5 comments about Black Dahlia Avenger Rev Ed: A Genius for Murder.

1. I am about 98-percent convinced the author's father did commit this crime. Steve Hodel, a veteran of the LAPD and seasoned detective would be more inclined to deny that his own father is the sexual sadist and murderer that this book purports him to be simply out of the trauma that arises from this disovery.. But he does just opposite, using his extensive investigative skill set to stitch together a narrative at the cost of his own emotional well being. Clearly, this is no average cop. I am not an expert on criminology, forensic medicine, or criminal law. I am, however, an expert on art history/visual culture of the 20th century and beyond and find that the simple dismissal of Man Ray as a sadist and misogynist is this book's single greatest flaw. The European avant-garde, particularly the surrealist movement, because of its parallel with the absorption of patriarchy-laden (and thus flawed) psychoanalytic discourse into popular culture, is strongly misogynist. Many an argument has been made that the process of figural fragmentation is a male fantasy of acting violence upon the female body.. the body as an object. In this sense, Man Ray *was* part of a misogynist salon--the surrealists. However, to make the jump from Man Ray-surrealist-misogynist to Man Ray-criminal misogynist is, at best, comparing the "apples" of cultural misogyny to the "oranges" of actual criminal behavior.



2. One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
   
   A SHOCKER....ALL I KNOW IS THERE IS A SUCH THING AS DIVINE JUSTICE..I applaud Steve for his work to solve the murder of Elizabeth Short....



3. No doubt, this book causes a lot of heat and strong reaction. Many who've read it remain unconvinced, but nevertheless, the book itself is very well researched and written.
   
   Steve Hodel is the son of George Hodel - a Hollywood doctor running a VD clinic in unsavory LA in the '40s. The character profile Steve Hodel writes of his father is utterly fascinating, and can only come from one who knows him intimately, as well as having access to other family members and acquaintances.
   
   Steve Hodel was also a supervising detective on the LAPD for over 20 years, and has a well-established reputation as an honest and hard-driving professional. (There is a very strong professional summary given in the book of Steve's reputation, by Stephen Kay, the long-tenured assistant LA District Attorney, who, upon reviewing Steve's case against his father, states unequivocably that were Dr. Hodel still alive, he would be facing two murder indictments.
   
   DA Kay also concludes the case as being "solved," which is no small addmission coming from a man throughly versed with hundreds of LA murder investigations ranging over 30 years. (Steve Hodel's critics should be so similarly qualified.)
   
   Many reviewers have chosen to concentrate on some of the weaker elements of the Hodel case - the album pictures that do not resemble E. Short as well as others, the Man Ray association, the abortion ring cover-up, etc. But these critcs rarely face the strongest evidence head-on.
   
   The undeniable facts about the case cannot be changed. E.S. was murdered in a horrible manner, and deliberately posed in a particular fashion.
   
   The body shows evidence of a pathological killing; deliberate and thought out. (unlike a murder stemming from a fit of passion.)
   
   The body was *cleanly* transected by someone who knew how to disect a body, (which is virtually impossible for someone without medical training to do.)
   
   The killer knew E.S., and sent over 13 letters and postcards to the newspapers and police in the month after the murder. These communications shed enormous light on the spiritual character of the murderer.
   
   The killer's handwriting is preserved on several of these cards, (which Steve Hodel has positively identified as being his father's, via both his own recognition and via a professional handwriting analysis.)
   
   After more than 2 years of independent investigation, Steve Hodel arrived at his conclusions stated in his book *completely unaware that the very same conclusions had been drawn by investigating detectives over 50 years ago!* Once the DA's secret files were reviewed, (which had not been done in over 50 years,) they showed conclusively that George Hodel had been *the prime suspect* in this investigation. (To the extent that his house had been bugged, and surviving transcripts detail incriminating disclosures made by him.)
   
   My conclusion is that Steve Hodel has made his case. Surely, there are areas where the author has engaged in some speculation, (namely, in trying to piece together certain timelines and associations.) But the evidence he brings to bear is exceedingly powerful and far beyond the realm of mere conjecture.
   
   You will have to discern for yourself, but I find the overwhelming number of points of confluence highly persuasive. If Steve Hodel's case is so flimsy and weak, (as some conclude,) then why was Dr. Hodel such a chief suspect during the time of the investigation? Why was his house bugged, (when there is no record of any other suspects receiving this level of scrutiny,) if his culpability is so "preposterous," as is maintained by some.
   
