3 comments about Evil Web.

1. The Evilweb This true story ( a must read )saga starts out innocent enough, and progresses slowly into a mindboggling descend into the quagmire of mindcontrol, and the unbelievable relinquishing of self will. Mary Rich and her husband, apparently normal people leading successful lives, allowed the diabolical charismatic figure Ronald Larrinaga to assert his will on them to the point of diabolical madness, involving physical, mental, and depraved sexual abuse on Mary Rich, and her children. All the while her husband remained inert to what was engulfing his wife and children, as he drowned in an automaton state. This family criss crosses the country growing into a group of 30 or more men, women, and children. Some how Mary's husband manages to leave the cult, and eventually convince's Mary to also abandon Larrinaga and his flock, however, the scars ingrained on them and their children will follow then for the remaining days of their lives. Mary then seeks to pursue criminal charges against Larrinaga, and subsequently Larrinaga is brought to justice and sentenced to served 180 years in a Texas prison. This story makes one wonder what personalities is susceptible to total domination, and subjugation to the most deprived living conditions beyond the realms of reality. The recent San Diego Heaven Gates Cult mass suicides of 39 people reveals such anomalies are still breeding in our society, and the evilweb may be spinning right next door to you.



2. The book was difficult for me to read, but good for me as well. I needed to know the beginning of the story. The beginnings are so important, because the ending is never reached without a beginning. Like sudden accidental death, people think being involved in a cult could never happen to them. This is especially true of devout Christians. But this story is of an ordinary family who unintentionally spiraled into the destructive cult whirlpool through entirely good intentions. Thus, I believe all people who live above the plane of cynicism must take heed to the beginnings of such stories, and not just the gruesome inner-story details. They must understand how good intentions can be misused by evil people intent on achieving their own malicious ends. I should know because in the book, I am the daughter, Louise. I needed to know the beginning, because I saw the middle and the end.



3. This book is supposedly written by one of its victims, Mary Rich. She begins by telling the story of her devout desire to be closer to God, and how she and her husband meet this charismatic, intense man, Ron Larrinaga who cast his evil spell on them. It's obvious right from the start that Mary Rich took one look at Ron Larrinaga and fell completely, infatuatedly in love with Ron Larrinaga.
   
   I have talked to several people who have read this book, some of them actuallly closely related to Ron Larrinaga. He is, without a doubt, insane, and he deserves to be in jail for 180 years. None of those people disagree with that. Nor do they disagree with my opinon that Mary Rich herself, her husband and the other adults involved in this horror should be in jail right along with the evil leader Ron Larrinaga.
   
   Don't misunderstand me. Of course there are bonfide cult victims. We've read and heard about many of them. However, it is my honest opinion, after reading this book that it is painfully obvious that the author/victim willingly went along with Larrinaga and dragged her family with her. She was obviously very much in love, or LUST or simply infatuated with Larrinaga. Her selfishness compelled her to go along with this man while he repeatedly raped and beat her and worse yet, her children. And oh, did I mention that she kept having children? The writings are very vague and superficial. It was very obvious to me just by reading the book that once the authorities REALLY got wind of these nuts (author included), that only then did she play the 'victim' card. As far as I'm concerned, she deserves to be in jail with him and the rest of the adults involved here. All of the adults involved in this case were free to go on, leading 'new' lives, leaving in their paths about twenty tortured, messed up kids to figure out what the hell happened to their lives.
   
   One of the reviews here on Amazon is supposedly written by one of the daughters/victims of the writer called "Louise". I guess she is trying to incite some interest in the hope of generating some revenue in the way of sales for her nutball mother. I cannot believe the woman even has the gall to show her own photo in the book. I don't mean to sound so cynical. I know there are indeed victims of cults out there. But as I mentioned earlier, several other people who read this account, and further more, people who actually KNOW these nuts (I have never meet any of the people in the book, but they have) came away with the same thought I did: why is the author not in jail as well? It's a travesty of justice that she, along with the other adults involved are not. The idea that she or they are getting any money for this book is preposterous. The law SHOULD only give any monies earned from it to the REAL victims: the children.

