5 comments about Washed in the Blood.

1. This book tells a story from the author's first-hand vantage point. It does not condemn the killer nor whitewash the victim. It reaches for a personal testimony that reflects on the events, the place, and the times that he experienced in the 1960s. That the story is incomplete and that the mystery surrounding the Kiss and Kill Murder is still unfathomable make the retelling all the more compelling. The current meaning of the victim's death is much more important than any debate about the events of 1962. Washed in the Blood shows how the girl's story inspires and cautions students to this very day. Betty Williams' life and her death, therefore, had meaning. I had to tell that story.
   Shelton Williams



2. I was hugely disappointed in this read. It was mostly a memoir, which is okay, it just shouldn't be advertised as a true crime story. There was a lot of useless information, espcially the chapter at the end by Ken Brodnax (who repeated himself too much for my taste). I wanted to know *more* about who Betty was and who Mack was. How they got to that point. Everything that happened between them was mostly speculation. I was hoping the trials would be a fascinating read, and that was a huge let down. I wouldn't recommend this book and I won't read it again.
   (BTW, I grew up in Odessa).



3. Shelly gets it right. I was Betty's best friend at Odessa High School in 1961--the one she planned to room with at Indiana University. Shelly captures her vivacious, funny, manipulative and melodramatic personality. Yes, Betty slept around. She traded sex for attention and the brief illusion that guys cared about her. And if she had lived, she would have been a flower child in the 60's, run off to Haight-Ashbury with Bob Dylan or taken off her clothes in "Hair" on Broadway, and we'd be bragging about "knowing her when"!
   
   There WAS a booster club around Mack--his "supporters", who turned Mack into their personal misunderstod celebrity. Shelly did a fine job presenting the enigma that was Mack Herring. To this day no one knows WHY Mack did it.
   
   My relationship with Enid Woodward was different from Betty's. Ms. Woodward was wonderful to me--one of the few encouraging, positive people after the murder. She gave me hope. Shelly didn't get it wrong for Betty, but in my opinion, she was also victim who was caught up in the whirlwind.
   
   Those of us who lived through this experience were never the same after. For a little while Shelly brought the Betty I knew back to life. The book captured those days in chilling detail and confirmed my experiences and conclusions about the murder. Thanks Shelly, for doing such a great job. Sorry you've taken so much heat for speaking out, but for what it's worth, I appreciate it. You got it right.
   Gayle Guffey Ross



4. This is a touching book. It's crafted, without the flash and dash of a tv-movie-of-the-week-novelization. You will remember this one. It conveys real human feelings, and the passage of time. How hard it must have been back then; what a shocking crime! It's wonderful that this book was written.



5. Sir Shelton Williams is a well-rounded expert in the fields of international relations, world politics and even nuclear proliferation, yet in "Washed in the Blood" he is a more of an honest teller of a first-hand, real story than anything else he is today. "Washed in the Blood" is a memoir of the renowned Odessa 'kiss and kill' incident where Sir Williams breaks the norms of hide-the-truth and make-it-sound-better life stories. He opens his heart so wide to tell us about his early life and his father Kink, his cousin Betty, and all of the social, cultural, religious, and political aspects of that era.
   When first I purchased the novel, I started reading through the pages, ummm, to tell the truth, I personally did not like it; however, after some time, in a boring day, I took the novel again and went on reading, and reading and reading. Truly, at the end I realized that I was missing a lot.
   In my view, it is not a simple novel. It is very complex. While reading, you can feel that Sir Shelton, with an immensely grand fist-person-narrator, novelistic style, takes his memories beyond the personal to sheer complexities of politics, history, and culture. Read between the lines!
   --Mohsine Bensaid

5 comments about The New Predator: Women Who Kill : Profiles of Female Serial Killers.

