5 comments about Evil Eyes.

1. Once again, Corey Mitchell has written a great true crime book. He can tell a story better than most!



2. Yet again another masterpiece by Corey Mitchell! He goes so in depth with his books and all the different sides of the case that it draws you in to want to know more! I will say that one thing he had wrong is that not everyone knew who Watts was automatically. Until I joined My Space and started reading Mr. Mitchells posts on this book as he was writing it and the updates on the story over the last year, I had no clue who he was or what he had done. There were several cases noted in his book I had no idea about. I can't wait for the latest!



3. Mr. Mitchell is a talented true crime author! "Evil Eyes" was my first exposure to Coral Eugene Watts. As Corey Mitchell accurately pointed out in the book,Coral Watts is barely known. The media really didn't cover one of the most prolific,dangerous serial killers in American history.
   He definitely killed in Texas and Michigan, it's also very likely that he crossed into Canada and killed in Ontario.
   Coral Watts was the "Sunday Morning Slasher" of fame in Michigan.
   
   What is surreal about the Watts case is his sentencing in Texas. A state known for executions in capital cases was facing the very real probability that it would be releasing a serial killer and awarding him for time off for good behavior in prison! A contributing factor was the plea agreement granting immunity for confessions and locating victims' corpses.
   
   Mr. Mitchell includes the transcripts of Watts' confessions. You get the feeling that after confessing, Watts "clammed up" or he could have solved more murder cases that matched his M.O.
   
   He also devotes attention to the survivors and victims' families and some of the key figures in related organizations.
   
   The author exposes the F.B.I. profilers error in some of their profiles regarding serial killers, particular race.
   
   "Evil Eyes" is a very well-written true crime book and I highly recommend the book.



4. I read this book and let me tell you, the author puts you right there! He takes a hold of you and doesn't let you go until he's done. It's a tough read! He takes you right into the mind of madness! From the description of the victim watching as this big man jumped and squealed in delight, clapping his hands like a mechanical monkey (something no one was meant to see)! This was easily the best crime book I have ever read, again and again and again.



5. I followed the Coral Watts story in the Houston papers and on tv at the time it was unfolding. The first half of this book is okay. But, it is so badly padded, I got pretty bored. I guess I am in the minority here.

5 comments about Every Move You Make.

1. Fascinating True Crime Story. Very well written and fast paced.



2. Wow, what a complex man Gary Evans was. And a huge narcissist if you ask me. This book grabbed me from the beginning and the ending was not what I had expected at all. Matt as usual your thorough investigating on the events are excellent! And some people's reaction of Jim Horton and his relationship with Gary is not fair. I bet if Jim knew earlier and suspected way earlier what Gary really was he would never worked with him as a CI. This is a must read.



3. In true M. William Phelps style, we are introduced to State Officer Jim Horton and professional burgular Gary Evans who, through a series of 496 attention-gripping pages, play a real life of game of Cops & Robbers or Cat & Mouse yet amazingly establish a connection...a friendship, in a skewed sense.
   
   If you are like me and don't mind long, very detail books, you will enjoy this one. Readers are provided with an indepth look into the life of Gary Evans from his meager beginnings; all the while, readers also enjoy a clearly present background of Investigator Jim Horton. And, although not as detailed as the main "characters," the backgrounds of those involved with Evans, whether they be paramour or victim, is also provided to help the reader develop an idea of how that person became involved with Evans and, often later, Horton.
   
   I absolutely loved this book. This is one I would consider to be in the Top 10 of Best Written and All Time Favorites.



