5 comments about Fire Lover: A True Story.

1. This is the first Wambaugh book that I've read. I've heard lots of good things about his books. I work in law enforcement and have enjoyed other true crime books written by former law enforcement personnel, so thought I would Wambaugh as well. I had seen the documentary about John Orr and wanted to know more.

   However, although the author is an excellent writer, this book was very biased and Wambaugh comes across to me as very arrogant -- a trait that I cannot tolerate under any circumstance. In fact, his bias that police officers are better than firefighters is downright cocky.

   Although I knew the story of John Orr and felt he was guilty, while reading Fire Lover, I found myself wanting him to get off from page to page because of the cockiness of the writer.

   I would NOT recommend this book to anyone.




2. I think he could have written in 200 words or less that he hated John Orr, thinks cops are better than firemen, and thinks prosecutors should always have the upper hand.

   One thing he could have included was photos, to make the book less boring. And, he could have explained just how we went from the judge disallowing Orr's manuscripts into evidence to the prosecution being allowed to use them as evidence.




3. This is an unusual book. I don't think I've ever read a book about an arsonist before, certainly not a non-fiction book, and the story that it tells is so fantastic that it's one of those stranger-than-fiction tales that defies belief.

   The book tells the story of John Leonard Orr. Orr was a frustrated individual, from a split household, who tried to become a policeman and failed, and wound up becoming a firefighter, both in the Air Force and then in the city of Glendale here in Southern California. He rose to become Glendale's senior arson investigator, actually teaching classes that other arson investigators, even Federal ones, attended. He was considered one of the leading authorities on arson fires and arsonists in California. Then suspicion fell on him and his activities, and he was arrested and accused of being an arsonist himself. The accusation was followed by a pair of trials.

   Now I live in Montrose (yards from the border of the city of Glendale) and used to actually live in Glendale, so it was interesting to read about the locale and the people of my new home (I've lived here for five years). Everything's reasonably well-recreated, though I didn't think Glendale was made that unique compared with other Southern California cities. Orr comes across as something of a nerd, a doofus who's always trying to fit in while never quite making it, and always cheating on the current wife with the prospective one, while paying child support to the ex.

   Wambaugh's writing style is interesting, in that he uses a lot of slang and emphasis to show what he means, and has a very conversational style. It'd be interesting to hear Ken Howard read this book: it reads as if it would sound better than it looks on the page. I will confess that the cast of characters is large enough that I had trouble keeping track of all of the investigators and attorneys involved, and I think it would have helped if the author provided a dramatis personae at the beginning of the book.

   One note: several of the other reviewers presented the idea that the author thinks cops are somehow better than firefighters. This is erroneous. It's his position, stated and restated through the book, that the crime spree was solved by a firefighter turned arson investigator, and that he was ignored by his cop colleagues until the evidence confirmed his suspicions. He does say, several times, that cops themselves sometimes think themselves firefighters, but he's clear that he thinks this is unfortunate. Strange when people have read the same book as you, and come to a different interpretation of what was written. Altogether a good book, though.




4. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed four of Wambaugh's earlier books, I was sure this one would be a page turner; however, it was strictly the story and not the writing that kept my interest. So my feelings are mixed and my rating is lukewarm. Wambaugh tries too hard to depict John Orr as evil, yet without the hard-sell, the reader would come to that conclusion anyway. I finished the book still feeling that there is more on John Orr that could have been included in the book. An additional thought - one reviewer mentions that Wambaugh copies Truman Capote's style of not including photographs of the characters, yet Wambaugh's own picture is on the back. I'd much rather see who I'm reading about.



5. In Fire Lover, Wambaugh attempts to get into the mind of a convicted serial arsonist, one who nevertheless has never (at least as documented in this book) admitted to his crimes. The story is well-written, intriguing, and at times even a page-turner. The few occasions when the story drags are most often in the telling of Orr's trials, when Wambaugh seeks thoroughness in telling the story of the trial, but occasionally at the expense of the reader's interest. But all told, this is a good, even haunting story of a true case.

