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True Crime Read In 2018-19: Post Reviews Here!
That book was RIVETING, and I don't remember any purple prose.
Fishface wrote: "That book was RIVETING, and I don't remember any purple prose."Yeah, if there was any, I didn't notice! But it got a lot of 1 or 2 star ratings for its so-called purple prose. *shrugs*
Mod
Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China
Author: Paul French
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
Very interesting book. Paul French has written a reconstruction of the investigation into Pamela Werner's murder in Peking, 1937. He based it on medical reports, Peking police reports, press reports, letters from Scotland Yard, E.T.C. Werner's personal investigation notes, and much more. It was a brutal murder, a tragedy, and it broke her father's heart. French ably weaves the murder case with the turbulent times Peking was experiencing. Speaking of Pamela's father he says, "He had lived eighty-nine years. He had seen China as a dynasty with an emperor, a republic with a generalissimo, a nation at war for its very survival, and finally as a people's republic with a dictator."
If you like historical true crime, and learning a bit about Peking's history, you'll probably enjoy this book.
I loved that one, too. It was fascinating.
Fishface wrote: "I loved that one, too. It was fascinating."I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it, but the author did a superb job. It was a page-turner, for sure.
Honeymoon Dive: The Real Story of the Tragic Honeymoon Death of Tina Watson
Author: Lindsay Simpson
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
I live in Queensland, Australia, and have visited Townsville, so, the setting of this nonfiction book was familiar to me. Books written about areas I am acquainted with tend to strike a deeper chord with me. Perhaps, others feel the same.
The author tries to simply set down the facts surrounding Tina's death, and let the readers form their own opinions. Was it murder? Was it stupidity, and lack of appropriate duty of care? No one knows except Tina, and Gabe.
I will say, if the details in this book are true, Gabe sounds like he's a few bricks short of a load (as they say in the USA southern states). He seems to be the king of inappropriate remarks. For example, at Tina's wake, her best friend, Amanda, approached the casket and complimented Gabe on Tina's dress and Gabe said "at least her breasts look perky". WTF?! I told my hubby if he says that over my casket, I'll sit up and slap him. He said he'd deserve it!
If you have an interest in this case, you'll probably want to read this book.
I added it to our "Did They Or Didn't They" shelf.
Fishface wrote: "I added it to our "Did They Or Didn't They" shelf."Good idea, Fishie. :)
Hangman: Life and Crimes of Serial Killer & Police Officer Gerard Schaefer, Michael Newton3 stars
You can always count on Michael Newton for really good true crime. This book on Jerry Schaefer is no exception. He takes you right inside the guy's pathology and shows how just about everything he ever did with his life was a product of his need to cause other people pain. This one left me a little heartsick, but hey, I knew going in what this guy was. Anyone capable of empathy will be profoundly disgusted reading about this twisted freak.
Killing for Pleasure: The Definitive Story of the Snowtown Murders
Author: Debi Marshall
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
The infamous Australian serial killer 'bodies-in-barrels' murders. "Twelve bodies, three killers, one accomplice and a maniacal murder spree that went undetected for seven years..."
The entire book is sadness personified. Everyone directly involved ... victims, murderers, family, friends ... have led lives steeped in neglect, abandonment, and poverty. Lives shredded by paedophilia, incest, and physical/sexual/emotional abuse. Lives destroyed by irresponsible parenting, a pitiful lack of education, and drugs/alcohol. Add to all of that the mental/physical disabilities of many participants, the children turned loose to run wild without constraints, and the lack of duty of care on the part of the various government agencies, and the result is gruesome ... extremely gruesome.
And, unfortunately, it's not just in Australia. It's everywhere. Multitudes upon multitudes of human beings drowning in these vile conditions of absolute despair.
It makes my heart ache. Why? Why can't we be better than this? Why do humans care so little for their fellow man/woman?
I think that sums it up pretty well.
What Happened To Freeda Hayes?
Author: Robin Bowles
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
Maybe it's because I'm getting up there in years (62) but this book really made an impression on me. I'm still not entirely sure where I stand on enacting laws to allow/regulate voluntary euthanasia. It would be very hard to adequately cover all the various scenarios that would present themselves with just one 'blanket' law.
I don't know what happened to Freeda Hayes, but I'm grateful that she is no longer suffering.
