3 comments about Evil Summer: Babe Leopold, Dickie Loeb, and the Kidnap-Murder of Bobby Franks (Elmer H Johnson & Carol Holmes Johnson Series in Criminology).

1. What would make two wealthy, seemingly well-raised teenagers gleefully kidnap and murder another neighborhood boy? Each generation has asked this question during the eighty-three years since this event became the "crime of the century," and John Theodore has, to the extent possible, provided an answer in Evil Summer. Theodore begins with his own childhood recollection of becoming aware of the murder, then recreates the 1920s and the atmosphere of wealthy Hyde Park, Chicago, always depicting the humanness of the parents of both victim and perpetrators. The story is interesting throughout; I especially enjoyed the informative and eerie epilogue.



2. I have been aware of this heinous crime for several decades, but have never read a book about its specifics. Therefore, I am assuming this book is correct in its facts. It is certainly an interesting read. Two teen-agers, Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, decide they are intellectually superior to anyone else, and decide to test their theory by murdering a child at random. By the grace of God they lost track of the first boy they spotted coming home from school, and finally settled on 14 year old Bobby Franks. One of the two murderers was playing tennis with him the day before, not knowing that Bobby would be the victim. Clarence Darrow defended Leopold and Loeb by introducing "three wise men from the east" to cast doubt on the sanity of the defendants. Besides the victim you really have to feel for the parents of Bobby Franks. His mother remained in denial repeating that "Bobby will be home soon." Several photographs are included to supplement the text. This despicable crime took place in Chicago in 1924 during the Capone and O'Banion beer wars, and it reminds me of a similar twosome, Robert Tulloch and James Parker, of Chelsea, Vermont, who murdered two Dartmouth professors in 2001 in a thrill killing. Both partners in crime most likely wouldn't have committed the crime without the support of the other, and both believed their intellectual superiority would prevent them from being arrested. Both are very tragic stories. Considering I don't have any other book on Leopold and Loeb to compare it to I would highly recommend this book.



3. As a young girl growing up in Chicago I remember watching Nathan Leopold on television when he was released from Statesville prison. I asked my Mother who he was and she told me he and another young man had killed a boy name Booby Frank. I became interested in the Crime of the Century and read the books Compulsion as well as Life plus 99 years and the Crime of the Century and now add this book to my collection. You can feel Chicago in 1924 and the hysteria that was to be the trial of two young men who held such promise that summer. The question why still haunts after all these years as does the human toll on the boys families..the Franks, The Leopolds and the Loebs. Babe on his way to Europe and the pride of his family with his intellect and potential for greatness. Dickie..handsome, charming, loved by all who meet him collide with Babe to do the unthinkable for what seemed to be just a thrill. Together they could do what as individuals they could not kidnap and kill a superior crime or so they thought. Darlings of the media who sought their every words and then gleefully waited for the hangman to put his noose around their necks. Enter Clarence Darrow the Old lion who surprises by pleading his clients guilty avoiding a jury trial and pleads for his young clients lives instead. The book covers the crime, the trial and the aftermath.. Babe and Dickie slowly adjusted to prison life and found redemption in the library and taught at the prison. Dickie killed in prison by James Day who was upset that his prison bank account could no longer be funded by the Loebs. Babe would continue the work they started until his parole many years later. Nathan Leopold is often used right or wrongly as an example that a prisoner no matter how heinous the crime can be rehabilitated. The sadness of all this is the greatness both Babe and Dickie might have given the world if not for a seemingly innocent ride in a roadster.

5 comments about City of Dreadful Delight: Narratives of Sexual Danger in Late-Victorian London (Women in Culture and Society Series).

1. I really enjoyed reading this spectacularly written book.



2. As someone who writes stories I like to get a perspective on literature and culture of stories that I try to reproduce, so this is why I would read a book like this.
   
   To that end the book put in perspective and context some of my favorite works like Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde with relation to my own works. On the plus side the writing was pretty quality and all of that, but on the negative side sometimes it seemed like one of the Dickens passages that goes on and on about all the different types of people in London. And sometimes there was little structure. Like this happened and then this happened and this women did this and this woman did that, and somehow this relates to the birth of shopping? The part about the shopping I liked though because you can see that today.
   
