1 comments about Wise Guys: Stories of Mobsters from Jersey to Vegas (Adrenaline).

1. There are fifteen selections in this book, the only fiction piece being the scene from Godfather II in which Vito Corleone rises to power. There are a couple selections from more scholarly works on the rise and workings of organized crime in Italy and America, a couple of "I was there" memoirs and some great reporting on recent figures like John Gotti. But also some very interesting work on a town in Ohio where the town fathers are hand in glove with OC, an interesting piece on NYC Chinatown tongs and on the Bulger brothers of Massachusetts - one a state senate leader, the other a mobster - particularly relevant now (July 2003) because they are back in the news with the wanted mobster gone missing. Every selection is interesting and closed-ended enough that you can enjoy it. Six are stand-alone articles. If you enjoyed "Mob" you'll enjoy this, and vice versa. Great light summertime reading.

5 comments about White Christmas-Bloody Christmas: Finally the True Story of the Lawson Family Murders of Christmas Day.

1. I am related to Charlie Lawson. General Lawson was my grandfather. My parents (Jess & Trudie Pruitt) told me the story when I was younger and the book tells the same exact story. My mother was interviewed for this book.



2. If this man who wrote this had his facts straight he would know Charlie Lawsons fathers name . Charlie was my grandmother first cousin. His grandfather and grandmother was Flynt and Sally Hill Lawson. I do not appreciate the incest that was told in this book. I feel our family has been insulted by lies and not taking the time to get the facts. THe Lawson family is a very good family. Charlie hit his self in the head with a mattock when he was building his basement. My grandmother told me he was very caring but he would have something like siesures and not remember what he did, but was aloving man. You would have to be a true Lawson to know the strong feelings we have about our immediate family and alot of us have strong temper.



3. I am from the area where the murders took place. I have to say, if you know anyone from the area, they are probably related to Charlie Lawson. There was a time in Stokes county where the Lawson family made up for a large population of the entire county. I have visited the grave site many times. (All being in daylight) Nothing has actually happened while I was there, but you do feel an overwhelming feeling of grief just looking at the massive burial plot. This is a very good book. If you are local to the area, make sure you have plenty of time to read it in one sitting, because it is very hard to put down.



4. My name is Heather Lawson and my grandpa Claude Lawson was the one who found the bodies that morning and when he told me the story there was nothing in there about incest! I think the author should have gotten his facts straight before publishing this book!



5. I have become extremely, and excessively intrested in this story.
   Charlie Lawson was my Great Grandfathers first cousin, and ever since I read this book in march, I have become more and more fascinated and perplexed by this story.
   Some how I did not read the last part of this book where it tells
   you about the incest.(don't ask how I could miss it)
   I was going through the book recently and noticed it, and
   in my opinion it makes at least some scence of the terrible event that happened that day.
   I see that some people take the side of not believing the incest told
   in this book as being true, but they don't give any proof otherwise.
   It was known by close
   friends, and neighbors that the Lawson family was having serious troubles
   in their home, so if not what is told in this book by people with first hand experience, and
   testimonials then what was the problem? I tend to believe Stella Lawson.
   If it is not true why would Stella lie?
   She would not want to make such a scandulous lie about her own family!
   I saw that someone mentioned how he was hit
   in the head with the maddock, but the docter who examained him said there
   was nothing that would cause him to do this. Another mentioned that her grandpa
   Claude Lawson told her the story, but did not include the incest. In the book
   it says Fannie only confided in her three sister in-laws, so it is possible he did
   not know or maybe he didn't want that part of the story to be spread. I personally have no DOUBT that Stella Lawson is right. That is just what I believe.
   I will be in
   NC in september, and I hope to talk to some family while there. I would love to hear anyones opinions and thoughts on this story. And I will definetly visit the grave site.

3 comments about For a Mother's Love.

1. I'd like to begin a personal review of this book by stating that I am not a writer, or a journalist but just an ordinary receptionist introduced to this case by a friend. I had never even heard of Virginia Lazalere before I read this book. I'd also like to say that the first mistake I made while helping to research this case was to actually read the book before looking into the facts.

   Now that I have looked at both sides of the story, including transcripts of the case, police reports, and other valid information, I realize that this book is not a source of information I would use to form an opinion on whether someone should live or die. For a Mother's Love is based on a lot of newspaper reports and media hype, not court room transcripts and witness interviews. It seems that the author was so focused on sensationalizing this case that he didn't notice how many times he contradicts himself and the truth in various places throughout the book. I truly believe that the sole purpose of this book was to brainwash the reader with impertinent and irrelevant information.

