True Crime Books

I have every book written by Ann but unfortunately she can write them faster than I can read. I work a lot and have to fit reading in 10 minutes here or a whole hour there, so it usually takes me a couple of months to get a book read. I took Bitter Harvest on a cruise and could not put it down! The story is so sad, to think that a Mother could kill her own children to hold on to their Father in a failing marriage. Honey, when he doesn't love you, he doesn't love you, you can't make him through the children. This woman had so much intelligence and yet no common sense. Like I said the whole time I was on the cruise I didn't want to do anything but read--how can that be?? I loved my cruise but the book was one of Ann's best. All the time and research that is put into each and every book is evident!!

I just finished re-reading this book, and went in search of additional info (my edition is several years old). It is a good book, in that it tells the basic tale. If Ann had been able to spend more time with Deborah Green, AND if she had been allowed to take notes or a recorder into her one interview, we perhaps would have a better picture of Deborah.
Incidently, some of the reviews talk about Ann being soft on Michael Faraar, Deb's now ex-husband. And several point out that her daughter still loves her. I didn't think that Mike got off soft--he committed adultery. But trying to portray one of the victims as a "bad guy" doesn't go oover well with the public/reader. And her daughter's love for her mother is normal. Ted Bundy's mother continued to love him even after he confessed. That is what family is supposed to do.

As for those who continue to believe Deborah is innocent, check out how many times she has changed her story. And if Prozac fogged her mind so she couldn't participate in her own defense, then all those people who take it and work for a living should be having problems too--and they don't. Of course, I suspect that Deborah's few "true believers" are mostly blood related, or deluded (keep in mind ted Bundy got love letters in prison). Read the book, check out her ever changing stories via newspaper articles.

An excellent book! Have never read an Ann Rule book I didn't like!

I have to say that I was more interested in this book than usual because it happened here where I live. So I was familiar with some of the details involved that lead up to the tragedy that builds throughout the book.

To be sure, there are multiple victims in the book. The first victim appears to be Deborah Greene's own husband, Dr. Mike Farrar who by all accounts had a glimpse of what hell must be like. Both he and his wife were doctor's in the Metropolitan Area of Kansas City and lived in Prairie Village, Kansas in an affluent neighborhood of mostly peaceful homes. They had moved there after a fire destroyed their previous home. The couple had separated but after the fire in their first home it appears he was motivated to move back to be with his wife and children once again, a grave mistake on his part, but also an indicator of the kind of man he was. He loved his children deeply and he apparently tried to love his wife as well.

At any rate, after moving back home again it did not take too long for their family life to deteriorate once again, propelled forward by Deborah's apparent insecurity, jealousy and delusions. If Mike Farrar had been able to see into the future and recognize the consequences of his well-meaning actions he surely would never have returned.

It seems that he became ill and that for quite some time the cause of his illness escaped the physicians who treated him. He wife Deborah witnessed his illness and one has to wonder if she felt pity for him or only vengeance. I think it must have been vengeance because he had come so close to death yet miraculously managed to pull through and had barely been returned to his home to continue his recovery when he again became ill even before he had a chance to appreciate and enjoy his return home. Unsure exactly what is going on that causes such illness it is shocking to discover that the reason for his illness (which included extreme bouts of dysentery and vomiting) is that he was being poisoned with Ricin, a substance that comes from the castor bean seeds his wife acquired at a garden center in a neighboring suburb. It is amazing where the final proof comes from as to her possession and acquisition of the toxic substance comes from.

I know from seeing interviews with Dr. Mike Greene that, at least according to him, he will have to live with the effects of his poisoning for the rest of his life and can never be sure that he will not be stricken again with its toxic side-effects. one cannot help but be sympathetic for him, and again wonder how anyone could watch him be so ill, someone who purportedly loved him, knowing all the while that it was she who caused him such devastation. He had to have several brain surgeries to try to alleviate some of the damage and he has no guarantees that he will not need it again in the future. If one wanted to torture their spouse then Deborah Greene did an excellent job.

