5 comments about Unanswered Cries: A True Story Of Friends, Neighbors, And Murder In A Small Town.

1. I read this book because a neighbor recommended it to me and Karen Gregory was murdered two blocks from my house. Although I did not move to Gulfport until 2005, this quaint little town will forever be in my heart.
   
   While reading this book, I was saddened, sickened, surprised, and ultimately relieved in the end. As the title suggests Karen Gregory's cries were unanswered on the horrible night of her murder. Many neighbors heard the scream but no one called for help. Living in this caring little neighborhood, I was shocked.
   
   Thank you Mr. French for your dedication to this book, I hope that it has knocked a little sense into this little community.
   
   I recommend this book to anyone that wants a real, but certainly frightening, account of "A True Story of Friends, Neighbors, and Murder in a Small Town."



2. I read this book several years ago. Although it was well written, I would only recommend this book if there aren't any other true crime books to read. By the time I finished the book I knew more about the murderer than I did the victim.



3. "Unanswered Cries" is first rate true crime. It is the story of Karen Gregory, a young Gulfport, FL woman murdered in her home in 1984. UC is most noteworthy because author French maintains suspense well into the text, much further than most murder tales. When the purp is finally collared, many readers will be surprised. Furthermore, the trial portion of UC is definitely more topsy- turvy than is normal. An aggressive, bullying defense team, at least one callow judge, and a seemingly plodding prosecution extend the mystery. Even the initial trial verdict fails to close the case right away. Throw into the mix questions of admissibility, endless trial motions and "jury quirks". We certainly can see the imperfections of the justice system. The OJs of the world can walk away. The result is some very satisfying reading for the true crime aficionado. A complete review must cite the fact that Karen did indeed scream at least once for help that fateful night, but her neighbors failed to respond. What happens? A good review doesn't divulge resolutions. Amazoners will just have to read for themselves but are certain to enjoy themselves doing so. There is also interesting local color provided, not all of it complimentary to the Gulfport/St Petersburg region. As my friend, Tundra has mentioned, UC provides no photo of the victim, a unique omission for the true crime field. The "Ann Rule rule" is waived for AC. Those pesky centerfold pictures don't reveal the ending but the back cover includes a huge clue as to the perp. Forewarned is forearmed. The nicest a reviewer can state about UC is to cite the printing history: 12 paperback printings since 1992. That is silent testimony to a superior true crime novel.



4. This is the rare true crime book that actually improves with a second reading; things that seem innocuous or commonplace the first time through will reveal their true nature and secrets on a reread. Thankfully, this book avoids the "victim beatification" too often found in other true crime books; here, the deceased is shown as she was, with both virtues and flaws. My only real complaints are that the end of the book feels a bit rushed, and that the author starts treating the suspect as guilty before the sentence is passed; it's well-established tradition in these books for the author to at least feign neutrality until the jury returns a verdict, at which time he or she is then free to let loose.



5. Thomas French in his book UNANSWERED CRIES tells the story of Karen Gregory, a young woman who had just moved into her boyfriend's home when she brutually murdered by her neighor George Lewis: an all American boy next door with good looks and a career as a firefighter.
   
   The main viewpoint stressed in UNANSWERED CRIES, and hence the title, is that many of Gregory's neighbors reported hearing a blood-curdling scream but did nothing that may have assisted Gregory. Most of her neighbors would live with the regret of having minded their own business as a young woman lay dying at the hands someone they all knew and trusted.
   
   The one disappointing aspect of this book is that, despite the many references to victims' rights, there was no photograph included of Gregory; leaving readers to have to conjure their own image from the detailed writing.
   
   This is an excellent piece of true crime writing. UNANSWERED CRIES is attention catching and thought provoking. As I finished, I found myself asking: "The next time I hear a scream resound through my neighborhood, what will I do?"

5 comments about Twilight Of Innocence: The Disappearance Of Beverly Potts (True Crime Series (Kent, Ohio).).

1. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was 7 years old when Beverly Potts disappeared. I remember all of the parents warning us about coming home before dark, not talking to strangers or going with any strangers, or "you will end up like Beverly Potts."
   
   So, when I saw this book I had to read it because Beverly's disappearance was a very integral part of my childhood. It is a comprehensive, well researched, well written account of a tragic incident that impacted many lives. If you are like me and are familiar with the case, this is a must read. If you are interested in unsolved mysteries this is also a must read.



2. This book is haunting and I know I will never forget Beverly Potts.
   I grew up in a neighborhood in Pa not unlike the one she lived in. (in the early 60's).
   I recommend this book but caution you that it really makes you feel as if you were there and will break your heart.
   The worst part is that there is no end to it.



