Obsessed with True Crime discussion
True crime read 2024-25: Post reviews here!
One Deadly Night by John Glatt3 stars
A former policeman is accused of murdering his wife and two children and is arrested for it. After the arrest, I kept thinking that it certainly looked like he did it, but did the investigators do a thorough investigation. I didn't think the prosecution proved without a shadow of a doubt. If you don't want any spoilers, then don't read any further.
*******
I was glad I wasn't on that jury. The trial lasted 3 months, I think it was, and the jury was only allowed to go home on weekends. After a days long deliberation he was convicted. At the end of the book there is a postscript about new happenings that occurred just as the book was ready to go to print. The most interesting part of this case is what happened after the book went to press so you won't find out without a google search.
Special Delivery: A Family Slaughtered. . . and a Baby Born by Murder, by Bill G. Cox3 stars
Don't even consider looking at the jacket blurb or photo section in this book unless you want the entire story spoiled for you. A horrific crime with several large, unanswered questions left at the end. You won't see another case like this one.
Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many by Mona Gable3 stars
This book tackles two subjects: the murder of a young Native American woman to steal the baby from her womb and the second topic is if enough is being done to find murdered and kidnapped Indigenous women and if the perpetrators are getting prosecuted. I didn't care for the writing style of jumping back and forth in time. Nothing was linear. The trial would be over and then a couple of chapters later we are back at the investigation or in the middle of the trial. It was very confusing to keep track of where we were at in the story. I found that a very repetitive way to tell the story. But I'm glad people are becoming more aware that police sometimes don't investigate these stories the way they should.
With the Devil's Help: A True Story of Poverty, Mental Illness, and Murder by Neal Wooten
There was so much back and forth in time that it got confusing. I had to look to make sure this was nonfiction. At times, it was repetitive, but I wasn't sure if I read it twice in this book, or if I read it in another book by this author that I read previously. This book could probably go on a shelf called 'truth is stranger than fiction'. I would have liked to have seen how his abusive upbringing shaped how he became as a man. Maybe he talks about it more in another book.
A ***** read. The story is non-linear but it all comes together in the final chapter.
Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI, by Jana Monroe3 stars
I bought this thinking it was true crime, but I'd say it's really best understood as a memoir. I learned a lot about the FBI and the life of an agent, with just a sprinkling of the crimes she worked on. She seems to have had a huge impact on the Bureau and an important role in dragging it out of the Hoover era. Well-written and worth your time.
Reading Everybody’s Best Friend by Ken England. So far it’s easy reading and well- written.
Mod
I read Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders a while ago, and if you're into heavy, technical, detailed true crime, then I would definitely suggest. Very, very good!!!!! Along with that I recently finished Zodiac. Robert Graysmith is not a writer, so its very dense, but it's so interesting to learn about the case as if you were investigating alongside him!
Suddenly Gone: The Terrifying True Story of a Serial Killer's Grisly Kidnapping-Murders of Three Young Women5 stars!
An excellent, utterly gripping read about a weird, weird, weird man and his terrible crimes. The story focuses on the process of hunting him down and what the clues left behind tell us about him. I feel bad for all the victims but especially Hazel Meeker, who only got 5 years of partial justice for her hideous death, and Terri Maness, who seems to have been totally lost in the sauce. They both deserve so much better.
The Amish Wife, by Gregg Olsen5 stars!
If you read Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish Secrets, and chafed at all the unanswered questions in it, help has arrived. This follow-up is filled with new information, some of them gossamer threads, many of them bombshells. Impossible to put down. Read this one.
Fishface wrote: "Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI, by Jana Monroe
3 stars
I bought this thinking it was true crime, but I'd say it'..."
Glad you liked it I want to read this book soon.
3 stars
I bought this thinking it was true crime, but I'd say it'..."
Glad you liked it I want to read this book soon.
The Billionaire Boys Club by Sue Horton3 stars
This was a really good read about a truly unusual case. It was well-written and moved right along. I especially like the way the author summarized the court proceedings, capturing the effect the witnesses had on the audience in the gallery rather than belaboring details we already knew from previous chapters. With all that said, this story leaves behind some maddening unanswered questions that badly need clearing up, and I hope someday we can hope for an updated edition.
Love, Lies, And Murder by Gary C. King 3 stars
Too much word for word transcripts for my taste. I didn't feel like I got to know the victim or her family. No background information on anyone. Probably my least favorite book by this author.
