No comments about The Boston Strangler.

No comments about The Boston Strangler.

No comments about The Boston Strangler.

No comments about The Boston Strangler (New England Remembers) (NE Remembers).

No comments about The Boston Strangler.

2 comments about Search for the Strangler: My Hunt for Boston's Most Notorious Killer.

1. I was surprised and disappointed to find that this was actually the same book that came out just last year from a university press when it was called, A ROSE FOR MARY, one of the very best books of the year, Did Warner Books think they had to spice up the cover so that people would know it was all about The Boston Strangler?
   
   Or maybe some were disappointed in the previous title, A ROSE FOR MARY, and they thought it was about ROSEMARY'S BABY. In any case I think it's a cheap shot when a paperback changes the name of the hardcover because there will be many, like me, who buys both books falling for the misleading new title and thinking it a new book.
   
   What's great about Casey Sherman's book is that, although he's a little fellow, he had this great determination to avenge the death of a woman who died before he was even born, his mom's sister Mary, who died in January 1964. Casey isn't a midget per se but he brings up his perceived lack of height several times in the book, leaving the reader feeling that this is indeed an issue in his life. He is a powerful writer and delivers a book filled with regret and rage, and the eerie silence of a family touched by crime. For in the Sullivan family there was a great loss, an empty space where once Mary had laughed and sang. He digs up a certain amount of DNA evidence that makes it seem as though, whatever else he was guilty of in his crazy life, Albert De Salvo certainly didn't kill Mary, even though he was implicated in her death. Casey Sherman analyzes the corrupt state of the police back in the 1960s and the ways in which pressure was put on top politicians to "bring in the killer" and it seems clear they didn't mind if they fried an innocent one, as long as the murders stopped.
   
   It was like JAWS in that, so many women were being killed in Boston, that tourism had come to a complete halt!
   
   Mary is smiling now that justice has been unearthed. Good for you, Casey. Warner Books, stop chiseling money out of the pockets of the citizenry!



2. I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked learning about the Boston Strangler story and the theories surronding the killings. I also enjoyed Sherman's investigations. Great book!

5 comments about The Boston Strangler.

1. The persons who wrote the negative reviews on this book don't seem to have actually read it. The reason Albert DeSalvo was never tried for the stranglings was due principally to the skillful maneuvering of his attorney, F. Lee Baily. Anyone who reads Gerold Frank's The Boston Strangler cannot help but come to the conclusion that DeSalvo was the right man. But there are people who have an interest in casting doubt on the facts. If my brother, or son, or spouse had committed such horrible crimes, I would try to bring up such doubts myself. Or if I wanted to write a book about the case, using sensationalistic hogwash about another killer or killers. I first read Gerold Frank's book in the late sixties. Recently I came across it again, and reread every word. It is a fascinating story, a masterpiece of reporting, with elements of the supernatural, turbid politics, and police bungling. For, despite the fact that Albert DeSalvo was arrested for a violent rape, in which he had entered a woman's home under the pretext of effecting repairs (after he had already committed the murders), yet they did not investigate him as a possible suspect in the stranglings. The final pages of the book present a repelling, yet fascinating, picture of a sick soul, the depths of hell in the mind of a seemingly pleasant and affable man. And those final pages also fully explain why Albert DeSalvo was never tried for the murders.



2. A pretty gripping read back in its day (1966)--but in the 40 following its original publication, plenty of evidence has surfaced strongly suggesting that self-confessed killer Albert deSalvo WASN'T the real deal--or even close. (According to some reports, author Gerald Frank later admitted he'd been conned by deSalvo's bogus admissions.) Creepy reading--but file this one under FICTION.



3. Even when I first read this book as a teenager, something didn't sit right with Albert DeSalvo being pegged as the killer. The "old women" and "the girls" cohorts of victims propagated subconscious disconnections between factors being treated as the work of a single perpetrator, as did the case's sudden wrap-up. The psychoanalysis sessions, looking back at them, appeared laced with manipulation, and subsequent examinations of the Strangler case substantiate that: DeSalvo was prompted to be the killer, because they needed a killer to blame.