   I hope that readers will use their better judgment and actually study the facts. I believe that if people enjoy reading mystery novels or tabloids they have every right to do so but we should not enjoy a book that is written to further jeopardize someone who's life is already at stake. It's sad that the lack of integrity in some writers nowadays drives them to with just about anything to make a buck. I hope that they never have to sit on death row reading lies about themselves as they await their death. I'd like to challenge everyone out there to read about this case, form an opinion based on facts not fiction, because Virginia Lazalere is real, not some character in a book. She is also someone's mother, daughter, & friend and lost all of that in one day. What do we have to lose by checking out our justice system and making sure that they provide our jurors with ALL the facts and don't conveniently leave out information that would provide Plenty of Reasonable Doubt. I know I would want every piece of evidence examined if my life was at stake. It's very critical that we make the time to scrutinize the system for ourselves and for our children rather than just paying our tax dollars and turning a blind eye. Don't you agree?




2. I became interested in this case when I realized someone I knew had been involved in the trial. The only information available on the Internet points to Virginia Larzelere's innocence, so I was curious as to how she was convicted of murder.

   I was glad in reading this book as it paints such a clear portrait of this psycho woman, using facts and witness interviews, and includes information you wouldn't be able to get from reading court transcripts - information that was not admitted as evidence in the trial. If you're looking for an innocent person on death row, it sure isn't Virginia - it's amazing how much she got away with before she was finally caught.

   It's no "In Cold Blood," but it's a fun little read.




3. Say i have yet to read the book and just for my insite i know it is a very cool deal, by just what i know my prayers go out to her on a daily bases so keep it real my love goes out to the family it's in the lords hands, Once the book is reviewed by my self on the way i precieved it i'am sure my choice will give you all a better understanding of the truth from my point of view.

4 comments about Too Good to Be True: The Story of Denise Redlick's Murder.

1. I enjoyed the book very much. I would however like an update on the case. I don't want to say to much in case you haven't read it, but I would appreciate if someone can tell me if anything has changed since the book.



2. This book sends a real message to women who struggle with relationships and opens their eyes to potential signs of pending domestic abuse.

   It is also fascintaing in terms of Police works and the tenacity of those involved in solving this crime. It show true compassion for the victim and her family by the Police.

   Excellent Police work by the Detective.




3. There are a lot of similarites between Denise Redlick and Laci Peterson. They were both in love with men who turned out to be murderers. Denise was young, pretty, charming, and smart but she fell hard for Craig Anderson. They were engaged until she broke it off. This relationship had all the signs of abusive, obsessiveness, and jealousy by Craig himself. Never mind that it was him who rented a van and plotted her murder. He couldn't stand losing her because it would hurt his ego. Never mind that once she became his fiance, his true side emerged. Slowly, he became a monster for all the world to see. Maybe if Scott Peterson had read this book, he would have considered a different fate for Laci and Connor because Craig was convicted of murder without a body, little evidence or witnesses. He was clever but not clever enough. There were traces of blood everywhere left in the rented van and the lady at the car rental place never forgot his face. Craig was truly a stupid individual and remains locked up in California's prisons. Maybe if Laci read this book, she would have realized that Scott was just too good to be true. When they are too good to be true, then there must be something with him. Nobody's perfect, that's what makes us human. Craig never learned to control his anger, jealousy, and obvious obsession with Denise even after their split. Denise was so close to freedom that she was tasting life after Craig only to be stopped by a madman.
   The book is written by a teacher and it is well written but there are no pictures of the victim, Craig, the family, and the law enforcement who were determined to make this case. That is why I am only giving it 4 stars.



4. Craig Anderson was probably what every girl hopes for. He was good looking, successful, respectable and came from a good family. He was kind, considerate and charming. But not really. I'm sure Denise Redlick thought she was pretty lucky to land him, as I'm sure any girl would. Until she really got to know him and realized that he was incredibly jealous, possessive, obsessive and abusive. And when she tried to free herself of him, he killed her. What really got to me in this book is that he never admitted his guilt, his remorse and I hope he remains in prison to this day. However, I might have been skeptical of his guilt had it not been for the scratch marks he had seemingly all over him in the days after her murder. That and the strange encounter the woman had with him at her house. He was cunning and clever. And as I read, I was almost afraid he was going to get away with it. Thank God he didn't because I'm sure Denise wouldn't have been the only one he hurt.