2 comments about The Thin Green Line: Outwitting Poachers, Smugglers, And Market Hunters.

1. Terry Grosz is my instructor, mentor and a dear Friend. "The Thin Green Line" is a "real life" book detailing the author's dedication to protecting our natural resources and his dedication to conservation agencies in general. Everyone of his books are a collection of an incredible man's service to fauna, flora and mankind. Do not miss a single one of his books!
   K. McCloud



2. This book is for anyone that enjoyes and cares about our American Wildlife. With little support from the government and even less cash,Terry Grosz and his officers performed miracles to catch all sorts of bad guys. Just how this was accomplished is what makes it so interesting. This book will leave you laughing, crying and angry enough to write to every official you can reach. Terry loved what he did and it shows in every paragraph.

5 comments about Loaded: A Misadventure on the Marijuana Trail.

1. The author Robert Sabbag has this scene nailed down. I thought I had read, or maybe even lived it all. No sir. This book "jacks it up" to new levels of adreneline pumping. These characters had balls. Big ones. And it is really fun to read about people like that.
   
   The opening, where a DC-3 is barely making it to the Columbian border at sunrise after a few days of flight is second to none. One of the best and tightest openings to any book I have ever read. Where is the movie???
   
   Thank you, Mr. Sabbag



2. Looks like Robert Sabbag couldn't let his sucess with Snowblind be. This book just sucks. I know Allen Long and his story is true, the smuggling, the four years as someones maid in prison but Robert Sabbag just got sloppy with this one. He tried to take a mediocre story and make it into something interesting; didn't work.



3. This was by far the best book I have ever read. Every time I picked it up I read at least three chapters. I felt like I was really there and that I had actually met the characters. The author gives great detail but in a way that does not at all bore you. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it!!!



4. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that doesn't mean everyone has to like other people's opinions everytime. Robert Sabbag is Hot Property and by far one of the best journalist type writer working these days. His account of the "Mari-Jane" Trade is nothing short of spectacular. As much as certain segments of the population might want to criticize all things involving drugs, it is still quite obvious that these stories are highly (and I stress "highly") connected with american culture and also the world. This book is fun to read and captures a period of time where the individuals of this great country attempted and many more times than not, succeeded, in transporting large quantities of "Weed" via sea or air and then selling most of it at a large profit. The curse, of course, is that harder drugs were widely accepted later and consumed by societies around the world and of course, what at first began as a free enterprise later got ugly and I am not getting into it. For the earlier years of the smuggling "craze" Smokescreen does a fine job and Robert Sabbag either by first hand or second hand knowledge captures an entire period with a specially acute sense of humor. For that I give it a 5 star rating, anything less would be "uncivilized".



5. Robert Sabbag has written a funny / exciting story. The author does a great job of putting you back into the early days of the drug trade. It is one of the better books I have read recently. This guy did a lot but his world wasn't quite as ruthless as the top level Pablo Escobar types.

3 comments about Al Capone: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

1. This book is written for high school students and works well enough in that department. Actually, it's pretty good and contains some fine sociological insights on early 20th Century urban life, Italian-American immigrants, and popular conceptions and misconceptions about the Mafia and organized crime, along with a fair, if common, selection of photos. Slim book, and nothing really new here. It's largely compiled from past Capone biographies. Includes some of the errors from Bergreen's work but doesn't hesitate to question him from time to time. It's still a nice introduction to Al for young aspiring gangsters.



2. I wish I had read this before the first Capone book I bought. It makes his complicated career manageable and organized and really whets the appetite for the drill down details which you get in the super long tomes. The publisher states that its intended use is for a high school textbook on the subject ( I wish I had textbooks like this when I was in high school) and that makes it appealing and unusual. It is as objective a book you will find, covering the social elements of the time (and putting a lot of things in perspective, very helpful for a cynic like me) plus it is also a fun read. It is hard to find a fun read that does not have that "groupie"- breathless-sick admiration (which I am guilty of)tone often occurring in many mafia books. And this one does not. (I've read about 30 now). Will not disappoint. A great gift.