   I found the story of Mrs. Wheldon very compelling however, and a couple other stories where there was more prolonged focus on individuals and analysis of that in terms of the culture and other historical/economic and whatever factors.
   
   One thing about the emphasis on media explosion around sexuality and violence which culminated with the Jack the Ripper story... This was not really framed as part of any bigger picture (Maybe I'm thinking of traditional history and wars and crap like that)which I feel was a serious detriment. And I think sometimes these books present this revolutionary vision and then make a few references to reliable terms of history, like this was a catholic thing or a jacobin thing or something and I'm supposed to know all about that.
   
   I left thinking so this history she's writing about as gruesome as this might sound... that was just a big spaghetti incident or something?
   
   The crime hero was an interesting concept. I would like to have seen a more thorough condemnation of this personna, but maybe that's up to a psychology book I suppose. Like I was saying this should have been framed. It's hard to tell sometimes in this book in some parts if its just not an immersion in tabloid culture. In other parts it's clear that it's not, because something like Jack the Ripper is pretty big, but maybe you get my point.
   
   Well the book didn't suck and every once in a while after negotiating the history of spaghetti factors you came to a point where the author pointed something out and I was like wow I'm glad I read this far, which kept me going and I'm glad I read the entire book!



3. This source is a wonderful discussion on the dark side of Victorian culture. It is easy to read, stays on topic, and makes the stark differences and similarities between our cultures clearly apparent.



4. This book is a cultural examination of late 19th century Victorian London. Though this may be considered "tough sledding" in terms of style, it is nonetheless fascinating. The topics of study are: Social Darwinism, the dichotomy of East/West London, Women's organizations, the emergence of a well-read middle class, bourgeois charity towards the poor, liberalism, nationalism, sensationalism in the press, and the collective imagination of contemporary Londoners. Walkowitz's conclusion is both staggering and unexpected, explaining that the legendary Jack the Ripper may be nothing more than the embodiment of tabloid fancies and the overactive imagination of a well-read populace. This is one of my favorite historical monographs.



5. Excellent read!
   This book has everything that we should know about the late Victorian era, especially--but not exclusively--East London.
   In a nutshell, the writer develops her story of the exciting, but complex and fragmented city into a marvelous journey through the very late Victorian period, the journey that will [un]predictably end in a spate of heinous crimes perpetrated by an elusive killer who could well be--well, anybody. Walkowitz's culmination with the Jack the Ripper case will leave you wondering about the killer's motive as well as the rationale for his crimes.

5 comments about The Mexican Mafia.

1. I was expecting more. The writing is poor. It is more like an investigative report aimed at the law enforcement community. For a lay person, it is so crammed with names and details, it is hard to read. I ended up skimming after the first half of the book. Also, the author is clearly pushing some of his own bias against immigration. Basically, I find the book irritating, even though I am very interested in the topic.



2. I bought this book before boarding a long flight. The topic interested me and I thought it would give me a good insight into the Mexican Mafia. I was wrong.
   I started reading and very soon realized is was confusing, extremely detailed with uninteresting facts and poorly written. The story revolved more around 1 La Eme crew, their trial, the DA and the investigative detectives. It really failed to provide detailed information or analysis of the origins, rise and present strength or organization of la Eme / Mexican Mafia. The author spends more time describing the life of Manzella the DA than he does key players of the mob.
   Finally I skimmed through great parts of the book to arrive at the end knowing the same I already knew before reading it.



3. Well researched,deals mainly with small crew on trial for homicide.Detailed account of their exploits,fair amount of history coverd. One of the better books on la Eme.



4. A well researched and investigated book. If you want to learn about the Mexican Mafia then read this book. Although it is a little too cop/prosecutor orientated it is still good- you just have to skip the cop parts to get to the good gangster stuff. But not a bad read by any means. I would like to see something from Tony Rapheal with more gangster profiles. I know he has it in him. Check out his blog, In the hat.



