5 comments about Cries in the Desert (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. This chronicle of "Sex" Torturer David Ray and the crimes of his daughter, his girlfriend and and another "friend" was a fast, page turning read. The narrative flows easily with many descriptions of how the "gang" of evil nobodies were successfull for years in their twisted fetish and how authorities finally put the criminals in prison. Even with the disturbing content of the crimes described in the book it keeps the readers interest and provides a few surprise elements as well. Highly Recommended. UPDATE: as of the writing of my review the girlfriend and other friend of Ray still sit in the New Mexico prison system. His daughter is on probation. Ray himself died 8 months after sentencing - having served a total of only 3 years of his 238 year sentence at the age of 62.



2. I don't remember what I did with this book. I gave most of my true crime literature to a colleague who would pass it on to her daughter. I remember this case well. Maybe because I just read a book about it. Glatt gives you the basics of the crime as horrendous, terrorizing, and horrible as it was for those women. David Parker Ray was one sick creature who with his partner, Cindy Hendy, committed some of the most unthinkable, unimaginable acts towards women only. He did things that I can't write here. Let's just say that one FBI agent committed suicide while investigating this case. Need I write more, Glatt writes more about the victims and possible murder victims of Ray. He claims to be a sadistic serial killer but there are no bodies that were unearthed. He was one of the most sadistic criminals that I ever read about and a judge who cared more about due process than about putting him behind bars. Ironically, the judge died and he was replaced with a judge who didn't show the same preference to the defense as his predecessor. Ray died in 2002 only in prison for 3 years which I think is a pretty sad testament that he didn't suffer as much as his victims. Ray's tape recordings are chilling but I don't think Glatt included them in the book. They're x-rated and not for the squeamish or underage. my thoughts go the to the victims who are still living who suffered so cruelly and needlessly.



3. Fast to the point, a lot of details about the crimes. Not about history of towns and families like some books go into.



4. I read this book in just a few days. It kept me interested from beginning to end. But just a warning, it scared me to death. To think there are maniacs out there like David Ray walking the streets makes me not want to go out alone. Another book that scared me equally was "The Night Stalker" about Richard Ramirez. I never leave my doors unlocked.



5. In looking over many of the other reviews, I can not help but notice that many of the reviewers did not actually read this book. Certain negative reviews have nothing to do with the book at all. For those interested in the book, I would suggest reading the reviews of people that obviously read the book not the star rating of this book.
   
   When the story of David Parker Ray first made news headlines in 1999, there seemed to be a degree of shock in how something so extreme as this could happen. Quite literally, David Parker Ray abducted women and made them sex slaves in the trailer known as his "toy box". He was able to carry this on for so long because his victims walked the fringes of society. John Glatt makes clear that we may never know the extent of David Parker Ray's crimes. He once claimed to have killed as many as 14 people, but he is not serving over 200 years in prison for any time of murder.
   
   One of the portions of this book that I appreciated most was Glatt's history of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. While it is a great source of trivia questions, the history has faded with the passage of time.
   
   The extreme nature of David Parker Ray's crimes may make this book difficult to read for some. The author does not shy away from details. Admittedly, I would have liked to have seen Glatt go into more details in some areas of the book. Still, this is not a deep enough flaw to warrant strong crticism. As a whole, I found the book to be informative and interesting.

5 comments about Down by the River: Drugs, Money, Murder, and Family.

1. This book is brilliant! Only gifted readers will be comfortable reading it though because it is an incredible read! THE TRUTH WILL AMAZE YOU if you are clever enough to hang onto the pages as you turn them!
   
   I admire Mr. Bowden so much because this book is based on 7 1/2 years of research and detective work. The detective work starts with one individual and spirals into a nonfictional mystery of global proportions leading the reader to a place where their reality of what being a U.S. citizen means is forever changed.
   
   THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES!! EVERY PARENT SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
   
   
   "Saying NO to Drugs"... isn't working folks!! THE WAR ON DRUGS is a BLOG to keep the average American from reading books such as this!
   
   Our leaders are making sure the drug problem won't go away . THIS IS A PROFOUND BOOK ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THE ERASING OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
   
   Thank you Mr. Bowden for having the courage to write it!



