True Crime Books

This is a quick read. Typical true-crime pulp style. Nothing spectacular about the writing, but the story is indeed unique.

There are a lot of problems with the morals the book is trying to sell though.

Not a bad beach book, but don't expect to learn a whole lot from it.

Jason Moss did indeed turn into Gacy's "last victim". He eventually shot himself. Sad ending.
~RIP Jason Moss~6/06/06~

but why did he choose that date? 6 6 6.
Strange man, yet still tragic.

The author apparently had alot of spare time to mess with serial killers. All poor Jeff Dahmer needed was to be loved.

Too bad John Wayne Gacy didn't make soup out of the author.

The worst of all the books on serial killers I've read.

I wanted to use no stars, but, I had to choose one :(

This book is certainly not the worst True Crime book I have ever read. However, it presents with some obvious problems. It is NOT a journey into the mind of serial killer as much as a journey into the mind of the author. Much of the book is about the author himself and his own thoughts. While the book is organized and understandable, the style of writing is rather juvenile and lacking in depth. That said, the prison visits Mr. Moss had with Gacy were interesting and somewhat frightening; it is difficult to believe that prison guards were willing to leave the author alone with Gacy for periods of time long enough to constitue danger for the author. However, this is what happened. The last scheduled visit with Gacy truly scared the author and he never returned.

I knew the author of this book, having met him when he applied to be a Big Brother in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a True Crime fan, I did not find his interest in serial killers disturbing or exceptional. However, it is a bit odd that he found it necessary to correspond with so many of the high profile serial killers. During a routine "home visit" to his apartment as part of the Big Brother screening and application process, Mr. Moss showed me his album of response letters from many other serial killers, includig Charles Manson and Richard Ramirez. (I enjoy True Crime, but this was a bit too close for comfort for me.) If my recollections are correct, he did serve as a good Big Brother to a little boy who needed a male mentor. He did not present as narcissistic... although the tone of his book is self aggrandizing. However, perhaps Mr. Moss was less stable than he appeared at times. Another reviewer states the author took his own life. Somehow, this does not completely surprise me.

Don't waste your time. This book is more about Jason Moss and his egomania then it is about serial killers. It did not offer any new insight or information at all.

I am the niece of Patty Jo Riddick Pulley and can tell you that this book is NOT supported by family and I. The book has false and misleading information in it, not to mention information that was taken directly from the MSS of the victim's niece. I do not know how this book has managed to get on the same Amazon page as Quiet Moment's, but it certainly is not welcomed there and if anyone can tell me how to have it removed, Please do so! My family and I do not wish to associate ourselves with Dale Hudson or anyone who is a fan of his.

Connie Smithson (Niece of Patty Jo Pulley and Author of Quiet Moment's)

I WAS EXTREMLY DISAPOINTED IN THIS BOOK. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. THE ENTIRE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK WAS SO BORING THAT I FOUND MY MIND WONDERING TO OTHER THINGS. THE AUTHOR WENT ON AND ON ABOUT STUFF THAT REALLY DID NOT MATTER. HE WAS VERY REDUNDANT, OFTEN REPEATING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER. IT GOT A LITTLE BETTER IN THE END, BUT NOT MUCH. I COULD NOT BELEIVE THE AUTHOR DID NOT INCLUSE WHAT RICK'S SENTENCE WAS. OR MAYBE I MISSED THAT WHEN MY MIND WAS WONDERING. I HAVE READ ONE OTHER BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR AND IT WAS OK. I MAY AVOID THIS AUTHOR FROM NOW ON.

The author did a great job of taking you behind closed doors of domestic violence. Domestic violence has become a hot topic in the past several years. This book will pull on your heart strings and make you wonder why someone as talented and gifted as Patty Jo Riddick Pulley was murdered for the reasons portrayed in the book. I recommend this as an excellent true crime book.

