5 comments about Run Jane Run.

1. After reading this book, its hard to believe that our Judiciary Courts let the convicts actual get away with murder. Jane Wells has really captured how the Social Services are unable to help people that are on the borderline or are in desperate need of help. After seeing her on the Montel Show, she had sparked my interest in her book. I not only cringed but cried when she and her daughters had to face such unnecessary barriers that were put by the system. I pray and hope to God that she is able to stay undercover from her ex-husband and that the children, especially the oldest can have a peaceful life and never have to suffer the torment and abuse that had been suffered by them all. My prayers are with Jane Wells and family. God Bless....



2. Jane Wells is an extremely brave woman. The book is easy to read and brings into focus the hardships that Jane had to face and her courage and bravery for surviving! An exceptional book



3. She is a great women, my mom has some trubles with life. It is some times hard for her when she talks about her book. The book is outstandingly great! It is a powerful book, with meny shocking paragraphs that will give you goose bumps.
   I have started writing a book, my tittle of the book is A Broken Down Family.



4. After reading this book, it amazes me what some people have to go through during their lifetime. The fact that Jane even survived is relieving. Reading her book made me feel as though I wish I could have been her friend at that time and helped her through all the tough stuff she was dealing with. On another note, imagine what poor Erica and Megan had to go through! If my dad were to die, I would freak, but if I were only six and were to see it happen I don't know how I would ever get over it. I am happy though, that I met Jane personally and she seems like a very cheerful person and made me happier that day. I think everyone should read this book to let them know that what they are going through could be worse.



5. i just finished this book it was ok but i think jane should have told more in the biggening about what she went throgh then on and on, it didnt tell much about what she went through as she was married.

5 comments about Jack the Ripper: First American Serial Killer.

1. Contrary to what Reviewer #2 has to say with his low rating, having read MANY "Studies" of the Ripper over the years, I find the case brought against "Dr." Tumblety to be by FAR the MOST likely; there is just TOO much coincidence for it NOT to be this man. Of particular interest are a SIMILAR rash of murder/mutilations performed AFTER the Whitechapel murders in another locale where Tumblety was proven to have been in at the same time as THAT series occured. PLUS Tumblety's collection of fetuses, etc. HIGHLY recommended, to me one of the MOST compelling books yet written on the topic, with more than enough proof provided to prove Tumblety's guilt.



2. I enjoyed this book. Admittedly, it has sat on my shelf for three years, waiting until I was in a suitably dark mood to be tempted by it. The authors present a lot of evidence and show very thorough research. The killer they suggest seems entirely plausible, much more so than in the other Ripper book I read and enjoyed (at the end of which, the author's conclusion was that the man had simply stopped killing. Serial killers don't just stop. So that was implausible). Good book.



3. I was impressed with this book.The best Ripper book yet.Gives the facts ,and no newspaper biases. Timewise,it fits Dr.Tumblity.
   Socially,it fits Dr.Tumblity.The O'tumblity's were Irish immigrants ,of the 1830s potatoe famine.He had a poor childhood and few prospects for social acceptance,in the WASP society,of the 19th century.Tumblity was a good medic,during the Civil War.He was even a gate-crasher at the Lincoln White-House.Yet,after the war,he was persona non grata. He had plucked medals off the dead solider's chests and boasted an impressive military service,all Munchhausen quitoxic fabrications. Like a social peacock, trying to impress the local fauna.Yet,it was faux plummage.Tumblity's wife was unfaithful and left him a embittered misogynist.The Tumblity quack sold peppered cure-alls,and performed abortions ,in the backroom,of his foot-to-the-ground office.When Tumblity passed on ,at a St.Louis catholic hospital,on South Euclid ,he donated all the jewlery he had to the unknowing sisters.The rings were from prostitutes and poor women that had no ready-cash for Tumblity's questionable abortion services. No worthy doctor sullied their hands in this dark business of "Angel-making".But,Tumblity did.This Tumblity deemed himself a "respectable gentelman".He had to be frustrated by being restricted to the nether-world of Victorian society.I believe Tumblity met Monty Druitt at a college pub.Tumblity lavished on young artsy college boys,such as Patricia Cornwall's suspect.The chaulked "Juwes" comment ,was atributed to Monty Druitt ,yet probably written by the old fox Tumblity.Tumblity had a falling out with Druitt,dumping his body in the still-water.The corpse was found some weeks later and Tumblity was long gone,having taken a steamer,back to Rochester,New York.Jack is slang for a "puerile boy" and a "ripper" rips things open.The young Tumblity was an saucy erotica porn reader and aware of the street-whores of the lower eastside.The elder Tumblity was an avid theatre goer,watching the performances of the Booth family.(Yet,i do not know if Tumblity having been ejected by the Lincoln beef-eaters,then help hatch the assassination plot with John Wilkes Booth.) Tumblity was also a fan of Gilbert&Sullivan.Tumblity visited his sister(1875) ,from Vallejo,CA and watched the "Mikado" ,in near-by Frisco. Amazing!Did the Zodiac know this?? -- Mr.Lusk was a Mason,yet Tumblity was rejected as a Mason. You do the addition and go figure here.The best evidence provided here is proven and sound. A great book!



