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True Crime read in 2016 ~ Reviews welcome here Part 2
Full Moon: The Amazing Rock and Roll Life of Keith Moon4 hung-over stars
This is the disjointed, out-of-sequence, alcohol-fogged memoir of Keith Moon's handler, who was expected to stay one step ahead of his employer's hijinks, keep him out of trouble and apparently match him drink for drink for ten solid years. This book got me all brushed up on my Cockney rhyming slang and reminded me, over and over, to be careful what I wish for. A book full of unbelievable memories, hilarity, regrets, incredible success and grinding failures. If you ever wondered how being a rock star shortens a person's life expectancy by 25 years, this book will explain all. And -- wouldn't you just know! -- the Manson Family turned up about 2/3 of the way in, wanting to recruit the title character of this story, and scared the pants off everyone. Along with that taste of mainstream TC, this is a 10-year epic of public intoxication, domestic violence, polysubstance abuse, smuggling, theft, fraud and drunk driving. It's amazing Keith lived as long as he did, honestly.
Signature Killers, by Bob Kellep and William Birnes5 stars!
A grim, grisly read detailing the atrocities visited on the victims of about 15 different serial killers, the escalating pattern of violence, and the evidence of signature in each crime scene. Geared to be educational, this one rarely becomes textbookey because it is so grounded in the horrific sights seen by homicide detectives. The text focused on lesser-known serial killers who were especially clear examples of this or that type of signature crime, but touched on some of the best-known cases as well, and I even managed to learn new facts about the well-worn cases of Bundy and Dahmer. I have to say the arguments tended to fall apart when the authors were discussing Bill Heirens, as if they were not sure of themselves in discussing this case. The way Keppel quoted Ted Bundy -- as if he were an expert on pattern crimes rather than someone who killed 36 women because he had issues -- made me almost as queasy as the crime scenes themselves.
Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey AnthonyThis book flowed very well and covers much more than what the media covered during the time of this case. It is about the Casey Anthony case where baby Caylee was murdered but Anthony got off scot-free. Originally published in 2011, this work covers from the begging and follows the up and downs, twist and turns that this case turned into to the grand ending of the final verdict.
I Would Find a Girl Walking, Kathy Kelly and Diane Montane3 stars
This was OK, but seemed sort of unfinished to me. The book was full of mistakes; the author said for instance that the killer wrote her 40 letters, but provided us with 50 by my count. She said there was reason to believe that he may have killed 40 people, but only named a few of them. She didn't even give us the kind of information on 'Jane Doe' and 'Madame X' that might help someone identify them, like their hair color. The writing was kind of clumsy for someone who claims to be a professional journalist, as if the killer's writing style had rubbed off on her somehow. This book told me more about how Kathy Kelly and others felt about Jerry Stano than what he really was like; the ridiculous psychiatric diagnosis someone gave him stopped me cold, for instance, because it could only have belonged to another killer entirely. It was worth the read but clearly needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Fishface wrote: "I Would Find a Girl Walking, Kathy Kelly and Diane Montane3 stars
This was OK, but seemed sort of unfinished to me. The book was full of mistakes; the author said for instance that..."
I gave that one 3 stars too for much the same reasons.
Finished The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town by Ron Franscell5 Stars
This guy knows how to write! It's very well written. This is the first book I have read by Franscell. I will look for others now. It's was a horrific crime. The victims haunt me. I found it interesting to read some of autobiography written by one of killers. It was a fascinating look at a warped mind and how he perceives himself. Unbelievably narcissistic. A few times Franscell was a bit long winded when he was being philosophical but it was good stuff.
Recommend this one!
Shelley wrote: "Finished The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town by Ron Franscell5 Stars
This guy knows how to write! It's very ..."
Ron Franscell is one of my favorite TC authors.
Invisible Eden by Maria Flook3 stars
I started this book thinking it was a true crime book but its not really. It is more of a biography of the victim. If you are reading it as a biography it is ok. There are very few details of the actual crime. There is a lot of description of the town and surrounding areas, which if you are from the area you might like reading about that. At times the author seems to go off in a direction that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story or the victim. At 400 pages I thought it might be a better story if it was at least 100 pages shorter. It seems to belabor every point. About half way through there didn't seem to be a lot that was different and I wanted it to move along a little faster
Koren wrote: "Invisible Eden by Maria Flook3 stars
I started this book thinking it was a true crime book but its not really. It is more of a biography of the victim. If you are reading it as a b..."