4. I am an avid and continual reader of true crime. In EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, I feel M. William Phelps has reached the level of some of the truly fine crime writers. (Jack Olsen comes to mind.) This book has all the prerequisites for great true crime: a fascinating story; intelligent literate writing; and meticulous and exhaustive research. Reviews of one of Phelps' more recent books, MURDER IN THE HEARTLAND, chastise Phelps for a sloppy rush job. I can assure you that this is not the case with EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE. This book was clearly a long time in the researching and the writing, and it presents to the reader the reasons contributing to the making of one of the more interesting sociopaths you'll read about. And Gary Evans is indeed a sociopath of the first order.
   Additional points for lovers of this genre: the book is well edited. I recall no typos, and very few misused words. The picture section is also interesting and adds to the book, although in the paperback copy I read, the pictures will have fallen out by the 3rd reading.
   And, thank God, there is NO interminable courtroom scene description.
   I recommend this book unreservedly and totally, even to those who are not in particular true crime devotees.



5. Let's face it, most true crime books today are about spouses who kill. In this book, Phelps uncovers and write about Gary Charles Evans, a little known serial killer and burglar of antiques in New England. For the most part, Gary C. Evans is a complicated criminal. He can survive in the wilderness but can't survive prison life. He killed three of his best childhood friends who were his partners in crime rather than face jailtime. Maybe he thought that he wanted to see what he could get away with crimewise. With a determined police detective like Jim Horton, he gets his man after he ran for his life.

5 comments about Blood and Money.

1. Truly a spellbinding well told tale of an incredible series of mysterious deaths among the rich horsey set in Houston during the late 60's, early 70's. The Blood of the title is not about gore but about the strange family goings on, with venomous old coots, cool as can be madams, drug addicts, liars, and gossips. Money is all over the place in this, impacting family relationships and infecting the court system in ways so bizarre you find yourself saying "They couldn't have!" like some shocked old Victorian. Very, very good.



2. i love true crime and this one happens to be my ALL TIME FAVORITE!!! trust me, you will love it. it's the bible of true crime.



3. Thompson's book is a brilliant recreation of the crime and its aftermath. It was especially interesting to me because my mother knew Joan Robinson Hill through the world of American Saddlebred horses. While it is glaringly evident from numerous errors that Thompson knew nothing whatsoever about show horses (and didn't take the trouble to find out), the remainder of the book could not have been better done. A real page turner.



4. I first read this book about 25 years ago, and have read it several times since. It is just as intriguing today as then. I never go by the Robinson-Hill home or Ash's, that I dont think about this long ago saga. I thought Thompson did a masterful job telling the events of this case. It was the talk of Houston for years. Recently I even saw pictures of the inside of the home on a website about this case. Joan Robinson Hills grave in partially hidden by a tree. You have to really look to see it.



5. I started to read this book years ago, but had to return it to a friend. I was at last able to get it in a used shop...It is a true page turner! Especially if you like a great mystery!

5 comments about No One Can Hurt Him Anymore.

1. People need to read this book. It raises awareness about things that should be looked out for when a child is being abused. Too many people are afraid to report or, according to their traditional views, think that it is taboo to remove a child from his family and that the family has the right to "discipline".
   
   What is amazing about this situation is that it was obvious that A.J.'s stepmother had long crossed the line of discipline, yet nobody intervened. His biological parents turned a blind eye, followed by neighbors and those at his school. Perhaps they would have thought differently had they known that their ignorance would result in his death.



2. read this book and it is so sad and I hope this little boy can rest in peace



3. I don't understand why he had to die? Why couldn't someone get involved. The step mother was a monster and the boys biological father wasn't any better. He let his son die over a woman who only cared about herself. What a b@tch



4. This is a very emotional book as the reality of A.J's short life is revealed. There were so many witnesses to A.J's abuse, and the step mother barly took means to hide her hatred towards A.J. And this happened in 1993....shocking. All I can say is that I wish A.J was my beautiful son.



5. *** & 1/2*
   While this book does a fine job of chronicling the many horrors this little boy endured, it could have been a bit more `in depth' where his (so-called) parents were concerned. Particularly Jessica Schwarz, whose background is hardly mentioned, not that it would have incited any sympathy in me toward her.
   
