5 comments about Because You Loved Me (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Phelps really explores the characters involved in this human tragedy. Jeanne, the victim, was a struggling single mother working three jobs to support her two children. Her two teenage children could barely be brought to help with household chores. Jeanne was a loving person who reached out and tried to help others, even though her lot in life seemed terribly difficult.
   
   The most chilling part of the story is that it was her daughter and her daughter's teenage boyfriend who planned the violent, sickening murder. The author explains the thought processes of the teenagers involved and they will make your flesh crawl.
   
   One thing not covered was what I wondered about most, though. What was the moral background of the teenage daughter, and did she ever have any religion classes? There is a hint that she was into the occult, but that is not enough. The book was so good that I still want to know more!



2. When murder unexpectedly strikes a small New England town, hitting a single mother and affecting a teen daughter and her older internet lover, a tangled web of psychological drama ensues in this powerful investigative mystery, narrated by J. Charles - who has 50 years background in professional theatre - and perfect for any lending library strong in suspense audios.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. Because You Loved Me is a case study of different sorts of love, platonic, parental, romantic, and obsessive. It's easy to predict which type will go wrong. The High Queen of the drama queens, Nicole, falls in a twisted sort of love with macho manipulator Billy, and in a metter of days, she is blind to all the good things in her life. Her mom, her friends, her education, her home - Nicole no longer sees value in any of this, and when Billy enters the picture, purely by chance, her daily existence changes from normal to, in her estimation, a living hell. And suddenly, she cannot fathom how she can possibly live without this guy whom she barely knows. Together, Nicole and Billy make fateful choices that will ensure that they will have to live without each other, forever and ever. What is surprising is that they were so blind to the fact that their actions would have irreversible, devastating consequences.
   
   M. William Phelps is a skilled researcher who knows how to delve for facts and nuances, and page by page, he uncovers the details, delineating the story of this young couple's disastrous obsession from its inception to its miserable conclusion. He approaches this murder from three angles, that of the victim and her fiance, that of the besotted, daughter and her maladjusted suitor, and that of the legal system. This is no mystery story; rather, it is a dissection of the anatomy of a crime committed by two terribly misguided, hysterical teens. It is nothing less than chilling, another example about what can happen when children are improperly parented. Highly recommended.



4. I LOVE TRUE CRIME AND THIS AUTHOR IS A GOOD ONE. HE DID A GOOD JOB BRINGING THE VICTIM BACK TO LIFE. I FELT, AT TIMES, LIKE I'D KNOWN HER. SOMETIMES HE WENT A LITTLE OVERBOARD WITH THE FIANCE AND HIS FEELINGS.IT WAS A TRAGIC STORY TO TELL BUT HE HANDLED IT WELL.



5. The author did a lot of research and glad to have seen the interviews this Chris. I was a coworker of Jeanne and her murder/death was very shocking to all of us at Oxford who knew her. She loved her children very much and spoke of them constantly. Her desk was not disturbed for almost two months. Cards, flowers and photos of her appeared in her work space nearly every day. Even if bill sullivan gets another trial I sincerely hope that the verdict is the same and he stays permanently in jail. I don't think he'll every change.

5 comments about Debunked!: Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends, and Evil Plots of the 21st Century.

1. The NFL is completely rigged. Princess Di was murdered, 9/11 was an inside job, Barack Obama is a radical Muslim, the Virgin Mary's face can be seen in certain frying pans and grilled cheese sandwiches, Flight 93 secretly landed in Cleveland, where the passengers were whisked off to a NASA facility. Yeah, we laughed too. Popular film critic Richard Roeper tackles some of the most outlandish conspiracy theories, urban legends and evil plots of the 21st century in a thin tome that's a hoot . . . when it's not a holler. Pithy prose may put to sleep (or at least in a deep dormant state) all these notorious scandals and notorious scams, but you will read stay awake, giggling and guffawing, at just how gullible people can be. Now about Donald Rumsfeld being the mastermind behind the bird flu . . .



2. Richard Roeper tries to walk in the footsteps of sharp tongued, humorous writers like Ann Coulter and Mark Steyn - and fails. He doesn't like either one of them, but he tries to be just like them, with a left-wing instead of a right-wing slant. It doesn't work.
   
   For one thing, his subject matter has been plowed over many, many times before. Princess Di's death as a conspiracy. 9/11 as an inside job. Done, done and done again and Roeper brings nothing new to the table.
   
   Like Coulter and Steyn, Roeper heaps ad hominem on his targets. But unlike Coulter and Steyn, Roeper simply sounds mean, petty and peevish, not witty.
   
