5 comments about Secrets Of Surveillance: A Professionals Guide To Tailing Subjects By Vehicle, Foot, Airplane, And Public Transportation.

1. As a licensed private investigator, college instructor of private investigation courses, and an experienced covert surveillance operative, I can personally tell you that most of the techniques described in this book are of little value to private sector investigators like myself. The vast majority of techniques described assume that the "surveillance team" has an unlimited supply of resources and operatives (i.e. a law enforcement team). Anyone with even remote covert surveillance experience knows that this will seldom (more likely never) be the case.
   
   Most private sector covert surveillance operatives (i.e. private investigators) work alone or in teams of two (when and only when the Client can afford it of course). Therefore, the vast majority of the techniques covered in this book are of little use to most private investigators. There is some (emphasis added) good information in this book, but certainly not what one would expect based on the title.
   
   If you are looking for a title that actually contains useful (emphasis added) surveillance techniques/procedures, I would highly recommend: "Covert Surveillance: The Manual of Surveillance Training" by Peter Jenkins (ISBN: 0953537803). I have had the pleasure of reading this fine text, which I consider to be the only covert surveillance techniques/procedures book worth recommending. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a copy for purchase.
   
   As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.
   
   I hope you found this review helpful. [...]



2. The following is submitted by the author as a rebuttal to two of the Amazon.com customer reviews of this book:
   
   In general, this book was written shortly after the conclusion of the Cold War, and in a large part intended to be a tribute to the legacy of the cloak and dagger intrigue that characterized that era. In those days we knew exactly who the enemy was. At the time, none of us could have predicted the emergent environment wherein the threats to U.S. citizens and interests proliferated significantly. This new reality has made the book more widely applicable to security professionals now then when it was originally published, which is the reason its sales have steadily increased over the years.
   
   Although the review does state that the book is "worth buying", the three star review submitted by "RunAndShoot" criticizes the book for being written in a "simple" manner.
   This book is not intended to entertain, it is intended to inform. A primary purpose for this book is that it be used as a training resource by security professionals. For this reason, it is written in a very detailed and straight forward manner. The feedback received from security professionals is that the book conveys very complex techniques in a manner that is easily understood, and easily translated into training programs.
   
   As to the two star review by "truthsleuthpi" that criticizes the book for being of "little value to private investigators" -- I do not question the reviewer's credentials, but it is misleading to give a publication a poor rating because it does not necessarily apply to the specific circumstance of a resource-constrained PI. In fact, the book clearly addresses the premise of the reviewer's critique in the preface as follows:
   "A surveillance operation can be conducted from one extreme of detail to the other. This book instructs to the extreme of a fully integrated, systematic effort employed for extended periods of time with absolute discretion. Granted, the requirements of many readers may not reach this extreme, but the information herein will satisfy the objectives of surveillance at any point along the operational continuum. Although the degree of sophistication detailed in this book may not be necessary for many surveillance operations, any individuals with the expertise to operate at the extreme of sophistication can certainly adapt to any operational requirement."
   Therefore, the book is criticized based on its relevance to one reader rather than its technical content. Also, one would assume that even those who operate on a small-scale level would take professional interest in how the world's elite operate. Despite some questionable contradictions, it appears that the reviewer does exercise innovation in that he uses book reviews at Amazon.com as a means to advertise for business.
   
   The reviewers each have a perspective, but the facts are that this book is regarded as a "classic", has steadily increasing sales, is every bit as relevant today as the date it was published, and it is widely used as a training resource by such major professional security agencies as Wackenhut International.
   
   Although the book has five star reviews and the author agrees with these ratings, this "review" is submitted with four stars because a rating is required, but the purpose of this rebuttal is to address specific reviewer issues and not impact the Amazon.com average customer review for this publication.



3. I work plainclothes in law enforcement and found this book to be very practical. I thought it was very well written. I can tell that the author has to have real world experience because only somebody who's worked the streets could lay this out so clearly. I picked up some very useful tips that my team either never knew or just overlooked. I highly reccomend this book to anyone in a related field. I would've liked a little more detail on establishing a good
   observation post. And it is a little heavy on the unlimited resource end like the 4 member teams and the communications vest. Other than that it was definitely worth the read.



4. This book is OK, but all the information is described in huge blocks of hard to follow copy with very few diagrams or case studies. You could probably get the same quality of stuff from an open-source search on Google. The methods described are at a basic to intermediate level.
   