I read another book about this same crime: AN Unfinished Canvas: A True Story of Love, Family, and Murder in Nashville. I noticed I gave almost the same review about this book. Lots of word for word transcripts and repetiveness. Maybe not enough information for a full-length book?
Murder at Minnesota Point by Jeffrey M. Sauve3 stars
A very well-written and researched book but it wasn't a particularly interesting case for me and seemed a little repetitive. The murder took place in the late 1800's and it took two years to find the killer. A short book at 200 pages.
The Unicorn's Secret: Murder in the Age of Aquarius, by Steven Levy4 stars
An excellent read about a sadly-familiar story.
There are some unusual factors in play, including the criminal's fame and the long, frustrating search for the guy. There was just a whiff of the paranormal in here, enough to make me feel Holly might have been making herself heard from beyond the grave. That's the least she deserves.
What Happened To This Child ?: The Golden Murder Case, by John A. DeFrancisco3 stars
A good read about a very tense murder case, written by defense counsel. I've never read a book quite like this; it's almost a primer in how defense attorneys decide on their strategies in preparing a case, finding and preparing the witnesses, looking for precedents and so on. It sort of drags in the middle as he describes every single thought he had regarding jury selection, but we finally got down to the trial and the story picked up again. Be sure to read all the way to the last pages for the bombshell ending.
Sleeping With the Devil by Suzanne Finstad5 stars
Wow! This was an incredible story with something going on every page! It is hard to imagine how this woman could stick with this man who treated her so poorly and obviously had some serious mental problems. Throughout the book you keep hoping that this smart, beautiful woman will wise up and dump this guy, but....not a spoiler, we know from the back cover that he hires 4 men to kill her, but she lives and the story of her life after she is shot is amazing. The book was printed in 1991 so I tried to do a search to find out what happened to them in the last 30+ years but I didn't find anything.
On Trial, by Gerald Dickler3 stars
Not a typical true-crime read at all, this one summarizes some of the most famous trials in history and quotes enough of the trial transcripts to give the reader an idea of how it all went down. Dickler does a good job of putting each case into historical context; it never crossed my mind before that the bible might point out constantly that Jesus came from Galilee because it was considered to be a hotbed of radicalism. It was a riot watching Clarence Darrow destroy the career of William Jennings Bryan on the stand in the Scopes trial. This book is not brain candy, though. Well worth your time.
A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown's Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman5 stars
I had heard of the murder of Johnny Stompanado by Lana Turner's daughter, but didn't know the details. This book was more a biography of Lana Turner, a golden age of Hollywood actress, than it was a true crime book, but it was very interesting. It will leave you wondering...Did the daughter actually commit the crime.
Meet Me For Murder, by Don Lasseter with Ronald E. Bowers3 stars
Another good read from Don Lasseter, about one of those "serial killers everywhere you look" type of scenarios. The trial of the last guy was very interesting, and pretty unusual as far as the legal issues go. All of the killings described in the book -- there were probably too many to get into all of them -- were utterly tragic. Recommended.
I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime, by Joe Kenda5 stars!
An absolutely gripping read, by turns interesting, horrifying, victorious and grim. Here and there it's also laugh-out-loud funny. Don't miss this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... by O.J ModjeskaI give this 4 stars out of 5 just because it felt like it could have been a full novel, like there was more detail there that the reader wasn't made privy to. That said, this was an interesting and engaging novella about Veronica Compton, the "ace in the hole" of Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi.
Veronica allowed her fascination with a killer morph into a dangerous obsession, and turn her into an attempted murderer. I recommend it, especially for those who are interested in the Hillside Strangler case, as it covers a person and a portion of the story that hasn't really been covered before.
Kill Caesar!: Assassination in the Early Roman Empire by Rose Mary Sheldon3 stars
This is an analysis of the many, many assassinations in the early Roman Empire and the structural issues that may have made them inevitable. This book upended a lot of what I thought I knew. Where so many discussions of the Roman emperors put everything down to character -- oh, that crazy Nero! -- this author looks at what might have encouraged or even required the emperors to behave the way they did. I have to agree with Sheldon that it didn't come out too well for anyone living in this maelstrom. Well worth your time.
