5 comments about UnGodly: The Passions, Torments, and Murder of Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

1. Like other reviewers have stated, this is a very poorly written and biased book. One wonders if it is intentional or not. Easily one of the most biased books I have read, ever.



2. Although this book does give the chronological story of MMO's life, it is written in the sensationalistic style typical of true crime books; that is why I say it is more "true crime" than "biography". For 30 years MMO was the reigning goddess of atheism in America. Her fatal flaw was her contempt for humanity in general, not just Christians. Using MMO's diaries & atheist newsletter, the author lets us know her opinions of the people in her life. Her mother was a "dumb broad". Her office workers at her atheist headquarters in Austin were "scum, derelicts, lumpen proletariat" (the rest of the words she used -including racial slurs- might possibly be deleted by amazon.com if I included them here). Her oldest son, who converted to Christianity was a "post natal abortion". Her financial supporters were "gutless bastards". As noted in her diaries, she had a special dislike for Jewish people. It seems the only people she had kind words for were those who acquiesced to her domineering personality.
   The author has a lot of unkind words for people too, at one point remarking that Bill Murray's "homely" wife Susan wore thick, black-rimmed glasses "of a sort that a mean-spirited librarian might wear". (I'm not sure why the author singled out librarians for this insult.) There is a photo of Susan in the book and as far as I am concerned she has very pleasant features and I believe the glasses she is wearing were considered fashionable at the time. I think the catty remarks are unnecessary and take away from the quality of the book.
   At the time of MMO's disappearance I was living in Austin. I remember reading in the paper a speculative article that she had died and her son and grand-daughter had spirited her body away to someplace where Christians could not pray for her soul at her gravesite. Apparently nobody, not even the athiests cared enough about the abrasive and arrogant MMO to bother trying to find out what happened to her. The police seemed to have little interest in the case, and it took Bill Murray a year to file a missing persons report on his mother, half brother and daughter. It took a newspaper reporter, John MacCormack, and a private investigator, Tim Young, to initiate the investigation that would lead to the arrest and conviction of Waters and Karr for murder.
   One issue that I would have liked for the author to explore more fully was why Bill and Susan turned their daughter Robin over for MMO to raise. Neither Bill nor Susan seemed to like MMO, so why would they allow MMO to raise their daughter? If they had not done so, she would probably still be alive today.
   This is a very uneven work, still it is interesting and hard to put down due to the "true crime!" style prose that has a tendency to "hook" readers and hold their attention throughout the book.



3. UNGODLY is a superb account of the events in the O'Hair's lives. The book shows an UNBIASED look at these individuals despite what other reviewers have said. Most atheist reviewers will not like this book because it shows the true nasty nature of Ms. O'Hair. She was close to a criminal herself with all her tax problems. She was a hard person to like and was obnoxious beyond normal considerations. She had utter contempt for Christians and most people in general. Of course, this in no way excuses her horrible murder. It may be ironic, but I am not justifying murder. What I take issue with is that some reviewers have stated that the Christians in the book are portrayed as all good and the atheists are shown to be vile. I must have read a different book than they did. Certainly some Christians are portrayed as good, but others are portrayed as con-artists. Some atheists are shown to be kind people of good character while others push forward the gospel of hate. Some reviewers seem to take issue with any perspective that they disagree with. I am a Christian, and I have a dear friend who is an atheist. I feel that he is misguided, and he feels that I am incorrect. We debate, but we still maintain a mutual respect for one another. Dracos has shown both sides and told a reasonably accurate account of the O'Hair's lives. His work is researched to the hilt. UNGODLY is NOT biased in any way. Many times throughout the book Dracos portrays Madalyn in a negative light. He also shows respect for her abilities and empathy for her death. I have no idea if Dracos is a Christian or not, but in his acknowledgements he thanks Pan and the presiding Gods. This is tongue in cheek, but as a Christian I personally would not thank Pagan gods even in jest. I say this to point out that Dracos DOES NOT have some hidden Christian agenda. He is just giving a compelling account of a tragic yet interesting life.



4. I wouldn't classify this as a "biography," but it was a very interesting tale of O'Hair's life (and death). I hadn't followed the case against her murderers when it played out; it was quite fascinating to read about it.
   
   Despite what some of the reviewers have written, I didn't think this was a biased book. Hey, it's hard to portray as a saint a woman as wicked as her. Regardless of whether you agree with her Athiesm, she WAS an evil, greedy woman who bilked many of her supporters out of thousands if not millions of dollars. Sadly, it was greed itself that led to her murder.



5. A tawdry account of the life of O'Hair, apparently an egocentrist diminished by the history in which she found herself. The author's dislike of his subject and lack of documentation dominate.
   
   Omnisciently relates O'Hair's motives, thoughts, etc. without specifying sources. The author is contradictory, judgmental and petty in portraying O'Hair (e.g., how does he know she only bathed weekly?).
   
   One interesting point (speculative?--no sources) is on the origin of O'Hair's antireligious sentiment, a failed love affair. Fairly apparent that her response to religion was psychological contra philosophical, O'Hair was certainly not from the same cloth as Dawkins or Sagan.
   