   I bought 'Advanced Surveillance" by Peter Jenkins as well and would recommend you buy it instead. You'll get far more value for your money! The techniques in this book (Advanced Surveillance) are at a far higher level and are described in more detail with lots of diagrams, case studies and examples.



5. I found this book to be quite informative and concise, it gives thorough situational advice pertinant to the particular circumstances. Well written, clear explanations and useful tips.

5 comments about Hidden Evidence: Forty true crimes and how forensic science helped solve them.

1. This book could also be called The Big Picture Book of Forensic Science or The First Book of Forensic Science. It seems like a picture book for adults, and the photo-to-text ratio is the main problem I had while reading this book.

   The text seems to be an afterthought and there is no depth to it--just a bare recital of the facts of a particular case, forensic discipline, or procedure. The photos and illustrations more than compensate for the text, although many of them are gruesome [including the now-famous photo of Jack the Ripper's last victim, one of the most stunning crime scene photos of all time]. I've read about forensics for many years and this book was, to me, lame, but its just the basics text and great photos and illustrations make it an ideal book for someone who has no previous knowledge of forensics. It is a great introduction to the field.




2. This is a picture book for adults about forensics. The photos and illustrations are amazing, varied, and, often, gruesome and graphic. The text seems like an afterthought; nothing more than the basic information is given, and each case study covers the facts and very little else. This book is not for someone like myself who studies forensics, but rather for someone who is hooked on CSI, doesn't know anything about the topic, and wants to read more about it. This book is a much better general forensics overview and has more detailed information [and more information generally] the The Forensic Science of C.S.I.

   Hidden Evidence also explains the major types of forensic science [ballistics, DNA, trace evidence, etc] and uses case studies to document each field. Overall, this book is a good starting point for anyone interested in forensic science.




3. This book is good and has a lot of info. if your into forensic Science. This book is pretty interesting if you want to learn in this subject. If you have to do a report on a science subject this is pretty good but its kind of long.



4. Hidden Evidence , by David Owen is a intriguing book about 40 different crimes and how forensic science was involved in solving each one. This non-fiction book covers forensic science cases from 1775-1988. This book has everything from carpet fibers to fingerprints to DNA testing and how each one put someone away in jail.

   Hidden Evidence is placed everywhere around the world. Forensic Science is going on at anytime and everywhere. "Whenever you have excluded the impossible , whatever remains , however impossible , must be the truth"(Owen 8). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said that quote referring to all of forensic science. "Large fragments of glass can sometime be fitted into the lamp or window pane from which they were broken for a positive match , or the glass can actually preserve a record of the order in which events really happened"(Owen 180). David Owen knows what he is talking about and he should know with his 50-year forensic background.

   One thing that stuck out in my mind was all the pictures in this book showing the evidence of some of the cases and or examples of certain instruments that are used in forensics. I feel that this book was well written. I think anyone interested in science should read this book especially if you are interested in forensics.




5. Very helpful book for my son who has a class project on forensic science. He used one of the photos for a clay skull. I recommend this book.

5 comments about Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder.

1. I wholeheartedly agree...this is tense, good and written without an agenda. Much research has gone into this book..and the writer's style is flawless..
   
   As a true crime book-lover,I say read this one first... then read all the other "Dahlia Theory' books next.. for fun...
   
   Also... Ellroy.. if you like a good, raw novel with typical Ellroy style.



2. Living in Southern California, I always love reading true crime books with So-Cal historical content. Loved it. The pictures inside are fantastic (some graphic). There are pictures of Elizabeth Short in death and in life. There's also a great map of the Los Angeles area that gives 48 places frequented by Short and mentioned in the book. Some are still in existence too. Map also points out the site of the body discovery.
   The best pictures and illustrations I've seen in a true crime book.
   
   It's an exciting read from start to finish. As compared to some other Dahlia books I've read, I think this one gives us a glimpse into Elizabeth Short - the person. It's obvious from reading this book that the author has done extensive research to create the most accurate picture of one of the most haunting unsolved murders in Los Angeles.
   
   I think the author is right on the mark with his theory into the main suspect.
   
   Read this one before the other Dahlia books.