1. I've been a Police Officer in a large midwest city for 23 years. The last 16 years have been spent on Homicide. This book should be on every law enforcement officials must read list. I was astounded at Dr. Kauflin's insight. In all of my training, and all of the books I've read, this is the one definitive work that you should read, think about, and read again. It gives the detective new insight, and the layperson a glimpse into the mind of the people we encounter everyday, and may not realize it.



2. I wanted to comment on this book and tell everyone that this is a must read for anyone connected to law enforcement and child guidance. I have worked for 19 years in several facilities for disturbed teenagers. The patterns discussed in this book mirror what I have actually seen and heard from these teens who have committed violent acts with little >or no remorse shown. as you read the New Predators you see as I have seen that some young women can be as fierce and aggressive as young
   men when they decide to attack and feel absolutely no remorse for their acts. This book tells it like it is in the real world of the people in the front line, dealing with these increasingly troubled and hostile young people. I fear for what
   is coming from these people as they grow older and more adept at covering their tracks.

   craig pierron




3. I'm a psychologist who works with violent girls. I picked this book up because I wanted to see if there were specific behaviors I should be looking for in my practice. Once I read this book, I immediately understood what the doctor was talking about. I am seeing the behaviors discussed in the book in the girls in my practice. I like the way the book was written and would recommend it to other psychologists and social workers who work with violent girls.



4. This book is good for anyone interested in how serial killers are profiled or come to be. The author correctly points out, too often, that there is little information on female killers. Granted, the number of interviewees is limited, but the author makes that clear but still brings out good detailed information.

   There is very little of the actual interviews, primarily because of anonymity agreements between the author and the killers. Still, there are enough tidbits to get the flavor of how the interviews probably went.

   The book is not quite as published as other books in the genre. It might have been a polished PhD thesis. Regardless, it is definitely worth a reading. This topic is almost certain to become more significant over the next decade.




5. The book was well written. Looking forward to reading other books she has written. if anyone enjoys true crime stories this is one you shouldnt miss.

5 comments about Shower Posse: The Most Notorious Jamaican Crime Organization.

1. You know there are a lot of books that come out saying that certain groups were the most notorious. I heard of these cats coming up, but I am not 100% sure that Shower was the most notorious. I know they were hustlin strong in Philly and were doing things in D.C. and what not. I like Duane's writing, but I just dont think it was enough details. Jamaican gangs were a dime a dozen back in the 80's. And I think it is a bit biased because he is writing about his Pop which I can respect. Good job anyways



2. This was a good inspiration for my friend. I was a gift to him.



3. I agree with Big Mu Ha's review. I feel Duane Blake didn't go into enough details about the events that took place. I am sure for legal reasons it makes sense to leave a lot of detail out. The book went into details about people. The beginning of the book is very strong, it kept me the reader very engaged. Towards the end, during the years of prison seem very high-level - not too much detail. I def recommend this book to anyone who enjoys organization crime, gangs, murder stories. Esp if you are Jamaican, you can relate to much of the content. Great story to remember..



4. I think the book was excellent in terms of its exposure of the infamous drug hustle game that so many get caught up in. The book serves as a true testimony for others to learn from. I however was very disturbed about the amount of grammatical errors in my book. Was it just my copy or is that just how the book is.. if so? Please think about revising the book and coming out with a 2nd edition. I also think a screenplay for this movie would be ideal.



5. I love to read, but the writing style of this book is so amateurish, it was like pulling teeth. Hundreds of names of insignificant people, and events that added nothing to the story. The Blake family should have hired a professional writer. A great story exists here but, the writing style is so annoying, you lose focus

5 comments about Swift Justice: Murder & Vengeance In A California Town.

1. Swift Justice is more than a story about the murder of Brooke Hart, the son of a prominent San Jose businessman in 1933. It is about vigilante justice in its worst form--lynching.