   Interesting material, but lacks basic scholarship and appears to have been written for the tabloid set. Unfortunate, as the issues concerned are more critical today.

No comments about The RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act).

4 comments about The Case of Madeleine Smith: The Case of Madeleine Smith (Treasury of Victorian Murder (Graphic Novels)).

1. This book is a graphic-novel overview of a murder case that gripped the attention of mid-nineteenth-century Britain: Did Madeleine Smith, Glasgow socialite, poison her inconvenient lover, Pierre L'Anglier, or didn't she?
   
   Geary does not come down on the side of innocence or guilt; he presents the facts of the case, in his own inimitable drawing style, and lets the reader come to his or her own conclusions. I would say that the clue to innocence or guilt is there, but you have to be paying attention to see it---and I won't spoil the book for others by pointing it out. It's just one small fact that can't be explained otherwise.
   
   This book's recommended for anybody interested in the case, or in true crime or classic crime in general. About the only reason I didn't give it five stars is that Geary apparently swallowed the story of Madeleine living her old age out in New York City out whole, without checking it out. It could be, but it also might not be, the truth---and without digging the corpse in question up and checking its DNA with known relatives of Smith, there's no way to know.



2. Geary does what might be called documentary graphic novels, the best known of which is his series of true crime stories. This one is set in Glasgow in the late 1850s and involves an overly-romantic young gentleman and the young-ish daughter of a prominent architect who carry on a clandestine love affair -- until Madeleine gets tired of the whole thing, takes up with a man her father approves of, and then has to keep her paramour from outing her. Enter arsenic. The ex-boyfriend dies in great pain, the government brings murder charges, and a trial ensues. Even though their styles are nothing at all alike, Geary always reminds me of Edward Gorey -- the sly depiction of violence, the sense of inevitability, the decorous text. This is great stuff.



3. The Case of Madeleine Smith is one of the Treasury of Victorian Murder series. Rick Geary starts off with bibliographic references used in creating the book, a map of Scotland noting the towns germane to the major characters, and a map of the City of Glasgow in 1857 and its surrounding area. All these help the reader to visualize the relative locations of the action. The writing is clear and the artwork is amazing in that you can picture yourself in the story as an observer, and the surprise is when you look up and find yourself in your living room.
   
   On Monday 23 March 1857, Emile L'Anglier arrives at his lodging house seriously ill. He dies later the same day. Notes in his journal cause the arrest of his fiancé Madeleine Smith, who is actually engaged to another man, William Minnock. But all the evidence points to Madeleine.
   
   Geary clearly sets out the evidence going over the background of Emile L'Anglier and Madeleine Smith, the love affair, letters, journal entries, and actions prior to Emile's death. He covers the highlights of the court proceedings, the verdict, and follows up with what happened to some of the major characters in later years.
   
   I found the writing clear and concise. Geary only sets forth the facts about what happened and lets the reader decide if the court's decision was the correct one. It would seem a cut and dried case but the prior history of the major figures casts doubts. What happened may not be what it seems -- there is definitely doubt about motives.
   
   I think if more history was told as clearly with only the facts presented and the reader left to think about the ramifications and possible outcomes and how things might have been avoided or outcomes changed; it would make history much more exciting and interactive as a learning process. I found this illustrated presentation of The Case of Madeleine Smith thought provoking. The artwork is also clear and closely tied to the narrative so that the two are seamless as you're reading.



4. Geary has built up so much good will in this series that I will continue to buy them... but this is just an average entry. In 1857 a Glasgow man dies, his secret girlfriend is a suspect. At her trial she gets off. This story really lacks developments or nuances, but it's still kind of long. I pulled the Jack the Ripper edition out to refresh my memory about why I love these books and was struck by visuals that were stronger, more dynamic and more imaginative. This book conforms to the more procedural aspects of Geary's The Beast of Chicago, relaying even run-of-the-mill (non-interesting) aspects of the case. For all the detail in this book (It might be the thickest volume) I really craved more complications. There just aren't any major moments in it, or anything that makes your blood curdle. Here again, as in the Borden Tragedy and Mary Rogers, Geary tracks the protagnist into old age, but those two stories had a coda. This has none. There's no final incident that makes Madeleine's story pursuable. It seems to be here because it's become the usual way to end the stories.
   
   If you want the best recent volume, buy the Bloody Benders, a gory story with developments that pull you through multiple acts. With his next edition, Geary jumps to the 20th Century for the Lindbergh kidnapping. I'm looking forward to that, but I really hope he can continue to bring nineteenth century stories to the attention of fans and readers.

5 comments about Dead Girl.

1. Roberta "Bibi" Lee was murdered by her boyfriend in 1984. She was a close friend of the author and this book is about her murder and subsequent trial and sentence of the boyfriend.

   Melanie Thernstrom does a sterling job of researching Bibi's murder and including letters that, according to her, "sound like what Bibi would have written." The only drawback is that this book is very verbose and could have been cut down in places.

