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True Crime Read In 2018-19: Post Reviews Here!
Kristin wrote: "I just finished “A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings” by Blaine L. Pardon and Victoria R. HesterIt was pretty good. I picked it up at Crime Con 2018 after sitting through..."
That's a new-to-me author.
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Here are some posts from the TC Authors folder and the '2017 TC' folder.
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It was pretty good. I picked it up at Crime Con 2018 after sitting through..."
Some of the reviews said it was poorly edited. What are your thoughts?
Mystical Murders
Author: John Dunning
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
A collection of 20 true stories about murders that in some way are labeled as 'mystical'. It was an interesting read, as I hadn't previously seen anything on several of these cases. I have included the synopsis from the back of the book, to help you understand the contents, and a photo of the cover (since there isn't one on Goodreads).
Synopsis:
A spine-chilling catalogue of macabre murders reconstructed in horrifying detail by a leading crime historian. A mixture of sorcery, satanism and black magic rituals, Mystical Murders chronicles some of the more unorthodox killings of recent times.
House of Lies
Author: Linda Rosencrance
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
I just didn't feel there was really enough here to make a book. No emotion. No interviews with anyone involved. Endless court transcripts ... and BORING bits, at that. Maybe a different author could have made something of this.
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Mystical Murders
Author: John Dunning
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
A collection of 20 true stories about murders that in some way..."
Thanks for taking the time to post a photo.
Lady♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "Diane wrote: "Mystical Murders
Thanks for taking the time to post a photo.
You are most welcome.
Diane wrote: "Mystical Murders
Author: John Dunning
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
A collection of 20 true stories about murders that in some way..."
Is there any chance this is the same compilation as Occult Murders, retitled? What are the names of some of the cases?
Fishface wrote: "Diane wrote: "Mystical Murders
Is there any chance this is the same compilation he put out titled Occult Murders, retitled? What are the names of some of the cases?
Published 1989
Contents:
Amateur Exorcist
The Mummy and the Vanishing Bathroom
Dance with the Devil
One Enchanted Morning
Exorcism Made Easy
Mentally Disadvantaged Vampire
Lust Beyond the Grave
Black Mass
The Power of the Pendulum
Lucifer's Outlaws
Interview with a Murder Victim
Egg Power
Practical Hypnosis
The Heart of the Mater
Never Get Your Fortune Told
Black Magic
Dr Hyde, I Presume
Saviour
The Demons Did It
Tailor to Tart
Wow, these sound like totally different cases. Thanks!!!*adds to "want to read" list*
Fishface wrote: "Wow, these sound like totally different cases. Thanks!!!*adds to "want to read" list*"
You're welcome! You had me curious, too ... lol I'll have to get his other books now.
I've really liked every one I've read by him. And you can't read about some of those cases anywhere else as near as I can tell...
Fishface wrote: "I've really liked every one I've read by him. And you can't read about some of those cases anywhere else as near as I can tell..."Thanks for that. A recommendation from you is as good as gold. :)
Boy, I wish more people agreed with me like that!*basks in praise*
Fishface wrote: "Boy, I wish more people agreed with me like that!*basks in praise*"
Fishface...you ROCK!
Blood in the Sand: A Shocking True Story of Murder, Revenge, and Greed in Las Vegas
Author: Clifford L. Linedecker
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
About a femme fatale, Amy DeChant, who goes through men like I go through books. When she finally lands the big one ... VERY rich ... he's a big meanie to poor little Amy and won't share his money. Gifts, yep, like any femme fatale she gets those, but the big moolah, or the houses in her name, nope, no dice. So, she kills him, ropes one of the employees from her carpet cleaning business into helping her, and dumps him in the Nevada USA desert. Unfortunately, for them ... but fortunately for the rest of mankind ... the cops catch 'em, and the courts jail 'em.
