2 comments about When Kids Kill: Shocking Crimes of Lost Innocence (Virgin True Crime).

1. Although informative, this book is bland. It's hard to get through more than a couple of chapters at a time. In fact, I skipped some altogether (although I later tried to re-read it with the same results). I found the first part of the book (especially the Jamie Bulger case) a lot more interesting than the second half.



2. The first chapter of this book leads you to believe it is going to be a sociological and psychological look into why young people manage to bring themselves to commit murder. However, little is observed or investigated, psychologically or sociologically, into the reasons why these kids were killing people. While the book on a whole is interesting, it lacks any flow and is very dry reading. There were sections of certain chapters that tended to get "long-winded" and should have been eliminated during editing. Other chapters quickly flew over the results or trauma of the events of the deaths. Most of the instances in this book take place in the U.K. and short of reading papers from there, an average American has probably never heard of these criminal cases causing a further lack of connection.
   Overall, it's a mediocre book but could be used for a psychology class reasearch paper. I found the book to be a slow read yet still interesting enough to finish it.

5 comments about Reasonable Doubt.

1. Steve Vogel's accounting of the horrid Hendricks family murder was laced with controversy when it first came out. At the time, those following the crime believed David Hendricks was guilty, but Vogel's book challenged the thoroughness of the police, questioned their biases and their understanding of religious matters.

   The story details the events surrounding the murder of three children and their mother, and whether or not the father was guilty. The father, out of town when the police discovered the bodies, claimed an alibi. The police determined, through statements from models he used for his catalog for his company, that perhaps David Hendricks was not faithful to his wife. No affairs were discovered, but the model statements still showed a poor light on Hendrick's commitment to his wife.

   Hendricks was a lay leader in a relatively small, conservative group of evangelical Christians called the "Plymouth Brethren". The police did not realize that this group, though small, shared its basic theology with many Baptist denominations, as well as other better-known Christian groups. Instead, the police surmised that since divorce was discouraged in the Plymouth Brethren, Hendricks felt he needed to kill his family in order to be free of the marriage. Vogel describes the small-town ignorance of the police detectives and prosecutors by using their own trial testimoy. The prosecutor's logical jump was proposterous, but it played heavily into the trial.

   The town, in a near OJ Simpson trial like frenzy, fed off the news, and the story became both local scandal and national news.

   Confusing the matter was Hendrick's intense demeanor. He was well-read, and well-thought out, and by no means a man to react over-emotionally. His seemingly calm response, which may have been based on his faith or general personality, caused the police to see Hendricks cynically. Though they weren't country bumpkins, they weren't on the intellectual caliber of Hendricks, a star graduate of Northwestern University and inventor of a top-selling piece of medical equipment.

   At issue in the trial was if Hendricks had the opportunity to have been at home at the time of the murders. He claimed no, the police claimed yes. The key evidence was the time of death as determined by the digestion of food the children ate. If that could be verified, then the suspect Hendricks was either cleared or very likely the culprit.

   I fully recommend "Reasonable Doubt" for readers looking to think in this older, yet continually popular true crime book.

   Anthony Trendl




2. I'm a resident of Bloomington, Illinois and vividly remember these murders. I personally know people involved in the investigation and followed it closely. We've visited the grave site and find it odd that there's not a space reserved for David. Even though I don't think he did it, who else could have? A good one for Unsolved Mysteries!!



3. Besides being boring and tedious, it is so biased as to render the book unbelievable on many levels.Anyone who follows true crime - crime scenes, forensics, etc - can easily see that the writer has hand picked his information to support his conclusion.Not worth reading if you want a balanced view of this case.



4. The David Hendricks case was a media sensation in the Peoria area. This was the dawn of guerilla news tactics and the area media was only too glad to serve what would sell.
   
   The title pretty much sums up what I believe the author was striving for. Hendricks was tried and convicted in the public's eyes long before his trial started; and Vogel I think is attempting to get the reader to actually consider all the facts of the case, not just the soundbites. Before I read the book I was pretty well convinced Hendricks murdered his family, afterward I wasn't so sure. The guy may have had a wandering eye, but that doesn't make him an axe-murderer.
   
   Towards the end, Vogel presents a couple of the scenarios the prosecution came up with to buttress their case, but they come off as a lot of grand speculation when everything is taken into account.
   
   Gore-hounds looking for a fast, bloody true crime tale will come away disappointed. Vogel doesn't embellish the details in what is a horrifying, heart-breaking end to three children's lives and their mother's.
   