I do know this. If I'm in excruciating pain, and dying, I would want to have that choice.
(Synopsis from back cover of book)
"Freeda Hayes was a suburban antique dealer, Daryl Stephens was a respected urology surgeon - separate worlds, yet their lives were destined to collide. In August 1999, Freeda Hayes was diagnosed with an aggressive form of kidney cancer. She was forty-seven. The hand of fate guided her to Dr Stephens, who performed a life-saving operation, giving her five precious months in which to say goodbye to family and friends. The operation also forged a special bond between Freeda and her doctor.
On 4 February 2000 Freeda Hayes died in a hospice, following visits from her brother, her sister - and Daryl Stephens. She had been in intense pain for some weeks, and over the last few days had repeatedly asked to be allowed to die. However, hospice staff considered her sudden death suspicious and police were notified.
Two months later, Daryl Stephens and Freeda's brother and sister were arrested and all three were charged with wilful murder, a charge carrying a mandatory 15 year prison sentence. Their nightmare had begun.
Debate waged about public interest being served by charging a doctor with murder when evidence was at best, circumstantial. Pro- and anti- euthanasia lobbyists joined the argument raging over the first trial in Australia of a doctor accused of murder for 'helping' a patient to die.
What Happened To Freeda Hayes? is a gripping story that takes the reader to the very heart of the euthanasia debate by examining the devastating effect the tragedy of Freeda's illness and death had on her family and those who treated her, and moral and social issues that we must all confront in dealing with a person's right to determine their own fate."
Justice in Jeopardy: The Unsolved Murder of Baby Deidre Kennedy
Author: Debi Marshall
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
An unsolved Australian crime. Two families ... at least ... torn to shreds. A toddler murdered by some sicko ... who still walks free. The author does all the research, and lays it out for the reader.
As I read, I often referred to the autopsy photo ... not because I had forgotten what it looked like ... but because my heart kept crying 'just a baby .. just a chubby little baby' and I would be drawn to that infinitely sad photo ... again and again and again. I've read about murdered children before, but something about this one touched me deeply. The photo. The chubby legs. It just hammered this death into my brain, my heart.
This was also an important case to the Australian legal world. Deidre's mum, Faye, has spent decades pursuing justice, and was heavily involved in helping to change the 'double jeopardy' policy, which does not allow the prosecution, or punishment, of a person twice for the same offence.
Just look. Look at this child. MURDERED. It makes me ashamed to be a member of the human race. Will we ever stop killing each other??
And it was no ordinary murder, either. Sick, sick, sick.
Fishface wrote: "And it was no ordinary murder, either. Sick, sick sick."So true.
The Chicago Killer, Joseph Kozenczak4 stars
This was a very good read. It gave me a much clearer idea of the timeline of events than Sullivan's "Killer Clown" and it provided a blow-by-blow policeman's-eye view of the investigation. Very suspenseful despite the fact that I knew exactly how it was all going to come out. There was quite a bit of new information in here despite the fact that I've read a couple of other books on this sorry case. I recommend this one.
Cannibal: The True Story Behind the Maneater of Rotenburg
Author: Lois Jones
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
Upfront warning: very graphic book.
This is a book about two consenting adults who came together to act out their most secret fantasies. But their fantasies ran quite a bit outside the run-of-the-mill fetishes - one man wanted to be eaten, and the other to eat.
The author covers the lives of both men before they met, and shows us how they came to find themselves in Armin's home, preparing for Bernd's death. As is often the case, both men functioned in society as 'normal', and those who knew them were deeply shocked at what eventually transpired.
Even the court case held my attention, and the German justice system is explained in an easy to understand manner.
Some reviewers have criticised the author for speculating as to Bernd's thoughts during his final day ... but Bernd's last evening was captured on videotape (with his consent) by Armin. The video has not been made public (to my knowledge), but it was viewed by court officials, etc. Surely it would have conveyed a good deal about Bernd's last thoughts, and feelings, as he talked with Armin ... until he could no longer speak, of course.
In many ways, this was a book of sadness. Yes, it is graphic, 'cause the event was graphic. But I came away feeling a deep sorrow for all involved.
Just so you know, Armin was retried after this book was published, and the outcome was different. So, after you read the book, you may want to Google the court case, and be updated.