4. The Littlechild letter was an exciting find, but I remained unconvinced Tumblety was a viable JTR suspect. Unlike other JTR books though, I feel the authors present their story in an honest and well researched manner and I didn't get the feeling facts were fudged or glossed over altogether.
   
   While Tumblety probably didn't commit the crimes (he didn't fit the description very well and I cannot believe JTR was that organized and competent to amass a small fortune), I wouldn't rule out he murdered others and I would still recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Whitechapel murders.



5. This is a good text, but I found myself wanting more. Several reviewers have spoken about how the authors did a good job of providing a new Ripper suspect, but I didn't feel they tied up the loose ends. There is mention of murders in Jamaica and Nicaragua late in the book, but no evident that Dr T. was ever in those countries at the time of the murders. There was a brief mention of an American `ripper event' in New York City, but no details surrounding this event. The evidence surrounding the Batty Street Lodger was very interesting, but the authors should have flushed that line of reasoning out further.
   
   However the largest weakness of the text surrounds Mary Kelly. In the second appendix the authors decide that Mary is not a Ripper victim, apparently because Dr. T. might have been in police custody at the time of her murder. This might in fact be accurate, but this sort of material needs to be a chapter within the body of their text. This is a HUGE point within their theory and it's added in at the end. The authors spent significant time talking about Mary Kelly, only to discount the murder at the very end of the book because it didn't agree with their theory. This is a major flaw in their argument.
   
   Additionally, early sections of the book spend a good deal of time talking about the Lincoln Assassination and Dr. T's arrest as a suspect in that affair. Unfortunately, these events are never tied back to the Whitechapel affair. Finally, very little information is provided regarding what happened to Dr. T. after he left London. Perhaps this information is not available, but one of the leading reasons to suspect Dr T. is he left London in 1888 (under suspicion). Additionally, if ripper-like murders happened in other parts of the world, this would be a big indicator that he was the Ripper, but only if you can show he was in those locals at the time of the murders.
   
   Having read many Ripper texts, this one is more entertaining than most; however, it left me feeling the authors could have done more with their suspect. They did not convince me they had found Jack, only that Jack the Ripper and the Batty Street Lodger were probably one and the same person.

5 comments about Fatal Embrace: The Inside Story Of The Thomas Capano/Anne Marie Fahey Murder Case (St. Martin's True Crime Library.).

1. From the style in which this book is written, you would think that it was authored by a computer and not two respected journalists. Instead of weaving a compelling narrative the authors spit out facts one after the other. This case was full of suspense and intrigue, two things which are entirely lacking in this work and which are vital in any true crime story (even when the reader is familiar with the facts of the case) in order to pique the reader's interest, keep them guessing, and most importantly to keep them turning the pages. A far superior account of this case is the excellent "And Never Let Her Go" by Ann Rule.



2. Of the 3 books currently available concerning the Capano-Fahey case, this looked to be the best. It did not disappoint. The book was written by a reporter who covered the case from beginning to end, Cris Barrish. His grasp of the details of the case and descriptions of the way the case impacted the community make the book truly enthralling. The writing style is excellent, never too wordy. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the author(s) were a little too vehement in their dislike for Capano and were not as objective as they could have been. However, that doesn't mean I don't highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in finding out what happened to Anne Marie Fahey. The reviewer who said the book was boring is plain wrong. It's as much a "couldn't put it down" book as I've read in the true crime genre.



3. I thought this book was abosolutely amazing! I could not put this book down! Cris Barrish came to my class at the University of Delaware and spoke to us and that is why I had to go out and buy a copy! I was amazed at the ability to write with such great detail! I loved it and recommend it to anyone!



4. I lived in Delaware through the Capano murder investigation and trial -- in fact, it marked my first years as a Delaware attorney. This was literally the talk of the town for many years as the investigation and trial dragged on; and as this is a small town, word gets around fast. Yet, I learned a few things from the book that I hadn't previously been aware of.

   It's hard to tell where Barrish's writing ends and Meyer's begins. Barrish is a reporter for the Wilmington News-Journal and covered the story from start to finish. I suspect he filled in some of the more obscure details about Delaware and its strange quirks. Yet, the book is peppered with first-person accounts by Barrish regarding covering the story which are out of place among the balance of the narrative. And some of the descriptive sentences in the book are practically Dickensian in their length.

   Finally, the trial is almost given short shrift as opposed to the investigation. More attention to the legal nuances of the trial -- and there were many -- would have been helpful.




5. Tom Capano was a successful attorney, husband to nurse Kay, and father of four daughters in one of Delaware's prominent families. He even had two mistresses on the side as well. He was one busy fellow but one of his mistresses, Anne Marie Fahey (appointments secretary to Delaware Governor Carper at the time) went missing. We would learn later that she killed but never how except that a gun was involved and her remains dumped in a cooler off the coast of the Jersey Shore in Stone Harbor with the unwilling help of his brother. Tom would spend the rest of the time spinning a web of lies out of control. He would blame his first mistress, Debby McIntyre, as the woman behind Anne's death. Ironically, Anne Marie had no use for the older attorney who was controlling, manipulative, and obsessed with losing her or part of his ego. Anne Marie had come from a tragic childhood where her mother died young and her father became an alcoholic. She and her siblings managed to maintain a close relationship. One night after dinner at the Panorama Restaurant in Philadelphia, Anne Marie was never heard from again. The worst happened because Tom couldn't let go. The authors here do an excellent job in bringing the story alive with different perspectives but without being complex. The story is well-known and was also written by other authors. But the purpose of the story is that a man who had everything lost it all because he was so selfish over a loss of a good woman who he shouldn't have had in the first place. Finally, the people he loved turned on him including his brothers and his longtime mistress, Debby, who he would try to destroy as well. It's a story that is Shakespearan in size and tragic as well to be told over and over again.