This book was written in 2004 so I did a google search to see if there was any further developments. There actually was an arrest and conviction in 2005. I'll let you do your own search to find out who was convicted.
Shelley wrote: "Finished The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town by Ron Franscell5 Stars
This guy knows how to write! It's very ..."
I so agree with this review!
Just finished Not Just Evil: Murder, Hollywood, and California's First Insanity Plea
Review ---> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blood Sister by Ken EngladeThis is about a well-known millionaire who married and indulged his younger wife’s every whim. His wife has a twin sister and spends most of their time with each other shopping, lunching and having fun. They share their deepest most inner thoughts and disappointments about their lives. So each one knows the good and bad about their families. Both sisters have good husbands who work hard to provide for his wife and kids.
Only one of the sisters was clearly not happy in the marriage and complained and criticized her husband in front of the children and out in public. What transpires has many twists and turns that keep you in suspense and of course there is a murder. This author brilliantly weaved the players in this story giving you a clear picture of what was to come. The trials kept you riveted and I found it fascinating, especially the outcome.
5 Stars
Mod
This is about a well-known millionaire who married and indulged his younger wife’s every whim. His wife has a twin sister and spends most of their time with each other s..."
Murder Under the Rising Sun: 15 Japanese Serial Killers That Terrified a Nation, William Webb2 stars
This took me a long time to read because it was so clumsy and lacking in information that I kept setting it aside. There are just a few paragraphs on each of the 15 cases, repetitive and tending to tell you how the story comes out right from the beginning. This book is just 131 pages long, and most of each page is white space. All the sources in the bibliography are Internet sites, mostly -- I regret to inform you -- Wikipedia. This is the first William Webb I have ever read and I'm likely to skip the others after this. With that said, the author did introduce me to some cases I have never heard of before -- some of them quite hideous -- and he made me want to learn more about most of them.
A State of Blood: The Inside Story of Idi Amin by Henry Kyemba4 stars
This is Henry Kyemba's memoir of being a member of Milton Obote's government in Uganda, and then -- somewhat to his surprise -- finding himself highly placed in Idi Amin's government after Amin ousted Obote. This is a cool and rational description of what Amin put his country through, and it is clear that Kyemba doesn't want to know, or at any rate linger over, too many of the details of Amin's genocide of his own constituents, the destruction of the country's economy or Uganda's standing in the international community. Heavily illustrated with photos. Well-written and carefully thought out, telling us each time he has to leave out a name for fear of getting a friend or colleague killed. The text starts with a list of 100 people he knows who were killed by his boss -- including the author's own brother. Well worth a look.
Finished Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked by Gregory A. Fournier4.5 Stars
I didn't find Fournier's writing as good as Franscell's but that's probably not a fair comparison. Nonetheless, it was well written. The book is a detailed coverage of the case and what a case it was/is! I find myself saying that about most of the cases I read about. It never ceases to amaze me what some people are capable of. The book covers the trial extensively which I enjoyed. It also covered Collins's years in prison so far; all the appeals, interviews he has given, etc.
I definitely recommend this one!
Glad to hear it. It's high on my TBR pile.
Anyone who takes the time to write reviews is making an author's day! Cool that you guys take the time. I review the books I read as well...good or bad. Authors rely on reviews and appreciate them.
Chris
Chris
I certainly, as a non-author, appreciate them myself. Makes me know whether a book is going to be worth the shipping fee and -- let's be real -- the public needs to be warned off certain books. Some are just too cheesy to bother with.
Fishface wrote: "I certainly, as a non-author, appreciate them myself. Makes me know whether a book is going to be worth the shipping fee and -- let's be real -- the public needs to be warned off certain books. Som..."
I agree with you completely. Most reviews are genuine, but from time to time I read some that have nothing to do with a book and more about an agenda or someone who's spreading hate.
I agree with you completely. Most reviews are genuine, but from time to time I read some that have nothing to do with a book and more about an agenda or someone who's spreading hate.
C.L. wrote: "Fishface wrote: "I certainly, as a non-author, appreciate them myself. Makes me know whether a book is going to be worth the shipping fee and -- let's be real -- the public needs to be warned off c..."I think this happens a lot in True Crime. I read a lot of reviews where someone is just unhappy that a book was written about someone they know.