   In a section on the much overhyped "war on Christmas", Roeper describes someone as a blustery, camera-loving blowhard who can always be counted on to deliver sound bites of outrage whenever there is a religion-related news issue". Well, the description frankly seems to fit Roeper as well.
   
   Roeper ends the book "Debunked!" with a lengthy section on the best and worst conspiracy movies ever made. That section isn't all that bad, but even here Roeper seems to be trying to emulate someone who does the same thing much better, in this case his television co-host Roger Ebert.
   
   Overall, there are websites like Snopes and Urban Legends that do a much better and much broader job of debunking things than Roeper does - and they don't have as bad an attitude. Stick with them instead of this book. Interestingly, there are no blurbs of praise on the dustjacket of this book, no one hailing as great and wonderful. Having read the book, I am not surprised.
   
   Jerry



3. I just got the book today, great read, I like the chapter on the war on christmas, keep up the good work.



4. Roeper's "Debunked" is a witty, no-holds barred look at a few of the sacred cows of conspiracy theorists and believers in urban legends. Happily, he's an equal opportunity critic, skewering the icons of the left (Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah Winfrey) with as much verve as the idols of the right (Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter). I'm delighted by his "fair and balanced treatment" of assorted conspiracy theories, urban legends and evil plots (just like on Fox "News"!). All in all, it's a pretty brave book: Roeper could have just as easily called it "Please Send Me Sackloads of Vitriolic Hate Mail," because that's what he's probably going to get.
   
   Too bad, because "Debunked" does a nice job of explaining why 9-11 was caused by terrorists and not our government, why casinos don't cheat (your odds of winning are so low that they don't need to), why there's no good reason to think that Princess Di or JFK, Jr were murdered, why "The Secret" is hokum, and why there is no vast left-wing conspiracy. (On the last point, my own guess is that the left wing conspirators were murdered in a vast right-wing conspirancy organized by Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, and Elvis, but Roeper doesn't really mention that theory, probably because he's part of the conspiracy).
   
   Speaking of extreme right wingers like O'Reilly and Coulter, I've always wondered why their evident love for conspiracy theories doesn't extend to traditional conservative institutions. I mean, who's to say, for instance, that the National Rifle Association isn't a front organization for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, or that the BATF hasn't by nefarious means secured access to the NRA's computerized mailing lists? You send the NRA your address when you become a member or subscribe to the National Rifleman, right? So they know where you live, that you probably own guns, and that you support the Second Amendment. Won't that put you in an awkward spot when the Shadow Government implements its evil plans? Since the NRA membership or subscription wouldn't tell the Bad Guys how many guns you own or where they are located, the Shadow Government would just have to kill or imprison everyone at that address. And if you think you are safe because you use a PO box--the US Postal Service is a government agency, right? Why don't O'Reilly and Coulter ever fret about that possibility unless---gasp!--they're part of the conspiracy!!! All of this is very silly, but no sillier than some of the other urban legends and conspiracy theories that Roeper debunks with great flair.
   
   The bottom line is that Roeper's latest installment in a series that began with "Urban Legends" and "Hollywood Urban Legends," will upset people who hear the words "coming soon to a theater near you!" and scream "oh, my God, how did THEY know?!"



5. Richard Roeper of Ebert & Roeper attempts to avoid the facts with his personal opinions & assumptions as if real life were just another movie for him to rate on a thumb scale. The first 6 chapters (which is as far as most people will read) is a total whitewash of the facts. The rest of the book attempts to blend this whitewash with tabloid trash. Two thumbs way down, Mr. Roeper. Any educated person can find immediate problems in the first few paragraphs of the book with his casual unsourcable rant about the "Debunked" physics of the WTC collapse on 9/11 in the 1st chapter entitled 'The Steel Didn't Have to Melt'. True Mr. Roeper, the steel wouldn't have to melt for parts of the building to collapse; but ALL THREE of them symmetrically into their own footprints at the speed of gravity? Impossible! And, yes the steel did have to melt, since molten metal was found in the ruins of ALL 3 BUILDINGS for more than 7 weeks after the collapse. One would only need to watch a speech by Architect Richard Gage or Professor Steven Jones on Google Video for a true professional analysis of the WTC collapses.
   
   I could spend all day rebuting the first 6 chapters of this disorganized regergitation, but his unsourced opinions aren't worth much time. If you would like to know about the Clinton's criminal background watch 'The Clinton Chronicles' or 'The Mena Connection' for free on Google Video. If you would like to know more about the JFK Jr. assassination watch 'The Assassination of JFK Jr.' for free on Google Video. For more on the media blackout watch 'Spin' by Brian Springer for free on Google Video. For more on the levees being purposely blown during Hurricane Katrina watch 'Katrina Levee Blown Up' on YouTube.
   