   Another thing I found disappointing (apart from the cruelty and indifference A. J. suffered in and of itself) is prosecutor Scott H. Cupp's self-satisfied smugness that seems to suggest he should've won a medal or something because of Jessica's 30-plus years sentence. He would have deserved one (and I might've handcrafted the damn thing myself) had he not let Jessica's
   co-conspirator-by-dereliction-of-duty, David Schwarz, escape justice. He witnessed Jessica's violent behavior and did nothing to stop it.
   
   I was also amazed at how so many people knew that this child was in a dire situation and no one took any significant action to save his life. I guess they all feel they've made up for being so useless to A. J. in his life by testifying at his murder trial.
   
   R.I.P A. J. S.

5 comments about A Rose For Her Grave & Other True Cases (Ann Rule's Crime Files).

1. I read this a year ago and I'm reading it again now. Out of all the criminals Ann Rule writes about, Randy Roth boggles my mind the most.
   
   This man had a plan for EVERYTHING. He was able to pick vulnerable women, almost a sixth sense for him to find the right woman to manipulate so his next plan could be put into action. Of the women Ann writes about, most of them (except perhaps Donna Sanchez (first wife) and Lily Vandiveer (babysitter, side dish) all experienced the same thing - a short, romantic courtship with great sex, then after the marriage (except for Mary Jo who was uninsurable due to a history of cancer)insurance policys and an icy, miserable coldness.
   Long story short, 4 wifes, 2 of which he murdered, and the aftermath of the two dead wives is devestating. Randy Roth would only date/marry women with children, so after each relationship ended (whether it ended in death or by other means) crushed children's lives as well as the unfortunate woman.
   I guess I'm so blown away by this story because you would almost think someone of this caliber (and you have to read to understand what I'm talking about) would be hooked on drugs or maybe institutionalized at some point in their life. Randy was physically fit, anti drug/tobacco/alcohol, but none the less a lying, stealing, cheating, child-abusing murderer.
   
   Once you read about Cynthia, you'll see what this man is capable of. She went from one person to almost another in their year of marriage. At least she is reunited with her beloved Tom.
   
   Campbell's Revenge is one of the shorter stories in the book, but absolutely HORRIFIC. The other short stories in this book are good as well. I see they were already listed by another reviewer.



2. I absolutely love Ann Rule. She is an amazing true crime writer and no one out there writes like she does. I have read about 7 or 8 of her books and have not found one yet that I didn't like. They have all been great and very hard to put down I find myself sitting down for hours just reading and reading. This book was no exception! I love when she does the crime files where she puts more then one story in the book. Those really hold my attention because I feel like I get more out of it. I would recommend any Ann Rule book to anyone who truly enjoys true crime. If you start out with Ann you'd better end with Ann too because I've read other true crime books by other authors and NO ONE has even begun to compare and they definately did not keep my attention at all. Ann RULES!!!



3. Indeed, the Randy Roth story is the highlight of the book. I won't rehash the details, but readign it does tend to leave one rather sad, that this animal got away with hurting so many innocent people, whos only mistake was perhaps beign a bit too needy. One can only hope he's earning a proper punishment behind bars, and not running his own little prison gang or something.
   
   I did however regret that there was no way to really examine the mans upbringing, and what made him the way he was. Perhaps he was neglected by a mother who doted over her daughters. His mother certainly sounded like a piece of work. Would also have been nice if Miss Rule had done a 'where are they now' segment at the end of this tale as she's done with other books in the is series.
   
   So basically after all is said and done, I'd recomend this book. A good start to an exceptional true crime series.



4. Former policewoman Ann Rule once again displays her remarkable narrative talent as she covers half a dozen sordid crimes. The book is primarily about Randy Roth, a modern bluebeard who pushed his wives off cliffs when he tired of them and desired their insurance and social security benefits. Through the author's readable prose we get to know the killer, his victims, and the officers that eventually solved the case. Among the additional sordid cases in these pages are a rapist who returned to kill his victim/accuser after he was released from prison, a jilted husband that hired a "hit lady" to do in his wife, and a couple women who were tragically done in by fiends. Rule has a nicely readable style and great sympathy for the victims, which makes reading her narratives somewhat more palatable from a moral standpoint. Still, these are books about tragedy, despite Rule's sympathetic prose and the commendable efforts of law enforcement to solve these crimes.