   Farrell starts the book off with Brooke Hart and the events that led up to his kidnapping and murder. He points out that most of his material was gathered from witnesses and/or people who wish to remain anonymous to this day. So, he cautions the reader about the accuracy of his story. The detail in which he describes the body and the lynching is gruesome. It works with the story, though, because I got the sense why the citizens of San Jose flew into a rage at those two men and the justice system. Brooke Hart and his family were revered by many, and in their eyes, what those two men did was unforgivable. The sheriff's department started receiving anonymous threats against those men and alerted the police chief. When the threats became more severe, he brought in more deputies to secure the area while the police chief did nothing. Then a small crowd gathered outside the station house. Slowly, it grew into a large mob. At eleven o'clock that night, they stormed the jail, dragged the men out of their cells, and hung them on two trees in St. James Park.

   Farrell did an excellent job in depicting this scene. I felt like I was right there in the sheriff's office while he pleaded for those men to confess to their crime. I felt his desperation and terror of the crowd outside, and the adrenaline rush when he and his deputies fled for their own lives. He was a man on his own; however one firefighter helped another prisoner escape. Other than that, nobody helped them. Then there was the mob, itself. As I read those pages, I couldn't believe how good, decent citizens turned into bloodthirsty savages. But there they were, chanting and raving as the men were dragged out by their peers. The lynching was a spectator event, and everybody who knew or heard of the Harts attended with their babies and children. It was appalling and sickening. The authorities didn't arrive until it was time to gather the bodies and clean up the mess.

   The St. James Lynching of 1933 was the last to occur here in San Jose. Since then, the penal system has made several improvements; however, the system leans more toward the civil rights of the criminals than to the victims. The pendulum always swings left and right, never landing in the middle. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in San Jose's history and/or the justice system. With all terrible tragedies, there is something to learn.




2. This is one of the all time great true crime books. If you like true crime, you must read this book.



3. I'm not ashamed to stay I stayed up all night reading this book. I thought I'd read a few chapters before bed and...well, I just couldn't put it down. Brooke's murder is particularly brutal -- I could hear his final calls for help inside my head. The description of the lynching is so vivid you feel as if you're there, shouting and manning the battering ram with the rest of them. My only complaint was that the "after the lynching" section seemed to drag a bit. All in all a wonderful book, which I would highly recommend to any fan of true crime.



4. I must admit, I have a biased viewpoint. As a descendant of not one, not two, but three people who were summarily executed without the benefit of due process (one was most probably guilty --- the other two probably were not), accounts such as the San Jose Lynching tend to rub a raw nerve with me.

   In a brisk, wonderfully written narrative, the author sets the stage and lets the events unfold to their unsettling conclusion. Along the way, he makes some interesting points about mob mentality, vigilante justice, and the abication of moral authority that our leaders on occasion display.

   Most troubling for me are the points raised at the end of the book. The abrupt dispatch of the two murder suspects meant that other leads never were followed up on by the authorities. The author makes it clear that the two men were most certainly guilty --- they confessed to the crime, and the circumstantial evidence certainly pointed towards their guilt. However --- most troubling of all --- the circumstantial evidence also pointed quite strongly to additional men being involved in Brooke Hart's kidnapping & murder. Did other men get away with murder because the San Jose mob was too impatient to wait for a trial? The author does not beat us over the head with his theories, but he correctly points out that, because there never was a trial, a lot of questions that needed answering went unaddressed.

   Certainly, it is a cautionary tale for those who believe that the justice system is too sluggish, and that we should just "line 'em up against the wall and shoot 'em." Maybe some time has been saved --- maybe justice has been served fully. But you can't confidently state it as fact.




5. I realize this is an odd heading for a review, but one of the very first things the author points out is that the crime was as incredibly stupid as it was brutal. I don't want to spoil the story too much, but added to a long list of very stupid mistakes made by the kidnappers was an apparent failure to understand how the telephone system in San Jose worked.
   
   The author tries to explain this, but I supect that in this day and age when many people haven't even used a rotary dial phone, his explanation was inadequate. In 1933 the telephone system in San Jose was completely "manual." Telephones had no dials or buttons. When someone wanted to make a call, he or she simply picked up the receiver. This action caused a small light to go on over a jack in the switchboard, which was of course marked with the number of the calling party. The operator then plugged in one of a pair of cords from the shelf in front of her and asked "number, please?" The caller then spoke the wanted number to the operator who used the other plug to connect to the jack of the wanted number. She then had to press a small lever to ring the wanted party's bell. Consequently, tracing a call was ridiculously simple; all someone had to do was read the numbers next to the jacks in question on the face of the switchboard.
   
   Of course all operators would have been alerted to signal the Chief Operator when anyone asked for the number of the Hart residence. The operator could also delay a few seconds before starting to ring the Hart's phone, giving the Chief Operator extra time to alert the law enforcement officers at the Hart residence that there was an incoming call.
   
   All this resulted in Thrumond being arrested while using a pay phone to call the Hart residence. While San Jose city police were not involved in the arrest, it should be noted that he was using a telephone something like 150 feet from the main police station, not the wisest choice of locations.
   
   This evidence would have been crucial if the case had come to trial and if Thurmond and Holmes had recanted their confessions, or if the confessions had been ruled inadmissible, which was possible even in 1933.
   
   In other areas the author paints a vivid picture of the local political scene, and how "bosses" controlled much of city and county government. It's also interesting to note that much of the area around San Jose was rural at the time.
   
   The brutality of the crime notwithstanding, I cannot in any way approve of the lynching, and I'm of the opinion that the governor should have been impeached for first failing to provide national guard troops to help defend the jail, and secondly for his outright approval of the lynchings and treat to pardon anyone convicted of taking part in them.
   
   Prosecutors in three, if not four different jurisdictions were preparing charges against Holmes and Thurmond. There is simply no way they could have gone free if the first case against them for any reason had failed.

5 comments about The Killing of Tupac Shakur.

1. I place this book beside another three books on Tupac which I feel are must reads: [1] "Back in the Day" by Darrin Keith Bastfield, [2] "Holler if you hear me" by Michael Eric Dyson, and [3] "Got your back" by Frank Alexander. These three plus Cathy Scott's book paint a complete picture of his life and death. Cathy Scott's book is thoroughly researched but some facts that are commonly excepted as fact are expressed differently by her. It is evident in this book that she wishes she could talk about the investigation into Pac's death but the sad fact is that there is no investigation. Witness's refuse to cooperate and the incidents on the night of his death make the whole situation difficult for the police. Scott tries to circumvent this very hard but in the end she fails. The book also deals with the murders of Biggie, Orlando Anderson, Yafeu Fula and discusses how moronic the "he is alive" theories are as well. Very good book overall and a very quick read.



2. With so much controversy about his death, I decided to get the facts from this shocking, yet very informative book from acclaimed journalist Cathy Scott.

   While also telling you about the man himself, Scott reveals the many flaws in the investigation of the shooting that took place on the night of September 7th, 1996 - the scene of the crime not being secured quick enough, the fatal release of key witness Yafeu Fula, Suge Knight's attorney playing hard to get with Les Vegas Police and the confusion of other witnesses Frank Alexander and Malcolm Greenridge - which makes you wonder just how much effort did police put into this case?

   Not just providing the facts, Scott also presents the many possible motives and turns heads to several known suspects. An interesting read, showing you not only a violent, but tragic story about a young man who lived hard and fast all the way to the end. With information on Tupac's background and other events related to him and his murder, you get to know about the man as well as the musician, with additional comments made by various writers - Kevin Powell, Michael Eric Dyson - and those who knew him well - Jasmine Guy, Suge Knight, a moving letter from his Godfather and a final comment from his mother, Afeni Shakur. The book even uncovers the rapper's mystique - his obsession with death, the alive theories and many other strange coincidences.