3. Severed is a truly great read. I was totally absorbed into this book. It's a brilliant, genre-breaking transcripted oral history noir, given by those involved, many of whom were still alive at the time, and are taken and crafted in the diffuse light of another less than promising LA Wednesday morning back in January, 1947, before the fog burned-off at about 10:30 AM. Then you could see her nude body, brutally tortured and completely severed at the midriff, drained of all fluids, carefully washed, and posed for the shutter bugs, who always got there first.
   
   The horror over on Norton, north of 39th. Street, south of Coliseum. Formerly Elizabeth Short of Medford, Mass. The paperboys always know the way. You should believe him when he says he saw a car there at six. A black Ford. That's what the morning paperboys know. That's what the morning paperboys did; fold papers and ID cars.
   
   Martin Lewis, the shoe salesman with a story to tell, to me, formed an interior ring of truth, around which Gilmore's other subjects have spun their true stories. That's how you know it's true. A slight return. It chords with something else, and it buzzes in your head...Gilmore has her there, for a moment, the Black Dahlia herself, and then is all but predictably knocked, skidding, off of her real killer's trail, just as his alkie protagonist and anti-hero, Lanky Jack Wilson is suddenly taken from him, and us, deus ex machina.
   
   "A signature sex killing." Ellroy says. I call it the perfect crime. Did Jack Wilson do Elizabeth Short in? No way in Hell. But, no matter. I suspect the real killer is in there, somewhere. Down the list. Lucid, and at times transfixing, written in seemingly effortless prose, and annealed with the inclusion of some truly shocking crime scene photos, this is the best place to start your own search for the killer, who could still be alive and at large. There is no statute of limitiations on the truth when it comes to LA's darkest and most infamous and unsolved murder case.



4. 
   I agree with the previous reader called Veronica T.
   
   This book is by far the best book on the subject of the BLACK DAHLIA, (written thus far). It's the only book written to date, that makes any sense.
   
   I've read other books on this same subject and most of them did not come close. Infact, some other books written on this same subject were down right un-imaginable & unbelievable (eg: some books proposed that the Black Dahlia serial killer was the "father of a known L.A. Police Officer",and this was stated in the other books... without showing many facts,other than a few photos that looked nothing like the Dahlia, etc...).
   
   However, by contrast, the facts in this Gilmore book are very well presented by the author.
   An easy book to read.
   As I said, it's the best one out there on the subject.
   
   PS: The photos in this Gilmore book are so shocking, so plz beware (gulp!).



5. Due to the mystery and sensationalism surrounding her murder, Elizabeth Short has been much over-glamorized by both the media and crime buffs alike. In "Severed," John Gilmore does an amazing job of portraying Ms. Short as a real person...warts and all. I've read many works on this case (both fictional and non-fictional) and this is the first one that's left me feeling as if I could relate to Ms. Short as a human being.
   
   I think what I admire most about this book, though, is the author appears to stick to the facts and ONLY the facts. I get the impression that if something wasn't documented and couldn't be verified, Mr. Gilmore elected not to include it.
   
   Unlike some other readers, I feel that Gilmore's theory of who killed Beth Short is probably the most plausible of any I'm aware of. It may not be the sexy revelation we've all been wishing for, but as Freud said, "sometime a cigar is just a cigar."

No comments about It's a Crime: Women and Justice (4th Edition) (Prentice Hall's Women in Criminal Justice Series).

5 comments about Nightmare in Napa: The Wine Country Murders (48 Hours Mystery).

1. I live in Napa, and work in an agency directly involved with the investigation and prosecution of the case. This book's main focus is on the lives of the victims and very little on the actual investigation or trial. Mr. LeRosa seems content to sensationalize the victims, especially Leslie Mazzara, with an unfair portrayal of her as a bit of a wild child, who, before the actual killer was caught, might have been the target of the killer as a result of her flirty behavior with men. It is rubbish and cruelly unfair to the memory of Ms. Mazzara. Mr. LeRosa's portrayal of the investigation by Napa Police Department and the prosecution by the District Attorney's Office is both wrong and unfair. It is clear he didn't really research that aspect of the case, so busy was he digging into the pasts of the victims. I was insulted by this book. I'm sure readers not close to the case will find it fascinating, but are many of us locals who reject the book outright.



2. I often have a tendency to agree with the reviewers submitted by regular members here who, as relates to NIGHTMARE IN NAPA, have declared it to be a disappointing piece of work. Particularly, I find their reviews this time to on the side of shallow.
   