3. I went on the internet to see if the Beverly Potts case had ever been solved - I saw the book and ordered it. I was 3 at the time of her kidnapping, we lived next door (in the duplex) and I was the little girl Beverly babysat (mentioned in the book) My parents often told me about her kidnapping and my mom told me that Beverly asked if she could take me up to Halloran Park for the Showagon. Being a overactive and bratty 3 year old, my mom told her I'd be too much of a handful for her. My parents are both gone now and I wish I was able to ask them more questions about it, because we lived next door to her for 3 more years after the kidnapping. Then we moved to W118th St. for 2 years than moved to Parma Heights. My mom's picture was in the paper with several of the neighbors cooking food to take over to the Potts home. We also had a photo of Beverly (the one in the book with her hair in braids) I found them recently when we were moving and that's what started me thinking about her.
   My husband and I were in the area over the weekend, so we drove by the house. It brought back a feeling of de javu'. Both of the houses are in pretty rough shape, as are most of the homes in that area because they are so old.
   I was glad to have read the book. I believe that she is with God and her parents - so there really is a happy ending.



4. "Twilight of Innocence" by James Jessen Badal, tells the story of the disappearance of 10-year old Beverly Rose Potts from a park in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951.
   Using police reports, newspaper articles, and eyewitness testimonies, Badal does a good job of establishing, as near as can be determined, a timeline and possible scenario(s) of the baffling mystery of Beverly's apparent kidnapping. What makes this story so compelling is the fact that, with so many people around, logic tells the reader that someone must have seen something, and yet to this day, not a single shred of physical evidence has turned up to explain what happened that dark night in August, 1951.
   At around 9:30 (or so) on the evening of Friday August 24, 1951, Beverly Potts was watching a vaudeville-type show in Halloran Park in Cleveland. These shows, called Showagons, were put on by local entertainers, and featured music and dancing. Beverly, being the daughter of former Vaudeville performers, was entranced by the show, and told her best friend Patsy Swing she wanted to stay until the end of the show. Patsy had to be home early, so she left before 9:30, walking the short distance alone back to the street where she and Beverly lived.
   From here, the story gets confusing. Several people claim they saw Beverly walking across the park toward Linnet Avenue where she lived (a distance of only a quarter mile or so). Some said they saw her alone, others claim they saw her stop to talk to some men in a black coupe with a loud muffler and bad paint job (one woman told police that she saw a young girl tied up in the back of a car driven by a man in his forties leaving the park, but this was never confirmed by any other witness).
   What makes this mystery so compelling is that, whatever happened to Beverly, it happened when there were several hundred people also leaving the park after the Showagon ended, and within shouting distance of her home. There was no apparent struggle, no screams or shouts, and little that aroused suspicion. It was as if Beverly was there one second, and gone without a trace the next.
   Badal keeps the action moving. He tells about numerous theories and false leads the police investigated (as well as the idiotic cranks and publicity seekers who made their jobs more difficult). Unfortunately, they were all dead ends. In the end, Bedel concedes, no one knows exactly what happened to Beverly.
   By far, the saddest aspect of the book is the effect her disappearance had on her family. While Beverly's older sister was able to pick up the pieces and live a normal life, Beverly's mother never got over her disappearance, and died five years later. Beverly's father lived until 1970, but one of the most touching parts of the book tells about a neighbor who was born after the event, who described Mr. Potts as "the lonely man who lived alone in the house on Linnet Avenue."
   Badal floats many interesting theories about the crime, but unless or until a body is discovered, what really happened to Beverly Rose Potts will remain a sad, tragic mystery.



5. Here are the known facts outlined in the book: In 1951, a 10 year old girl disappears from a crowded city park less than 2 blocks from her home. There are no eye witnesses to any crime. There is no crime scene. The body of Beverly Potts is never located. There were never any viable leads or credible suspects.
   
   I had one, albeit important, reservation prior to purchasing this book. Do the known facts support a full length book? Sadly, they do not. While there are some positive comments I can make about the book and its author, problems exist.
   
   There is no doubt that James Jessen Badal completed extensive research. His sources are meticulously documented at the end of each chapter and these chapter notes are sometimes as interesting as the primary text of the book. In addition, there is the inclusion of a helpful map and many, many interesting photographs spread throughout the text, a refreshing departure from the typical "center photo section" of most True Crime books. Finally, the author successfully imparts real feeling and sorrow for the victim and her surviving family members.
   
   However, there are some legitimate problems with this sad story. The first half of the book soon becomes boring and rather tedious as initial sightings and reports ultimatley lead nowhere. The second half of the book is somewhat more interesting simply because of the number of creeps, crooks, and cranks who either falsely confess to the abduction and murder of Beverly Potts or whose names are given to police investigators - sometimes years later - by embittered ex-wives or frightened female partners who long suspected their husband or boyfriend was the killer. And, while these individual suspects may be mildly interesting in and of themselves, the fact remains that no viable leads ever came from any of this information. Nothing plus nothing equals nothing.
   