Interesting true crime case, but not a real page-turner. It needed a bit more pizzazz to draw the reader in. True crime is not like a fictional mystery. We already know who-did-what-to-whom before we pick up the book. The author's job is to tell the tale in such a way that we keep flippin' the pages eager to see what unfolds next. This one didn't quite live up to that ideal.
Everybody's Best Friend: The True Story of a Marriage That Ended In Murder
Author: Ken Englade
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
I like when an author lets you see 'behind the scenes' and peer into how the cops and attorneys arrive at their various decisions. It was particularly interesting to read about the prosecutors, and 'listen' to them debating amongst themselves how to handle this-or-that. When they had those "Eureka!" moments of sheer brilliance you wish you could be there to give 'em a high-five.
The author drew me into the case, and made me care about the woman who was murdered, and all the others who suffered because of that. Always a good thing.
I thought this book was well written, it kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed it.
Susan wrote: "Rita wrote: "Evil Angels: The Shocking True Story of a Sensational Crime by John Byson5 Stars
This is a story about a family in Australia camping out with other families as well setting it up and..."
Thank you Susan.
All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murderers' Row by James Patterson5 stars
If you are a football fan you are probably familiar with the name Aaron Hernandez. Aaron could have had the world by the tail but instead went down the path of drugs, gangs, violence and murder. He was a very talent player in college and played a few years for the New England Patriots. This book raises a question about whether brain injuries from football and rampant drug use played a role in the murderer's thinking. The author leaves it up to you to decide.
Twisted: The Secret Desires and Bizarre Double Life of Dr. Richard Sharpe
Author: John Glatt
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
Dr. Richard Sharpe was a seriously messed up person. I don't know how his wife, Karen, stayed married to him for 27 years. Yes, yes, I 'know' all the psychological reasons spouses stay ... I just wish they wouldn't. Unfortunately, for Karen, when she finally got out, it wasn't to last long. Sad.
Interesting true crime story. I had a few quibbles with what I consider discrepancies in the telling of it. (This is not a spoiler, it states this in the synopsis) For instance (pg 130) "....he pulled the trigger....straight through her back....coming out of her chest" - but on the back of the book, and elsewhere "....unloading a .22-caliber rifle into Karen's chest". So, which is it? In the back? Or, in the chest? Seems like a pretty important bit that should be stated correctly, yes?
Notorious 92: Indiana's Most Heinous Murders in All 92 Counties, Andrew Stoner3 solid stars
This was a remarkably quick read for such a big book -- a whopping 500-page trade paperback. There's a little of everything in here. Officers killed in the line of duty, unsolved sex murders, stalking, domestic violence, killer kids, murder for profit, even a mob hit or so. More than one serial killing. I was entertained by the way the copyediting got worse and worse as the book went along, as if someone's dose of caffeine were wearing off. By far the most egregious error was leaving Spencer County's crime out entirely and putting a duplicate of Sullivan County's crime in its place. Overall, though, this one was well written and well presented, with a bibliography after each chapter. This is not the book for you if you want in-depth analysis of each case, but if you're looking for many fascinating stories in one place, be sure to read this one.
Lady ♥ Belleza wrote: "Kristin wrote: "I just finished “A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings” by Blaine L. Pardon and Victoria R. HesterIt was pretty good. I picked it up at Crime Con 2018 after..."
Sorry! I didn't follow-up on this post. There was an editing error on the first page, which really annoyed me. Because, come on, it was literally the first page. And I remember maybe one or two other errors. But, nothing that made an impact on my reading. I guess we should expect better?
But as it is an independent publisher, I was more interested in supporting their business. It was certainly better edited than I expected it to be based on it being published by a "mom and pop" publisher. I have been following Wild Blue Press for quite some time, but this book was my first purchase, and I was happy with it.
I'm currently reading Sidetracked: The Betrayal and Murder of Anna Kithcart by Richard T. Cahill, which is also published by Wild Blue Press. I'm not far enough in to have formed a real opinion yet, but it seems like an interesting crime.