5. This book was GARBAGE. I thought it was going to be like Machine Gun Mundos' book (Mexican Mafia), but, was not! Very disappointing.
   This guy is obsessed with The Avenues targeting Blacks.
   Well, Sr. Rafael: Get your facts straight! Why didn't you write anything about blacks targeting Mexicans? This has been going on for years, and I don't see the Media/books saying anything about this.
   And what the hell does this have to with IMMIGRATION? Jesus Christ, no wonder there is a green light on this guy (good).

5 comments about Party Monster: A Fabulous But True Tale of Murder in Clubland.

1. James St. James takes you into the world of the nightlife in the 80's and 90's with a wide spectrum of emotions ranging from euphoria, to jealousy, and fear in this collection of events of the club/entertainment field.
   
   James St. James goes into his rivalry and friendship with Michael Alig with brutal honesty and zeal from literally their teens until their 30's in PARTY MONSTER. James documents their partying and drug use in a fashion that you still care about them as well as their well being, while still hoping that these two will find their way out of the messes that their lives took towards the end of the book.
   
   It has good times, as well as sad times for the two main "characters" in this novel and this book makes you realize that even if people seem to be having a grand old time in the public eye, there may be unhappiness lurking daily in the backgrounds of their existence.
   
   This book does not have a happy ending, but does hold a small amount of redemption for James St. James with him trying to start his life over again in another part of the country.
   
   If you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy the novel as well, and vice versa.



2. After watching 'Party Monster', I fell in love with James St. James, and although I was slightly disappointed by his tweeny novel, 'Freak Show', 'Party Monster' ,the novel, delivers!
   
   It is a definite page-turner and I don't think it took me more than two or three days to finish it. Book is packed with way more of James' humor and critique than we got from the movie. If you love the man, you'll love the book! Enjoy!



3. This book seemed like a mashup of true crime and memoir. The author, James St James was a 'club kid' in New York during the late 80's and early 90's. For me the most interesting thing about the book was getting a look at that whole scene. These guys made a living dressing up in the weirdest way possible and going to clubs. They were big into a drug called special k. It was a really nutty time and place.
   
   That said, the author writes very clearly and well. He seems to be writing as if you're more or less in the know so the book has a familiar tone. It's compact, has plenty of bizarre anecdotes and it moves along at a nice clip. Very good, very off-beat book.



4. oh James St. James! I fell in love with the movie and wanted to read the book oringinally titled Disco Bloodbath, yet its price was always so high. I stumbled on the Party Monster book and bought two, sending one to my son. We both read the book nonstop until done. We siply lovethe way James writes. He is witty, completely well spoken and an absolute roar with the way he thinks.



5. The movie, "Party Monster", could easily be called one of my favorites. The book, however was much different than I expected it to be. Of course, seeing as how I picked up the book after I fell in love with the movie, my opinion may be a little bit skewered. I wasn't expecting the book to be composed mainly of wit and laugh-out-loud moments, a part of me wanted there to be some of the emotion that was created in the film, but all of that aide, the book was amazing.
   
   James St. James wrote the novel with a tone that sounds like he is actually speaking to you. This is one of those books that you can't, or don't want to, skim over any small part of a page because the words are just that good. Though the overall topic of the story can be considered to be pretty serious, I couldn't get through a page without finding something to laugh at. Try sitting in a room filled with people while reading this book, I can guarantee that the chronic sarcasm and facetious metaphors will keep you from putting the book down.

5 comments about Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three.

1. Since I watched Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, I have been learning what I could about the case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelly ("The West Memphis Three"), and Mara Leveritt's book compiles a vast amount of information on the case-- a case that just gets stranger at every turn.
   
   The major drawback I could see was that Leveritt seems to assume the three are innocent. I lean toward thinking that they are, but there are still some odd facts that need to be resolved for me to completely believe that they are. She hints at the fact that there is evidence pointing to the teens' guilt, but also points out that, frustratingly, the police investigators who hint at this refuse to speak openly about it. Whether or not they are guilty, the amount of secrecy, bungling, and prejudice surrounding this case is infuriating, and all but unbelievable in a country where citizens, if they are to be sentenced, must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Leveritt also weakens her argument by focusing on John Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the victims, as one of the only other suspects. Byers has certainly lived an outlaw's life, and made many bizarre and self-incriminating statements (for instance, that he himself had been tortured as a child in a way that was very similar to the way the three 8-year-old boys were murdered). However, recent DNA evidence seems to link Terry Hobbs (stepfather of another of the victims) to the scene of the crime, but he is hardly mentioned in Leveritt's book. In all fairness, she couldn't have foreseen this development, but I hoped that she would investigate each of the victims' families in more depth.
   