   I also felt the author's description of her devastation over her break up with her boyfriend Adam was extraneous. As bad as one felt for the author, her love life really had nothing to do with Bibi.

   It is to Ms. Thernstrom's credit that she cared so much about Bibi that this book was ever written. It is a loving testamony to the strong bonds of friendship. Had this book been less verbose, it would have gotten more stars.




2. I am reading this book for the third time -- something I do rarely. Be not deceived, this book does not belong housed with the True Crime genre. It is not about murder and the hunt for a killer although that appears to be the foundation of the story. It is written by a literary writer and not a sensationalist journalist. It is about the impact such a crime has on the lives of those who loved the victim, in this case, the best friend of the victim, through her perceptions and emotions. The book may be more fully appreciated by those who, in their late teens and early twenties, have lost significant relationships through death and by those who study the impact of such trauma.



3. This book is all about Melanie Thernstrom, and not much about Bibi Lee.
   
   It's incredibly verbose, disjointed, and boring. You could cut it down to a quarter of the size and probably not lose any essential facts. But it would still be incredibly boring.
   
   While I sympathize with Melanie's loss of her friend, I find it amazing that she spent so much time on her own feelings, responses, actions, etc. during this time, and very little (and that little so chopped and flashback that your opinion of Bibi was not at all admiring) on her friend.
   
   Actually, by the first 60 pages, I had concluded that Bibi was rude and a spoiled brat, and Melanie was a neurotic cry baby. After that, I flipped through just to see if the boyfriend was guilty, and what the verdict was at the trial.
   
   I notice it's listed as something like $.21 used. Don't waste your money.



4. This book is unlike anything I have ever read. It offers a true journey into the mind and soul of a surviving victim. It's an agonizing journey at times but the grace and beauty of the author's writing marks a stark contrast to the events she is often describing.
   
   Not a book for people who want the sensationalistic "movie of the week" in book form. This instead is an amazing elegy to a senselessly murdered friend. If you allow it into your mind it will force you to think not just of crime and murder but of life and death and the very nature of existence. The author bears her soul sharing her innermost thoughts and feelings and her beautiful honest and unpretentious expression of them is a wonderful gift to the reader
   
   This book totally transcends the genre of "true crime". I have read close to 1000 books about crime, some great, some not very good but I think this may be the best book of them all. Absolutely incredible!



5. I have to agree with the others here who rated this book with 1 or 2 stars. The most compelling part of the book was the transcript of the trial(s) - which doesn't come until almost the very end. The book is too much centered on Thernstrom's feelings, angst & general immaturity at the time of the murder. While it is obvious that Roberta's depression is important & relevant it is constantly over-shadowed by Thernstrom's self-indulgence regarding her own state-of-mind.
   
   I thought the writing jumbled & pretentious. Too many literary details - fine for a thesis, rotten for a general-consumption published memoir. At the end of the book I still have many questions. The most important issue to my mind is does Thernstrom believe in Page's guilt or not? Also, why didn't the family want the original letters published? Why make the letters the centerpiece of the work if you cannot use them at all & have to make things up from memory? Surely some other device could have been used.
   
   I hope Roberta Lee's life & murder will get another look by a more conscientious author. May she rest in peace.

5 comments about Sympathy for the Devil: The Emmanuel Baptist Murders of Old San Francisco.

1. Well researched and cleanly written, Sympathy for the Devil relates the events of 2 murders in San Francisco in 1895. The author painstakingly recreates the events leading up to the murders, the media coverage to rival that of the OJ trial, the trial itself, and the subsequent appeals. You can tell the author did her homework. Each chapter is filled with footnotes that provide not only the source of the information, but at times additional facts about the time period, the city, and the mores of the time. It was fascinating to read about a city I visit regularly and recognize some of the places mentioned.

   However, the most fascinating part of this book was the trial itself. The media circus surrounding the trial was phenomenal; the 3 major newspapers took turns printing sensational accounts of the murder, the trial, and the defendant as well as out and out lies in the form of forged letters and false testimonies of people involved in the case. Additionally, the differences between trial procedure and proper behavior then and now are astounding. For example, in the trial, jurors actually stood up and asked questions of the witnesses.

   The only negative comment I have is that the author waited until the very end of the book to discuss the possible reason behind the murders. Granted, this was her opinion (though backed by facts) so I can understand why she placed it outside the narrative of events from murder to trial, but it was frustrating at times to read the story without any idea why these murders occurred.

   Despite this one drawback, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries, history, and human behavior.




2. What exactly is a Victorian murder case anyway?

   There's a mystique about "Victorian murder cases" that is possessed by devotees of true crime non-fiction, but it sounds as though all that must happen for a murder or series of crimes to be so regarded is that they take place during the Victorian Era (1837-1901).