The reader is left spell-bound, waiting for the time when his treating physicians will be able to connect the dots that point to his assailant. But it is in time to save all but one of his children from falling victim to the second part of his wife's madness.

One cannot help but feel sad for the victims. If I was supposed to feel sorry for Deborah Greene I failed miserably. I would have found at difficult at best to feel sympathy but when I heard on the local news that years after her conviction she is attempting to renege on her confession and save herself from a life behind bars forever.

It must have been hard for Dr. Farrar to explain to his remaining daughter the scope of the sad events. One's mind rails against believing that a mother could be responsible for so much sadness.

Through fortuitous events Deborah was discovered and an end put to her reign of terror but not before he a holocaust on a personal level envelopes her children and her husband.

The reader will be mesermerized by the complexity a of the evidence and thankful that it comes out but as always, sad that the victims won't be there to witness their tormentor losing all that she has had to become a nothing behind bars. Children have a remarkable ability to love and forgive, I wonder if they could have, the two who perished. And I wonder how the surviving daughter feels now but of course that is a private matter that perhaps will never be answered.

Anne Rule does an excelent job secribing the sometimes baffling and confusing tale and madness. She has no lost her touch on this book and her followers will not be disappointed. She did an excellent job getting "inside" the story and inside the head of a madwoman who her wealth and privilege and family for nothing.

I agree wholeheartedly, with reviewer Melissa Wilson. I am not convinced Dr. Green is guilty. I believe she may very well have been "gaslighted" by her husband and his mistress. Dr. Green and her husband have three children. Two of whom die in a arson fire. His mistress is also married. Her husband kills himself. All this happens within a 2 month period. Shortly before the fire that kills the children, Dr. Green's husband has her committed to a mental institution. Her husband is also a doctor--how convenient. Dr. Green and her husband had been married numerous years. At the time he had her institutionalized, she was in mid-forties. I have extensive firsthand knowledge of the mentally ill. It is rare that a person developes mental illness in their mid to late forties. Mental illness usually presents itself at a much earlier age, and by the time they reach middle age they have been institutionalized many times. The late forties and early fifties is when many people get a handle on their illness. They tend to have fewer episodes. I have many relatives afflicted with mental illness, and I cannot understand why, as soon as she's released from the mental institution, her husband leaves her, and the children. If he were really that concerned for her sanity, why would he leave her with their children. If you have a caring bone in your body, you would never leave your children with anyone you really thought was mentally ill. Mental illness is not cured in the hospital. The hospitalization only halts the acute mania or psychosis. You can liken it to a person that has severe inflamation. They are given a lot of medication to halt the inflamation, but the underlying problem is still there, waiting to flare up again. Real recovery in mental illness begins after hospitalization, with the "calmer" patient returning home and continuing with therapy, and medication. Why wouldn't he hang around and see how stable she was before leaving? My deceased sister was mentally ill, and abused alcohol. I was there for my beloved sister, and I knew right away when she was going off into the deep end. I would have never, in a millions years, left my son in her care. Celeste is his mistress. Her husband(who is well aware of their affair) kills himself. Celeste continues on with her affair like nothing happened. Any "normal" thinking human being would have to stop, and assess how their behavior contributed to the person they married, killing themselves. Even if she no longer loved her husband, he was still the father of her children, and a human being. I would think, any feeling person would have to recognise the devastation her children must feel at losing their father in such a manner. Instead, this woman didn't miss a beat. Only those involved know what really happened, but one thing is clear, at the time Dr. Green was married to an abusive, selfish, egotisical, lying and cheating husband and; he was conducting an affair with his feminine equal. Whether he lit the match or not, he certainly shares in the guilt of this crime. He is by no means one of the innocent victims. As far Celeste goes; after reading this book, I have doubts whether her husband's death was at his own hands. Most men who kill themselves, do it with a gun. Most often, people who feel led to do away with themselves in this type of situation, will definitely kill the other persons involved first, before killing themselves. In these type of situations sadness may be one emotion a person experiences, but anger and maybe rage is the driving force. Too much just does not add up. But again, no one really knows what happened, but Debora, her husband, his mistress; and her husband. I can say it's a sad story; God bless the soul's of the three people who perished, and I hope the surviving daughter is doing well. I have read other books by Ann Rule, although she writes well, I feel she has a tendency to portray the convicted person as the "evil villan" and the other people directly involved as poor "sainted victims". I am certainly no friend of Debora Green Farrar. I am a thinking individual that can read an author's novel without becoming manipulated by their point of view. I read the novel and formed my own opinions.