   Still, the portions about the investigation before DeSalvo's appearance are fascinating -- the crime scene descriptions, the victim timetables, detectives and their occasional dead ends. The tale is quite interesting, but should be absorbed only in combination with other writings about the Strangler case(s). It only makes you wish they had had, in the early 1960s, the same forensic techniques we have today. They really might have caught the guy(s).




4. While this book is interesting reading, one can only wonder at the overly one-sided tone. This is not just a retelling of the facts. This author, while using true sources, obviously has a certain idea in his head as to how to present the material. Granted, all historical writing has a bias to it, but this one seems written more for the hype than the truth.

   Despite all that, the book is an interesting read and an informative look into the details of the horrendous murders and the detective work employed to find the killer(s).




5. i was reading this book all about this psycho who no one can catch that strangles chicks.the cops cant pin it down on anyone so they start getting thier suspects under hypnosis and seeing what theyd say then.but as everyone knows......post hypnotic suggestion is very powerful and thats exactly why albert desalvo "became" the boston strangler.just another cop book where someone goes down for something he probably didnt do at all.its pretty sick and graphic as the killer had a thing for kinky details,so be afraid!be very afraid!

5 comments about The Strangler.

1. THE STRANGLER begins on November 22, 1963. Kennedy has just been assassinated and the Boston Strangler is terrorizing the city. The west side is also going through the pangs of urban renewal.
   
   William Landry alternates between the three Daley brothers. Joe Daley is a police lieutenant with a gambling problem. Michael Daley works for the Attorney General in the eminent domain division. Rick Daley, the most interesting of the lot, is a burglar.
   
   Because of the alternating viewpoints the story never does gain much momentum. Rick and Michael love the same woman, newspaperwoman Amy Ryan. When she is brutally murdered, the attorney general assigns Michael to the Strangler Bureau. In short order, Albert DeSalvo confesses to the murders. The Attorney General jumps at a resolution to the case. None of the Daley boys believe he's guilty. They have their own candidate.
   
   Joe Daley, the police lieutenant, is the most stereotypical of the brothers. Besides being a gambler, he's also a womanizer. You've seen him in dozens of movies and low-rent mystery novels. However, he does try to help the mom and pop store owners who are being decimated (and bullied) by the businessmen running urban renewal. These businessman hire gangsters to speed up the process. Landry throws in a couple of "B" movie thugs, Charlie Capobianco and strong-arm Vinnie Gargano to liven things up. Joe Daley is in debt to these guys. Michael Daley suspects them of murdering Joe Daley Sr., who was killed in the line of duty. It all has to do with the urban renewal scheme. Then there's Brendan Conroy, best friend to Joe. Sr. (Have you heard this one before?) and boyfriend to Margaret the Daley boys' mother. Michael suspects he's in cahoots with the gangsters, and worse yet, that he killed Joe Sr. I almost forgot about Michael's migraines. Funny, they don't bother him when he's fighting for his life during the climax.
   
   Rick Daley and his burglar scenario only come into play when the boys are trying to find the real strangler and in one short diamond theft. Landry offers a candidate, but he insists in the "author's note" that this guy is fictional.
   
   It's a shame that Lawton had to resort to cliche plot and character devices, `cause the guy can really write. Everything flows well and the prose is superior. He also has a praise-worthy novel under his belt, MISSION FLATS, which won the John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel.



2. If you're a lover of quality crime fiction, if the names Connelly, Pelecanos, Burke or Lehane get you excited, then this novel is for you. I was wowed by Landay's first novel (Mission Flats) and am even more impressed now. The title and the cover do not do justice to the riches contained within, this is a marvelous book.
   