5 comments about Unholy Covenant: A True Story of Murder in North Carolina.

1. I really could not get in to the book. I was ready to stop after the first chapter. Then I saw the entire story on American Justice and it was interesting watching it. There was so much more in the T.V story then the book I felt. After I saw the show I finally finished the book .It is an ok read.I just found it to flat and that made it boring.



2. THE TITLE"The Preacher's Son" should have been The Preacher's SonS. Story was very predictable, so story was sort of boring.



3. This could have been a fascinating book. With a very likeable victim, a devious husband, family secrets and several unanticipated twists and turns, it was a story begging to be told. Unfortunately, a lot was left out of the book I felt. For one thing, I never really got a feel for any of the people involved. I wanted to know more -- a lot more. I also never really understood the motive. There was the insurance angle, but that petered out quickly and left ... what? Nothing. So did he do it for the insurance he thought was there? Did he just get tired of her? If he was after the insurance, what was his reaction upon not getting it? The book also mentioned that Ted dated several women after Patricia's death, but we heard absolutely nothing about that.
   
   It was an okay story, but I felt it left a lot of the human interest stuff out. I've been reading true crime for over 20 years and I like to know what went wrong. What went wrong with that person, that family, that marriage? Did anyone foresee this kind of evil in this person at an early age? Were there any other indications? How long did it take the families to begin suspecting the truth or did they know right off the bat?
   
   Both trials, the escape attempt and the sentencings were covered in a few pages!
   
   Good story with a lot of potential, but I had too many unanswered questions when I was finished.



4. This is the true account of a man who married an innocent woman--who ends up dead not long afterwards--and the story of her failing marriage and the attempt to bring her killer to justice. One wonders how a woman could be so naive, but then love is blind. The book dwells more on Ted's sociopathic personality and the people he uses. It moves very fast-you wont get bored with a long pyschiatric profile and family history like many crime novels. Instead, it follows the frustrated attempts to bring this man to justice.



5. Any book which I feel compelled to read a second time is definitely worth reading, as was the case with this book. It was a very interesting case of how an older, stronger, more intelligent brother manipulates his less-adept brother into killing his wife. However, I've read dozens of true crime cases and never before have I seen one which includes this rather strange editorializing by the author. She includes paragraphs, oftentimes in italics (but not always)which seem to be her attempt to make this writing more like a fictional story rather than a true crime case. Most of these include things that the author couldn't possibly know, such as thoughts the victim had on her wedding day; casual conversation between detectives that wasn't pertinent to the case; and what the murderer was thinking. I really don't think that she actually had a conversation with murderer regarding how he felt irritated that his mother hadn't put his clothes away after she laundered them, etc.

5 comments about The Officer's Wife (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. This story could have been an interesting read but it wasn't. It was like a story boringly told by a narrator. Terrible read. It was not like a true story book at all. The intrigue,suspense and mystery were missing. I felt like I was reading a bunch of articles clumped together. It was very boring,I had to skip many pages at a time to get through the book it was terribly boring. Very Disappointed.



2. Makes you wonder what goes on in the minds of such self-centered individuals that they can do as they please and pay no price for their actions.
   
   Well thought out and written to show all aspects of human nature.
   Makes you stop and take another look at those around you.



3. Easy read... I did not want to put this book down! Not a book for children, and early teens to read! The writing keeps the interest of the reader, and the story is truely heartbreaking.



4. This book is excellent. All I read is true crime and this was really good. This women is cold I can not believe how she manipulates those in her life. I highly recommend those who read true crime does miss this one.



5. This book could have been written better- too much like a newspaper article. Still can't believe how incredibly stupid this woman was to think she could get away with it ! Especially with her education. She thought she was smarter than the cops and they would just leave her alone. And didn't she know that once something is on your computer, it's there for life? How ignorant !

5 comments about No Safe Place (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Unlike the other review I do feel the Author did a good job he told enough about the backgrounds and stuck with the story...I am an avid true crime book reader and many books i have read although they have been good they tend to drag on ...This story didn't the author got right down to the story giving the reader some background on each person...This story is really sad because what it tells you is that you never know a person...This women Farah thought she met the man of her dreams and winded up with this sick pathetic sadistic unfeeling lunatic...What Bob did to Farah was unspeakable and he deserves the worst possible sentence of life...This is a must read book !



2. I found the book very good. What he did to her was horrible. It is not one of my favorite true crime books but I did like it. But have recommended to friends to read and would recommend it to more people. Very good book.



3. i read this book and i dont appreciate the fact that someone threw
   it into a fire. how would you like it if you had a sexual devient husband do to you what bob did to farah? and how do you think farahs brother, kids, and parents and friends feel? knowing such a loving woman can never be seen again?! lex and betty will never see their daughter again! amber bradley and daniel will never see their mother again and barely have any memories of her! and zain will never see his little sister again! this family is suffering a great loss, and all you can do is throw it in a fire! dont you have any respect! a life was taken away. this is a very good book and can really let you know just how unexpected even the kindest person can really be. i deffinently reccomend this book.



4. No Safe Place is one of the worst books that I have yet to read. The writing is clunky and sloppy and I rarely had any clue what was going on or why I should care about it. I never really got to know any of the people because there was no in-depth analysis of these people. The reader is only told that Farah is good and Robert is bad. The author gives the reader little credit for having a mind of his or her own.
   
   The saddest part about this book is that the poor woman who was murdered deserved better than Bill G. Cox could give her. This book could have been a testament to her bravery and to her life. Instead, it's a badly written, boring travesty of true crime literature.



5. If you are a true crime reader who enjoys the twisted and sordid details of the crime and the crime only, this will be a perfect read for you. I, on the other hand, am most enticed by the "what makes people tick" syndrome; therefore, being that scarce information on Farah Fratta's background was provided and nothing at all was provided about Bob Fratta's background, I was disappointed.
   
   That aside, Bob Fratta is one of the most deranged individuals I have ever read about; and I've read about many. This book essentially follows the murder that was the result of a child custody battle between the Frattas after Farah revealed the sexual perversions of Bob in a deposition and he learned she would most likely receive custody and he would have to pay child support.
   
   It's an interesting read because readers see one more narcissistic, inflated ego ex-cop sentenced to death for what he thought was "the perfect crime."

4 comments about Murder in Paradise: A Christmas in Hawaii Turns to Tragedy.

1. Unlike most true crime books, this one was logically organized and very well-written. It was refreshing to read such an objective analysis of all the details and obstacles involved in this tragic event in Hawaii.

   When reading other nonfiction crime books, I have difficulty keeping the people and events straight; having to frequently refer back and forth, losing the continuity of the narrative. Murder in Paradise flowed because the authors clearly delineated all the characters and organized their material meticulously. Their unique point of view kept me on the edge of my seat every moment. I learned more about the workings of our justice system from this book than any other in the genre.

   As soon as I finished the book, I wanted to write the authors demanding more follow-up on the murder immediately. I found the book extremely thought-provoking. Murder in Paradise: A Christmas in Hawaii Turns to Tragedy has remained in my consciousness months after reading it.




2. A beautiful young woman is brutally raped and murdered on Christmas Eve, and no one is arrested for the crime for 9 years. I think the Author did a good job of telling the story however, I would have liked to know more about the killers....the two brothers -- what led them on the path to murder? And if the DNA didn't match any of the three men, who's DNA is it? If the men convicted of the murder are hiding someone who is it and why?



3. I live in Hawaii and was familiar with the case. It was very tragic that something like this could happen right here in our back yard. I enjoyed reading all the details that wasn't available in the media. Excellent storytelling. I could feel the families frustration with Hawaii's justice system. Great pace, a definite page turner.



4. pros: great to have more info on this sad story. insight into other side of paradise living. cons: imagine loos' co-writer helped much. otherwise loos has built a solid reputation as one of the most one-sided "investigative" reporters you'll ever read. But then again, newspaper standards in Hawaii are not quite New York Times... let's just say, easy reading for the literary challenged.

5 comments about The Good Guys: How We Turned the FBI 'Round - and Finally Broke the Mob.

1. Very few Americans realize the reach of the Mafia. For decades, the FBI even refused to admit to the presence of a Mafia. The Mob thumbed their noses at law enforcement. Punks like John Gotti became cult heroes. Then came an incredible confluence of a new breed of FBI agents and a new law, the RICO statute. RICO only required that the government prove a pattern of racketeering activity. This allowed them to go after the bosses, who had only issued orders. "The Good Guys" is an enthralling story of how a group of FBI agents in New York, and a few prosecutors, made an all-out assault on the Mafia, using wiretaps, bugs, undercover agents, and surveillance. How they brought the Mob to its knees.