The Crate: A Story Of War, A Murder, And Justice, Deborah Vadas Levison5 stars!
Just go ahead and read this one. Right now. It's several very powerful crime stories, braided together into a much larger picture. The author shows how the shadows cast by old crimes darken the lives of people who aren't even aware of those crimes. But this is not just a horror story; far from it. It's all about the way revealing the truth frees you from the past, helps you understand parts of your life you never imagined existed, and lets in badly-needed daylight and fresh air. And it's so beautifully told.
Fishface wrote: "The Crate: A Story Of War, A Murder, And Justice, Deborah Vadas Levison5 stars!
Just read this one. Right now. It's several very powerful crime stories, braided together into a mu..."
Thank you soooo much for the kind review! I'm thrilled you liked it!
It was a great read. Your parents did an incredible job of keeping your life clear of all the horror they went through.
Fishface wrote: "It was a great read. Your parents did an incredible job of keeping your life clear of all the horror they went through."They really did. Our generation is blessed. Thanks again.
Killer Cults: Shocking True Stories of the Most Dangerous Cults In History
Author: James J. Boyle
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
Quick, interesting read about 11 different cults, their leaders, and their members. Some more well known than others. I have included the table of contents, with names in parentheses, and number of pages devoted to each cult, for your reference. There are 10 black-and-white photos.
1. Summer of Love (Charlie Manson & the Manson Family) 29 pages / 2 photos
2. Dad Knows Best (Jim Jones & the Peoples Temple) 37 pages / 2 photos
3. Gordon Kahl (& the Posse Comitatus) 22 pages / 1 photo
4. Palace of Gold (Keith Ham & the Hare Krishna) 20 pages / 1 photo
5. Come and Get Us! (Vincent Leaphart & MOVE) 28 pages / 1 photo
6. Blood Atonement (Jeffrey Don Lundgren & the Lundgren Cult) 29 pages / 1 photo
7. El Padrino (Adolfo de Jesus Constanzo) 25 pages / 1 photo
8. Yahweh (Hulon Mitchell Jr & the Yahwehs) 19 pages
9. King of the Israelites (Roch Theriault & the Ant Hill Kids) 19 pages
10. Ranch Apocalypse (Vernon Wayne Howell & the Davidians) 26 pages
11. Circle of Fire (Luc Jouret & the Solar Temple) 22 pages / 1 photo
I found that book to be a great read. It led me to several other fine books.
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple
Author: Jeff Guinn
5 Stars = It made a significant impact. I won't forget it.
Jim Jones. Peoples Temple. Jonestown. Names that make shivers run up our spines.
I've read many books on Jim, but this one stands out for being very 'facts' dense ... very. If you want to know the 'back story' to Jim, this is the one to read. There are 31 pages of end notes!
Jim was a man who started out with a burning passion to help the oppressed, needy folks that filled ghettos in places like Indianapolis, where his first church began. Peoples Temple was the church where you could 'get something now'. They delivered on that motto, too. They didn't just 'talk' about doing good, they got out there in the communities and DID good. They put poor kids through community college, drug addicts were helped to dry out and given jobs, uneducated folks were helped through the maze of governmental paperwork, sewer lines were dug up and fixed, food/clothing was given to all who asked, elderly folks were lovingly cared for in quality homes, desegregation was actively promoted in all areas of life, and MUCH more. The author said, "What you would get in Jim Jones' church, no matter who you were, no matter what you'd done, was respect."
As always, when reading about Jonestown, I want to weep buckets over the loss of people with hearts of gold who tried so hard to make a difference in this often unfair, unjust world. Pity that Jim's ability to do good was lost to this world in the dark haze of an unstable mind. Pity that so many willingly followed him to their tragic end. But it was barbaric that so many INNOCENT children were shepherded down that same path to the same tragic end.
Jim Jones Jr in an interview with Oprah: "I'm part of an organization that tried to build a new world," he says. "Nine hundred people died, and I miss them every day. But I also recognize that they tried. They tried something—they failed horrifically—but they tried....."
"I have to say that it is weird to find out the background of things that I grew up hearing about around the dinner table. The level of research and detail in The Road to Jonestown is the best ever, and really lets readers understand not only what happened, but how and why. This book tells the Jim Jones story better than anything I have read to date." -- Jim Jones, Jr.
