5 comments about Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake.

1. This is a fun book. Abagnale's intelligence and wit come through, though the writing is a bit stilted and the material quite dated. But Abagnale's ability to exploit appearances and to exploit the level of trust necessary for society to work is fascinating and very funny. Perhaps his most interesting con is his relationship with women. This is the ultimate con game, I'm afraid, and the book would have been far better had he explained his con in this regard and had he come to terms with it. Also, the book ends quite abruptly and is unsatisfying in explaining how Abagnale ultimately came to terms with himself.



2. "The parental drive Frank wants from Carl feels less evident, missing the sensitive looks and words as played in the movie by Hanks and DiCaprio."
   
   don't you realize how silly it is to complain that stuff happens in the movie(fictional) and not in the book (factual).



3. I read this book right after seeing the movie in theaters because of how much I liked the movie. The book is a great addition to the movie because you will get to read a lot of the stories that didn't make it into the movie and read the non-hollywood version of the actual events.



4. I gave it 4 stars only because I reserve 5-star ratings for books I could not have lived without reading, so to speak. But it is a fascinating account, and if you like knowing that it's a big world out there with people doing interesting things, you'll probably enjoy this book. Abagnale is obviously intelligent and likes to have fun -- an infectious combination. I'm interested now in reading his follow-up, The Art of the Steal: How to Protect Yourself and Your Business from Fraud, America's #1 Crime. I suspect his advice will be more helpful than the dispirited, obfuscating "instructions" of the credit reporting agencies!



5. 'Catch me if you can' is a fairly entertaining, badly written fiction book that served as a base for a very entertaining, well directed fiction movie. It's not an amazing true story as the blurbs proclaim.
   
   Don't reach for this book if you want to read a true-to-fact autobiography. 'Catch me if you can' is a ghostwritten, highly embellished in style and content, largely implausible narrative that diverts from what probably really happened as much as the Spielberg movie diverts from the book. In words of Abagnale himself:
   
   'I was interviewed by the co-writer only about four times. I believe he did a great job of telling the story, but he also over dramatized and exaggerated some of the story. That was his style and what the editor wanted. He always reminded me that he was just telling a story and not writing my biography. This is one of the reasons that from the very beginning, I insisted the publisher put a disclaimer in the book and tapes.'
   
   I have yet to find this disclaimer in my copy. I like fiction and don't mind reading it as long as the author (or the publisher) doesn't try to sell it as a true story. Reading 'Catch me if you can' I had an increasing feeling that I was being conned. I swallowed all the tall tales of his forgeries, swindles and impersonations hook line and sinker, but the devil, as usual, is in details.
   
   Funnily my suspicions were aroused only when I found out he was fluent in French despite the fact that a few pages earlier he used an interpreter to communicate in that language.
   
   The description of his incarceration in a French hellhole of a prison is unbelievable to the point of ridiculous, but still the time is extended from 6 months he purportedly served to about one year.
   Then he's rescued by a Swedish policewoman Jan Lundström. Fine. I understand that all names in the book have been changed but Jan is a male name in Sweden. At this point I couldn't suspend my disbelief any longer and I put the book down unfinished.
   
   A few words about the style of writing. It's about as overdone as the facts it's supposed to desribe and nearly unreadable.

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 The Good Rat: A True Story.

1. This is a fine addition to anyone's true crime shelf. You're not going to see a romantic view of mob life here. Tony Soprano might be interesting to have as a neighbor, but the people in this book are such that you'd much prefer that they live in a different part of town, or better yet, a different town altogether. The book does present a rather one-dimensional view of the criminals involved: you will not be reading about the kind of family (personal, not mob) life that helped make Tony Soprano three-dimensional. The figures in the book may have been decent people at home, but that's not the point here.
   
   You'll get a view of current mob life--the violence, the paranoia, the omerta, and the breaking of omerta. Some things have changed from the heyday of Murder, Inc in the 1940s, but much is still the same: plus la change, plus la meme chose. Burton Kaplan today is little different from his counterparts of 50-70 years ago: surveillance and eavesdropping techinques are better, the FBI has discovered the Mafia, and witness protection programs have led to a partial decline in omerta. Where once a stand-up guy could do 5 years in prison, with RICO standing up for 30 years is less appealing. Kid Twist Reles' revelations in Murder, Inc were eye-opening back then: Burton Kaplan's testimony is fascinating, but he has lots of fellow canaries, so to speak.
   
   You'll get a very gritty tale here. These are not nice fellows at all. Some reviews may speak of the contrast between good and evil in the book, but that's not really true. NYC policemen as contract killers is a very unpleasant thought, but it's hardly new (see the book Satan's Circus). What is more interesting is how one of these cops, whose uncle was a well-known mobster, and who himself had a criminal record, was admitted to the police force and rose high in the ranks. His moonlighting for the mob did not come as a major surprise. His outing was unusual: you get the feeling that there seemed to be a lot of tolerance in law enforcement for his activities. The Feds brought him down--not the NYPD.
   