   An honest reader can discern that Steve Hodel has presented a very powerful case. His experience as a real live LA homicide detective so qualifies him as a professional in this area that *by this fact alone* his investigation proceeds on highly reputable grounds. (That he maintains the killer is his *own father* simply adds all the more gravitas; for why would any man utterly trash his fathers' [and by association, his own,] family reputation if this case were not true?)
   
   The "modus operandi" of a serial killer is well documented. George Hodel fits this profile to a "T". Steve Hodel's coined term, "thoughtprints," confuses some, but is simply a modern description of the motivations inherent to virtually all human action. It is the spiritual backdrop that explains the "why" a thing is done. Once Steve proves conclusively that George Hodel is the killer of E. Short, he proceeds to link him to a dozen more pathological murders in the LA area in the years before and after January of 1947.
   
   As I've stated, the evidence is compelling, and many professionals have agreed. That some are not convinced is evidence of many things other than a lack of well-presented, powerful, and utterly substantive evidence. Read for yourself and see.



4. This book will be too graphic, too "dark," for anyone who thinks we can solve our worst social problems without looking at them. It makes no sense that the killing (and killings) has not been solved; so what has been done only begs the question. I say more. I don't want to look back on this world when I'm eighty and say if we'd only...



5. This book details the heinous murder/mutilation of Elizabeth Short, aka The Black Dahlia, and the subsequent investigations of her death. Here, we have what could have been a genuine page-turner of a sordid tale (more on the quality of the story later) and one of the strangest accounts that I've ever read.
   
   The author, Steve Hodel, a retired senior LAPD homicide detective, decided to try and solve this very cold case which occurred on or about 15 January 1947. Short's naked body was found provocatively placed, severed in twain, in a vacant lot in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California. Probably because it was the Hollywood Press who got on to the story, Short soon became known to the world as "The Black Dahlia" which, of course, sensationalized the subsequent publicity of this renowned murder.
   
   WARNING! SPOILER AHEAD!!!
   
   Now, as to the story being a strange one, it's chiefly due to how the facts evolved as Hodel pursued them. As he amassed data he was shocked to learn that his prime suspect turned out to be his own father who happened to be a well-known physician and frequent lecturer on forensics at the Los Angeles Police Academy! This was Dr. George Hodel, an associate of the renowned Russian composer Serge Rachmaninoff, among other notables.
   
   The elder Hodel was a child prodigy who originally attended a Montessori School run by Madame Montessori herself in Paris, France -- Hodel's I.Q. was 186, a point higher than that of Albert Einstein. Dr. Hodel died in 1991.
   
   While Steve Hodel's evidence is incredibly convincing, his conclusions on the case are still called into question by people who are much more well-informed on the case than I am. And I have to confess, as a retired life-long professional law enforcement officer myself, there is something, some niggling incongruity, about Hodel's account which lacked finality; however, I am at a loss as to exactly where to put my finger on the precise spot where Hodel may have missed something as the book is quite long and heavily fact-oriented.
   
   I shorted the author the fifth star on this one as, while his book is a block-buster in terms of sensationalism, he is unfortunately a marginal story-teller and the text suffers somewhat as a result. Still, his resolution is so compelling that I still feel obligated to recommend the book for others to read.

5 comments about Slave Girls (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. Each chapter is a different story of modern slavery, mostly in the civilized world, concentrating on Britain and the US. However, many chapters are only half a dozen pages long; the reader is left with many questions. Some of these cases are extremely interesting and should be books in their own rights.



2. This book is decent. Every chapter is a different story of girls that are held captive around the world. Each chapter is fairly short (10 - 20 pages) and only gives a quick version and not many details. This book is alright but almost reads like a book report.



3. Slaves girls takes you into a world, you'd like to believe doesn't exsist.
   The book goes onto detail various crimes, of human enslavement. I would've liked a more In-depth look into Slavery and sex Crimes, however this book contains only short chapters.
   This book held my interest completely, and left my wanting more.
   I Like the writing style, but it could've been perfected.
   I read alot of true crime books, I'd suggest this to anyone interested in True Crime.
   Thank You for Reading my book Review and Happy Reading!!!!



4. The book did not have enough information to make it interesting. Very short stories on modern slavery in a civilized (?) world. It makes you wonder what makes some people feel they have the right to rule someone else. I felt like its stories were just "SAME CRIME"..."DIFFERENT DAY". Did not hold my interest.