   There are some theories presented about what may have happened to a little girl on her way home from a summer park gathering but, unlike some other reviewers, I found no theory any more credible than another. There simply is not enough information to even support intelligent conjecture. In the end, the reader is left with a flat, "cold" feeling about this cold case.

5 comments about Fingerprints: The Origins of Crime Detection and the Murder Case That Launched Forensic Science.

1. Colin Beavan has written an interesting and scholarly narrative of the early history of the use of fingerprints by law enforcement. Two factors compelled me to purchase and read Fingerprints: (1) I didn't know anything about fingerprinting and its history, and (2) it was extremely discounted. I am always amazed at the insights that can be gained by choosing my reading based just upon availability -- the magnitude of my ignorance is such that I don't need to spend much money or time to find something new and engaging.
   
   Beavan begins his story with a crime. In fact, it is the first crime in England where fingerprints were used as evidence by a juror to send a murderer to the hangman. After introducing the scene, though, the author jumps back to the Middle Ages to begin the timeline of how fingerprints came to be used as evidence. What better place to begin that a time when physical evidence had no bearing on civil and criminal judgments? Beavan presents a brief ontogeny of the Western legal system, beginning with appeals to God and ending with an expectation that reason and data should be involved in life and death matters.
   
   One of Beavan's objectives for this book is to present the human drama behind the origin of fingerprinting, especially to set the record straight regarding Henry Faulds. Faulds was one of the pioneers of the field, but because of english politics, he was unable to get the credit he deserved until after his death. The author describes the roles that Faulds, William Herschel, Alphonse Bertillon, Francis Galton, Edward Henry, Azizul Haque and others played in the origin of objective methods to identify recidivists and tie suspects to crime scenes.
   
   Fingerprints is a quick read and I recommend it. If you know as little as I knew about fingerprinting, then Colin Beavan's book will nicely caulk up that hole. If you want to be able to use fingerprinting yourself, this is not a manual. However, an extensive bibliography and index is provided.



2. Mark Twain's 1894 book "The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson" noted that the lines on the insides of the hands and feet uniquely identified a human being. The use of physical evidence was pioneered by Vidocq in Napoleonic France in 1812. The reduction of hanging in Britain resulted in the need to identify prior offenders. Chapter 1 begins with a murder in 1902 Deptford. No eyewitnesses, no murder weapon; only a thumbprint on the cashbox. A milkman and his helper had seen two men leaving that shop, but could not pick them out from a line-up. One thumbprint linked one man to the crime. Physical evidence had been distrusted as being too vulnerable to manipulation (p.18). The Dark Ages of England saw "trial by ordeal" as the origin of modern criminal proceedings (p.22). This was an advance over blood feuds and clan war (p.23). Next investigating juries replaced trial by ordeal. Trial by combat was on the law book s until 1817. Defendants could not call their own witnesses, there was no use of physical evidence.
   
   Vidocq pioneered modern police detection (p.30). The Sepoy Mutiny in India was put down with terror tactics that recalls the Nazi SS (p.41). Afterwards the Indians used passive resistance, like repudiating signed contracts. William Herschel used handprints for a signature that couldn't be denied (p.42). Later he used fingerprints to verify contracts. The science of criminology began in the 19th century. A poor economy generated more crime (p.51). The Case of the Tichbourne Claimant showed the need for reliable identification (pp.58-59). Chapter 4 has the life of Henry Faulds, a medical missionary in Japan, who realized fingerprints could identify a individual (p.72). Faulds' article in `Nature' 10-28-1880 "was the first in the scientific literature to suggest the basic concepts of the fingerprint system of identification" (p.74).
   
   Chapter 5 is about the life and career of Alphonse Bertillon who invented a system of identifying criminals. Analysis of French army recruits revealed a wide range of bodily dimensions. The solution was a rapid search of records by physical measurements (a decision table) This new system attracted others, like Francis Galton (p.93). Chapter 6 tells of this impressive but flawed figure (pp.98-99). [If Galton stole from Faulds it could be due to heredity (p.104)!] Galton's 1992 book "Finger Prints" was very comprehensive and provided a systematic proof (p.110). Chapte r7 tells of the first use of fingerprints to identify a criminal in 1892 Argentina. Juan Vucetich's system would be used in much of South America. Bertillon's method was so successful that most French criminals stopped using false names (p.126). Fingerprints were taken directly and correctly (p.127). The British adopted Bertillon's classification of measurement, and fingerprints, for identification. Faulds' system was more sophisticated (p.131). Azizul Haque invented a classification system less prone to error and faster (p.141). This was adopted in 1897 British India.
   