3. Scholar and expert on Italian American History and American crime, Luciano Iorizzo has provided for the reader a concise, accurate biography of the notorious Al Capone in the context of social, economic, and political developments of his time. The author delineates the factual history of an Italian American anti-hero (folk hero?). Born in Brooklyn in 1899 to Italian immigrant parents, Capone seized his opportunities in his rapid rise to power. Author Iorizzo weaves the life of Capone into an analysis of such terms as ethnicity, diversity, and organized crime, concepts that have captured the imagination of modern America. The real Capone is revealed as underdog, criminal, and family man who was generous as he was violent. If the reader wishes to become acqainted with the career of the real Capone, he/she should begin here. Outstanding features of the book that greatly enhance the volume's relevance are a timeline of Capone's life, a glossary of names and events, a bibliography, a list of motion picutres and videos, and websites that include a wealthy of information on Capone.

4 comments about Capone: The Life and World of Al Capone.

1. John Kobler is a little-known master craftsman and this is his master work. Don't miss it. Quite possibly the best biography you'll ever read. P.S. PLUS, I learned the word "chinoiserie" from this book!



2. In my opinion, this is the best and most well written of all of the Capone biographies. The first few pages of this highly engrossing book takes the reader to the front door of the Lexington Hotel, Capone's headquarters.....on into the inner sactum of the gangleader himself. The story of Al Capone is brilliantly laid out in an easy to follow format that takes the reader through Capone's life and motivations. I've read all of the major bios on "Big Al" and this is by far the best.....highly recommended.



3. In a book subtitled, "The Life and World of Al Capone", one would suspect an in depth look at the famous Chicagoan. While the book has points where it is very informative, I believe the author could have used a more involved editor in composing his book. Having originally gone into publication in 1971, there are better books about Al Capone.
   
   In the first hundred pages, Al Capone's name is literally mentioned only about five times. I respect the author's motive for formatting the book this way. He was trying to set up the world that gave rise to a gang leader like Al Capone. However, some of the stories could have been left out. At times, I found myself wondering if the author would ever start discussing Capone.
   
   The author begins the story of Capone in his service to Johnny Torrio. Eventually, this relationship develops more into a partnership than a hierarchy. Capone was very aggressive in furthering his interests even if the price was murder. La Cosa Nostra and organized crime in America thrived under the laws of prohibition. The illegally produced and supplied alcohol was only produced by those willing to disobey the way. It was a chance Capone was to take. Additionally, Capone made his money from gambling and racketeering.
   
   The generous side of Capone is one that is less frequently discussed. He donated much of his wealth to the poor which is more than can be said for the contemporary crooks and gangsters of corporate America. With this comparison in mind, it seems odd that the government finally crumbled the Capone empire with charges of tax evasion. Capone was sentenced to eleven years, but served less than six due to good behavior and the terminal phase of syphilis.
   
   I was disappointed to discover the end of the book. The author followed through with the title in the beginning with an overwhelming introduction. Unfortunately, the author chose to describe Capone's effect on the world in seven pages. I believe the author could have said more of the world of Al Capone more in terms of his after effects.
   
   In total, I found this book to be more than adequate. While it is flawed and inconsistent, it is a worthwhile primer for those seeking to learn of Capone. At times, the author goes into great detail demonstrating the work put into this project. However, the amount of work is not always consistent with the final project.



4. I think Kolbler does a good job of detailing the rise of the Mafia. Italians calling themselves the Black Hand rob and blackmail guilable Italian immigrants. People like Colossimo, and Capone get into the protection busiess. This leads to other rackets, and the Mafia is born. Capone was not a member of the Mafia group, but he knew their main leaders. Capone and before that Torrio become the main influences in the Chicago underworld.
   