   Author Paul LaRosa provides a two piece account of true crime in this book. Readers are provided in depth details of the murders of Leslie Mazzara and Adriane Insogna; that is, as in depth as it can be. One must consider that, despite much investigating, even the police were short on leads EXCEPT for those that pertained to Leslie; thus, just as LaRosa provides a great deal about Leslie and her life, this is exactly what the homicide detectives were sorting through during the investigation.
   
   Is it over kill on Leslie? Sure, even I tired of hearing about this "Southern beauty queen" who, truth be known, had won only one pageant. However, it was an accurate account of the workings of the homicide investigation. (I would have liked to see more social photos of Leslie; however, I'm going to assume they were unavailable as the author makes note that Cathy Harrington, Leslie's mother, was unnerved by the portrayal of daughter in the media and, as a result, was probably unwilling to provide such photos since such photos are, generally, provided by family members.)
   
   As an avid reader of true crime, I actually enjoyed the more intense focus on the victims as the focus generally lies on the accused until the Victim Impact Statement made in the end. Readers of NIGHTMARE IN NAPA are given the opportunity to feel the pain and anguish of the survivors, especially Arlene Allen, Adriane Insogna's mother. Allen is an amazing woman, a strong-willed survivor.
   
   I did not feel that this book lacked depth. It may not have provided answers to many of the questions readers would like answered, especially as to "Why?," but, one must bear in mind, those pieces of information are simply not available. Chances are no one will ever know why Eric Copple, the confessed killer, committed this horrendous crime; at least, the truthful version, anyway. Theories are the ONLY means of explaining motive.
   
   If I had one major disappointment in finding something I was looking for with this book, it was that we didn't read more from the sole survivor, Lauren Meanza, and from Copple's wife, Lily, who was also best friends with victim Adriane Insogna. While I can understand Lauren's silence, I have to ponder why Lily, at the very least, didn't attempt to make readers understand why she would continue to remain married to and support a man who so viciously killed her best friend. However, the author cannot be held accountable for anyone's refusal to talk.
   
   When one chooses to read NIGHTMARE IN NAPA, it can't be entered into with the intention of reading your typical true crime; specifically, an overused pattern of rehashing the crime followed by background on the accused then a Courtroom finale. Author Paul LaRosa peruses a different style of writing (see also Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief's Secret Life (48 Hours Mystery), that is unique and enjoyable to read.



3. Nightmare in Napa was a big disappointment after reading another book in the 48 hours series. The book starts out well enough by describing the victims and their various friends and then the crime itself. However, there is very little mentioned about the investigation until over halfway through the book. There is so much time devoted to the victims that it almost reads like a biography. The problem is that these are not especially interesting people. Eventually, as I continued reading, I was let down by finding out the investigation was dull as well. This story contains about an hours worth of a compelling mystery, which is perfect for the TV show, but not so much for a book.



4. I just finished "Nightmare". I thought it was a well written book. It told the story of two young women, brutally murdered in their home. The killer, unknown at the time, turns out to be someone close to them. I didn't feel like the author portrayed Ms. Mazzara as a wild child. I had the impression she was a beautiful, spirited, kind, young woman. The author did a good job of conveying to the reader, that these women were an assest to our society and it's a tragedy, they are no longer here. The end, is sad and pathetic. Copple is a lowlife punk and he never gives a reason as to why he felt the need to kill two wonderful people.



5. This book immediately drew me in with its gripping and sad storyline.
   LaRosa makes you feel like you know these characters personally by the end of the story. Adriana and Leslie were so much more than the media made them out to be. Many crime books tend to tell one side of the story, where as LaRosa presents all sides of the story. Lessons can be learned from this book to leave no angle unturned. This was a story that needed to be told.
   It leaves us with the question, How well do we really know our friends?
   My heart goes out to the families of the victims.

5 comments about No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine.

1. What this book offers is a unique perspective that you will not get from the media or other parents who wrote books about their deceased children. Some are mad that Brooks Brown didn't offer a concrete solution to the shootings, therefore his motives for this book must be completely self-serving. I think that these one-star reviews are undeserved. The charges that Brooks wrote this book for the money are ridiculous, because it is almost impossible to make money from a book, unless you are as big as Stephen King. You will read that Brown believes that it would be wrong to place blame on one thing for what happened (such as music, video games or gun control, the "easy" answers), so he offers several events that combined led up to the tragedy: The police for ignoring the warning signs a year before the shootings, the staff at Columbine for ignoring the bullying, and the parents (Eric's especially) for not opening their eyes. There is also some hard-to-find information, such as what Eric's Doom levels were like, the stuff that was on his website, discussions of the basement tapes and what day-to-day interaction with the killers was like. This makes Brown's book different from all the others.
   