   Edward Henry's paper on fingerprint classification gained him recognition (p.149). The arrest and conviction of Adolf Beck by mistaken identification advanced the method of fingerprinting. Fingerprints as a reliable method of identification was sanctioned at the trial of the Stratton brothers, convicted and executed on the basis of one thumbprint (Chapter 10). [The British substance `paraffin' is called `kerosene' in America (p.173).] The Illinois Supreme Court made a landmark ruling for fingerprint identification (p.193). France adopted fingerprinting after Bertillon died. [When there are no fingerprints the Bertillon practice of measuring bones is used for identification.] The `Epilogue' notes the importance of fingerprints today, and explains why. After a century of use, no one has ever proved that a person's fingerprints are unique. But it has never been disproved.



3. Colin Beavan has written a GREAT non fiction book on the history of fingerprinting. This author has it all! Suggested reading for any law enforcement employee, active or retired, and any history buff. GREAT easy reading!



4. "Fingerprints: The Origins of Crime Detection and the Murder Case that Launched Forensic Science" starts with the 1905 murder of an English shopkeeper and his wife, then takes us back through the history of criminal law, professional police detection, and the development of fingerprint identification and classification systems that led to the use of fingerprints to identify and convict criminals.There was more than one landmark case in the history of fingerprinting, but the Farrow case in 1905 established the importance of Scotland Yard's newly formed Fingerprint Branch, advancing the use of fingerprints in criminal investigations around the world.
   
   Parallel to the development of both fingerprinting and anthropometric systems to identify criminals in the late 19th century, Colin Beavan presents the battle over credit for pioneering work in fingerprint identification between Francis Dalton and William James Hershel on one side and Scottish missionary Henry Faulds on the other. Faulds had proposed fingerprinting to Scotland Yard as a method of criminal investigation years before Dalton appropriated and built on his research. The three men would bicker over their accomplishments for the rest of their long lives. Faulds only received the recognition he sought posthumously.
   
   Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this history of fingerprinting is that the need to identify people became a pressing social problem for the first time in human history in the late 19th century. The increasingly urbanized, bureaucratized world of the Industrial Era made it easier for people to achieve anonymity or adopt false identities. Reformed judicial systems sent fewer people to the gallows and more to prison. Fingerprint and anthropometric systems of identification were first adopted to keep track of recidivist criminals, so that they might be kept in prison.
   
   It's worth noting that now, in the early 21st century, there is again a call from the public and politicians for a means of identifying people. There has been a surge in the use of biometric data in public and private sectors to protect against fraud and terrorism. Whether or not fears are exaggerated to promote the use of biometric devices, just as fears of being murdered in the streets of London a century ago may have been disproportionate to the danger, there is a remarkable similarity in the politics and even the methods involved. We still use fingerprints, and biometrics are simply a more sophisticated form of anthropometrics.
   
   "Fingerprints" is a nice introduction to the issues surrounding the development of fingerprint identification. It's a short, popular history, not a meaty, detailed one. Colin Beavan has done good research but doesn't have a background in the subject. I might have preferred something more thorough, but this book covers a lot of ground and functions very well as an overview of its topic while being very readable. If you normally find history books tedious, you might still enjoy this one.



5. Fun history of fingerprinting focusing on the often acrimonious debate among pioneers about who really deserves credit for the discover and practical application of fingerprinting.
   
   Interestingly enough, the writer points out that, though no two fingerprints have yet been found to be identical, there is no biological or technical assurance that all fingerprints are in fact unique.

5 comments about Wasted.

1. Suzy Spencer writes an interesting story of a little girl lost who's love for the wrong person, gets her killed. You really get a feel for the characters and what they are like. You want to give Regina a hug and tell her everything will be ok. You want to kick Kim in her manipulative butt and you want to lock Justin up, and throw away the key. As for Anita and Jeremy, it seems they were the only two people who really cared for Regina, and they should find peace in knowing what good friends they were. I couldn't put the book down and like another reviewer, I had wished for a different ending. But unfortunately, it was not to be. The true crime in all of this is how one person got away with murder.



2. At one point, Reg was one of my best friends. We were total opposites, and I relished the time we spent together. She was wild and crazy, while I'm somewhat conservative.

   Remember that this is a representation of essentially a short amount of time in Regina's life. I never thought of Reg as a "cocaine queen" or "rich lesbian". She was just a person. One who was fun to be with, loved deeply, and who does not deserve this legacy. She died a terrifying, horrible death. It's unimaginable what she went through.

   Justin went to prison and Kim is somewhere out there living a free life under some assumed identity. She breathes in and out every day. I think about this all the time and wonder how this can happen?