   'The Killing Of Tupac Shakur' is a revelation that will both shock and fascinate you in more ways then one. A must have for Tupac fans.




3. 2PAC...was,is,and will be forever in our hearts.
   I really don't know what to believe:is he death or not...because here,in romania a lot of magazines keep saying that he is not death...why?Just becaue they wanna be close to him,or what?
   suspicious events:13th is a day which usually doesn't bring us good news.Interesting is that there weren't any pictures with PAC bleeding.In his song "Life Goes On"he is talking about his own death . The driver of the car,SUGE KNIGHT hasn't been present at the inquiry of the event."i'm not paid to solve murders"said him
   The white cadillac in which where the assasins,just after the murder ,passed near PAC's car,but nobody tdyed to stop theme.
   His video,"I Ain't Mad At Cha"was released rigt after the shoots.
   in that video,2pac was an angel in Heaven...and there are a lot of theories like these...anyway,his lucky number seems to be 7...
   Even if they say yhat he isn't death,I think that we should respect him,even in his death!
   Keep ya head up and folllow your dreams!
   Peace,love and respect for this ANGEL!



4. There aren't many actual facts in this book and honestly, this is slipshod work at best. I am very knowledgeable about Tupac Shakur and truthfully, I would have written a better book. The autopsy photo disturbed me greatly and who took that photo anyway? Whoever took the autopsy photo should be shot! I was not at all impressed by Ms. Scott's conjectures that she tried to pass off as facts. This book is a waste of time and money if you're really interested in the death of Mr. Shakur. I wouldn't recommend this book to my neighbor's dog.



5. I find it hard to believe this author managed to get a book published. She describes the BMW as a $47,000 V8....wrong. '96 750's were V12, and more like $90,000. Difficult to put much faith in whatever else is written when basic facts cannot be nailed down. Scott also describes Run DMC as 'a rapper', good god. One plus, the book is easy to read, because it's written at about a 3rd grade level.

5 comments about The Cannibal Queen.

1. I read this book several years ago as the book was on special. It was an enjoyable light read for me as I was curious to find out
   a bit about rural america and the flying experience around it. My specific interest was in terms of the actual flying and the
   meeting of wonderful people around small american airports and how he paid for his flying. The book was a brief introduction
   to the joy and tribulations of buying and flying an open cockpit airplane between small airports across most of america. I
   wished he would of discussed a lot more the scenery and the characters he met along the way. I found that certain airports he
   just mentions them without delving deeper even though I new that he had to spend a whole day flying just to get to these distant
   airports. It will mainly satisfy addicts who want an introductory light read about flying across america. For better or worse, he
   wets our appetite and leaves us with a growling stomach.

   Pilot (East coast North America, Utah, and Arizona)




2. Attended an airshow in Millville, New Jersey on May 11, 2003.
   Cannibal Queen, the aircraft, was there, now owned by an outfit that does flying tours around the Philadelphia.



3. As a licensed private pilot I have often dreamed of doing just what the author did, i.e. rent a vintage airplane, take a whole summer off and fly around the entire United States. So, when I saw this book I bought it immediately and settled in for a vicarious thrill.
   Unfortunaely, the author describes almost no contact with the local people and only passing mention of the scenery he flies over. His mission apperars to be simply to touch down in every State and then fly on to the next airport; mission accomplished. He lands, goes to a nearby restuarant, has a hamburger ("it was good") and flies on.
   There are many writers out there who have traveled the USA by motorcycle, car or boat (see William Heat-Moon's "River Horse")and have managed to write a fascinating account of their adventures. This book is very cut and dry and left me wanting more. Maybe someone will take the same trip some summer and write a book worth reading.