   I highly recommend this book, mostly because I would like people to know about the case of the West Memphis Three, but also because the case is well-told and highly interesting.



2. A must read for anyone that is familiar with this tragic story. Very well written. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3 and find the real killers of these little boys.



3. If Damien looked like Franken-Byers instead of the lead singer of Good Charlotte, not one of these "activists" would have lifted their heads from their soy lattes to take a second look at this case. Not that they looked at the facts anyway.



4. I wouldn't read JUST one book and decide if three convicted teenagers were innocent, but I could (and will) make a good judgment on all the adults involved in this case of three teenagers accused and convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Ark. All the adults should be ashamed of themselves--including the police, the lawyers, the judges, the parents, and a couple of the witnesses.
   
   And certainly the three convicted teenagers deserve new trials.
   
   Leveritt's story is good, although I believe that a good TIMELINE of all events would have served the reader better. I used a calendar to note dates of events on each character in the story and some of events make no sense. However, that said, the police did not make a case against the accused. Their chief witness was another child named Aaron Hutchinson, who supposedly witnessed the crime, although he was spared death. And he was never called to testify. The other evidence was the confession of Jessie Misskelley, an angry, confused young boy of seventeen, whose outlook on life was that of a eight-year-old, too.
   
   What lies beneath all this mess is Ignorance, Poverty, and Pain. The three murder victims were killed in a wooded area near their homes, yet, even with all the writings, we do not know how they were really killed. Who could re-enact the crime? Who could explain a timeline of events on how these children were killed, their clothes stripped, their bikes dumped. Two drowned. One bled to death. But how? They don't even know when? [There are some great photos of the crime scene online.]
   
   And what is the timeline on the accused and convicted? Where were the three accused when the murder victims were let out of school. How did they get to the wooded area without being seen? How long did it take the accused and convicted to carry out the events, how did they, and then make their escape, without being seen or heard, in a small wooded area that is more or less about 2 acres of land between a subdivision and an Interstate service road.
   
   The emotional pain that all of the children in this story suffered is a crime in itself.
   
   This whole case needs to be redone, not just for those convicted, but for the murdered boys, for the self-respect of a police department that was unable to serve its community, and the JUDGE!--who still sits in judgment on this case after all these years! Let someone else make a decision.
   
   All the boys, the accused and convicted and the three murder victims need a fresh look. I live in north Mississippi. After reading this book, I've decided to go take a look at the scene myself. Whatever really happened, the trials were indeed like witchhunts, along with hysteria, and some of the evidence being who owned how many black T-Shirts!
   
   Lastly, the why? That's too long a post. But why did this all happen--the murders, the shoddy investigation, the trials with talk of Satan, Sodomy, and black T-Shirts?



5. The author has a way of keeping the reader informed and not overwhelmed. With so many names and locations, a huge amount of confusion is likely but doesn't happen.
   I feel well informed about a troubling case. I highly recommend you read this book.

5 comments about An Unfinished Canvas: A True Story of Love, Family, and Murder in Nashville.

1. THIS BOOK WAS A PAGE-TURNER IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. THANKS TO THE 2 DETECTIVES JUSTICE WAS SERVED.



2. This was one of the most heart-breaking true crime books I have ever read. My heart goes out to the Levines in the loss of their daughter and to Janet March's children. There is no punishment I can think of that is bad enough for Perry March.
   
   However, one major frustration for me was that this book was written in the present tense. I found it extremely confusing and had to keep going back to previous passages in order to clearly understand the sequence of events.



3. I took my title from a quotation by Det. Pat Postiglione, one of the true heroes of this fascinating story. I found this account of Nashville's most anticiapted (10 years) trial (actually 3 trials) and perhaps "crime of the century" to be thoroughly readable. Although I paid as much attention to the case as anyone in the Nashville area, this fine work put all the pieces together. For that reason alone, I recommend this.
   