   If there is anything you should take from Regina's story, it is that you shouldn't turn your back on your friends if they get into drugs. You shouldn't ignore it. You shouldn't pretend it isn't happening. Do something about it or you may live to regret it for the rest of your life. Trust your instincts, the red flags that go off in your head. If you don't, you'll be haunted the rest of your life.




3. It is terribly upsetting when I read how others talk badly of Suzys book. She told the story about a very tragic and unhappy time for alot of people.
   Suzy really wanted to let people know how one friend should never let another friend get involved with bad people. We knew that these people where bad, just didn't know how to really stop Regina from the harm they might and did eventually cause.
   Take from this book what you may, just never take a friendship lightly and remember most of all, let anyone you love know each and everyday how very much you love them, as it may be the last time you get to let them know. I live with this thought everyday of my life. I miss my friend so very much.



4. Suzy Spencer's book paints a tale of a woman, Regina, who was an out-of-control drug addict and addictive personality. She falls in love with Kim LeBlanc who uses her for her money. It seems to be the problem with Regina that friends can use you for your money and abandon you when you need them most. I have to say that the book is well-written in terms of crime books. There are lot of lessons to be learned about being young and in love but there are just so many dysfunctional relationships whether it is your own family but also among friends. Regina's drug problems and her obsession with Kim ruled her life in the last year. Why didn't she listen to her friends? Why did she spend so much money on people who didn't appreciate it? I know that I am one of those people that would gladly be generous but not to the point of spending my entire life savings to please them by wining and dining them and setting them up with drugs. The book entitled Wasted is about the life lost and the crime behind Regina's terrible murder and disposal. Sadly, I hope that Regina is with her mother in heaven now.



5. I found out about this book after Justin's trial in California for the murder of Raphial Noriega. I was a juror and the trial brought us through the whole Texas trial. We heard testimony that conflicted with facts stated in the book. Also found it confusing the way it jumped around. Hope author writes another book on Justin's California trial. Kim got a free ticket, Justin got the sentence he deserved in California. Overall worth a read.

5 comments about Crime Album Stories: Paris 1886-1902.

1. If you're not interested in crime, homocide, early criminological studies, or Paris or have a delicate constitution, don't read this book. However, if these things fascinate you, pay as much as the seller asks because this is a good one. The photos were discovered in Paris by Eugenia Parry, a photography scholar. The photos she found were old Bertillon photos of crime scenes in Paris. Ms Parry then matched the photos to newspaper reports. Some are grotesque, all make you catch your breath: this is what we do to oneanother. Twelve years later came WWI, the trenches, artillery, machine guns and gas. The acts described in this book were not so efficiently conducted. This is a book you won't easily forget.



2. I truly agree with some of the previous reviews,but let me give you an opinion on someone who knows crime photography well.this book is so well organized as far as text, bescause of the fact that it gives you complete stories behind the photos,plus early crime photos that are magnificent as well as tastefull,(believe me,I've seen some that are much worse,but still very intense photos),makes this book one of the best and most tastefully done works on crime photography I have ever owned!It's not a gore book relying primarily on shock value for it's saleability.Although the only thing it does'nt include is photo type reference,although they are all dated.Take it from a collector of early crime photography,this book is truly a gem!



3. This is a very disturbing book, with some extremely gruesome photographs of real-life violent crime scenes and murder victims from Paris around a hundred years ago. The author gives us the fascinatingly tragic and horrible stories behind the photographs, showing us that fact is sometimes stranger and more disturbing than fiction. From the murder of a courtesan to a limbless torso found in a suitcase floating in the river, to an infant neglected to death by his own parents, to an old bag lady found strangled in the bed of her run-down shack, to a waiter who killed a fellow waiter, to a dead body incinerated to hide its existence,--these were all well-publicized sensationalistic crimes which filled the public with titillation, fear and dread. This unique book is simply a must-read for anyone interested in criminology and the "true crime" genre.

   David Rehak
   author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"




4. Raw real life photography, if you have a weak stomache then this
   book is not for you. If you think crime is bad today this book will shock you, black and white images of death from the late 1800's to the very early 1900's. This book, though, is a must-have for the true crime buff. Whether it be for the photos, or the stories of how the people were found and how they passed. I can usually look at shocking photos, but this book made me feel like the other photos were nothing, compared to these. If you want a real conversation piece AND a piece of history buy this book. The positions of some of the people are disturbing.



5. Rigorous research of police archives regarding murder cases ocurred in Paris in the 19 th. century. Every case is written in a narrative style that captures the reader form the beginning to the end. This is the best book I have ever read as a journalist and crime investigator. Black and white photographs compiled in this volume are unique.

No comments about Dead Men Do Tell Tales.

5 comments about The Unquiet Grave : The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country.

1. Mr. Hendricks' book is burdened with the same dichotomy (Multiple Personality Disorder/schizophrenia) as the Euro-invaders' ever-shifting policy/pendulum on what to do about "the Indian problem." The first part of this book does a salutary job of explaining to the unfamiliar some historical bases of the white "Westward Ho!" "Manifest Destiny" expansion across the North American continent, its effect on Native Americans, and the rise ("AIM is good") of the American Indian Movement. But parts of the second part - the fall ("AIM is bad,") could pass for being ghost-written by nemesis J Edgar Hoover and his COINTELPRO'd FBI.
   
   Though flawed in some "facts" and reporterage, Unquiet Grave is marketable and intelligible to the masses and it is important that wider cultures read this (in the Aretha Franklin sense to RESPECT the Native cultures, delight in diversity, and abhor forced "assimilation and "THINK") about what the US Government did - not only in the Miner's Canary sense (If the US Government so cavalierly abrogates/ignores its treaties with the First Nations before this Nation - what does that tell other sovereign nations with whom we seek to entreat?) but also the Santayana sense ("those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.")
   
   For a fuller understanding of Wounded Knee I (1890); Wounded Knee II (1973,) and context, this reviewer recommends my List "The water's still running and the grass still growing, so .? " including
   
   Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (Civilization of the American Indian)
   and
   Robert Redford/Sundance Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story
   
   What did Bill Janklow do? /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer "What do you mean 'illegal alien,' Pilgrims?"



2. How this tome ever got past the editors and into print I will never know. What is the author trying to say? It is never clear. The first part of the book seemingly is about, among many, many, many other things (way too many if you ask me), the murder of Annie Mae Aquash - and great detail is included about the circumstances surrounding the discovery of her death. Abruptly at some point in the 2nd part of the book, we find ourselves at the trial of one of three people accused of her murder (none of whom were ever mentioned in part one, and, as to whom there is virtually no biographical detail included). At the same time, the book includes voluminous biographical detail and digression about many, many, many other individuals, for no particular reason it seems. I finished the book because I wanted to see if the author was going to bring this tangled mass of trivial and unimportant details together in some coherent way, but alas, all I got for the effort was high blood pressure. Among the book's many other flaws are these: the author reports on at least one trial, but seemingly has no grasp of trial tactics or evidentiary rules - he chastises lawyers for not bringing up details that (a) would have been irrelevant; and (2) would have been inadmissible; the author too often says things like "but we will never know . . . " about things that are perfecty checkable, things he could have fact-checked if he had chosen to; and, the author seems to believe in a big conspiracy or two that must explain all of the loose ends he leaves, but he never explains what those conspiracies were about and who was in them. Has he ever heard of topic sentences? I am astounded to read the other positive reviews posted here about this book. I consider it to have been an utter waste of my time, and a disservice to the topics he attempted to cover.



3. Steve Hendricks did the best job of any in documenting what happened during this period of time between American Indian people and no-Indian people in one document.
   I was deeply committed and involved within the Indian communities because for some strange reason yet unknown to me I have been very close to Indian people since my youth.
   I suffered and experienced the daily abject poverty with them in their homes and could not realize why they could never share what most of the people called the American Dream. I knew part of the answer was almost a
   total culture of poverty rather than the Indian cultures I had learned about in school.Multi-generational abuse,physical,sexual,and substance abuse,was the direct cause of much dysfunctional behavior I witnessed.I decided early in my life and to do whatever I could do to help change whatever I could in my lifetime that would stop this injustice. I would give my own life to change that.
   I always deplored most organizational efforts to accomplish anything however I joined the Michigan Chapter of the Great Lakes Indian Youth Alliance and the American Indian Movement. The reason why I joined is because for the first time in my life I could feel the surge of self respect,self actualization and spirituality within these organizations,and the individuals and Indian Communities involved at that time.It was a refreshing healing wind of change like you feel after a thunderstorm.
   I actually thought the young brilliant Indian Warriors were street/woods wise and spiritual enough to avoid the pitfalls of other dominant culture civil and equal rights organizations but ultimately as far as I am concerned the movement became more and more corrupt exactly like the enemy as it matured.
   Individual's like Russell Means,Dennis Banks,Ed McGaa,Floyd Westerman and others less visible continued to self actualize and work hard to individually accomplish the original goals of their and our youth in rather unusual ways after AIM died. I know that each one is committed to do what they can do to improve the lives of their families,extended families,and Indian Nations. Sometime being human they fall short of our and even their expectations. They do what they can as Warrior in spite of almost total overwhelming repression by the United States Government and the American society. However humanly flawed they remain in my mind truly contemporary Warriors of this century.
   I also feel Steve Hendricks and many others are doing their best to bring out the truth and documentation of constitutional and personal injustices of those days.I expect other individuals with information to come forth with their knowledge and writing because our society is even much farther away from the truth and principals that this Country was founded on today.
   As far as I am concerned whoever killed the active committed lives of the Freedom Fighters,Ray Robinson,Anna Mae Aquash, Neogeshick Aquash the FBI Agents, and the others made a serious mestake and destroyed the purity, beauty,and Sacred Place of the Movement. The murderer or murderers who called for the hit on the precious Warrior Anna Mae Aquash in that instant killed AIM with the same bullet. They will pay for that decision deep within their soul.
   I was pleased to see a that the Law Library at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law purchased the copy of The Unquiet Grave I am reading for their students.
   It is my hope and prayer that the youth of today will read everything they can get their hands on work, and commit to make justice a reality in their lifetimes.
   As long as this abuse, poverty, and injustice remains in our society no one will be free. Until the truth is known we will all be in a "unquiet grave" just waiting for the next shovel of dirt.
   If you want to broaden your knowledge,be alive,and aware at least read this book and those that will be forthcoming.