By the way, if you find yourself laughing at the phrase "Don't drink the Kool-Aid" ... STOP ... STOP NOW. Show some respect for the loss of so many good-hearted folks.
Jonestown always rips my heart out, shreds it, and leaves me in distress.
I agree again! There are many good books on Jonestown, but this one is exceptional.
Escape
Author: Carolyn Jessop
5 Stars = It made a significant impact. I won't forget it.
Carolyn was born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). She never knew any other way of life. But, fortunately, she was 'allowed' to attend college, and rubbed shoulders ... just a tiny bit ... with outsiders. Also, as she was studying for a teaching degree, her education exposed her to concepts about child care, etc. that she had never encountered. After living a life where every move she made had to be 'approved' by her husband for 17 years, and after bearing this (and I use this word loosely here) 'man' eight children, she escaped her prison.
I, too, was 'born into' a fundamentalist religion, and Carolyn has my utmost respect for escaping, and for writing all of it down for the world to read. People need to realise that some so-called 'religions', and some so-called 'men of God', are dangerous ... or, at the very least, emotionally crippling. The damage done to a person ... mentally, emotionally ... in these situations takes YEARS to crawl out from under. And, in some ways, you're never really 'out'.
If you want to know what the FLDS really does behind its closed/locked doors, read this. And, the next time you see a 'strangely dressed' woman in the grocery store, try to quietly, kindly chat to her. You may be the only outsider who ever has.
Perfect Stranger
Author: Kay Schubach
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
A 40-year old professional woman, with a live-in partner, great job, and beautiful home, allows herself to be wooed by a handsome stranger, who turns out to be a sadistic bastard. By the second date, red flags are waving. She ends up throwing away all of the above-mentioned good things in her life, in an effort to please him.
Hard to review this one. I didn't really care for it, and I've tried to analyse why that is. I think it is the way she wrote it. To me, she seems quite immature for a 40-year old professional. On the other hand, we all do stupid things, even at the age of 40. I still make stupid mistakes, at the age of 62!
I wish someone else had written the book. It would have had more clout, I think. I find her 'voice' to be too shallow.
I read some interviews where she says, "Simon ruined my life." Now, I understand what she is driving at here ... that you have to watch out for psychos, and not be taken in by them, like she was. But she had a part in that 'ruining my life' bit. Yes, stand up and warn other women about the 'Simons' lurking out there ... but also make it clear that you are responsible for your own actions, too.
Anyway, I don't want to 'judge' her. I'm no stranger to domestic violence, trust me. Enough said.
For me, this is a 2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me bumped up to a 3 Stars=I'm glad I read it, simply because it may serve as a warning to others.
If I am Missing or Dead
Author: Janine Latus
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
(Once again, no photo has been provided for this edition, so, I have included one.)
I gave this book a low star rating because the title, and blurb, are misleading. You are led to think that the book is about Amy's murder, but it is really all about the author. Amy's murder doesn't even appear until page 307! Up until that point, we are subjected to listening to the author's thoughts, feelings, and actions, from childhood until the present day ... including her marriage, wherein her husband has been abusive towards her.
Diane wrote: "If I am Missing or Dead
Author: Janine Latus
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
(Once again, no photo has been ..."
You can go to the GR Librarians Group at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... and ask them to add the cover to your edition. And I totally agree with your review.
Fishface wrote: "Diane wrote: "If I am Missing or Dead
Author: Janine Latus
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
(Once again, no p..."
Thanks, Fishie.
Mortal Remains: A True Story of Ritual Murder, Henry Scammell4 solid stars!
I highly recommend this one for several reasons. First, the book's jacket blurb and photo section are 100% free of spoilers. You won't know until you read the book what happened. It's a suspenseful read about (what I hope is) a very unusual criminal case, told primarily from the POV of the investigators. It's well-written, full of human depravity, pure folly, faith, hope, and courage.
The Prom Night Murders: A Devoted American Family, their Troubled Son, and a Ghastly Crime by Carlton Smith2 stars
I skimmed most of this book. It didnt draw me in by giving me a feel for the characters and making me feel like I knew them, which is important to me when reading true crime. I wasnt completely convinced that Jeff Pelley killed his family because his father grounded him by not letting him go to the prom. It didnt seem like there was a complete investigation. I think it could have been a better story if it had been better written.