"Misbegotten Son" is the true story of Arthur Shawcross, a serial killer in New York state.

Jack Olsen researched Shawcross from childhood to his incarceration for his serial murders. He included excerpts of the psychological/psychiatric interviews and the confessions.

He was diagnosed as "mentally ill" at a young age. He tortured animals and exhibited other behavior believed to be indicators for potential serial killers. He was also diagnosed as "borderline retarded" and never seemed to have a conscience, sought attention frequently, had a violent temper, and was troubled in general.

His first two murders were ghastly with children as his victims. He largely got off easily. Jack Olsen describes the circumstances that led to Shawcross not being charged for both murders. The D.A. rightfully lost his job over it.

Mr. Olsen follows Shawcross's trail after parole where he eventually settled in Rochester,N.Y. That trail is an easy one to follow strewn with female corpses of his 11 victims. Shawcross brags that he cannibalized some of the bodies. He is a psycho-sexual sociopath that always had an excuse for something that triggered his murderous rage. The author readily disbunks the many mythical excuses upon investigation.

Jack Olsen covered all of the angles from the killer, his family, wives and girlfriends, the victims and their survivors. Not least of the characters are some law enforcement personnel from Watertown and Rochester who worked hard pursuing justice in their cases.

"Misbegotten Son" is a very good true crime book that will probably leave the reader scratching his or her head and asking the unanswered question-Why?

THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE BEST TRUE CRIME BOOKS I HAVE READ FOR AWHILE. SOMETIMES I KEPT THINKING , IF MR. SHAWCROSS'S MOTHER WAS THE WAY HE SAID SHE WAS, SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN JAILED ALSO!

I investigated pyroluria and found this at Wikipedia.
"Pyroluria was initially described by Abram Hoffer, a pioneer in orthomolecular medicine and orthomolecular psychiatry. Proponents claim that pyroluria is relatively common, but few, if any, mainstream medical experts regard the condition as genuine, with few or no articles on pyroluria found in modern medical literature."

Author Jack Olsen does a brilliant job in creating for us a terrifying portrait of a murdering psychopath--and the breath-taking race of detectives trying to find and stop his killing. Arthur Shawcross was a terrifying killer machine. He brutally tortured and killed two young children in his first cycle of death. Detectives worked night and day to find him and after excrutiating failure, they finally got lucky. But what happened next enraged the community and especially the police when a district attorney permitted Shawcross to plea bargain his sentence so that he was released after serving only l2 years. The DA was deservedly ruined by this plea bargain because Shawcross then began his second cycle of brutal murders--this time of prostitutes. Once more, you're treated to the heroic efforts of two detectives who went without sleep and food in their race to stop and capture the killer. It's like following a fascinating jig-saw puzzle. Piece by piece, the detectives began collecting enough clues to finally capture the mad man. My only criticism is that the book is much too long. I could have done without the numerous oral histories and the many pages devoted to psychiatric evaluations. Another major complaint is that there were no photographs of either the killer or the detectives or the victims. In a stor y this big, I think you really need to see pictures of evil and its aftermath. Perhaps photos were added to the paperback edition. Other than that, though, this book will keep you riveted as if it were a novel. The killer is one you'll never forget.