   It is clear that Brown wants as much accurate information as possible to be available, as well as to defend himself against the false charges lobbed at him from the police department who knew that they had dropped the ball in preventing the attack. Yes, a lot of the book is about Brown's life, but it all ties into what led up to the shootings. I did not read anything that was extraneous or uninteresting. In fact, this book seems to have the most credibility of anything I've read about Columbine. There are a few books in existence that try to turn the victims into martyrs for their faith, when religion had nothing to do with the shootings. No Easy Answers is much more believable, because like life, the answer is not always wrapped up neatly with a little bow. Highly recommended.



2. I just finished reading this book due to my interest in the Columbine shootings and what Brooks Brown had to say in his own words. I was deeply moved by his story and what he has put up with all of these years. Most reviews are written on a positive note, but I can't help but point out the negative reviews. Sure, you want answers, you want beliefs that reflect your own. Well, this book is about what this young man went through. Just a teenager about to graduate from high school-befriended two lost souls who manipulated and deceived everyone around them. How would you tell your story? It's about your experiences, your feelings and your struggles. I don't see it so much self-serving, as self-healing and therapeutic. Who are you to judge this person who had his whole world turned upside down, who was blamed for being a suspect for so long and by so many in his community; Who was forbidden to return to school along with other associates of the gunmen, just because of who they were. This society has a lot of soul searching and listening to do. Perhaps if more people had listened to Eric and Dylan, they wouldn't have felt the need to get their message across in such a selfish and cowardly manner. To me, this book wasn't supposed to be about praising the law enforcement and Washington D.C. for their efforts to find answers and to prevent something like this from happening again. What has changed in our schools since that April day in 1999? Not much from what I can see. And just recently, a college kid who worshiped Eric and Dylan, took 32 innocent lives along with his own. Perhaps if we read more accounts by Brooks Brown, these angry teens would begin to understand that they are not alone and that they have people they can talk to; whether it be on-line, such as on forums that Brooks mentions at the end of his book, or with other people their age that might go speak at their schools. 'No Easy Answers' is just that-there aren't going to be solutions to this ever growing problem in our society, but there can be people who will listen, empathize, and make known that change starts little by little. I believe that Brooks Brown has accomplished change-in his community and in the minds of many people out there. I for one, loved his book and will read it again, as a reminder of the hell he went through that day. No one deserves what any of those victims and families went through, but if they want to write a book to let people know what they dealt with so that it will help them heal, then I condone it 100% Freedom of speech is one of the greatest gifts in this country after all. Best of luck to Brooks in all he does and I hope that he continues to write more books to help those lost souls out there.



3. A fabulous account of a tragedy we so need to recognize and acknowledge to finally take action in our schools beginning in the elementary school (and continued in middle and high school) to deal with the important issue of bullying. Until we start addressing the toxic environments in our schools, school violence and damaged children will continue. A comprehensive guide that designs an effective plan and curriculum teaching respect, getting along, conflict and anger management isBully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying. Lets learn from these lessons of Columbine and do something about it!



4. This was a strong and easy read by Brooks Brown. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Columbine tragedy. I would like to see the book released with a new afterward to include the 10th anniversary and Brooks' feelings towards the memorial.



5. I was forced to read this book for a Graduate course on Violence Prevention in Schools. It's very engaging, and at times a can't-put-it-down book, however, by giving Brooks Brown an opportunity to write this book, he's continuing the legacy of his two friends-turned-assassins.
   
   Prior to reading this book, I did not know, nor did I care to know the names of those two cold-blooded killers. By allowing a friend to write a book about them, it perpetuates their legacy. Wasn't that what they both wanted to achieve with their dastardly deed?
   
   Brooks Brown was destined to be a whiny loser back in high school, and it's apparent he still has no direction in life, and will milk this tragic incident for every cent he can. Disgraceful.

5 comments about Leopold and Loeb: THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY.

1. When you think of chicago during the 1920s, the first thing that comes to mind is Al Capone, prohibition, gangsters and crime. But in 1924, for a few months, Al Capone was no longer the talk of the town, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb became the most famous and unlikely celibrities of the time. Two extremely bright 19 year olds from very wealthy Chicago families, decide to kidnap and kill at random a person just for the "thrill" of it, with no other apparent motive than getting away with it and committing the perfect crime.

