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 Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts.

1. Excellent book! Great true crime story that is action packed, and very funny...plus a little bit of history!
   Highly recommend this book!



2. This is a well-written, well-researched book that captures a unique moment in history and a bizarre character who's also a product of his place and time. Rubinstein goes the extra mile to follow the thread of this true-crime story, and his engaging prose takes you with him.



3. I have no idea how accurate the facts are, but this is brilliant storytelling. Think Douglas Adams in the post-Communist Eastern Bloc.



4. I'm afraid I didn't get to the end of this tedious tale. It was so badly written that I lost interest very quickly. Repetitious, lacking credibility and sloppily structured, it also lacked credibility.
   
   It has got rave reviews and sounded promising. But having lived in post-communist Hungary, there is nothing romantic about bank robbers or any criminals.
   
   I was living half-way up a mountainside in rural Spain but even that didn't spur me on to finish.
   
   Good robbers don't necessarily make good writers and with his ill-gotten gains he would have been better to invest in a ghost writer.
   
   Sorry, it gets a thumbs down from me.



5. Ballad of the Whiskey Bandit is a rollicking beautifully researched tale of an appealing and clever bank robber. Set in Hungary during its various upheavals in government, Attila Ambrus set about surviving in style with a crime wave that was slick and ingenious. Mr. Rubenstein has given us a heartwarming, humorous book that is always entertaining and a joy to read.

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

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. I thought this book was the most boring true crime book I have read in a long time. I can't even finish it, it's so boring.

5 comments about Ultimate Spy.

1. This book was given to me as a Christmas gift this past year. As a writer of Spy Fiction ("The Malagasy Tortoise"), this book has given me a wonderful and exacting insight to the many gizmos and gadgets being used in the field of spying. From weapons to decoding devices "The Ultimate Spy" has it all. I recommend this book to anyone interested in anything clandestine or who is looking to expand their knowledge of the CIA, the FBI or the private sector of spying. This book is loaded with excellent photos of spy personalities, guns, secret hiding spots, good guys and bad guys -- everything is in here to make yourself a fantastic investigation. An exceptional book, one that I now keep right next to my computer.



2. I was given this book as a gift and think the photographs in it are absolutely great! The text that accompanies all the photos is interesting, but I've noticed more than just a few spots in the book where the captions to the photos stops in mid-sentence. I still love the book and if those captions were complete; it would rate 5 stars.



3. 100% recomend to learn about spy history



4. This book is filled with excellent photos with great descriptions. The best historical book on spy hardware that I have ever seen. It does need to be re-proof read though... I noticed at least 3 spots where the text just ends in mid sentence which seemed really odd for a book of this caliber. It's just a minor irritation but otherwise it's a 5 star book.



5. An excellent compendium of espionage gadgets up to and including the cold war. Many from the World War II era. Some history describing the more prominant practioners. Current gadgets as modified by current miniature electronics are not gone into as most of them are still classified. Excellent pictures and some proofreading goofs (none that serious).

5 comments about A Death in Belmont (P.S.).

1. I have some doubts regarding Albert DeSalvo's guilt in the Boston strangling murders in the early 1960s. The author does argue for the innocence of an African American Roy Smith who is falsely accused of killing Bessie Goldberg since he was there to clean her home. He had left before the murder occurred and her body was discovered by her husband. The police of Belmont believed that Roy Smith was responsible despite his pleas of innocence. How could a man who had witnessed such cruel behavior in the south such as lynchings and murders if he so much looked at a white woman. Besides Bessie Goldberg wasn't his type. She was much older and could have been his mother. Junger also describes the creepiness surrounding the presence of Albert DeSalvo, a married father of two children, who helped work in his parents' home. Junger is a good writer but he doesn't make me want to read this book at a record pace like a I normally would have done in a true crime case. He does allow and explain the circumstances of life especially Roy Smith's circumstances. Granted, Roy Smith was no angel but he was no killer much less the Boston Strangler. He was just there at the wrong place at the wrong time not because he witnessed the ghastly rape and strangulation but that he left before it happened and nobody else saw the Boston Stranger go into the Goldberg home that was a safe place in the suburbs away from the crime of the city. Ironically, the Boston Strangler struck and killed in the nearby suburbs of the city itself.