Deliver Us: Three Decades of Murder and Redemption in the Infamous I-45/Texas Killing Fields
Author: Kathryn Casey
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
I felt the author did a very good job on this book. Years of research, interviews, etc. She also gave much insight into the VICTIMS, their lives, their family/friends, etc. Nice to see, 'cause much of the time true crime books focus heavily on the criminals. Some of the cases were solved, some not, some are 'maybes'. Several black-and-white photos throughout the book. This one pulls at your heartstrings. So many lost lives. Sad.
Girl in the Grave and Other True Crime Stories, Carlton Stowers4 stars!
I felt kind of bad when the author said early in this book that he seems unable to everything published except true crime...but I'm also grateful that he's written so well about so many fascinating cases. This book is a whole smorgasbord of crime cases, and I highly recommend it. He respects the victims, understands the criminals pretty well too and talks about them respectfully, which is often more than they deserve. Don't miss this one.
When Worlds Collide: The Shari Davies Story
Author: Shari Davies
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
A true crime book that took place in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Shari, and her co-author, did a good job of telling Shari's story. It covers exactly what happened to her during the abduction, rape, and attempted murder. We then follow along with her, and her family and friends, into the weeks following her amazing survival. She wrote this book 10 years after her attack, and she talks about those years, too.
I liked that there were paragraphs of quotes from interviews with her family and friends sprinkled throughout the book. They were artfully intertwined with the main narrative, and really added a lot to Shari's story.
"This is the story of what happened to me on the night of my abduction from King George Square car park in Brisbane on 5 November 1986, and of how I am recovering and healing. From that night my world changed irrevocably. I grew up in a loving, giving environment where kindness and compassion went hand in hand with joy and laughter. When my world collided with that of Darren Osbourne, I came into contact with ugliness, horror and cruelty, the likes of which I had never before encountered."
Death Row: Profiles of People Who Face the Ultimate Penalty
Author: Xavier Waterkeyn
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
Interesting book about men, and women, on death row around the world. The author focuses on one criminal in each chapter, giving a run-down of the crimes that landed them on death row, a bit about their court cases, and how they were executed (if they have been). He includes some correspondence that he had with some of them, too. I have included the table of contents for your reference. Just a heads up, the descriptions are graphic. Includes 8 pages of black-and-white photos. If you're a true crime fan, you'd probably like this book.
Gallery of Rogues
1892-1906 The Baby Farmers of Australia
1896 The Factory of Death: HH Holmes
1910 Murder and Stupidity: Doctor Hawley Harvey Crippen
1936 Cruelty Unlimited: Albert Fish
1953 10 Rillington Place: Timothy Evans and John Christie
1955 Crime of Passion: Ruth Ellis
1951-1967 The Last Australians
More Modern Mayhem
1989 Killer Charm: Ted Bundy
1994 A Mistake of Nature: Andrei Chikatilo
1994 The Clown Who Killed: John Wayne Gacy Jr
2001 Method in Madness: Javed Iqbal
2001 Collateral Damage: Timothy McVeigh
2002 The Highway Hooker: Aileen Wuornos
2004 The Red Hammer: Yang Xinhai
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
1960-1999 Cruel and Unusual Punishment
1960 Caryl Chessman
1977 Gary Mark Gilmore
1996 John Albert Taylor
1996 Billy Bailey
1999 Allen Lee 'Tiny' Davis
Waiting for Death
On Death Row
The Night Stalker: Richard Ramirez
The Washington Snipers: John A Muhammad and John Lee Malvo
Milestones of the Last Mile
2005 Van Tuong Nguyen
2005 Kenneth Lee Boyd
2005 Stanley Tookie Williams
Coda: The Voices of Death Row
William Van Poyck
Milo Rose
Reasonable Doubt: Bizarre Tales of Death and Justice
Author: Wayne Howell
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
"Just because something's bizarre does not mean it's untrue: that's what the juries and judges who heard the extraordinary tales of killings and attempted killings in this book had to keep telling themselves. ... Incredible as some of these tales may have seemed, by law they had to accept them if they believed there was a reasonable chance they could be true; they could only convict if they were convinced the prosecution was right 'beyond all reasonable doubt'."
The book contains 10 true crime stories that will make you glad you weren't the one having to decide these cases! Truth truly is stranger than fiction. If you like true crime, you'd probably like reading this book.
