Obsessed with True Crime discussion
True crime read 2024-25: Post reviews here!
A Love to Die for, by Patricia Springer3 stars
A pretty interesting read about an incredibly heinous murder. I caught myself wishing I could ask questions of the people involved; the author didn't really dig that deep into the story. I came away wondering if justice was really done here and if there's more to this story that I missed. RIP Colleen.
Somebody's Mother, Somebody's Daughter: True Stories from Victims and Survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper, by Carol Ann Lee5 extra-large stars!
Absolutely not to be missed. Brings the many victims and survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper front and center, the place they always should have occupied in this hideous story. Gives us just a taste of who they were and what the world lost when they died or found their lives diminished after injuries and emotional trauma. Does not protect the police from the many wrongs they did these women and the public at large. This is the real story of the case.
The Uninnocent: Notes on Violence and Mercy, by Katharine Blake3 stars
This little book is more a meditation on the bewilderment of loss -- she uses the work "heartbreak" constantly as she writes -- and less about the crime her cousin committed as she was finishing up her first year of law school. She almost gets lost in metaphors and quotations on the nature of chaos but that is probably part of the territory when you are trying to unravel questions that can't be answered. A good, thought-provoking read.
The Cheerleaders: A True Story About a Five-Year String of Murders, Accidents and Suicides in a Small New York Town, by E. Jean CarrollThis proved not to be an book, but an article originally collected in the 2001 edition of Otto Penzler's BEST AMERICAN CRIME WRITING series. I immediately ordered the whole book after reading this. It's a wowzer of a story.
The Accidental Martyr: A True Story of a Gay Sailor’s Fatal Beating by Chip Brown5 horrified stars
Another article disguised as a book -- this one is not to be missed. A hideous story with powerful ramifications for the entire nation. The author does a great job with this story and asks tough questions almost nobody involved would likely try to answer. This is the kind of crime that changes you, to say nothing of the ripples it's caused in the country as a whole.
Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder, by Mikita Brottman5 stars
This is one of the most horrifying books I have ever read, making clear that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest isn't just fiction. Paints a brutal picture of how much injustice you can heap on someone's head without a reason, just because you and the others on the staff of the hospital where you work decided to do it. It's also a picture of how you can deal in good faith with destiny all your life and still get royally fcrewed. If you want to see some large flaws in the medicolegal system, take a gander at this book. It left me heartsick.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold5 stars
I really loved the fact that this focused on the victims of Jack the Ripper and not him. All of their stories were fascinating and sometimes very sad - I learnt a lot about them that I didn’t previously know which brings a different perspective to their lives before they became ‘famous’.
Eleanor wrote: "The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold5 stars
I really loved the fact that this focused on the victims of Jack the Ri..."
So, not novelistic? This is factual?
Fishface wrote: "Eleanor wrote: "The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold5 stars
I really loved the fact that this focused on the victim..."
Yes this is the true story of the victims rather than fiction.
Eleanor wrote: "Yes this is the true story of the victims rather than fiction."TY!!! I passed this over earlier because I thought it was a novel!
Fishface wrote: "Eleanor wrote: "Yes this is the true story of the victims rather than fiction."TY!!! I passed this over earlier because I thought it was a novel!"
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
Eleanor wrote: "You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!..."👍
Voices from an Evil God, by Barbara Jones4 stars
A pretty wild story! The author built a fairly trusting relationship with Sonia Sutcliffe in order to tell her tale, and from there Jones even got to know her husband, the Yorkshire Ripper. But she soon learned just how strange things can get in this family. A fascinating sideline on a dreadful story. I came away more disgusted than ever at how everyone fell for Sutcliffe's lies, but there is so much more going on here. This one is well worth your time.
An American Family: A True Story of Siblings Who Fell in Love by Daniel Voll4 rather baffled stars
A tale of bloody-mindedness unlike anything I've ever seen. I don't even know how to feel about this one. It all seems so incredibly unfair to everyone involved. But they were also 100% dead wrong every step of the way. Oh, I don't know. Read it and be amazed.