   Of course, the Jack the Ripper murders from 1888 are regarded as the best and the darkest of all Victorian murder cases. The brutal serial killings of prostitutes, the sexual nature of the crimes themselves, accentuated by the certain body parts which were particularly violated by the Ripper's knife, the exposure of proper British society to the world of prostitution and the seaminess of London's East End - even today, all of these cause right-minded people to solemnly nod their heads and remark on how atrocities are regularly caused by the hypocrisy of blue-blooded aristocrats toward sexual matters. But does the Theo Durrant case, circa 1895, really fit neatly into this same criminal category just because of its chronology?

   For the most part, Virginia McConnell is to be commended for her well-researched and comprehensive presentation of the Emmanuel Baptist Church murders. Durrant was regarded by his contemporaries and by many later researchers simply as a monster, and McConnell's contrary theme, as hinted by the title, is that Durrant was a decent man and a genuine religious devotee of decidedly non-murderous disposition for whom these two murders were isolated acts that likely would not have been repeated.

   Notwithstanding her moral judgment, she is unsparing in her examination. She marshals the facts impressively and in chronological order, particularly the testimony of the witnesses who observed Theo Durrant in the company of Blanche Lamont as he escorted her to the church, in which belfry her body was later found. The circumstantial evidence which led to the quick conviction of Durrant for the murder of Blanche Lamont (in light of the death sentence imposed upon him, he was never tried for Minnie Williams' death) is impressive for its volume and its probity. The evidence proffered by Durrant and his attorneys in defense is shown to be wanting; and there is even a suggestion of one or more aborted private confessions by Durrant.

   McConnell also provides several interesting scenarios as to how and why Durrant murdered the two young women and plausibly maintains that neurological influences (Durrant had suffered from bacterial meningitis) and biochemical influences (she diagnoses Durrant as manic-depressive) likely accounted for his uncharacteristic behavior. But she also seems inclined to portray the murders as peculiarly Victorian crimes - erotic bloody affronts to a repressive 19th century society, in which some elements were struggling for freedom.

   However, apart from chronology, it's difficult to see why the Bell Tower murders would be thought of as Victorian crimes. Apparently, it's not even necessary that a crime be committed in Victorian ENGLAND to be so classified. The Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Francisco's Mission District was a good 6000 miles away from Windsor Castle. More importantly, 19th century San Francisco, with its gin joints and Barbary Coast dens of iniquity, frequented openly by all classes, must have been equally distant from Victorian London in the cultural sense.

   While McConnell delves extensively into Durrant's family life, she seems to largely overlook its significance. Papa Durrant was a weak impotent father figure, and Mamma Durrant was an overbearing overly-possessive mother whose affection for her son (as well as the affection that she demanded in return) was unhealthy and unnatural, just the sort of mother that has produced monsters on many other occasions. Yet McConnell barely acknowledges these elements as contributing factors to the murderous personality that Durrant temporarily developed.

   The fact is that as over the years that have elapsed since the Bell Tower case, as fatherlessness has become more and more prevalent, the combination of overbearing mothers and weak or absent fathers has been the cause of many thousands of particularly brutal murders and perhaps at least one presidential assassination. The Durrant case isn't a Victorian murder case at all; it's a 20th century murder case reflecting what would become that century's principal social epidemic.

   On the other hand, what exactly was Theo Durrant's precise role in the deaths of the two women? As convincing a case as the author makes for his guilt, she passes lightly over the possible role played by a figure whose shadow never seems entirely absent from this case: the mysterious Reverend J. George Gibson, pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

   A man of very peculiar tendencies, a man who seemed overly eager to protect the church's reputation by hiding the murders from the authorities, a man who brought in handlers from the outside specifically for the purpose of handling inquiries from a suspicious press, a man who indeed should have known the contours of the church at least as well as Theo Durrant (though he denied this in his testimony), Reverend Gibson was widely suspected at the time and was named by Theo's partisans as an alternative suspect.

   And as unlikely as that might appear, McConnell runs too lightly over Gibson's tendency to "hide, ostrich-like and pretend that nothing had happened". She runs too lightly over his flippant and suspicious testimony at the inquest and preliminary hearing and passes these things off as products of his fragile and eccentric nature. This is particularly faulty in light of her own curiosity as to how Durrant managed to carry Blanche Lamont's body to the belfry by himself. Her later explanation that adrenaline gave him the strength to do so is not necessarily satisfying. Was Blanche carried to the belfry by two men?

   McConnell's book is an impressive work whose narrative delivers slightly less than the research promises. But it may yet prove to be the Warren Commission Report of the Bell Tower murder case - a weighty tome that is the start of all inquiries but which raises at least as many questions as it answers.




3. The second book by this author is even better than the first! The story gives insight into both the murderer and his victims.
   It was done with great care to detail to compare the cultures present and past, which is fasinating. Could a young man who seemed to have a good future ahead of him have commited these crimes? What possibly could have drove him to do something like this? If not caught, would he have become a serial killer much like modern day Ted Bundy or was it a simple crime of passion and a cover up?
   You MUST read this book!



4. Being a "true crime" book lover since Ann Rule wrote "A Stranger Beside Me", I was looking forward to this book which follows a pair of murders in 1895 San Fransisco. It is a fascinating read - really fun to see how over a hundred years ago this was investigated, tried and reported on. The only draw back came at the end when the author expressed her personally sympathy for the murderer because of possible brain damage. The account was very fun to read. The "he who is without sin...cast the first stone" sentiment is preachy and uncalled for. I look forward to more books of this type!