She Had No Enemies, Dennis Fleming4 stars
This is a very unusual book. Where many friends and family members of murder victims become legal or social advocates of some kind, Dennis Fleming went in a completely different direction, working to make his life more meaningful and making himself over into a more balanced, functional person. The book is painfully honest without overwhelming you with the sorry details of a job ending or a marriage falling apart. Always, the focus is on his sister Mickey and where she led him in the years after they lost her. Seriously, don't miss this one.
While They Slept: An Inquiry Into the Murder of a Family
This author does a magnificent job sorting through the hearbreak of a family tragedy. It keeps you riveted from beginning to end and brings us closer to understanding the resilience of the human spirit. A must read.
4 Stars
I concur entirely with Rita's analysis. I just read this one recently myself.
Fishface wrote: "I concur entirely with Rita's analysis. I just read this one recently myself."Thank you Fishface!
While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent into Madness by Eli Sanders5 stars and a heart
This book was everything I like in a true crime story. The research is impeccable and not just taken from transcripts and documents. I wish he could have gotten an interview with the murderer but he did get interviews with pretty much everyone else in the book. He tells us so much about the victims that I felt like I knew them. What I really liked about this book was that it didn't just tell the story of a crime. The author tells us a lot about the town (Seattle) and how the city gives big tax breaks to business but gives very little money for mental health and fixing the things that are wrong with the town. He digs deep into the psyche of the murderer and explores reasons why he did what he did. Was it nature or nurture? He asks the question: What can we do as a society to help people with mental health issues before something happens that the already over-stressed court system has to address? And is it cheaper in the long run to finance mental health issues as opposed to waiting until it is too late and then having to foot the bill for a lifetime sentence in a prison. Lots to think about and discuss in this book.
Koren wrote: "While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent into Madness by Eli Sanders5 stars and a heart
This book was everything I like in a true crime story. The r..."
Ordered mine!
The Best American Crime Reporting 2010, edited by Stephen J. Dubner4 stars!
This was an excellent read that sold me on this series. I can hardly wait to find the other installments. The contents are articles from sources as disparate as "Harper's Weekly" and "Rolling Stone," covering subjects even more disparate -- Roman Polanski's rape charges, a whiz-kid phone hacker who can bamboozle anyone, and the unbelievably brutal world of the Mexican drug cartels are all mentioned in here, along with other crimes of all kinds, from everywhere. The only real pattern here is that the stories are extremely well-written and fascinating.
I just finished SIDETRACKED: The Betrayal And Murder Of Anna Kithcart Kindle Edition by Richard T. Cahill published by WildBlue PressI gave it a 3.5 because while it was well-researched and the trial writing was phenomenal, there was very little character development. The victim of this murder is a complete stranger to me, as is the man who was ultimately convicted of her murder. While the case is interesting, I think it would have been good for the author to have written more about the people, especially the victim.
I dont know if this offer is still available but Amazon has a free download of 6 Harold Schechter short e-books. Each one took about an hour to read. They were all historical true crime and doesn't delve into any personal information. It's more just the facts but if you want something quick to read you cant beat the price.
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I gave it a 3.5 because while it was well-researched and the t..."
Reposting to add link.
Koren wrote: "I dont know if this offer is still available but Amazon has a free download of 6 Harold Schechter short e-books. Each one took about an hour to read. They were all historical true crime and doesn't..."Koren, thank you!!!
What a great “heads up”!
Fire Lover: A True Story
Author: Joseph Wambaugh
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
Very good nonfiction book about a despicable man, John Orr. A man who sets fires. A serial arsonist. On the 10th of October 1984 in South Pasadena, California USA this man set a fire in a retail store, during business hours, that killed innocent men, women, and children. Thankfully, he was caught. I could go into a lot of detail, but I won't. I'll let you read it all for yourself.
I found this book to be a real page-turner. Even the pages relating to the trial evidence were masterfully handled by the author, Joseph Wambaugh, to keep the reader interested ... which isn't always the case, unfortunately.