5. I could not put this book down. It was very well written and the pages seemed to turn themselves. I couldn't wait to get to the end! The only dissapointment was when I was all done and didn't have anymore Ann Rule to read.

5 comments about A Death in Belmont (P.S.).

1. S. Junger has traveled far from the truth in his attempt to connect the murder of Bessie Goldberg from his hometown of Belmont , Massachusetts to Albert DeSalvo the discredited Boston Strangler who once worked for Junger's mother. The facts of the case are cast aside as Junger exaggerates, distorts, lies, and omits important trial evidence.
   
   The murder victim advertised as a neighbor of the Junger family actually lived on the other side of town. Between the two homes were 95 private residences, 15 cross streets and approximately 40 stores.
   
   Although in 1966 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court , after appeal, upheld the conviction of Roy Smith, this information is never revealed.
   
   Junger who says that Smith, a career criminal, never lied to the police has seriously misinformed the reader. According to the Supreme Court Justices as they spelled out the evidence from trial testimony, Smith lied about his times of arrival and departure from the Goldberg home, staying almost two hours less than he claimed. Although Smith told authorities he had finished cleaning the house and left it "in order" the police testified that the house had never been cleaned. The living room furniture was found pushed to the center of the room, the mirror was covered with cleaner (complete with Smith's handprints), the living room ornaments were sitting on the dining room table waiting to be dusted while the vacuum cleaner complete with attachments lay nearby.
   
   Nothing much is made of the testimony of Smith's friends who said he spent $15.00, the amount stolen from the Goldberg home, on liquor the night of the murder. When questioned by the police Smith could not account for the source of his funds.
   
   The Supreme Court Justices stated, " The jury could have found unusual opportunity, motive, possession after the crime of unexplained funds, incriminating action in leaving the house in disorder and the work unfinished, and subsequent conduct and false statements showing consciousness of guilt."



2. I have been avoiding this book for a long time. It sounded good when I read the snippets of information on it, it just isn't the kind of thing I enjoy.
   Finally, I went ahead and bought it. It then sat on my night table for months.
   
   I knew I had to do it, but it wasn't easy cracking a book about a serial killer. The descriptions were chilling but not overly graphic or gratuitous. Junger made sure to keep the facts of the murders quiet and respectful, even in their gruesome reality.
   
   I knew nothing of the Boston Strangler, so I learned a lot about that time and how terrifying it must have been living in that area at that time.
   
   The grave injustices made my blood boil and have given me a new perspective. It was well worth the wait and a great read.



3. Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea (P.S.), grew up with the story of Albert DeSalvo, the admitted "Boston Strangler," who once worked as a carpenter at the house where his parents lived in Belmont, Massachusetts, when he was an infant. And when the murder of Bessie Goldberg occurred not far from there, it was his mother who rushed outside and told Al about the murder. Since Al came and went on errands throughout the day, it would have been possible for him to have committed the murder and returned.
   
   Using this "hook" into the story, Junger thoroughly investigates all aspects of the strangler and the murders. In the case of the Goldberg murder in Belmont, a black man, Roy Smith, who had worked cleaning her house, was accused of the crime, though he staunchly denied any involvement. Racial prejudice, the absence of any black families in Belmont, and the lack of any other plausible assailant led to Smith's arrest. Full disclosure did not exist then, and his lawyer was denied access to much of the evidence. The witnesses were coached by law enforcement, and the trial went on during the weekend of the assassination of President Kennedy. Smith had had some minor scrapes with the law in Oxford, Mississippi, where he formerly lived, and he was convicted and sentenced to life on the Saturday two days after the Kennedy assassination--by an all male jury drawn from Kennedy's former legislative district. DNA tests did not yet exist.
   