   His blending of the facts with the other tabloid trash stories in this book is a poor attempt at discrediting & dismissing expert investigators & field professionals as tinfoil wearing kooks. Now that's what I call black propaganda & it's not going to work on anyone who's already been exposed to the dreadful truth. Mr. Roeper needs to stick with his movie critiques & leave the physics & criminal investigations to those with an appropriate job title.

5 comments about Witch: The True Story of Las Vegas' Most Notorious Female Killer (Berkley True Crime).

1. All I read is true crime and this is a good book.
   I thought the author did a great job of researching the characters for this book and really brought them to life.
   It is unbelievable how much this women got away with!



2. I'm a self-confessed true-crime junkie. I picked this up because I remember seeing part of the coverage on TRU TV back when Brookey was on trial. This book is wonderfully researched and presented. The photos are gruesome; even for a true-crime novel. You usually see grainy shots of uninteresting aspects of the crime. Here, it's right there in all it's horror. In addition, there are many side stories presented by the author, detailing some of Las Vegas' more notorious crimes. Unsettling and disturbing, "Witch" is a must add to your true-crime library. I hope to see more from this author!



3. I was really quite surprised to find such a strange and deceitful person.a real woman could do such horrifying things to her own family. I never thought that true life could be worse than a fiction murder mystery.



4. Really good book - I got it from some Amazon.com reader's 10 best true crime novels and if this one was any indication of the rest of them - he/she right on the money!! Very graphic - pictures are definitely NOT for the faint of heart. I still can't get them out of my head



5. The book did not explain too much about Brookey herself. I wanted more on the withcraft, more on her Dad etc. Fast easy read, just not enough for me.

5 comments about Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob.

1. This story of a cop who risked his life as an undercover member of the mob reads like fiction, but it's all true. In his own voice Bob Delaney tells how he played the role of Bobby Covert, doing business with ruthless "wise guys," recording on tape their words and actions, and feeding the damning data to his handlers in crime enforcement. We see his skill as an actor, his quick wit in dangerous moments, and his deep respect for the policeman's profession.
   
   The book, by Bob Delaney and Dave Scheiber, moves at a riveting pace, revealing the interplay of rival cultures through sharp descriptions of the methods of the mafia and the methods of the law. The bad guys are finally put away after almost three years of fear and self-denial on Delaney's part. He pays a price in guilt and confusion in returning to his real nature but finds salvation in a new life as one of the top referees in the National Basketball Association. Here is an absorbing read, and I recommend it highly for anyone with a taste for adventure and an interest in human development.



2. Great book by an author who has lived a diversified life, from under cover state trooper to NBA referee. Bob Delaney is a special guy who exposes the mob for the exploitative, amoral group of criminals they are.
   
   Delaney tells a serious story with humor and a style that keeps the reader turning pages. I recommend this book to everyone interested in criminal justice or just a good nonfiction read.



3. This book is a must for anybody who enjoys Mafia stories, but inside is so much more.
   
   Bob Delaney has a story to tell that few people can truly appreciate, let alone relate to. The detail in the tale of his undercover life is amazing, and Dave Scheiber brings the Jersey waterfront to life in front of you. We all know what today's high-tech world is like, where you can bug a man's house from top to bottom without the slightest clue, but imagine what it was like back in the 70s, when state of the art devices were still pretty sizeable tape recorders. Bob Delaney was undercover, surrounded by the Mafia, wearing wires and carrying tape recording devices that weren't exactly nano-technology.
   
   Hearing his depiction of the events and his life before and after the experience is an incredible privilege, and I urge anybody to read this book.
   
   Good journalism is nothing more than the art of telling a story. Bob Delaney had a one in a million story to tell, and Dave Scheiber told it to perfection.



4. This book stinks! Just another cop glorifying himself. Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob



5. From the first pages, I just could not put this book down. The suspense in dealing with people who could turn on you any moment was thrilling. It is obvious that Bob Delaney is one of our true heroes in the fight against crime.
   I highly recommend this book to those who like true real life thrillers.
   Tim Berg.

5 comments about Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. One of THE best true crime books I've ever read! Mr. Mitchell's detailed descriptions and graphic accounts of the crime and those involved, made me feel as though I had been transported back to 1993 and were watching the unfortunate events unfold. Events that ultimately resulted in the death and destruction of two innocent teenagers. I was "there" alongside the Ertman and Pena families, not only during their frantic and futile search for their daughters, but in their quest to seek justice for them as well. Unfortunately though, I also got a glimpse of the terror and agony that the girls encountered and endured that fateful night. This is truly a testament to the author's writing style. It is a book that I will read again and again, and one that I highly recommend!



