On April 25, 2018 the world learned that Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr. was arrested. Having read several books about his crimes, one more disturbing then the other, I sincerely hoped that after sentencing I’d never have to hear that name again. Not only were the crimes haunting to read, I became friends with some victims’ family […]
Book Reviews
Simple, Safe & Secret by Eve Carson
On November 28, 1981 Joan Lucinda Webster, a Harvard graduate student, went missing. Joan (25) was last seen at Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts as she returned to Harvard from her Thanksgiving break. Her skull was found on April 18, 1990. The rest of her remains were found on April 25of the same year. Joan was […]
The San Francisco Doodler Murders by Kate Zaliznock
The Doodler refers to a Black male, young, tall, unidentified, and violent serial killer who was active between January 1974 – September 1975. His target area was the LGBTQ community in San Francisco. People did not speak out and trust in police was low. Five of his victims are known but he is allegedly responsible […]
The Seeker Series by S. G. MacLean
The five books in the Seeker Series by S. G. MacLean carry you into a politically challenging period. We meet Damian Seeker in 1654 when Oliver Cromwell is Lord Protector with almost unlimited powers. There is general unrest everywhere. People fight for free speech and printers work overtime to make news pamphlets. To stay ahead […]
Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries by Mitzi Szereto
There are a lot of books about true crime and unsolved mysteries. However, this one has something I covet and not always find: the right tone. The latest installment in the anthology series ‘The Best New True Crime Stories’ by Mitzi Szereto covers everything from continent to time. We read stories from the 1800s and […]
Junk Science by M. Chris Fabricant
If you love to read about Forensic Sciences then this book by M. Chris Fabricant should be on your list. A variety of junk sciences are discussed and how they are slowly weeded out. The essence of Fabricant’s book is this: Can scientific evidence overturn legal precedent? It seemed insurmountable at one point and once the […]
Bitter Blood by Jerry Bledsoe
Please welcome guest blogger Lisa Sedlak. She wrote this book review about ‘Bitter Blood‘ by Jerry Bledsoe. ** When I visit my sister, we always go to her favorite used bookstore. The last time I visited, I went straight to the true crime section – as always. Among the Ann Rule books and books on […]
Assassin’s Lullaby by Mark Rubinstein
I read Assassin’s Lullaby by Mark Rubinstein in one sitting and it cost me a night’s sleep. It isn’t just the pace, the adventure, or the action. It is the interwoven thoughts of a contract killer who is no longer fully emotionally detached and has been in denial for a while. And now, with this […]
The Harvest Man by Alex Grecian
You don’t need to read the three books in the Yard series that precede The Harvest Man by Alex Grecian however, this one is more difficult to read than the previous one, The Devil’s Workshop. In The Devil’s Workshop, Inspector Walter Day and his Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith are tortured to the point of death by […]
Murder by Milkshake from Eve Lazarus
Author Eve Lazarus explores the case of Esther Luond Castellani and the devastating effect it had on daughter Jeannine. The book describes the lives of Esther and husband Rene Castellani, their financial struggles, their jobs, Esther’s death, and Rene’s trial. The Case The first time that Esther started to feel sick was around October 1964. […]
All That Remains by Sue Black
All That Remains by Sue Black came out a few years ago and has won numerous awards. The book cover suggests a factual, maybe even clinical assessment of what remains when we die. However, the book combines deeply personal reflections on death including the deaths of loved ones, with the cold, hard process of decomposition. […]
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
I learned about this book from one of my friends’ book clubs. I heard the words apothecary, London, poison, possible female serial killer, so naturally, I was interested. The book cover had praising references about this debut novel with words like ‘convincingly’ and ‘clever.’ So, naturally, I bought the book. I finished reading it this […]
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
What can you write about this book by Agatha Christie that is so famous and popular, so well discussed by everyone online who either loves or hates it, what is the use of giving you my two cents? There are no insights that have not already been touched upon online and the plot is so […]
The Bone Jar by S W Kane
To read something new, to discover a new author, it is all worth not sleeping decently for two days. The Bone Jar by S W Kane is a debut novel of such power that it was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award. The Story Deserted buildings have their own charm and it isn’t […]
Forensics by Val McDermid
Full title: Forensics, what bugs, burns, prints, DNA, and more tell us about crime. This book by Val McDermid is from 2014 however, it is still relevant today. Old unsolved cases are discussed again in the news as we have the improvements in forensic sciences. Of course, TV shows, movies, podcasts, and the mainstream media […]
Partners in Crime by Mitzi Szereto
The latest edition in the anthology series ‘The Best New True Crime Stories’ by editor and author Mitzi Szereto has a great collection of short stories that will take you around the world. The focus this time is on Partners in Crime. Maybe they already were a couple, maybe they became one as they bonded […]
Bone Deep by Bosworth Jr. and Schwartz
Charles Bosworth Jr. and Joel J. Schwartz bring you the mesmerizing and chilling account of the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria. As the title mentions, this book goes bone deep and not just into the murder of Elizabeth “Betsy” Kay Faria. Bone Deep concentrates on the legal aspects of the wrongful conviction of Russell “Russ” […]
Crimes of Passion, Obsession & Revenge by Mitzi Szereto
The latest in the ‘Best New True Crime Stories’ from Mitzi Szereto showcases a mixture of well and lesser known cases. This book features the following writers: Joe Turner, Edward Butts, Dean Jobb, Priscilla Scott Rhoades, Tom Larsen, C.L. Raven, Anthony Ferguson, Craig Pittman, Iris Reinbacher, Mark Fryers, Chris Edwards, Jason Half, Shashi Kadapa, Stephen Wade, and […]
The Litmus Test by K.H. Norris
Would you kill if someone you fancied asked you to? Or, would you be able to manipulate someone to do your bidding while you were double-crossing them? Would you be able to tell the truth if you saw a horrifying act of violence? The story begins with a newspaper article. A talented graduate student, Rese […]
Mystery At The Blue Sea Cottage by James A. Stewart
Full title: Mystery At The Blue Sea Cottage, a true story of murder in San Diego’s jazz age. This is the first book by U.S. Navy Veteran James A. Stewart. The Case On January 14, 1923, Frieda “Fritzie” Mann (May 26, 1902 – Jan 14, 1923) left her San Diego home to go to a […]