   His presentation is objective, however the style is a little dry. But I'm not sure I would want him to juice things up.



5. interesting book. started off a little slow but then it picked up towards the middle then it slowed down again and then picked up towards the end. i wouldn't call it a page turner by any means but it was a good true story that was worth the read.

5 comments about Murder In The Family.

1. When I started reading this book I could not stop. I really felt for this family. I think Mr. Barer did a very nice job in researching the correct information and writing this book. I still have alot of questions even after finishing the whole book. I'm left wondering what really did occur when the murders took place. Did Nancy the mother have to watch her two children get murdered? Has Kirby Anthony taken responsibility for this gruesome murder, or is he still denying it? The photos of the actual crime scenes were too small to view and in b&w, but the diagrams shown instead were large enough to view and make out the details of the crime. After reading this I still could not stop thinking about the whole story. I did indeed have nightmares. I give this book 5 stars.



2. BURL BARER GIVES AN EXCELLENT, DEEPLY-INFORMED TRUE CRIME READ WITH THIS BOOK! I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! SAD, SHOCKING, AND ULTIMATELY UNREASONABLE MURDER BY A DERANGED PERSON.



3. If only the Newmans had changed the locks on the door and kept their windows locked.....This is a sad and disturbing story of a mother and her two little girls who were brutally murdered by a family member! I found all the trial talk a bit boring. I really doubt an interview with the killer himself would add anything, since Kirby Anthoney is nothing but a lunatic liar, and who could believe him? I think it would have been better if the author focused on how Anthoney became the monster that he is. There was a hint that Anthoney had an abusive father but further insight would have been better. Not that it would have excused Kirby of this heinous act, but it would have been interesting to find out alittle more about him. What started out as a book to give you nightmares, wound up putting me to sleep.



4. Burl Barer has, in the past few years, distinguished himself as America's premier investigative true crime journalist. MURDER IN THE FAMILY was his first "serious" true crime book, following his vastly amusing MAN OVERBOARD: THE COUNTERFEIT RESURRECTION OF PHIL CHAMPAGNE. While Barer has followed MURDER IN THE FAMILY with several more well written and heart breaking stories, there is something about MURDER IN THE FAMILY that lifts it above and beyond other true crime books -- perhaps it's Barer's brilliant narrative, the insightful background material discovered in his personal investigation into the crime, or the nature of the crime and the manner in which rapist/murderer Kirby Anthoney was brought to justice. Whatever the reason, MURDER IN THE FAMILY remains perhaps one of the most emotionally involving true crime books ever written. If you have not read it before, I suggest you read it now -- and maybe get the other books in Barer's true crime series. While each is distinct, the quality of MURDER IN THE FAMILY is not compromised in his other efforts.
   Anyone who reads true crime should have MURDER IN THE FAMILY in their library.



5. The Newman Murders was a terrible tragedy worse for the father and husband who was not there but out of state. His troubled nephew would be arrested, tried, and convicted for the brutal murders of his aunt and two young nieces. I remember this book quite well because of the setting in Anchorage, Alaska where the family lived. The nephew deserves his punishment but it was such an unspeakable crime and to think that it was a family relative makes it worse. My heart goes out to the Newman family including the husband but I don't remember much about him except that he was out of state and not a suspect which I never thought he was because of it. Who would have thought that the triple homicide that happened quickly but not quietly. The thought of a dangerous psychopath is one thing but to have him to live and sleep in your own home when you don't know his past or how dangerous he is is just as bad as knowing the boogeyman. In this terrible, sad case where three innocent productive lives were snuffed from us forever, the danger lurked inside the family. Burl Barer writes a good true crime book about the murders that happened so far away that does not get reported or talked about on television nearly enough. Danger can lurk in the family and not the outside world.

5 comments about The Maniac in the Bushes: More True Tales of Cleveland Crime and Disaster.

1. Being born and raised in CLeveland Ohio I found this book very interesting. This author never seems to dissapoint me. For any one born in Cleveland or who loves true crime stories this is a must read, Also read "They Died Crawling" by John Bellamy also.



2. What a new perspective this gives on my adopted city! I live near where the Collinwood School inferno happened (and pass its replacement nearly every day) and live in a neighbourhood where many of the older residents remember being told to 'watch out, or the Phantom of Kingsbury Run will chop you up' when they were kids. Fascinating subject, and I can't get enough!!! (Got me drinking Eliot Ness Lager, too, but I digress). Fast-paced and well-written, even if you've never been to Cleveland, you should check out this darker side of American history, North-Coast Style.