   The author of the book, FBI agent Jules Bonavolonta, grew up in an Italian family in which his father's tailor shop was a target for Mafia intimidation and extortion. Some of the other players you know well. Rudy Guliani, now Mayor of New York. Louie Freeh, now director of the FBI. Not known at the time, but agent Joe Pistone played a key role. He was undercover in the Mob for six years and got so tight with one of the bosses, that he, Joe Pistone, FBI agent, was asked to carry out a contract for a Mob killing!

   And my favorite, Jim Kallstrom, who was the FBI agent in charge of the squads that did the bugging and wiretapping of the Mob in the New York City area. Kallstrom is the sometimes gruff, and always intimidating, spokesman for the FBI on the TWA flight 800 crash. I relate more to him because I did some lock picking and bugging of the Mafia as a criminal investigator for the U.S. Treasury Department - and later the same kind of work as a CIA agent in several foreign countries.

   The book is a behind-the-scenes look at how Mob figures were targeted, bugged, wiretapped, and surveilled, and is like no other real-life story I have seen in print. It is full of gripping suspense and unexpected humor, like when an agent got caught under the bed of a bigtime mobster and told the wiseguy that he was the exterminator man. And the guy bought it! No Einsteins in this group.

   But too, this is a remarkably frank book in which Jules Bonavolonta and other agents express their complete contempt for the "pencil-necked geeks" at FBI headquarters. They rail against the bean counters who want instant statistics to parade before the Congress and the press. This group of mutineers put their careers on the line every day in their passionate belief that they had to do some long-term work to infiltrate and expose the Mob. As a man who worked for both Treasury and CIA, I respect this small group of FBI agents as much for their willingness to tell the bosses to go climb a rope, as their determination and courage in finally making the cases that brought down the Mob families in New York.

   I'm a novelist, but I would have a tough time topping the story told in "The Good Guys." At times, it is hard to believe that it is a true story. It would be impossible for you not to enjoy this book.

   Richard C. Rhodes rcr@gte.ne




2. Overall, I enjoyed Mr. Bonavolonta's story of the breaking up of the Italian Mafia. There were many facts I did not know, especially those told from an insider's perspective, plus interesting insights into the day to day operations of both the F.B.I. and the Mafia.

   However, I found several of what I considered glaring weaknesses.

   First, the excess profanity. Believe me, I am not a prude by any measure, and I definitely believe that profanity has its place in literature, especially when used in quotations. However, I found Mr. Bonavolonta's excessive and promiscuous use of it to be, at first offensive, then boring, and finally insulting to my intelligence. Is it that Mr. Bonavolonta felt that his audience is made up of the dense and unsophisticated, unable to understand frustration with the burocracy and unimaginative, stodgy time servers within the F.B.I. unless he calls them motherfuckers and the system bullshit, over and over and over again? Mr. Bonavolonta needs to be aquainted with the concept that, sometimes, less is more.

   Second, I found that Mr. Bonavolonta's apparent view that the F.B.I. operated in a virtual vacuum while investigating organized crime and the Italian Mafia to be ridiculous and pedestrian in the extreme. There were many other law enforcement organizations involved in these wars, and to minimize or exclude them from the telling of this story does a great diservice to them, to Mr. Bonavolonta's reputation as a accurate reporter of facts, and especially to the reader.




3. This book is an embarrassment to law enforcement personnel and to Itatlian Americans in particular. The author must have paid someone under the table to obtain a college degree. I counted the use of the "F" word and gave up around 150. The author, a managerial factotum in the FBI is forever worshipping his superiors (Louis Freeh and His Eminence James Kallstrom) to a degree ad nauseam. No wonder, now in the private sector, this flunkie and illiterate is now again serving his masters (Freeh/Kallstrom)in bank security. Perhaps he should have started there.



4. Former FBI agent Jules Bonavolonta describes departmental efforts to investigate and prosecute member of the mob/mafia in New York City. We see how the FBI used legal surveillance means like wiretaps, bugs, and undercover agents including the legendary Joe Pistone ("Donnie Brasco") in their oft-successful efforts to bring down top mobsters including the "Teflon Don" John Gotti and many other figures. Bonavolonta has quite a bit of scorn for mobsters, plus FBI employees who collect their paychecks without any extra effort. This readable book gives a nice view of the mob workings and FBI opposition, but I'd have preferred less cursing and machismo from the author.



5. I read this after reading Donnie Brasco, so I was a bit disappointed in the comparison in the style of writing. But after setting that aside, I found this to be an excellent book with incredible detail in the 'catching the crook' process. Bravo Jules Bonavolonta!

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

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



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



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



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



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