5 comments about My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice.

1. This engaging story will send chills up your spine and renew your appreciation for your own loved ones. The author takes you through the search for her missing sister--from the initial shock to navigating the red-tape of the justice system. You'll come to admire her strength and tenacity while gaining a fascinating glimpse into her sister's life and suspicious disappearance.
   
   I don't want to spoil the mystery, but as the story unfolds, you'll discover details that rival any suspense novel. The suspected killer's behavior is like a car wreck unfolding in slow motion--you won't be able to look away. Step into the world of this real-life, unsolved crime, and you'll soon find yourself repeating the unbelievable tale to everyone you know. It's better than any "ripped from the headlines" show on television.



2. Unbelievable! Sherrie Gladden-Davis's story is compelling, evocative, and a testament to the power of family. With the support of her niece, Dedy, Sherrie tracks her sister's suspected killer across the country, working alongside various law enforcement officers, her search for justice unwavering.
   
   The author chronicles her search to uncover the missing puzzle pieces that she hopes will ultimately solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance. Despite limited financial means, no Internet access (the bulk of the story takes place in the 1990s), and the disparate agendas of those around her, Sherrie remains committed to finding justice for her sister.
   
   Operating on hope, coffee, and the power of her faith and family, Ms. Gladden-Davis's story is a compelling one that had me reading at all hours of the night.
   
   Tightly crafted, insightful, outrageous, and poignant ... this is one of the finest, real-life crime capers I've ever read. Highly recommended.



3. I'm not usually a big fan of true-crime/mystery-type books, but this one pleasantly surprised (and intrigued) me! The book's plot may sound slightly familiar, as it has been featured on various TV news magazine shows -- including 20/20 -- but you'll never get such amazing detail and narrative quality from a one-hour TV show. In the book, you can really get into the tale and feel the emotions of someone searching for a lost family member -- and seeking justice for the person responsible. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and a story you just can't put down.



4. This book is a very interesting chronicle and very well written saga of the murders of two women at the hands of their husband at the time, John David Smith. The book, written by one of the victims sister, chronicles the exhaustive search by the victim's family for the answers as to what happened to their beloved sister. It also details how that search ended up helping to resolve a cold case, from the 1970's, and eventually put the murderer into police custody. The book is fascinating since it is written so "un-like" many true crime novels which are often to full of courtroom drama and endless descriptions of the police involvement in the cases at hand. This book tells the day to day feelings and frustrations of the victims family, their quest to find answers, and somewhat ultimate justice for their sister. It is a "page turner" and well worth reading. UPDATE: As of the writing of my review Smith sits in an Ohio prison at the age of 54 while in his 4th year of a 15-life sentence. UPDATE #2: Sandra Anderson, the dog handler who assisted in the search for bodies in this case, pled guilty in 2004 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, MI to five felony charges (including obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal authorities) involving "planted" evidence cases in Oscoda, Bay City and Oakland County, MI in 1999 involving her cadaver dog Eagle. A two year prison term and financial restitution was paid to at least one (Lapeer) MI. county by Ms. Anderson.



5. What a well written story. My heart goes out to the family of Fran and Janice. It's sad that in today's society that there is still such an injustice. People can be so cruel. I applaud all the hard work put in to writing this story.

5 comments about Blood Brothers: The Inside Story of the Menendez Murders (Onyx True Crime ; Je 547).

1. The book takes you through the lives of both the victims and the victimizers. To anyone interested in "understanding" murder, one has to try to put themselves in the shoes of the criminal to get a grasp of their view of the world at the time of the crime. This book lets the reader do just that. Unfortunately, the author was a little too anxious to be the first one to write a book about the Menendez murders and trial, and in his haste, he fails to cover the second trial. This basically leaves the reading hanging. It was as if someone tore out the last page of a book.



2. Soble & Johnson are fabulous writers, leaving one "chilled" after a brief read of the Preface alone. In addition to their powerful prose, the authors provide a very equalized, thorough discussion of Erik and Lyle Menendez and the events leading up to their parents' slaying. Though one gets the feeling that they harbored little sympathy for the brothers, the authors' portrayal of "both sides of the story" -- from Erik's recounted sexual abuse to Lyle's statement that it was not about "manslaughter or life sentences" but about "winning or losing" -- allows the reader to do what in the end 3 juries had to do: decide just which story one believes.