   This book includes: custody battles, jurisdictional fights, alleged hit-men, jailhouse snitches, abuse of a corpse, and above all- supreme arrogance on the part of the book's principal subject, Perry March. It also includes midnight bicycle rides, not really a crime but I'll leave that for you to discover. Anyone interested in unsolved/ cold case murders will love this book. I couldn't put it down.



4. "An Unfinished Canvas" is about the murder of Janet March by her husband and the long trail to justice.
   There are several colorful characters involved in the book including the killer's father, Arthur March and Perry March himself.
   
   The highlights in this case were the victim's parents and their will to fight against their daughter's killer. The cold case detectives Pridemore and Postigliano also stand out for their intelligence and unwavering dedication as evidenced by their high rate of cold cases they solved.
   
   The resolution of this murder was hampered by two primary factors: the victim wasn't reported missing for two weeks and for some unexplained reason the original lead detective tipped off March's attorney that the home was going to be searched.
   
   Where the book disappointed me was the repetition of the same information, like the conversation on the plane ride back from California during March's extradition. The history of Nashville in chapter 1 was dry. The book really ground to a halt with the trial sections at the back of the book.
   
   An interesting cold case but the book was not the smoothest or most riveting true crime book that I have read.



5. After moving from Nashville, I continued to keep up with this case through Nancy Grace and 48 Hours Mysteries. Glasgow and Gobbell dramatically portray the story of Janet March who was an intelligent, attractive woman from a great family who was deceived by a narcissistic, evil man. I realize that the "apple did not fall far from the tree"after reading about the role of Perry's father and his involvement in the crime. I would like to say kudos to the writers and the detectives who did not give up on locating and revealing all of the facts regarding this crime and who helped bring Perry March to justice. This is a great read!

5 comments about Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple.

1. Originally bought as a source for a research paper, i had come into this searching for a simple first hand account of the Jonestown incident. However, once i began reading, Seductive Poison evolved into much more than just a primary source. What sets this book apart from any other literature on the accounts of Jonestown is Layton's honesty. She provides the reader with a background of information leading up to joining Jim Jones and finally wraps up with the eventual mass-suicide. Instead of focusing primarily on the final events of Jonestown and the actions of Jim jones himself, Layton tells her story, from beginning to end which will help others understand why anyone would have gotten up and followed a man such as Jim Jones.
   Before beginning this book, i was skeptical. I had many questions about the followers of Jones, their motives, their mental state, what they believed in and I was worried that Layton might try to sway the reader in one direction or another. However, that is not the case. Seductive Poison provides the reader with facts, journal entries, letters, and most importantly, Photos of the loved ones she describes throughout the entire book.
   Often the writing of memoirs such as this involving such an emotional attachment don't live up to the story itself. However, Deborah Layton is a talented writer which allows the reader immerse themselves in the content rather than focus on the pros and cons of the writing. From her steady attention to detail to the heartfelt commentary, Layton has truly pulled off a winner. Because of her first hand situation in the Peoples Temple, Seductive Poison is informative. Anyone interested in seeking the ways and workings of a cult, how cults come-to-be cults, why anyone would join one or just looking to read of a women's personal journey of coming into her own, should give this book a chance. I did, and I'm thrilled with my choice.



2. 
   Book came within a short time and was in the shape that seller told it was in and even better.



3. I read this book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. It keeps you wanting to know more! It made me sick how many people were involved with such a mind-freak! They didn't even recognize what was going on. This is a must read!



4. I had seen a documentary a while back on PBS, and Deborah Layton was one of the many former members and survivors who gave commentary on People's Temple and specifically the Rev. Jim Jones. In introducing Layton, there was a marker under her name that indicated she had written a book titled, Seductive Poison, on the infamous death cult. I ordered it. All I can say is that Layton's memoir is an altogether fascinating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, because her very detailed account is absolutely all consuming, riveting in the best sense of the word when it pertains to memoirs; no stone is left unturned, and all the recollections are thoroughly laced together to form a disturbing portrait of how and why seemingly normal and intelligent people get emeshed in cults. And when they realize that they are in one it is often too late. Deborah Layton, among others, were the lucky ones.
   