4. The Cannibal Queen is actually a 1942 Stearman open cockpit biplane and the book of the same name by Stephen Coonts is his story of flying it around the 48 continental United States. It's a great flying book, which is not surprising as Coonts is an ex-Navy fighter jock and the author of four best sellers, including 'Flight of the Intruder.' What got me about the book, however, is a very small sub-plot, namely the author's relationship with his ex-wife and three kids. Right at the start he has a vacation with the ex at DisneyWorld in Florida. Then later he has another get together with the ex in Washington state. Both events are painted as routine when in fact they're more surprising than anything that happens up in the air.

   There's also a good dose of denial over his son, David. On the one hand he says 'I have yet to carry a passenger in the Cannibal Queen who is unmoved by the experience.' Well, no. His son was so moved by it he fell asleep in the front cockpit. Like a lot of sons, David finds his father's interests barely tolerable. It's a good book though, you'll like it.




5. Some people might consider this a book about flying and nothing more. If so, they will most likely be dissapointed. Cannibal Queen is a story about one man's journey into his heart & soul. It's a story that happens to take place in an airplane; I love flying so please don't misunderstand me if my review isn't more centered on the act of flying.
   
   If you love flying you'll love this book, but if you are equally interested in what the author is like, this is his story. He could have ridden a motorcycle across all 48 states and written the story, and it most likely would have been very similar to this one; just longer.
   
   In Cannibal Queen one is taken along for the ride as if you are acually there. You'll feel his impatience to get back in the air, and flying again. If you've never seen America from the air in an open cockpit airplane, this story might just leave you wanting to find some one who can take you up for a ride .... do it; you won't be left disappointed no matter what the cost is.
   
   As for the heart & soul, Stephen gives a rare glimps into the inner self of the writer in the manner of Richard Bach. This character of the book is quite nice. Here's a guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us ... he talks about his feeling of returning to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and the memories this generates,as well as the emotions too. It's truly a love story of sorts.
   
   In reading it I could transport myself into the story as if it were my story; wondering how I would feel upon returning to the unit location where I flew in the Army, and the memories of those bygone days. Stephen has accomplished this magic in his words.
   
   If you like a well written story of a journey of the heart & soul, then you need to read this book, make sure you have the requisite time for it; if you're like me you won't be able to put it down until you have read it all.

3 comments about The Sleeping Lady: The Trailside Murders Above the Golden Gate (Onyx).

1. You'll support the death penalty after reading this



2. The other "review" listed here is completely worthless.

   The book is interesting, if not particularly well-written; contains lots of information about the "trailside killer" in the SF Bay Area. Contains lots of information about the background of the killer, and about the killings.

   I'm not sure I'd recommend buying it, being out of print, but it's certainly worth checking out of the library.




3. No surpise that Graysmith's sophomore true crime book (his first being Zodiac) would be about the Trailside Killer. I remember his rampage well, having spent my entire life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although not quite as well written, it still is a fascinating look at San Francisco's "other" serial killer.

1 comments about When the Guillotine Fell: The Bloody Beginning and Horrifying End to France's River of Blood, 1791--1977.

1. This is a fascinating look at one of the most notorious execution devices made infamous in A Tale of two Cities. However, the best passages are the stories of those who danced with Madame Guillotine, but these are disjointed with sudden switches to other poignant segues. Interestingly, the inventor Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin created the device during the French Revolution as a cleaner way to conduct an execution (much faster than conventional methods so less pain for the mob of observers - think of Dickens' Madam DeFarge; and as a humanitarian reason to those who are being killed - think of the Supreme Court's lethal injection decision). The last victim was Tunisian expatriate Hamida Djandoubi who with the help of two underage girlfriends killed one of his Marseille prostitutes in 1974 and was dispatched in 1977 just before France outlawed capital punishment. A section on the history of state legal executions adds depth to an overall fascinating in a macabre way historical account of WHEN THE GUILLOTINE FELL, but overall the tome suffers from a disjointed execution.
   
   Harriet Klausner

5 comments about Fire Cops: On the Case with America's Arson Investigators.