2. 
   
   Charles Bowden has written a well documented story of a span of time in the drug history of the U.S./Mexico border. Certain drug cartels intertwine and are involved with the same several families for years. Thousands of people are put into bondage, murdered or disappeared with little or no trace of them ever again. Many Mexican politicians, even a president or two, are involved with the drug scene and with stealing and removing to other countries, the wealth of Mexico. One murder, which is never solved conclusively, has enormous impact on the life of one DEA officer and on the survival of his extended family. It's a raw picture of one of the reasons to not allow wholesale amnesty of illegal aliens.



3. When I read this book, back in Dec. 2002, I didn't realize just how it would change my life. It altered my perception of reality forever and I am 60 years old. Mr. Bowden has made a compelling case for the failure of the War on Drugs. In heartbreaking detail he summarizes the story of a family in El Paso who suffered greatly as a result of their child being murdered by another child. But the background to the War on Drugs is as byzantine, complicated and murderous as it gets. Its as if the average U. S. citizen lives in a completely alternate universe where this issue is concerned. It also explains why millions of illegal immigrants cross our borders every decade. Five years after reading this book, I am still affected by it every day. May I suggest Sibel Edmond's gag order case and the MadCowMorningNews as another place to go to understand the nexus between terrorism and drug trafficking, greed and money laundering. Great book--though a complicated read at times---images of the desert are beautifully described.



4. An all to honest look at the war on drugs. This book takes you down some very dark passages. Things will not look the same again.



5. My emotions ran the gamut from rage, indignation, incredulity, to fear.
   ANYONE considering moving to Mexico or doing business in Mexico, or for that matter any more including the U.S., should read this book!

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 The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities-- From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums.

1. Have been waiting for some time to read this book, and I really enjoyed it. Of course I like art-related mysteries and other stories anyway. I'll be looking for other titles by this author.



2. I give this book a definite four stars because it is a worthy representation of the story and gives the account of what happened with great zeal. The topic itself is fascinating. In my opinion, various Federal Art/Cultural Property Crime units would be well served by making this book mandatory reading for their agents. It stands as a clear insight into the dark realm of unlawful antiquities excavation, illicit smuggling and clandestine sale- an increasingly important issue in our "global economy" world where buyers and sellers can come together across oceans with little effort, and without regard to laws that may govern certain antiquities transactions.
   
   At times, it reads a bit choppy. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the authors were careful to include all pertinent data, instead of sacrificing the volume of fact for the sake of the story. I almost feel bad detracting a star for this, but if you're going to sell a book as a story rather than an academic study, I do believe certain concessions should be made for ease of reading.
   
   Nevertheless, still a great book, well worth purchasing. This book will probably become one of the classics on the topic of art smuggling and the attendant markets.



3. This book is a well written, well researched book about looted antiquities. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject, or anyone interested in looted art in general. If I have any complaint, it is that the book at times gives too much information, which slows down the pace of the narrative as the author reveals how the investigation of Medici, Robert Hecht, Robin Symes, Marion True, and others came to pass.



4. This book is fascinating and important reading for anyone interested in the intersections of the art world, commerce and crime. The Medici Conspiracy is not the most deftly written, and at times seems more like a very, very, very long newspaper story than a book. Yet in the end the sheer force of the information it compiles, with detail and comprehension of the larger picture, leads to confidence in its conclusion: It is impossible to build, in modern times, a great collection of quality antiquities without relying chiefly on, and feeding and sustaining, unlawful traffic in looted items. The archeological countries also are at fault: If you leave hugely valuable items in the ground, and don't invest in excavating them under secure, academically and legally sound conditions, it is inevitable that illicit looters will do it for you.



5. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about stolen antiquities. It reads like a thriller - it does have a lot of details, as others have mentioned, and the authors do become very indignant at times, but I believe this is because the book was published a few years ago, when museums still dragged their feet to send looted art back to Italy, and it was not yet clear in the media whether the Italians had a case or were just being annoying.
   
   I first heard about the controversy in ARTNews, which takes pride in unbiased reporting, and even then, it was difficult not to feel at the beginning that the Italians were asking for too much because they were targeting so many American museums. Watson and Todeschini set out to present the Italians' case to the readers and needed an extensive description of the paper trail to avoid the appearance of bias. This might be unnecessary now that so many museums have caved in and returned art to Italy, but it was definitely important to include all these details in 2006 when the hardcover edition of the book was published in the States.
   