3. Soble and Johnson are both reporters for the Los Angeles Times. The latter fact shines through in this book, which is nothing more than an extended newspaper article on the tragic and wildly infamous Menendez murders. There is no new information here: it was all dragged out at the trial, which was covered in it's entirety by Court TV ("Gavel to Gavel coverage" is, after all, their motto). What's more, the menendez trial was one of the first truly sensational ones COURT TV ever covered. It is clear that almost all of the information, from the beginning to the end of the book, was taken from the trial transcript. All of the background information on the Menendez family, the anecdotes including the Menendez children and Jose Menendez's much publicized infidelities are all a result of a careful reading of the trial transcript. The only significant background information provided is that of Jose's rise to the top of his business (whichever it may have been: car rentals, music publishing or video sales) and a detailed accounting of the Menendez's boys travels through the ranks of competitive tennis (as well as the fact that Kitty was "Miss Oak Lawn"). For people who did not follow the trial and are hungry for Menendez information, this can be a good book to read, because it is a fuller portrait of the trial and the family than, say, "Bad Blood" by Don Davis. But do not expect an original analysis of the boy's motivation. This book is purely reporting: facts, facts, facts. The only scenarios you will get here are those that were presented at the trial and surfaced during the police investigation (which is also amply covered): both of which were interesting enough in the first place to keep this book afloat. Don't get me wrong, I am sure that most fans of the true crime genre will appreciate this book, but it will be more out of a desire to learn more about the case and because of the dynamics of this genre, than out of an intensity for the story developed by the book.



4. Good, more information then 'Bad Blood: The true story behind the Menendez killings'. Informative if looking for more of an inside view of the first trial and Jose Menendezes' rise to the top. But, like another reviewer stated, its just a drawn out version of the trial transcript. Leaves you with enough facts to decide for yourself if you believe these boys defense. When you read it, it sounds like a script version of the movie, 'Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills'. If you saw Court TV's live coverage of the trial, and the movie's they made you'll basically have read the book.



5. Blood Brothers is a 1994 look at the then-current Menendez brothers murder trial. It is an easy book to read with a lot of "hooks" to keep you going - even if you know how the story ends.
   
   One of the best things about the book is the cast of characters. If you created these people as fictional characters no one would believe you. People simply would assume that these people were too fantastic to be real:
   * Jose Menendez, the domineering Cuban immigrant determined to build a Kennedy-like family empire,
   * Lyle & Eric, the privileged, murderous sons,
   * Leslie Abramson, the fiery, confrontational defense attorney with the unkempt hair
   * Dr. Oziel, Erik's psychologist and his paramour, Judalon Smyth
   
   Aside from the characters, there are plenty of other things to keep you going: sex, burglary, Beverly Hills, & murder. The authors do a great job of keeping the pages turning. They even manage to keep your interest when they describe the trial. I find that true crime books often bog down in too much minutiae when they get to the trial.
   
   My complaint about the book is the ending. The authors published their book between the two trials, so you are left hanging by the end. It would be great to have an update with the second trial & the dozen years since the case and its characters faded from view.

5 comments about The Diary of Jack the Ripper/the Discovery, the Investigation, the Debate.

1. I loved this book. I read if from front to back in one night. I could not put it down.



2. This is the first of three books avaiable which deal specifically with the Diary of Jack the Ripper. Although it is not the best-written book, and could have been shorter without losing impact, it presents a credible case for the diary as being that of both James Maybrcik and JTR.
   
   Although criticized by many ripperologists as a hoax, as fiction, as being "too good to be true," the most striking thing, in my opinion, is that no one has come up with any definitive proof that either the diary is fake, or that Maybrick could not have been JTR. Granted, it's not enough to be unable to prove a negative, but when you pile on all the circumstantial evidence provided by this and the two subsequent books that Maybrick and JTR are one and the same, it remains very interesting.
   