5 comments about The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

1. The Framing of Mumia Abu Jamal is a delusionary work that ignores the facts and overwhelming evidence of the case against Mumia. O'connor repeats the same talking points that have been circulated by radical Mumia supporters. There is nothing new here...except his outlandish claim that Mumia was somehow framed by Mayor Frank Rizzo. Problem is: Rizzo was no longer Mayor when Officer Dan faulkner was assassinated by Mumia. The Mayor was William Green, a liberal leaning democrat whom was the first Mayor in history to lay off Police officers.
   One dubious witness came forward 15 years after the trial and was discredited immediately. Three eye witnesses at the scene implicated jamal. Putting aside eye witnesses, the gun used by Mumia, which was found at his side as he sat wounded on the curb at the scene, was registered to him(William Cook...his real name). Ballistics tests matched the bullets in Faulkner to Jamal's gun. It also matched the bullet taken from jamal to faulkners gun. Judge Sabo afforded Mumia every opportunity to present his case. Mumia disrupted the trial at every turn with slogans and insults towards the judge... and his own attorneys(whom he fired).
   I can only assume that O'Connor is another bleading heart latching on to a cause. The real victim in all of this is Officer faulkner's family whom have suffered through decades of frivilous appeals as well as taunts and threats by radical Mumia supporters. Faulkner's Mother died a few years after his murder of a broken heart.
   In the book "Murdered by Mumia", one social worker whom befriended Mumia disclosed that while visiting him in jail, Mumia off-handedly addmitted killing Officer Faulkner. None of the facts seem to make a difference to those whom hold Mumia in adulation. Only they will enjoy this book. Save your money on this one.



2. This book is highly recommended. The anti-Mumia crowd always says "READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!". Well, J. Patrick O'Connor has thoroughly read all the transcripts and has concluded that the trial was blatantly unfair, Mumia was framed by police, and that he is factually innocent!
   
   Strong words, huh? O'Connor backs it up. He confidently argues that the actual shooter was one Kenneth Freeman, as he details in his recent interview with me at my "Journalists for Mumia" website: Abu-Jamal-News.com. Check out this interview for a good preview of the book, as O'Connor lays out just how Mumia was "framed" and why he believes Kenneth Freeman was the actual shooter.
   
   Many readers no doubt already believe that Mumia's guilty and had a fair trial. I truly hope these folks will have the courage to read this book and hear "the other side" for themselves. What can it hurt? Fortunately O'Connor is an excellent writer and the book is a smooth and easy read, tying together a controversial case that is rather complex.
   
   This is a must read for anyone who wants to really know the facts of the case.



3. This book does a good job of presenting the dubious evidence from the trial of Mumia Abu-Jamal and makes a convincing argument for what actually happened the night of the murder of Daniel Faulkner. While Mumia Abu-Jamal is still in prison for this murder, it is obvious from the trial transcripts that he did not receive a fair trial - the main witnesses for the prosecution were both paid police informers and the police did not thoroughly investigate the crime scene. Overall an excellent case for how Abu-Jamal has been framed and should be free.



4. I knew little about the Mumia case and found this book an excellent, well organized summary of the evidence. O'Connor presented both the evidence against Mumia on which the jury verdict likely rested and the evidence that was overlooked or likely perjured. He also gave a candid account of the ways in which Mumia was his own worst enemy during the trial. All in all, I found that the book made a persuasive case that Mumia was innocent of the charge against him.



5. I've been interested in the Mumia Abu-Jamal case for some time, and Mr. O'Connor's book has filled what gaps there have been for me about this case. It is not often that I read a book and feel that the author's treatment of the subject is so thorough that there would not have to be another on it for very many years. This is how I feel about Mr. O'Connor's book. He answers every question anyone would ever want to ask about this case. Obviously, he is not only an excellent writer, but also researcher. Although I do certainly understand the grief of Officer Danny Faulkner's widow, Maureen, I do now think that American justice should give Mumia Abu-Jamal another trial.
   
   Whether you believe Mumia Abu-Jamal killed Officer Faulkner or you believe he is innocent, do read this book.

5 comments about The Assassinations: Probe Magazine on JFK, MLK, RFK, and Malcolm X.