   I was impressed by the flowing, accessible style, and the authors' ability to make protagonists come to life. The book has left me with a better understanding of the current art scene, especially regarding dealers and curators, and of the issues surrounding looted antiquities. A tour-de-force.

No comments about FBI Handbook of Crime Scene Forensics.

5 comments about The Blood Bankers: Tales from the Global Underground Economy.

1. Major U.S. banks have knowingly dealt with the corrupt elites of the world's developing countries.
   They have harbored capital flight from wealthy investors who had lost confidence in their country.
   They have extended loans to corrupt industrialists, who promptly skimmed the profits and, through their political connections, convinced the national governments to guarantee the loans, placing the burden on the backs of the poor.
   They have lent money to violently repressive military dictators.
   They have accepted bribes; they have offered bribes; they have turned a blind eye to untold human suffering.



2. An Amazing read! I didn't know what I never knew! After reading this book twice, I realize that International Bankers of all varieties dominate the buisness world and are at fault for irresponsible lending to many 'developing' nations. A result of which is massive poverty and wealth inequality througout the world.
   A timely and revealing look at the origins of the Iraq war are an excellent reminder of power of these wealthy few.
   
   Everyone should buy this book.



3. This book is an eye-opening account of the financial chicanery that lay behind countless poorly planned, badly executed, over-priced and economically unviable development projects that were undertaken in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. Henry exposes the role played by leading international financial institutions in fueling the growth of dubious forms of transnational economic activity and shows how their behavior has been tolerated and even encouraged by the IMF, the World Bank and the US Treasury. He also sheds light on the influence that international financial interests have had on political developments in the third world - from the overthrow of Allende's elected government in Chile and the funding provided to Nicaragua's Contra rebels, to the support of thieving dictators like Ferdinand Marcos, General Somoza and Carlos Salinas, just to mention a few.



4. "The Blood Bankers" is an important contribution to our understanding of global financial instability. Most often, liberalized (legitimate) capital markets, international trade, state power, and international regulatory institutions are cited as the causes of destabilization. However, J. Henry allows us to look behind these forces and bodies to see how the liberalization of the global economy has unleashed illicit and/ or immoral financial forces, often acting through otherwise legitimate enterprises. Thus, "The Blood Bankers" gives us another level of understanding and critique of the agents of globalization. Without understanding the underground players, it would be impossible to fully understand the instability of modern international markets.



5. Blood Bankers collates vivid insider stories on the pillage of developing countries by international banks and the piracy of finance by corrupt leaders. The book accounts for the fact that, in spite of immense financial flows to the Third World, many countries have not witnessed the expected benefits, and indeed have been damaged by corruption and debt.

5 comments about Are You There Alone?: The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates.

1. The recent Court decision to over-turn the conviction of Andrea Yates was based in part on the evidence presented in this well-researched book on the "unspeakable" crime. Ms. O'Malley caught a number of mistakes in the way Yates was treated and the way her case was presented, but uncovering the erroneous testimony of the prosecution's expert witness, Dr. Park Dietz, was the central factor in discrediting the state's case against Andrea Yates. By virtue of her careful reporting and analysis, Ms. O'Malley managed, not simply to observe the trial process, but to become one of the most powerful participants in it. It becomes clear in this book that the psychiatric treatment of Yates is one of trial and error, if not downright neglect. Even reading the transcript of the Dietz interview is enough to convince one that Ms. Yates, whatever she may have known about right from wrong under the McNaughton doctrine, was not in control. She never doubted her actions were illegal, and she seemed convinced that they morally wrong; yet, at the same time, and in a way that makes her case for insanity that much more provocative -- she seemed convinced that she would be judged morally wrong for not drowning them, or otherwise ending their lives. She had talked herself into a tragic corner -- herself inevitably damned, she opted to save her children from the certain damnation that awaited them if, in her warped view, she did not act. No one denies that Ms. Yates suffered from mental illness prior to and at the time of her act. But the depth seemed to elude a number of people. The endless attempts to get Andrea to specify her thoughts at specific points in time for the purpose of the trial record would be risible but for the fact they were real. When Dr. Dietz asked her, "What were you wearing at the time of the drownings?" She responded, "clothes." She was so hopelessly operating at a cognitive level that simply didn't fulfill the requirements of an advarsarial system -- and yet she was there, having been declared sufficiently sane to stand trial. The decision allowing her to so stand was, in effect, the second tragedy.