Rick Pulley had a wonderful, devoted Christian wife who was a talented musician. Both were dedicated to the Christian ministry and to music. Patty Jo Riddick Pulley was the ideal wife. From appearances, Rick and Patty Jo had a desirable, ideal, Christian marriage. Although childless, having children was a source of friction between the pair. Rick was at a dead end in the church ministry with a low paying job while his wife worked two or three jobs to support them. They were financially troubled by themselves much less if they had a child. They lived in a very cloistered Christian community which suprised Patty Jo's family after Rick declared her disappeared. The women were subservient and obedient to their husbands. The small Christian community of Ringgold, Virginia had their own share of problems. They appeared backwards to Patty Jo's family. Rick enjoyed the power that he felt he had in the community. His relationship with the young girl was quite bizarre as she described Rick becoming more like Jim Jones. Patty Jo encouraged her to leave which is something that she never had the chance to do. Despite her love for Rick, she was also being abused by him. It was inevitable that he would kill her but nobody knows exactly how and why. The author does paint a portrait but not enough of the small tight-knit Christian community of Ringgold, Virginia. he does detail Patty Jo's loving family that did not recognize the signs of domestic violence. Rick's past is somewhat vague. his mother is practically non-existence. I don't know much about the author's experience in Ringgold and the community or how factual about it's members. Regardless, Rick killed his wife after abusing her for so many years. I don't blame the community but I blame Rick who is completely responsible for Patty Jo's cruel murder. I don't know much about Ringgold not even from reading this book and I'm wondering about the facts about the community itself. I don't recall the author speaking to it's citizens or members of their church. When I read a true crime book, I expect it to be factual and I'm surprised by some of the comments about this case. A true crime author is expected to write and detail as much information and background about Patty Jo and Rick's life in Ringgold. I felt the book was just thrown together and not written adequately.

I read a good deal of true crime books. This one is true bottom of the barrel. It is poorly edited and the author is chronologically challenged, making the book so hard to follow at times.
What a mish-mosh of events with no rhyme or reason. There are too many good books available to waste one's time with a book that requires the reader to reread due to unfounded time-jumping and blatant errors in editing.
It was funny that several people asked me if I was enjoying this book. Usually people are so used to seeing me with my nose in a book that I am not often asked this question. I felt terrible that I had to answer so many people in the negative but this book was not worth the paper it is printed on. I was stubborn about reading it to the end simply because I had begun the task, but I really should have spent the time elsewhere. (Perhaps walking on hot coals...) Waste neither time nor money on this one.

If you think the book was about bragging rights, think again! I read the book with the intent to satisfy my interest about the "drug game," and this one did it and then some. I had read some so-called drug stories, but this story is so different in a sense that you can feel the remorse of Azie, through details about this lifestyle that is still glamourized by "rap stars." Azie takes you from his innocent early childhood, to his administrative position in dealing with drugs, to the aftermath of his envied lifestyle. You actually get to understand the relationship of everyone involved. With every page I read, I was piecing together alot of the mystery about the drug game. When I finished this book, I walked away with a fulfillment of why and how Harlem and other black communities were lured into a pseudo life of selling drugs.We all should give one copy to a young person as a gift. IT may save their life. I want to aknowledge the co-author Agyei Tyehimba for his literary skills that also kept me glued to the book. I, too, look forward to more projects from these two. Talk about being real...

Bought this book on Friday, Never put it down til early Saturday Morning. Such compeling hard gritty truth !

I thought this book was absolubtly "wonderfull"!
As a former resident of Harlem during AZ's reign, I can assure you of the accuracy of this well written, informative book. I laughed, I cried, I felt fear, and I celebrated, as I was entertained. I believe this book should be a required text of all schools; for it is a lesson that both teachers, and students can benefit from. I applaued AZ for his candid accounts, and his chosen co/author (Agyei Tyehimba). This Authors abilities breathed litterary life into a story now not soon to be forgotten. I look forward to Mr. Tyehimba's next projects, and Az's future accomplishments. Wishing you both continued success... Mochabreez

THIS AUTHOR HAS BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK, WHAT WITH THE LOSS OF SO MANY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES!!!! I AM SO VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT GLORIFYING YOUR FORMER LIFE,BUT YOU ARE UPLIFTING YOUR FAITH AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT!!!!!I REALIZE IT PROBABLY TOOK A LOT TO DIVULGE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU DID,RELIVING THE PAIN OF THE DEATHS, THE ATTEMPT OF YOUR OWN LIFE,AS WELL AS HAVING THE COURAGE TO LEAVE THE FAST MONEY BEHIND AS YOU'VE SAID IT'S VERY ADDICTIVE!!!! A COPY OF THIS BOOK SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL OUR STREET VENDORS,I'M SURE SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE ENLIGHTENED AS WELL!!!!!