Shattered Justice: A Savage Murder and the Death of Three Families' Innocence by John Philpin2 stars
This book is almost all word for word transcripts of cops interrogating three young boys for the murder of one of the boy's sister. They were almost convicted because the cops decided early on that the brother of the girl had to be the one. It is not a spoiler, it says on the back cover, that the boys were not the one's that murdered the girl. However, it is a good example of how innocent children can be manipulated into not knowing what to believe is true. I would have liked to have found out more about the background of the boys and their parents.
True Crime Case Histories, Books 4, 5, & 6: 36 Disturbing True Crime Stories, by Jason Neal3 stars
Lots of crazy stories in here. Well-written amd moved right along. Even the cases familiar to me included new details. Well worth your time.
Behind the Yellow Tape: On the Road with Some of America's Hardest Working Crime Scene Investigators, by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch4 stars!
A collection of forensic tales from all over the country, intended to show how crime-scene forensic work is being used now and could be used in the future. Grim and funny by turns as the narrative takes you from the death scene to the morgue and then to a nice restaurant to swap war stories. A great read, if you can stomach it.
Precious Few Clues: The True Crime Investigation of Kansas City's "Precious Doe" Murder, by Marla Bernard3 stars
A horrific, tragic story with a somewhat satisfying ending, but it was hard to get there because of all the random tangents and obscure pop-culture references that interrupted the flow of the narrative without adding meaning. It was reassuring to see the outpouring of concern and support for the little girl -- after it was far too late of course. RIP Precious Doe.
The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff4 stars
This book made me realize how lucky I am to live in an area where there is very little crime. As a matter of fact, there is only one unsolved murder in the county I live in and it sounds like they have new DNA evidence and could be on the right track to solve this murder that is almost 50 years old. But in the town of Newhaven, murder is an almost every day occurrence. This is a story about a town that has a white side and a black side, and it is also about a 16-year-old boy who was falsely accused of murder and spent 9 years in prison before being exonerated.
Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree that Changed America by Harry Maclean5 stars
This is true crime at its best. The author uses multiple sources for his research and puts it into his own words. There are entire chapters where he attempts to analyze what makes the criminals tick. He explores how investigations, laws and courtroom proceedings have changed between when the murders happened and today. He follows one of the main characters throughout her life up to the present time and ties it all up at the end. He goes into detail of his own personal connection to the town (Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska) and some of the people involved. If you have read about Charlie Starkweather and Caril Fugate before, I think you will come away with some new knowledge and a different perspective from what you had before.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank4 stars
I finally got to this one, only about 45 years after I made a mental note to read it sometime. It was not at all what I expected. Certainly not typical true crime, it's the memoir of a 13-year-old girl who spent more than 2 years in hiding from the Nazis, crowded into a few upstairs rooms with 7 other people with practically nothing to do all that time except keep quiet. I was surprised to read at the end that there is a further account of her life after the secret annex, covering the few months she survived in Nazi captivity. I look forward to that as well. It's a remarkably upbeat funny, hopeful memoir of one of the greatest crimes in human history.
A Lovely Girl: The Tragedy of Olga Duncan and the Trial of One of California's Most Notorious Killers, by Deborah Holt Larkin5 stars!
Absolutely do not miss this book. Wonderfully written; it never drags. Written from the perspective of the author as it was all happening, when she was 10. I thought I knew this story but there is so very much more in here than I've seen anywhere else. DO NOT SKIM THROUGH THIS BOOK. If you do you will miss far too many of the utterly crazy details. I hope this is a unique story.
A quick review so I can return the book to the library on my way to work: Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds by Michelle Horton
5 stars
A lot of things to think about in this book about the author's sister killing her husband after horrific abuse. Could there have been another way to escape the situation? This book follows the emotional aspect and the legal aspect of a family tangled up in a situation that is hard for any of us to comprehend.
Fair Game, by Berbard Duclos4 solid stars
A horrific story, well told, with a gripping sense of the place and time when the crimes happened. It grinds me that so many marks on Robert Hansen's map are still unexplained. I hope all those unlucky women are resting in peace.
Joseph Keith and Nora Kifer: A Story of a Mysterious Disappearance and a Most Revolting Murder, by Stanley Garrison4 stars!
This was just a small trade paperback but it was so old and fragile that I sipped it very slowly. Written in the melodramatic style of the era and illustrated with etchings and photos, this was full of details not available online. I hope the verdict was enough to settle Nora's spirit which was clearly restless even when she was still alive. The other murder, which Notorious 92: Indiana's Most Heinous Murders in All 92 Counties suggested was by the same hand, was never mentioned, but I am pretty content having learned so much more about Nora's story.