   The author tells in details the planning of the crime, the day it happened, the investigation, the arrest, the trial and the aftermath. The trial in particular is fascinating as it gives you a great insight on the muderer's personnalities, their intelligence, their upbringing and how their relationship with one another led to murder. The book is written as if it were a fictional mystery novel, you will sometimes find yourself wondering whether or not this really happened. The suspense builds extremely well throughout the book, as if Hitchcock himself had put his touch to it. Even if i knew from the beginning who the killers were, as the investigation unfolded, i almost thought they would get away with it.

   I highly recommed this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, history, law, psychology, chicago or just a great read.




2. Author Hal Higdon's superb "just the facts" approach gives us a starkly realistic look at one of the 20th century's most infamous crimes. In 1924 Chicago, millionaire collegians Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb murdered 14-year old Bobby Franks for thrills and to bolster their warped claims of superiority as inspired by philosopher Frederick Nietzsche. Readers learn all about the crime, it's planning, and how it was solved largely because of eyeglasses unknowingly left behind. Higdon also details the lengthy media trial (ala OJ Simpson) where famed attorney Clarence Darrow fought to keep his arrogant young clients from the gallows. We also get a detailed history of the crime's aftermath, including Leopold's questionable 1958 parole, and additional events extending into the 1970's.

   Higdon has given us a superbly readable account, one that settles certain misconceptions arising from COMPULSION, an excellent fictional account by Meyer Levin. Too bad Higdon hasn't written many other true crime books; he's got the knack.




3. Hal Higdon, a popular running writer, took an essentially scholarly approach to the Leopold & Loeb story. He went to all the primary sources he could find, as well as collecting all the popular press accounts. The result is much more complex and nuanced than the fictionalized versions we've been handed through the movies, primarily 'Compulsion' and Hitchcock's 'Rope'.
   
   To take the most obvious points, the subjects were not mentally deranged, nor were they homosexual lovers, nor were they even queer as we would understand it today. Bobby Franks was not the offspring of a prominent Chicago family but the son of a wealthy and elderly retired pawnbroker. Leopold and Loeb were not masochists secretly wishing to be caught and punished. They intended to get away with their 'perfect crime' and would have, except for an extraordinary run of coincidences and bad luck. In fact, it is possible--it is probable--that Leopold and Loeb had committed other crimes of murder or mutilation in the months preceding the Bobby Franks abduction.
   
   The story is so cluttered and ambiguous you might long for the fine hand of a novelist, to give a firmer shape to the story and eliminate all the backstory and minor characters that keep getting in Higdon's way. But reality is messy and seldom straightforward.
   
   MINOR QUIBBLES: Personally I wish Higdon had used a little more critical judgment in describing the subjects' mental abilities, about which they continually boasted, as arrogant adolescents so often do. L & L weren't brilliant so much as bookish and school-smart. Brighter boys would have seen the police net coming down upon them and wriggled away.
   
   Supposedly Loeb had an IQ of 160 and Leopold one of 210; Leopold was fluent in five or ten or fifteen languages, including Sanskrit and Hawaiian. The claims are preposterous. IQs simply cannot be measured that high. As for languages, while one may gain facility in many tongues (eg, be able to translate an essay or order dinner) gaining and maintaining fluency is entirely a different matter. As evidence of their high intellect, we are reminded again and again that Loeb and Leopold graduated from college by age 18. But in their time and place this was not all that remarkable. In the early 20th century, when students often skipped a grade or two at a time, it was very easy to get to college by the time you were 14. The main reason most college students didn't matriculate before they were 17 or 18 is was the social environment: boys in early adolescence were unlikely to be pledged by the better clubs or fraternities, and that's the main point of going to college--or at least it was, back when going to college meant something. In Leopold and Loeb's case age was not so much an issue. They weren't going to be admitted into the better fraternities anyway.



4. It is strange that I hardly ever recall hearing of the Leopold and Loeb killing until a few weeks ago. After doing a little research I knew that I needed to find a good authoratative book on the subject. Well, I sorta found one....
   
   Hal Higdon, has done a wondeful job researching this long lost topic. Higdon has obviously read through all of the newspaper reports, psychological profiles, and everything else concerning this case... the research is top notch. The writing is a bit of another story.
   
