miss it...if you think you can stomach all this horror.
August 20, 2012
Was an interesting read.... but there was something missing... i'm not sure what was missing, can't put my finger on it, but something was missing.... interesting though... and would recommend!
June 15, 2015
wow. Read this in ONE sitting. I could not put it down. It started pretty slow, but it certainly picked up steam.
This writer carefully weaves simultaneously plot strands, and drops enough clues to sustain tension throughout.
The story had my emotions running all over the place...it was a rollercoaster read.
While not going into the psychological profile of the killer(s) like Ann Rule does, the structure of this book more than made up for that.
I will def look for other books by this author.
This writer carefully weaves simultaneously plot strands, and drops enough clues to sustain tension throughout.
The story had my emotions running all over the place...it was a rollercoaster read.
While not going into the psychological profile of the killer(s) like Ann Rule does, the structure of this book more than made up for that.
I will def look for other books by this author.
September 14, 2016
Short, easy to read prose, but lacking some depth. Whilst I don't want all the grisly details, this is the story of multiple heinous crimes and for the most part the crimes were glossed over.
December 27, 2023
As one of the players in this book it has a lot of errors. I know the truth. I was there.
May 6, 2010
This book is written in a twisted chronological pretzel, jumping back and forth through at least eight years as it tells the story of a serial killer and his accomplice, a young woman groomed for the job from the time she was twelve or thirteen. It is a testament to the skill of the author that it is possible to read this book without becoming totally confused or lost, and the method allows for a fiction-worthy story arc, but this is not fiction; a more straightforward chronology might not carry the plot and optimize placement of various reveals, but it might aid in understanding the events.
The story itself is horrific; this is the most brutal read of any true crime book in my experience, including Kate Millett's _The Basement_. I recommend this book, but not as a lark or light reading.
It is astounding to read the percentage of people in this book who have used or abused meth; nearly everyone from the main criminals to most of the victims and/or their relatives or dating partners are meth users of some sort, and frequently it was not the meth that brought the criminal and victim together.
The story itself is horrific; this is the most brutal read of any true crime book in my experience, including Kate Millett's _The Basement_. I recommend this book, but not as a lark or light reading.
It is astounding to read the percentage of people in this book who have used or abused meth; nearly everyone from the main criminals to most of the victims and/or their relatives or dating partners are meth users of some sort, and frequently it was not the meth that brought the criminal and victim together.
October 22, 2014
Possible spoilers. Read my review at your own risk.
I saw this couple's episode of "Wicked Attraction" and I was immediately intrigued because the main cities they refer to are near me. I remember this case because of the missing girls photos. I am still dumbstruck by these crimes.
The book isn't written all that well, but the case on it's own is captivating...sick...and heart-breaking. There were also a lot of details in the book that were not included in the show. And I did want to learn more about the killers, their escapades, capture, and trial. I guess I did.
The author jumped around with the timeline and because there were so many people involved with the case and so many aspects touched on, I got confused at times. I'm not sure if it's the writing or information overload or my fast reading, but I have questions still: Who was Chelsea? Was Chelsea a typo name? Why was the cell mate's homosexuality a big deal? I obviously missed some details. I am not sure if I can ever reread this book again though. It's too emotionally draining for me.
A good read if you're interested in the case. A difficult read if you have a heart.
I saw this couple's episode of "Wicked Attraction" and I was immediately intrigued because the main cities they refer to are near me. I remember this case because of the missing girls photos. I am still dumbstruck by these crimes.
The book isn't written all that well, but the case on it's own is captivating...sick...and heart-breaking. There were also a lot of details in the book that were not included in the show. And I did want to learn more about the killers, their escapades, capture, and trial. I guess I did.
The author jumped around with the timeline and because there were so many people involved with the case and so many aspects touched on, I got confused at times. I'm not sure if it's the writing or information overload or my fast reading, but I have questions still: Who was Chelsea? Was Chelsea a typo name? Why was the cell mate's homosexuality a big deal? I obviously missed some details. I am not sure if I can ever reread this book again though. It's too emotionally draining for me.
A good read if you're interested in the case. A difficult read if you have a heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2016
I picked this book up because the plot sounded good. I didn't realize till I got home that this was a true story. It is extremely well written and really captures your attention. I found myself not wanting to put it down. It is crazy though to hear how terrible people can be to others, but it was interesting to hear the story start to finish.
December 26, 2016
It was amazing! If you're one that loves crime and mystery, you'll enjoy it very much! It's based on a true story, so it makes it hundreds of times better. the plot is really intriguing, but you have to read it closely to understand it. it kind of jumps to other perspectives quick though, just to forwarn you.
June 17, 2010
You must like true crime stories to read this book and I do like to read true crime, however; I found this one to be particularly disturbing. I would not recommend it.
October 15, 2010
read that last true crime so i thought i would try another.. dont really like true crime..lol
January 12, 2011
It's not that I liked what happened, cuz I don't.. I think that it's absolutely horrible what they did to their victims. But it is very informative and shows you how cruel people can truly be.
November 5, 2012
It was a great story! Sometimes it was a little hard to follow. As a writer I would NOT say it was poorly written. It had spots that could use a little work, but I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews