5 comments about The Poet and the Murderer.

1. Simon Worral is clearly an accomplished writer and his book, The Poet and the Murderer, demonstrates that skill. It's a fascinating story about a forger who earns a good living faking historical documents, mainly those that could be important to the Mormon Church. The reader learns a great deal about how document forgery is accomplished, about how little concern the nation's major auction houses demonstrate for the validity of what they put on the block, and about the roots of Mormonism.
   
   The only problem with the book is that the story wanders around in interesting but not necessarily riveting detail --- detail that sometimes loses sight of the story line. What was auctioned off as a poem of Emily Dickinson frames the story in an opening that zeros in on the purchaser, Daniel Lombardo, then the curator of special collections for the Jones Library in Amherst, Massachusetts, the center of Dickinson lore.
   
   The character who turns out to be a forger and murderer, Mark Hoffman, fails to come alive in the sense one can identify with him, or pity him or even be truly appalled by him. Raised a Mormon and obsessed by the church, he is portrayed as mechanical man. If his crime had been foreshadowed in greater detail, with a more sympathetic portrayal of the victims, I think the story would have held more of my attention.
   
   But it is wrong to be too critical of Worral's work, which is an easy read. I just wanted more. That is not a bad way to leave a reader, but it does seem that more might have been available to Worral, more of what I wanted to know about Lombardo as well as Hoffman's victims. Finally I'd like to have footnotes on Worral's detailed analysis of the early years of Mormonism, or at least some citations of his secondary sources, so I could easily follow up where my interest was stimulated by this book.



2. This one starts out a bit slow and then speeds up with great exposition about technique, method, motive - leading to grisly murders and a bizarre central character. Dry wit style takes you into the backsludge of a flimsy industry full of fakes. A great read. It is about way more than Mormons or the literal crimes. And I think Aunt Emily is a vastly, grossly overestimated , third rate poet. From Mass, she gets itellectual praise. If she were from Nashville, people would just laugh. But the story is about human nature and greed on the base level, right in polite society. Great writing, page turner, one night read. Would be a great airplane book. Five stars in spite of the slow, polite start and the attempt to make Aunt Emily appear a worthy poet. Got it from library, read it and bought two for gifts from Amazon vendors. Not for the kids.



3. This book goes beyond the usual anti-Mormon quasi-historical documentary/docudrama. As Mormon history is often documented despite unsure, poorly substantiated, and conflicting facts, this book is convincing based on the writer's sharp research and study of sciences such as forgery, art dealing, and the New England rural lifestyle. I could barely put it down.



4. I found it be a terrific book, well written, flowing, and plenty of information about forgeries and past histories. If nothing else, I discovered plenty of information on Emily, her family, and the area and climate around her home. There's always been plenty of information about Mormonism, and it's to the individual ot make up his/her mind about the religious aspects. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.



5. Having read most of the other books dealing with the Mark Hoffman affair, I was interested in this interesting approach. Indeed, there is much to be admired in this account. Although I am a faithful adherent of the LDS faith, I am willing to accept alternate interpretations of LDS church history.
   
   Unfortunately, Worrell make too many statements about the LDS church, LDS history, and LDS temple worship which are demonstrably false, including details of a sensitive nature I'd prefer not to go into, but which careful research would have clarified. It seems he either simply skimmed material or read a schetchy account, and then with a somewhat hazy view in his mind simply made up the details in an attempt to clarify the issue.
   
   Given these lapses, I can't help but question details in his discussion of Dickenson, Sotheby's, the Amherst community, etc.
   
   This is unfortunate, really, as the topic of Hoffman's non-LDS materials needs further discussion; unfortuantely, I doubt the quality of work done in this book as evidenced by the mishandling of the LDS materials. A much better approach for that aspect may be found in Robert Lindsey's "A Gathering of Saints."

5 comments about Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI.

1. I LOVED every part of this book. It's fantastically written and incredibly entertaining from start to finish. She has a way with words and is an excellent story teller! She was also my Forensics Professor at Towson University, so I may be a bit biased but I still think that this is probably one of the most entertaining books I've read in a long time.



2. Dana Kollman is hilarious, and very to the point. True forensics is nothing like it is on TV. Please read this if you are considering! Stories can be somewhat nauseating, don't read during dinner like I did.



3. This woman is quite adorable. I found myself surprised at how, even though I picked the book up because I like crime nonfiction, I found it wasn't really a story about crime work at all. Some of the stories were very amusing but the deeper understanding I carried away was what a funny life it is. I greatly enjoyed the story of her parent's reaction to her crime stories and them not wanting to visit her work. I enjoyed the stories about her getting quite a rude introduction to being a crime worker who isn't a police officer and I loved the story of her sneaking home to take care of her dogs and accidentally pressing the panic button that allowed the whole department to hear her dog cooing. If you are looking for a hardcore crime solving book then this might be a little soft for you. If you're looking for a story of how ridiculous the actuality of crime is through the eyes of a quirky young mom then this is probably right up your alley.



4. This was a fast read for me because of the subject. I was transfixed as each story was told. I only wish she'd recorded even more experiences. These tales will stay with me forever and I highly recommend this book.



5. I really enjoyed this book. Full of good information and entertaining to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject matter.

2 comments about The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder: And Other True Stories from the Nebraska-Pine Ridge Border Towns (Plains Histories) (Plains Histories) (Plains Histories).

1. Stew Magnuson, through investigative reporting unearths new facts and shines light on a dark and shameful period of history. He works hard to identify and treat fairly the multiple perspectives on the death of Mr. Yellow Thunder, the trial, and later the famous Native American occupation of the Wounded Knee battle ground. He describes the events which began in 1972 and interviews the participants' some 35 years later. By writing in narrative, non-fiction style, much like a novel or short story, he has made a captivating read out of complex material. I was surprised when I couldn't put the book down once I started, finishing 320 pages in a weekend. RH



2. Reading this book I was completely sucked into a world that...A. I never knew existed, and B. If I knew about I probably would never have given a second thought.
   
   Magnuson did an amazing job tying together the events of the 19th and 20th centuries...and a really great job keeping me from confusing the dozens and dozens of major players in the book.
   
   He tells a series of hot-button stories in a way that manages to be fair to the facts, people and groups involved while at the same time keeping the reader's interest. More than a few times I kept reading just to see how one story would end up, or what would happen to one of the individuals involved.

No comments about The Modern Gang Reader.

5 comments about How to Become a Professional Con Artist.

1. Dennis has written a book that, by the title, has you thinking he has crossed over to the other side. However, once you finish the book, "How to become a Professional Con Artist", you will understand that those who have chosen this life are void of any human committment such as love, family and a future. Dennis takes you into the world of the con artist and shows you that money is to be made, but at a supreme sacrifice. His having worked as a law enforcement officer for 31 years and dealing with these low lifes, he shows that you may not get rich with a regular job, but the rewards are far better. I commend Dennis for a great book. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Each page is filled with great advice and humorous points. Being a law enforcement officer and a magician, who also works bunco, I highly recommend this for not only cops, but members of the general public as well. Keep up the great work ...



2. Now you see it, now you don't. The traditional forms of the well-known con games--the old hat tricks--are well covered in this book. But, the book is remiss in covering the trend toward legalization of cons. (Yes, a "sanitization" process is in full sway, which threatens all of us. This is not touched upon.)This book, however, is excellent at delving into the psyche of the con man. It examines, and exposes, the thinking processes to a remarkable degree of accuracy.In all, there are some valuable points to be learned and absorbed about this "profession" from this book.



3. An interesting look at a crime that often is overlooked as a crime. A very honest and engaging look into the lives of con-men and how this shouldn't be tolerated. The author really states his opinions and reason for writing the book in the last chapter.



4. The way this book was written was more for victims then Con artists. Being a retired con this book really didn't teach me anything that I didn't already know except maybe on how to sell a dog using a persons greed, this has me thinking what else I can use other then a dog to use to sell on the greed factor.
   
   The author also makes the assumption that cons have long rap sheets and go to jail quite often, in my career I have been arrested once back in the 80's when I first started out and had a 90 day stay at the gray bar hotel and was given a one way ticket out of town on condition of my release and that I would not talk to the press (The police chief didn't want me to talk to the town reporter)
   
   He also makes the assumption that a con has no friends and no social connection, first rule on being a con, do not con people in your backyard or city for that matter, airline tickets are cheap these days and it is not hard taking a Friday night flight out and a Sunday night flight back (Day job you know in sales)
   
   The author also makes the assumption that all con games are illegal, with the right lawyer that you can bounce off ideas with can come up with how to make it legal.
   
   If you want to get into the business I would still read the book and purchase others on the newer games, if you use any of the tricks in this book you will surly get a stay at the gray bar hotel since these are all well known by now.
   
   Also the author makes note of a lotto scam and you need to be a foreigner from another country to make it work, another reason you can't cash in a lotto ticket yourself is if you owe on child support or back taxes which your winnings will go to pay that off, you don't have to be a big winner in the lotto 5 out of 6 still wins in the thousands.
   
   Just remember seek legal advice before you break the law!



5. ..........and helps reinforce the addage, 'You can't cheat an honest man"........

2 comments about Forensics and Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers.

1. Nothing ruins a good crime novel faster than factual errors or logical mistakes. That's why so many writers turn to Dr. D.P. Lyle for help. A practicing physician, Lyle is a writer himself, and he helps his colleagues figure out inventive (and accurate) ways of doing mayhem to the human body. "Forensics and Fiction" collects some of the most interesting questions Lyle has answered. Want to know how long a human head immersed in the North Sea would remain recognizable? This is the place to look. Not only is the book valuable for all the useful, obscure information it contains, it's also fascinating to see what kinds of questions writers ask. (Some of them, as you might expect, are rather strange.) "Forensics and Fiction" is an excellent resource for writers and an entertaining, informative read for fans.



2. Very interesting book. I enjoyed it, but it was more technical than I expected. Lots of great, gruesome questions.

5 comments about Desert Blood: The Jußrez Murders.

1. This book made the hair on my neck stand straight up! But I couldn't stop reading. The fact that it is fiction centered around real events made it even more horrifying and compelling. But even if the Juarez murders had not and were not taking place, this is still an incredible book. It's well written, the story riveting, and the characters (very important to me) are drawn with great reality. The protagonist, Ivon Villa, is a strong but flawed gay woman, fiercely loyal to her family in spite of her mother's hatefulness, and her iron will and determination make her a perfect vehicle for the non-fictional message of this book. BRAVO ALICIA!



2. Now this one was full of so many turns and kept pulling you in deeper, good read.



3. You won't be able to put this one down, and once you're done reading it, you'll want to help the women of Juarez. A great read, but an even greater source of vital information. Too many people are still unaware of the massive murdering of innocent young women along the U.S.-Mexico border, and Desert Blood sheds light on this horrible situation. I encourage you to read it and to take action informing others of the femicides in Juarez as well!



4. The sad fact is that the stories that should receive the most coverage in the news often go practically ignored. Since 1993 an atrocity has been going on at the US-Mexican border that has left hundreds of women raped, mutilated and dead while very little has been done to solve the crimes and stop whoever is behind them. This is the setting that Gaspar De Alba has chosen for her Lambda Award winning novel as she tells the story of Ivon Villa, who is drawn into the situation when her sistr disappears in Mexico.
   
   
   Desert Blood builds at a pace that leaves the reader feeling the growing terror Ivon experiences as she faces the idea that she may find her sister too late. There is so much to this plot that it almost becomes one of the book's weaknesses. There are three stories that run at once - the disappearances of Irene and the other women, Ivon's quest to adopt a child and her relationship with her family over her lesbianism. The stories of the women would have been enough to make a complete book and the other two strains sometimes distract from that. That could actually be a plus though because the one story is so horrific that the reader needs some release time away from it. One irritating aspect of the book is that De Alba includes a lot of comments in Spanish. Given the setting of the book, it's appropriate, but there are no translations for those readers who do not speak the language and the impression is left that parts of the story are being missed or not understood. A glossary of some time would have been helpful.
   
   The compelling nature of this story makes it a book that should be read. Anyone looking for a romance with steamy sex scenes won't find that here, but they will find an issue that will move them to anger and an extremely well written novel.



5. "historical fiction" (what on earth does that mean?)
   
   At the end, she lacks much knowledge of Mexican history to get this together.
   
   I'm sure she's really smart. But she was bound to fail here; too political and too many stereotypes)

2 comments about Butcher, Baker: A True Account of a Serial Murder.

1. This book is written by a real-life professional homicide investigator. Mr. Gilmour was an investigator with the Alaska State Troopers for many years and was, and still is, one of the most astute criminal investigators you will ever meet. This book details the incredible amount of work it takes to catch a serial killer. The most amazing part is that he has not made any changes to the story to make it "more exciting" or "more readable." The story certainly does need it. In my opinion, in this book rivals Capote's In Cold Blood, but without making up any facts.



2. This is the true story of Robert Hansen,the worst serial killer in Alaska's history.
   He was a baker,amateur pilot,and avid hunter that preyed on prostitutes.
   He benefitted from his choice of victims. Prostitutes and dancers passed in and out of Alaska lured by the prospect of easy money servicing workers on the pipeline. And the local police didn't view them as credible witnesses. However,the FBI profilers had an accurate profile of Hansen in this case.
   
   Coincidentally,Hansen was a contemporary of the infamous Green River killer who was similar in stature and also preyed on hookers.
   
   The authors do an excellent job in writing from the view of the lead investigator who refused to quit despite the grueling process of putting together an air-tight case for the D.A.
   
   Hansen eventually confessed to killing over a dozen prostitutes but never admitted killing other women that weren't in that profession. In his own words-"I can't see anything in it for me,what's done is done. It's behind me now." A callous reponse to a request to cooperate in possibly solving more murders that he probably committed. The man has no remorse whatsoever.
   
   After reading of the evidence he had stashed in his home you will probably come to the same conclusion. He killed more women than he will ever admit to.
   
   A very well written true crime book. The authors managed to keep my attention focused even with the details of the trial,which can get boring.

5 comments about My Life With Bonnie And Clyde.

1. I really enjoyed reading this book. However, you must keep in mind that it was told by one of the participants and that self image and self preservation were apparent in telling her side of the story. I would advise doing what I did. I read the Knight book, "Bonnie & Clyde, a Twenty-First Century Update" and the John Neal Phillips book "Running with Bonnie and Clyde" at the same time as this one. I think by combining and sifting through the information in all three, you can come away with a pretty clear picture of these peoples lives.



2. This is about the best book I've read on Bonnie and Clyde so far. Although as Mr. Phillips states it is slanted in the favor of Blanche, it still is very well written and I think more historically correct than other books I have read on this subject. It was interesting to read how these people really lived on the run and how human they were. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Bonnie and Clyde.



3. I often wondered what had become of Blanch Barrow as the movie did not tell us much of anything. At the end of the book I found myself with tears in my eyes. I am not saying she was totally innocent in everything that transpired, but she paid dearly for the mistake of loving her husband and I being a woman can synpathize with her greatly. I can just picture her sitting in a chair, an old woman, forgotten, left with nothing but her cats and memories of days gone by...nothing is sadder than what might have been. What really made me realize how human these characters were was when Blanche tells us about bringing her dog Snowball on the run when she and Buck took off with Bonnie and Clyde and then loosing her dog during the shootout in Platte City, as the dog was spooked by the gun battle, he ran out of the house and this was the last she ever saw of her beloved pet. These were very much people like us that I firmly believe were victims of the times they lived and the desolation that surrounded them. I often wonder what would have became of those four people if they would have grown up in New England perhaps or New York where even though the depression was going on, there were more opportunities for work or perhaps they were born at the wrong time in history. Maybe if Bonnie and Clyde would have been born and came of age in the 80's or 90's, they would have been different people....but we will never know. This book is a must read for anyone, not just fans of Bonnie and Clyde, but its just a damned good book to read.