(This edition was published in Australia 2003, and there doesn't appear to be an accurate cover photo for it here on Goodreads. I have one on my PC, if a GR Librarian would like to add it to this page, I can send it to you.)
Diane wrote: "Fire Lover: A True Story
Author: Joseph Wambaugh
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
..."
One special aspect of this book, not normally a part of Wambaugh's oeuvre, is the incredible variety of euphemisms he uses instead of just saying "masturbation."
Gangland Queensland
Authors: James Morton & Susanna Lobez
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
Sixteen chapters that highlight crimes in Queensland Australia from the early 1900s until publication (2012). They didn't include domestic crime, or white-collar crime, only organised crime. Interesting collection, some of which were new to me.
I have included the table of contents to give you some insight into the book.
The Good Old Days
Southern Raiders
Girls for Sale
The Italians in North Queensland
The War in Queensland
Killers
The Whiskey Au Go Go Fire
Disappearances
The Rat Pack and Phil Dickie on the Road to Fitzgerald
The Fitzgerald Inquiry and After
Robbers
The Drug Trade
Queenslands Bikers
Inside and Out
Sex Can Be Bad for Your Health
Queensland Today and Tomorrow
Fishface wrote: Fire Lover: A True StoryOne special aspect of this book, not normally a part of Wambaugh's oeuvre, is the incredible variety of euphemisms he uses instead of just saying "masturbation."
lol ... Maybe he was just trying to jazz things up a bit!
To Love, Honor, and Kill by Lee Butcher2 stars
After around page 100 this book is mostly trial transcripts. I did manage to finish but it was slow going. Nothing unusual here. Your typical husband kills wife for the insurance money case.
The Brick Slayer, Harold Schechter4 stars!
I was thrilled to find a whole book on Robert Nixon, and it was a good, maybe even a great, read. There was so much more to this story than I realized...Quite a few layers to peel back. And because of all the time that's passed I also wonder how much of this story is never going to be known. There are also some serious questions about his guilt, even aside from the distortions caused by the brutal police tactics of the period. You won't be sorry if you read this one. I have to say I loved the animation in the Kindle version I read, too.
Joe Cinque's Consolation
Author: Helen Garner
5 Stars = It made a significant impact on my heart, and/or mind. It moved me. I won't forget it.
This is the first Helen Garner book I've read, and I'm impressed. She probes deep into the psyche of the judge, the witnesses, and the families. She goes through much soul-searching of her own, and shares pertinent bits with us, which I appreciated. She shows us the human story behind the legal process. She draws us in. I felt I was sitting with her in court, standing by her side as she talks to folks, and allowed to hear her thoughts in the wee hours of the morning when she struggled with the weight of this case. Her heart speaks directly to our hearts.
She digs into "duty of care" from all angles ... legal, moral, and just basic human decency. What does "duty of care" really mean? When should we intervene? Why does it often seem that 'law' and 'justice' rarely come together? This was a heart-rending crime, and Helen gives us much to think about.
This book strikes me as a requiem for Joe Cinque. If you like a true crime book that puts the victim at the forefront of the story, you'll like this one. She never lets us forget, that "Joe Cinque is dead".
Little Shoes: The Sensational Depression-Era Murders That Became My Family's Secret, Pamela Everett4.5 stars!
This is a short read, but satisfying -- as satisfying as a horrific story like this probably can be. If you thought not much could be worse than a triple child murder, wait until you see what the author does with what I thought all this time was a clear, simple set of facts. I thought I knew something about this case, but I didn't know anything at all. Don't miss this book if you have any interest in family secrets, the legal system, true crime or learning the truth behind a legend.
True Betrayals[bookcover:True BetrayalThis is not a true crime story but it read like one. A tale of envy, greed, murder and forgiveness this author gives you a birds-eye view of sabotage, skulduggery and cruelty in the horsey world of high stakes.
