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. […]
Book Reviews
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 […]
Curtain by Agatha Christie
After I read Poirot by Mark Aldridge, I mentioned a few Christie books that I needed to either read again or buy. Curtain was one that I had never read so, I bought it, read it, and am now disappointed. Disappointed by Christi, not Aldridge, just to be clear. Aldridge explained in his book that […]
Death on Ocean Boulevard by Caitlin Rother
If the Rebecca Zahau case baffled you in 2011 then be prepared for a double-feature rollercoaster in 2021. And no, that’s not giving away anything as the Zahau case has been covered extensively in the news. Who can forget the helicopter images of her naked remains that were left on the lawn for a good […]
The Secret Serial Killer by Robert Mulhern
Full title: The Secret Serial Killer, the true story of Kieran Kelly. In this book, Robert Mulhern, a journalist, documents his search for the truth: was Kieran Kelly a serial killer who managed to fly under the radar, or not? And, if he was not, why do some think that he was a serial killer? […]
A Killer by Design by Ann Wolbert Burgess
Full title: A Killer by Design, Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind by Ann Wolbert Burgess and Steven Matthew Constantine. “Her research with victims began when she co-founded, with Boston College sociologist Lynda Lytle Holmstrom, one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs at Boston City Hospital. She then worked with FBI […]
Why The Innocent Plead Guilty by Jed S. Rakoff
Full title: Why The Innocent Plead Guilty And The Guilty Go Free and other paradoxes of our broken legal system. Huge title but then the book covers an enormous number of issues. Judge Jed S. Rakoff used this book to combine essays that he wrote for the New York Review of Books over the past […]
The Wilkes Insurrection by Robbie Bach
“With heart-pounding action, compelling plot twists, and a rich tapestry of characters, The Wilkes Insurrection is a contemporary thriller of anarchic obsession and heroic ambition. Its perfect blend of callous villains, iconic heroes, and political intrigue will keep readers on the edge of their seats.” It did indeed keep me on edge but not for […]
Poirot by Mark Aldridge
My first introduction to Hercule Poirot on the big screen was the 1978 movie ‘Death on the Nile.’ I loved seeing David Niven in that movie as well as Bette Davis. Years later, I rejoiced that my favourite Professor, Minerva McGonagall, had been on that boat too. The first Poirot I read was ‘Murder on […]
Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals by Mitzi Szereto
The next book in Mitzi Szereto‘s series of ‘Best New True Crime Stories‘ centers on those criminals whom you might secretly like. You know that they are violating the law but you also know that some do well for their community. Or, they keep all their profits but do treat their victims well. Some even […]
Queen of the Burglars by Shayne Davidson
Sophie Lyons (Dec 22, 1847 – May 8, 1924), I had never heard of her until I read Shayne Davidson‘s book. Full title: Queen of the Burglars, the scandalous life of Sophie Lyons. It is true crime, a historical overview of many criminal cases and procedures, and a biography. With several husbands, children, accomplices, and […]
Serial Killers by Joni Johnston, Psy.D.
The full title of the book is ‘Serial Killers; 101 Questions True Crime Fans Ask.’ Dr. Joni Johnston, a practicing clinical and forensic psychologist, has written a book in plain English that you should pick up and not just to see some myths debunked. You should pick it up because she includes many lesser known […]