2. Jennifer Ergman and Elizabeth Pena are interred about a hundred yards from each other at the Woodlawn Cemetery's Garden of Memories in Houston, Texas. The two young teenagers were walking to Elizabeth's house from swimming at an apartment complex when a gang of six young men attacked, raped, tortured, humiliated, and finally murdered the young girls who had such promise. Jennifer was an only child and Elizabeth was back on track after hanging out with the wrong crowd. Jennifer was still a virgin when it happened and she had planned to remain a virgin until her wedding night. Sadly, Jennifer and Elizabeth would never live that long until that June night in 1993 when they encountered true evil. The writer does an excellent job in researching and writing about the case. The six boys, one was only 14 years old would receive 40 years in prison while the other five would be sentenced to death. The author explains each of the boy's circumstances and backgrounds which help understand. Peter Canu was the ringleader who was obviously raised by a delusional mother who believed her son could do no wrong when he was obviously trouble since he attacked teachers, principals, security guards, and threatened to kill the principal as well. He was obviously a dangerous to others long before that June night. His mother was completely enabling him by continuing to defend him. She had no idea of how truly dangerous that can be with a monster in the form of her own son. Then there was Sean O'Brien who was abandoned by his father before birth and his mother would later leave him in the care of his grandmother who loved him until an accident rendered her incapable. He would move back to live with his mother who was a stranger to him. In the end of his life, O'Brien showed some emotion regarding his part in the crimes of the killing two girls and well as possibly Patricia Lopez. The writer does an excellent job in showing the parents of the victims' pain and horror during this emotional experiences, there are still four more executions to go. I don't think they do any good for anybody maybe except the families. They will never get out alive. I wondered if only they realized their fate of execution would they have allowed the girls to live and face imprisonment rather than a death sentence.



3. I read this book in one day. I am a fan of Corey Mitchell because he gives the reader the opportunity to get to know all those involved. He doesn't stay focused on the gore, he gives the reader just enough information for us to realize how the poor victim(s) suffered at the hands of the killer(s).
   
   In this story, Elizabeth and Jennifer are young and beautiful teenagers, who set out for a night of fun with some friends. When the girls realize their curfew is minutes away, they decide to take a shortcut home. That shortcut would prove to be deadly. The young teens run into a pack of monsters. What followed is truly disturbing, but what's even more disturbing, is the two young men, who could have perhaps saved the girls from their deaths, did nothing. The rest of the book follows the families outrage, the arrest, and the trials of these monsters. This story is one, you will not soon forget.



4. I was turned on to the work of true crime author Corey Mitchell last year when I was given the book Evil Eyes. I thought it was wonderful and immediately grabbed every book of his I could find. Each book was amazing and incredibly well-written, researched, and powerfully emotional. I didn't think Mitchell could top his latest book, Strangler, but somehow he has.
   
   Pure Murder is heart-pounding, aggravating, intense, emotional, sad, beautiful, and a wonderful tribute to the girls whose lives were tragically destroyed at such an early age.
   
   Mitchell's ability to delve into the make-up of everyone involved is astounding and sets the mark for other true crime authors. I truly felt like I could be friends with Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena. Strangely enough, I also felt like I actually knew all six boys involved in this horrible crime.
   
   This is an important case that still has ramifications to this day. I don;t want to give too much away, but I will say Pure Murder is easily the best true crime book I have read this year and the best since Mitchell's last, Strangler.



5. I love these kind of books and corey mitchell does an awesome job at this one. He makes reading it seem as if you are standing there watching it happen. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to get to the next corey mitchell book. If your looking for a true depictions of a crime, well you have come to the right place, he doesn't sugar coat anything, he tells it like it was and that's what makes it a true crime book. Thanks corey for an awesome book. Write On !

5 comments about The Assimilation: Rock Machine Become Bandidos - Bikers United Against the Hells Angels.

1. Good insight to the little unknown biker world. I always find it so interesting as to how the clubs resemble Corporate America in their structure etc. I find the author very knowledgeble about his subject matter due to his close personal experience.



2. One of the best books I've read on biker material. Author gives you an in depth look of the goings on in the little known world of bikers. I enjoyed his first book as well. This one does not disappoint!!! Looking forward to more books by this particular author!!