I couldn't even estimate how many true crime books I've read over the years, and this is, by far, the best ever. What has frustrated me about most of these books is that they don't go very deeply into the WHY's and HOW's---Why did this happen? How did this guy get this way? This book, The Misbegotten Son, not only delves deeply into all that, it does so, eventually, at the molecular-genetic level (literally). Plus, the extensive research that also went into the lives and backgrounds of all parties involved is absolutely amazing. I hate to use such a banal phrase, but I really could not put this book down; I stayed awake for two days straight, savoring every word. The only "bad" thing about this book is that it has probably spoiled me...I can't imagine any future book coming close. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

I picked up this book the last week of May and I finished it in 3 days!! This book was well written and a definite page turner. Not often found in most memoirs or biographies.

I'm not one to read many biographies or memoirs, or at least until recently. I was surprised at how intriguing and interesting this book was. The narrative voice drew me in.

If you don't know much about Nicky Barnes, the basics will do: He's a notorious drug-addict turned drug-kingpin from one of New York's most fam...more I picked up this book the last week of May and I finished it in 3 days!! This book was well written and a definite page turner. Not often found in most memoirs or biographies.

I'm not one to read many biographies or memoirs, or at least until recently. I was surprised at how intriguing and interesting this book was. The narrative voice drew me in.

If you don't know much about Nicky Barnes, the basics will do: He's a notorious drug-addict turned drug-kingpin from one of New York's most famous neighborhoods, Harlem. After 10 years in the life of narcotics, Barnes, deemed "Mr. Untouchable" by the cops because of the legal system's inability to convict him. It all came to an end after Barnes posed for the famous cover of the NYT Magazine. President Carter sent the Feds after him and Barnes was incarcerated for life without parole.

Barnes' story didn't end there, however. He went on to set up and entrap hundreds of fellow colleagues including members of his version of the Black Mafia, called "The Council," and two of his main women.

Barnes takes readers on a wild ride journey. One that he begins at the height of his career before the big fall. He segues from prison into the earliest days of his life in Harlem, his years as a junkie, several prison terms and finally his beginnings as a drug kingpin. The final act of the book (one of three acts), focuses on his last years in prison and the downfall of his organization, and his decision to snitch and how he went about it.

The details of the novel were quite enjoyable. Barnes doesn't hold back when it comes to the material goods he enjoyed during his days at the top. His Maserati-Citroen, the various penthouse apartments across the city and tri-state area, the fine liquor and drugs he inhaled and the designer duds he and his women wore.

What was most charming about Barnes' story was the incredibly charming narration. Barnes was witty and funny, qualities one would not expect from one of the top heroin sellers of his day. For those of us not born during his generation, it's hard to imagine that this is the same man that had helped destroy a whole community of families. But one in which we must not forget.

Lastly, one of my complaints about the memoir was that I felt that Barnes conveniently gives the reader anecdotes and history about his fellow Council members that portray them as inadequate and often goofy compared to himself. It helps to create this pile of infractions that would inevitably lead Barnes to set up and take out his "brothers" in the Council. Barnes portrays himself as really not having a choice in his final decisions. To be honest, I'm just not that convinced.

Overall, I give this book 4 of 5 stars. There was a lot unsaid in this memoir, but it was a good read and I recommend it.

You can tell that Nicky wrote this and thats the beauty of this book, or he employed a very good ghost writer. Because his voice steamrolls thru everything. I would have hoped that he would have gotten the electric chair at the end because he deserves that. this book may have benefitted from some photos.

Those looking for more on Harlem gangsters should check out Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson which I co-authored with Bumpy Johnson's 93-year-old widow, Mayme Hatcher Johnson.

I was born and raised in Harlem, and so I related to many of the things depcited by Barnes is his very well-written book, Mr. Untouchable. I found it interesting that Barnes still seems to be so very bitter after all these years, even after exacting his revenge by turning his former friends in.

And I have to say, I ALWAYS wondered why Barnes decided to pose for those New York Times -- now I know! Very informative book!

This book is something else. I picked it up not knowing too much about Nicky Barnes, but the stories I'd heard about him really intrigued me.
After reading the book I decided I really don't like him.
Not only was he a drug dealer, but he seems to be a very bitter man. He doesn't seem to have a kind word to say about anyone. Not only did he snitch on his enemies, he also snitched on his so-called friends, and even his girlfriend. Then he talks about how sad he was that she died. But he was getting ready to send her to prison for life.
What kind of love is that?
What kind of man is that?
Not a very a nice one. Even if he wasn't a drug dealer I wouldn't like him. He's just not a very nice person.