2 comments about Poverty's Child: A True Story.

1. While I miss my Grandmother, Mr Mohr's sister and Mrs Mohr's cousin, every single day, I am glad she is not alive to read this book. It is full of lies, and the authors have chosen a "Woe is me" attitude. From the title, "Poverty's Child" to the last word, this book is nothing more than a way for them to make money. What about the brothers and sisters? It's as if he was the only child in that house. My Grandmother and Grandfather worked very hard to aquire what they had at the end of their lives. The depression was a time where most had a difficult life. Some choose to overcome and some choose to sit on a mountain of self pity.



2. you know what i havent even read this entire book yet, but I do have to agree with the anger of the 1st comment poster, who actually is apparently related to me. If Arthur Mohr's parents were her grandparents, she must be his neice, and I am related to Arthur and Gloria Mohr(not a fact I am particularly proud of) thus making us related somehow. As far as the book, it makes me sick. Thats really all I have to say. What kinda of person writes something like that? I'll tell you, some one looking to make a quick buck and soak up soome pitty. Give me a break. People should have better things to do than read this pathetic attempt for attention.

No comments about Murderers Die.

2 comments about The Book of Assassins: A Biographical Dictionary From Ancient Times To The Present.

1. I borrowed this book from a friend. I loved all the little trivia. It helps that the author included assassination attempts (including those who were deluded enough to think a pistol loaded with tobacco would kill Queen Victoria). Including those who may not have done any actual harm but meant to makes the book a little less predictable. It's not all "this one killed that one and here's why." Each summary is about 1-3 pages long. Which is just long enough to give details but not too long to get bored with them.
   
   Things I have learned about assassins.
   
   1. Always succeed. The punishment is much worse if
   you don't. In fact, I think the author nicluded a little
   too much description on some deaths
   
   2. Never be anyone who is related to an assassin (if
   the assassin isn't trying to kill you there is still a
   good chance you'll go mad or be punished for his/ her
   act.
   
   3. Don't be the guy who catches the successful
   assassin. It never ends well.
   
   4. Never piss off a woman (see Henriette Caillaux)
   
   5. Generally avoid being royalty. Your relatives are
   all out to get you.
   
   The only criticism I have is that is is missing two major figures. Saddam Hussein and Orlando Bosch.



2. This book is a treasure chest for those of us who are fascinated by those flesh and blood Eumenides who have felt called upon to bring the great ones of the earth to account for their crimes, real or imagined. The author provides an wonderfully encyclopedic account of history's assassins, in all countries and eras. I have only two complaints- 1. he omitted the great Cassius Chaerea, the assassin of the Emperor Caligula, and 2. In his listing for Lee Harvey Oswald, he gives credence to the various conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination. Besides that, this is an excellent catalogue of that select group of men and women who barged their way into history with a single bloody act.

5 comments about Evil Secrets.

1. This book was absolutely gripping! My heart just ached for the family members of little Pheobe Ho! This guy was not only derranged but pathetic. He seemed somewhat childlike. Spoiled,self-absorbed and very immature! He knew just what he was doing and really planned ahead! But his carelessness finally got the best of him. The death penalty was too good for this man named Warren James Bland! When he was finally gunned down by officers during his arrest, I could not help but to wish that the bullet would have entered a more vital organ than his leg! I know that makes me no better than the killer himself, but you really grow to hate this man throughout the book after hearing what he had done to little 7 yr. old Pheobe Ho. Her family will never be the same, nor will I after reading this horrific true story! I get up nightly since finishing it, to check on my 9 yr old son as he sleeps. I think of the moms anguish, and I too start to cry. God bless the families of these victims (all). And may Mr. Bland burn in..... Well, you know!