Mary in the Lavender Pumps: A True Story about Love, Murder and Gender Identity, by Joyce Wadler3 stars
Brief treatment of the once-notorious Diane Delia murder. I was a little unsatisfied with this one because it didn't seem to go any deeper than the soundbites I heard as I was walking by the TV in the dorm lounge when the case was still going on. Makes me sad that Diane didn't get a book about her case to tell us more about who she was.
The Dreamer Deceiver: A True Story about the Trial of Judas Priest for Deadly Subliminal Messaging, by Ivan Solotaroff4 stars
This is a brief account of a particularly tragic -- and utterly loopy -- Satanic Panic lawsuit, the one against Judas Priest. I've often thought about this case over the years because it encapsulates so much about the many ways people, families, societies can be dead wrong, until there's a final disaster and someone 's life gets ruined. My hat is off to Ivan S. for squeezing it all into such a small space.
The Vampire of Sacramento: The True Story of Richard Chase The Blood-Thirsty Cannibal by Genoveva Ortiz5 stars
This story was pretty gruesome. He ranks right up there with Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer. This guy kills people because he thinks he needs human blood to live. It explores his family life and tries to shed some light on schizophrenia by asking the question 'Is it nature or nurture'? Maybe both? This is a short book that I read in a day and is part of a series of short true crime books.
Koren wrote: "The Vampire of Sacramento: The True Story of Richard Chase The Blood-Thirsty Cannibal by Genoveva Ortiz5 stars
[bookcover:The Vampire of Sacramento: The True Story of Richard Chase..."
Thanks for posting!
Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder by Makita Brottman5 stars
A husband and wife are murdered by their son. We find out a lot about the family dynamics leading up to the murder. The son is found mentally ill. If most people are like me, you would think he got off pretty easy by going to a mental hospital instead of prison, but not so. Reading the comments for this book, I saw several references to the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. That movie came out in the early or mid 70's. I would think a lot would have changed by now, but not so. More than half of the book looks at what happens to him at the hospital after he is sentenced. Drugging patients into submission, lack of medical and psychological care, and even shock treatments against the patient's will because of non-submission still happens. In fact, the murderer tries all sorts of things to get transfers to a prison instead of the hospital. Reading this book, I wondered how those facilities find people to work there. They really go through a lot. Sometimes I felt sorry for this guy and had to keep telling myself that he did murder two people. This was a super interesting look at what is going on in mental facilities today.
Koren wrote: "Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder by Makita Brottman5 stars
A husband and wife are murdered by their son. We..."
I totally agree with every word of this review!
The Deadly Soap-Maker of Correggio: The True Story of Leonarda Cianciulli a Superstitious Mother Who Turned Victims Into Soaps and Cakes by Genoveva Ortiz4 stars
An e-book short, at under 100 pages. The book takes place in Italy in the early 1900's. I felt a little sympathetic to this woman who had an abusive mother and husband until she started killing people and cutting up their bodies to make soap and cake. Part of a series including the Vampire Of Sacramento that I posted about earlier.
Crazymaker: The Shocking True Story of Murder and Betrayal in an American Family by Thomas J. O'Donnell3 stars
It took me a long time to get through this book. At 480 pages with small print, it was slow going. The background information leading up to the murder was tedious and repetitive and the investigation and trial were mostly rehashing of what we already knew. I did finish it though. In the end, I didn't really understand why the stepmother hated the son bad enough to hire someone to have him killed.
MURDER By SUICIDE: A reporter unravels a true case of rape, betrayal and lies, by Larry Welborn5 stars!
An absolutely gripping read about an infuriating cold case. It was bracing to see so many people taking up the cause to get some justice for Linda, who deserved much, much better than what she got.