1. Probe Magazine has always fascinated even lone nut theorists.
   The reason why is because it was an extremely investigative Magazine.
   James DiEugenio, Lisa Pease, etc have been known for their tireless investigative research into the true circumstances surrounding the death of America's 35th President.
   Now, you can read the wonderful articles that the Probe writers worked on concerning the conspiratorial Assassination of not only John F Kennedy, but also the suspicious assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
   Some have said that perhaps these assassinations werent merely isolated events, but that they were all connected in some way.
   This is not far fetched when one considers that Bobby Kennedy was shot within a week after he said "Only the powers of the Presidency will reveal the true circumstances of (JFK's) murder" or words to the effect.
   Also J Edgar Hoover, who clearly must atleast be suspected in the murder of Martin Luther King Jr, was THE man in charge of the "investigation" of JFK's death.
   Also Hoover hated Bobby Kennedy with a purple passion.
   It may be true that the same establishment that felt threatened enough by JFK that they decided to kill him, may have killed his Brother to remain in the shadows that they had hid in since '63.
   And Martin Luther King Jr, had, at times, made the same enemies, that the Kennedy brothers had.
   One cant help recognize the eerie similarities between Lee Harvey Oswald and James Earl Ray.
   Whether these assassinations were related or not, this is for certain: This book will really make you think about these assassinations, if you havent before.
   This book is so interesting, you will want to read it and reread it again and again.



2. Good, but ULTIMATE SACRIFICE the best book ever
   While I thought this book was worthwhile in many respects, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is simply the best book ever on the JFK assassination.Still, worth your time.
   
   Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.)
   Pittsburgh, PA



3. I have read about thirteen books on the JFK assassination, and I found this book incredible. I learned all kinds of new material, and understood long sprawling arguments for the first time because of their concise summaries in some of these articles.
   
   The articles are especially good on the Corporate Media and in this sense are more relevent to today than almost any current event. The level of detail that is provided about the relationship between the media and intelligence agencies, really makes one think even more profoundly than Chomskys writing, about the implications of this centralized media power for today's news.
   
   I disagree with Vince Palamara. I think this book is much more valuable than Ultimate Sacrifice. This book says what the evidence in that tomb wants to say, but the authors are too cautious to write.
   
   I should mention that this book features two articles by John Armstrong. The hypothesis presented here, at first seems incredible. But it is very well argued and it sure does tie up loose ends and makes impossible timelines seem quite plausible. Armstrong makes his case for a Harvey and a Lee, quite convincingly.
   
   Deserves ten stars.



4. For those who are interested in the assassinations of the sixties this book is a must have. The essays are well-written and give the reader insight into not only the murders themselves, but how our government and their surrogates behaved prior to and after these murders. Reliance on the use of declassified documents helps to fill in the blanks or reveal how some stories circulated at the time of the murders were deliberate propaganda.
   
   John Armstrong's two-part essay documenting the existence of two people using the "Lee Harvey Oswald" identity a decade before JFK's assassination is at once so well-documented and so shocking that it's impossible not to see the fingerprints of certain federal agencies on JFK's murder. Armstrong has his own book on the subject, HARVEY AND LEE, self-published, and if you can hunt down a copy you will be amazed.
   
   Until then, grab this book. You will read it over and over.



5. In the late 1960's, the Hollywood producer Robert Evans premiered the movie "The President's Analyst". It was, in many ways the touchstone movie of that period. Edgy, subversive, with a sense of creeping paranoia, it was nevertheless a funny and enjoyable couple of hours.
   
   Jumpcut to the subject of this review. Take out the funny and enjoyable part, and you get a very serious treatment of the seminal events of this very turbulent decade. The assassinations of John F Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy are covered here in a series of expose's printed in Probe Magazine. The scope is ambitious. Collusive conspiracies are indicated in each of these events.
   
   The lion's share of the book is devoted to the murder of JFK. The single bullet theory has been assailed for forty five years as of this writing. However, the authors go further than taking on this concept. They find that there were actually two Oswald's. One they call Lee, and one Harvey. This gets to be a stretch, as they trace them both back to their high school years, as if they were both born, bred and fated to play a crucial part in one of history's ultimate dramas.
   
   Special animus is given to the establishment figures of the time, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms, and the super-spook, James Angleton. Inconsistencies in the Warren Commission are detailed, and the findings of Jim Garrison, the New Orleans Prosecutor whose ideas Oliver Stone based many of the ideas from JFK on are applauded.
   
   I found fault in the final chapter of the writing of the JFK portion in which they write about the assassination of JFK's character after he died. The author seems to find conspiracies in the fact that people wrote about his infidelities and recklessness, as if it never happened, and JFK was really an innocent who just liked the company of women to make small talk with. I think this argument took credibility away from the rest of the writing.
   
   The most shocking subject was that regarding Robert F Kennedy. I had always believed that this was an open and shut case, with Sirhan Sirhan being a lone, deranged, Palestinian gunman. This book makes a convincing and eye-opening case that this was not the case. There were at least ten bullets fired, Bobby had four wounds, and Sirhan's gun only fired two shots. This is an appalling gap in what has been reported in mainstream news. There is the Manchurian Candidate angle presented here, which now looks astonishingly viable.
   
   The treatise on Martin Luther King takes on a new light as well, given the information that his own family asked for a new trial for James Earl Ray, the convicted (presumably innocent) killer of the former. There is ample evidence of a large scale cover-up after the murder. The author's lose some credibility when they attempt to speculate on why the conspiracies and cover-ups occured. They would do better to merely present the facts, which they sometimes do. However, free press reigns, and they are entitled to their opinions.
   
   However, there is shocking evidence of wide scale and well coordinated cover-ups and conspiracies here.
   