1. I have been a firefighter for a year now. My girlfriend purchased this book for me for my birthday. While I don't have a lot of expierence in Arson Investigations this book vividly and correctly portrays the way a fire scene looks. Too many times people view firefighting and public safety as a "flashy" job. This book portrays the incident scene in a sober, but exciting way. A must have for anyone interested in the Fire Service and Law Enforcement!



2. I have been in the fire service for over 30 years and the past 23 as an arson investigator in a large metropolitan city. The authors have taken the time in most cases to listen to the people actually doing the work on a day-to-day basis. They are to be commended for this. For the person having questions what this job is all about, this book will spell it out in frank detail. This is a subject that is interesting but all too often overlooked by most writers.



3. The stories are great and do justice to the field of fire investigation. What surprised me was the quality of the writing! Usually technical subjects do not attract talented authors. This is an undiscovered gem in the realm of literature.



4. If you are already interested in fire fighting and arson investigation in particular, then you will find this book very interesting, with lots of real life stories. A novice however will find little excitement and too much in depth information to keep up interest.



5. If you are a rank amateur and just want to get some really interesting facts and information based on 'model' fires that occurred in real life, this book is a great book to start with.

   I purchased the book with an interest in just enough details to allow me to 'talk the language' in a book I am writing where an arson investigator is one of the characters.

   I think you'll find this book as fascinating as I did.

4 comments about Privileged Information.

1. This is a case that has haunted me since I first read about it in Law School. Frank Armani and Francis Beige were Central New York attorneys appointed to represent serial killer/rapist Robert Garrow, who went on a crime spree in the Adirondacks in 1973. Their client was charged with one killing but revealed to them the location of two other bodies. After checking to be sure the bodies were there, the attorneys tried, unsuccessfully, to use this information as part of a plea bargain. Meanwhile, they were contacted by the distraught father of one of these victims, begging for information about the fate of his child. Believing that forensic evidence available from the remains might tend to further incriminate Garrow, they refused to acknowledge any information about other potential victims. Eventually, Garrow himself revealed the information at trial and the attorneys were charged with violating the code of professional conduct. Though the case and the surrounding publicity had devastating effects on the two men, they were ultimately exonerated, on the basis that they had acted within the scope of attorney-client privilege.

   Though I would have behaved differently, I do not particularly quarrel with the attorneys' actions. I do though find the ethical regime which requires such a result to be abhorrent. The basic theory underlying attorney-client privilege is that in order to guarantee the best possible defense, clients must fully disclose all information to their attorneys, and that the only way to insure that they feel comfortable doing so is to grant the privilege. This reasoning is simply not compelling. If full disclosure really is essential to a good defense, then the client has a vested interest in disclosure--they after all are the ones most interested in a good defense. It seems entirely fair to let them choose between holding back incriminating information at their own expense, or sharing that information at some peril.

   Moreover, to allow (arguably, to require) lawyers to withhold such information from the Court is to turn the legal system into more of a game than a search for truth and justice. I have no problem with a set of ethical rules, societal laws and constitutional rights, which seeks to protect the innocent from unfair prosecution and even to protect the guilty from abusive practices, but this must be balanced against society's interest in protecting its citizenry, enforcing the law and meting out justice. There has to be some difference between preventing law enforcement officers from beating information out of a suspect or illegally searching his premises, and officers of the Court actually withholding evidence that they are aware of, however obtained. I just don't see what interest was vindicated by concealing the existence and location of the two corpses. Were they revealed to law enforcement it would not negatively impact Garrow's access to a fair trial : if he did not kill them, he'd have nothing to fear. If he did, evidence from the bodies might well point towards him, but so what ? The essence of the legal process should be that impartial examination of the evidence reveal the culprit and that evidence be used to convince a jury of his guilt. The mere revelation of the bodies would not have sent Garrow to prison, he still would have been afforded all the legal protections of the trial system and his fate would have still depended on the judgment of a jury of his peers.