   Albert DeSalvo eventually confessed to being the Boston Strangler, and though he admitted to most of the thirteen murders and provided details, he always refused to admit to the Goldberg murder, despite the fact that it fit the Strangler's M.O. better than some other murders DeSalvo did admit to.
   
   Junger takes the reader through the evidence, using his access to the trial transcripts, the police records, witness interviews, newspaper accounts, and interviews with some of the surviving witnesses. He analyzes the nature of a serial killer vs. the spontaneous killer of one person. He evaluates the importance of circumstantial evidence in lieu of real evidence, and stresses its importance. His psychological analysis of the way the guilty behave when questioned, as opposed to the truly innocent, provides insights into whether Roy Smith was really guilty.
   
   Best of all, Junger keeps an open mind. Though he grew up believing that Roy Smith was innocent, there are times during the book in which he presents evidence which would convict Roy, and there are also times in which he wonders if DeSalvo could really have committed these murders. Ten years after the murder, when Roy Smith is eligible for clemency, based on his exemplary behavior, and when Albert has changed his mind about having said he was guilty, the book becomes even more complicated, leaving the reader to deal with the aftermath. There are no conclusions about whether DeSalvo or Smith really committed the crime(s). Junger leaves that up to his individual readers. n Mary Whipple
   
   Fire
   Biography - Junger, Sebastian (1962-): An article from: Contemporary Authors Online



4. I could not put the book down, I was mesmerized from start to finish. How this man who wrote a famous and great tragic story was himself a part of such a larger-than-life infamous time frame and proximity. I highly recommend this story.



5. This story was interesting. Although he is not old enough to actually remember any of the events, he draws in a very personal aspect to the crime in the title. The story of the man wrongly accused is heartbreaking but typical of the time. S. Junger takes too long however to make some of his points. No doubt the story is intriguing, but some superfluous wording could have definitely made it more enjoyable.

5 comments about To Die For: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Dana Sue Gray.

1. Very good book, though in the end you still wonder what the real motives of this Dana Gray were for those appaling killings of elderly women. Is she a total psychopat? If so, you don't get that conclusion out of this book.



2. Braidhill's book is filled with interesting tidbits about Dana's life and terrible crimes, and it flows fairly well. I learned a lot about police interrogations too! But there are places where it could be better. I noticed LOTS of errors that should have been caught by an editor, but its still pretty good all-in-all. I only gave it 3 stars because its just not a page-turner, although I DID finish it so it couldn't be all that bad! Great for a distraction and to learn about serial killer's BIZARRE minds.



3. In the hands of a better author, the story of a brutal female serial killer with a heart of black evil might have been a very interesting read; however, this True Crime novel was nothing "to die for."
   
   Dana Sue Gray viciously murdered 3 elderly women in one month and attempted to murder a fourth, who lived to identify her. Although the murderess later claimed periods of amnesia and an overwhelming sense of depersonalization during and after the murders, Dana Sue Gray was able to deftly sort through credit cards, cash, and checkbooks with the speed and accuracy of a financial advisor and spend thousands of dollars within one hour of a killing.
   
   Once Ms. Gray is arrested, however, TO DIE FOR takes a spiraling tailspin into the abyssmal and the ordinary. Relying heavily on verbatim police interrogation records, the book slows considerably. When Ms. Gray is moved into protective custody while awating trial, there are endless chapters detailing the repetitious, histrionic, and manipulative letters Dana mailed to family members, friends, and other imagined supporters. In effect, this portion of the book could have been easily reduced by 40 pages without losing any real content.
   
   In addition to the problems already addressed, this book was filled with typographical errors and editing mistakes. I counted in excess of 20 typographical errors and found contradictory information about a single event printed on pages 67 and 286. On page 67, it is written that after attempting to murder Dorinda Hawkins, "Dana took $5 dollars out of Dorinda's purse, leaving a $20 bill, used the cash register key to take $25 from the cash drawer and walked out." Yet, on page 286 it is noted, "Dana... had fled with $20 dollars from Dorinda's purse and $25 from the cash register." A simple fact check and a reasonably good editor could have, and certainly should have, noticed this error.
   