   What I would have liked to see here is perhaps some kind of map or chart, and a cast of characters (there's a very brief list, which mostly just mentions names). If you're thoroughly familiar with the greater NY mob scene, you shouldn't have a problem. But for most people, being able to check a cast that listed, say, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano along with his family, role in the family, etc, would have been helpful. There are interesting people who get brief mentions, such as Jimmy Burke (see GoodFellas) and the fearsome Roy DeMeo, whose murder crew made even John Gotti nervous (see Murder Machine). Unless you're a true crime fan, such names might not carry the nuances that they should. But Good Rat covers one slice of the scene in greater New York, and covers it very well.



2. Jimmy Breslin has created a masterpiece with his tales of Burt Kaplan and two bad cops. Breslin captures the testimony of Kaplan and entertwines mafia history to present a compelling easy to read account of the downfall of two NYPD detectives.



3. This writer must have made a offer that nobody could refuse :---)
   Not sure why all the accolades by those who read this book.
   No meat, timeline is confusing. It is simply a regurgatation
   of the trial questioning/answers. Repeat, the book is what the
   accused said under cross, or questioning, etc...
   I found it confusing and boring.
   I am not suggesting writer is unskilled, unimaginative,
   or not of quality experience.
   I have read at least 50 books and seen 50 films of fiction
   and fact on this subject (Mafia/crime). So I know what
   is interesting, fun to read/watch... This book is not.
   I wish I had purchased the paperback vs an expensive hard cover...
   Fogettabout it
   David



4. Brotherhood: The Story of Two Cops Who Murdered For The Mafia is a must better read and truer account of those two cops and Burton Kaplan than the tall tales written by Mr. Breslin...Many of the past mafia incidents is plain wrong and insulting to mob aficionados...more in line with Mafia Cop
   ...D-rated at best.



5. If you have a good knowledge of Mafia history in New York and in the US generally this book will flow well while you read and absorb it, for new comers it is still a good read but will take longer and you will probably need to check out other books to put it all together. Breslins reflections on his life of writing about the Mob are gems and his book about Burton Kaplan is fascinating. Kaplan is the good rat who finally realizes unless he talks to the Govt about is his life in crime he will spend the rest of his life behind bars and someone else will rat on him.
   
   Kaplan has plenty to account for including murder so he spills all and tells of his life of crime and his cohorts. The two mafia cops who he informs on are roasted slowly by Breslin in the book who can barely conceal his disgust at their greed, treachery and killings. He describes the view of hell each cop had from his house as he went to work each morning and their indifferance to the disgraceful murder of the good Nicky Guido.
   
   There are moments of humour as Breslin recalls a time in court when a mafia don on trial publicly berates Breslin for wearing a cheap suit and being embarrassed by him being at his trial. Breslin at times goes off track from the trial and relates personal anecdotes of his life of writing about the Mob. He goes into the early history of the Mob and why Hoover's FBI was sleeping on the job while the Mob prospered. He goes on to relate how the FBI finally woke up to the power of the RICO act and realized enough was enough the Mob had to go down and finally the FBI won.
   
   Well worth the read and thanks for the book Mr Breslin.

5 comments about Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story.

1. This book gives sobering data, while reading like a best-selling mystery--quite the feat!
   
   The book is particularly relevant when we fit the story of Enron into the larger picture: Geo. W. Bush's longtime personal friendship with Enron head Ken Lay; Bush's own businesses in the 1980s--Arbusto and Spectrum 7--also collapsing shortly after HE sold out HIS personal stock; numerous other financial giants coincident with Enron (eg., Arthur Anderson, Tyco, Worldcom, etc.) demonstrating the same fiscal irresponsibility; this pattern repeated yet again in the recent (2008) Bear Stearns debacle.
   
   Do you want to understand the mechanisms by which greed and corruption flourish? This book gives a detailed view of the process. I was continually astonished as I read. But then, I always am. (People sometimes accuse me of being cynical, but I can honestly reply, "To the contrary! I'm constantly amazed!")
   
   A great companion book to Pigs at the Trough : How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption Are Undermining America. We can't say we weren't told....
   
   Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)



2. It was most interesting to get a glimpse into the personal life as well as the unethical business practices of the executives.



3. As a 56 year old very successful business owner of 30 years, I always looked in awe at these 40 year old CEOs and CFOs of major publicly held corporations. How did these guys learn so much in such a short period of time? Are they actually that much smarter than I am? Apparently NOT! The only difference between us is that I could never match their levels of arrogance, greed, stupidity and total lack of ethics. Welcome to the world of big business.
   