This is a great book tells how the drug trade was done when Heroin was King of New York before crack cocaine. Nicky Barnes could have been the Ceo of a Fortune 500 company with his business sense. but he went down the wrong road and it cost him 30 years of his life and Betrayal from his Women and his crew. i would highly recommend this book

Thank you for your excellent service and cheap rates. My book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition. Keep up the good work!

This book adds nothing to what we already know...and that's actually a good thing. In theory the jury had access only to what was shown in court, obviously. There are no revelations, no surprises, and again, there really shouldn't be. The jury's only job is to reach a verdict in the case and in the sentencing phase. The system is very delicately but deliberately intended to be a "closed box"--something which is not opened up and examined by others. The mere act of obtaining an agent, writing a book, and discussing their internal process (though there isn't that much of this in the book) only provides fodder for Scott Peterson's later legal appeals.

The issue of jurors selling their stories after a trial has become so troublesome that some serious jurists have argued that jury deliberations and juror "tell all's" should simply not be allowed. Of course, there are strong views on both sides of this. But surely in death penalty cases, when a person's life is at stake and when the most stringent forms of appellate court review are mandated, it would be wiser simply to eliminate the idea of jurors publishing their own concepts of what went on in the jury room.

This is a good look into what it could be like to be a jurror in a case such as this one. The stories of some of the jurrors that were there are heartbreaking, and the way each and everyone of them had some type of connection to Lacy is unbelievable.

The book was interesting, but I agree with other reviewers that it is repetitive and not particularly well written. After reading "Presumed Guilty", I am convinced Scott P. is innocent. Not the jury's fault about the verdict, they were not presented all the information.

I'm a 'fan' of true crime stories. I find the psychology of these stories as well as the legal aspect always interesting. This book provides the best of both worlds and probably most of all from a 'layman' perspective - that of the jurors selected for the Scott Peterson trial.
I watched a lot of coverage on the Peterson trial and this book provides an interesting glimpse of what was going on from the inside, from the jurors' perspective. Their impressions of Peterson, the legal teams and the inside look at the legal process involved were fascinating.
I found the book to be well written and a good read.
I would highly recommend to anyone who has an interest in the Peterson case, criminal psychology, true crime and/or the legal process.

I love this book Just this April, that my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time together. For me, it was the first time ever. We mostly hiked here and there on the South rim and a bit down into the canyon, but it was nothing big, though it was pleasant. However, I was intrigued with the tales of Glen and Bessie and I wanted to know more. I got another Grand Canyon book through Inter-Library loan and it mentioned that a fellow named Dimock was in the process of publishing a book about them.

So I finally got this book and devoured it, once I got my hands on it. This guy not only heavily researched the Hydes, he also built a similar boat and took it through the Grand Canyon, albeit with a sweep boat as back up. Then he went by kayak to personally survey the area where the Hydes most likely died.

I admit to being taken aback a bit by the book cover, which shows two people in modern garb and wearing life perservers in whitewater. However, who is better to show there than the author and his wife on the replica of the Hydes' "Rain in the Face" while barreling down what is presumably the Colorado River?

I would even bet that this failed exploit provided the idea for Dana Lamb's book "Enchanted Vagabonds", in which he builds a boat and supposedly paddles it with his young wife all the way from California to Panama. However, Dana selected a route where cheating is possible.

I want to thank Brad Dimock for answering what can be reasonably argued about Glen and Bessie.

Although there are some points where the book jumps back and forth upon itself, overall this is an engaging read about an interesting couple and a man's struggle to understand their ordeal. Very easy and enjoyable read in which you become enrapt in what happens next and makes you wonder what the "real" story truly was.