Killer in the Pool by Tim Zimmermann5 heartsick stars
This was presented and sold to me as being about crimes committed by Tilikum the serial-killer whale, but it quickly proved to be about the crimes committed against him. The nature and severity of those crimes are still pretty much unknown to his tormentors, and even knowing that they were happening changed nothing in Tilikum's life. The moral of this story is that humans are disgusting.
Soldiers in the Army of God: A True Story about the Future of the Armed Abortion Conflict, by Daniel Voll3 stars
This is another article sold by Kindle as a book. Takes the reader into the Army of God, part of a network of pro-life activists who will do absolutely anything to end abortion, including taking the law into their own hands. It's a glimpse into how crazy and out of bounds it can get when your political or religious beliefs start to outpace all other considerations.
The Cheerleaders: A True Story About a Five-Year String of Murders, Accidents and Suicides in a Small New York Town, by E. Jean Carroll4 stars
I picked this up out of curiosity when I recognized the author's name -- she was the plaintiff in the rape action against Donald Trump. I vaguely knew she was a columnist but I learned in this article -- it's a Kindle "book" but really an article -- what a good writer she is. This story is about a long string of untimely deaths of young people in a small town where she has family. It's an excellent read with some truly chilling crimes along with the suicides and accidents. Well worth your time.
Flesh and Blood: A True Story of an NFL Player Who Murdered his Pregnant Girlfriend, by Peter Richmond4 stars
This is another article sold as a book on Kindle, part of the Stacks Readers series. This horrific tale focuses on football star Rae Carruth's innumerable girlfriends and the many, many unplanned (?) pregnancies that came out of those relationships. The article focuses on his tragic relationship with Cherica Adams and his horrible decision to, not just abandon her like the others, but kill her when she was close to giving birth to their son. Out of all the stupid, violent crimes I hear about coming out of pro football, this was a new one on me and truly devastating to read about. Don't miss it.
To the Bridge, by Nancy Rommelmann3 stars, maybe 4
This is a long meditation on the crime of Amanda Stott-Smith, who like Susan Smith and Andrea Yates before her, did the unspeakable -- threw her children off a high bridge, one of whom died -- for reasons that are not clear and may never be. The author tells us as much as she was able to find out from as many sources as possible. There are still a lot of questions at the end, all of them worth answering. Don't miss it.
Death of a Playmate: A True Story of a Playboy Centerfold Killed by her Jealous Husband by Teresa Carpenter3 stars
Yet another article marketed as a book by Kindle, in the Stacks Readers series. This one travelled what for me is pretty familiar territory -- the murder of Dorothy Stratten by her ex, Paul Snider -- but it takes a slightly different approach, asking not only about Dorothy's actions and Paul's, but the industry and societal pressures on both of them, which did help me understand the crime better. Worth a look for sure.
Some Unknown Person, by Sandra Scoppetone4 stars!
A novel that traces the life of Starr Faithfull from beginning to end, and offers a very believable explanation of how she died. Even if completely incorrect, the story is satisfying and remarkably well-written. It drew me right in and never let me go until the last page.
The Devil's Half Acre: The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South's Most Notorious Slave Jail, by Kristen Green3 stars
An interesting read about how Mary Lumpkin, bought by a slave trader in childhood, then made to bear his children and help run his slave jail, survived. She managed to create a new life for herself and her family after the Civil War. Some of what the author could put together was educated guesswork, but some of Mary's accomplishments are still there. It's a remarkable story that hints at the suffering of most of these captive women and their children and the tremendous resourcefulness of Mary Lumpkin and many others like her.
Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi4 stars
After reading some of the reviews for this book, it seems that the people who gave this book a low rating were expecting a book about specific crimes of serial killers, but there is very little here about specific crimes. Instead, it is more about the culture of long-haul truckers that make it easy for murderers to get away with their crimes. A truck-driving friend says that it is a very dangerous job, not just on the highways, but places where truckers stop can be very dangerous. I thought this was a very interesting look at the trucking industry and the element that it attracts.