   I would have given it 5 stars for content, but style is lacking.



3. The narration is below-average, closely resembling a "what I did on my summer vacation" essay. By looking at the basic evidence in the JtR case it is obvious that this is a fake. Factor in that the guy who "discovered" it admitted it was a hoax, and hopefully no one else will waste their money on this. From the beginning of this read to the end, it smelled suspiciously of doo-doo. For a weekend armchair quarterback Jack the Ripper fan, it's a below-average read.



4. Generally there will be two extremes of ranking for this book, those who accept it as real (5 stars)and those who think it a fake (1 star). I don't accept the diary as real but Shirley Harrison does. What she puts forth in this 1998 version is her reasons and research as to why SHE thinks is authentic. Whether you 'believe' it or not is not why the book should be ranked but on the book presentation itself.
   
   The first 165 pages I enjoyed and read with interest even though I don't go for the Diary. These pages have Harrison comparing passages in the Diary to events of the times. The next section of book, roughly 170 pages is more of a biography of James & Florie Maybrick which was alright. The last section of the book is Harrison's purported findings on the Diary itself, ink & paper age being the primary focus. While the writing style is a bit dry, the 'history' of Maybrick is interesting. The biggest problem, for me, is that Harriosn goes to no other evidence other than the Diary to prove Maybrick was Jack the Ripper. Much like Cromwell's Sickert accusations, there really is no firm supporting evidence other than what they want to believe or have invested money in. It also doesn't help that the "finder" of the Diary claims they hoaxed (demented or not - and I don't think he hoaxed it either but someone did) and then some loose tangent thread that possibly the finder's wife is of an illegitimate descent of Florie, Maybrick's wife.
   
   Overall, the book presentation itself gets 3 stars and any "Ripperologist" should have it on their shelf, hoax or not. There's a very good statement in the prologue - if you go into it convinced it's fake you will never accept it; if you go into it convinced it's real you'll defend it. I recommend you read it with as open mind as you can and you'll enjoy the book much more.



5. This book will keep you reading. It is a demented tale of the perpetration of serial killings in the Whitechapel neighborhood of London, England, in 1888, supposedly confessed into a diary (kept on the pages of a photo album) by a Liverpool merchant named James Maybrick: a man whose young wife was later, in real life, tried and acquitted of charges of poisoning him to death. While it is possible Maybrick was the murderer of a number of London women in 1888, and some circumstantial evidence does link him to the cruel misdeeds, there are also hundreds of other suspects, many more likely than he. What is certain is that this "diary" is a piece of late-twentieth-century fiction composed by the person once hailed as its discoverer. (While working in the house once belonging to Maybrick, the man claimed he uncovered the volume wedged under some floorboards.) We know this because this individual has been reliably reported as admitting his hoax and even signing an affidavit to that effect. That stated, the fiction penned herein is the morbid, imaginative tale of a descent into drug addiction, madness and murder, but it is, I repeat, fiction, and deserves to be read as such, except perhaps by those who might enjoy studying a poorly-executed forgery. Might I also add I am heartily sick to death of those who glamorize whatever emotionally-retarded sexual misfit killed those women long-ago? And this book serves to do just that.

3 comments about The Best Of Court TV: Blood And Lust: Crimes Stories : The Best of Court TV (Crime Stories).

1. This book featured some interesting cases. The information about the cases and ultimate outcomes were likewise enlightening. The weakest part of this book was the dry retelling of the cases. Having read this book, I recommend that Court TV not produce any further editions. The best part of True Crime novels are getting into the minds of all the players, and having some sort of understanding about the people involved and the events. This book offers little insight of any of the people involved, or any true detailed analysis of the case. Both the investigations and the trials are rapidly condensed, leaving readers with little impression and sense of deep insight into the cases. For those seeking extensive knowledge of the bare facts of these cases, the book accomplishes that task. For those seeking profound knowledge of the cases, and the ability to feel the searing emotions of the case and come away affected by it, the book fails immensely at that goal. Basically to sum up in one concise sentence, the book does a good job of laying out the facts but does an inadequate job of probing deeper into the heart of the crimes.