3. A book by a Biker with the integrity to not speak of justice then villainize and try to make a mockery of any system of justice.
   A book by an Outlaw Motorcyclist that does not say he embraces freedom, then proudly lists his felony convictions and time spent imprisoned.
   A book by a 1%er with the intellect to not glorify drug addiction.
   A book by a Human Being that understands the meaning of "Brotherhood" and not just what serves himself today.
   A book by a Man with the knowledge to understand the concept "Only Free Birds Fly".
   They say..."Out in Bad Standings". I say good for Ed Winterhalder...
   "It Is As It Should Be".



4. In the book The Assimilation, the authors provide a definitive glimpse into the outlaw biker phenomenon, the 1%er culture. At one time or another we've all seen them, displaying the regalia indicating the intense loyalty to their motorcycle clubs, the various 3 patch colors screaming their presence to the wary public. Every marking, every patch, every pinned item has its own special meaning. And if you don't know, don't ask.
   
   The Assimilation will tell how these outlaws from society take their clubs and their patches dead serious, and that means dead in the literal sense. The combined deaths of 160 bikers in the Canadian biker wars between the infamous Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and their sworn enemies the Rock Machine MC form the basis for this riveting true story.
   
   Like the Hells Angels, the notorious Bandidos MC are a powerful worldwide organization with chapters in many countries. With clandestine outlaw biker politics working at a fever pitch at that time, the Bandidos planned to assimilate the Rock Machine into the fold, as indicated by the title of this work.
   
   Enter Mr. Winterhalder. As a member of the Bandidos MC, he traveled to Canada to represent the Bandido's interest. Interspersed with a first hand rendition of these events is an interesting view of Mr. Winterhalder's life and a matter of fact telling of how he came to be in the position of representing one of the most powerful outlaw motorcycle clubs in the world.
   
   To anyone interested in the subject of outlaw motorcycle clubs, I highly recommend this work as an "inside look" written by a man who spent 25 years living the life of a 1%er, and at one time held the rank of national secretary to one of the most celebrated outlaw motorcycle clubs, the Bandidos MC.



5. The Assimilation is an interesting kind of read. If you are a tried and true aficionado of Biker Books, this book is a must for you. It is well written, very insightful and portrays a step in the life and times of Edward Winterhalder from the point where he has become the Second in Charge of The Bandidos MC and the events which drive the merger from The Rock Machine MC to become The Bandidos Canada.
   
   The only problem with the book is that there appears to be some redundancy with his initial book.
   
   Having said this, if you have not read his first attempt at book publishing, The Assimilation is a wonderful read. It will be completely new information and its written with style and is a gritty insight into the inner workings of the Bandidos Nation.
   
   It is actually much more than the title suggests. The book gives an insight into Connecticut Ed. He is one of the truly interesting and remarkable examples of a character who is destined to succeed in this world. His persona and character oozes with charisma and one immediately understands he is a force to be reckoned with in his publishing ambitions. Whilst he has 'doubled up' on some material from his first book, The Assimilation is the mature product with insight and characters developed to the point where this fact became quite irrelevant to this reader. Indeed, I found the read of the Assimilation to be an interesting study of author development and maturation.
   
   I disagree with other reviewers who found the material a re-hash of the initial work by Winterhalder. The book provides a fascinating situation for writers and readers to see the blossoming of an author with Mana which was not well developed in his first attempt.
   
   Many Topics are written about by multiple authors. The Assimilation should be read in the same spirit. His teaming up with de Clerq has inspired a brilliant new product which is a fabulous read for many, many reasons.
   
   Arthur Veno, Ph.D.

5 comments about By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre.

1. This story allows us to look into the daily life of a manipulative monster, and the family he controls. It is a well written easy read, and hard to put down. We are introduced to a family that is amazingly dysfunctional, in the name of a religion of their own.



2. In his first book, Monte Francis creates a detailed, well-written account of the crimes of Marcus Wesson; a manipulating man who, in the name of religion, fathered children with his own daughters and nieces.
   
   While the subject matter is extremely difficult due to the graphic nature, Francis offers readers an inside look into the home and mind of Wesson. In addition, readers are provided a first hand account of his trial without all the mundane details often found in true crime books by less talented authors.
   
   I was very impressed with this book. At times, I couldn't put it down; other times, I was so disgusted with Wesson that I didn't want to read another word. Kudos to Francis for not only working with the darker side of man, but for also writing in such a way that the reader still feels the emotion that should be felt about such a case.
   
   Taking into consideration that Francis is also a newspaper journalist, his book could possibly be nothing more than a rehash for those who lived in or around the area and read his newspaper articles; as another reviewer suggested. For those that were not subjected to daily rehashings of the case, this book will be your first real look into the Wesson family life.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to true crime fans. I will be looking for more books from this author in the future!