I have included the table of contents for your reference.
David Hookes: A Cricket Hero Dies
Gatto vs Veniamin: Defence Underworld-style
Sniper Wife
Mother-in-Law Nightmare
Being Al Pacino
Sleepwalk of Death
Warning Shot
Just Anger Teaching a Toddler Who's Boss
Insanely Homesick
Diane wrote: "Reasonable Doubt: Bizarre Tales of Death and Justice
Author: Wayne Howell
3 Stars = I'm gl..."
Now, you make this sound as if it belonged on the "Did They Or Didn't They" shelf. Does it belong in next month's reading challenge?
Fishface wrote: "Diane wrote: "Reasonable Doubt: Bizarre Tales of Death and Justice
Author: Wayne Howell
Well, some were convicted, some were acquitted, but they were all pretty bizarre. So, it's up to you. :)
Diane wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Diane wrote: "Reasonable Doubt: Bizarre Tales of Death and Justice
Author: [author:Wayne H..."
Well, that TC shelf is about dangling questions about guilt or innocence. The bok description makes them all sound pretty questionable.
And the author's name is WAYNE so his guilt or innocence is definitely at issue as well!
Roberta Williams My Life
Author: Roberta Williams
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it
I was going to give this book 2 stars, but I've bumped it up to 3 stars, mainly because the author gave me a look at a lifestyle I've never been involved with, nor do I follow these types of criminals in the news, etc. Just so you know, the events in this book are based in Melbourne, Australia.
Roberta is the ex-wife of notorious underworld gang leader, Carl Williams. He was a kingpin in the gangland war which killed 36 criminal figures between 1998 and 2010. They had one child together, a daughter named Dhakota.
She takes you through her life, beginning with a horrendous childhood, up to the time of the book's publication in 2009. I felt she was being pretty straightforward in this memoir. She admits that a life of crime is wrong, and that it isn't as glamorous, or thrilling, as it is often made out to be.
Apparently, a TV show called Underbelly was made about Carl and his family/friends, but no one ever contacted them for any info, and as a result the show is full of errors, and fabrication.
Eventually, Carl was found guilty of several murders, and sentenced to 35 years in prison. Roberta has gone legit, and is making a new life for herself.
(Since publication of this book Carl was bludgeoned to death by fellow inmate Matthew Johnson in 2010.)
The Witch of Delray: Rose Veres & Detroit’s Infamous 1930s Murder Mystery, Karen Dybis3 stars
This is an odd little TC story about a Detroit neighborhood I've never heard of before, and a population living there -- a good-sized group of Hungarian immigrants -- I never heard of in my life. The core of the story is the once-notorious case of a man who took a header out the attic window of a lady who rented out rooms in her house to keep food on the table after her husband died. Did he fall? Was he pushed? What about the whopping insurance policy she had taken out in his name? Why did everyone say she had supernatural powers? And what did the neighbors see? This story is full of twists and turns I never saw coming. My only quibble is that some of the photos had nothing at all to do with the story and I puzzled over what they're doing there. Especially the sweeping aerial shot of Zug Island. What was that in there for? Overall, though, this is a great story.
Victor Chang: Murder Of A Hero
Author: Ron Stephenson
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
Good book about the senseless murder of a talented heart surgeon. The author takes you through many facets of the investigation, including the formation of Task Force Oak, created to investigate, and combat, Asian associated crime. Ironically, it came into being on 8 March 1991, just months before the murder of Victor.
Victor founded the National Heart Transplant Program at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia in 1984. He, and his team, performed many successful heart transplantation operations during the time period of 1984-90. Due to the scarcity of donor hearts for transplant, he teamed up with other scientists, and engineers, to create an artificial heart. They also developed artificial heart valves, which came to be known as 'St. Vincent's Heart Valves'. In the People’s Choice Awards, held in 1999, the then Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, named Victor as the 'Australian of the Century'.
Tragically, Victor was shot twice in the head in a failed extortion attempt on 4 July 1991. His body was found slumped in the gutter next to his car in the suburb of Mosman, in Sydney, Australia. He was only 54 years old.
The Corpse Garden
Author: Colin Wilson
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
I had only made it to the 3rd paragraph of the introduction before I read something that made me want to stop reading. I know the book was written 20 years ago ... but I don't find that to be an excuse for Colin Wilson's attitude.