5. 
   First of all I have to say that Virginia A. McConnell did fantastic work on the Case of William Henry Theodore Durrant and the two young victims.I thought in the last chapter of the book she speculated very well on what happened on the night Durrant supposedly murdered those young girls. But I have to remind myself it's just a speculation. I do not think Theo got a fair trial and the book gave me the impression that they wanted to hold somebody accountable than doing thorough investigation. There is no absolute proof that Durrant did these
   heinous crimes so the guilty verdict was not right at all!!
   
   I don't want to hold him accountable just because the media wants him to be. The was no concrete evedience to support his guilt. Besides there were no draw backs in this book from begnning to end. Durrant was a good boy and never had any strange behavior until that massive brain fever he suffered which I'm sure
   left his brain with sever damage and I do have sympathy for him for that. Back then very few people survived brain fever in Theodore's day. If someone did survive they were never the same.
   
   The victims of this tragic story I also have deep sympathy for and they were murdered in such tragic circumstances that never should have happened.
   
   This book is great for every crime buff...and a great story to be made into a movie!!!!

5 comments about America's Most Hated Woman: The Life And Gruesome Death of Madalyn Murray O'hair.

1. Madalyn Murray-O'Hair may not have been an easy woman to understand. Her forceful, often intolerant-seeming personality did not make a good case for herself in the media. Indeed, this book, (one of two having been published) proves how difficult it has been to reassess Mrs. O'Hair's legacy. Whether right or wrong, it is hard to pin-point just exactly where Mrs. O'Hair stopped being an idealist, someone who truly wanted to change society and right some of the wrongs she saw in American culture, and where personal opportunism and megalomania began. One thing is clear: Mrs. O'Hair had ideals! From what I've read about her (and I have most of her published books), she was ahead of her times; her intellect was eclectic, but her interpretations of ideas and current affairs often bordered on the brilliant. Unfortunately, her personality, accentuated by a bad public image, plus her personal life (her son, William Murray, went on to write a tell- all-Christian book) all worked, I think, against the message she tried to communicate.
   
   Most leaders of the freethought movement have been relegated to a side note in history. Ironically, Mrs. O'Hair remains the best known atheist in the world.
   
   As a biography, this book provides a much needed gap about the life of an American historical figure, especially her earlier life. Perhaps, American Atheists should publish a biography about their Founding Matriarch, a biography that will continue to further the dialogue about Mrs. O'Hair's legacy in American life and culture?



2. There aren't many who live their last days in more sensational and mysterious circumstances than Madalyn Murray O'Hair and her family. It is amazing that there hasn't been more attention, although the reason is probably due to the length of time between their disappearance and the discovery of the bodies (as well as the criminal trials). The publicity was victimized by the drawn-out nature of the series of events. The public simply doesn't have an attention span that can accommodate a five year time-frame between events.
   
   But it's now ten years later and all of the facts that we're probably ever going to know are on the table, so it's a great time for anyone curious about the details of the life and death of this tragic family to take an interest in the case.
   
   This is a well-researched book. The author really goes the distance in providing a deep sketch of the Murrays. I found myself detesting them and, at the same time, feeling sorry for them, particularly the children, who seemed incapable of resisting her gravitational pull, and, consequently, never had lives of their own.
   
   My feeling is that Madalyn was never as bad as she pretended to be, but neither was she as good as her supporters thought her. She played a role to two different audiences and pulled the wool over each.



3. 
   For better and for worse, Ann Seaman's biography is now the definitive account of Madalyn O'Hair's life. Let's start with the worse.
   
   The sensationalistic title might be confused with Jon Rappoport's hack piece. Perhaps O'Hair was America's most hated woman at one time, but Jane Fonda replaced her in the early 1970s, and various feminists and celebrities have since vied for the distinction. "Gruesome death" reveals the climax, implicitly letting reviewers do likewise.
   
   This is yet another biography that starts at the end, with the burial of O'Hair's remains. The device has been done to death, and it never works. I hope that whoever started this trend met a gruesome death similar to O'Hair's. Authors take note; we're born, we live, and THEN we die.
   
   O'Hair's life story is often interrupted by that of her killer David Waters. At one point, I yelled, "Whose bio IS this?" Waters certainly belongs here, but Seaman would better have waited until he entered O'Hair's life to begin his history.
   
   O'Hair's son Bill Murray is quoted throughout this book. Like Waters, he's necessary to the plot, but his Christian agenda requires that he slag atheists, which he enjoys doing through his mother, never mind the Fifth Commandment (does he also preach "family values"?). By taking Murray's alleged "In Hoc Signo Vince" nightmare at face value, Seaman failed to recognize its origin in Eusebius' falsified Constantine biography, thus missing the irony of a Catholic propagandist turning Murray into a Baptist.
   