A thrilling story of family secrets and unexpected passions set against the world of Championship Thoroughbred Racing. I found it quite a page-turner and do recommend this book.
4+ Stars
Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan
3 stars
This book is about crooked cops in Spokane, Washington during the depression and the cop who uncovered a murder by a cop during that time while doing a college thesis in the 1980's. Most of the players have passed on but there is one still living....
There were some interesting moments during this book but there were also some times that were slow going. Worth a read to see how (hopefully) times have changed.
This is a much earlier work by the author that wrote
3,096 Days
Author: Natascha Kampusch
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
I was so impressed with Natascha. I felt that she told the story of her abduction, her escape, and her re-entry into society, with great care, and skill. I totally support her choice to not reveal everything that took place during those years. To me, her refusal typifies the strength of character that she most certainly possesses.
I also agree with her opinion of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Natascha wrote, "If I wanted to survive in this new world, I had to cooperate with him. For somebody who has never been in such an extreme situation of oppression, this may be difficult to comprehend. But today I am proud of the fact that I was able to take this step towards the person who had robbed me of everything. Because that step saved my life even though I had to dedicate more and more energy to maintaining this 'positive approach' to the kidnapper." As she says, it is often used as a glib label, turning "…victims into victims a second time, by taking from them the power to interpret their own story - and by turning the most significant experiences from their story into the product of a syndrome. The term places the very behaviour that contributes significantly to the victim's survival that much closer to being objectionable." "Getting closer to the kidnapper is not an illness. Creating a cocoon of normality within the framework of a crime is not a syndrome. Just the opposite. It is a survival strategy in a situation with no escape - and much more true to reality than the sweeping categorization of criminals as bloodthirsty beasts and of victims as helpless lambs that society refuses to look beyond."
Rough Trade by Steve Jackson4 stars
Super interesting true crime about the murder of a prostitute by Robert Riggan. The better story is the female ex-cop turned prostitute and druggie who helped solve the case. The courtroom proceedings are fairly repetitive but otherwise a very good book.
Dangerous Ground: My Friendship with a Serial Killer by M. William Phelps4 stars
I started this book a month ago and put it down for about 2 weeks. It was just going so slow for me. When I picked it up again I finished it in a couple days. The author is a master at the genre of True Crime. This book had something different. It was as much an autobiography of the author as it was about a serial killer. If you watched the ID network show 'Dark Minds' you will know their is a serial killer they show in shadow and call Raven and and ask him what is going on in the mind of a serial killer on each show. Now Phelp's reveals who Raven is and if you are into True Crime you will recognize the name. Phelp's intersperses his relationship before, during, and after the show with the story of his own life, including his sister-in-laws murder and the death of his brother. The only thing I didn't like about this book was blaming his health problems, anxiety and almost falling off the wagon after 20 years of sobriety onto his relationship with the serial killer. That seemed a little overly dramatic. Otherwise, an excellent book.
For The Love Of Julie: A Nightmare Come True, A Mother's Courage, A Desperate Fight For Justice, Ann Ming4 stars!
This book reads almost like a case study in all the things that can go wrong in a murder case, told from the point of view of the person taking it on the chin, over and over, from so many different angles I don't even know how these people got through it. It's an incredible story about taking the system by the lapels, turning it upside down and shaking it until the final result falls out at your feet. Page 272 left me in tears. Don't miss this powerful story.
Fishface wrote: "For The Love Of Julie: A Nightmare Come True, A Mother's Courage, A Desperate Fight For Justice, Ann Ming4 stars!
Page 272 left me in tears. Don't miss this powerful story."
I wholeheartedly agree.
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Obsessed with True Crime
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It was pretty good. I picked it up at Crime Con 2018 after sitting through the panel. It is an interesting story because obviously there’s no proof this was a serial killer, but....yeah, it probably was.
The story was told well, and pieces together nicely. I have it a 4 when I rated it. 3.5 was probably more accurate.
These crimes are worth reading about.