   Malcolm X story is presented more as an informational timeline of the harrassment of him and his family, his falling out with the Nation of Islam leadership, and his premonition of his own death. There were five gunmen who killed him, but only one convicted.
   
   At this writing (2008) there is a new re-examination of the the 1960's decade. Tom Brokaw's book "Boom" talks about the influence of the actions and political climate of the times, and today's leadership.
   
   For anyone who wants a thought provoking, albeit dark look at this decade, this book is required reading.

5 comments about Of Murder and Madness: A True Story.

1. What a wonderful surprise this book is. Spence may be an "aw shucks" country lawyer on his T.V. appearances but "Of Murder And Madness" reveals him to be a deep thinker and a talented writer. Here, he parallels his own life with that of a murderer he defends. It is really most extraordinary. A good read and an informative discussion of the insanity defense. Luckily it's still in print. What a clever combination of legal thriller and autobiography. Read it. You really won't be sorry.



2. A wonderful read. Jerry Spence has done it again



3. Famous, flamboyant, but brilliant Wyoming attorney Gerry Spence tells the start-to-finish story of a murder trial he was involved in.

   For years, this book was out-of-print; few libraries had copies. So, when I ran across this book in the 'true crime' section of a University bookstore, I was elated.

   Once I began reading it, there was no stopping me. [Spence is THAT kind of writer. He doesn't bore you for ten pages. He puts the hook in you after a few pages].

   The book is rather lengthy, but that's okay. All he has to say needs to be said...in order to understand the crime committed, the background info that LED to the crime, and the actual courtroom drama itself.

   This book is a VERY good read for anyone undecided on the death penalty. [It might even confuse you more as to where you're at regarding the death penalty. But that's fine. It will give you something to think about for quite some time].

   Yes. This book is a definite page turner. Once started, I doubt you'll be able to put it down. I know I couldn't.

   Best part is: it's the type of 'true crime' that could happen in Anywhere, U.S.A. NOT like the Charles Manson "Helter Skelter" true-crime that is sensationalized.

   I'd suggest this book to anyone interested in: 1) death penalty cases. Pro or con. 2) real life justice and our legal system.

   This is not a book for the faint hearted. Be cautious.




4. How Mr. Spence can be proud of getting a stone cold killer off is beyond me. Joe Esquibell wasn't insane at the time he shot his
   wife in the head IN FRONT OF EIGHT WITNESSES ! Mr. Spence and the Doc at the hospital were just tired of the whole
   case, it having dragged on for 7 yrs., and the Doc. finally agreed to say that in his opinion (his 3rd flip-flop) Joe was insane at the
   time he pulled the trigger. It was a sham. It was a lie.

   And then after Joe is freed he of course returns to his old violent abusive boozing lifestyle and gets himself killed. And of all things
   Mr. Spence wants the killer of Joe punished even tho he knows it was in self defense, that Joe attacked the guy first.

   As you can see I obviously missed whatever good point you all above got out of this book.

   Joe Esquibell was a user, abuser, violently jealous, violent in general, boozer. He never worked a day in his life. He had 5
   illegitimate kids by three women (one a 14 y/o) that we are told of (you know he had more) that he never supported in any way
   shape or form. He was a killer. If there was anyone who deserved the gas chamber it was he. And as far as
   insane or not, to me it makes no difference. You take a life...you pay with your own. What's the good in keeping an insane person alive anyway? Especially one who kills. I don't understand it...an insane person has no life. They are the LIVINGDEAD. I think it's cruel to keep them alive in those hospitals where you know damn well they are treated like sh!t.

   And what kind of women and/or man has baby after baby after baby when they know they can not support them (they can't
   even support themselves for chirst sake!)..., when they don't really want them nor care about them. That is SICK. That's abuse. It's a sin. Joe Esquibell's mother out to be shot. She and her sheepherder husband (alcoholic) are responsible for this whole bloody mess. But that in no way absolves Joe, as Mr. Spence seems to think. Gerry Spence ought to be ashamed.

   It's an ugly story about stupid thoughtless trashy people and Mr. Spence attempt to parallel his own life to Joes is a stretch (mr. spence used condoms :o) )




5. Trial attorney Gerry Spence writes a fascinating tale about one of his trials in which he defends the American underdog. Spence describes a chivalrous undertaking on his part, feeling that a more intellectually advanced human being should become involved with the problems of the less advanced, the unfortunate and the meek. In his book Half Moon and Empty Stars, Spence writes a defense story about the fateful American Indians in modern times, and in Of Murder and Madness his subjects are Mexican Americans in Wyoming and their dire circumstances. As the defense lawyer in a murder case, he takes us behind the scenes unveiling the caprice of the "courthouse club" and the criminal shortcomings of the Welfare Department. He says an insane society produces "skitz" (schizophrenia sufferers). The story of psychotic Joe is interwoven with Spence's autobiography and philosophical outlooks. The battle in this trial is for the lost soul of the defendant, a noble cause for one determined trial attorney. Gerborg

3 comments about Dying to Get Married: The Courtship and Murder of Julia Miller Bulloch.

1. The subject of this book is fascinating, yet the author makes it tedious, silly, and boring due to an absolutely abhorant writing style. She must never have written a book before, and how she got this published is beyond me. There is no continuity to the story at all; she constantly moves back and forth between characters and timeframes. It takes enormous concentration to even figure out what she is talking about. For added effect she often slips in French words, and arcane references. Don't bother with this one. Too bad Ann Rule didn't take up the case; then there'd be a book to read.