5. This is light reading about a very complex subject. Each terrible tale asks more questions than it tells. I can't imagine that this book was meant to be anything other than a cheap thrill.

3 comments about Understanding Street Gangs.

1. I bought this book probably in '87 at Long Beach Uniform. It had good information at the time of publication concering the gangs in the greater LA area at the time. Gang associations, graffiti, turf, activity, and turfs are covered. Crimes known to be done by certain gangs are covered, heredity of the latino gangs, tattos, etc. are both covered and photos shown.
   Seems like a good informational book with little narrative about what society should do about them. I was surprised I am the first reviewer of the book. I had thought a policeman or trainee would have long ago reviewed this book.



2. This book was great for research purposes. Understanding gangs and their signs was pretty much on point. The only complaint would be that it's from the 80's. Lot of the gang MO is still true but there is a section about "Stoner" Gangs, which are 80's metal heads. Basically if you wear a band shirt, jeans and sneakers you fit the dress of a Stoner gang. Their graffiti is band names like Rush and Twisted Sister (this should tell you the age of the book) and "Satanic" things. Also that car clubs are gangs but they don't have a certain style of dress or have graffiti. If you want a good laugh you can read it but for research or academic purposes skip over those sections.
   The information on all the other gangs is good. The book talks about their dress, their graffiti, their gang signs, etc. Even on the booking and how they keep gang profiles on each member, showing the documents that they use as well. Good for research or a quick good laugh in some areas.



3. The book is very helpful in learning what to look for provides insight into gang the gangs reason for being .

No comments about Exploring Crime Analysis: Readings on Essential Skills.

5 comments about Nuremberg Diary.

1. Also see Nuremberg Goering's Last Stand , with Hannes Hellmann as HGm History Channel, Ex 5 Stars.



2. I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I was very glad I picked it up. It began a little slowly, but gained momentum quickly and soon had me unable to put it down. Dr. Gilbert, the psychologist and diarist, delivers an in-depth and intimate portrayal of the mental make-up of the Nazi's on trial at Nuremberg. I came away from this book feeling as though I had been at Dr. Gilbert's side throughout the trial, speaking to each defendant individually on a daily basis.
   
   A real "fly-on-the-wall", behind the scenes view of the Nuremberg trials. Highly recommended.



3. A great companion to the TNT Network movie "Nuremberg" of a few years ago (available on dvd). You'll come away with a good understanding of an important era of history.



4. This was a fascinating book. One that every student of WWII history should read.



5. This book is the "fly on the wall" account of the surviving Nazi leaders in their final chapter of their infamous history.
   
   Gustave Gilbert was the American Jewish psychoanalyst that the Army placed in the Nuremberg Trials as both a suicide deterrent and a "spy" to glean information on what made those monsters tick. He interferes very little as the deposed leaders "spilt their guts" out to him as they awaited sentencing.
   
   His account of what transpired is now used as a reference in classes on psychology for aberrant and psychopathic personalities. This book is full of surprises! Some are comedic, most are ghastly.
   
   He reports on Streicher's fanaticisms and bombastic speeches about "Hitler and the halo on his head." He reports on the once arrogant Ribbentrop being reduced to a washrag without the support of his "fuhrer." All cases of blind militarism, puffed arrogance, and fanatical foolishness are represented in this collection of papers, detailing how mundane losers can become madmen in the right set and setting.
   
   Of particular interest is his observations of Goering. That man prided himself on being the world's "school bully." Yet he was a moral coward, who doped himself during the war rather than have his childish hero-fantasies crushed. It took a man like Gilbert to crush Goering's goadings and proddings of the other defendants with promises of "Marble Caskets."
   
   Through Gilbert's influence, most of the Nazi leadership finally recognized their errors and sins.
   
   This book should be a "must read" for those interested in why such calamities happen in world history. Also it should be a "must read" for those crazy neo-nazis and Holocaust deniers out there. Gilbert got all his information on the whole Nazi "religion" straight from the horses mouths.

5 comments about The Cyanide Canary.

1. I'm a long time Idaho resident and libertarian. I am pretty cynical about help from the Federal government, but...
   
   In Idaho, someone tried to get ahead by cutting corners in ways that impacted others. We have a perfect role for government to step in. This is a true tragedy. The story is almost over and then takes another twist that really had me sprinting to the end of the book.
   
   As I promote free markets, people always ask what will keep big business from destroying the world. This is a great story about the difficulties, and ultimate triumph of the government's effort to make one citizen accountable for his actions.



2. I bought this book for a friend for Christmas and found I had to go back and buy two more copies (one for myself and as another gift), because I started reading it before wrapping it and couldn't put it down. I won't call this tragic "story"--because the word story implies it is a work of fiction. However, the detailed endnotes based on sworn affidavit, deposition and trial testimony, as well as numerous citations to witness interviews show it is well researched recital of shockingly true facts. Written in the third person, it reads as easily as a fiction novel (including simplified medical, chemical and legal jargon), but it clearly is not. Given the monstrosity of the events, it is easy to understand how witnesses involved in the investigation and trial would easily remembered what they said and saw at the time the events occurred. This is a definite read for anyone interested in a well written and researched compelling story of finding justice in a small Idaho-company based town. The only people who might not want to read it now would be those who don't want to have their holiday preparations waylaid (because it will pull you into the story), or those who are still denying the facts of what happened.



3. We lived and worked in eastern Washington State during the mid-1990s for environmental companies and both had to take safety classes where they explained the dangers of confined space entries and the precautions you have to take for working in those environments, not to mention all the other regulatory and safety requirements needed for working with hazardous chemicals. We were lucky: we were educated, well-paid, working for environmental clean-up companies with lucrative government contracts where safety was good business practice.
   
   The circumstances detailed in The Cyanide Canary are 180 degrees different. Allen Elias, the owner of the Evergreen facility, was not engaged in environmental cleanup, but working on the cheap trying to develop a commercial means of reprocessing waste. His employees were high-school graduates desperate for a job, with no safety training or understanding of the requirements for confined space work, nor any clue, really, about the hazards of certain chemicals--things Elias did know. Which is why Elias was charged with criminal conduct after one of his workers was injured during a tank cleanout. The story of the accident, along with the resulting investigation, and trial, makes up this book, which reads like a long Law & Order episode, almost complete with the "Ka-Chung" sound at the end of each chapter. As such, it should appeal to L&O fans, or anyone with an interest in how environmental law is being developed.
   
   The weakest part of the book is the beginning chapter, where the authors attempt to portray the events of the accident in an almost novelistic method, including trying for some suspense about whether the victim, Scott Dominguez, would survive or not. After they get that out of the way (more than likely, a suggestion from some bone-headed editor who felt the beginning needed some punch or a grab for the reader), the book settles down into its portrayal of Hilldorfer's investigation, bolstered by all the interviews and transcripts that were eventually used to indict Elias and bring the case to trial. The truly riveting part of the book is not the opening, but the trial, the question of whether Elias will be found guilty, and whether or not he will attempt to flee justice.
   
   I enjoyed the book quite a bit, reading it in two sessions during a train ride to and from NYC. It's a revealing look into the legal world, and also an interesting case study between the kinds of murder cases usually seen on Law & Order and the "white collar" crime that usually does not end up in jail sentences for the convicted.



4. Picking up a well-written book always scares me. It means everything on my carefully planned TO-DO list (except job and kitties, of course) will get reprioritized. Oh well.
   
   I'm about halfway through a real page-turner of an exposé, `The Cyanide Canary,' by Joseph Hilldorfer and Robert Bugoni. This true account of an environmental waste cover-up brings to mind Jonathan Harr's "A Civil Action," with parallel themes of corruption and negligence. Here Hilldorfer is the primary EPA agent in charge of bringing hazardous materials transgressor Allan Elias to justice. Elias is described as an outrageously amoral con-artist whose in-your-face OSHA violations are breathtaking in their heedlessness. Working with larger chemical waste corporations such as Kerr-McGee, Elias' chicanery and unabashed stonewalling has allowed him in the past to slip through the net of the Environmental Protection Agency. Hilldorfer becomes personally vested in this case when he learns of the significant neurological damage sustained by one of the men Elias sent to clean out the `tank.'
   
   The `EPA' is generally regarded as a behemoth greatly to be feared, but the agency as depicted here has few enforcement `teeth' and even fewer agents with a desire to sink those teeth into violators. While the public believes that pursuing environmental lawbreakers on criminal or civil levels is second-nature to the EPA, that's not evident in the book so far. The author suspects the EPA is picking and choosing its battles involving criminal prosecution.
   
   `The Cyanide Canary' was inspired by that sine-qua-non of all good writing: passion and compassion. An issue is only as credible as how well it's expressed, and the articulation in this book is superb. Objectivity and balance --even understatement--pack a powerful punch with me. Writers Joseph Hilldorfer and Robert Dugoni manage to make their case dramatic and compelling through a wry Jack Webb `just-the-facts-ma'am' style that allows readers to easily tap into their own reserves of disgust and wonder, outrage and sympathy.
   
   Like the author in `A Civil Action,' Joseph Hilldorfer finds this investigation leeching into his personal life, his thoughts, his sleep.
   
   And so do I. I must find out how things end here. The cats are fed, but the bills, dishes and deadlines will wait. I can't resist the mesmerizing siren of a particular `canary' one minute more.
   
   Therese Hercher



5. I was quite impressed with the detailed account of the trial and the events leading up to it !!!!
   
   On the other hand I was sorely disappointed with the seeming total disregard for the workers safety !!!!
   
   It is fly-by-nite outfits like this that give the rest of the chemical industry a bad name.
   
   Many of us have spent our entire or large portion of our working life ensuring the workers safety !!!!
   
   Thanks for a great book and being a voice for the worker.

5 comments about Hush Little Babies: The True Story Of A Mother Who Murdered Her Own Children (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. THIS BOOK WAS HARD TO GET THROUGH. AT THE END, I WAS STILL WONDERING IF SHE KILLED HER CHILDREN OR NOT. THE LAST 10 OR SO PAGES WERE THE BEST OF THE WHOLE BOOK. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HER HUSBAND DID NOT HERE THE CHILDREN SCREAM-SEEMS FAR-FETCHED TO ME.



2. Story written about the infamous Darlie Routier who was tried and convicted for the murder of her young son. Although both boys were murdered the state of Texas only tried her for one murder. She was found to be guilty and sentenced to death. There have been several books written about the case, some good, some not so good. This read was mediocre, it didn't bring about anything that hadn't already been wrote, but the story was told accurately as reported by the media.



3. On the night of June 5, 1996, Darlie Lynn Routier stabbed her two sons, six-year-old Devon and five-year-old Damon, to death and then slashed her own throat, all while her husband and baby son slept upstairs. New York Times bestselling author Donald A. Davis, former news correspondent, editor, and now writer of some of the biggest crimes of the decade, writes the biography and the case of Darlie. Although Davis succeeds in accuracy and is extremely knowledgeable about crime in general, the book is almost completely one-sided and leaves many questions unanswered.
   
   Darlie seemed to be the perfect mother to most of her Dallas community, until police found that her story was filled with far too many inconsistencies. Davis successfully paints a clear background of Darlie and her husband, Darin Routier's, past through chapters 10 to 12 and is very knowledgeable when it comes to crime and criminal cases. He also pays very close attention to the details of the case. Unfortunately, while the cover and summary clearly state that Darlie is a cold, calculative killer, Davis almost completely takes Darlie's side and the story continues in that manner, paying close attention to the defense's testimonies in the case and not enough to the prosecution's.
   
   Hush Little Babies is overall an easy read. It builds up suspense and then leaves you wondering what will happen in the next chapter. When changing to an idea or another viewpoint Davis separates them with asterisks, making it easy to tell when the story will change. The chapters are extremely short, however, with 32 in the whole book. This sometimes makes the story feel choppy and confuses the reader into thinking the subject of the chapter will change, when the exact same information will be separated into three different chapters.
   
   When I first started to read Hush Little Babies I was prepared to read a biography with a few interesting details into why this mother would kill her children. Instead I felt I was reading dramatic work of fiction that outlined Darlie as a "poor, defenseless" mother who sat "horrified" as she "watched her sons die in a pool of their own blood". While there were details of the case poking out through all that drama, I found that in some instances there were far too many. On page 175, Davis goes so far as to mention the temperature and average rainfall of the tiny little town in which the case goes to court! While the style of the story did hurt the overall book, Davis succeeded in his comparisons of past cases, including the case of Susan Smith, who strapped her sons into her car and drove it into a lake. His knowledge of past cases and of how the court system works also makes the story more interesting. I only wish he could have answered the question of whether Darlie was actually the murderer, or what happened to her family after she was finally sentenced to death.
   
   Overall, Hush Little Babies was an interesting read with very good details and a simple format. The only thing that really hurt the story was its style, and the fact that it tried far too hard in showing that Darlie Routier may have been innocent.



4. I tend to be the type to think everyone accused is guilty and while I do think Darlie probably is, this book really pointed out the scary inconsistencies of the States case against her. It was troubling that the author began by seemingly supporting that she was guilty but by the last 1/3, he really was leaning towards her innocence. He does to a good job pointing out the holes in the prosecutions theories but spends a little too much time doing just that. Overall a very good read and I look forward to ordering the other books on her case.



5. I liked this book because it presents the basic facts of the case, as well as the positions of the State and the defendant, Darlie Routier. I do not know if I would agree with reviews that say Don Davis seemed to conclude in the end that Darlie was innocent. Rather, I think Davis was trying to get across the point that he was disappointed with the trial because the State played to the emotions of a conservative jury instead of staying close to the facts.
   
   This case is probably too difficult to crack because even the two experts for the State, James Cron and Alan Brantley, figured out that there was no intruder, but neither expert could specifically state why Darlie would have killed her two sons. My opinion, which is basically Crime Scene Analysis 101, is that the correct person is behind bars, but that this is a jealous (because the attack is neither a sustained attack nor a quick kill) rage (I think that putting a knife is someone's back six times is a pretty good indication) killing. If you look hard enough and think long enough, you will be able to find both jealousy and rage in this case. Although most people believe that the killings were for money, this type of killing is not consistent with a killing for money, which tends to be matter of fact and have much less violence than what we see here.

5 comments about King of the Godfathers: Joseph Massino and the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Mr. DeStefano's latest book is the defining work on the Bonanno Crime Family! This book expounds on Mr. DeStefano's meticulous & compelling coverage of the Massino trial, incorporating Joe Massino's early years and rise to power, along with a concise history of the Mafia's major figures.
   His years as a respected journalist, have given Mr. DeStefano the ability to lay out the facts with total objectivity, while writing about what is often the basest of human behavior. Deftly, he also weaves in passages which give us insight into the emotional toll paid by those who are inadvertently affected by such a lifestyle.
   This riveting book gives readers entree into a secret society which continues to fascinate and affirms why Mr. DeStefano is one of the finest reporters on the beat today.
   I look forward to seeing the next organized crime book by this superb writer and mob aficionado!
   
   PS I wonder if a previous reviewer has confused this terrific book with another with a similar name, by a different author?



2. King Of The Gordfathers is an extremely well written book! I found it very deep and informative, so much so that I wondered how Anthony DeStefano got the 'members of the family' to reveal all of the inside stories. This book opens up the silence that was for so many years repressed and only speculated about. Mr. DeStefano also shows the work of the FBI and law enforcement agencies in finally putting pieces together that brought down one of the last of the 'old world' families. A big plus are the crystal clear photo section and an epilogue on 'Where They Are Now' King Of The Godfathers is a very detailed book that one needs to take the time to think about as you read through its chapters. Being of Sicilan heritage, I was very impressed, enlightened and educated, let alone a bit surprised! This book also shows why Mr.DeStefano won a Pulitzer Prize in 1991. You will not be disappointed in reading!



3. i liked the way this book gave alot of info about the wives of mob figures.I've always wondered what the wives knew about their husband's activities and how they rationalized it. The wives are a convenient way to hide and transfer the assets of mobsters and they should bear some(or alot) of the guilt.The one DA in the book was putting pressure on mobster wives and this was a tactic I was unaware of and have wondered why mobsters' wives were considered,"untouchable".After all who is too often pressuring the mobster to bring in more money?
   Joe Massino or "Joe Wagons"(nicknamed for his sandwich and coffee truck business) is represented in this book as one of the "Last Dons".Because law enforcement techniques are making the "family" less profitable and more dangerous, more and more mobsters are turning "states evidence".This book tells the tale of how law enforcement is breaking the comraderie of mobsters who previously took a "blood oath" to be faithful to the mob.Behind the facade of the "ham sandwuch guru",the story of Massino, is one filled with scams and murder.Apparently there's not much money in ham sandwiches,but it does get a person out into the working world to promote their scams.This book will keep you glued.Lots of gruesome photos which initially shock,but then as you read the history of the poor unfortunate you feel alot less sympathetic.(Just the mob's way of cleaning it's own house)!Well researched and highly readable



4. awesome book, couldn't put it down.



5. If you are like me, you thought the mafia would die out when John Gotti went to jail. That is clearly not the case, as this book perfectly illustrates. Fantastic, entertaining book about one of the bosses of one of the powerful Five Families in New York. The man only recently went to prison in 2003. Book (the softbound edition) covers his entire life of crime all the way through his trial in 2004 along with developments through early 2008. It is an entertaining, educational, informative read, covering not only the boss, but the Bonnano family and NY mafia families in general. If you want to learn what the modern day mob is like and have a good time while doing so, then buy this book.

5 comments about Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It?.

1. I am a great fan of Mr. Rehak. I have read all of his books, and he has not disappointed me yet. It is obvious from reading the book that Mr. Rehak did a considerable amount of research. But, what sets this book apart from the others that have been written about Lizzie is the "extra step" that Mr. Rehak takes in making the story all his with that glorious story telling that he weaves into all his books. He is a very talented writer with a wonderful sense of humor. I am looking forward to his next book. (Yes, I think Lizzie did it.)



2. I recently finished reading David Rehak's book; "DID LIZZIE BORDEN AXE FOR IT?"
   As the "fly-sheet" indicates, this book on Lizzie Borden is a collection of facts and poses no theory or specific agenda regarding the murders.
   It would have been better if, Rehak had put a little more of himself and ideas into the book.
   
   Rehak delivers a "semi-truck" full of accumulated factual information and then...dumps the entire load onto the reader with little or, no mercy. Trying to dig oneself out from underneath this mountain of information to understand what is pertinent and what is not, seems a rather hopless task.
   
   The author also seems to simply by-pass some informational leads because "he" feels the story has nothing supporting it's validity. For instance; he mentions (on page65-66) an old nurse who, in 1984 claimed she had cared for Lizzie Borden in 1926 (the year before Lizzie's death). The nurse claimed Lizzie had confided in her that one of her "boyfriends" (if she ever had any),David Anthony had in fact, committed the crimes. This man, according to the author, was later identified (by whom?), but died in 1924. Mr. Rehak dismisses this entire story seemingly because suspect, David Anthony would have only been 22 years old at the time of the crime while Lizzie would have been 32.
   
   Despite all of this; David Rehak has published not a literary masterpiece, but a much better reference book for all of us "arm-chair" detectives to call upon when the trail gets even colder.
   
   Did Lizzie Axe for it? I think, she asked someone else "to Axe for her."



3. I had the privilege of editing the first version of this book for author David Rehak. This is an excellent, updated version with a new cover that I find appropriate for the book's content.
   
   Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It? is Rehak's first nonfiction book, for which he did extensive research. Rehak discovered many new facts about Lizzie Borden, and to lighten the serious nature of the book, he also wrote some humorous skits. At first thought, one would tend to think humor wouldn't work in a book like this, but he pulls it off ... somehow. I found the break from gore to humor to be a welcome relief. (Well, it works in the best horror movies, doesn't it?)
   
   Even if you're not into "Bordenia," which I'm not, you will be intrigued by this book. It's different, to say the least. I learned new things about Lizzie Borden that haven't been brought to light before, and the previously unpublished photos add more mystery to the content.
   
   Someone once wrote of Rehak: "He dares to go where most authors fear to tread." And I agree: In his fictitious works, he writes about many taboo subjects. This nonfiction book about Lizzie Borden seems natural for his unique skills.
   
   Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
   Author of: Millennium Babe: The Prophecy



4. 
   There are many unsolved murders in history, but few hold the public interest like the 1892 slayings of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts. Lizzie, 32 years old at the time, was tried for the murders and found innocent but as David Rehak points out, her acquittal was never fully endorsed by public opinion. He proposes that the story lives on in part because the public sees Lizzie as either (a) having acted out their own fantasy of retribution, or else (b) as a symbol of gross suspicion and injustice. There was family disharmony, a large inheritance under dispute, a suspect of unblemished reputation, and a mountain of fact and speculation that defied integration into a sound case.
   
   Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It? is a compendium of Bordenia that is sure to enlighten all with an interest in this mystifying case. David Rehak, known for his works of fiction, developed an interest in the case and researched meticulously before presenting this book. The current edition has been amplified and re-issued, and there are a few editing flaws in this new version that could have been addressed to bump my rank up to five stars. In spite of this, I found it an absorbing and extremely thorough canvass of the facts and speculations about the case. There are many photographs included, some of them previously unpublished.
   