2. This book was absolutely gripping! My heart just ached for the family members of little Pheobe Ho! This guy was not only derranged but pathetic. He seemed somewhat childlike. Spoiled,self-absorbed and very immature! He knew just what he was doing and really planned ahead! But his carelessness finally got the best of him. The death penalty was too good for this man named Warren James Bland! When he was finally gunned down by officers during his arrest, I could not help but to wish that the bullet would have entered a more vital organ than his leg! I know that makes me no better than the killer himself, but you really grow to hate this man throughout the book after hearing what he had done to little 7 yr. old Pheobe Ho. Her family will never be the same, nor will I after reading this horrific true story! I get up nightly since finishing it, to check on my 9 yr old son as he sleeps. I think of the moms anguish, and I too start to cry. God bless the families of these victims (all). And may Mr. Bland burn in..... Well, you know!



3. It is inconceivable to me that a man could be so cruel. I only hope that Phoebe was unaware of most of the horrible things that that animal did to her. You know bland will be kept apart from the other inmates in prison because they will kill him for what he did to that little girl. He deserves everything that he gets. He is not a man. Even calling him an animal is to good for him. It made me sick to read what all he did to her. I am so glad he was caught before he could kidnapped another child. Her poor parents. Such pain for them. I hope they never found out everything that was done to their baby.



4. Throughout this book, I noticed that the author, Kathy Braidhill, kept an emotional distance from the subjects of her book. At first, I thought perhaps she had a psychological problem. After finishing the book, I realized that she'd had to relive such horror that she probably had to take a step back.

   This is the hellacious story of a madman who posed as the nicest guy on earth. He was let out of prison five times, FIVE TIMES!, before he tortured, sexually tortured,starved, raped, sodomized and murdered little 7-year-old Phoebe Ho over the period of a week. One of the scariest parts of this book is that no one ever learned where he'd kept this child all of that time.

   Probably the most emotionally drenching part of this book is the sheer grief of Phoebe's parents. Here, Braidhill does an excellent job. I sobbed along with Mrs. Ho. How does she go on after this unspeakable evil was done to her favorite little one?

   Since I finished this book, I've kept a light on in my little one's room.

   This book is about a slasher, a rapist, a murderer, the devil incarnate, a sexual sadisst who could have been the guy next door. I suddenly realized what John Douglas has always warned...that murderers and rapists don't always LOOK like the monsters they are.

   A gripping book. After I was finished, I asked myself, who has this much evil inside of himself? People like this really DO exist, and that is the most frightening thing to realize.




5. To all readers of this book,"I ACTUALLY KNEW THIS ANIMAL."
   I had just turnned 20 at that time, I was the Daughter of the family that sponsered "the so-called Evie,"The book was very well
   written, This would have been a Perfect true life Minnie type of Series/Movie, as a lesson for all parents/children as graphic and
   as horrific as it was,"And it was!" The scary thing about it was
   when the so-called "Evie" Brought him down to our home with her 33 children,it was around Thanksgiving that year,to anounce to us her ingagement, we had no clue what his past was,there was some details in the book that were left out or maybe just unknown to the writer."THAT MAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN BURNNED IN THE STREETS FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE!!!" Evie was a the kindest women, she was like a Mother to me.I can see now how he fooled her in slithering his way into her life. She had daughter about Phoebe-Ho's age at that time which the reality of it till this day I still cannot fathom.Thank god we had live in detectives and police officers at that time when James Bland was on the run, we found out later that the entire time all the mahem was going on ,"That Animal" had beed hiding out the entire time across the street from where we were living, and watching our every move, he had also written a diary on how he was going to kill our families in the end. To this day I don't leave the house alone, I don't even step outside even in the daytime unless absolutely necessary.
   And most of all, to the family of that Dear Dear Sweet Innocent
   and unreplacible Phoe-Be Ho, "There is not a day that pass where she and her loving family are not in my thoughts and prayer's, (I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR ANGEL)and all the peoples lives he had destroyed.