   Some reviewers have complained about the lack of twists, or that the bad guy was revealed early on. This is not a "mystery" book where the object is to keep guessing until the end. This is a crime novel that is as much about the human condition as it is about the crimes, much in the vein of Mystic River, and is guaranteed to move you and make you think about your own life and family.
   
   It's a dark tale, bleak and brutal. But if you want more from your thrillers than a puzzle, if a literate story with depth is what you seek, you will be delighted - sometimes horrified, but thoroughly delighted - with this exemplary novel. It truly represents the best in crime fiction.



3. Landay deftly meshes together several storylines, each interesting in its own right, to create a moving drama set in 1960's Boston. Suspense, corruption, family, and human frailty all play critical roles throughout.
   
   The characters are real. Members of the Daley family are flawed, yet uniquely noble. The relationships among the Daleys are complex, yet are simple at the same time. Seemingly bound together with an unbreakable amount of strength for no other reason than that they are family.
   
   The 'Strangler' component of the story, while adding to the plot from a historical nature, actually takes a back seat to the threads centered on family and corruption. I consider that to be a positive. By taking the focus of the plot away from the Strangler, Landay is able to add significant depth to the characters and not let historical facts dictate the direction of the story.
   
   Based on this book, many better known authors can learn a thing or two from Mr. Landay about making characters real. I look forward to reading more of his work.



4. Was this a perfect novel? No, nor was it about the perfect crime. The book is perfect enough for me to recommend to others who think for a living and who sometimes just want to relax and be carried along to a jarring conclusion.
   
   The book is set within the context of a family that is tightly bound, and is in one way or another in the business of crime. Some characters are stale but for me this is minor when one contrasts them to the rounded characterizations of those who are more important to the story, or perhaps those who held more appeal for me.
   
   The spark in this author's style was a pleasure to read. Please give me more fabulous thrillers from Mr. Landay.



5. I enjoyed this book more for its atmosphere then its characters. The tale revolves around the three Daley brothers who I never completely warmed up to, but the story of the City of Boston and its renewal during the time of the Boston Strangler was what drew me in. Great plot, but the characters could have used something. Something not easy to describe, maybe a "warmth" they never achieved. Definately worth the time though.

5 comments about A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler.

1. A Rose for Mary is a thrilling roller coaster ride that left me completely breathless at the end. Sherman uses the Boston Strangler case as a disturbing backdrop for political intrigue. I think this young man is an amazing writer who is keenly able to explore the dark corners of the mind. Run to pick up A Rose for Mary. You will be glad you did.



2. Re-examining the decades-old strangulation murder of his late Aunt Mary, a 19-year-old career girl widely believed to be the last victim of self-confessed "Boston Strangler" Albert DeSalvo, author Casey Sherman makes a fairly compelling case that the killer was actually someone else and that DeSalvo was simply a convenient fall guy for baffled cops and stymied politicos. Unfortunately for Sherman, writer Susan Kelly presented a far more compelling (and far more professional) case in "The Boston Stranglers" nearly 10 years ago. Perhaps too close to the story for his own good, Sherman whitewashes, sidesteps and simply ignores the more unsavory aspects of the victim's life (all detailed in Kelly's book in a non-judgemental fashion), in the process unwittingly stripping the deeply-troubled young woman of any recognizable humanity and turning her into an unbelievable martyr-like cipher who never comes alive for the reader. Ardent true crime buffs will also be see the non-conclusive nature of this story a mile away; Sherman telegraphs the ending by pointedly assigning a fake name to a key suspect early on, always a tip-off that the cops couldn't make a case. Amateurish as this is (when he isn't pushing for exhumations and DNA tests, Sherman actually communes with his late aunt's ghost!), anyone seriously interested in the Strangler case will find this book intriguing, especially after comparing it to the considerably meatier account in Kelly's book--which actually names the suspect in question.