"For example, the American serial killer Ted Bundy (executed in January 1989) began his career of rape and murder when he glimpsed a woman getting undressed through a lighted window, and became an obsessive Peeping Tom. This led him to kidnap and rape. But this in turn, developed into torturing his victims - he later admitted that what he did to his final victim, 12-year-old Kim Leach, was so horrible that he could not bring himself to describe it. Now any normal male can understand how a man could be so excited by watching a woman undress that he becomes a rapist."
Excuse me?? What did he just say?? I read this to my husband, and he was incensed, too. I lost all respect for Colin Wilson immediately.
As to the book, he spent far too much time quoting other (better) books about Fred and Rose West. He constantly repeated things, which I can generally overlook, but this went beyond a simple distraction, it became a distinct irritant.
Early in the book he gives his opinion as to why Fred, and Rose, did what they did, and then spent the rest of the book trying to convince the reader that he was correct.
I don't feel there was much skill involved in the way he told their story. It seemed choppy, and never seemed to flow together, as it should.
If you haven't read anything about Fred, and Rose, you might get something out of this book. If you've read other (better) books, you may find this to be altogether disappointing. I did.
Talk of the Devil: Repressed Memory and the Ritual Abuse Witch-Hunt
Author: Richard Guilliatt
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
Interesting book about how society was caught up in a modern day witch hunt in the 1990s. When repressed memories first began to be publicised, more and more folks came forward ... a LOT more ... until even the professional 'experts' began to take a closer look at just how this was happening.
Totally adding that to the Satanic Panic shelf, thanks!
Michigan Murders
Author: Edward Keyes
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
This book is about several vicious murders that took place in Ypsilanti, Michigan USA, in the 1960s. These murders were commonly called The Co-ed Murders, 'cause all the girls were university students. The author used pseudonyms for the killer, and the murdered girls, which I didn't really care for, but it was before the internet, and he was sincerely trying to shield the families. Of course, this was also before DNA, and all the newer whiz-bang forensic tools that we have now.
They were horrific crimes ... violent and sexually deviant. So sad. My heart goes out to the families. I have a daughter ... alive, and well ... which I am thankful for every day.
Here are the real names, for your reference.
John Norman Collins - killer
Alice Kalom
Dawn Basom
Jane Mixer
Joan Schell
Karen Beineman
Maralynn Skelton
Mary Fleszar
Roxie Phillips
And for the rest of Jane's story specifically, there are two books by her niece, Jane: A Murder and the follow-up, The Red PartsThe Collins murders have special meaning to me because, not only was I born in Ypsilanti, Michigan where this story happened, but the agency where I interned for 2 years as a social-work student, the Assault Crisis Center, was started in response to the groundswell of rape and incest survivors in the area demanding specialized services because so many people's emotional wounds started bleeding again when this twisted freak was at large.
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Obsessed with True Crime
Books mentioned in this topic
Whatever Mother Says...: A True Story of a Mother, Madness and Murder (other topics)Final Justice: The True Story of the Richest Man Ever Tried for Murder (other topics)
Body Count: Devoted Father, Decorated Pilot, Serial Killer... (other topics)
A Date With Death (other topics)
Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Wensley Clarkson (other topics)Gregory White Smith (other topics)
Steven Naifeh (other topics)
Burl Barer (other topics)
Michele R. McPhee (other topics)
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The Murder Room
Author: Michael Capuzzo
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
I really enjoyed this book. It's about a team of forensic investigators, called the Vidocq Society, whose monthly meetings seek to bring justice to cold-case murders. Leading this group are 3 dynamic men - forensic sculptor, Frank Bender; FBI and U.S. Customs agent, William Fleisher; and forensic psychologist/profiler, Richard Walter. The 82 members of the Vidocq Society are chosen from the best minds worldwide.
I found each of the founding members to be VERY interesting individuals. You get a chance to learn a bit about them, on a personal level, and how they got involved in creating the Vidocq Society. Frank Bender is especially intriguing.
I know a lot of the other reviewers are complaining about purple prose, lack of editing, etc. ... but I'd wade through all that, just to read about these men, and their drive to solve cases. I didn't find any of the above mentioned faults to be a distraction. I was too immersed in the topic.