   Occasional digressions promote Seaman's contention that state and church should commingle. When religion is the topic, opposing viewpoints are forbidden, but when freethought is discussed, religious replies are mandatory: with two exceptions, Seaman adheres to this mainstream dictum. The reader is left to wonder about the author's motives for writing this book.
   
   While Seaman's writing is concise, she sometimes sacrifices clarity. Several threads are left dangling: When the Truth Seeker sued O'Hair and her attorney John Vinson under the RICO act, "Vinson quickly extricated himself, ultimately testifying against her". Two years later, after a scuttled agreement and a mistrial, Vinson was again her attorney. What happened in the meantime? Jon Murray's cellular phone reportedly went dead (meaning disconnected) on September 29, 1995, but "no one answered" it (meaning that it rang) on the following Monday. Exactly what became of the phone isn't revealed. The July 1995 American Atheist newsletter detailing David Waters' criminal history was faxed to Waters. By whom? Another disgruntled former AA employee? O'Hair herself? And with what devastating information did FBI agent Donna Cowling prompt Waters into entering a plea agreement?
   
   Then there are the dozens of errors, including: "Lena even welcomed her daughter's recounting of DEEP THROAT one night after Madalyn had seen it in town." Lena died in 1967: DEEP THROAT premiered in 1972. That conversation didn't happen. "...in next November's U.S. Senate race, Texan Lloyd Bentsen, a conservative Republican, defeated longtime liberal incumbent Ralph Yarborough..." Bentsen was never a Republican; he defeated Yarborough in the 1970 Democratic primary. In November's general election, he defeated Republican George Bush. "David Waters was indicted on the same five counts as Karr had been." One of the counts was different: Karr wasn't charged with interstate transportation of a firearm by a convicted felon. Granted, many of the mistakes are minor, but collectively, they call the book's entire account into question.
   
   In her favor, when Seaman sticks to O'Hair's story, her book is engaging. She comes closer than anyone to understanding O'Hair's behavior: "She learned early the value of being in control when others were not. It so marked her that she eventually sought out or created chaotic conditions so she could feel in control." "...she enjoyed outsmarting people and getting out of scrapes, and the only way to defeat her was either trickery or betrayal. She would navigate hundreds of close calls in her life, and develop an addiction to brinkmanship and even danger."
   
   O'Hair's belligerence is also attributed to her wildly fluctuating insulin dosages; a potentially malfunctioning pituitary is mentioned, as is speculation that she may have been bipolar. Such an unstable individual shouldn't be considered a reliable advocate, yet the press made her the sole atheist representative because she was the perfect bad example.
   
   Seaman has found more details about O'Hair's pre-fame decades than all of her prior biographers combined. One of O'Hair's jobs during World War II was to invent Allied victories for the newswires. From it, she learned a valuable lesson that later served her profitably: "The ability of those in power to manipulate the media, and to lie and get away with it, impressed her." Seaman's assertion that O'Hair "chronically lied about everything" isn't off by much.
   
   During the McCarthy era, O'Hair's inability to hold a steady job generated resentment, which led her to communist circles. She abandoned her communist connections after her notoriety produced a healthy income.
   
   Only two of O'Hair's dozens of lawsuits succeeded. The rest of them (aside from those that harassed former members and ex-employees) strengthened the religious opposition by establishing negative precedents. Seaman confirms that O'Hair used lawsuits primarily as publicity and fund-raising tools.
   
   Seaman's sleuthing results in the most accurate account of the Murray O'Hairs' final days. Allegations of torture were apparently false; murder wasn't planned until one of the kidnappers lost his patience. Seaman also exposes holes in the gold thieves' story.
   
   The book is well written, extensively researched, usually chronological, and probably the most complete and informative account of Madalyn O'Hair we'll see. I'd recommend it, but if it were a car, it would be recalled. Its publisher should cease current production, correct the errors, tie up the loose ends, replace the editorial digressions with facts, limit David Waters to the book's last third, change the beginning, and issue a new edition.
   
   Or not - maybe such a severely flawed woman rates only flawed biographies. I hope this is the last one about O'Hair; atheists deserve better than to be continually smeared by her taint.



4. Ann Rowe Seaman has written another fascinating and captivating masterpiece. It works well in paperback format, but a hard bound edition would have been nice to see as well.
   Ann has a way of drawing the reader into the life circumstances of the persons whom she is writing about. She deserves a Ph.D. for all of her writing efforts.



5. This is a pretty good book on O'Hair's life, although, like another reviewer, I did wonder why there was so much material on her murderer, David Waters. It is likely because the author interviewed him, wanted to used the material in the book, and the information is somewhat relevant to the story. However, it is really hard to read a book about O'Hair and really get a feel for the woman.
   
   There is a radio interview/debate between O'Hair and Walter Martin, a Baptist minister, that occured in 1968 on the Long John Nevel radio show that is very illuminating, if you care to take the time to listen to it. If you go to the Wikipedia entry on Madalyn Murray O'Hair and scroll down to the "external links" section, there is an entry labeled "Baptist minister Walter Martin vs. Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair". Click on it, and you'll get the entire three hour radio program in MP3 format. The first hour or so is the interview, and the last two hours is the debate and call-in part of the show.
   