   This is a detailed biography of Alphonse Capone. The book also shows the corrupt nature of early Chicago politics and the start of Prohibition. Capone because of his leadership qualities and friendship with Torrio becomes a effective leader of the Chicago underworld. Al used whatever he needed to establish his rule. This included blackmail, torture, and murder. He also was generous to those who were loyal to him. There was both a good and dark side to Al Capone. If you betrayed him, then he could beat you to death like the three Sicilians. If you treated him as an equal, he could help and befriend you.
   
   Kobler shows all the complexities of Al Capone, He may have evil traits, but a very real human came through in Kobler's biography. This is a very detailed, but also very readable history of Al Capone.

5 comments about Quitting the Mob: How the "Yuppie Don" Left the Mafia and Lived to Tell His Story.

1. Each time I have read the book, I see something else that I did not see. Michael's father Sonny, was as dedicated as they came. It's amazing that someone could have led the life that he had lived and still live to tell about it. I would imagine it would be fun just to sit down and talk with Michael Franzese about all the things that he had expierienced. If anyone knows how to reach Michael Franzese please drop me a line.



2. I knew Michael after the whole thing finished, he was indeed a changed man. Great book, good job Michael & Dary.



3. In Quitting the Mob Michael Franzesetells his story with the help of Dary Matera.Of his love for his father who brought him into the family after seeing his son not being scared of going a little out side of the law to make money.How he was raised to the rank of capo in his mafia family making millions of dollars for his bosses.And left it all for the love of a woman.



4. I am not a huge reader, but i finished this book really quickly. In a rare instance, you are shown the inside reports on how the mafia works and how some of the stereotypes are just that, stereotypes. If you have any interest in true crime books or books that can show that people can change, this is the book for you! Trust me, I don't like reading too much but found myself looking forward to reading this book.



5. This could have been a good book, but it is nothing but a farce where Franzese would have the reader believe that he was some poor misunderstood victim, harassed by law enforcement until he was put in the position of "well, if they are gonna accuse me of it, I am just gonna do it!", which is obviously so much baloney. Then, he does admit to "white collar crime", but strangely every time the government hauls him into court, Franzese would again have us believe that he was wholly innocent of all of the charges. He sets himself only in the very best light, like some sort of misunderstood, valiant and progressive J.P. Morgan, a modern day Robin Hood, and it is to the point of sheer unbelieveability. Franzese is still the same scammer as he always was, and he carries it on as usual in this book with the complicity of Matera. I can't believe Matera wasted his obvious talent producing this drivel. It's Franzese vanity press, plain and simple. And, as far as Franzese being a "changed man", a reborn straight arrow? PFFFFFTTT!!! Search thesmokinggun.com for Franzese and read about his post conversion shenanigans if you'd like to see the "new man"....meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Yep, these guys took what could have been a great story and turned it into the same stuff you find on the floor of a hog pen, and they expended the same amount of energy doing it that they would have had to in doing it right! Maybe, with a little luck, the real story will come out, and I bet it'll be a good one. Until then, take my word for it, this book is irredeemable from page one through the end....don't even waste your time. I regret that I have to give it a one star rating, because it sure doesn't even deserve that.

5 comments about Born to Steal: When the Mafia Hit Wall Street.

1. Mr. Weiss shows us how he has been able to capture his Pulitzer. The author "lets the hood tell his story" as one reviewer complains, but I would assert that this is a BIG asset to this book. Yes, we find out the "banality of evil" but that is beside the point.
   