3. I'M A HUGE DENNIS LEHANE FAN & PICKED UP THIS BOOK BASED ON LEHANE'S RECOMMENDATION. I LOVED IT! IT WAS A FAST MOVING BOOK THAT READ LIKE A MYSTERY NOVEL. MYSTERY FANS SHOULD GOBBLE THIS ONE UP.



4. I loved this book, and could not stop reading. Sherman has changed history forever, with his attempt in finding the real Boston Strangler. This is an amazing story and I am so glad he wrote this book and opened up this case again. If you are interested in true crime and history, this is a must read.



5. This book was a great read. Casey Sherman certainly knows how to tell a story. I can't believe all his mother has gone thru and all he did to find his answers. I read this book in a 24 hour period. Good job Casey

5 comments about The Boston Stranglers.

1. I was blown away by the last chapter, which describes in detail....wait, I don't want to spoil it. Read it for yourself!
   
   This book is very well-written and documents years of painstaking research.
   
   Particularly fascinating to me was the section on how the film version got it entirely wrong. It makes me wonder how many other films embedded in our consciousness are wildly different from the true events that took place.



2. I read a number of books about this subject, and this is one of the best written. Susan Kelly interjects humor and irony at just the right moments and for a true crime account, it reads more like a novel. I truly enjoyed this book.



3. I, for one, was one of those who thought Albert DeSalvo was guilty. I reached this conclusion after watching the movie many years ago and reading Gerold Frank's book. Over the years, I had heard that Albert may not have been guilty after all. After reading this book, I am convinced that Albert never was the actual Boston Strangler.
   
   Kelly lays out the proof from court transcripts and interviews many of the detectives that originally investigated the case. The evidence she presents is quite convincing that others had firm motives for being the Boston Strangler.
   
   The only bad part of the book, which almost caused me to give up reading it, was Kelly's over-reliance on court transcripts. In some chapters, she goes on and on with quoted court transcripts that become boring to read really quickly! The book would have been much better if she had summarized the proceedings instead on relying on court transcipts.



4. This book is obviously extremely well researched, and the narrative is easy to read, but only 100 pages into it I am finding it necessary to make my own lists, timelines, and charts to keep track of the players and events. She failed to provide any, even though she introduces multiple threads. She discusses at least three sets of victims (DeSalvo's, Nassar's, and the Boston Stranglers'); several players at several levels of police, judicial, and political jurisdictions; several attorneys, and several different political factors, including cross-jurisdictional squabbles and who gets what kind of publicity. Nevertheless, the reader is given no tie-backs to help keep all of those straight, including which names belong to which set of victims or law enforcement agency, even though 50 pages and multiple other players frequently separate references to specific individuals or significant factors.



5. Susan Kelly has produced a very thoroughly researched and documented book on the subject of the Boston Strangler case of the early 60's.
   
   The Preface tells of the circumstance that led to the author's interest in the case.
   
   She describes the political and public pressure to solve these cases. The media distortion was a major problem.
   
   The author frequently references books by Gerald Frank and F.Lee Bailey as well as numerous newspaper articles.
   
   A few things brought up in this book make a very strong case that Albert DeSalvo wasn't the strangler. His confession in it's entirety would have exonerated him. There is evidence strongly suggesting that some of these cases weren't even related by M.O. or victim type.
   DeSalvo was the "Green Man" guilty of sexual assault but the leap from that to the Strangler was tenuous at best.
   
   Susan Kelly makes a strong argument that Albert Desalvo was looking for fame for himself and financial security for his family. He was offered a chance at both by one of his attorneys and he was no doubt coached by nore than a few people, one being the man that killed some of the "Bostan Strangler" victims. Another factor was that details were published in the newspapers regularly. A casual reader could pick up enough information to make a more compelling confession than DeSalvo did on some of the cases.
   
   The author examines some of the prominent suspects known to be in the areas of the killings, as well as information on the victims, their actions and crime scene details.
   
   "The Boston Stranglers" is an excellent book on the subject and characters involved. It is well written and I highly recommend it.