   The back cover indicates that Higdon writes for "Runner's World", and I think that may be the issue with the writing. "Leopeld and Loeb; The Crime of the Century" reads like a 345 page magazine article! The information is there and presented in a sraightforward manner, but that is about it. There is very little flare and almost no suspense in the telling. I agree that some may think that there is no need for flare and suspense in non-fiction, but I look at "The Devil in the White City" as an example that the two can coexist.
   
   In Short, "Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century" will probaly hold your interest because of its participants and the nature of the crime. While Higdon's writing did nothing to ditract from the tale, the opposite is also true - he added very little. My final review - read Higdon's version if you are interested in this particular crime, but if you are just looking for a great nonfiction crime story look towards "The Devil in the White City".



5. After reading some of the reviews from this book, I almost passed on reading it myself. What a mistake that would have been! This book does tend to read like a term paper - but when there is this much drama in a real life story - I don't need the author to spruce it up! From a legal perspective - we have come a long way in protecting the rights of criminals (i.e. 5th & 6th amendment). A great legal history read. And a nail-bitting story! Couldn't put it down.

5 comments about The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America.

1. Bill wrote a great book.No Spine Zone was terrific.My grandma read it to me and explained and answered my questions.
   Thanks Bill for a great book.



2. Bill O'Reilly, a television Commentator, shares his criticism of American society today. In this book he includes sixteen different topics where he shares two sides, his views and those of an individual who is deeply involved with the pertinent issue at hand. Thereby leaving us to decide which side of the debate we agree with. Though he does set up each of the topics with commentary. If you have watched Mr. O'Reilly's television show you will recognize all of these debates. Among the relevant issues debated in this book include or are with George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, pedophiles, sex, violence, capital punishment, taxes, drugs, and more. Each chapter stands alone, so you do not need to read this book sequentially. Chose a topic that interest you and keep your own score on who won the debate. The book does have some strong language. I bumped it up to 4 stars from three for this is a quick and easy read. So read it and make up your own mind.



3. It was a gift for a relative. Four of these books were sent, instead of the various ones that I ordered. Not sure if a refund was made for the other 3 returned books?



4. First of all, Bill tells you what the book will be about. Then he proceeds to give you the important parts of the coversations with these so-called celebrities. I wouldn't want him to report every boring word in the conversations. This book is the opposite of liberal. I enjoyed the book every much. Bill is a good thinker and he says what he thinks. Read it and get smart. If you don' like it, write your own book, if you can. We need more people like Bill O'Reilly. Go, Bill, Go. Don't stop writing.



5. Watch the program but don't read this book. This book is just a summary of years of reporting. The book doesn't hold new substance and is just around to make money.
   
   What he does in this book is to show interviews he had with powerful people. The interviews don't look as good on paper. He then criticizes them the same way he does on the program. He goes on and on on the program about these interview so if you watch the show regularly you know what this book is about and will be disappointed not to find something new.

5 comments about Armed and Dangerous: The Hunt for One of America's Most Wanted Criminals.

1. This is a good book. It has an interesting insight into how government agencies really work. Having worked for a government agency in the past, I understand how paperwork and supervisory influence slow investigations and hinder law enforcement in many ways.
   
   I would have given this a five star rating, but Mr Queen's book Under and Alone is clearly a five star book and this one is not quite as good. Still a great read...
   
   M



2. William Queen has done it again! Reading this story is like being at his side as he pursues one of the most unpredictable and dangerous felons in modern times. I read the book in two days and found myself not wanting to let the story and the people go! I just hope that Queen has more stories to tell of his twenty plus years in law enforcement!



3. I really liked his first book and thought this might be about the same. I was wrong, not even close! The read was quick and the ending was pretty lame. Sometimes the true story is not the best story! I should of waited and got the book from a friend or the library. Sorry!



4. Your first clue that there is not much here is the big type size. Someone tried to stretch this tale into a book, but the material is inadequate. Queen spends page after page building up to the big moment when he defies death and captures some pyscho in the San Bernardino mountains more than 25 years ago. The problem is the arrest was fairly routine. There is a lot of extraneous detail about unrelated investigations leading up to the main case, obviously an effort to stretch the book. I hope Queen has some more substantial stories left in him, or else his best book, about his undercover stint as a Mongol motorcycle gangbanger, may be his only claim to fame as a writer.