This book was excellent and should be passed out at every juvenile system and prison. I wish I had read this book before my son turned 20 and moved out. I would have made him read it and right me a full report about! I have a younger son and it will be a must read in a couple more years!
Thank you for sharing and writing a powerful and enlightening 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.

davis is a very good writer who does alot of research before he writes his books.the way he writes and divides his book into many smaller chap ters,really helps those of us who do not have time to sit and read for a long period of time.very interesting about marcello and his role in history!

I'm exhausted. By the time I reached the finish I'd forgotten the start. Look, Great facts, alot of research, but I found this book mentally fatiguing. If you are in to conspiracies get it. Meanwhile, I'm going to go lay and rest my head.

I think this book is spectacular! The author did some deep and complete research! I was impressed, plus I live in New Orleans and most of the action takes place in NOLA! There is even some speculation that The Mob played a role in the death of MLK and RFK! Read this book,you won't be
disappointed! Read Dr. Mary's Monkey too and you won't ever need to read another JFK book again!

I can practically read anything on the Mafia . . . except this book. I could barely finish it. It was so boring. The first 50 pages were good. It was actually focused on late Louisiana Mafia boss Carlos Marcello. Then, it happened. Nonstop writing on the assassination of President Kennedy. Again, it is nonstop and the author continually asks the reader questions that I don't think he ever conclusively answered. (By the way, I have never seen some many questions presented to the reader before in ANY book; my guess would be a couple hundred questions the author poses to his readers.)

I swear about 500 pages is just going over the same points in the assassination again and again. Oswald knew this guy. This guy knew this guy. Jack Ruby knew this guy. All these connections go back to the Marcello organization. I GET IT! ENOUGH!

You read about a page and half on Marcello and you think, yes, he's finally back on track. He's actually writing about Marcello now. But no, all of the sudden it gets back to the Kennedy Assassination. I have rarely rolled by eyes while reading a book except for this one -- and I am continually rolling my eyes. Not because the author states that Marcello was probably involved in the Kennedy Assassination, but because he has to hammer his points over and over again and again (nonstop).

Now, if you are looking for a book on the Kennedy Assassination, you got it here. But if you are looking for a book about Carlos Marcello, then skip it because you are just going to get mad with the author barely touching on Marcello past the first 50 pages without his throwing in some Kennedy Assassination angle.

This should not be called "Mafia Kingfish: Carlos Marcello and the Assassination of President Kennedy." It should be called "The Assassination of President Kennedy: The Assassination and Some Mob Boss Named Carlos Marcello." Very little is about Carlos Marcello and his secretive organization. It's all about the Kennedy Assassination and Marcello's possible connection to it.

The last part of the book is on the FBI operations in the late 1970s that finally brought Carlos Marcello down. But it's only about 50 or so pages long, too. In short, there is maybe a hundred or so pages dealing with Carlos Marcello, and what you have left is the author trying to link the Marcello organization to the President's assassination, and nailing his one-tracked hammer on the same points time after time, page after page.

What a waste! Had this book been nearly 700 pages on Carlos Marcello and his organization it would have been perhaps one of the best, groundbreaking books on the underworld in the history of the American Mafia being there is very little actually known about the man and his organization other than the basics. Instead, we get a 100 pages on Marcello and 600 pages on his possible connection to the assassination of President Kennedy.

Sorry if I hammered my point over and over again about this book, but I was giving you a preview of what you will experience if you buy and read this book. As the mob would say, "Give it a pass."

This book is dated,but I'm not so sure that any other book on the subject is better.
Mr. Davis exposes the numerous links the Marcello family had to other key conspirators in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.Lee Harvey Oswald,Jack Ruby,and David Ferrie all knew each other and had Marcello family connections.

Another highlight of this book is the contrast of the New Orleans mafia and other families.They operated quite differently than say,the New York or Chicago mob.The culture of that area was much like Sicily.

Mr. Davis gives details on the extent of the corruption and political power enjoyed by Carlos Marcello.The transcripts of recorded conversations from the sting by the FBI reveal a lot regarding who was bought.Some major political figures are mentioned.

The details of Carlos Marcello's deportation clarify the animosity between the mafia and the Kennedy brothers.The egos on both sides of the law were factors in the eventual assassination.

The monumental part that J. Edgar Hoover played in the coverup and possible motivation for doing that are explained very well in this book.

In the end of the book Mr. