4 comments about Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA.

1. If you're studying the CIA's operations and routines you can't be without Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA. It covers all the CIA's covert and political operations and also considers these actions in relation to America's quest for global democracy, using three decades of research to detail techniques, events, major personalities and more. While general-interest public library holdings may consider this, it's a special pick for college-level or military collections also strong in democratic politics.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. These days I find myself taking the side of the CIA more and more in their wars with the Bush Administration, such the Valerie Plame affair, and the administrations manipulation of intelligence leading to the Iraq war. Amongst those scandals I was starting to forget about past misdeeds of the CIA. Thankfully, John Prados has written a history of the CIA's secret wars, some familiar, such as Cuba, Iran, and Laos, and others more obscure and in danger of being almost forgotten, such as Guyana and Tibet. It is a history of the CIA told from the perspective of its covert operations. And from this perspective we get a further glimpse of the familiar spooks and their deeds, like Allen Dulles, Frank Wisner, Ted Shackley, Richard Helms, Desmond Fitzgerald, William Harvey, and Bill Casey.
   
   Multiple conclusions can be drawn from each of the operations. A recurring theme in of these operations is that the CIA is not the "rogue" agency that does whatever it wishes without the knowledge of the president. In each of these secret wars the president often provided the initiative for the operation, was aware what was occurring, and had the full capability of stopping it at least some point in the operation. A prime example given is Kissinger and Nixon pursuing a more aggressive meddling in Chilean politics against Allende.
   
   Another recurring theme in the operations is often the targeted administrations plotted against were often moderate, independent regimes, who neither wanted to be in the Soviet camp or in the U.S. camp. But, dare they nationalize industries, and suddenly, with our obsessive paranoia of communism, the president and CIA would plot their overthrow, support the shadiest paramilitary insurgents and turn a blind eye to their misdeeds, including drug dealing. Often this led left leaning politicians of the targeted countries straight into the arms of the Soviets.
   
   In Cuba, the rebels created a "disposal" problem. What do you do with armed and trained rebels eager to dispose of Castro, and knowledge of assassination plots? Apparently some believed the answer was to keep the pot boiling. The plots against Castro continued well after Bay of Pigs. In Tibet, Hungary, and Indonesia, the CIA stirred things up and promised support, but for various reasons, such as the need for secrecy or fear of full confrontation, full support to finish the job never arrived. That left rebels dangling, and caused bitterness towards the U.S. Often these operations were fueled by bad, incomplete or ignored intelligence.
   
   Safe for Democracy is an important addition to any CIA history bookshelf. It is a well documented, objective and balanced history of CIA clandestine operations. Our foreign policy hubris is not new, something recently invented by Bush Jr. Though covert operations weren't as brazen as invading and toppling a regime by brute force, the results were destructive for the targeted nations, and did not make the world safe for democracy. The CIA, though it may not be the sole impetus for these operations, was the cat's paw for bad policy, and often a careless one too.



3. The CIA has been a symbol for the mysterious and given almost omnipotent power in the imaginations of those predisposed to paranoia. This very good book should set a number of these notions to rest. John Prados gives us a very detailed of the CIA from its founding out of the WWII OSS.
   
   He shows us its role in engaging in alternative warfare and in undermining regimes that were hostile to America, its allies, and their mutual interests. Prados is not pro-CIA. Nor is he nakedly anti-CIA. It is pretty good reporting. I can't imagine how much digging he had to do to provide the information that is here. I enjoyed one footnote that after he got some information from some declassified files in a Presidential library that planes and agents were sent to collect those documents and others after he published his findings.
   
   Prados points up the embarrassing failures that have become public knowledge. And when there are successes, he points up the transitory nature of such clandestine efforts. He is plainly unconvinced that the long term problems created by those efforts are worth the various kinds of costs incurred in pulling them off. In his concluding chapter he points out that the CIA and intelligence gathering should not be viewed only by the ends they claim to support, but evaluated as to whether their means are compatible with our Democracy and its professed ideals. I will leave this for each reader to judge.
   
   I will say that Prados does not go out of his way, this is already a long book, to set the chessboard up and discuss what the Soviets were doing. In doing so, he makes the United States to out to be the aggressor, instigator, and fumbler of so many global events. In my view, this is a distortion. It isn't that Prados is wrong (he may well be, but I am not competent to say so), it is that he is only showing us one part of the stage. The actors that he show us look quite silly at times, however, if we saw what they were reacting to, with, or against on the unlit art of the stage, our perception of the story might well be different.
   
   Still, this is a very valuable and comprehensive telling of this history and until we get something even more complete or authoritative or more information is declassified, this is a must have text for those interested in the history of the CIA.



4. This is not a history book. This work drips with political taint; by that I mean that the author has a view in mind and sets out to persuade you the reader of that view, ignoring or minimizing events and information that might lead you to a different conclusion. As an intelligence professional, I couldn't stomach it past the first hundred pages.
   
   If you read only this book about the CIA, you will believe it to be a corrupt and ineffective apparatus of clumsy power. While a popular view, it's not correct. But if you already believe that the CIA is a bastion of evil stupidity, prepare to have your belief system validated.
   
   It gets two stars because it does actually include correct facts; it's missing three because they are only select facts, separated by manipulation.

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 Every Woman's Nightmare: The True Story Of The Fairy-Tale Marriage And Brutal Murder Of Lori Hacking.

1. I too followed this story when it broke, and then on Court-TV, and looked forward to the book that would surely result from this case. But this wasn't it. The book jacket says the author is a veteran journalist, but at times he writes like a high school student. I could hardly believe it when I read this (p. 58 of the hard cover edition): "Mark inserted the key into the ignition, put the car into reverse, then into drive as he crept across the smooth asphalt surface of the parking lot." There's too much filler like this in the book. There's also way too much in this book about what Mark Hacking was supposedly thinking - and since the author didn't interview him, who knows what he was thinking? And the same goes for his actions immediately following the murder - who knows what he really did?
   I wish Ann Rule had written this one.



2. I couldn't put this book down. The adacity of this man... .it was her fault that he had to kill her because she had the "nerve" to berate him. When this crime happened I remember thinking "he did it" but his reasoning because she stood up to him. I hope he rots in prison. I hope all Mormen men don't think like this!



3. dont get me wrong, this story is one of the more interesting ive heard of- and thats the only reason i gave it one star (i would otherwise give it zero). the problem is, steven long's writing is so remedial and there are so many basic errors, i was distracted from the story itself. this writer, im sorry to say, is not a good one, and im quite amazed he makes a living off of doing it. i honestly felt like i was reading an 8th graders book report. aside from the fact that he does not know where to place a comma or a period, he also uses the same words again and again, instead of making use of a thesaurus and finding synonymns for them, and thats just not enjoyable to read. ok, i can be a bit of a perfectionist, but this is ridiculous- im quite sure there was no editor here, and if there was, he should be fired. and if you dont care about punctuation errors, you WILL care about the completely repetitive and junior-high style prose. if a good writer had written about this event, i wouldnt be able to put it down; in this case, i couldnt pick it up. i was way too irritated with all of the mistakes and uneducated-sounding text, and i just couldnt finish it.the back of the book states all of steven long's writing accomplishments, and i was shocked that he had any. i dont want to be flat-out mean, but this man did not do lori hacking justice- nor the true crime genre. if you are in junior high and dont know the difference between a talented writer and one who just thinks he is, maybe you can handle this read. anyone else, dont waste your 7 bucks.



4. Albeit before reading this book you'll know who was the killer. The problem with SL is that he wrote the mistakes done by the killer in the first part of the book. So the only quasi thrilling part was how they found the body and even that part isn't such a thrilling part. I also agree with others reviewers that the Mormon explanation at every part of the book is just excessive and boring.



5. not the page turner i was hoping for....
   i feel for lori and her family-and hope mark rots in hell for what he did to her/family
   but this story--needs another writer to write it!!

5 comments about The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France.

1. I love this type of book. The author paints a vivid picture of the society the duellists live in - its customs and values and does a great job of linking these to their emotions and motivations. He describes the places where the action took place in detail, providing pictures and telling the reader where they were and what they are - or are not - now. Having created the world in which the duel took place, and the background, the account of the duel itself is riveting. All in all an excellent book.



2. The last paragraph of the book pretty well says it all:
   "In its private and illegal later form, the 'duel' only dimly reflected the solemn grandeur of its medieval golden age, when angry nobles challenged each other and threw down the gauntlet, then sheathed themselves in armor, swore heavy religious oaths before priests, and spurred their warhorses onto a walled field to fight it out before thousands of witnesses with lance and sword and dagger, putting at risk their word and their honour, their fortunes and their lives, and even the salvation of their immortal souls. The world was not to see the like of such spectacles ever again."
   
   An truly well-researched and dramatic story. Highly recommended.



3. Watched by the King of France, and an avid audience, two men in armor are enclosed in an arena. Armed with their wits, strength and skill, they will fight to the death, with only one man to leave the arena alive. Above, on a scaffold, a woman dressed entirely in black stands. If her champion dies, she will be taken be burnt alive at the stake for the crime of prejury.
   
   Is this a Hollywood film, perhaps? Or a segment on the History channel?
   
   No, it's the very last trial by combat in France, in the year 1387. It was the scandal of its day, and where an old friendship between two men turned into a vicious feud and finally led them both to a showdown where only one man would remain alive. Jean Froissart wrote about it in his Chronicles, and it spurred many stories and legends, and entered into public and romantic imagination -- Sir Walter Scott used it as the climax in his novel Ivanhoe and it has still some remnants in today's world.
   
   Author Eric Jager shifts through old chronicles, notebooks, and legends to put together the truth. In the area of France known as Normandy, two men of knightly birth started out as friends, both of them vassals of a Count Pierre. Jean Carrouges was a knight, fought as a mercenary, and sought to gain more lands and add to his family name. He had a friend, named Jacques Le Gris (the grey) who was a squire (not quite a knight), but also a skilled fighter. Perhaps Le Gris had a more personable character, but as both men grew older, it was Jacques who was favored by the Count in land settlements, while Jean seemed to be forgotten and overlooked. Soon, fueled by jealousy, the two friends had turned into bitter rivals.
   
   But Jean married a young heiress, Marguerite, for his second wife. She was modest, beautiful and an heiress to a sizable estate. Alas, she and Jean had no children, despite several years of marriage. After a time, Jean was off settling a dispute that lasted for several weeks, and Marguerite was alone in the care of her mother in law.
   
   When Jean returned, his wife had a curious story. Ashamed, but proud, Marguerite told him late one night that Jacques Le Gris had come to her home and with the help of one of his men, brutally raped and beaten her. She had the bruising to prove it, and maintained that it had been rape. Even worse, she was pregnant, with possibly a longed-for son.
   
   The husband sided with his wife, and together they went to their lord, Count Pierre, to see justice done. But the Count sided with Le Gris, and the couple were left with only one choice for justice -- to go to the King and appeal.
   
   It's quite a story. And there is plenty of documentation to back it up as actually having happened. Jager also goes into the laws of inheritance and honor. And women -- one very large problem to Marguerite's claim in the eyes of the medieval mind was that she was pregnant. To them, a woman turning up pregnant after crying rape was thought to be lying -- pregnancy was thought only to occur if a woman enjoyed a sexual encounter, and that said that she had been a willing participant, not a victim.
   
   I won't tell you how the tale turns out, but the author manages to mix in history and legend into a thrilling excursion into the past. He also remains true to the mindset of the period, and how religion played a part in resolving a difference. Here, it was thought that God would favor the winner in a combat, and justice would have been determined. While the style does get a bit florid in places, it's also a very enjoyable read.
   
   Halftone illustrations from contemporary manuscripts, maps, and photographs of armor illustrate the volume, and there is an extensive series of footnotes and bibliography. It's well researched, and the tale of what happened afterwards is just as interesting as the story of the duel itself. If you are fan of the middle ages, this doesn't loose any of the romance of the period, nor does it get so wrapped up in the details.



4. Eric Jager does a marvelous job bringing the late middle ages to life. He uses the story of the infamous duel between Carrouges and Le Gris as a backdrop for an in-depth look at civil life during the period, which is surprisingly similar to our own. In addition, Jager masterfully builds the suspense and makes you care about the outcome like any good crime writer should. This book is a lot of fun and you'll learn something too.



5. People today look upon the custom with contempt. Not completely unjustly. But everybody's worldview is ultimately based on unprovable premises and the contempt is usually based on the equally assumption that either God doesn't exist or doesn't care about the fate of a woman wronged. Under this assumption trusting justice to randomness is folly. As the opposite of that premise was generally held in those times, there is a superficial logic. It was not intended to be "might makes right" but "right gives might". The error was, as the author indicates that it "tempted God"; that is tried to force his hand. It would be the equivalent of a lawyer rushing into a jury room and demanding that they give a verdict right away, which is of course contempt of court. I say all this, not to condone the practice, but to attempt to filter out such elements of the condemnations that come from chronological snobbery. Our descendants will after all probably sneer at us just as much as we sneer at our ancestors.
   The authors plain sympathies are with the plaintiffs. As, upon reading the book, are mine. Of course part is that male protective instinct that some will call chauvinism and others will call civilized sensibility but most will agree is preferable to Le Gris' type of instinct.
   Marguerite, comes across as a grand lady. She was brave, virtuous, and strong of heart. Like many reviewers, I agree: she is the best character.
   Jean is pitched to a less high note. He is in fact a rather ruffianly fellow and indeed his pride and quarrelsomeness helped provoke the incident. But there are almost no quarrels where there is no wrong on both sides even if it is obvious where the fault truly lies. And while courage can hardly be said to cover every fault, it can at least be strike awe even when coming from the most imperfect. Jean was willing to trust his wife in suspicious circumstance. And to prove his loyalty he was not just hazarding his life for her, which is to be expected of a knight and a husband. He also hazarded his good name and(as he thought) his eternal fate.
   Of course this romantic way of looking at it only holds true if Le Gris really was guilty. Marguerite could have identified the wrong man. Or covered up an adultery. All this is conceivable. But that is not the author's opinion. And he makes a fair case that he is right.
   This book is a fascinating insight into a curious custom. It is also a grand yarn of honor vindicated.
   
   Jason Taylor(son of John Taylor)

5 comments about Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti.

1. The book is a one sided story told by a man who is "obsessed" with John Gotti. Full of news reports that could be fact or fiction. This author has made a ton of money off the Gotti name and continues to do so. He will not let go, we know $$$ motivates him, we know the name GOTTI sells/promotes his web site, articles, and books, but could there be more to the relentless vendetta he has against JOHN GOTTI or is it in Italians themsleves. A dirty little secret?? The rumor is Jerry Capeci uses a pen name, and in fact he is of "irish" ethincity by birth. Could he have a hiddin agenda which motivates his writings of Italian Americans negative light????? Let us know Mr.Capeci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. John Gotti started out as a nobody from Queens,New York, who would later become the biggest know name in the mafia today. After he assassinated Paul Castellano, the boss of the Gambino family John started to climb his way up in the mafia life.Through out the book the authors go into great detail about John and the family. John was always a fan of the press and media, he wanted his name to be know to all. That was also exactly what happend. John was the most feared man in New York for most of the 80's and the early 90's. After gettin extreamly popular the FBI and RICO started to fallow him and bug his hidouts and homes. In the mid 90's John and his two main men Sammy and Frankie were arrested and sentenced to life in prison.After that the Gambino family fell apart.

   The book Mob Star was thrillin and exciting. After reading the first chapter it was hard not to put this book down. The way the authors go into great detail about what is going on and how it happens, you feel like you were in the same room with john at every moment.Mob Star is a very fast reading book,only because you can not wait to see what John Gotti gets into next.I would recomend this book to anyone who likes the Mafia or just wants to read an excilent book.




3. John Gotti started out as a nobody from Queens,New York, who would later become the biggest know name in the mafia today. After he assassinated Paul Castellano, the boss of the Gambino family John started to climb his way up in the mafia life.Through out the book the authors go into great detail about John and the family. John was always a fan of the press and media, he wanted his name to be know to all. That was also exactly what happend. John was the most feared man in New York for most of the 80's and the early 90's. After gettin extreamly popular the FBI and RICO started to fallow him and bug his hidouts and homes. In the mid 90's John and his two main men Sammy and Frankie were arrested and sentenced to life in prison.After that the Gambino family fell apart.

   The book Mob Star was thrilling and exciting. After reading the first chapter it was hard not to put this book down. The way the authors go into great detail about what is going on and how it happens, you feel like you were in the same room with john at every moment.Mob Star is a very fast reading book,only because you can not wait to see what John Gotti gets into next.I would recomend this book to anyone who likes the Mafia or just wants to read an excilent book.




4. When I picked this book up I thought I would get a nice history of Gotti. That was true to some extent but the majority of the book was devoted to the trials. If you are a lawyer or someone who is interested in that sort of thing then this book is for you. If you want a good read then pick up the Capeci book on Gotti,that is top of the line! You can also read this if you are having problems sleeping....



5. This book was accurate and for someone who is intrested and enjoys reading about John Gotti this is a great book for you to read. A little dragged out in some areas such as the Trials but very interesting. I enjoyed reading this book very much, as i believe you will as well

5 comments about The Run of His Life : The People versus O.J. Simpson.

1. Here's hoping this one comes back into print soon. Toobin presents a nice narrative here, with plenty of the juicy inside stuff, without losing sight of the two tragedies that occurred: the horrible, bloodthirsty slaughter of Ron and Nicole, and the acquittal of a clearly guilty murderer. If anyone out there seriously still believes in O.J.'s innocence, it's time to check out of Denial Land. The cynical playing of the race card is detailed thoroughly, as is the star-struck way that Ito handled his courtroom. Toobin is not blind to the mistakes of the prosecution, but he sees equally clearly that "Guilty" was the only possible verdict a juror could have reached (I don't know what the twelve people empaneled in this case were, but jurors they most definitely were not). Toobin has an eye for the telling detail, and his writing skills make this a sometimes fun, sometimes sorrowful, journey through the most unjust trial of modern times. Highly recommended.



2. For OJ to be guilty, you must believe that he quickly disposed of the bloody clothes, shoes, and knives so they would NEVER be found, yet brought the socks and glove back to his home! And then smeared blood all over the console!

   The coroner who did the autopsies testified "the forensic evidence says the murders occurred after 11PM". The limousine driver testified he brought OJ to the airport at that time. When you read this book, note how they avoid discussing these facts.




3. This well written and edited book promises to provide "a new understanding ... as well as an insightful examination". But like others, Toobin fails to quote the coroner who did the autopsies: "the forensic evidence says the murders occurred after 11pm". This chatty, gossipy book begins with the lawyer's meeting of 6/25/1994; Shapiro would go to trial and get an acquittal. The autopsies suggested that more than one killer was involved (p.7). Toobin quickly exposes his prejudice: anyone could see that OJ was guilty because of "over whelming evidence" (p.10). Toobin claims this resulted from over "two years reporting", and justifies his opinion as based on the "full documentary record of the case" (p.11). Toobin claims OJ was not framed (p.12).

   Did lawyer Toobin misinterpret that June 6 letter (p.20)? If OJ let Nicole use his home address that could be a conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Nicole's response was to telephone the Sojourn shelter and claim stalking; then she found a new house on June 10 (p.19). Then some dog wailed in the night. A loose white dog followed a man; he passed it to another couple who followed the dog to the murder scene. The bodies were discovered at midnight. Toobin carefully omits the evidentiary fact that red blood was trickling down the sidewalk. This times the deaths to around 11:30pm. Who failed to call the coroner until nine hours later? Page 71 tells of 'TIME's trickery with the photo, but does not mention darkening the skin color hid the fact that OJ had no bruises or marks on his face! Paula's actions after June 12 were inconsistent with a break-up (p.88). Pages 97-102 discuss OJ's "suicide note" without telling if he was on a drug like Prozac. Marcia Clark appointed herself prosecutor (pp.114-5). Preliminary hearings record the testimony and facts when the events are fresh; this prevents prosecutors from creating new scenarios from their theories. Toobin failed to mention that witness Jill Shively had no corroboration (p.128). Toobin claimed prosecutors "never have the funds to hire jury consultants" (p.188). Pages 190-4 tell of the mock juries in LA and Phoenix; they correctly rated the people in the case (p.193)!

   Toobin described Faye Resnick as having "an expensive lifestyle" (p.199)! And her book helped the defense (p.201)! Page 220 shows F Lee Bailey's knowledge of the case. Judge Ito belonged to the "truth school" where the important thing is to protect innocent defendants from being wrongly convicted (p.235). The murders did not fit the pattern of domestic violence (p.237). The 25 to 30 stab wounds on Ron Goldman say he was the real target, and Nicole the innocent bystander (p.238). The Prosecution began with "a great edifice built on a foundation of little evidence" (p.245). Toobin doesn't believe the murders occurred at 10:15, but later (p.247)! Cochran said "this case is a rush to judgment", "an obsession to win at any cost and by any means necessary" (p.250). Pages 272-3 tell of the 10/25/93 tape: OJ, however angry, did not commit domestic violence! Was this a mistake by the Prosecution? Denise Brown's testimony backfired (p.278). Toobin claims Clark's examination of Fuhrman was her biggest miscalculation (p.314). This again demonstrated his prejudice (p.315). Allan Park's testimony was most important; this convince the remaining jurors to vote "not guilty". Park saw no one enter or leave OJ's residence from 10:22 to 11pm (p.331-2). The gloves that wouldn't fit was the high point of this trial. The recall of Mark Fuhrman served as a deus ex machina to end this show.

   Toobin would have learned more if he rad Stephen Singular's "Legacy of Deception", and Freed & Briggs "Killing Time" before writing this book. Clark and Vannatter met on an earlier case, when they found a fingernail sized blood spot under a car seat. I wonder how they discovered what everyone else missed?




4. Like all good writers, Jeffrey Toobin seeks to understand human nature. In "The Run of His Life", my favorite of his books, he brilliantly distills the OJ Simpson case into an insightful examination of what drives people to do what they do.

   This isn't just the story of a murder. It is a story about Los Angeles, a brutal and corrupt police force, and the dangerous allure of fame and money. Although Toobin believes that OJ Simpson committed double murder and got away with it, he also makes the case that a history of abuse by the LAPD in black communities created a political climate that allowed the aquittal to happen.

   Very few people come off well in this story, and the flawed nature of the participants makes for compelling reading. The media spectacle that surrounded the case brought out the worst in human nature, and every excess is documented here. In the end, very few principles (the defendant, lawyers, jurors, witnesses, police, even the friends and family of the victims) seem untouched by hubris and self-centered motivation. Toobin understands something that many do not: that the entire thing - the crime, the trial, and the aftermath- was a metaphor for American decadence and social decay.




5. Jeff Toobin is an engaging writer who draws you into his narrative and makes you want to turn pages. His book is chatty and "dishes" about all the internecine fighting between lawyers both on the prosecution and defense sides.
   
   As an O.J. trial junkie, I have read many books on the subject, and Toobin's certainly falls into the "he was guilty" school of thought. Toobin doesn't really hide his bias, but that doesn't detract much from his examination of why O.J. was acquitted.
   
   I recommend the book to anyone who has an interest in the "trial of the century", but "The Run Of His Life" probably shouldn't be the only book you read on the subject. For the definitive account of the trial, read "American Tragedy" by Schiller.
   
   As for whether O.J. did it or not, I tend towards the guilty opinion myself. I do have one nagging question, however: how did he dispose of the knife and clothes so that they were never recovered, yet took one glove back with him and dropped it on his lawn? The theory that he left both gloves at the scene (a smart thing to do) and then someone took one and "planted" it on his property has at least some measure of plausibility. I can't imagine O.J. being so savvy and stupid at the same time!

3 comments about Murder at 40 Below: True Crime Stories from Alaska.

1. Surprise, surprise! The Birdman of Alcatraz hails from Alaska. I had no idea. Tom Brennan brings news from the depths of frozen he!! with accuracy and style. Ten stories for the price of one. Cases include The Trophy Hunter and The Newman Family Massacre.



2. This book tells the stories behind what the author believed to be the ten worst murderers in the State of Alaska. It read like a Hall of Fame story of this state's worst killers.
   
   The stories are easy to read, nicely told and I believed got the details right. A well written book told with certain flair and justice. People who read this book will be surprised that Alaska do have its share of violent criminals that can be equal to any in the lower 48 states and Hawaii.
   
   I am looking forward to volume 2 myself.



3. I wouldn't say that I'm someone who's especially into true crime novels or regional Alaskan nonfiction, but I have to say that I really did enjoy this book--as much as a person can enjoy a book about this sort of thing.
   This book collects ten of Alaska's most sensational true crime murder stories and tells them in a fast-paced, engaging, and creepy way.
   The book seems to fawn a little too lovingly over some of the crimes' grisliest details, at least for my taste, but at least it can never be accurately accused of being boring, slow, uninteresting, or tedious. (It kind of freaked me out--I used to hitchhike all over Alaska, and half of these stories tell of psychopaths picking up their victims that way.)
   If you don't live in Alaska, consider reading "Murder at 40 Below" for its stories. And if you do live in Alaska, read this book the same way you might read a book about grizzlies: knowing that what you're about to read might have a very real impact on just how safe (or unsafe) you feel in your own home.

No comments about Mafia and Outlaw Stories from Italian Life and Literature (Toronto Italian Studies).

5 comments about The Underboss: The Rise and Fall of a Mafia Family.

1. Interested in the New England mob? Go no further - THE UNDERBOSS is well researched and you walk away from it with a very good understanding of the events that occurred and the key players behind it. Worthy of any mafia book collection. I also recommend BLACK MASS, ALL SOULS, and STREET SOLDIER.



2. There is a man referred to obliquely in the prior reviews who has been seriously affected by all of this and essentially left for dead if you will. The man was bounced around as a child overseen by state authorities contracting to nonprofit firms employing former federal officials. One of the state officials charged with guardianship of the boy went by the same name as a female FBI agent listed in Black Mass by O'Neill and Lehr. Another woman charged with guardianship of the boy ran a hard labor camp for juveniles in trouble with the law, where breaking granite boulders with sledgehammers was the norm as was poor food,inadequate rest and mandatory employment where this woman demanding oversight of the teen's paychecks.At the hard labor camp, which was tacitly approved by state social workers and caretakers,local police and allegedly state police, the boy was forced to work 12-15 hour days, often 7-14 days without showers, little sleep and poor quality meals in addition to constant threats of violence, being locked up by state officials or state police and having all of his personal belongings confiscated-- the boy had been sent to this program simply because he had no family or other supports and had NO trouble with the law prior to being put there. The woman in charge of the program possessed the same name as a major manufacturing firm located in southern New Hampshire. This placement was overseen by the state official bearing the same name as the female FBI agent. Some 15-20 years later, this woman re-emerged in the man's life as a girlfriend of a coworker.

   This same man was befriended as a boy by a couple with indirect alleged links to George Cashman and former Governor Cellucci. When this case broke, the couple disavowed the man.

   Susan Kelly in her book also discussed the possibility that the early stages of the Boston Strangler murders may have been linked to gangland violence in the wars around which Flemmi emerged. A woman is said to have survived the Strangler but was never interviewed. Is it possible the Boston Strangler in turn is linked to this case ,got a woman pregnant, and the child was used as some sort of collateral for cooperation of the real Strangler?

   At the same time, Jonathan Harr released his book 'A Civil Action' just after Whitey fled town. When the book came out, the man worked for Grace Co.,unaware of his past as a very young,sick and handicapped boy growing up in the chaos of an environmental tragedy in Woburn,Mass. The fervor surrounding Harr's work appeared in sync with the tepid waters of the Bulger case, and during the early phases of the hearings, Robert Redford and Sylvester Stallone appeared in a Somerville court for ambiguous reasons regarding the Bulger case. Prior to Harr's work, the man had written an autobiographical work of his own which touched upon memories of a sick child in Woburn during the emergence of the cancer epidemic.As the Bulger case broiled, Barry Mawn, native of Woburn, was assigned to the Boston FBI office in pursuit of Bulger- Mawn, Teddy Roosevelt to Cuba, Mawn to Woburn. Many of the Bulger case principals had indirect ties to Woburn and surrounding communities.

   In addition to all of this, the man's medical records began disappearing, and employment became all but impossible as he was destroyed financially, just as the state trooper who stopped Whitey at Logan airport.Evidence of phone tampering emerged possibly using off premise extensions linked to major companies the man worked for which also did business with the federal government. The man's bank records and video rentals have been scrupulously monitored and broad evidence of a long term evidence gathering investigation of an individual with no history of criminal activity or breaking the law. It seems feasible the man is linked to the Bulger case and has been watched by various agencies who feel threatened by his father, a man unknown to the boy growing up or as an adult.