Unholy Sacrifice by Robert Scott 3 stars
An interesting true crime story. What was different about this was the criminal grew up Mormon but denounced the church because he thought he knew more than anyone in the church. Quite a character. The investigation and trial was repetitive.
Anyone's son, By Roberta Roesch and Harry De La Roche, Jr. 4 stars
This was a really interesting read that managed to tell me about the history of the murdered family, the details of the crimes, the interrogation, the long wait in jail and the day-by-day of the trial without ever bogging down once. The defendant wrote most of this story himself, which helps. I didn't feel I came away knowing exactly what happened, due partly to withheld information and partly due to police bungling, but I have enough now to make an educated guess.
Koren wrote: "C.L. wrote: "Fishface wrote: "I certainly, as a non-author, appreciate them myself. Makes me know whether a book is going to be worth the shipping fee and -- let's be real -- the public needs to be..."
I agree. Or they've read a few books on the person by their "favorite author" and feel the need to attack anyone else who wrote a book like their "favorite author."
I agree. Or they've read a few books on the person by their "favorite author" and feel the need to attack anyone else who wrote a book like their "favorite author."
C.L. wrote: "Koren wrote: "C.L. wrote: "Fishface wrote: "I certainly, as a non-author, appreciate them myself. Makes me know whether a book is going to be worth the shipping fee and -- let's be real -- the publ..."Some of them think the victims should be paid for being a part of the book. Hmmm, really from what I've read the authors aren't getting rich from the book.
Railroad Killer by Wensley Clarkson4 stars
This was a quick read so it doesn't get into too much detail. It is about a Mexican serial killer named Angel Resendez, who goes back and forth between Mexico and the United States, robbing and killing. His main form of transportation is hopping trains like a hobo. This book brings up a good case of nature versus nurture. I will say no more in case it is a spoiler, but he was basically at likeable guy who got on the wrong path. The investigation and court room was nicely condensed. I will subtract one star because I would have liked to see more written about the victims.
A RIP IN HEAVEN by Jeanine CumminsUpon reading many decades of true crime stories this one was painful and extremely sad. A happy family and three teenage children and the oldest teen their son Tom got together with two of his cousins for a hike in in well known site Old Chain of Rocks Bridge which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. On a very unremarkable day, two of those two teens did not come home. What transpired there was sudden, cruel and deadly. Everything changed and it was a brutal half decade later that it was solved and the family continued their struggle. A must-read.
4+ Stars
I agree Rita! That one was pretty wrenching.
Fishface wrote: "I agree Rita! That one was pretty wrenching."Thanks Fishface! I appreciate your thoughts but when I decided to google Jeanine Cummins website there were so many different websites to try and I still didn't have any luck. I felt the need to tell her my thoughts on this horrible crime. Perhaps I am googling the wrong bloody thing...?
Rita wrote: "Fishface wrote: "I agree Rita! That one was pretty wrenching."Thanks Fishface! I appreciate your thoughts but when I decided to google Jeanine Cummins website there were so many different websites ..."I would Google the book itself and let that lead you to her.
I gave 3 stars to The Killing of Caroline Byrne: A Journey to Justice, the story of a 13-year slog to get resolution on a very ugly murder. It was nice to see the police working so cooperatively with the victim's father, and nice to see the book written mostly from his point of view. There were some large, unanswered questions left at the end but I think I have a good general idea of what happened and why. So soon after reading Bondi Badlands, seeing this story makes clear that you should just stay the funk away from Bondi Beach, and maybe Sydney in general, just for the sake of safety. There are too many long drops in that part of the world, is all I'm saying.
Fishface wrote: "Rita wrote: "Fishface wrote: "I agree Rita! That one was pretty wrenching."Thanks Fishface! I appreciate your thoughts but when I decided to google Jeanine Cummins website there were so many differ..."Gosh, I never thought of that Fishface and thank you for another of many pieces of advice! lol
DEVIL’S DISCIPLES by Robert WilsonThis is a true story that follows the long frightening path of Britain’s crime of the century the Moors Murders. It was exquisitely details from beginning to end about this terrifying
Nightmare. The victim’s families were tormented including their little children and fearful that further harm would be done to them. He also paints a wicked picture of the cruel ending to the victims and it’s aftermath on everyone. I highly recommend this book.