Just returned from 7 day trip down the Colorado River/Glen Canyon. One of the favorite stories was of these "honeynooners". the book is a wonderful adventure and worth a read, particularly if you have the joy of rafting that water. Enjoy!

The story of Glen and Bessie Hyde is the greatest Grand Canyon mystery. They are the honeymoon couple that disappeared without a trace in 1928. Many myths and legends have evolved in the intervening years (including a segement of "Unsolved Mysteries"). Brad Dimmock is a Colorado River guide (and a very good writer) who duplicated the couples ill fated journey down the Colorado. He has interwoven the historical material with his own modern attempt using a sweepboat similiar to the one the Hyde's used. I read this while visiting the canyon again. It was great sitting on the patio at the Lodge on the North Rim reading this fascinating account. If you love a great mystery or you love Canyon lore, you'll love this book.

I think, at first, the cover scared me away, but once I started reading I was involved. I must applaud Brad Dimock's writing skill. He has written a book with the timbre and cadence of a Jon Krakauer about an episode of which we know very little. While Glen Hyde's life was well documented by his family, very little is known about Bessie Hyde or how the Hyde's marriage was holding up under the pressure of their Colorado River float. Despite this dearth of information, Dimock has succeeded in bringing Glen and Bessie to life. We care about these two people, who disappeared over 75 years ago, and we follow the scanty thread of facts that Dimock has been able to gather, hanging on to each clue in the hope of learning their fate even though we know from the beginning that the Hyde's were never found.

Sunk Without a Sound can stand side-by-side with the best of Jon Krakauer and David Roberts.

This is a hard book for me...Dr. Carolyn Stahl was my optometrist, and I had an appointment with her scheduled the day after she was murdered. She was the sweetest, kindest doctor...the entire doctor's staff was shocked and horrified...even if the book is rather detailed and maybe somewhat dry in spots, it makes a difference having known the victim...

I just heard about this story on CourtTV. I have no sympathy for the Doc. What a fool. It would have come out so much better had he just legally separated. Doc's lover was full of deception and the hitman he hired to undo his wife was actually sleeping with his mistress behind his back. So the plan was for the hitman to kill the wife and wound the Doc whilst they were in the car. Hitman and mistress had other plans. Instead of just killing the wife and wounding the Doc, hitman killed them both. Doc never saw it coming.

It's a tough read. It does not keep my interest. I will finish it because I started it, but it is one I could definitely put down.

I have an interest in true crime books and this one is well worth reading.

This California case of a spurned lover who conspired with a real loser to eliminate her lover's spouse, and in a twist the lover himself, was a fair read at best. While the author did his best to describe the police investigation into the murders it seemed long in details and short on excitement. (even with the twist) Not recommended.

As I mentioned in another review I've recently started reading all the books about the Scott Peterson case that got decent reviews. So far this one has offered the best all around synopsis of the investigation beginning with day one. This book told me a lot I didn't already know about the case, but then I only generally followed the case when it was occurring. Perhaps, as other reviewers have stated, this book doesn't really tell us anything "new," but for some (like me) who don't know the intimate details, this book appears to outline many of them.

I gave the book 4, rather than 5, stars for a couple of reasons. Someone told me that the book was filled with "inaccurate garbage," some of the dates and names were apparently wrong but I'm not exactly sure what those inaccuracies are. I suppose if I did enough research of my own I could find the discrepancies, but I was just looking for a general overview of the case. The fact that a few people who know this case inside and out find inaccuracies in this book leads me to take Crier's assertions with a grain of salt.

Secondly, I found numerous places in the book where things didn't quite come together as Crier probably intended. I won't list specific examples but there are places where Crier mentions something or someone she assumes you already know - but many times I didn't. I found her thoughts a bit scattered at times and there were a few typos - which surprises me with professional editors/publishers. From a literary standpoint I'm surprised that some of this wasn't caught before the book was published and I'm not a professional by any means, just an average reader.

Whether or not you'll like this book depends on what you're looking for by reading it. I wanted a general overview of the case and why from the get-go police were convinced Scott was guilty. This book gave me that. It gave me insight into how investigators were operating and details about the investigation. How accurate it is, I can't say but I have to assume that the majority of it must be true to have made it to publication.