   For experienced, "die hard" True Crime fans everywhere, your money would be better spent elsewhere. I read True Crime almost exclusively and I know what I like... TO DIE FOR does not even come close.



4. The quality of the writing is average, though the story/case is interesting. That is perhaps my biggest gripe. The word choice, the description, etc., are not as strong and captivating as that of other authors (Edna Buchanan, Ann Rule, M. William Phelps, etc.) The book is still worth reading though, and sheds inside into the police handling and media coverage of a female serial killer vs. a male one...



5. If you are a reader of Ann Rule's and/or Kathryn Casey's books, this one will be a huge disappointment. The story of Dana Sue Gray is interesting. How an extreme need to shop would motivate this young woman to kill elderly women, is fascinating. But the writer does a poor job in explaining most of the questions one has about a female serial killer.
   
   The books starts very slowly and is so redundant. The author goes over the same material several times, and jumps around in the story so that it becomes confusing. And like many crime writers, he seems to think readers are more interested in the law enforcement officials than in the subject of the book. I would rather read about the background of the subject and don't necessarily want to know so much about the investigators.
   
   The author moves quickly over some of the murders, then backtracks later to describe them in more detail. He waits until the last 1/3 of the book before he delves into the childhood, upbringing, and character of Dana Sue Gray. At that point, the book becomes more interesting and easier to read, but that section is way too short compared to the amount of time he spent on the investigators. It's almost as if he just stuck the chapter together the same way he wrote them, with no editing involved.
   
   The author leaves the reader wondering if another book has been written by a different author. One that may explain more about Dana's motives and whether it was remorse that changed her plea to guilty or if it was to avoid the death penalty. A lot of questions go unanswered. However, her life behind bars is detailed and I appreciated that glimpse into prison life. How female prisoners create beauty products out of the sparse materials they have access to, is quite imaginative!
   
   As a prolific crime story reader, this one is at the bottom of my list. I also ordered several other books at the same time and after reading this one, was happy to delve into a Kathryn Casey book where the story flows, is about the main subject with only minor references to law enforcement, and tries to understand/explain what motivates the killer.
   
   There are so many other great books about true crime. I would skip this one or try to find it at the library. Don't waste your money.

5 comments about A Warrant to Kill: A True Story of Obsession, Lies and a Killer Cop.

1. Kathryn Casey takes us into the bowels of the Houston police department and shows us a man that NEVER should have been in law enforcement. What a sad story of a flawed woman and the police officer who ended her life. This book was masterfully researched and written, as are all of KC's books. The more I read this writer, the better I like her work. I have pre-ordered her next book.



2. This is the first true crime book I have read and it was only because I saw the story on A&E and was intrigued to learn more. It was very detailed and while I can't say I enjoyed it (murder is nothing to be happy about) it really shocked me at how much harm a man with a badge can do. Susan White had her issues but she didn't deserve to be harassed and then be killed by someone who is supposed to serve and protect. Anyhow, while I truly found this intriguing, I don't know that I will read anymore true crime simply because I love happy endings and these for the most part don't end that way. I will stick to fiction.



3. I have enjoyed all of Ann Rule's books, and find this author to be almost as good. This true story is even more gripping than fiction.



4. Though I am a veteran reader of true crime, I had not heard of Kathryn Casey until earlier this year when she was recommended by a friend.
   A WARRANT TO KILL is the third, and the third outstanding, of her books that I've read. To briefly summarize, it is the story of a troubled woman, Susan White, killed by a likely-sociopathic rogue cop named Kent McGowen. As in her others I read earlier, SHE WANTED IT ALL and THE RAPIST'S WIFE, Casey's talent for true crime is remarkable. Her writing is crisp, reportorial, and to the point. As in the others, A WARRANT TO KILL contains none of the boring, superfluous filler found in lesser true crime. It contains none of the irritating drama, often used even by good writers, which can turn true crime into cloying true soap opera.
   