2. S. Junger has traveled far from the truth in his attempt to connect the murder of Bessie Goldberg from his hometown of Belmont , Massachusetts to Albert DeSalvo the discredited Boston Strangler who once worked for Junger's mother. The facts of the case are cast aside as Junger exaggerates, distorts, lies, and omits important trial evidence.
   
   The murder victim advertised as a neighbor of the Junger family actually lived on the other side of town. Between the two homes were 95 private residences, 15 cross streets and approximately 40 stores.
   
   Although in 1966 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court , after appeal, upheld the conviction of Roy Smith, this information is never revealed.
   
   Junger who says that Smith, a career criminal, never lied to the police has seriously misinformed the reader. According to the Supreme Court Justices as they spelled out the evidence from trial testimony, Smith lied about his times of arrival and departure from the Goldberg home, staying almost two hours less than he claimed. Although Smith told authorities he had finished cleaning the house and left it "in order" the police testified that the house had never been cleaned. The living room furniture was found pushed to the center of the room, the mirror was covered with cleaner (complete with Smith's handprints), the living room ornaments were sitting on the dining room table waiting to be dusted while the vacuum cleaner complete with attachments lay nearby.
   
   Nothing much is made of the testimony of Smith's friends who said he spent $15.00, the amount stolen from the Goldberg home, on liquor the night of the murder. When questioned by the police Smith could not account for the source of his funds.
   
   The Supreme Court Justices stated, " The jury could have found unusual opportunity, motive, possession after the crime of unexplained funds, incriminating action in leaving the house in disorder and the work unfinished, and subsequent conduct and false statements showing consciousness of guilt."



3. I have been avoiding this book for a long time. It sounded good when I read the snippets of information on it, it just isn't the kind of thing I enjoy.
   Finally, I went ahead and bought it. It then sat on my night table for months.
   
   I knew I had to do it, but it wasn't easy cracking a book about a serial killer. The descriptions were chilling but not overly graphic or gratuitous. Junger made sure to keep the facts of the murders quiet and respectful, even in their gruesome reality.
   
   I knew nothing of the Boston Strangler, so I learned a lot about that time and how terrifying it must have been living in that area at that time.
   
   The grave injustices made my blood boil and have given me a new perspective. It was well worth the wait and a great read.



4. Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea (P.S.), grew up with the story of Albert DeSalvo, the admitted "Boston Strangler," who once worked as a carpenter at the house where his parents lived in Belmont, Massachusetts, when he was an infant. And when the murder of Bessie Goldberg occurred not far from there, it was his mother who rushed outside and told Al about the murder. Since Al came and went on errands throughout the day, it would have been possible for him to have committed the murder and returned.
   
   Using this "hook" into the story, Junger thoroughly investigates all aspects of the strangler and the murders. In the case of the Goldberg murder in Belmont, a black man, Roy Smith, who had worked cleaning her house, was accused of the crime, though he staunchly denied any involvement. Racial prejudice, the absence of any black families in Belmont, and the lack of any other plausible assailant led to Smith's arrest. Full disclosure did not exist then, and his lawyer was denied access to much of the evidence. The witnesses were coached by law enforcement, and the trial went on during the weekend of the assassination of President Kennedy. Smith had had some minor scrapes with the law in Oxford, Mississippi, where he formerly lived, and he was convicted and sentenced to life on the Saturday two days after the Kennedy assassination--by an all male jury drawn from Kennedy's former legislative district. DNA tests did not yet exist.
   
   Albert DeSalvo eventually confessed to being the Boston Strangler, and though he admitted to most of the thirteen murders and provided details, he always refused to admit to the Goldberg murder, despite the fact that it fit the Strangler's M.O. better than some other murders DeSalvo did admit to.
   
   Junger takes the reader through the evidence, using his access to the trial transcripts, the police records, witness interviews, newspaper accounts, and interviews with some of the surviving witnesses. He analyzes the nature of a serial killer vs. the spontaneous killer of one person. He evaluates the importance of circumstantial evidence in lieu of real evidence, and stresses its importance. His psychological analysis of the way the guilty behave when questioned, as opposed to the truly innocent, provides insights into whether Roy Smith was really guilty.
   
   Best of all, Junger keeps an open mind. Though he grew up believing that Roy Smith was innocent, there are times during the book in which he presents evidence which would convict Roy, and there are also times in which he wonders if DeSalvo could really have committed these murders. Ten years after the murder, when Roy Smith is eligible for clemency, based on his exemplary behavior, and when Albert has changed his mind about having said he was guilty, the book becomes even more complicated, leaving the reader to deal with the aftermath. There are no conclusions about whether DeSalvo or Smith really committed the crime(s). Junger leaves that up to his individual readers. n Mary Whipple
   
   Fire
   Biography - Junger, Sebastian (1962-): An article from: Contemporary Authors Online



5. I could not put the book down, I was mesmerized from start to finish. How this man who wrote a famous and great tragic story was himself a part of such a larger-than-life infamous time frame and proximity. I highly recommend this story.

5 comments about A Rage To Kill and Other True Cases: Anne Rule's Crime Files, Vol. 6 (Ann Rule's Crime Files, 6).

1. One of the most frightening aspects of these ten true-crime stories is that the early release dates for many of the perpetrators have already passed. I would hate to think that any of these particular criminals are free to kill again. Ann Rule has selected gruesome cases to include in "A Rage to Kill."
   
   Fortunately a few of the most vicious killers did not survive their capture. Unfortunately one of them was never identified, and some of the stories have had to have their body count revised upward.
   
   Ann Rule, a former policewoman writes about the victims with a compassion that sometimes ventures over the border into cliché. Many are described as stunningly beautiful, innocent, soft-spoken, harmless, well-loved, kindhearted creatures who would certainly have qualified for sainthood if their lives had not been cut tragically short.
   
   The killers are more interesting, as in that old Vaudevillian cliché, "the snake has all the lines." A transvestite prostitute stabs his customer to death when the john discovers his true sex. A prison official must decide whether this particular killer should be incarcerated with other men or put in a prison for women. Spree killer Chris Wilder drives one of his victims cross-country, then puts her on a plane back to California instead of murdering her.
   
   Rule's homicide detectives are all a heroic blend of hard work, perseverance, and courage. They do not stand out as individuals as they would if say, Joseph Wambaugh had written this book. I will remember the murderers in "A Rage to Kill" much longer than the bland policemen or the saintly victims, because they are the characters upon which Rule lavishes her most original prose.
   
   Most of these cases took place in the Seattle area, and only one that I know of has received extensive, nation-wide media attention. True-crime aficionados will appreciate Ann Rule's meticulous attention to detail, and the extensive contacts with law enforcement officials that give her a unique perspective into each of these ten stories.



2. Ten different cases profile the victim and killer in Ann Rule's typical style. She reveals the vulnerabilities of the victim and the psychological influences that drove the murderer. Some are sex crimes, one is a spree killer and one murders a bus driver resulting in 30 people hurtling five stories down from a bridge in the out-of-control bus.
   It's a diverse batch of murderers, so true crime readers can surely find a few that fit their interests. Rule's detailed research and analysis of the motivation illuminate these frightening case studies.



3. One of the most frightening aspects of these ten true-crime stories is that the early release dates for many of the perpetrators have already passed. I would hate to think that any of these particular criminals are free to kill again. Ann Rule has selected gruesome cases to include in "A Rage to Kill."
   
   Fortunately a few of the most vicious killers did not survive their capture. Unfortunately one of them was never identified, and some of the stories have had to have their body count revised upward.
   
   Ann Rule, a former policewoman writes about the victims with a compassion that sometimes ventures over the border into cliché. Many are described as stunningly beautiful, innocent, soft-spoken, harmless, well-loved, kindhearted creatures who would certainly have qualified for sainthood if their lives had not been cut tragically short.
   
   The killers are more interesting, as in that old Vaudevillian cliché, "the snake has all the lines." A transvestite prostitute stabs his customer to death when the john discovers his true sex. A prison official must decide whether this particular killer should be incarcerated with other men or put in a prison for women. Spree killer Chris Wilder drives one of his victims cross-country, then puts her on a plane back to California instead of murdering her.
   
   Rule's homicide detectives are all a heroic blend of hard work, perseverance, and courage. They do not stand out as individuals as they would if say, Joseph Wambaugh had written this book. I will remember the murderers in "A Rage to Kill" much longer than the bland policemen or the saintly victims, because they are the characters upon which Rule lavishes her most original prose.
   
   Most of these cases took place in the Seattle area, and only one that I know of has received extensive, nation-wide media attention. True-crime aficionados will appreciate Ann Rule's meticulous attention to detail, and the extensive contacts with law enforcement officials that give her a unique perspective into each of these ten stories.



4. This is Volume 6 of Ann Rule's Crime Files. Some of Ann Rule's best books have been her "Crime Files" collections, but only when the volume is built around a book-length treatment of a fairly fresh case. The best collection by far has been "Last Dance, Last Chance". This book is somewhat like "Without Pity" in that the cases all seem kind of old. If, like me, you are a big Ann Rule fan who can't get enough, and waits anxiously for each new title, you should definitely get this book. It contains some interesting cases, just none that will knock your socks off. There is not the psychological depth here that we hope for in Ann Rule's very best work, that leaves the reader totally blown away. If you are new to Ann Rule, read one of her truly great books, like "Small Sacrifices", "The Stranger Beside Me", or "Everything She Ever Wanted". Read any of these and you will be hooked on Ann Rule too.



5. I have read several of Ann Rule's books, including her Crime Files series, and for me, this collection of true crime short stories is one of her best. While I enjoy all her books, I have wondered how she decides which cases will receive more in-depth treatment than others in the Crime FIle series. This collection, on the other hand, gives just enough length to provide a good understanding of each case, and more importantly, helps the reader recognize some of the bizarre psychological profiles of individuals they may have actually encountered personally, as well as the fatal mistakes some innocent people make. Ann's preface to the case "As Close as a Brother" may describe your own teenage or college-age daughter's naivete very well; for this reason alone, it is highly recommended reading.
   As for Ann Rule's prose, it is refreshing to compare her highly readable and absorbing work to the slipshod, error-riddled products that are somehow published so frequently these days. Thank goodness she knows her stuff and writes with great ease; this is what allows her to produce such a generous body of work.

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

5 comments about International Spy Museum's Handbook of Practical Spying (International Spy Museum).

1. I loved this book. It was entertaining and informative. The book is as smart as it is good looking. There isn't too much information, but the right amount to go on. Improving your spy skills improves your general life skills.



2. I use the concepts in this book every day. As a spy, it is imperative to remember the ideas presented in this book for recruiting, questioning, and handling agents and spying on others in general. And if you are not a spy, this book is great for assessing situations, acting on your instincts, and getting into the VIP section of that awesome restaurant so you won't be stuck in the rain waiting for that girl who stood you up.



3. The book is enjoyable and takes a light-hearted approach, often playing on the average person's perception of spies. This means a lot of references to James Bond and gadgetry. However the real content of the book is based in some beginning human intelligence skills, like improving your memory, being more aware of your surroundings and danger, and profiling people and their temperments.
   
   I found most useful the discussion on using the Myers-Briggs personality test as a basis for profiling people and trying to predict their behaviors. Also intriguing was the section on Dale Carnegie as a "master spymaster" because he understood how to influence people; a nice connection made by the author, going to the core of how espionage is mostly based on human interaction and not gadgetry.
   
   While some of these basics were worthwhile, I was distracted and disappointed with the constant effort to loop everything back to James Bond. The book really assumes the reader knows nothing more about espionage than watching Bond films, and it tries to be funny by talking about using "that James Bond charm" or "Q's gadgets" to get out of sticky situations. The effort to lighten the mood was mishandled because as much as the author tries to be funny he is just not a comedy writer and his jokes are lame.
   
   I would regard this book as light on content and more of an entertainment book. It does have a few basic tips that are insightful.



4. This is a brilliant, humorous and suscinct introduction to the ethos of spying. The spy is not a technologist nor a SWAT officer, but someone trained in "awareness" and able to approach discreetly her objective to get "intel". This book puts forward the essence of that spirit and the regular behaviour to be acquired, even if it precludes intentionally the sordid side. For that maybe you should read John Le Carre.