3. I just moved to the Cleveland area and read the book as a way to get to know the city. Very fun reading but not very detailed.



4. "Maniac in the Bushes" is brought to life with the inclusion of street addresses and references to existing landmarks. As native Clevelanders, my Dad and I have enjoyed discussing the cases on which the author focused, many of which my Dad remembers. If you live in Cleveland, you gotta read this!



5. I have read every book in this series by John Stark Bellamy and anxiously await each new one. I originally bought one because my boyfriend is from Cleveland. We both loved it, ordered all the others, and eventually passed them on to his mom. But they are not just for Cleveland natives, though Clevelanders will recognize the sites and some of the cases. Anyone who enjoys interesting true stories will love these. Some of the stories are of disaster, heroism and tragedy, some are true crime, many unsolved. My favorite is the title story in this collection, The Maniac in the Bushes. Two schoolteachers walking home down a country lane are set upon and murdered by an unknown assailant. As Bellamy points out, the maniac in the bushes is everyone's nightmare. For these unfortunate ladies, he was real.

No comments about Memphis Murder and Mayhem.

4 comments about The Third Suspect: The Shocking True Story of a Bitter Labor Struggle and the Cold-Blooded Murder of Nine Yellowknife Miners (Anthologies).

1. I lived in Yellowknife during the Giant Mine strike, the murder investigation and the trial. I can't describe to you in words how painful it was to live through such a thing. On one hand, the mine management was greedy and arrogant, treating the workers as if they were stupid cattle because they were uneducated; on the other, the union was incredibly spiteful and full of intense and unwarranted hate, especially towards the female CEO of the company, Peggy Witte. It was a clash between two very unlikeable forces, and the result -- the murder of nine men whose only crime was not to agree with the union bosses -- was devastating to both the city and the nation. And for the murderer to claim he killed nine men, leaving behind so many widows, orphans and bereaved parents, because being out of work made him impotent -- it just made me want to scream in fury.

   How, then, could someone write such a dull book about the matter? "The Third Suspect" has no heart, no soul; it's nothing more than a dry recitation of facts. Perhaps some people do find it easier to read such an emotionally empty narrative of the strike, the murders, and the trial; I don't know. But I for one was deeply disappointed.

   I don't recommend this book.




2. If the book hasn't been made into a movie, it should be. It has everything of high drama. Not only does it give an intimate view of the Canadian legal, judicial justice and labour system, it tells a captivating and incredible story. My biggest problem with the book is gratitous use of the f*** word. While it may not be hard to fathom that hard rock miners from a territorial backwater can't complete a simple phrase without the f*** word or some derivative thereof, it is tough to imagine award winning journalists from Edmonton joining them.

   But then again, maybe Canadian like American society, has sunk lower in the decade plus which I've lived in Japan. However, our Canadian friends can still feel smug. Our jury bought O.J. Simpson's frame-up story and Danny White's "Twinkie" defense. The Canadian jury couldn't swallow (pardon the pun, Bill Clinton) Roger Warren's limp impotence defense.




3. Great true crime. A very interesting analysis of the RCMP work on a murder investigation.

   A fantastic read about how a strike can turn men to do acts they would normally even contemplate.




4. I thought it was a good read. I was able to learn a great deal about a tough mining town and its people when they were torn apart by a violent mass murder, a labor strike, an inflexible capitalist and strong emotions on both sides.

   It was interesting to read of the clever methods used by the RCMP to solve the case. On the other hand, the true details of the costly and lame defense, after the miner charged with the fatal blast was put on trial, was too much of a stretch for a jury or a reader to believe. The convicted's excuse was not logical, especially based on the independent and uncooperative nature of the man. It seemed a classic case of a person trying to "unexplain" himself after his own actions were incriminating.

   As far as the cursing in the text, mentioned by another reviewer, the swearing was primarily taken from transcripts or police documents, so watering down the words would not have been honest. Frankly, it would not have given the true feel of the town or the situation if these earthy miners were speaking in the tones of choir boys.

No comments about Homicide by the Rich and Famous: A Century of Prominent Killers.

5 comments about Finders Keepers: The Story of a Man who found $1 Million that fell off a Truck.