Overall, it's a good all-encompassing view of the Scott Peterson case which is just what I wanted.

The author does a good job of covering all the bases of this case. I would definitely say it is worth your time to read if you are interested in the Laci Peterson disappearance. While most of the book is very compelling, there are some parts that clearly remind you that she is a former lawyer (think wordy and boring). The upside of this is that she can give insight that someone not in the legal profession would lack so it is worth plodding through the slow parts.

If I were on the jury and read this book before I listened to testimony in court, I would have convicted him right away. I read it right after the jury found him guilty, if you have followed this story, it's a good read. It did tell of things not reported by the media.

A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson InvestigationCatherine Crier, former CNN news personality, former Court TV anchor, former civil attorney, former assistant D.A., former judge and author of a half dozen books which all have their basis in the legal system has written an encyclopedic rendering of the infamous trial of Scott Peterson. Having worn all the hats she has and having occupied each legal eagle seat in a courtroom, I am shocked by her bias toward Scott Peterson. She freely admits that she had him pegged as a sociopath from the very beginning and cuts him no slack in a case that was, for all intents and purposes, circumstantial at best.

Crier disallows virtually every piece of "evidence" that might have shed a more illuminating or different light on the case and on Peterson. While the book itself covers the case like frosting covers a triple layer cake, the feeling I had while reading it was, without a doubt, that she approached this case with a presumption of guilt and not innocence. From a person with her credentials, I find that approach quite shameful and appalling. It would have been a better book, carried more weight and been more appropriate had Crier taken it from the presumption of innocence through to its end.

Crier, having worn her many hats, should be more than superficially familiar with the behavior of a sociopath and yet she professes the sophomoric views of a lay person with no legal knowledge. While Scott Peterson may very well be a sociopath, why does Crier expect normal reactions from Scott Peterson when she fully realizes that no such thing is possible from a true sociopath? The jump from sociopath to murderer, in this case, is nothing short of a giant stretch of a stunted imagination from a biased reporter who should know better, in my opinion.

You'll learn some new things in this book but nothing to further your overall knowledge or clarity of the case in this over-written book by Catherine Crier.

Circumstantial evidence can be strong in many cases. But it was not strong in this case. The prosecution proved that Scott was a jerk and a liar. But that is all they proved. There were no set of circumstances showing he killed his wife. This jury would have convicted any married guy who was having an affair and had bought a lot of life insurance---because that is all the prosecution had.

This book kept me engrossed from start to finish. Every spare minute I was page turning. For those that understand where Miami Beach was when Alex started his political career to its metamorphosis into a world class destination will certainly have to be blown away by his contribution despite his travails.

The account is gutsy because it shies away from being polite to protect the powerful (guys that screwed Alex anyway). He names names.

At any rate Alex was a good guy loved by all, business guys and the little guys got his attention. He acted like a secret superhero to advance their causes. And in the end he did advance their causes.

The many characters in this book are fleshed out with such vibrance you feel you know them.

Also, what is interesting is his literary use of Miami Beach as a character. Not too disimilar to how Greek playwrights used their Chorus as barometer and character.

Sure he got paid off; but the politics of the time were entirely different. Miami Beach was in the worst shape. Broken down, crime ridden, not a place you would want to set foot in. Under his tenure, this brokedown palace was transformed into one of the greatest turnaround stories.

Guilty under the law sure. He paid his debt to society but in the balance Alex is a hero.

Keep on trucking Big Fella. You rock!!

Buy this book.

DBJ

What a masterpeice! I couldn't put it down. Daoud takes you deep within the heart and soul of South Beach, all the way down to its roots. At his book signing this talented author and intense speaker along with associates painted clear pictures of what transpired in america's riviera. Everybody who watched scarface got an ideal what Miami was like back then, Sins of South Beach is what happened back then!I can't wait for the movie! This book is a must have!