Dying for Daddy: The True Story of a Family's Worst Nightmare, by Carlton Smith3 solid stars
This is a very unusual story. Well-written and moved right along; this book never bogs down. I was left with some maddening unanswered questions but overall the story was very well told.
One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging, by Beth Caruso3 stars
Man, the story of a woman being tortured until she confesses to being a witch so she can be hanged sure hits differently when you know she's an ancestor of yours. A lot of this book was educated guesswork, but the author makes clear at the end where she was guessing, and what her sources were. She makes a good case that this cruel murder was the basis of all the others that followed in the Colonies, and she also ties it into the slaughter of the people who were already here when the pilgrims arrived. The writing was marred by frequent anachronism, as if the characters in the story were time travelers from the 1990s, but that didn't slow me down much.
How Can You Defend Those People? by Mickey Sherman 4 stars
There are plenty of prosecutors that have written books about trials they have been involved with, but not very many books written by Public Defenders. The author is a public defender with a sense of humor. He has been involved in some well-known trials (O.J. and Scott Peterson). He has also been involved with Court TV from the time it began and has been on many news programs. This is not very much about those trials, but more about what it is like to defend people even though it is fairly obvious that they are guilty.
Koren wrote: "How Can You Defend Those People? by Mickey Sherman 4 stars
There are plenty of prosecutors that have written books about trials..."
This sounds like a great read! Adding it to our Attorneys' Stories shelf.
Fishface wrote: "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'..."
I just brought this book can't wait to read it thanks for your review :)
Nancy wrote: "Reading Everybody’s Best Friend by Ken England. So far it’s easy reading and well- written."I hope you enjoy I really want to read this one :)
"Deranged" by Harold Schechter. 4.25/5.
I've wanted to read this book for years, so when I found it at my local library I didn't hesitate to borrow it. Since I first found out about this book I've become a lot more sensitive to reading about violence, and I read this book with a constant frown on my face and a sickening feeling in my chest and stomach. I'm unsure if I would recommend this book to anyone because of its absolutely vile nature, but, of course, Fish is a subject of great interest because of his psyche and Schechter is (based on this work alone) a good author. Something that was interesting, aside from learning more about what might bring someone to murder, was the media's portrayal of crimes during the 30s. One such example, which I found funny (a strange feeling to get while reading this book) was on page 140: “Moreover, Haarmann was not only an epileptic but also a homosexual – a trait which, the News implied, went a long way toward explaining his penchant for mass murder and cannibalism.”.
Joseph wrote: "“Moreover, Haarmann was not only an epileptic but also a homosexual – a trait which, the News implied, went a long way toward explaining his penchant for mass murder and cannibalism."Trying to remember where I read someone's summary of Dr. Wertham's rundown of Fish's pathology: "There was no known perversion that he did not practice, and practice frequently," Wertham said. The person quoting him said, "Fish was basically a homosexual." Mmmmmmmkay.
Bully: a True Story of High School Revenge by Jim Schutze4 stars
Wow! It is hard to believe that these killers were children. There is some pretty gruesome stuff going on here. The book has pretty graphic descriptions of abuse, rough sex and murder and drugs. The story moves along quickly, and the investigation and court room scenes are nicely condensed and not repetitive. The murder took place in the 90's so some of the killers are probably out of prison by now. The first page asks the question "Does anyone deserve to die" and yet this question is not at all addressed in the book. There were no pictures in the e-book that I read. This was an interesting crime, but it is mostly recreating conversations and doesn't really go into any depth.
Blood Stains, by Patricia Springer3 stars
An interesting case legally, scientifically and morally, that underlines the power of DNA testing to overcome what sounds like some pretty sloppy police work while it sets aside the disbelief of the killer's family. I wish the author had gone much, much more into the other cases associated with this dangerous man, because a lot of individuals and families are still suffering because of him. Most authors just report the facts, but this one seemed to be trying to build a reasonable-doubt case in support of the defendant. With all the backing and forthing about his guilt or innocence, I feel the victims were almost completely lost in the sauce. It was worth plowing through the sometimes-clumsy, sometimes-repetitive writing to get down to what really happened here.