5 Stars
Just finished Unprovoked Murder: Insanity Or Demon Possession? by Lester Sumrall. Wow. What can I say about this one? -- The guy thinks that if anyone, like the Son of Sam, mentions demons while trying to scramble together a legal defense, then, hey, there must be demons. Because serial killers are, of course, rigidly honest.
-- That if anyone tries to use a multiple-personality defense for a crime he's committed, well, that means demons too. Because he couldn't just be lying to get himself out of trouble with the law!
-- That if you do anything he, Lester Sumrall, finds morally repugnant, well, you've gotcherself a case of demons too, buddy boy. Because if Lester is against it, there's no other explanation for why YOU would do it.
-- Oh, and that includes sexual deviance. That has nothing. At. All. to do with murder, especially serial murder. It's just another case of demons. Because sex is a beautiful gift from God. He explains this all in the book.
-- Lester dismisses the idea of an insanity defense in a murder case. Mental illness has nothing to do with why a person would get violent. He also appears not to know the difference between mental illness and mental retardation.
-- The author places himself squarely in the same camp as that boneheaded MP who said that just because Myra Hindley converted to Catholicism in prison, she ought to be allowed to go home because she's all better now. This author feels that if you "get Jesus," nothing further can go wrong. But at the same time, he says the death penalty is the only way to deal with murderers on account of that's what God wants. Yes: he knows what God wants and you don't.
-- I learned in here that alcohol and drugs can be dismissed as contributors to violent behavior. They simply are not a factor.
-- He explained in here that people in Africa and Asia worship the devil. Oh, and South America. All devil worshippers.
If you want a short, hilarious read, seek this one out. I gave it one star, but it's a very enthusiastic star. I give it the love one spares for an idiot child.
I really wonder what this guy would make of Jeff Dahmer, the alcoholic fundamentalist cannibal who went to Bible study every week but still ate people and was sketching ideas to build a temple out of their bones. The guy had Jesus. He totally had Jesus. Now what, Lester?
Fishface wrote: "Just finished Unprovoked Murder: Insanity Or Demon Possession? by Lester Sumrall. Wow. What can I say about this one? -- The guy thinks that if anyone, like the Son of Sam, mention..."
That was priceless! lol I am giving your review 5++ stars!
Early Graves by Thomas H. CookI started and finished this powerful, frightening close-up of two sociopathic personalities at their most deadly. A couple that killed for pleasure. It is quite unbelievable these two murderers who happened to meet and from then on they showered a reign of terror.
This author brings them to life and to the extent it is possible, he makes us understand them.
5 Stars
Fishface wrote: "I liked that one too, Rita!"Thanks Fishface. I am glad I read it.
A Call for Justice: A New England Town's Fight To Keep A Stone Cold Killer In Jail, by Denise Lang4 enthusiastic stars!
This was a really good read on a very interesting case. Remarkably little space in this book was devoted to the crimes themselves; it was almost all about the groundswell of public feeling about the case, the teaming between the families of the victims and the Attorney General's office, and the advocacy efforts to try to change the law to accommodate this case. The legal questions that arose as a result are troubling, and we got to see how it all got worked out in court. And let me say that they never lost me for a minute. The author managed to keep the story moving right along when she could easily have bogged down in legal minutiae. It probably matters that a very similar case was unfolding in my own neighborhood with some very close parallels to this one. But I think most readers with any interest in tough legal questions and the constant balancing act the courts have to play between protecting the public and protecting the rights of the accused will find this one totally gripping.
Fishface wrote: "A Call for Justice: A New England Town's Fight To Keep A Stone Cold Killer In Jail, by Denise Lang4 enthusiastic stars!
This was a really good read on a very interesting case. Remar..."
Wow...Fishface, I just put this one on to order with Amazon. lol
My Sweet Angel: The True Story of Lacey Spears, the Seemingly Perfect Mother Who Murdered Her Son in Cold Blood by John Glatt4 stars
Wow! Just Wow! This book is about a young mother with the diagnosis of Munchausen's by proxy who eventually killed her little boy. While it is a hard subject to read about I think it is something everyone should know about. This boy may have lived if the people in her life and the doctors had been more aware of what was going on. Some of them did suspect but didn't investigate further. This book also is interesting because of the aspect that social media played in the case. She probably wouldn't have been caught if she wasn't so addicted to Facebook and Myspace. Note to all criminals: what you post on line can and will be used against you.
I will deduct one point because the trial is about 100 pages and is mostly transcript and/or what has already been told to us before. Otherwise, it would easily be a 5 star book and one of the best True Crime books I have read this year.