1. I actually read the entire book in a few hours while sitting at the beach in Gulf Shores. While it does not have the depth of Bowden's other work, it was a fun read. The main character, Joey Coyle, is an idiotic junkie who manages to piss away huge amounts of money over a short period of time. I laughed a few times and couldn't generate any sympathy for Coyle as his life spun out of control. The best part of the book will be your own daydreams as you wonder what you would do with $1.2 million.



2. Some of you may have seen the movie "Money for Nothing" with John Cusack. Some of you may even like it. The movie is partially based on the true account of Joey, a Pennsylvania drug addict, who back in the early 1980's caught a break in life. He found $1.2 million that fell off a truck and over the course of a week managed to lose most of it, before getting caught by FBI. Apart from the incredible luck this man had, nothing else is much interesting about what happened with him. Readers of the book will find out the numerous stupid choices he makes in an effort to keep the money.
   
   Bottom line - the book is interestingly written, but the story is ridiculous and doesn't deserve the time it takes to read it.
   
   - by Simon Cleveland



3. very entertaining but a little short for my taste. being a fan of Mark Bowden brought me to this book and I'm glad I read it, but honestly I should have bought it at half-price books.



4. Mark Bowden originally covered the true story of Joey Coyle and his demented $1.2 million find as a journalist. He then wrote this amazing account of the hapless Philly Longshoreman's botched and deranged attempt to keep the money.
   
   It's written in a pacey, manic style that conveys the drug-and-bizarre-circumstance fuelled whirlwind Joey found himself dropped into whilst driving back from a disappointing visit to his local dealer and discovering two unusual sacks at the side of the road contained over a million dollars in untraceable one hundred dollar bills.
   
   Applying a natural serendipity to the scenario, Joey decided to keep the money, seeing it as the will of his late Father. What follows is a story so unbelievable and, ultimately and ineluctably tragic, that it's impossible to put down.
   
   While the first half concerns the absolute insanity, excitement, and visceral thrill of the find, complete with Joey vowing to tell no one - then immediately doing the exact opposite and telling every single person he meets - paving the way for the inevitable second half: Joey's capture by the authorities. What follows is a truly fascinating analysis of public opinion, consensus morality, and the true definition of right and wrong, as the court drama unfolds and journalists from all over America pose the irresistible question: What Would You Do?
   
   Unusually concise for Mark Bowden, it's still a wonderfully written account of an amazing story, tinged with comedy, stupidity, and tragedy.



5. Finders Keepers by Mark Bowden is the true story of a guy in South Philly who stumbles upon $1.2 million which accidentally fell out of an armored truck. Obviously the reward money for return is not as great as the actual $1.2 million, and Joey Coyle decides to keep it. What follows is a series of mishaps which are only believable because the story is true. The story is well written and flows like a fast paced documentary. I really enjoyed it.
   
   The author adds two post scripts which are also enjoyable. The first is Joey's trial (yes, he does get caught, but this was never in much doubt). The second is what happens to Joey's life after the trial, including a Disney movie starring John Cusack as Joey Coyle ("Money for Nothing" - 1993 - not to be confused with a book of the same title that I recently read). Both post scripts are memorable and interesting. It is a short book and worth reading for entertainment.

5 comments about Dance Of Death.

1. I was excited to come across this book as I live about 2 hours from Myrtle Beach, yet had never heard of the Brent Poole case. I am halfway through the book and am disappointed so far.
   
   I, personally, like a true crime book to really delve into the personal life and psyche of the main people involved. Most of the information this book gives regarding Brent and Renee Poole can be gleaned from the back cover. Brent was a young, loving father and husband; Renee was a stripper who had an affair. How about a few more details of their past?? Yes, the author does recount a few stories of when they met, when Brent proposed, their breakups, etc., but, in my opinion, a LOT more could have been divulged about their personalities and their past.
   
   Instead, this book details AT LENGTH the interviews the police had with Renee, ad nauseum. Several key points are repeated when relaying interview information. I've skimmed quite a bit through this book.
   
   This is nitpicky, but the editing leaves something to be desired. Incorrectly spelled words, awkward sentence structure, and strange eupehmisms are just a few examples of bad editing.