The Girls: An All-American Town, a Predatory Doctor, and the Untold Story of the Gymnasts Who Brought Him Down, by Abigail Pesta3.5 stars
This book was kind of hard to get into at the outset, because almost every survivor seemed to have the same life story and they all read the same way...but then it really picked up speed when someone finally started listening to their accusations. Some of the impact statements were wonderful. THERE WERE 500 OF THEM. NOT EVERYBODY HE ASSAULTED GAVE A STATEMENT. OMG. Enjoy prison, Larry. RIP, Chelsey. You deserved so much better.
Hiding Mengele: How a Nazi Network Harbored the Angel of Death by Betina Anton4 stars
This was an eye-opening read about the life of Josef Mengele after he escaped justice at the end of WW2. The book focuses on how a caring network of friends kept him one step ahead of the law until his death on a beach in 1979, surrounded by friends and bystanders, all working to save his life, as if he weren't one of the most-wanted criminals on earth. It hit me so hard when I read how close Mossad came to capturing him. I was very impressed by the diligent work done to make sure that the exhumed skeleton didn't belong to anyone else on earth but Mengele. This was a fascinating read, prefect for someone wanting to know, not so much about Mengele but about his team of supporters.
Hate Crimes : The Rising Tide of Bigotry and Bloodshed, by Jack Levin and Javk McDevitt2 stars
This one was just barely OK. Most of the information in this book was not new to me and the text was very repetitive, explaining over and over what a hate crime is, who the offenders are, etc. I also cringed a few times when the authors uncritically accepted, for instance, that the Central Park Five committed a hate crime against Trisha Meili, and held Bill Cosby up as a role model for the nation's youth. Times sure have changed!
Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels, by Ellen Ruppel Shell4 stars!
A very interesting read about illegal eel fishing, illegal eel trafficking, and how both are paradoxically protecting freshwater eels even as they threaten to wipe the species out. Lots of interesting science in here. I loved this book and was sorry to see it end.
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America, by John Wood Sweet4 stars!
This is one of those true stories that reads like a novel. The author, a historian by trade, takes on one of the earliest rape cases taken to court in the United States. This happened when George Washington was still in the White House. Alexander Hamilton was one of the attorneys on the case and the accused was a scion of the Bedlow family, who owned -- among many other properties -- Bedlow's Island, which is now called Liberty Island because that's where the Stature of Liberty stands. The author did an incredible job of reconstructing the world where this happened, in a New York City that had a population of only 40,000 and almost everyone there was personally involved in, or knew someone who was personally involved in, the American Revolution. The legal case is equally fascinating. Don't miss this one.
Naming Jack the Ripper, by Russell Edwards3 stars, maybe 3.5
Interesting! Aside from a proposed solution to the Ripper murders, this book is full of interesting info on the science of DNA testing and more general kinds of historical research. He explains why this man was the favorite suspect of the police at the time of the killings and also why they never moved forward with their evidence. Other books I've read solving the murders have been more satisfying but ultimately proved to be spinach, so I'm curbing my enthusiasm here. But I have been given food for thought.
Another City, Not My Own, by Doninick Dunne5 stars!
I didn't enjoy this book at first -- I commented that the subtitle WHEN NAME-DROPPERS ATTACK should have appeared on the jacket-- but I'm so glad I persisted. It brought back that roller-coaster of memories and feelings from the O.J. trial and gave me a faint taste of what went on in the author's real life as well. And, dang, that last scene.
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)
3 solid stars
A pretty good read collected from what seems like many, many disparate sources in half a dozen languages. This is highly recommended if you are interested in hate crimes, official misconduct, baffling court decisions, international intrigue...I could go on. Perfect addition to my weird little corners of history shelf.