2. Please know that I completely disagree with the previous review. I found that this well researched, insightful recounting of the Miller-Bulloch murder haunted me long after I read it. Even the mere thought of poor Julia Miller Bulloch and the horrendous fate that befell her can still move me to tears.

   Having read hundreds of true crime books, rarely have I been more grief stricken for the victim than I was for this poor woman. Harris really brought Julie to life for me, as if I had known her and mourned her along with the family and friends who deeply felt the loss of such a wonderful person who didn't in any way deserve what happened to her. I also found myself wishing I was there to give her poor brother a hug--his own life was so destroyed by the murder of his beloved sister.

   A classic "good girl," Julie was a devoted daughter to her aging parents, so much so that she sacrificed many of her dating years attending to them in their illnesses. Once both passed away, she found that the world had somewhat passed her by as well. Trying to make up for lost time, naive Julie placed an innocently worded ad for companionship in a personals column--for someone as inexperienced and conservative as Julie, it must have been such a bold and risky thing for her to summon the nerve to do.

   Unfortunately, had the Devil himself answered, she couldn't have found any worse man than Dennis Bulloch. To say that you will learn to LOATHE this man is an understatement. Although handsome, well dressed, and an exec with a Fortune 500 company, Dennis as a person is a complete monster. He verbally and physically abused his first wife, he was unfaithful to any and every woman he was ever involved with, he lied constantly, he helped himself to any worldly goods he could get his hands on, even thought he hadn't done a thing to earn them, and treated his own parents like dirt, denying their existence and humble roots in favor of pretending to be a well-to-do "great catch" for many a debutante.

   Dennis ultimately married Julie only for her money, tricking her into giving him access to her accounts and possessions, cruelly abandoning her at critical times, and driving her to the brink of insanity. His greed becomes so intense that he devises the perfect plot. Sneaking back from a business trip, Bulloch suffocates her, sets the scene to appear that the sexual bondage activity Julie apparently engaged in while he was out of town on business went terribly awry, and set her on fire before he makes his getaway. Stealthily slipping back onto the plane and into his hotel, he hopes no one will be the wiser! Not only did he destroy an innocent person in an unspeakably evil way, but he tried to also destroy her reputation after her death, causing her brother and friends even more heartache.

   It is terribly disheartening that someone this reprehensible is even real, yet tragically he is. Even more tragically, he crossed paths with someone like Julie when what he really deserved was a date with Aileen Wuornos, the axe murderess! If there were true justice in this world, a mob would have tortured Dennis Bulloch and lynched him to death.

   Instead, thanks to the talent of an excellent attorney, Bulloch spent less than 15 years behind bars. I keep wondering if Attorney Arthur Margulis is haunted by the thought that he helped such a despicable criminal nearly get away with one of the worst murders I have ever read about. Portrayed as a very honorable man of good character, Margulis in his heart of hearts must wish a lesser man had defended his client. No "win" in court could have felt good if it was for a client like this one. On the plus side, at least he did not get away entirely.

   A truly fascinating read about a case that I, for one, hope we never see the like of again! I am equally hopeful that Dennis Bulloch never has another chance to do this to someone else out there.




3. It has been years since I have read this book. But, it was one of the most accurate in details. In fact, the only changes by the author were the names of the family members. I lived in St. Louis at the time and was friends with one of Julia's relatives.
   I know the details, and Ms Harris was right on!!!

4 comments about Dead Ends: The Pursuit, Conviction and Execution of Female Serial Killer Aileen Wuornos, the Damsel of Death (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. Dead Ends..... is a true account of the consequences that come with the destruction of a young woman's youth. After being used up by men and treated like garbage (a beer bottle thrown out a car window) Aileen lost all trust for men. She didn't care what their nature was anymore because she would never trust another man, she hated all men at this desperate point in her life. And in her mind, all men she could trap in her web of hatered for men would pay dearly for the pain she had suffered for so many years by the hands of men. If someone would have loved her and shown her love, and caring nurturing , getting her psychiatric help, like so many of us need today, things may have been some what different in the out come of her future! I do believe that she did know what she was doing when she killed all of the men, but she was already to far gone with her sickiness. ( lack of having love as a child and good direction for life)She was paying every man back for what she was put through as a child and as a woman.... This book is a must read if you are a true crime reader!



2. It seems peculiar that Reynolds' 1992 account of the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos has not been promoted in conjunction with the Oscar-winning film MONSTER, which was based on Wuornos's life. Perhaps the substantial liberties which the screenplay takes with the facts are the reason.

   MONSTER is a work of art, whereas DEAD ENDS is a fast-paced factual presentation of the crimes. Ty, Lee's sidekick, is little like the character portrayed by Christina Ricci. First, she's unequivocally unattractive physically. Second, in reality she was much older than Ricci's character and was far more responsible for her own actions. She was not merely a thwarted adolescent whose repressive family loathed her same-sex tendencies. Finally, she lived with Aileen Wuornos for several years before the murder spree began. The scriptwriter clearly wished her characters to have understandable motivations; in contrast, in DEAD ENDS, readers never get enough background information to fully make sense of Ty and Aileen's lengthy relationship--particularly why Ty stayed on with Aileen for so long.