4. Blanche Barrow's account into the turbulent and volatile few months in 1933 she spent with Bonnie, Clyde and W.D. Jones on the run is fascinating reading. The one point which comes across over and over is her true love for Buck Barrow - which really supports that old saying: "Love is Blind". There was certainly nothing apparent which made Buck an intelligent or appealing type of fellow, but to Blanche he was everything. This lovely lady is very much a victim of circumstance - drawn into the dark scheming world of hatred and revenge of the law of Clyde Barrow. Clyde was certainly the orchestrator of their life on the run. For some reason, Buck Barrow was overwhelmed and dominated by his younger brother Clyde and Blanche was continually trying to get Buck away from this life of running and hiding. Bonnie Parker too was entranced by Clyde's domination as well. It seemed as though she was in awe of Clyde and everthing Clyde said or did was the gospel. It is very much an encaptivating read - however I was hoping to find out more what her prison life was like after the Dexfield Park capture which the book seems to skim over very briefly. The accounts of Joplin, Platte City and Dexfield Park in this book are excellent and you really do wonder how they all survived as long as they did. I thoroughly recommend it to all Bonnie and Clyde fans.



5. This book provided a fascinating look into Blanche Barrow's life as well as great detail into the lives of Bonnie and Clyde and their fellow outlaws. The author/editor did an outstanding job of compiling Blanche's memoirs into what was occuring in the world during her lifetime. I wasn't too sure if I would like this book when I ordered it because I normally don't read biographies/autobiographies about criminals. However, when I began to read it I became totally absorbed into this woman's ife and the pictures are great too (there's lots). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

5 comments about Heart Full of Lies: A True Story of Desire and Death.

1. I do not agree with the other reviews at all. I thought this book was excellent. At times it made me sick to my stomach, as I could not believe someone could be as manipulative and selfish as Liysa. I feel horrible for the victim, Chris, his family, and his sons. I would highly recommend this book.



2. This was an interesting story about a psychopath (Liysa). I thought Ann Rule gave a good account of both Liysa and Chris, and I think the only real bias was because Liysa WAS guilty. I was left wanting to know if any of Liysa's stories were invested and found to be true. Some things were alluded to such as her first husband and a boyfriend being killed in car accidents, but was it true? Did she really graduate from college? Did she ever apply and train for the Navy Seals? So many other things. She was a lier, and lied when it suited her. I had a boyfriend much like her. He lied so much that he actually believed his lies. He would go to great lengths to make people believe his lies. I am so disappointed that she only got 10-12 years. I don't understand why the prosecution let her plea down when they had such good evidence. That seems negligent to me.
   I didn't think the book was very well written for Rule, in that she repeated herself and certain phrases too much. Maybe she needs a proof reader who actually READS the book.



3. Ann Rule is the most incredibly talented author. She can take thousands of facts and make the most compelling, riveting story. At the end, I always feel like I know all the people involved personally. When I sit down with one of her books, I know I am not going to get anything else done for awhile!



4. A clue to Liysa Northorn's personality lies in the silly spelling of her name - the sort of "I'm so interesting" nonsense that most of us grow out of after the early teen years. Liysa, however, didn't, & according to Ann Rule she lied & manipulated her way through life until she killed her third husband basically because he wouldn't let her have her own way about everything. Liysa says she killed in self defense.
   I found Rule's book mesmerizing, with a few caveats. Chris Northorn, the victim, comes across as rather a hollow man - bland with few personality traits other than being "nice." Certainly he seems commitment-shy & someone who drifted through life. It's no great step to conjecture that the abuse claims by Liysa began as an attempt to get his attention. If anyone in the relationship was abused, I'm guessing it was Chris.
   Another caveat is the claim by Rule that Liysa was a devoted & good parent. Naturally the author needs to look at both sides of the story, but it's hard to believe that this self-obsessed, manipulative woman could parent effectively. Her children would merely be an extension of herself, accessories for looking good in the eyes of the world. We also hear how Liysa is a talented writer, but no evidence of this is given. Surely a talented writer would have done more with her talents than journals & an aborted film script.
   I would have liked this book to be longer - I suspect Liysa's guilty plea cut short what would have been a lengthy description of the trial. Overall well worth reading, a fascinating story very well told.



5. Well constructed tick tock of a husband murder that built up over several years and culminated in a planned shooting that left a few too many questions. The wife was bipolar and that explains a lot. She still has her defenders, remarkably. The husband comes off as the true victim. If you like true crime, this one is well worth the time. Ann Rule is top notch in the genre.