4. Usually works with this amount of research end up a boring read and destined for the bottom of the book pile. Not so with Unquiet Grave. Good thing I'm retired as I was glued to Steve's book for three days. Whether you are from this part of Indian country or elsewhere, you will find this book a remarkable storytelling backed by solid documentation and a balanced critique of all the players from that era. We complain about journalists who concoct a regurgitated version of the news. This author was not afraid to wade knee deep in a significant analysis of historical events that shaped American Indian civil rights. What disturbs me here is that the author or any citizen for that matter must seek legal action to obtain records from OUR government that are clearly records open to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. That should bother us all.



5. A number of important books have examined the role of AIM in awakening the American Indian to the plight they have been subjected to. These include Russel Means Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means and Dennis Banks Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks And The Rise Of The American Indian Movement. While the movie Incident at Oglala - The Leonard Peltier Story has added to the story, this very insightful story examines the role of the FBI on the American Indian reservations, especially Pine RIdge and others in the Mid West. It deals extensively with the mysterious 1976 death of Anne May Aqash. This is a heavy book that makes the FBI out to be a truly negative influence and examines the continuing negative role of the U.S federal government vis-a-vis the reservations.
   
   Thoguht provoking and important.
   
   Seth J. Frantzman

No comments about Will the Real Mary Kelly. . .?.

1 comments about The Murder of Mary Bean and Other Stories (True Crime History).

1. This book is absolutely fantastic. Dr. Elizabeth De Wolfe tells the elusive story of Berengera Caswell/Mary Bean in a chilling way, but includes interesting facts about 1850. As a reader, I truly felt like I was being transported to Saco Maine in 1850 and found this poor girl's body strapped to a board in the culvert of Woodbury Brook. A fascinating story, and a wonderful true crime read!

5 comments about Have Gun Will Travel.

1. What should have been a fascinating book, at the very least as a voyeuristic experience, fails to deliver largely due to its poorly written pages. The text stumbles along from incomprehensible link to allusive derailment, making the mistake of huge chunks of repetitive material which inevitably detract from the fascinating subject matter. Perhaps more of an editng disaster than an author's failure.....at the heart of which lies a story deserving a more coherent telling.



2. Ronin Ro's "Have Gun Will Travel" is probably one of the most entertaining books ever written on the subject of Suge Knight's Death Row Records. However, a good deal of the information in this book should be taken with a grain of salt. Ro paints Knight as a thuggish bully who used violent tactics to extort his way into the music industry and helped create a feared "gang presence" behind the scenes at Death Row. It explores his partnership with Dr. Dre, a talented music producer who Knight pulled from rival Ruthless Records only to knock out of the picture when he was able to acquire an even-larger artist, Tupac Shakur. It goes into detail about the reported beatings of Dre production assistant, Sam Sneed and the infamous boat party where Warren G and his crew were assaulted. Ro tends to have a personal vendetta with some rappers, most noteably Tupac Shakur and DJ Quik. Shakur is written as a loud-mouthed, arrogant gangsta rapper who was falsely praised as a "revolutionary" because of his mother's fabricated past as a member of the Black Panthers. Quik is also written about in a less flattering way as Ro takes a biased look at his feud with MC Eiht, accussing him of hiding behind gang tactics and using violent threats while Eiht attempted to reconcile the problem. It fails to mention that Quik's diss record was a lyrical retaliation to a series of diss tracks called "Def Wish" where Eiht verbally punked Quik or that following the death of Biggie, Quik began recording positive anti-gang records including "You'z A Gangsta" where he made a call to end his problems with Eiht. Still, the star of the show, Suge Knight, takes the brunt of the beating in an editorial assault that makes Michael Moore's portrait of George W. Bush in "Farenheit 9/11" look kind in comparison. When he's not being accussed of assaulting record executives, promoting violence within the recording industry, or setting up rappers to be murdered, Knight's sexuality is also questioned as Ro explores a "supposed" homosexual relationship between Suge and his label's R&B crooner, Danny Boy, who is also his adopted son. If you were even a slight fan of West Coast rap music in the 90's, "Have Gun Will Travel" is one hell of an entertaining read, though most of its information is more "National Enquirer" than LA Times.