2. I am almost finished with the book but it's taking me time to read it as it's not the kind of book you can read quickly. I'm anxious to see how it ends. I would rather have reviewed it after I finish it. I think the book is probably going to get better closer to the end then I am.



3. Having read St. Martin's rush-to-press book, "Breaking Point," as soon as it hit the stands, I was disappointed with O'Malley's long-awaited book about the Andrea Yates tragedy. Whereas Spencer interviewed relatives, friends, and acquaintances, O'Malley relied heavily on court transcripts and seemed to take a point of view from a telescope.
   The book about Andrea Yates that I want to read has yet to be written. For example, I want to know where she stored her pots and pans while she was home-schooling three children in a bus and ironing her husband's shirts so he'd look normal while working at NASA. I want to know why she didn't lose her mind earlier.
   As for Texas justice....We're talking about a state that found Andrea Yates to be as sane as the woman who hacked her ex-lover's wife to death with an axe in the 1980s. Only difference is, the axe muderess was found not guilty.



4. I read this book because it was a list of good reads. I felt it was. The topic is horrofic. How can a mother do this to her children? You get a sense that the author tries to be objective as possible with the reason. The author I also felt does a good job of pointing out the inconsisties with the time line with the attornies as a well as when Andrea Yates was on medication. She also does a fair job of looking at the story after the verdict. Overall I felt it was a fair balanced book contray to what others think. She presents the facts and details as objectively as she can and lets the readers make up their mind.



5. To be honest, I was very hesitant to even read this book. Like most people, when Andrea Yates killed her five children by drowning them in the family's bathtub, the only information I knew was what I heard from the media. I almost immediately formed my own opinion -- Andrea Yates was evil. So it took me awhile to open my mind to the fact that there could be more to the story.
   
   Once I started reading ARE YOU THERE ALONE? I absolutely could not read fast enough. This book is fascinating in delving into the issue of mental illness, and what it truly means. I learned about psychosis, about postpartum depression, about bipolar disorder, and much, much more.
   
   Although there are things I still don't understand (how Rusty Yates, Andrea's husband, could have left her alone with their children when he knew she was seriously mentally ill, for example), I have to say that I have a greater understanding of why Ms. Yates did what she did.
   
   Hers was a horrific crime, and one for which she deserved to be punished. But she also deserved to get help for the problems that had plagued her for many years. For that, Suzanne O'Malley and the doctors, nurses, and many others involved in the case are to be commended.

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).

4 comments about Notorious New Jersey: 100 True Tales of Murders and Mobsters, Scandals and Scoundrels.

1. If you're a fan of true crime, mysteries, trivia, politics, New Jersey, weird tales, and everything in between, you'll enjoy these 100 well-told stories of the Garden State's crimes and mysteries, past and present. The author is clearly passionate about his subject, and had some fun telling these tales. Even the captions are entertaining and sometimes tongue-in-cheek.
   
   The stories range from a former Jersey City assemblyman who faked his own drowning to a possible "Jack the Ripper" suspect who moved to NJ following the London crimes (betcha didn't know that!!) In fact, there is a lot you probably didn't know about New Jersey in this comprehensive book.
   
   Of course, there are the cases that were so famous that they spawned TV movies and national attention: the Lindbergh kidnapping, the murderous Cherry Hill rabbi, the Glen Ridge rapists, the "Baby M" saga (one of the rare entries that isn't about crime, but is still a notorious case) and others.
   
   What's creepy is that in some of the cases, the perpetrator is still at large.
   
   There are more than 400 pages in this paperback, but the writing style is so breezy and fun, and the passages are separated into categories, that it's an easy and delightful read. It might even make a good gift.
   
   And there are also the requisite mob stories in here, if you're a "Sopranos" fan. A very well-done read.