   A WARRANT TO KILL shows in-depth research and interviewing and a sincere interest in writing an outstanding book. She also, importantly, knows when to leave out unnecessary or repetitive information, with the result that she avoids excessive length and boring repetition. An excellent example is the section of the book which deals with the trial. This is often a deadly dull part of a true crime book, but Casey keeps it moving and interesting by not including every bit of testimony, only that which is necessary to futher the story line. And, thankfully, she does not feel the need to include every bit of forensic testimony.
   
   Finally, Casey, as in all of her books I've read, does a masterful job of presenting the details of the personalities and psyches of the principals in the case. This, in my opinion, is the single most important element in great true crime. And Kathryn Casey writes great true crime. Fans of the genre will love this book.



5. Kathryn Casey tells a tale of obsession, desperation, and a cop who exacted his revenge on a woman and her troubled son. Susan White and her son both underestimated the lengths to which Kent McGowen would go to make a point about who was in control and who held the power. Written in a smoothly captivating fashion, Kathryn Casey demonstrates insight into the strange dynamics that existed between a cop and his supervisors, a woman and her son, and the forces that brought them all together in a moment of tragic proportions. As are all of Casey's books, A WARRANT TO KILL is meticulously researched and formatted in an understandable and gripping manner. The Epilogue of the book, in which Casey personally interviews Kent McGowen, is nothing short of a stunning look into the mind of a psychopathic liar and a cop without morals! I read late into the night and could hardly wait for the long arm of the law to reach out and take down Kent McGowen.
   
   McGowen was a cop who used the law to exercise his own brand of justice. Wholly disliked by other law enforcement officials for his lack of appropriate judgment and incessant arrogance, Kent McGowen seemed unable or unwilling to stop using his job to bolster his own ego or his status within the community. After a series of poor performance reviews at several different law enforcement agencies, McGowen had backed himself into a corner. Unable to find another agency willing to risk his employment, Kent McGowen took a position as a sheriff's deputy entrusted to patrol a wealthy Houston subdivision. It was a Mickey Mouse position, but that mattered little to McGowen. As long as he had a badge and a gun, he was the BMOC in his own mind, a Big Shot. While it is unclear why McGowen focussed his attentions on Susan White, his rage came to a full boil on muggy, August night that ended in murder.
   
   A word of warning to the reader, however. Susan White is a less than sympathetic victim. While she claimed to love her son above all else, she seemed unwilling to do the difficult tasks associated with parenting. Shirking her responsibilities as a mother, Susan White turned a blind her to her son's escalating behavioral problems. While Jason spiraled out of control and spent large amounts of time unsupervised, Susan White appeared to have plenty of time to dine at expensive restaurants, frequent barstools in trendy pubs, drop names, and go home with men in her never ending quest for the next wealthy man who would support the lifestyle to which she had become accustomed. Often intoxicated or strung out on prescription drugs, Susan White was an addict self-destructing at an alarming rate. McGowen simply ended a downward spiral a bit sooner than it might otherwise have come. While Susan White is not responsible for the egregious behavior of Kent McGowen, she tragically underestimated the consequences of her own actions and inaction. In so doing, she lost her life and left her son to grow up without a mother.

5 comments about In Cold Blood.

1. When this book was first published it was a sensation, it makes the furor over the Da Vinci look mild in comparison and it made Capote a superstar. What makes this book unique, besides the fantastic writing, was the fact that Capote completely emersed himself in this project, he turned over every stone and completely manipulated everyone involved, to learn every angle of the story. This book is a complete tour de force, this is a book you will never forget, not just because of the crime, so vividly recreated, but also due to Capote's haunting prose. Highly recommended, lives up to all the hype. It's just a shame it ruined Capote, as nakedly ambitious as he was, he was also a true talent.