3. This book gives you an inside look at one of the most powerfull companies in history. Its not just contracts and courtrooms, its murder, shooting and violence. It keeps your interest from start to finish. You see what a true gangsta Suge Knight was, doing anything to get what he wanted. It covers Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, N.W.A., the DOC, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and many more. Ronin Ro puts direct quotes and doesnt altar or change anything, its raw, real, true. The language is definatly for 16+ but its great regarless. Go behind the scenes of the biggest indusry in music, and go inside the East Vs. West Coast Rap Battle. Once it arrives you will never put it down.



4. Before I start this review, I'd like to defend Ronin Ro for his writing. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the way this book was written: the author carefully weaved in each character who was essential in the Death Row scandal. I saw no editorial mistakes and it was organized sufficiently. If a reader does not like the experiences in the book, that's one thing; but to insult the writer is ridiculous, especially since this was such an interesting and well-researched book.
   
   On to the book:
   I'm not quite sure how the topic of Suge Knight came up between a friend and I, but we were both shaking our heads about the man being shot in the leg. With all the rumored hits out on him, we were thinking "How could the shooter have such bad aim?" She told me about this book and I am so glad she did. I knew Suge Knight was an alleged dangerous man, and from an interview I saw of him challenging a journalist on a Tupac documentary, it was pretty obvious that he liked to intimidate people. But I was not expecting it to be this dramatic.
   Death Row had everything from gun fights, gangs, rape, holding people out of balconies, locked doors to hear desperate screams, drugs, disgruntled rappers, terrified employees, scared delivery people, Crips, Bloods, women being beaten, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, boyfriend/boyfriend relationships, East Coast artists being forced into West Coast artists, "thugs" turning into grown men, grown men trying to figure out how to connect to the streets but be peaceful, business conflict, etc. Anything that could possibly go wrong in a business happened at Death Row. I didn't grow up in the safest neighborhood, so about half of this didn't even make me flinch, but when the story got into beating up women; jailhouse rapes; balcony scenes, etc., I was like "Okay, enough is enough."
   Although it is commendable that Suge Knight gave back to his community with food and money to the homeless/lower income, it does not justify all of the things he DID do. Honestly, I'm extremely surprised he's alive today, and definitely understand why he rolled with such a thick crew. Had he not, he'd have been dead long ago.
   While I was reading this book, I couldn't stop giggling thinking about the "Gangstalicious" episode of the "Boondocks." So much of what I thought was a mocking of 50 Cent seemed more like it related to Tupac, and the guy chasing Gangstalicous reminded me of Suge. Although there were definitely humorous scenes throughout the story (from my own morbid mind) and it was definitely an entertaining read, it was extremely disturbing to see so many grown men acting like teenagers. When is it time to decide to stand on your own two, fight your own battles ALONE, stop killing your own race, and bullying people every time you don't get your way? It's one thing to want to be a grown man; it's another to be a grown bully. I ponder over whether many of these people actually enjoy the lifestyle; or is it just a matter of survival in the ghettoes? I know so many young men who were BEATEN into gangs, and then forced to participate to show their loyalty. But how can you show loyalty to a group that you NEVER wanted to be a part of? Why would someone be so happy to get out of jail, if they were just going to return to the jail lifestyle regardless of the bars?
   If anything, this book definitely relates to the streets and brings up excellent questions. It also brings more information to cases that were only browsed over (i.e. how Tupac became a part of Death Row, the REAL relationship between Tupac and Dr. Dre, the murder trial for Snoop Doggy Dogg, Puffy's relationship with Suge Knight, Biggie's murder, Biggie's relationship with Tupac, the incidents of Tupac's being shot, robbed, and killed, etc.) Ro touches on SO many topics that the news glossed over or magazines didn't pay enough attention to.
   
   I was very impressed with this book and think he did a great job for research--and is one brave guy for putting all this information out there. Be safe, Ro!



5. This book and author are fantastic! Ro provides a detailed and free flowing view of Death Row Records. The text was very detailed and not drawn out. I highly recommend Ro's biography of Dr. Dre.