   You may find yourself dealing with this part of society in one shape or another eventually and you may be surprised to find that the Mafia is NOT so dead as it is being assumed to be. Of course, if you really read between the lines of this book you realize that this is an example of Organized Crime ADAPTING. The penny stock industry (Yes. .it is an ongoing industry . . and NOT going the way of the buggy whip, if my FAX machine is any indication. . .filled as it is with unsolicited stock BS) was the place to be if you wanted to rub shoulders with mobsters in the 1990s. Weiss acts as narrator as the life story of Pasciuto unfolds.
   
   Some here have complained about the prose style. I found it very accessible. The story is an easy read and you are not supposed to wind up "compelled" by any character. They are almost all bad guys. This time, Weiss didn't complain about how incompetent the legal watch dogs must be to simply let this all unfold without being much hindrance, but if you think this stuff through fully, you would wind up wondering that. . .WHERE IS THE SEC??? . . .the NASD?
   
   Anyway, if you want to get a feel for the chop stock industry you should read this book. If you feel compelled to invest in those ULTRA LOW CAP stocks that you see in your fax machine or in unsolicited e-mails. . .you MUST read this book!
   
   Caveat Emptor!
   
   Chris Tune



2. It nevers ceases to amaze me that people could be so gullible as to send a check for a large sum of money because some guy with a great line of BS says he can make you rich and he represents an official sounding brokerage house. Wow.
   
   The story is very captivating. Reading about Louis spiral out of control, hooking up with organized crime "Guys", the drugs, the lies, the scamming. Pretty entertaining.
   
   This book really makes me wonder what all those regulatory agencies actually do. Its obvious they are not running around trying to protect the average consumer. Too bad, cause with people like Louis manning the phones, many people out there need protection.
   
   I found myself looking for excuses during the day to get back to reading this book. I really enjoyed it.



3. If you can imagine a book written that blended these two movies together, bada-bing, there's your book. There's your review.



4. I do most of my reading on the train commuting to and from work. This book did not give me that luxury because I was so into the story of how this kid became rich and invested for well known celebrities. I read it in three days because I kept wondering how and when this guy was going to get whacked by the mafia. The real life photos in the book make the stories more justifiable. Also, these pictures help keep the reliability of the book in tact.
   
   Business mostly draws my interest for reading material, so that was the reason I bought the book at an airport one day. If you like business success stories and real life mafia drama, then this book will knock you off your feet.



5. The book starts off fast, however lacks true storytelling details. The information about the firms and scams is severally lacking. The first 150 pages seems to mirror the firm and characters depicted in the movie the Boiler Room. I kept thinking of that movie while I was reading this book. I would recommend the movie the Boiler Room over this book, as if you are interested in more details of how the scams and firms actually work, the Boiler Room does a much better job.
   
   Overall I think the book is about 2.75 stars, as I thought it was a little below average, maybe my expectations were a little to high. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes organized crime and wants to hear an inside story of chop shops. Although I was disappointed I could not put the book down, and it will likely grasp your attention. I would not recommend this to book to someone who is looking for the specific ins and outs of how a chop shop and penny stock scams work, it will disappoint you if you are looking for that. I would also not recommend this book to those of you who are easily offended by frequent use of the f word.
   
   If you do like this book I would recommend watching the Boiler Room, which is a very good movie.

5 comments about Kansas Charley: The Boy Murderer.

1. The simple title, "Kansas Charlie", belies what's between the cover of this scholarly, but extremely emotional saga. It is a sad tale that has vast implications for what we see a century later. Dr. Brumberg doggedly followed the trail of Charles Miller, accurately depicting the many stages of his personal tragedy. As a pediatrician and an advocate for children, there were times during my reading when I wanted to jump into the story and offer my help to this unfortunate youth. The author descriptively takes us back to a setting where the reader could easily say, "That was then...". Her arguement is persuasive enough where we could say, "Things haven't changed so much..."
   The dockets in our juvenile courts are still full.
   Despite this being a truly heinous crime, the conflict between political force and progressive social movements determined Charlie's fate. True to her profession as a historian, Dr. Brumberg succeeds very well in time transport for her readers, permitting them to gauge whether or not we've come very far in how we regard children. This is very readable history and very few readers will walk away from it without a strong opinion about juvenile justice.