   One thing a government oversight or other committee might investigate is the possibility that one of the principals in the Bulger case on either side had a son who was immediately flagged and watched all of his life and used as surety without his knowledge by the government or perhaps even organized crime. The committee might offer protection and encourage that individual to come forward and disclose all they know.




3. New stories about the Cosa Nostra in New England. Not the same old rehashing of the transitions of the New York families.
   Interesting reading!



4. I love mob books and this one doesn't dissappoint. Must have for the mob book lover.



5. This book is good fact/fiction with a lot of things (especially most of the illegal shenanigans of the FBI) completely left out. We should never forget that although the goals might seem noble, the means used by this government are sometimes just as, or even more illegal than the crimes being targeted. I think using a known mass murderer like Whitey Bulger as an informant "rat" and murderous FBI "agents" would fall into the unforgiveable column. Before anyone praises the government in general or the FBI in particular, take a close look at just how they really operate to bring down the "bad guys". This book is a perfect example of this type of behavior. Is it right for the FBI to overlook the terrible crimes of one man or a few men to gather evidence on others, especially when some of those crimes are comitted by FBI "agents" who personally kill and order hits on "mobsters"? It's an ok book, but only covers things that make it read like a good guy/bad guy tale with the "bad guys" losing in the end. The "good guys" didn't really exist in this instance except in their own eyes.

5 comments about Perfectly Executed (48 Hours Mystery).

1. This book was so boring. There is no suspense at all. I bought this book because the other book from 48 hours (nightmare in napa) was fabulous. This book was really a dissapointment. I wouldn't waste my money. Probably a story that was much better to be seen on TV.



2. The book is not a smooth read and seems it was choppily thrown together. The book does not do justice for the real story. What stands out is the facination or rather affection the reporter - Peter Van Sant develops for the convicted murder. They have similar looks - facial structure, fair skin, mouths and builds. The author's theory of the "muslim groups" killing the lovely muslim family and harmless autistic girl is another demeaning blow to their memory and furthers prejudicial stereotypes - it is a sad day for CBS journalists that fantasy and fabrication get top billing.



3. If you enjoy the 48 Hours Mystery television show, you will not be disappointed by Perfectly Executed. I had never seen the episode that dealt with this case, so for me it had an extra level of interest. It is a very "fast read", and the way that it was written certainly encourages that. In particular, the short chapters allow you to read in short spurts that keep you wanting to know more of the story. It's a fascinating case with many plot twists and interesting characters. It does drag just a bit in the middle of the book dealing with the undercover operations. Sometimes, I find that non-fiction books try to pack in too much information, and inevitably not everything is as compelling as fiction can be. That being the only flaw in this book, I highly recommend this story to fans of true crime.



4. As a forensic specialist, I find reading true crime is the best busman's holiday. However, when I find mistakes very easily caught and corrected in a book, I have to wonder how many other mistakes may be contained in it. Are there some I cannot spot because I do not know about this case other that what I am reading? For instance: One photo shows one of the primary subjects being given an award stated to having been given by the Duke of Edinbutgh. Anyone can see that the giver is Prince Edward! Introduction ".... they had driven across Lake Washington into downtown Seattle, where they got some ice cream and french fries at an all-night diner." Page 47: "I had a little dessert sundae and a Coke, and I think Sebastian had hash browns and something else." If those kinds of mistakes don't bother you, then I think this is a pretty good read.



5. "Pefectly Executed" is one of the most fascinating true-life crime drama reads. 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Peter Van Sant and producer Jenna Jackson did an amazing job weaving details from the show into a mystery that's almost hard to believe is true. The behind-the-scenes look at the alibis and excuses of the two teens who thought they were smarter than everyone else provides an awful insight into human nature. I don't know what is worse--the arrogance of Sebastian Burns or the passive, matter-of-fact manner of Atif Rafay (who's mother, father and sister were murdered). The sting operation was brilliant (and could be a movie itself) and captures the two on tape laughing about the murders, which is horrifying. I think the jury had no choice.