5. This is a fun outsider's guide to espionage. The text is accessible enough for readers as young as early teens. Artwork complements the text nicely.
   
   Good:
   -Casual treatment of real espionage subject matter
   -Writing is a very easy read
   -Anecdotes and historic figures and incidents
   -Direct quotes from spies and related personnel
   -Material attempts to relate spy skills to everyday life, travel, etc.
   
   Bad:
   -Could have been a little more in-depth
   -Some treatment of the subject was a little silly
   
   Reading this book will not, obviously, prepare one for work as a spy. It does pull back the curtain on an interesting field and makes some of the techniques applicable to non-spy activities.
   
   This book would make a good gift for anyone (from young teens to adults) having an interest in the subject, or perhaps as a light (!) introduction for those curious about what espionage or intelligence as a career might entail.

5 comments about Satan's Circus: Murder, Vice, Police Corruption, and New York's Trial of the Century.

1. Mike Dash has done his homework. He actually tracked down descendants of many of the principal figures in this famous case and prints letters and transcripts that bring the characters from 1912 New York to life--ACCURATELY.
   He is a meticulous researcher, correcting errors (such as the real names of several of the gangsters) that mar some other books on this subject.
   The one defect I could find in the book is: there are not enough photographs. Otherwise this would have had a perfect score.



2. In fairness, I bought this book for my wife, rather than for myself. This is not a book I would normally pick to read, and about halfway through, when I gave up, that "normal" self-judgment was vindicated. Dash provides the promised detailed account of life in the red-light district in turn-of-the-century New York City, and his account is tightly detailed. Within the decades of the 1890's and the 1900's, shifts in local power changed the political and social scenes considerably. New York City in 1994 and New York City in 1997 were very different places (for example), and shifts were no less profound 100 years earlier. To his credit, rather than superficially lumping the period together, Dash details each shift and the characters and consequences of it.
   
   For me, though, that was the rub. I just wasn't that interested. The story that is promised to carry us through the detail, that of the only police officer sentenced to death, develops far too slowly and blandly to do that job. Indeed, the main character in the story, Charlie Becker, remains a cipher. Ironically, Dash does not succeed in getting us as close to the individual at the heart of the story as he does many peripheral characters.
   
   In short, while the book succeeds moderately well on its own terms, those terms are not mine.



3. This is a superior account of the murder of a failed gambling boss, Herman Rosenthal, and the subsequent trials that resulted in the execution of four of his killers, "Gyp the Blood" Horowitz, "Lefty Louie" Rosenberg, "Dago Frank" Cirofici and Whitey Lewis (a/k/a Jacob Seidenschner) and a crooked Police Lieutenant, Charles Becker. The latter was charged as a participant in a criminal conspiracy to murder Rosenthal in order to silence him before he could expose widespread police corruption in midtown Manhattan where prostitution and gambling flourished as protected vices. Becker was the leader of a special police squad that was supposed to crack down on gambling in the district that was nicknamed "Satan's Circus" by clergymen, but he contented himself to collect sizeable bribes and permitted gaming to continue with minimal interference beyond token raids. Rosenthal had threatened to blow the whistle on the payoff system after his gambling house had been closed by the police. He felt he had been betrayed by Becker, who was formerly his silent partner, and by several other professional gamblers.
   
   Author Mike Dash has done some serious research and rectified a few errors and omissions that appeared in previous books on the same subject. This is no small accomplishment given the large number of sources to be consulted. There were many conflicting accounts to untangle, analyze and reconcile to provide readers with an approximation of the truth. Dash's engrossing book is packed with vivid details and is fully annotated. It may well be the definitive book on a subject that has inspired numerous competing titles by a variety of authors.
   
   Becker's death sentence and execution have been the subject of constant controversy. The defendant faced the unhappy prospect of being subjected to a withering cross examination by the prosecution if he dared to take the witness stand. On trial for his life, Becker gambled and paid the supreme penalty for his decision not to testify in his own defense at either of his two trials. Yes, there were two separate trials and Becker was convicted by two separate juries.
   