2. Jon Blackwell has summed up New Jersey's notorious past in one neatly bundled 400+ page volume.
   
   Notorious New Jersey: 100 True Tales of Murderers and Mobsters, Scandals and Scoundrels provides a perfect read for anyone who wants to understand why New Jersey deserves its laughingstock slogan from former Gov. Richard Codey: "Welcome to New Jersey: Come See For Yourself."
   
   After reading Notorious New Jersey you won't need to go "see for yourself" -- you'll have read the book (good enuf!!) -- and can stay alive in the relative safety of your own home.
   
   Everybody knows at least a dozen New Jersey jokes, but Blackwell has pulled together most of the reasons for all the cringes that are synonymous with almost anything completely Jersey -- murders (too numerous to name so check the FBI files), mobsters -- The Sopranos (need I say more), scandals -- (a gay-American governor and the long line of his cronies are just the newest additions) and scoundrels (if you eliminate this category Jersey would go from the most densely populated state to a vast wasteland of emptiness, well maybe).
   
   In "Notorious New Jersey", Blackwell cordons off the scoundrels, creeps and human debris that have made the Garden State a place to avoid in the minds of many. The chapters in the book are delineated into areas titled Old Rascals, Dead Wrong, Mob Paradise, Power Corrupts, Enemy Action and Cause Celebres, and is filled with the stories that have made headlines in New Jersey, and around the world, for more than three centuries.
   
   In Blackwell's Notorious New Jersey you'll learn why the state could well be best described as the "Serial Murderer State" or the "Murder Capital of the World". In New Jersey they just do it right -- killing is the name of the game it seems.
   
   But murder isn't New Jersey's only commodity. Blackwell reaches into the archives to refresh our memories about why the state was the perfect place to film the TV show "The Sopranos" with page after page of stories about New Jersey's notorious mobsters.
   
   People in New Jersey have always known that there is always a "New Jersey connection" to any national newspaper headline or TV breaking news story -- just think the Unibomber, 1993s World Trade Center bombing, anthrax, and on and on and on...
   
   Blackwell has done a superb job in pulling together all the great stories about Notorious New Jersey.
   
   Buy this book!!! You'll be reading it for years to come, and shaking your head in disbelief every time you hear about a news story with a New Jersey connection. And you'll have Jon Blackwell to thank for that bit of reality.



3. If you grew up in New Jersey, you know you're tougher than anyone else. This book just confirms it.
   
   Blackwell takes the reader on a thrilling ride through the Garden State's most infamous and darkest moments. Any true Jerseyan would be proud of Blackwell's hard-hitting tales of native rogues and rapscallions.



4. Author Jon Blackwell treats us to a variety of categories in his 100 true tales from my favorite section on mob bosses to corrupt politicians, terrorists, spies, and other infamous characters that make up the shady history in New Jersey. The reader is taken back to relive "old rascals" such as Aaron Burr's duel with Alexander Hamilton in Weehawken, a fight to the death between Ambrose Harris and Robert "Mudman" Simon, "The Mad Hatter" dies in the chair (barber), "Richie the Boot" Boiardo and his mysterious house, and so many others are gruesomely fascinating. I also learned that Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski's exploits may not be all that they are cracked up to be in the recent book entitled "The Iceman." The book covers a lot about crooked politicians and other shady characters I've never heard of while I would have liked to have more of the book devoted to the mobsters. Nevertheless the book is one to add to your true crime collection.

5 comments about Escape: The true story of the only Westerner ever to break out of Thailand's Bangkok Hilton.