I have an interest in this subject because my son's ex-wife told me a doctor accused her of having Munchausen's by proxy and I really think she did. While she didn't harm the children (as far as I know) she would run to the doctor or the ER for the smallest thing. One time my grandson had a small rash on his hand and she went the next day to the doctor. Another time he vomited once and that was an immediate ER visit. They sent her home but that evening he vomited again and she went back again. I went with her the second time. The kid was screaming his head off and she wanted him put in the hospital. Both the doctor and I told her if he could scream that loud he wasn't sick enough to be in the hospital. Another time my granddaughter was just a few months old and she told the doctor that my granddaughter would stop breathing for short times. She was in the hospital for several days hooked up to monitors but they couldn't find anything wrong with her. After my son divorced her she eventually had the kids taken away, due mostly to her drug use. She is only allowed supervised visitation, thank god!
Terror in the Streets, by Howard Whitman4 stars!
This was a great read! The author traveled all over the country in the late 1940s, visiting the major cities, riding along in what were then called "radio cars," walking the beat with a few police officers, reviewing some of the juicier crimes on their dockets (like the Black Dahlia case). He interviewed some of the people arrested, as well as some crime victims. He focuses entirely on crimes against persons -- muggings, seemingly random beatings, youth-gang wars, sex murders, rapes, kidnappings -- and gives his considered opinion on what needs to be done about each type of crime and each type of criminal. This one gave me a great sense of how policing was changing in the late 40s and helps me understand how it got to be...the way it is now. Some of his thoughts were very insightful and some were total spinach. Really worth a look if you can find a copy.
Paralyzing Summer: The True Story of the Ann Arbor V.A. Hospital Poisonings and Deaths, by Zibby Oneal and Martin Lindenauer4 stars!
This was well-written and gave me a much clearer sense of what happened, and why, the summer of the poisonings at the Ann Arbor VA hospital than I was able to get from The Mysterious Deaths at Ann Arbor. That one was an instant paperback, essentially following the case headline by headline; this was co-written by the director of the hospital itself and has a ton more information. This gave me what I really wanted to know: why some people believed the two nurses did it, why others didn't, how the court finally came to a determination and why they decided what they did. They also lay out a great many unanswered questions for the reader's delectation. I recommend this one, but whatever you do DON'T look at the photo section in the back until you get to the end. It spoils the ending.
Finished Peter Woodcock: Canada's Youngest Serial Killer by Mark Bourrie3.5 Stars
It was okay. Interesting case but not as well written as others in the series. This is a short read.
Finished Why Not Kill Her: A Juror's Perspective by Paul Sanders
3.5 to 4 Stars
Sanders was on the jury for the murder trial of Marissa DeVault who killer her husband Dale Harrell. He wrote a book about that. Then he sat through the re-trial of Jodi Arias penalty phase. This book is about that. Although it was interesting, the author kept repeating some things over and over until I thought I would scream. The book does it better towards the end. I am actually thinking I would like to read his first book. Surprises even me.
Defenders of the Damned, Alan Hynd4 stars
This was a great book, full of really rollicking stories about the three famous attorneys -- Earl Rogers, Clarence Darrow (who once hired Earl Rogers to represent him) and William Fallon -- whose brief biographies are in this book. These are stories of wrecked marriages, shady dealings and legal maneuvers nobody could get away with today, aside from all the crazy stories of the people these men represented and the powerful people they made into enemies. There is not a single dull line in these pages. Read it.
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Obsessed with True Crime
Books mentioned in this topic
Chrisp's True Crime Miscellany (other topics)Fatal Fascination: A Choice of Crime (other topics)
Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner (other topics)
Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survival (other topics)
A Tale of Two Lives (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ron Franscell (other topics)Janice Holly Booth (other topics)
Mark Bourrie (other topics)
Paul Sanders (other topics)
Gregory A. Fournier (other topics)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Living With The Devil by Lori and Cindy Hart
ByWSU fanon October 14, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I couldn't put this book down! It was very well written, much attention to detail without extra fluff. I am a long time reader of True Crime and am very picky about this genre, and I know what reads well and what doesn't. I highly recommend this book to anyone who read True Crime. Because of this book, I did a bit of research and was appalled to find out the suspect (in MANY homicides) was actually just released on bail coming up with $500,000! It made me wonder who he suckered in this time.