2. Kansas Charley is a fascinating book which ably combines American social and cultural history, developmental psychology, and legal studies. The book traces the story of an orphaned yboy who descends into impoverished and desperate circumstances. He ends up killing two other youths and is ultimately put to death. Kansas Charley recounts this history, but does more. The book paints a fascinating picture of 19th century social life and places Charley in context. It also does an excellent job of connecting modern day attitudes towards juvenile crime and punishment with their historical roots. This book is very timely given current debates over the fate of Lee Boyd Malvo and other children who kill. I'm a professor of U.S. cultural history and think this is a wonderful addition to the scholarship on the history of childhood and the history of American social life.



3. Kansas Charlie's life is a great reality check for someone who's read too many Horatio Alger books. I read this book very quickly. Dr. Brumberg tells the story well - the prose is lean and engaging, the historical details are perfect. (I can imagine a movie or documentary of this book). The book stayed with me long after I read it. What's remarkable is how little has changed in the last 110 years. Troubled, impulsive boys with access to guns still kill. Prosecutors' and politicians' desire for the death penalty for juvenile murderers is still politically motivated.



4. Well Researched book for a murder case by a juvenile back in the 1890's that can be easilly related to cases that happen today. This story of Kansas Charley is well written and a sad situation where a child that could not find a place in society had slipped through the cracks of the government that should of protected him.



5. Since my son is taking a course at Cornell Summer College from Professor Brumberg, I thought I would read one of her books to get an idea of how she thinks and writes (a gross generalization that often works for me). I expected a scholarly but dry account of 15-year-old murderer, Charley Miller. I did not expect a dramatic and compelling historical novel that rivals today's best books. "Kansas Charlie," is extremely well researched and written in a simple, direct and contemporary style. Although she attempts to be fair and objective, it's obvious that Professor Brumberg wrote this novel to advance her own unarguably poignant point-of-view regarding juvenile justice and how little progress has been made since the Victorian Age. But, who can blame her when political maneuvering rather than an interest in solving an important social issue often blunts real progress? I'm certain my 16-year-old son is in extremely good hands.

5 comments about All God's Children: Inside the Dark and Violent World of Street Families.

1. Portland, Oregon and street kids.....gone wrong. The sadness of what can occur when parents do not accept the reasonability of parenthood and think more of themselves..... and our youth end up under the bridge,gone astray. Following the "parents" of the street, all the while longing for a home life. Reality at its best. A great in site to today's street kids.



2. Having many years experience working with youth on the streets I have yet to come across ONE who has chosen a life of homelessness. While Denfeld writes of one horrifying situation she unfortunately connects this violence to all street youth. However, this is dangerously wrong, and paints a demonizing picture of youth who are surviving on the streets against all odds. There is already a stigma regarding homeless youth, and I fear Denfeld is perpetuating a damaging myth that these youth are from loving homes and choosing a life of homelessness...All she is doing is harming an already vulnerable population, and swaying the public from supporting their own children. Most of the youth I work with on the streets are there because their life at home was shockingly abusive, and the streets were safer. They are survivors in every sense of the word, they are nonviolent, often working, intelligent and engaging individuals who daily fight against a society who finds it easier to judge them than to realize the alarming rate of family trauma that is forcing children to leave their homes to search for safety on the streets. As a society we need to come together to allow these children to reach their amazing potential, not blame them for having been born to unsafe families. Yes, the story Denfeld wrote of is tragic, but it is so far from what happens on the street she was wrong to imply this violence as the norm. The streets are not fun, simply surviving day to day is no life, it is not a glamorous existence, it is often frightening, frustrating and painful. Anyone who asserts that youth chose a life on the streets is sadly misinformed, and I believe choosing to remain ignorant because they are simply not strong enough to realize how many thousands of children have been thrown in this country.