3. I've read a lot of true crimes over the years, but this one gave me chills. The story on Wesson and his family put the "d" in dysfunctional. His mixing of both religion and vampirism is fascinating to say the least.
   
   I unlike, the rest of the country hadn't heard of the Wesson case, with the Scott Peterson trial so much in the forefront, so the components of this case were totally new to me. I really feel for the family members that are left behind suffering now because of this tragedy.
   
   Marcus Wesson, is a master manipulator of the most dangerous kind. The story is as well written as "Helter Skelter" and just as chilling. By all means, read. Because there are people like Marcus among us and we need to know who they are.



4. Being someone who knew little or nothing of the wesson case, i was completely drawn in by the unimaginable circumstances that were involved. Marcus Wesson is the prime example of the human mind completely gone mad. He himself justified everything he did, from sexual escapades with his daughters and nieces, to brutal beatings that sometimes lasted days, by saying it followed his ultimate plan to do as the lord asked. The truth is he controlled everyone in his family by manipulating them and brainwashing all from a young age. Monte Francis does a spectacular job of following the case from day one and also going into early years of the family to show what, and how things went so drastically wrong. He speaks of only fact an the entire book, and somehow leaves his opinion almost completely out of the picture (which other seasoned authors find hard to do on such disturbing topics).If you are a fan of true crime this books is a must. A page turner that will have you thanking god your mind is not as twisted as some(ex:Marcus Wesson)people in this world.



5. This man should be hung and put out of his misery... He is definately a perverted sicko that tortured his family and to think that some of them stood up for him is so sad. I couldn't put this book down.

5 comments about The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder.

1. It's wonderful to note that there is one intelligent, thinking American out there. How long will it take for Americans to realize that they having been staring at Evil in the face?



2. I am certainly not a fan of Bush, but this book was hard to even read for 20 pages as it was so over the top. You felt like you were reading a rant of a lunatic. The author had maybe three points that he kept driving home time and time again...just made the book unreadable even if you dislike the current Pres. Unless you feel the need to hear the same complaints over and over again, stare clear of this mess and read much more coherant accounts of what caused the mess in Iraq.



3. ...just as they have in the past with various books, movies, "documentaries" and late-night comedians. Sad, really. First of all, Bugliosi is not a Constitutional scholar. He's not even a legal scholar. He won so many cases as a prosecutor because he took only the slam-dunk cases while assigning the tougher, low profile cases to subordinates. That's the politics of the prosecutor's office: Once you get in there you do everything you can to stay there by looking good. That's not to say he isn't a good lawyer - he is - let's just not pretend he's one of the greatest legal minds in history based on how much face time he's had before cameras or how many books he's sold.
   
   The Constitution protects the President from civil prosecution over acts he committed in the course of doing his job as President. Criminally speaking, poor judgement, stupidity, arrogance, whatever, are not crimes, and since everything Bush has done in Iraq has been with at least the tacit, if begrudging, approval of Congress (and make no mistake, they could have stopped him at any time if they'd wanted to) there's little evidence of anything illegal having occurred. Just because you think something should be illegal or you say something is illegal does not make it so. That's the kind of odd, magical thinking that has been prevalent among the extra-chromosome Left for the past eight years, who seem to have been in the grip of a perpetual temper tantrum ever since their boy Gore lost.
   
   Bugliosi's arguments are bound to provide enough red meat to keep the Amen Corner nodding (or masturbating) furiously for the next few weeks until The Next Big Thing comes down the pike that's sure, SURE to be the final nail in The Chimpster's coffin. Perhaps another fantasy from Michael Moore, another book by Sy Hersch, another "fake but accurate" TANG document, another leftist radio station that no one will listen to, and then Vince's screed will be relegated to the 2-for-$5 bin at WalMart. Moonbats have short attention spans. Until then, his hearsay testimony, tenuous evidence and fast-and-loose interpretation of existing law far removed from any grounding in reality is sure to sell a lot of books for himself and his publisher, which is after all his job as a writer.



4. I just finished reading this book and I think I've found myself a new American hero. Finally, someone with the courage and hold-no-punches attitude to say what has needed to be said for a very long time. While I'm saddened and frustrated at what I just read, I also feel liberated in a way because I found someone who was able to articulate what I've been thinking and feeling since before Bush first got elected in 2000.
   
   This book should be required reading for all Americans not bound to the excesses and selfishness of the neo-con far right. It should be read and re-read to make sure that we don't allow a man such as Bush or group of people such as the current administration to ever be put in charge of this country and this democracy. That goes for Democrats and Republicans.