5 comments about Crime of Magnitude: The Murder of Little Annie (Wisconsin).

1. All true crime buffs will be riveted to the twists and turns!



2. A good read and good detective story. Mr. Lemberger not only spun the yarn but solved the crime.Darn good work.



3. Eighty years later, Mark Lemberger is out to vindicate his paternal grandfather, thought by some to have assaulted and killed his 7 year old daughter, Annie Lemberger, who would have been the author's aunt. The book is thoroughly researched and the reproduction of contemporaneous newspaper coverage throughout the text is interesting. Possibly to avoid allegations of familial bias, Mark goes on and on and on. I got bogged down and put it down.



4. Though the crime being investigated here is nearly a century old, this book shows how little has changed. Rumors, speculation and personal prejudice still sway the press, the public and the law when it come to "unthinkable" and high-profile crimes. Annie was the Jon-Benet of the early 1900s, with her unsolved murder disinterred in the press on every anniversary. Especially interesting is the early role the polygraph played in this crime - 20 years after the fact, Lemberger and the other suspects basically became guinea pigs for the untested (and still controversial) lie detector. Though one reader here thought the wealth of detail bordered on overkill, it's easy to understand (and enjoy) the author's obsession.



5. I have lost 10 pounds reading this book! I have it on my exercise bike and the prospect of a good 45-minute read gets me up every morning. It may be a "crime of magnitude" for me to write this review while I still have a few pages to go, but I'm online to buy multiple copies for friends and I can't keep silent because I am so excited about this book.
   
   The Greenbush neighborhood, still known locally as just "The Bush," was Madison, Wisconsin's immigrant community in the early 20th century. The story of little Annie's disappearance is also the story of this fascinating neighborhood of Italian bootleggers and Norwegian, German, African-American and other new arrivals. Second, it is also a fascinating legal history of early Madison, with one of its two local judges playing the leading role in a tragic story of his own and a key prosecutor who became the state governor. Third, it is a fascinating true crime tale in the tradition of Ann Rule et. al. Fourth,as many true crime stories of high-profile cases must be, it is a fascinating panorama of the journalistic coverage of the crime and its courtroom aftermath, and the reporters and editors who perpetrated this coverage.
   
   Mark Lemberger crammed all of this into about 300 pages, and found a truth-telling style that belies his status as an intersted party. It will be an omission of magnitude if this book is not made into a movie.

1 comments about A Picture Perfect Kid (The Story Behind the Carol Lindley/Joshua Wolf Murder Case).

1. The picture perfect kid was what neighbors and friends called Joshua Allen Wolf. So the big question would be - What happened that would make him kill his beloved grandmother Carol Lindley? That is what this book strives to figure out.
   
   Joshua came to live with his grandparents when he was about 8 yrs old. In fact, more times than not he would refer to them as mom and dad. Joshua's mom Lori suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. This left Joshua and his sister, at many times, neglected and dirty. Since Joshua wanted a stable life, he asked Carol and Bill Lindley if he could live with them. They readily agreed.
   
   Through interviews with family members, police reports and court transcripts, Joshua's story unfolds. On May 6th Joshua shot his grandmother in the head. Two days later he poured gasoline on her and in various parts of the house and tried to burn it all up.
   
   Stephen Wilson, Joshua's attorney tried to plead a case of mental illness partly because of his childhood with his mother. The prosecution would have no part of that saying that in trying to cover up the murder, Joshua knew full well what he was doing.
   
   Anyone who enjoys true crime books will think this one is superb. Even though not all the questions are answered, there is still a lot of information here to digest. "A Picture Perfect Kid" is a comprehensive detailed book about a murder that was planned in detail, one of which the murderer thought he could get away with. The victim and the rest of the family could never have contemplated it happening.

No comments about The Cromwell Street Murders: The Detective's Story.

No comments about To Hatred Turned: A True Story of Love and Death in Texas.

No comments about Blood Crimes.