   As I say, I would have acted differently than did Armani and Beige--I would have told the father where the bodies were, informed the Court of my action and resigned from the practice of law, accepting whatever punishment this action entailed. Then again, I never practiced, so that's easy for me to say. Further, I understand that many attorneys believe in the necessity of rules such as this and feel that they serve noble purposes. For that reason, I too would have exonerated these men. It is the professional code itself that leads lawyers to make these kind of decisions and we can hardly punish them for behaving ethically. But it does seem that ethics and morality diverge at points like this : one would prefer to see morality triumph over ethics. Regardless of how you come down on the issues involved, this book offers a fascinating look at how such issues and decisions play out in the real world and how they impact the people who have to deal with them.

   GRADE : B+




2. 
   
   This true crime work is apparently the only published account of the deadly career of Robert Garrow, a serial killer/rapist who terrorized the upstate New York/Adirondaks area in the early 1970s. Following an extensive manhunt throughout the Adirondaks, Garrow's capture led to a precedent setting trial in rural Herkimer County. Defended by Syracuse attorneys Francis Belge and Frank Armani, his subsequent conviction and ensuing escape from state prison proved the adage that truth is stranger then fiction. Co-authored by Attorney Armani, the book provides fascinating insider insights into the bizarre Garrow, the clever trial strategies, and the toil the case took on all parties. A real page turner, Privileged Information should be on every true crime aficionado's book shelf.



3. This is a heartbreaking story for everyone involved, but while reading the book I understand more what attorneys must wrestle with when defending some criminals. It's easy for armchair quarterbacks to judge actions or non-actions of others, but at the time Armani felt he must do everything possible to represent Robert Garrow (as is Garrow's right and Armani's responsibility), no matter how despicable he is, in order to uphold professional code of conduct. Plea bargains for a lesser crime are very common, and it's not necessarily what those who seek retribution want, but it may be the way to ensure incarceration. The ethical and moral dilemma these lawyers came across is one that seems to me to be a matter of degree to what other lawyers must decide when defending a client. The book was well written and heartfelt to the families of the murdered girls, and I could feel his anguish.



4. PRIVILEGED INFORMATION is a book about upper New York State serial killer and rapist Robert Garrow. Written by Tom Alibrandi and Frank Armani, one of Garrow's attorneys, the book discusses in considerable detail Garrow's upbringing, his crimes, and the dilemma faced by Armani and co-counsel Francis Belge while defending him against charges that he had murdered a young man. During the course of interviewing Garrow, the lawyers learned the locations of the bodies of two young women whom Garrow admitted to having previously murdered. This information led to a soul-wrenching ethical problem for Armani and Belge - did they follow the prescribed code of conduct regarding the confidentiality of client-attorney information or did they release the information regarding the young women thereby bringing closure to the young women's parents and following another prescribed duty of lawyers, as officers of the court, to uphold the law? This conflict is presented clearly and concisely.
   
   The descriptions of Garrow's background, his crimes, and the lawyers' defense of Garrow are very well done and culminate in a uniquely fascinating courtroom scene. Alibrandi is an excellent writer, the book is fast paced and easy to read, and the research is solid and extensive.
   
   There are three reasons that I would not rate this book 5 stars. First, in my opinion, there is too much boilerplate "personalizing information" about some of the players. For example, I don't care what lawyers, judges, bartenders, etc. are wearing. And it is made abundently clear early in the book that Armani is a heavy smoker. As such it is really not necessary to regularly report that "Armani lit up a cigarette."
   Second there is no picture section in the book. I feel that one would have added to its enjoyment.
   And finally, the book describes in some detail how Garrow's parents brutalized him to the point where he became little more than a paranoid if cunning animal. The authors state that included in their research were interviews with the parents, yet there is nothing detailing the results of these interviews in the book. Including this information would have made for an even better book.
   
   Still, PRIVILEGED INFORMATION is very good true crime - well conceived, written, and researched and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.