3. I really liked this book. It opened my eyes about the life on the streets of Portland and answered questions about things I always wanted to know. This book is well worth reading.



4. I think it's very important while reading this book to remember that the author is writing about ONE part of the population of homeless youth. Keep that in mind, and absorb the knowledge.



5. Rene Denfeld does an excellent job showing us how foreign the street kid culture is from the society that surrounds them and how easy it is for new kids to fall into it.
   
   In college, I volunteered at the Covenant House. Every Thursday from 7-10pm we would drive around the worst parts of Houston handing out sandwiches and juice packs to the homeless and letting them know that any homeless kids were welcome back at the Covenant House.
   
   What impressed me the most was how different the homeless adults were from the teenagers. The adults were what you would expect homeless to be like. Some depressed, some hungry, some listless, some drunk, some too embarrassed to tell their kids they were living on the streets, usually grateful for a sandwich or a clean pair of socks. The kids on the other hand were on an adventure. None of them ever came back to the Covenant House with us. They always had someone to stay with, or a car to ride in to Las Vegas, ... places to go, things to see. And they never seemed hungry. Full of hope. And then I would listen to them talk and be just horrified. I will always remember the conversation between two fifteen year old girls, with babies in their laps, talking about the job they had the night before at a strip club. The way they had been treated was inhumane. (I tried - unsuccessfully - to get all my friends to avoid strip clubs in Houston forever.) Yet these girls just took it in stride. At the time, I thought it was because they were kids and kids had more hope and maybe more strength and flexibility. After reading Rene Denfeld's book All God's Children: Inside the Dark and Violent World of Street Families, I now think it's because they live in an alternate reality, a completely different culture, than the rest of us. Rene Denfeld describes the completely alien culture of street kids in a way that not only made sense but completely matched what I saw. It was fascinating and terrifying.
   
   As a side note, Rene blames many of the agencies that help street kids for promoting the street kid culture. By providing them food and resources they enable the street life - large groups of kids with nothing to do except hang out and create their own rules. Very harsh and violent rules.

5 comments about Blood Brother: 33 Reasons My Brother Scott Peterson Is Guilty.

1. If you find yourself still interested in the case of Laci Peterson, then this book is for you. It takes you on a journey through the life and death of Laci Peterson through the overlooked point of view of Laci's sister-in-law, Anne Bird. It is a fascinating and thought-provoking book, but no matter how many books are written on this subject nothing will ever change the disheartening ending that Laci Peterson will not get to have the child she had so joyfully looked forward to raising.



2. I read this book right after the one written by Laci's mother Sharon Rocha. This one was particularly good because Anne gave a great account of how her brother behaved before and after Laci's murder.



3. Fairly well written and interesting theories. Not sure all is believable, but good read if you're like me and interested in "why?" he did it!



4. I've recently started reading all the books with decent reviews about the Scott Peterson case. I was looking forward to reading this book because Anne Bird obviously has an insider's perspective on Scott and the rest of his family, plus the title of the book was obviously compelling.
   
   While her book did offer some good insight and, as she pointed out toward the end of the book, it gave her the opportunity to tell her story, I didn't the book told me much that I didn't already know. It was interesting to see the internal struggle Anne had with not wanting to believe Scott was guilty but also facing the facts that much of his behavior was bizarre.
   
   What I had hoped most from this book was some "slam-dunk" evidence (33 reasons) why Scott Peterson was guilty of killing Laci and Connor. Unfortunately, the 33 reasons she provides are really just specific examples of bizarre or questionable behavior from Scott. Certainly they troubling but they weren't exactly "reasons he's guilty."
   
   A quick and interesting read but if you're looking for something a little more all-encompassing about the Scott Peterson case consider checking out Catherine Crier's book "A Deadly Game."



5. Having high hopes and picking up the pieces of their lives then have it shattered. Very heart wrenching!