   Listening to this show after reading the book really gives you a feel for the facts presented in the book. For one, O'Hair really shows herself up to be quite the publicist in spite of her claims of not caring what other people think. As the book says, she needed these "other people" as a revenue stream. In this broadcast she claims that she is married to a "Mr. Murray", that he is Roman Catholic, and that both her sons are products of that marriage. Even O'Hair knew that, in 1960's America, most people would be much more willing to accept that she was an atheist than the fact that her sons had two different fathers and that she had never married either of them. She also makes the statement that if her son Bill decided to become a Christian minister that she would accept his decision. 12 years later when this actually happened, she took the attitude that he had commited treason. As the show wears on, O'Hair's end of the debate largely consists of name-calling, bullying, and claiming that "she had read every book Mr. Martin has read twenty years ago". In short, the radio program gives life to the facts presented in the book for those too young to remember what this woman was like in person.
   
   If you want to read a biography of O'Hair, this is probably the one to get since it is the most unbiased and least sensational of the books written on the subject.

5 comments about Mistrial of the Century: A Private Diary of the Jury System on Trial.

1. This book is not necessarily about the O.J. Simpson trial. It is about how the Justice System treats the people that are assigned to be on a jury. I think this book should be mandatory reading for every trial attorney and trial judge. I realize that this trial had more press converage than any other trial, but I would think twice about being on a jury and subjecting my family to that kind of torture.



2. This book was not what I expected. This book is not about the O.J. Simpson Trial. These book goes into the way jurors are treated in our Judicical system, how jurrors are guarded and have the same rights as a person in jail. This book should be mandatory reading for all judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys who will have to select a jury that will be sequestered.



3. Kudos is due Tracy and Judith Kennedy for making the content of "Mistrial of the Century" more substantial than the title. The O.J. Simpson case is the nominal subject matter of this book, but the Kennedys do not simply toss another empty tome upon the already excessive pile of books that express outrage that Simpson was acquitted or framed, depending on the author's point of view. Rather, the Kennedys discuss the sequestration process and its horrific effects on him (leading him to a suicide attempt) and, necessarily, on her.

   The Kennedys' descriptions of former juror Tracy's ordeal are frightening as they describe the nearly complete absence of rights the jurors were forced to undergo. Kennedy describes random searches of all his belongings, monitoring of his phone calls, and other indignities that even the accused did not have to suffer. The book seems brave and honest, particularly in the description of Tracy Kennedy's suicide attempt.

   At the same time, the reader should be cautious about drawing the conclusions the authors obviously intend. First, the book mentions possible criminal action against Tracy Kennedy for various offenses, and any book by an accused, honest though it may be, must be viewed in light of the accusations (or, in this case, possible accusations, though time has suggested that none will be forthcoming). Second, and more important, the book is an attempt to bring to light a perceived injustice in the jury system. The O.J. Simpson case, however, was an anomaly among anomalies. Sequestration is itself used in only a minority of cases, and almost never for as long as was the case in the Simpson trial. The problems described are almost certainly not typical. That being said, the Kennedys' book makes it clear that, regardless of one's view of the correctness of the jurors' verdict, they were mistreated, sometimes by each other, but mainly by the forces that gave them their positions as jurors.




4. I am glad that I bought this book at a thrift store. I was disappointed in the content. The title should have been more closely associated to the content. I believe that the author was merely trying to ride on the sensationalism of the trial, contrary to his written statements within the book. Although I can sympatize with the author's anguish, while associated with the trial, a different title should have been chosen. As an adjunct professor,of Criminal Justice, I may make a passing comment in class about the content of the book. However, I certainly would not recommend it to my students.



5. For years I have avoided picking up any book related to the OJ Simpson criminal trial. However, this book is only marginally about the Simpson case and centers almost entirely on the experience of being a sequestered juror.
   
   The book provides a fascinating look inside the criminal justice system, from a unique perspective. We hear plenty about the criminals, but not so much is ever known about the non-criminals who find themselves caught up in the system as jurors, especially in high-profile cases.
   
   In my opinion, this book should be required reading for anyone involved in the planning of a jury trial that is expected to involve a sequestered jury.
   
   I was saddened to learn that the author recently committed suicide, after he shot and killed his wife. Very sad.

5 comments about Without Mercy: Obsession and Murder Under the Influence.

1. This is an excellent book, could not put it down. I live in Homestead, I have never heard of this crime. Everyone I talk to wants to read this book. They have said to me, I can't put this thing down, it is so interesting. Of all the places they describe in the book, landmarks, people and place of business, I know them all. All of these places actually exist. You really need to read this book. I would like to get my hands on the re-trial book !