2. I have spent much of my life planning to read the great novels but as of yet just have never found the time. Recently I discovered a wonderful alternative is listening to audio books. As of today I have now heard a number of great works but Capote's novel is in a class by itself. The writing is amazing. He owns the English language. Never does he settle for a second best way to describe a thing but writes with the precision of a master craftsman. Describing the deceased mother, whose eyes remained open, Capote refers to them as "death dulled eyes". Speaking of the shrubs he speaks of their "camel-like indifference to drought". Every sentence, every phrase, from cover to cover, is both poetic and gripping. Unlike many authors who begin strong and then begin to dull as the chapters progress, Capote keeps the freshness of his prose up throughout the work.
   
   Simply put, this novel is on level beyond what most of us have ever read. And I must note that the reader on the audio version is intimately involved in the text. The reading in no way detracts from the power of the novel, but actualy enhances it - if that is possible.
   
   This is one of the top 3 books I have ever heard or read - a masterpiece!



3. I read the book many years ago, enjoyed it then, and after the movie Capote, decided to listen to the book. It was great in both audio and book form. Capote was really intrigued by these two murderers so, most of the story involved their lives. The details of the act itself was scarey.



4. I have always been a Scott Brick (Narrator)fan. Now I am also a Truman Capote fan. I can not recommend this book enough. After I listened to this masterpiece I rented the movie "Capote". It was also a great experience.



5. This is a great classic but you have to devote some time to listening to the CDs, as you would to read the book. Can't complaint about the convenience though; ability to listen to the CDs while driving, at work, at home, etc. is wonderful. If you haven't tried an audio book yet, do so, you will find it to be quite an experience!

5 comments about To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia.

1. Rick Porello has succeeded in giving a very clear account of the rise of a mob figure, and the ultimate demise of both him and his adversaries, ultimately weaking La Cosa Nostra nationwide. It does not surprise me that this book might lead to a movie, since it perfectly lays out a compelling true story script.



2. The book "To kill an Irishman" is about the mafia and how their pursuit to kill a man named Danny Green. This book documents how the mafia came to hate this man and how exactly they killed him. This book is recommended to adults 14 years and older due to violence.
   
   It all starts out with a man named "Angelo (Big Ange) Lonardo". He was the head of the Cleveland mafia (also known as the La Cosa Nostra). The Cleveland mafia tries to find Danny Green for many years, because his involvement in a Cosa Nostra members'. Through the Cosa Nostras journey they come across many obstacles that they have to overcome in order to avenge their good friend's murder. This is another wonderful work of Rick Porello who documents every event associated with the killing of Danny Green. Porello fills the book full of action and violence to keep you into the book. If you're looking for a book filled with twists and turns and also interested in La Cosa Nostra than this is the book for you.



3. This is a fine book. I grew up in Cleveland and remember the death of Danny Greene. There were a lot of bombings and attempted bombings in the middle 70's. Little did I know that Danny Greene's death was the linchpin to the Mafia nationwide. Rick Porrello's book is a well-researched and well-writen account of how a union local president's death loosened the keystone of the Mafia arch. This would be a great film!



4. In this book of 250 pages there's more chapters than information on Danny Greene. There's 50 plus chapters and if this book had a chapter length of regular size there'd be only one chapter on Danny Greene, The reason I bought the book. My advise to readers is spend their money elsewere like on: T.J. English's Paddy Wacked. Irish Mob done right.



5. This is a great book. Danny Greene's story is almost like a fairy tale. It would make a great movie and it redefines the one man irish gang that TJ English speaks about in "Paddy Whacked". This book is filled with excitement. Only problem with this read is that you must know a thing or two about this story before reading it. Porello doesn't bore you by going into detail and re-explain the breakdown of Cosa Nostra and Union corruption. The book is very short and you must have a sense of what is happening before reading it or you will be lost. I strongly recommend that you read "Paddy Whacked" first and then move on to this. great book!