   As tragic as the ENRON situation is, what transpired behind the scenes was so incredulous, I found myself laughing out loud. The fact that they thought they could get away with some of these schemes was astounding. The fact that they got away with them as long as they did is a tribute to the stupidity of the supporting staff around them. This book should be required reading for any college grad going into the business world.



4. Conspiracy of Fools is the story of Enron, from beginning to collapse, researched and presented in excruciating detail. It's a horror story of greed, incompetence, arrogance, and willful ignorance. And it's a cautionary tale depicting the importance of accounting. It's also thought-provoking, particularly with regard to the contradictory nature of American business--what's good for the actual business isn't necessarily what's good for the stockholders, and vice versa.
   
   The first quarter or so of the book, I spent a lot of time flipping back to the the cast of characters in the front of the book, and being frustrated by the way it jumped between characters and POVs. After I became familiar with the major players, it read much more smoothly.
   
   The other thing that drove me nuts for quite a while was that so many scenes were described with precise dates, sometimes even down to the minute. I kept expecting those times to be significant in some way, but they never were. I eventually realized that it was supposed to be proof of how accurate the research was, but I just found it distracting.
   
   There's more detail than I expected, but in this kind of book, I appreciated that--it felt like I got a clearer picture of not only what happened, but why, and how it was allowed to happen.
   
   Other than that, it was fascinating, and horrifying. Reading it was like watching a series of train wrecks, or a horror movie where you're screaming at the bimbo not to go up the stairs, but she does anyway. I'm glad I read it.



5. Seriously, this guy churns out a book every 4 years cause he does his research. Add to that the fact he is an exceptional writer. Perfect guy to write about this historic meltdown. Hard to rate your favorite books but remember how much I enjoyed reading it two years later. What a blast of a read (tragic story though). After reading the book I became so interested in the Enron debacle, that I actually skipped class and drove to houston (two years ago) to watch Fastow get cross-examined during Skilling and Lay's trial.
   
   So yes I fully reccomend and endorse this book. Buy it and enjoy!

5 comments about Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob.

1. 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.



2. 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.



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



4. 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. Entertaining read. His story is quite remarkable. You don't come across someone who has his life experiences very often. I would recommend this book very highly.

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.

4 comments about Twisted Triangle: A Famous Crime Writer, a Lesbian Love Affair, and the FBI Husband's Violent Revenge.

1. I stumbled on this book while looking up Patricia Cornwell to see if she had any new books coming up. I ordered it from the library and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Now Caitlin Rother is among my favorites. I can't wait to read the rest of her books. She is a wonderful author. Glad I found her.



2. Following "Poisoned Love," "Twisted Triangle" is more than a portrait, as it peers through the human facade to its very soul. A spell-binding, tortured tale that is unbelievably true, I couldn't put it down. Another great, true, crime story by Caitlin Rother, making her among the best in this genre.
   
   Your reply to Bob Sherin's post:
   Guidelines



3. Unless you have been in an abusive relationship it is truly hard to comprehend what a person must do to survive. "Twisted Triangle" by Caitlin Rother has shown how devastating that type of life can be. I applaud not only Margo Bennett's determination to survive an abusive husband and coming to terms with her sexual orientation but her willingness to share her story in the hopes of giving other the courage to do the same. Caitlin Rother has written a articulate story of Margo Bennett's struggles and given the impartial view point of each and everyone involved in the disturbing situation. With Rother's 20 year tenure as an investigative reporter and her newly developed skill as a thriller author, she has all the talent necessary to research all the facts of any non-fiction story and mold them into an intriguing and very readable novel



4. It is hard to imagine that this story is true, but it is. I am acquainted with Margo Bennett, and have been since this story unfolded, so reading this book was especially personal for me. Caitlin Rother's Twisted Triangle does a wonderful job of illustrating the emotional journey of a woman tormented by a psychotic husband, and her untimely and illicit encounters with a world renowned author. Superficial details of Gene Bennett's plots to defraud the FBI and various insurance agencies, and his attempts on the lives of his wife and her minister were covered in depth by the Washington, DC area press, but this book delves into the emotions Margo felt and the pain she suffered while trying to protect herself from her deranged husband and her daughters from their father. And while her detractors might say that she made a number of poor decisions in her life that ultimately lead to the events depicted in Rother's book, others will certainly counter that poor decisions are never an excuse for abuse, mental or physical. Rother has captured those abusive moments in vivid detail. I applaud Margo for having the courage to tell her side of the story. This book is definitely a page-turner - one you will find hard to put down.

5 comments about Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer.