   Jim Jones was the charismatic pastor of the Disciples of Christ, a liberal Protestant denominationin that was a member of the National Council of Churches; it too was the division that housed People's Temple. Combining Scripture and Christian dogma with Marxist and Leninist philosophies, he espoused the concept of Liberation Theology, in essence, creating a social Gospel where people of all classes, colors, economic levels, ages and education would be a part of. In addition to the questionable socialist teachings, Jim Jones love-bombed his congregation, telling them how special and unique and important they were in the eyes of Jesus Christ, how what he required was the will of God, for he was supposedly the microphone of the Holy Trinity. And who can fight that concept? Bit by bit, people gradually gave their will over to him, assuming that his Divine influence was beyond question. And gradually, they became automatons, shadows of their former selves doing the will of their Father.
   
   Aside from the fact that Seductive Poison is beyond exceptionally well written, it is the inside details that Layton offers that makes her memoir especially pulsating, particularly her details on the "white night", where members were so deeply indoctrinated that they on many an evening had practice drills to drink the cyanide laced punch. She also gives vivid details on the types of punishment used in Jonestone. The evil perpetrated upon children was especially disturbing: "...There was also the Well, a punishment used especially for children. They would be taken to the well in the dark of night, hung upside down by a rope around their ankles, and dunked into the water again and again while someone hidden inside the Well grabbed at them to scare them."--Page 176.
   
   The spying, turning against loved ones, cruel assorted punishments, disturbing and nonsensical harangues all kept people in line until they flew off Guyana, to the Promise Land. Yet it was anything but that, and many had to suppress their inner feelings of disappointment for fear of severe retribution.
   
   There is a lot to say about this work; it raises serious questions and offers important answers, paramount being that individualism is indeed a very good thing and following your own will is not something to be taken for granted. It also sheds light on why people join cults, to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to live in a community where those who have nothing have something of far greater worth: love.
   
   Seductive Poison works as sociology, history, a family record, psychology, autobiography; it works on so many fronts and conveys so much. Religion is a good thing, but sometimes it is best to appreciate it from afar.



5. I have been fascinated with the Jonestown story ever since the first reports of the massacre emerged in '78. The combination of elements; the jungle, a charismatic leader, poisoned flavor aid and an assasinated congressman all made for an irresistable tale. The action plays out more like a novel than a real life event. The cult story has been told several times, but always by outsiders. Now we have an eyewitness account from Debbie Layton, a top officer in the People's Temple.
   
   Seductive Poison is not written in the professional style of other books, and it is all the more authentic because of it. Enough reviews have been written already, so I will not get into details, but will comment on a few aspects. First of all, this book will hold your attention and is never dull at any point. The ending will bring a stoic to tears. And if the description of Layton's escape from Guyana does not send shivers down your spine, you need to see a doctor.
   
   In the end one cannot help but reflect on all the victims and what could have been. Children could have grown, lives of a sort lived out in the Jungle or elsewhere. Instead over 900 were snuffed out in hours of madness, part of one the strangest events on record.

5 comments about Lust Killer: Updated Edition (Signet True Crime).

1. Before serial killers were even "serial" (generically referred to as "mass murderers"), Jerome Brudos was collection women's shoes and undergarments. And when that wasn't enough, he collected the women themselves!
   
   Ann Rule does a great job of detailing the crimes of sexual deviant Brudos as he escalates from stealing women's undergarments off clotheslines to raping his victims' lifeless bodies repeatedly. His crimes are so demented that even seasoned detectives (and true crime readers!) blanched at the things Brudos had done to his victims and his lack of remorse when confessing to them.
   
   Rule also gives readers a glimpse into the effects of a perverts crimes on his family; specifically, Brudos wife, Darcie. This young lady was tried and convicted by neighbors and others simply on the grounds of "guilt by association." Despite suffering the humiliation of her husband's crimes, coping with the stress of knowing these things occurred within feet of her backdoor where her children played, and figuring out how to start over as a single women with no income and two small children, she was charged as an accessory based on blantant lies of gossipy old bitty who's sister lived next door to the Brudos'. Fortunately, a jury did not convict and Darcie was reunited with her children to begin their lives again.
   