   On appeal, his original conviction was vacated and a new trial ordered due to the blatant bias of the presiding judge, John W. Goff, who was openly antagonistic to the defendant. Goff had previously served as counsel to the 1894 Lexow Committee, which had investigated police corruption, and he was elected City Recorder on the reform ticket with Mayor William L. Strong shortly afterwards. Goff became a judge in 1906, but his hatred and contempt for corrupt police officers had not abated. His open hostility to Becker deprived the defendant of a fair trial.
   
   After the case was remanded, a second trial before the Judge Samuel Seabury, a respected jurist, resulted in a second guilty verdict and the reimposition of the death penalty. Becker went to the electric chair protesting his innocence, but his postconviction statements had no legal significance. A grim irony is that after Becker had exhausted his appeals, his former prosecutor, Charles S. Whitman, was the occupant of the Governor's Mansion in Albany. Whitman refused to pardon Becker or commute his sentence to life in prison. Becker became the only convicted police officer charged with official misconduct to be executed in American history. He died in the electric chair at Ossining, New York.
   
   The most puzzling question not answered by the book relates to a point criminal procedure: Did Becker's defense counsel fail to attempt to secure a change of venue? In light of the sensational pretrial publicity, it seems certain that many potential jurors may have been exposed to prejudicial newspaper reports of Becker's personal corruption and his complicity in planning the murder of Rosenthal. It would have made sense for the defense to request that the trial be moved to another county. If such a motion was made and denied, the text does not address this critical issue.



4. This is my third book by Mike Dash and while the other two seemed to move in a flowing manner, this one was more halting and jerky. Many times in reading along, Dash jumps to another part of the story and leaves you wondering what happened. At other times he reiterates something already mentioned as if it was new.
   
   What I found most disconcerting was Dash's inability to keep a straight timeline. In one paragraph he will mention two situations, with the time frame reversed (i.e. something happens in 1914 and then something like it in 1912). There are so many tangents and diversions (each in a short choppy paragraph) that it's hard to keep track of what's going on.
   
   Was Becker guilty? No. Was he railroaded? Yes. Had he done enough in his prior life to be caught up in this travesty? Yes. Did he do other things that should have gotten him executed? Probably. So did he deserve what he got in the end? Not really.



5. I started reading this book and shortly after starting it I put it down. I went back to it a few months later and finished it. Well researched and written, although I had nothing but contempt for the police officer about whom the book is written. At times, the characters become confusing, but it is a decent read, nothwithstanding the distasteful nature of the police officer profiled in the book.

5 comments about 053803: Life at Fifteen.

1. AN INTERESTING TRUE TAIL OF LIFE IN JAIL, SURVIVAL,AND CONQUEST.
   KEPT ME READING TO FIND OUT WHAT AND HOW THIS YOUNG MAN WOULD DO NEXT.FUNNY,SOMBER,AND GRIPPING. GOOD READING



2. I personally know the author and got to know him prior to knowing anything about his past or the contents of this book. He is a loyal and true friend who would literally give you the shirt off his back or the last dollar in his pocket. The book is written the exact way that Robert would tell you the story, adding some humor and leaving out not one detail regardless of its content. I received the book yesterday and haven't been able to put it down yet! It's a must read! I am a high special education reading teacher who is considering using this book in my class this year. My student's love easy to read, high interest, true stories. Buy the book, it's worth every penny!!!!



3. Listed in the National Criminal Justice Referral Service Library as a study aid for its social and educational value. Currently on the reading list at multiple Florida High Schools for its appeal to students that do not normally like to read.
   
   NCJRS abstract:
   
   Written in the first person, the author begins his story just before he committed the crime of armed robbery with his accomplice, Zig. At the age of 15 years, Robert Gagnon, the author, walked into a savings and loan bank in Fort Lauderdale on December 19, 1975 and robbed the bank. As he left, the manager attacked him from behind and in the midst of the fight, Gagnon shot and critically injured the manager. After he and his partner were questioned by police, Gagnon took full responsibility for the crime, even adopting the media account of what had occurred, in an effort to save his partner who was an adult. Gagnon writes that he was convinced the State would only sentence him to 1 to 5 years imprisonment, but instead he was sentenced to spend the rest of his natural life in a Florida State prison with a minimum of 3 years before parole. His story of life in confinement begins. He mainly focuses on life with his fellow inmates and the lessons learned from some of the "old convicts." He tells of learning how to take care of himself in the midst of dangerous offenders and of eluding the many "tricks" of law enforcement and corrections officers. Gagnon explains that convicts have different types of personalities and are referred to as "hustlers, dealers, players, and racists," to name a few; everyone is placed in a category. He recalls a prison riot in 1982 and about the lost feeling he had after being released following nearly 10 years in institutional confinement.