   DEAD ENDS also is much less empathetic than MONSTER to Wuornos herself. Though it is clear that Wuornos grew up in a grotesquely dysfunctional family (her real father was a convicted pederast who probably hanged himself in prison; her adoptive father was her own grandfather, who committed suicide and very possibly murdered his wife, Wuornos's adopted mother; her real mother abandoned her and her brother while still a teenager; and on and on), DEAD ENDS lends little sympathy to this woman who murdered seven men in a sociopathic spree (which easily might have included far more victims, but for the machinations of Lady Luck).

   Aileen Wuornos was not the first but the thirty-fifth female serial killer documented in American history; however, her methodology--using violence in a world which tolerates only masculine force--is what seems to have made her so repugnant to Reynolds and others. It was an interesting tact to take on the part of the screenwriter of MONSTER: in the film, the audience cannot help feeling sorry for this wreck of a woman.

   On a planet where physical crimes by men against women astronomically exceed those by women against men, it is fascinating that the prosecutors of Aileen Wuornos, as well as Reynolds himself, find her so repulsive. Hollywood and the popular media project image after image of male violence inflicted upon females. How curious that in a global patriarchy, pathetic characters like Wuornos are so loathed (recall the furor caused by THELMA AND LOUISE?) while the groping Mr. Schwartzenegger is elected to the governership of California!




3. I am an avid fan of true crime books and this is by FAR the most one-sided book I've ever read. It wasn't about the crimes, it was about this author's personal feelings and dislike of Aileen Wuornos. He has a real problem with women, lesbians in particular. He made Ms. Wuornos out to be someone she wasn't. She had a hard life, yes and chose to committ crimes, but that wasn't what this book was about. Again, it wasn't worth the $. I actually threw my copy of this away.



4. I was going to buy this book, but when I looked at the inside and how it was written, I decided not to. My God, this writer can't spell - the grammar is horrible, and that was just on the first few pages. So I've decided not to buy it. Get Lethal Intent instead. Also about Aileen and very well written.

5 comments about Don't Call Us Molls: Women of the John Dillinger Gang.

1. I must say that in all the recent books about gangsters and their molls from the 1930s, this book is one of the best ever, period! Full of new information on the Dillinger gang and Ma Barker and her brood of killers. Also, many photographs, which have never before been published. If you don't purchase this one, you are missing out on an important part of researching any gangster from this time period, which will include the woman who ran with these bandits.



2. As a member of Kathryn Kelly's family, I wanted to read this book as I knew there were a few mentions of her. I was immediately caught up in the story of the women of the Dillinger Gang. This book is well researched and captures the mood of the times. It completes the story that most other books have never covered - the domestic side of life of a 1930's gangster. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the era.



3. Don't Call Us Molls: Women of the John Dillinger Gang
   
   This is a fascinating book that details the lives of the most famous "Dillinger Women"...Polly Hamilton, Anna "The Lady In Red" Sage and the love of his life, Evelyn "Billie" Frechette. It goes much deeper, profiling lesser-known girlfriends and female associates of the Dillinger gang such as Pat Cherrington, Opal Long, Mary Kinder, Beth Green, Marie Comforti, Jean Delaney Compton, Pearl Elliott and Helen Gillis as well as female associates of other criminal gangs of the era such as Dolores Delaney, Winona Burdette and the infamous Kathryn Kelly.
   
   Ellen Poulson weaves a fascinating true history of these desperate women, illustrating in detail and with great empathy how their roller-coaster lives went from giddy excesses to grinding poverty, all the while being hunted like animals. This is a must read for any fan of American criminal history!!
   
   Anne Rosenthal



4. I believe that anyone who is interested in the Middle Western crime wave during the Great Depression is sure to enjoy this book. Ellen Poulsen leaves no stone unturned in this meticulously researched chronicle of the women behind the public enemies who shot their way into the headlines during the Thirties. The author provides us with a wealth of little known facts about Evelyn Frechette, Marie Conforti (real name Comforti), the Delaney sisters, Bess Green, Opal Long, Helen Gillis (Mrs. Baby Face Nelson), and scores of others who, through a combination of sheer misfortune and tough times, shared the beds of some of the most notorious outlaws in the annals of U.S. crime. An informative book which furnishes insight into the sad lives led by the "gun molls" glamorized by the press.



5. The book has an academic structure of sorts including notes for each chapter, an index and lots of photographs. However there is no list of photographs and they are not all referenced. Regarding the notes they do did not include all the information I expected and occasionally where I thought part of the story deserved a footnote for further explanation there was none. For example on page 372 the murder of nurse Myrtle Jordan is never fully explained and on page 377 a photograph of the Barker Death House is shown but no explanation is given as to why it is now unapproachable.
   
   Due to the large number of people mentioned and the complex nature of relationships between some of them a diagram or cast of characters would have proved invaluable whilst reading the book. I frequently got lost as to who was who, the authors' habit of referring to people by any one of their aliases was tiresome and irritating and showed a lack of consistency. The author couldn't even settle on the breed of dog Evelyn Frechette had!
   