   A very interesting read. A bit tedious in places, but overall an excellent piece of true crime.



2. The book was good. Just read it. If you know Ann's writting then you won't be disappointed at all. If this is your first time reading Ann, then hang on. Ann is able to take you to where horror lives. Her descriptions of the killings and killers are intriguing. The worse part is this is all true crime. Ann having the back ground in law enforcement is how this author is able to get so detailed. I won't write about what's in this book because you just need to read all of Ann's books. This may not be helpful but, you know what. I got started on Ann because I picked the book up and just started to read it. Now, go out there and read !!!



3. I am a huge fan of Ann Rule's work and this is another good read....I couldn't put this book down. Rule does not disappoint with this book or any other of her books for that matter.



4. I enjoyed this book but didn't find it as interesting as Ms. Rule's later works (e.g. Small Sacrifices, Stranger Beside Me). Perhaps it is because the investigative/legal aspects of the case were relatively trivial. It could also be that Ann's writing has improved but who am I to judge?
   
   In any case, if you have read her later books first, you'll still like this one, but lower your expectations a bit.
   
   Joel



5. This is one of the earliest books written by Ann Rule, and one can tell. Ms. Rule hasn't yet honed her talent for drawing the reader into the world of the victim and the criminal. That's not to say that this is a bad book - far from it! It's just not quite as polished as Ms. Rule's later books. I have always enjoyed Ms. Rule's books, and I recommend this one, with the caveat that it is an early book.

5 comments about Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief's Secret Life (48 Hours Mystery).

1. I'm surprised (shocked, actually) this book has received so many good reviews on Amazon. I found it horrible. It contains many contradictions -- for example, on one page LaRosa says every single journalist criticized the bartender-blogger who broke the case, and a few pages later, he quotes an editor complementing the same guy--, in lieu of facts he provides he says/she says ("Crystal said she only got $100 every two weeks, David's family says she got much more" -- well, who is telling the truth? Isn't LaRosa's job to find out and tell us?) and his writing is mediocre at best. I have read very few true-crime books in my life, but if this is one of the better ones, then the genre sucks.



2. I really should learn to never judge a book by it's cover...but that is what I did with this book for many months. The cover, the title, they just didn't grab my attention. But once I opened the book and started reading...it had my fullest attention.
   
   Paul LaRosa does an excellent job of relaying the story of Tacoma Police Chief David Brame who, in 2006, shot his estranged wife in a RiteAid parking lot before turning the gun on himself. And, sadly enough, this occured while the couple's children were just a few feet away.
   
   This book is a riveting tale of sex, scandals, and attempted cover-up by many of Tacoma's high ranking officials. It is a definite must read for any true crime fan!



3. The big secret life of the Chief of Police is simply not that interesting. It is very difficult to care about the victims. The wife is a spoiled brat and the husband is a retarded lech. These people were raising damaged children further traumatized by this violent, selfish turn of events. The parents do get high marks for lousy parenting. If you want to learn how not to behave, buy this book.
   
   The writing is average and redundant. It is clear that much "filler" was put in to make it a full book. The author simply should have chosen a more interesting subject. On the surface, I can imagine he thought it was. A closer look is just another pathetic ugly divorce.



4. Paul LaRosa, talented writer and excellent researcher, makes great use of both talents in 'Tacoma Confidential'.
   
   Fairly presented without bias, LaRosa's detailed and insightful look into the tragic outcome of the troubled marriage of a dangerously flawed police chief and its impact on a major U.S. city is a riveting story that will keep the reader turning the pages at a furious pace.
   
   The disintegration of a marriage and of the mind of a law enforcement officer is chronicled in such fine detail one has the sensation of actually 'being there' as the story unfolds. Despite never having met the major victims of this crime, the author's highly-honed research skills and evenhanded writing allow the reader to become intimately familiar with Chief David Brame and his wife, Crystal, and their families and acquaintances.
   