4. I've got to say, this book is one of the few books that I was able to read cover to cover, without wanting to put it down. I was drawn into the world of a young man sentenced to life in prison at the young age of 15. From beginning to end, this book held my attention to see just how the author used his instincts and wit to get himself out of many questionable and potentially dangerous situations. Far from boring, you will read about the true life interactions between inmates of all races, statuses and ages, the good the bad and the frustrating. I must say I love the way in which Mr.Gagnon wrote this memoir. The dialogue was excellent and he leaves out no details. Whether my heart was pounding with anticipation, or I was laughing out loud at his many comical actions and pranks, I felt I always knew what the author was thinking at any given moment. Through the crime, the trials, the fights, the riot and much more, you will be glad you chose to read this book.



5. Robert J. Gagnon has written a self-published book that is one of the best studies of the internal realities of American prisons to appear before the public. The book is so rich in texture and flavor, so informative and enlightening, and at the same time so entertainingly interesting to read that it deserves to be revised and published by a major publishing house, giving it the chance for the PR and distribution it so justly deserves.
   
   At age 15 author Robert Gagnon participated in a bank robbery to obtain money to support his drug and alcohol habit, a major mistake in the first place, made more consequential by the shooting of the bank manager. Even as a juvenile he was tried as an adult and sentenced to life imprisonment in Florida. It is this experience of moving from prison to prison from 1975 to 1985 when he was eventually paroled that serve as the diary or memoir of this stunning book. Written long after this life altering experience, Gagnon writes reflectively but with a keen sense of atmosphere and attention to detail that makes reading this book a mesmerizing experience. There is more to learn about the prison mentality from the perspectives of both inmates and law officers than other more famous novels about prison life.
   
   Though we know very little about the current life of the author, we can only appreciate that this man has developed into a sensitive chronicler with writing skills that would suggest this is not a first book. Perhaps writing the book years after the experience has given him insight and philosophical musings not readily apparent in the mind of a fifteen year old felon, but the degree of sophistication with which he relates 053803:LIFE AT FIFTEEN has moments of rather profound insight into the tribal life system that pervades the prisons across the country. 'Few people like to admit it but man is an animal before he's a human being. Animals have only two reactions to attacks, fight and flee. What makes people human is the ability to reason. An animal in a trap will chew off its own paw to escape, whereas a human knows to wait and see if it can fool the trapper'. 'Humans...have been away from the jungle a little but too long. Very few of us could survive without the most basic of tools, in the very least a knife. Since we've killed off or restrained most of our natural enemies, our worst threat is each other. The rules of civilization have domesticated people by using the fear of discipline to stifle the instincts of the masses.' But in addition to these reflections, Gagnon describes in raw detail the day to day life of the prisoner - details that include not only some fairly horrific events but also include an odd, twisted humor and the overall obsession of surviving the life that each of these men endure. It is frank, it is informative, it is gory, and it is all true. The fifteen-year-old Robert comes across as a rather amazing survivor and as a lad with skills of adjustment and intuition far beyond his years - even in an adult prison.
   
   Yes, there are problems with a self published book: despite a fine cover with a photograph of the confinement wall of the prison, the layout of the pages is cramped without the usual paragraph placement, the punctuation and spelling could benefit from an editor's hand, and the flow of the pages is often disrupted by illogical spacing. But the story is so very well written that this raw version of 053803:LIFE AT FIFTEEN could serve as a fine manuscript for a major publishing house to polish into what seems to be a surefire success on the wider market of bookstores and with PR in the right places. Robert J. Gagnon is a very fine author. Hopefully this book will flourish in a more refined format. It most assuredly deserves it. Grady Harp, July 08