1. Thailand's Klong Prem prison has become a synonym for Asian hell-holes, a reputation not reduced by the large numbers of jail tourists who schedule a visit in their itineraries to their imprisoned countrymen and women between shopping at the floating market and swilling Singha beer in a Patpong girlie bar.
   David McMillan was held in the `Bangkok Hilton' awaiting trial on drug charges in the mid-`90s for almost two years. If his trial had ended the way most local trials do, he might still be there today, as sentences range between thirty and ninety-nine years. Before his trial ended, McMillan escaped, becoming the first Westerner to successfully break out of Klong Prem, a feat no one has yet repeated.
   ESCAPE is not the usual, crying, my-life-in-hell story. Firstly, the author makes no excuses for his life as a drug smuggler. Emotional responses to the good, the bad and the ugly in the 12,000-strong prison complex are reported through the reactions of the fifty or more fellow inmates who McMillan describes as he relentlessly pursues his search for the perfect escape plan.
   Secondly, the circumstances of how McMillan came to be arrested in Chinatown and why so many agencies are set against him are revealed in the style of a thriller. Despite the author appearing often cold and ruthless, this reader could not help being alongside him as both accomplices and plans fall away.
   Supporting characters are surprisingly varied for the closed environment: not only Eddie the junkie-courier from Switzerland, Chang the Taiwanese cook, Kelvin the sorrowful Hawaiian, Rick the conniving English bar owner, but also Germans pretending to be barons, Nigerians actually princes, young clubbers, jaded Americans, mysterious Chinese and a mad anarchist-scientist serving fifty years' for being the translator on a Canadian drug deal. As well, a motley collection of languishing Australians, surreally presented at a real embassy Christmas party inside the prison grounds.
   Throughout escape plans A-to-Z (including a comic attempt to brazen through the corridors dressed as UN medics pretending to evacuate prisoners during an epidemic), McMillan is supported or hindered by those closest to him, including his girlfriend, a part-time jazz singer from New Zealand.
   Despite the hard-boiled waterfront-reporter voice of the author, I couldn't help wondering if the true McMillan began as one of the near-suicides in the remand section, quickly passed aside in the early chapters, before changing into the one who got away. My copy was published in Singapore where the death penalty still applies; appropriate for a book that never laments, apologises or preaches, yet tells more in fewer words about people facing death or oblivion than books twice as thick.



2. Inspired by TV series "Prison Break " I picked this book.
   I would give 2 stars for this one. Perhaps, I was looking for more "moving and exciting" story that close to Prison Break. This one is a bit slow and nothing unusual.. did not even touch my heart, considered this is a true story



3. 
   Most of us might pass by gut-wrenching stories of prison escapes, but this true prison break story breaks the mold. It is really a story of loyalty and friendship.
   Without McMillan's passionate girlfriend and his enduring friends he would have never managed the near-impossible jailbreak. Every chapter left me wanting more, and as ever, the truth is stranger than fiction.
   
   
   Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail



4. I read this book six months ago and only now begin to see all the links - and I'm no conspiracy-theory nutcase. ESCAPE reads like a racy, often amusing thriller while giving the absolute truth on one of the world's scariest prisons, and fine instructions on how to escape. Yet after re-reading THE UNDERGROUND EMPIRE (the 1980s tome on governments using crooks) the added layers of ESCAPE began to show. There are puzzles, joke names (not unusual when names are changed to protect the guilty), slices of numerology, mathematical sequences and some real poetry concealed in the text (for example, a weather-stained wall described as a colorful mural, followed by lunch: ` ...a dark bROTH CO-mingling with...' my CAPS reveal Rothko); yet it is all true. This man was the only European to break out, and almost everyone he meets on the way appears as though they were meant to pass through like some Zen journey. ESCAPE reads at times like Dashiell Hammett and then an early Thomas Pynchon The Crying of Lot 49 (Perennial Fiction Library) with revelations from the Illuminati. The feeling of being manipulated as by THE MAGUS. My second thought was the story is some elaborate journalists' practical joke such as Southern/Hoffenberg's CANDY. Those books are all fiction, this is not - the history is in the newspapers, although only the paper archives as the trail goes cold and transforms with the dawn of the internet age. ESCAPE is a book that won't leave you alone. There is more in this book with every reading



5. I kept turning the pages on this one: a surprise for me because I don't like drug-smugglers and was expecting something smug from the one who got away. Every chapter is a self-contained story building up to the big night. Actually, the big night becomes less important since we know he got out but that doesn't spoil the story any more than knowing Charles de Gaulle wasn't assassinated in Day of the Jackal. Most of the people David meets in the prison are instantly real. I, like most readers, would want more of the life that led to the arrest and what happened next. I suppose that's coming and there couldn't be more packed in to a book 300 pages long. ESCAPE is a book I'll read again and don't hesitate to recommend to all readers.