   I think the author made a mistake in not starting off with the story of John Dillinger at the beginning. I realise the premise of the book is to show how important the women were to the gang but to be honest who were they without John Dillinger? Instead the author describes the marriage of Patricia Young to Art Cherrington and Evelyn Frechette to Welton Spark. Personally I think the book jumped backwards and forwards far too much which made it confusing. The book is also littered with spelling mistakes and the use of English gets worse as the book progresses.
   
   Personally I think the author wanted to show how important the women were to the Dillinger Gang however with the exception of Mary Kinder I am unsure this was the case. Frequently the women seem to have been a liability, often leading officers to their hideouts or dishing out information once they were caught.
   
   Although the book attempts to give an insight into the interesting and often tragic lives of many of the women in Dillingers acquaintance it seemed patchy in places and absolutely dire when relating what happened to them after the gangs demise. For example what ever happened to Sally Bachman after she was released from prison? There are far too many gaps in the biographies of these women afterwards and this is very disappointing.
   
   It might have been better to do a full biography of just one of the women rather than attempt a sort of biography of all of them.
   
   The book needs to be restructured, re-edited and re-released. It was like reading a very rough, unedited proof which is a shame because it could have been very good indeed.

5 comments about Hooked Up for Murder (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Hooked Up for Murder is probably Mladinich and Benson's best book yet. It captures all the elements of the presonalities involved, including not only the victim and the slayer(s), but also the families involved in this horrendous crime. Only someone with the authors' familiarity with investigating serious crimes could put this book together in the fine manner it was written. Again hats off to a truly professional piece of writing.



2. I personally knew Mark. We grew up together in Byram. The entire notion of this book came as a shock not only to me but also to my friends all of whome were extremely close to Mark. The only way we knew this book existed was that someone happend to chance upon it at the local Wal-Mart. I immediately purchased the book and kept an open mind about it. The first thing that caught my eye was the picture section. My immediate reaction was "Are they serious?" How could you glorify people wearting "Free John Guica" shirts? I found it to be tasteless. And who exactly is Jennifer Baker and what role does she play in the night of Oct 11th? NONE. It made me enraged to see you place this nobody on a pedestal like she means something to the tragic loss of Mark's amazing life. Maybe instead of glorifying a murderer you could have focused to the people who were generally affected for the rest of their lives as a result of this tradgedy. Mark's own best friends had no knowledge of this.
   
   I know the aim of this book wasn't to relate to people what an incredible person Mark was, but the direction of the book is less than desirable. Chapter 60 for instance. Who cares about Scott Powers and Jennifer Baker? What relevance do they have to the case? Who really cares that "For a fee the Brooklyn Calendar Girls will liven up your party?" Again, relevance? What about Mark's friends? What about us? What about the people that have an empty place in their souls because we can NEVER speak to or see Mark, ever again? There can be no letters, no phone calls, no contact except for when we go to his gravesite or stop by our old highschool to see his memorial there.
   
   Mark made those around him better people just for knowing him. It may sound cleche to say that but it is 150% the truth. This has been a loss that has changed everyones lives forever. Not only are we stronger as a community but we are now bound together by this tragic loss for the rest of our lives. I have a button with a picture of Mark that i keep on my visor in my car. I like to think of it as a reminder of my angel who is with me everywhere I go. But pictures and memories could never replace a hug. It's the little things that keep us all strong, keep us all going.



3. By the time I was ready to do this review, I found that others had already had said what I had planned to say. And they are dead on target wtih their reviews!
   
   The murder of Mark Fisher, a 19 year old Fairfield Univeristy student, was a tragedy, to say the least. Fisher decided, with a group of friends, to venture into "The City" (NYC); a place he had never visited without "adult" supervision. Several years later, the case of Mark Fisher is "solved" with the arrest and conviction of John Giuca & Antonio Russo, both want-to-be gangsters living in Brooklyn.
   
   And that's the story in a paragraph, yet somehow this got turned into a full book. As other reviewers mentioned, this only happened because the author's filled this book with dribble (ie, Jennifer Baker, a Brooklyn Calendar Girl). I could care less about their petitions for John's freedom or what they do for a living.
   
   Now, for the opinionated portion of my review...there wasn't enough evidence to convict John Giuca. However, he was convicted because of his mother. Giuca should have cut the apron strings long ago as nobody likes nor trusts a Mama's Boy.
   
   As sad as it is, this wasn't a case that warranted a book being written. As I stated above, it can actually be condensed to a paragraph; possibly two. If there is any entertainment value to this book at all, it is in following the trial of the two suspects and deciding for yourself how you would have voted should you have been on that jury.
   
   Save it for when there is nothing else to read. Even then, consider taking a hiatus before picking up this book.



4. How can you go to a party with people and by the end of the night you are dead? Kids today just have no morals. Take what I can get However I can get it. That is how it seems to me. Shame on them. A life lost and a decent nice looking guy gone because kids are cruel.



5. Sorry to have to enlighten you, Elizabeth but Mark Fisher was actually not white and wealthy. He was half Latino as his mom was from Columbia and he was far from wealthy. His father worked two or three jobs for years round the clock to support them and his mom hustled in Real Estate as well to help out. I was their next door neighbor for years and I know that he was far from a spoiled, wealthy brat. He was an angel and they were wonderful hard working people who did not deserve what fate handed out.