1. Overall a very well written book. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down! It was very informative, yet chilling in the details of the horrible acts committed by Albert Fish.



2. wow
   at first i was wary of buying this but this book is like an E! True Hollywood Story and Stephen King book all rolled into one...i had to keep reminding myself that it was real not fiction
   amazing!!!1



3. I have read all of Schecter's books and this is the best. He captures the psychological and historical portrait of one of the most fearsome killers in history. This bone chilling story will stick with you.



4. This book kept me at the edge of my seat... or pillow, depending on what time of day I was reading. It was an easy read, but yet gripping and almost to much to believe.
   I must know, is this truly fact, or fiction? If you look at page 3, you see a note that reads "This book is a work of fiction... " but yet the cover claims that this is a TRUE Story.. could it be? Is the character, Albert Fish, real, but the facts within the pages fiction? I must know.
   Overall, I would recommend DERANGED to anyone who, like me, is fascinated by the crimes some human beings (term used loosely) are capable of....



5. The story of Albert Fish is an interesting one - what an amazing insanity! It is a fair read for those of us who find pathology fascinating. Beneath Albert's story lies the authors story - what seems like juvenile humor regarding fat ladies - the author never mentions the Mother of Grace Budd without adding a comment about her size/weight. Veeery interesting...

5 comments about Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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. I recall first learning of the tragic murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena after reading about the account in "Newsweek" in 1993 while I was finishing my first year in Seminary. I will always remember the cold and nearly heartless stare at the camera by Sean O'Brien, one of the young men accused of their brutal murder. Corey Mitchell writes a powerful account of the entire tragedy, giving a face to all of the players in the tragic story of kids who have been lost in this insane society, and in turn become its major cause of fear. While we may point fingers at the accusers and the supposed ones who allowed them to run rampant and do what they did, we are reminded of two beautiful young women, the best of friends who were taken away from their friends, loved ones, and the society that may have benefited by their presence. Mr. Mitchell tells a powerful story that does not hide us from the gruesome reality of what happened, yet doesn't seem to revel in the details. May the journey of the families of these young ladies and others who have lost loved ones in such a terrible way never be forgotten by us who are blessed with the gift of life and relative safety.

5 comments about Murder In Brentwood.

1. Of course we have all heard of OJ Simpson and Mark Fuhrman. For many of us our opinion of Mark Fuhrman is as a prejudiced detective - based on what we saw on TV. This book provides a detailed look at things the general public didn't see or hear about on TV. In fact there is so much specific evidence pointing to the guilt of OJ it makes you wonder how this could happen.
   
   Mark Fuhrman clearly lays out the facts and what happend behind each one including errors that were made during the investigation, unknown details of the trial, and other interesting information. This book is easy to read - even my husband, who is NOT a book reader, picked this one up and read it nearly cover to cover.



2. Mark Fuhrman is a brilliant writer and was a brilliant detective. Unfortunately, 'they' made him the scapegoat in OJ's murders and ruined his police career but those that are aware, realize what the truth is. Mark Fuhrman has made a great life for himself and his family, in the second chapter of his life. I am so grateful to him for writing all these books (check out "Murder In Greenwich" book, it is awesome too). This book about the slaugher of Nichole Brown and Ron Goldman goes into minute detail as to the forensics and all the other evidence that should have convicted that murderer. It is sickening to see how badly the other detectives bungled the case and it is more than sickening to see how Mark got blamed for it. It is a MUST-READ book for all who care about the Truth. Thank you Mark Fuhrman!



3. It was good to see the actual evidence trail. There is so much evidence that the public never knew about that is revealed in this book. It is so terribly disturbing to see how many mistakes the police made. Mark Fuhrman made mistakes. The other detectives on-scene made mistakes. However, you can tell from Fuhrman's notes, that he is a highly skilled detective. His notes were flawless and methodical. Things that come from years of experience. If you were a follower of the OJ Simpson trial, you will find this book very enlightening. You will find your eyes wide and your attention glued to the pages. The only reason I gave this a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating; It would have been an easier read if some of the repetition had been left out. I found myself skipping over parts of the book that had already been covered in other chapters.



4. this poor man was made the scapegoat for the murders just by virtue of being called to a murder scene and doing his job. he presents the facts in a very detailed and concise manner, but his anger and frustration (completely and totally justified) is peppered throughout. when the true criminal goes to trial for his most recent crimes in las vegas, i hope he is found guilty and goes to jail. i hope johnny cochran is not only turning over in his grave, i hope he's rotating!



5. The most fascinating part of the book was the chapter on the murder weapon. Mr. Fuhrmann is convinced that a 3 - 3 1/2" Swiss Army pocket knife was used, not a 6" stiletto. One can only wonder what became of the knife. An excellent read.