5. Bugliosi, a brilliant prosecutor, builds a passionate, persuasive case, filled with moral outrage, at the frat-boy antics of George W. Bush in the face of the pointless tragedy of a war he started. He also shows, very compellingly and persuasively, that the president and a cohort of neoconservatives misled the American people into a war of choice with a fraudulent campaign of disinformation and innuendo.
   
   As to legal argument however, there may be some problems; at least, in my view one significant legal issue goes unaddressed. Under the customary common law of nations high officials, like countries, are generally regarded as immune from civil or criminal liability for their public and official acts, though not necessarily for private acts. See, e.g., The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations v. City of New York, 127 S. Ct. 2352, 2356-57 (2007). Presumably, the invasion, backed by a Congressional authorization of use of force, would be a public or official act, as would the President's mendacious propaganda campaign leading to it.
   
   With respect to public acts, officials are generally protected by a species of immunity called "state act" immunity, while heads of state, like Bush, are generally protected by both state act immunity and also by "head of state" immunity. There does seem to be some uncertainty in the decisional law as to whether such immunities may apply to former heads of state. See, e.g., Plaintiffs A,B,C,D,E,F v. Jiang Zemin, 282 F.Supp. 2d 875 (N.D. Ill, 2003); Aliola v. Abubakar, 267 F. Supp. 2d 907 (N.D. Ill. 2003), which hold that former heads of state are protected by sovereign immunity, while the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has suggested that sovereign immunity might not apply to former heads of state for public or private acts. Republic of the Philippines v. Marcos, 806 F.2d 344, 360 (2d Cir. 1986).
   
   While the above-cited cases all involve foreign heads of state, for which sovereign immunity is codified in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602 et seq., there is at least some reason to think the same or similar principles might apply to a former U.S. head of state or high official being tried in an American court for crimes involving official acts. Bugliosi addresses and dismisses some of the policy arguments underlying the application of sovereign immunity to Bush's situation, but he doesn't really explain how the type of prosecution he envisages would survive a motion to dismiss. This hurt the book for me. But in detailing the moral case for pursuing justice against Bush and his group, the book performs an important public service.

5 comments about Storming Las Vegas: How a Cuban-Born, Soviet-Trained Commando Took Down the Strip to the Tune of Five World-Class Hotels, Three Armored Cars, and Millions of Dollars.

1. 
   I bought this for my husband, but as we travel around I have enjoyed listening to it immensely. Very good story.



2. This book moves from cover to cover, with an unexpected twist at the end. I understand the movie rights have been sold, but no way will this story fit into a two hour movie. It's a mini series.



3. Great book on a little known robbery spree in La Vegas in the 90's. The book is very good at setting up the character's backrounds and life stories.



4. This is an amazing story, with details little known even in Nevada.
   The writing could be better, but it's still worth reading.



5. The cover blurb got me to buy this book; it led me to think I was going to read some sort of real life "Ocean's 11." But it's not. The author recounts a series of what amount to snatch-and-grab armored car heists as well as a botched cashier's cage robbery at the Bellagio. The robberies are not very interesting, and the characters aren't very interesting either. There's too much luck, incompetence and happenstance in the events, all of which diffuse any drama. Added to that is the fact the author can't decide in which tense to write the book -- he jumps from present tense to past tense, in a rather disorganized way, while providing lots of extraneous detail. This would have been much better as a 40 or 50 page section of an anthology crime book, but at this length, it's bloated. If the subject interests you, check it out of the library...it's certainly not good enough to warrant a place on your bookshelf.

5 comments about The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer.

1. This is a reprint of the review I wrote for my book review website Letters On Pages (www.lettersonpages.com)
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   Horrifying.
   
   That is really the only good way to describe The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo. The book itself isn't horrifying...in fact it is fantastically written. What is horrifying is Richard Kuklinski and the things the did during his lifetime.
   
   You see...Richard Kuklinski was a Mafia hitman. He killed people for money. He also killed people because they upset him in some manner, like flipping him the bird while driving. The middle finger was a particularly terrible affront to Kuklinski...one that would likely earn you the death penalty. But those killings aren't where he made his mark on the world. Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski is known as one of the most dangerous mob related people ever. I say mob related because he was Polish, and you can't officially join the Mafia unless you are Italian. You can still work as a hired killer though apparently.
   