2. In fairness to author Hudson, any suspense this reviewer might have enjoyed from "Dance of Death" was wiped away by an incident on the West Side of Manhattan in the winter of 1977. Back then, a couple emerged from a party, ready to return to their East Side apartment, only to find their car had a flat tire. (Hint: No one drives short distances here). While putting on the spare, the husband was murdered, with his spouse unharmed. It did not take NYPD long to smell the rat and soon wifey and the perp were on their way to the Big House. Transfer that scene to a nighttime beach in Myrtle Beach, SC and one has the crux of the DD story. This review won't give away the ending, but it must be obvious. And if it isn't then the front and back cover of DD spell it out! And Tundra will be reassured to learn that the "Ann Rule rule" is also in effect: those centerfold photos also divulge all. How any readers found any suspense in DD is beyond this observer. There is another critical problem: DD is too long! The tales of police investigations, interrogations and the prosecution are far too verbose. DD cries out for that proverbial stern editor with a sharp blue pencil to thin out the text. This reviewer has the following recommendations for potential readers: 1) Scroll down! Most reviews of DD are favorable! This is one of those pesky minority opinions. 2) Totally ignore the front cover, back cover and the centerfold. 3) Don't relate the incident herein to any other real life crime. Just start reading. Those who can follow this well-intended advice may enjoy DD. On a positive note, this does happen to be a well-researched and well-documented story. Also, author Hudson has does a fine job of interjecting local background and color; folks in the Carolinas should pounce. This reader enjoyed Chapter 4 which is devoted to the history and development of Myrtle Beach. The activities described in DD aside, the town appears to be a nice place to visit!



3. The first half of this book was good. Interesting and well written. However, I felt it unnecessary to read the second half for I already knew what was going to happen.



4. I was so engrossed in Dance of Death that I read the book in two nights. What amazes me is that Renee Poole was so devious and evil that she could stand there on the beach and watch her boyfriend kill her husband, the father of her child. Even worse, she planned the trip and lured her husband to the beach, knowing all the time John Boyd Frazier would be there to kill him. How could one woman be so cold? Only Renee Poole knows the answer to that question. This is the second book I have read by author Dale Hudson and I have thorougly enjoyed both. Normally, I don't write reviews, but this author has been criticized very heavily for errors and misspellings in the book. Granted, they take away from the story, but I don't think it is the author's fault for these mistakes. Every book has them, it is just that this particular publisher has a few more errors than normal. But it still doesn't take away from the story that Hudson has written. True crime stories are always about mayhem and death, and this author does a super job capturing these moments. I would recommend this book to any reader.



5. I really couldn't get into this book. I really enjoyed Hudson's "An Hour To Kill". Infact, I couldn't put it down, so I figured this would be same. However, I just felt bored while reading it.

5 comments about Vanished.

1. I loved this book it kept me on the edge of my bed all night until I finish it (that night). Some times I think people read these books for the fun and gore. Real life especially when it's about crime is not always a "good book" I find that what I enjoy most is the trial transcripts and of course the autopsy. I love reading about the forensics and how it helped make the case!!!



2. I am glad that I did not buy this book, just got it from the library. Horrible is a word that comes to mind. The research was not thorough and I did not feel like I knew the characters at all. Also, it was a boring story when it should have been fascinating.



3. This is a compelling account of the disappearance of Jana Carpenter Koklich and the eventual conviction of her husband, Bruce, for her murder. If you read true crime for the thrill of the blood, lust and suspense of a novel you'll be disappointed. What is fascinating about this book is how the system works when there is little hard evidence or motive. But the people involved are interesting as well: the suspect is an overbearing, lecherous creep; the victim a sweet, quiet and submissive wife, with a family history that would make up a different type of crime book. Carlton Smith does a great job of telling the story of Jana Carpenter Koklich, whose disappearance would have made national headlines if it hadn't taken place just three weeks before the horrible events of September 11, 2001.



4. The book starts out rather suspenseful, but after Chapter 1 it is all downhill. I had read another book by Carlton Smith and wasn't all that impressed, I gave this one a try in hopes he would redeem himself. Ooops, my bad.



5. I decided to read Vanished because I remembered when Jana Carpenter Koklich went missing and the subsequent arrest of Bruce Koklich. Admittedly, I was positively predisposed towards the book because I live in and am very familiar with the Long Beach/Lakewood/Signal Hill area where it takes place. The mystery of Jana Carpenter Koklich's disappearance is fascinating. Yet, while reading the accounts in Vanished, I felt that more in depth information was needed. I would have liked for Carlton Smith to have included more specific identification of locations, additional background information/physical descriptions of the people in Vanished (other than just those in the family of Carpenter and Koklich), and more adjectives throughout. Despite this, I couldn't put it down.