2. I have this book and wanted to list the crime stories that are in it since the previous review didn't have them.
   The first chapter is called: Florida v. Ferrell "The Blood is the Life." It's about Rod Ferrell, the self proclaimed, Vampire Killer. The second chapter is called: Georgia v. Crowder "The Tomato Patch Murder." It's about a small town named Ludowici in Georgia and the grandson, Billy Crowder who murdered his abusive grandfather, Thurman Martin. The third chapter is called: Deleware v. Capano "Fatal Passion." It's about the lawyer, Tom Capano and the murder of Anne Marie Fahey. I enjoyed this book, myself. It contains 16 pages of photographs from all three crimes.



3. I bought this book because I'm going to school to study some form of criminology and I have a huge interest in this subject. I had heard of two out of the three cases so I thought this book would be an interesting read.
   
   The first section is titled "Vampire Murderer". In this case, Rod Ferrell is accused of murdering his friend's parents. Not only is he 16 but he also calls himself a vampire.
   
   The second section is about the "Tomato Patch Murder". In this case, a man named Thurman Martin has gone missing and his grandson and son-in-law are ultimately charged with his murder. With accusations from his own daughter of rape, will the suspects' insanity plea set them free?
   
   And the third section is titled "Fatal Passion". Tom Capano, a man in high standing, has kept a few, juicy secrets. One of them is his affair with Anne Marie Fahey. His life is turned upside down when her body is found and he's being charged with her murder.
   
   In terms of how this book is written, I haven't found any problems although admittedly I'm more into the cases themselves rather than whether or not the book is properly written. I liked that the author included parts of the trials as well as 16 photos to get you more involved with the cases. Most of this book states facts although the author adds some of his own insight here and there. If you like true crime books, this is a pretty good one to pick up.

5 comments about Mother Love, Deadly Love: The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot.

1. This book was definitely worth it! The book is beautifully written and Maier captures the essence of this fascinating trial. I would recommend anyone with any interest in the case--or in true crime books for that matter--to buy this book! Enjoy!



2. If you are interested in the Texes cheerleading story this is
   the book for you. It gives you lots of details . It is worth buying.I give this book 5 stars.



3. If you are interested in the Texes cheerleading story this is
   the book for you. It gives you lots of details . It is worth buying.I give this book 5 stars.



4. I'm very interested in this case, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information about it, so this book is a gem if you want to know anything surrounding the case and its participants. This book is well written, and jam packed with information and history. You get a real sense of the people, the town, and the bizarre trial.
   
   The only negative thing about this book is that it was written before Wanda had her re-conviction. We now know that she was sentenced to six months in prison, something like 10 years probation and now lives in Houston. However, the book ends after the mistrial, and does not go any further. It would be great to have a book that tells you where everyone is now!



5. 
   MOTHER LOVE, DEADLY LOVE (henceforth known as MLDL) is the story of Wanda Holloway, a woman who was convicted of attempting to hire a hit man to murder Verna Heath, the mother of cheerleader Amber Heath. Amber was a neighbor girl who consistently beat out Holloway's daughter, Shanna Harper, in cheerleading competitions. Wanda's life apparently depended on the successes of Shanna, who does not seem to have been as concerned with the competitions as Wanda, but whom Wanda pushed relentlessly. As Amber's success continued to outpace Shanna's, Wanda developed an intense and irrational hatred for Amber, but even more for Verna, a cheerleader-mom like Wanda. Wanda's obsession with the Heaths finally led her to contact her ex brother-in-law, Terry Harper, to see if he knew of a hit man. Terry instead went to the police. The ensuing trial featured a cast of characters who would have fit in nicely on the sitcom MY NAME IS EARL.
   
   Author Anne McDonald Maier does a basically good job on this book. Her scene-setting gives the reader a real feel for Channelview, TX, the location of the story, and she also provides interesting descriptions of the lives, past and present of the main charachters. The story moves quickly and easily and is never dull.
   