This startling page-turner describes in the greatest detail how the Miami Beach government sank into a morass of corruption. Ex-Mayor Alex Daoud confesses his misdeeds with complete frankness. He also fearlessly outs the powerful cronies and elected officials that bought and sold favors. The tell-all frequently slips into narcissism, particularly when recounting sexual trysts, but how could it be otherwise? - this is a politician's memoir.

"Time is the justice that examines all offenders."- William Shakespeare.

In a different time and place-even the movies, Alex Daoud may be considered a knight errant, cowboy, vigilante, certainly an heroic figure!
From his childhood in Miami Beach and near death with Polio,
Alex's book took me back in time and on a wild ride through the making of the
paradise we call South Beach.
We see the nitty, gritty, underbelly of the workings of municipal politics, where you have to be a shark to survive. Everyone has a personal agenda!
Who could have imagined what the police went through every day and night with the worst criminals and rapists mocking our legal system. The heartbreak of seeing his elderly friend raped and brutalized-left in the gutter to die. Alex brought me into the alleyway where much-loved police officer Donald Kramer was murdered. The irony and injustice of his life blood intermingling with the urine and filth of a putrid alleyway.
Alex opens his soul and bares his sins for all to see and through it all, I'm shamelessly rooting for him.
I couldn't put it down once I started to read. Time has certainly judged Alex Daoud a hero.
Bravo Alex!
Still rooting for you.

Alex Daoud paints a breathtaking expose' that is powerful, intriguing, and, the best part...honest! I think it took alot of guts to not only "tell all" regarding the secret lives of the elite of South Beach with their real names, but also expose himself! Knowing the cast of characters first hand, Alex did an amazing job of conjuring up old imprints from movies like the Godfather, and placing the image over real people that are still weaving a web of influence over Miami!
What a read! You must grab up copies as you can't miss this jaw dropper! Should be a movie!
Keep up the great work!
You're my hero!

This is a great classic but you have to devote some time to listening to the CDs, as you would to read the book. Can't complaint about the convenience though; ability to listen to the CDs while driving, at work, at home, etc. is wonderful. If you haven't tried an audio book yet, do so, you will find it to be quite an experience!

I have always been a Scott Brick (Narrator)fan. Now I am also a Truman Capote fan. I can not recommend this book enough. After I listened to this masterpiece I rented the movie "Capote". It was also a great experience.

I read the book many years ago, enjoyed it then, and after the movie Capote, decided to listen to the book. It was great in both audio and book form. Capote was really intrigued by these two murderers so, most of the story involved their lives. The details of the act itself was scarey.

I have spent much of my life planning to read the great novels but as of yet just have never found the time. Recently I discovered a wonderful alternative is listening to audio books. As of today I have now heard a number of great works but Capote's novel is in a class by itself. The writing is amazing. He owns the English language. Never does he settle for a second best way to describe a thing but writes with the precision of a master craftsman. Describing the deceased mother, whose eyes remained open, Capote refers to them as "death dulled eyes". Speaking of the shrubs he speaks of their "camel-like indifference to drought". Every sentence, every phrase, from cover to cover, is both poetic and gripping. Unlike many authors who begin strong and then begin to dull as the chapters progress, Capote keeps the freshness of his prose up throughout the work.

Simply put, this novel is on level beyond what most of us have ever read. And I must note that the reader on the audio version is intimately involved in the text. The reading in no way detracts from the power of the novel, but actualy enhances it - if that is possible.

This is one of the top 3 books I have ever heard or read - a masterpiece!

When this book was first published it was a sensation, it makes the furor over the Da Vinci look mild in comparison and it made Capote a superstar. What makes this book unique, besides the fantastic writing, was the fact that Capote completely emersed himself in this project, he turned over every stone and completely manipulated everyone involved, to learn every angle of the story. This book is a complete tour de force, this is a book you will never forget, not just because of the crime, so vividly recreated, but also due to Capote's haunting prose. Highly recommended, lives up to all the hype. It's just a shame it ruined Capote, as nakedly ambitious as he was, he was also a true talent.