5. William Queen has made a good follow-up to his best seller Under and Alone. Although his first was one of my favorites, this one is very well written and reads easily. Two thumbs up and very recommended.

5 comments about Blood Justice (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. I love true crime and have never missed a book by Ann Rule (she's #1),but this book comes Veeery close to being one of the best I've ever read. Believe all the other reviews (hard to put down, keeps you reading most of the night, empathy for the families he ruined, etc.). The author has done such a terrific job: clear, precise, and an absorbing story.



2. I bought this book based on all the reviews I had read. It was a good storyline but with all due respect to Tom Henderson the book had so many punctuation mistakes (more than 3/4 of the pages) it was very hard to concentrate on reading it. I don't know how it ever got published! The writer also did so much skipping around and around, back and forth that I found it so tedious. I had to force myself to get thru it only because I wanted to find out how the murderer was sentenced. I usually read a book in 3-4 days. This took me 2 weeks. I have read hundreds and hundreds of books - true crime and fiction, I must say I would not recommend this book.



3. Fast delivery by Amazon. This book covered all the details of the murder case that I wanted to find out. Good style of writing by author. I would recommend.



4. I read this book in 2006 and have since seen a Cold Case Files episode detailing these crimes. It is very rare that I continue to think about how scary a murderer is once I have finished reading about the crimes, but I was plagued by fears for months after reading this book. Jeffrey Gorton is truly a very scary man.
   
   Based upon testimony from relatives and other business contacts, Gorton spent an inordinate amount of time "prowling" for women he found attractive, often following them in their cars while driving his business van to and from appointments. In fact, he was often late because he went out of his way to follow women he found attractive. It is also frightening that the nature of Gorton's work gave him access to the inside of every home he serviced. Judging from the astounding number of panties and other undergarments hidden throughout his home - many of them labeled with names and addresses - Gorton used his time inside the homes he was servicing to rifle through panty drawers and steal whatever he found stimulating. He even stole panties from his own niece and other female relatives. It was as if no one was off limits.
   
   During the jury trial, one observer commented that each time an attractive brunette was in the courtroom to testify or simply to watch the proceedings, Gorton's eyes followed her freely and his mouth would begin to curl into a sick smile. His very nature was so PREDATORY that he could not even control his fantasies within the court environment.
   
   The author comments, and I concur, that it is highly unlikely that Jeffrey Gorton only murdered two women... waiting 14 years in between the two crimes. Both murders were well planned and there is evidence Gorton took the time to shower following the butchery. There was also testimony from several women whom he attacked in parking lots for the purpose of forcibly stealing their pantyhose. This man was on the hunt every waking minute of his life and I find it very difficult to believe that he "lost control" on only two occasions 14 years apart.
   
   I suppose it is the predatory nature of these crimes that so unnerved me and caused me to consider my own safety as a female. I have been this unsettled on only one other occasion... that being when I finished reading "A Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule. Like the infamous Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Gorton was and is a PREDATOR by nature. It is a basic part of who he is and every women was a potential victim because of it. Truly, truly frightening. If you are a woman, I would suggest not reading this book at home, alone, at night.
   
   My only complaint about this book is that some sections are rather tedious. While I appreciate a history and information about the victims, the information included about Margarette Eby, Victim #1, was extended and unnecessary. In contrast, there was much less information and NO PHOTOS of the second victim, Nancy Ludwig. I only know what Ludwig looked like because of the Cold Case Files episode I saw shortly after finishing this book. If you can plow through some of the tedious information, however, the history of the offender is riveting.



5. I have to agree with the reviewers above me - not only is the book tedious, reading it actually gave me a headache from concentrating so much on what was going on. I admit the story itself was riveting, especially for me as I live near to where both of these crimes took place and even know where the murderer and his family lived. But just because the story itself grabs you doesn't mean the book will. I personally don't think anyone can compare to Ann Rule, but Henderson truly needed a helping hand here. The story jumps around soooooo much that I spent half of my reading time flipping back through the pages to reread things to keep track of what was going on. There were so so many people described in this book that I finally lost interest in who all these law enforcement people were and what they did just so I could keep track of the story itself. Henderson details this book to death and includes many many things that truly aren't needed to tell the story well. Great story that's poorly written - too much jumping around from one murder to the next, from one cop to the next, and doing this over a period of sixteen years made it a very difficult book to enjoy.