   I do, however, have certain issues with McDonald's writing style which I believe tends to decrease the quality of MLDL. First the book contains some misspellings and ungrammatical use of the language. While there is not a lot of this, it should have been caught by an editor.
   The biggest flaw in McDonald' writing though, is that she feels the need to explain the obvious to her readers, and by doing so to basically tell them what to think. Some examples:
   1. On page 188, during the trial Wanda explains not trying to have Amber kicked off a cheerleading squad for a rule violation by saying, "'...if that had been my child, I would not have wanted someone coming down there and trying to remove her. It was not the child's fault that the rules had been violated, and I didn't think it would be fair to have Amber kicked off.'" Then, McDonald writes, "Wanda was demonstrating what a nice lady she was." This explanation is totally unnecessary as McDonald has already shown the real Wanda throughout the entire book, and any reasonably intelligent adult would understand Wanda's intent.
   2. On 189, Wanda tells the jury that it was her own fault that her daughter had been disqualified from a cheerleading election saying, "'It was a bad judgement call." Then, McDonald, who again has been demonstrating Wanda's aberrant behavior throughout the entire book, feels the need to write, "Wanda apparently had had a lot of bad judgement calls." Is this necessary? It is smirky, adds nothing, and introduces a juvenile tone tone to a her writing. She proves through most of the book that she is capable of better.
   Other examples of this kind of writing occur sporadically throughout the book. Straight reporting, without McDonald's facile and somewhat juvenile editorializing, would have given the book a more intelligent feel.
   
   3. The book was written after Wanda's conviction, but before the result of her second trial, which was ordered by an appeals court. Therefore the story as presented by McDonald is unfinished.
   
   Still, MLDL, provides a fast paced and interesting look at a fascinating case, about which not much has been written, of an insecure, grasping, out of control parent living her life through her daughter's achievements. I am glad to have read it and recommend it to fans of the true crime genre.
   
   As a footnote, since I consider the title to be pretty silly, I was amazed to learn that there is another book, about child murderer Susan Smith, with the exact same title. It sure seems like a dumb title to me... but, hey, that's just me.

1 comments about Blood and Money, a true story of Murder, Passion, and Power.

1. This is a wonderful book. I have read it several times. Any one who is living or doing business in Houston, the energy capital of the world, should read this book for the history of the city and the "boom".

2 comments about Trafficking: The Boom and Bust of the Air America Cocaine Ring.

1. The book is an outstanding account of a typical drug ring and the circumstances used to hide proceeds etc. It is very well written and keeps the reader engrossed in a world unknown to the majority. It is a must read for anyone who wants to glean knowledge of trafficking etc.



2. Few people capture the essence of storytelling so well. Rice has explained an American truth so well that you won't be able to put the book down until you're done, and when you are you will find yourself lending the book to friends and finally buying several copies more and doing the same.
   
   It will open your eyes to the world so close you had no idea it was just next door.
   
   No matter if you're a couch potato calling plays with your remote control, a cubicle cruncher waiting for happy hour, a stay at home PTA member, or a pilot flying the dark hours of the night alone in a cockpit wondering if you should have trusted the skinny guy with the white shoes and the twitch...
   
   This one belongs under your car seat...your shelf...or your flightbag...

No comments about The D-Day Bank Massacre: The True Story Behind the Martin Appel Case.

2 comments about Speed Kills (True Crime (Avon Books).).

1. This book is a little bit more accurate than "Blue Thunder" but it is still not all true, nevertheless it is still a good read. I have been in the boat business in south florida for many years and know most of the key figures in the book, therefore I can tell you Mr. Harris's motive for Aronow's death is not accurate. Aronow's killer was never caught.



2. Was told the book was in very good condition. Very poor falling apart, and bent up. Very misleading seller.

1 comments about The Murder of Mary Bean and Other Stories (True Crime History).

1. This book is absolutely fantastic. Dr. Elizabeth De Wolfe tells the elusive story of Berengera Caswell/Mary Bean in a chilling way, but includes interesting facts about 1850. As a reader, I truly felt like I was being transported to Saco Maine in 1850 and found this poor girl's body strapped to a board in the culvert of Woodbury Brook. A fascinating story, and a wonderful true crime read!