2. This book mentions the singer for the now infamous punk rock band, Against All Authority. I have spoken to him about this and he tells some chilling tales about jumping their BMX bikes over the open grave that smelled of death, and trying to figure out what the puddle of stinky fluid was that leaked out all over the floor underneath where the bodies were stored. He and Dee's sons hid on top of the shed while they watched the hit men steal things. He spent many nights in the house because the boys were afraid to be in there alone. Apparently there was more to the story but at the time thebook was written the hitmen were out of jail and most of the people that new things were afraid they would be next.



3. I read this book years ago - right after it came out. As a distant relative of one of the participants, it was of intrest. Well written, easy to read, informative, and more than likely accurate. If you like 'true crime' books, this one is for you.



4. Just finished the book; fascinating case study of a female alcoholic. I found some information about Dee Casteel on the web; her sentence was reduced in 1990 to Life In Prison. After that, the trail on her runs cold. Is she still in prison? Released? Dead? Anyone know? Tried to find out through the author, but apparently, he is dead now.



5. I have a lot of questions about the sentences of the people involved in the brutal murders of Art Venezia and his mother. Art who was in love in a disastrous homosexual relationship with James Allen Bryant who was the mastermind behind killing him for his money, property, estate, etc. Art even bought a restaurant for his lover to manage but he robs him blind. In the meantime, Allen falls for Henry Ramos, a Latino bisexual gigolo, while the waitress Dee Casteel, a troubled alcoholic in a bad marriage and mother of neglected children during this time, has feelings for Allen like a schoolgirl crush despite his homosexuality. Anyway Dee's ashamed face is on the cover of the book while the other three men are shown later. I have a trouble with reading this book because the writing is somewhat poor compared to other true crime books. I'm sure that I'll read it in a day. I do feel sorry for Dee but it was a no win situation for her. I don't have pity for Allen because I think he's just using Art for his own financial means. While the case is almost 25 years old, it's not incomprehensible that these crimes don't happen for money and it spins out of control just like alcoholism and drugs sometimes.

2 comments about She Blew Him Straight to Heaven.

1. The author should be commended for a great job, under such emotional distress. The story was well written and captivating. This can happen to any family and the author makes you feel her pain and the pain of the people who loved her son. I enjoyed the read and could relate to the reality of how it must have felt to loose a son in such a violent manner.



2. The old adage that there is a book in everybody takes a sad turn with Lola Cross's She Blew Him Straight to Heaven, the story of her youngest son, Troy Patten, and how he died at the hands of his own abusive wife. Lola Cross was clearly compelled to write this memorial to Troy but I am certain this was not the story that she would have wanted to write.
   
   When reading the first part of this book I was drawn in by the many tales Lola Cross recounted about meeting and marrying her first husband, the father of her three children, and the many tales of a prideful mother recounting the happenings in that family. I could see myself in the story. Many of the things that Troy did growing up I truly related to as my own siblings and I did the same things. The breakdown in Lola's marriage was also a story I was familiar with without having ever met the woman. I could relate to her family life.
   
   Things went wrong for Troy, obviously badly wrong, when he met his wife. She was abusive and out of control. Was it not for keeping his own family together Troy Patten would still be with us today. Troy was ultimately shot to death in his own home with his wife plea bargaining for a lesser sentence. Justice was only partially done.
   
   In reading the book it is very apparent that this is a first go for the author but hers is a story that needed to be told. When those who have gone before us cannot speak for themselves, have not left their own testimony, it is our responsibility to make their stories known to their posterity. Lola Cross responsibly took up this burden for Troy so that his story will be with us forever.
   
   God bless you both!

2 comments about A Prescription for Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream (The Chicago Series on Sexuality, History, and Society).

1. I thought a relatively exciting and thought provoking subject for good reading would be the Jack the Ripper murders. How could one take such a fascinating subject and make it boring? Angus McLaren must really have tried to structure his sentences so there was no cohesive thought, no sense of continuity from one paragraph to the next. Although it does serve admirably well as a sedative. At one point, I had to go look at the copyright date to see if this was written in the 19th century colloquial.



2. Neill Cream, the doctor/serial killer was one of a number of Victorian medical murderers who flourished in 19th c. England. Feeding unwary prostitutues various poisons and then following their cases in the press, stirring up interest when the police failed to uncover the crimes, making near-confessions to other people are all now commonly recognized behavior patterns of sexual killers. Viewing this case in light of the recent science of criminal profiling, this book provides a most fascinating example of 20/20 hindsight. In late 19th c. England doctor-killers (among them Pritchard, Palmer etc), were seen as absolutely evil (especially after the unsolved Whitechapel horrors) and no attempt was made to understand the psychological quirks that led Cream et al. to the gallows (where he forever taunted crime buffs with with words "I am Jack..." as the trap fell). The study of killers such as Cream distanced by time and culture make them seem almost quaint, and certainly safe, compared with the grotesque sensationalism sexual predators attract today. With fewer graphic details, less scientifc jargon and the titalation of Victorian repression coloring the crimes, "Prescription for Murder" is an almost "cosy" true crime story. Admittedly, it is not over-burdened with an insistance on factual accuracy or with providing a throughtful historical framework, but it still a satisfying read for all true crime buffs. Especially those who like their thrills at a safe remove.