   That Mr. LaRosa did ultimately meet so many others involved and their willingness to share such a wealth of personal information is certainly a credit to his ability to convey understanding and compassion. The same traits were excellently utilized to document this tragedy in an absorbing and compelling manner.
   
   True writing skill prevents the far-reaching political implications of this case, both citywide and within the police department, from becoming muddled, confusing or boring. Instead, they are recognized as mind-boggling, somewhat amazing, and certainly always thoroughly interesting.
   
   There was a moment of confusion for me when the author injected his personal input into the story via 'first-person' writing. Many writers accomplish this with irritating and insulting heavy handed innuendo that severely colors the facts. An astute reader recognizes immediately the efforts to force the reader to accept the writer's beliefs. The refreshing openness of this author's writing style; presenting the facts and trusting the reader to reach their own conclusion, certainly makes for a more enjoyable reading experience.
   
   True true-crime fans are well aware of how this genre has fallen prey to a bevy of poor writers publishing weak books that read like sleazy dime-store novels. Readers have to continually be on their toes to search out first-class, well-written, great reads. If any of you fans missed this one, you need to remedy that mistake straight away because.....
   
   'Tacoma Confidential Is A Winner'!



5. So many reviews of TACOMA CONFIDENTIAL, almost all of them positive, have already been posted, that I normally would not write another one. But I believe that Paul LaRosa has created a true crime book that is so outstanding that I feel the need to pile on. The subject of the book, the pending divorce between David Brame, the Tacoma, WA, Chief of Police and his wife Crystal - and the tragic outcome - is interesting and must have given Tacoma residents gossip material for months. But what elevates the book to the top echelon of true crime is the outstanding work by Mr. LaRosa.
   
   TACOMA CONFIDENTIAL is written reportorially, straight-forwardly, and without the melodrama to which this story would readily lend itself in the hands of a lazy or less-competent writer. The research is remarkably thorough, and the reader has a sense, due to LaRosa's powerful narrative, of being at the center of the Tacoma Police Department's maelstrom of innuendo, sorrow, disavowance of responsibility, and just great gossip.
   
   The most impressive single aspect of LaRosa's work, however, is his even-handedness. David Brame was apparently a cold, selfish, manipulative, and abusive man; and Crystal, while seemingly a nicer and more pleasant person than David, had her own share of negatives, coming across as compulsive, mildly hysterical, and as one of those people who shares their life's most personal details with strangers who probably would rather not hear them. La Rosa presents both of the Brames, warts and all -and there are plenty of warts - in a non-biased fashion, letting the reader come to his own conclusions.
   
   This is excellent true crime, and I thank my friend in Lubbock for recommending it to me.

5 comments about The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder.

1. This book is a must-read for American citizens. President Bush and Vice President did not have faulty intelligence in the run up to the War in Iraq. They manipulated the intelligence to fit their plans to invade Iraq and deserve to be brought up on charges of murder.



2. I enjoyed this book so very much because it gave me hope that George W. Bush will pay for what he has done to our great country. Mr. Bugliosi's brilliant legal mind has made it easy for an Attorney General or District Attorney somewhere in America to prosecute George W. Bush for murder. The book is written extremely well for non-legal minds to enjoy and to understand and best of all, to hope.



3. I think more people should read this book to realize how we, the people of the US were taken for a ride. The book also addresses the extent of the failure by our media to investigate and challenge the administration. The last section of the book presents a sobering view of the decline of the US.



4. This is the SINGLE BEST BOOK I have read in the last 10 years (the other contender is "Was The 2004 Election Stolen?" by Professor Steve Freeman and Joel Bleifuss), and every thinking, caring American owes it to themselves to read it. Vincent Bugliosi is a patriot of the highest order, and this book is a first-rate work of logic, reason, and integrity. Pay no attention to those reviewers who are panning this book--it's interesting to note that they never take on any of Bugliosi's arguments head-on (because they can't), but rather resort to name-calling and slander. Please do not miss reading this masterpiece.



5. In spite of the author's outstanding achievements and great evidentiary credibility, I am afraid the "Walking Dead" will stay dead.