Crime Time: Twenty True Tales of Murder, Madness, and Mayhem, by J. North Conway3 stars
This was a good read; many of the cases were totally new to me and some went all the way back to the 1700s. Some were bizarre and some were real head-scratchers. This little book needed serious text-and copyediting, but I'm not sorry I read it.
Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan’s First State Prison, Judy Gail Krasnow2 stars
Just didn't enjoy this one. Seemed to focus on all the boring parts of the prison's history. There were a few interesting tidbits but it seemed like such a slog finding them in here. Felt longer than it was.
The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan5 and a half stars!!!
By all means, read this one. The authors brought Provincetown, 1969 to life so vividly I felt as if I were there. I just got through reading 2 other books on this case, almost back to back, but this book has a completely different angle on the story. I was unbothered by repeating the familiar facts of the case because this was an entirely different story. I am so grateful for the authors' extra detective work that answered so many unanswered questions. There's so much in here you have never read before!
Hell in the Heartland: Murder, Meth, and the Case of Two Missing Girls, by Jax Miller5 stars!
A deep dive into an atrocious crime. It seemed as if every few pages, something in this story made my jaw drop again. Between the gross incompetence of the investigators, the family members who made the investigation happen in spite of that and the answers they finally found...I'm astounded that the author made so many scattered pieces fit together. Nice job.
Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders, by Kathryn Miles5 stars!
An outstanding read capturing the highlights of some solid investigative work. Full of fascinating rabbit holes and thought-provoking questions about (for instance) what counts as a hate crime, and why a suspect does or doesn't get investigated. All this time I assumed that the Shenandoah murders went unsolved because of a lack of evidence. Was I ever wrong about that. Read this one!
Tonight We Bombed the U.S. Capitol: The Explosive Story of M19, America's First Female Terrorist Group, by William Rosenau2 stars
This was informative and told me about a piece of American history I never knew before, but the timelines in the book were very confusing. I'd read the capsule bio of one terrorist and follow it all the way up to the murder of Waverly Brown; then we'd learn about another M19 member and trace a very different route to the murder of Waverly Jones. Then yet another terrorist arrives by way of another university and shoots Waverly Brown again. It all resolved towards the end, but...
Fishface wrote: "I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime, by Joe Kenda5 stars!
An absolutely gripping read, by turns interesting, horrifying, victorious and grim. Here an..."
Yayyyyyyy....finally I found a book by Joe Kenda! He is my buddy and I watch him every Monday night. Glad you posted it Fishface!
Rabbit Heart: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Story by Kristine s. Ervin4 stars!
A wonderful read about the author's long, long process of regaining a sense of power over her life after her mother is spirited away and murdered. Covers a lot of territory, and covers it well. Focuses a lot on the different ways women are victimized and/or supported in our society and how she navigated those waters as well. This one is very much worth your time.
Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, by Frank Figliuzzi3 stars
This was an interesting read, but not at all what I expected. The author traveled with an over-the-road trucker for a while, learning about how truckers live in order to understand the lives of the many, many serial killers who use trucking as a way of finding victims. There was also a lot in here about how the victims cross paths with their killers in the first place, and who is working to get them away from that life. What I didn't hear much about were the killers themselves. A quick, informative read, well written.
I agree. Too much information on the logistics of truck driving and not enough on the killers. Also, he did not include the Happy Face Killer, Keith Jesperson.
Bill wrote: "I agree. Too much information on the logistics of truck driving and not enough on the killers. Also, he did not include the Happy Face Killer, Keith Jesperson."AND not nearly enough on the ones he did mention, like John Williams and Adam Lane. I can't believe he said Williams confessed to 30 murders and then only named a few of them.
I was hoping he would mention Paige Renkoski, after someone on the local news said off the cuff a few years ago that the current police theory is that she was the victim of a big-rig serial killer...but it was not to be.
Obsessed with True Crime
Books mentioned in this topic
[(Jesus Freaks)] [by: Don Lattin] (other topics)I Got a Name: The Murder of Krystal Senyk (other topics)
Mapping the Trail of a Serial Killer: How The World's Most Infamous Murderers Were Tracked Down (other topics)
Uncultured: A Memoir (other topics)
The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Hallie Rubenhold (other topics)Hallie Rubenhold (other topics)
Hallie Rubenhold (other topics)
Ron Franscell (other topics)
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