   Kuklinski was a giant (literally at 6'5" 280lbs) psychopathic, sociopathic, anti-social, paranoid person. He had the classic serial killer upbringing: hyper-abusive parents, picked on by local bullies, enjoyed torturing animals...etc. His home life was so abusive that his father actually killed Richard's brother by beating him. So obviously there was no love in his house, or anywhere throughout his childhood. This, combined with his genetic disposition for violence and personality flaws, turned him into one of the most prolific killers ever. Kuklinski killed over 200 people during his life, most of them mob/organized crime related. His lack of conscience and inability to feel remorse meant that he was a perfect killer. He could "go see somebody", torture (if that's what the client wanted), kill, and dispose of the body with no second thoughts.
   
   In fact, he had a family and loved them dearly. Actually, I don't know that he had the capacity to love. But he cared for them quite a bit. His home life was like Jekyll & Hyde though: sometimes he would be the most caring, thoughtful person around. Other times he would go on a rampage, destroying furniture and beating his wife. He never harmed his children, however. In fact, he would kill people for abusing children. He was a regular vigilante.
   
   This book is amazingly interesting and I couldn't put it down. To read the stories that this man told were shocking. Carlo does a pretty good job of not being too explicit though. There are a few stories that are especially bad...but otherwise it's OK.
   
   I (like a lot of other people) am interested in serial killers and why they do what they do. For some reason they are really interesting to people. I'm sure there are plenty of psyche people who could explain why. Kuklinski is one of the ultimate serial killers, and therefore, garners a lot of attention. That he did all of this while leading a relatively normal family life only futhers the intrigue.
   
   Three HBO documentaries of Kuklinski were filed while he was in prison. I have seen one of them and it's pretty riveting stuff. It's actually frightening to watch him cavalierly describe taking another man's life. Sometimes he gets mad and glares at the interviewer...which is a haunting view for that person I'm sure.
   
   I very highly recommend this book to anyone interested in True Crime, serial killers, or the Mafia. Be prepared though.
   
   Rating: 5 out of 5



2. Great book about one of the most notoriously unknown killers of all time!
   
   Richard Kuklinski was a very interesting man to say the least, his family life, his secret life of murder and his long list of petty crimes and schemes!
   
   When you finish "The Ice Man", you'll feel as if you know the guy. The book starts off talking about Richard's horrible childhood and how/when he committed his first murder and takes you through his early days of crime and his association with the Mafia!
   
   "Big Rich" as he was known to his friends killed over 100 men, possibly as many as 200. He killed using almost every means possible. Kuklinski claims to have killed the infamous Jimmy Hoffa and ruthless mobster Roy DeMeo. He not only killed for money, he killed without a reason. Strangers, punks, thugs and the homeless all felt the wrath of the Ice Man, but never women or children according to Richard.
   
   Many people, including Richard Kuklinski believe he was poisoned while in prison, which ulitmately led to his death. Richard was going to testify against Sammy (the Bull) Gravano, he died in prison days before!
   
   You can buy the dvd's here at Amazon of Richard's HBO interviews, they can also be found on Youtube! The interviews are excellent, they give a real life perspective of Big Rich!
   
   Great read, very interesting stuff, truly a natural born killer!



3. i am no book reviewer but at first i thought this is one crazy dude.several times i stopped to try to find out how many people wererolled up into this one guy.the photos and discription of him didn't seem to jibe with the dates.it'sfun to read but itt can't all be fact.



4. It's completely believable. (did someone say it isn't totally believable?) It was the first experience I'd had reading any first-hand telling by someone as he in his teens kills his worst bully. His cold disposing of that body and getting away with it. Horrific. But what was meaner than his own father? The ice-man was hit, bashed for reasons that weren't clear to him at the moments his father came down on him. Out of the blue. Bad enough, child battery, when daddy states his reasoning. The iceman even believes that this daddy beat over and over his older brother until that child died. Hello? Mom? where was Mom? Right there! The beatings and other humane neglects formed warm pulsating heart into permafrost in he who became Ice. Ok. Life tells us there are no sufficient provocations for violence. but there are things done to soft and cuddly humans while they are dependent and trusting of the big humans who are in charge of such tenderness that screw their wee minds and there you go. What the Iceman did to his victims is unreadable. You lay (throw?) the book down and gasp and take days to recover and reluctantly give it your time yet again. A horrific read or did I say that? Yet Mr Bruno, you did good. Why did you not have to stop over and over to vomit as you related what are facts of such vile magnitude I'll never figure. maybe you did. Utterly unforgettable, and I tentatively thank you for reporting/writing it.



5. This book was an intense read. It's definitely filled with everything you might expect from reading the Amazon description. The one flaw is its lack of credibility, but I guess if a killer is as good as this, he wouldn't leave a trail of evidence to prove his stories are true later on.