   Starting with a thorough chronology of the fateful day in August 1892, Rehak goes on to examine the sometimes-confusing facts from the public record. Next he covers the speculation and rumor that emerged in his research. The suggestion of a never-revealed diary, theories about Lizzie's relationships and sexuality, and stories from her later life are detailed fastidiously. The sites and "shrines" associated with Lizzie's life and the murders are covered--the house where the Bordens lived and died is now a bed-and-breakfast hotel.
   
   The final section of the book is the most unusual. Rehak discusses a number of articles in print that relate to the case. He details the non-disclosure of case-related documents held by Lizzie's trial attorney which are protected by legal privilege. There is a challenge to this status from a number of parties, with the argument being made that historical interest trumps privilege in this case, with all participants being long dead. Will we ever see the contents of the five file drawers secured in a law firm in Springfield, Massachusetts?
   
   As a final serving of Bordenia, the book finishes with some fictional writings featuring Lizzie and the case. Here the speculations are given free rein! It's an entertaining finish to a sad story. Our desire to know what actually happened to Andrew and Abby Borden may never be satisfied, but Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It? takes the discussion forward in a most entertaining fashion.
   
   Linda Bulger, 2008



5. Well written, great research and good photos. Anybody who appreciates
   good documentation and entertainment will love this book.

4 comments about Stolen in the Night: The True Story of a Family's Murder, a Kidnapping and the Child Who Survived.

1. my only problem is that mr.king wrote word for word from already released info on all the news channel websites. i yahoo'ed the last name of victims in story and was disgusted to find that everything i read in this book was already word for word on many websites. thats very upsetting considering in reading this book I expected to read something different than i had already read about this tragic story on the websites,, Mr.King may I suggest what a disappointment it was to find that you copied websites into a book and rushed for publishing with nothing new to add.. anyone could have written a book just by copying from websites. thats sad..story is excellent with no new info on this crime..
   also there is no BACKGROUNDS AT ALL ON THE FAMILY INVOLVED OR THE KILLER....AGAIN, RUSH TO PUBLISH.. I WONT BUY ANYMORE GARY KING BOOKS KNOWING THAT HE COPIES FROM WEBSITES..I'LL JUST GOOGLE A STORY FROM NOW ON... sorry about mispellings.. have multiple sclerosis and its now effecting my sight and frontal lobe so ...



2. This is the first book that I have read by Gary C. King. I can only hope that this wasn't one of what is considered to be his better works as I found the writing to be only mediocre and barely able to keep my attention.
   
   I disappointed that the background of the victims was only brushed over, and the background information on the convicted, Joseph Duncan III, was little more.
   
   While reading this book, I reached the epilogue thinking that the writer had completed his work and rushed to publishing before we knew the resolution of this particular case. Instead I found that King placed the resolution, along with "editoral" about sex offenders, in the epilogue. This practice is quite unusual for true crime and, quite frankly, was confusing.
   
   Overall, I would choose to read the book when there seemed to be nothing else to read. There are plenty better, but there are just as many worse.



3. The author of this book clearly didn't do his homework. The book seems to be hastily written and it's doubtful that he even left the comfort of his chair. Copy/paste from crime detailed websites, glaring errors and lack of history make this book an easy candidate for the trash can.
   
   Googling some of the phrases used in the book, the reader will find that the author copied a majority of the book.
   
   Apparently the author was too busy copy/pasting to bother to research much in depth. For had he done his homework, he would have known without a doubt that Duncan was born in Fort Bragg, NC. Instead, the author of this book cites three locations where Duncan "might" have been born. Any person with even the slightest knowledge of the Groene/MacKenzie murders knows that Duncan was in fact born at Fort Bragg.
   
   The author could have added several interesting chapters to this book,had he done at least some small fraction of his homework. History on Duncan's involvement with Wacksman over the years as well as Crary, past girlfriends and his childhood would have added a great deal to the interest of the book.
   
   If you're looking for a book that details the life and crimes of Duncan, don't bother with this book... save a tree, save your money and read about it on the internet.



4. I recently started reading more true crime books and this one is the best by far. The details are excellent and it gives the reader a very detailed look inside the life of the killer as well as the lives of all those involved. It is outstanding and will continue to by books by this author. I recommend this to anyone who likes true crime reading.
   
   A++++++ Book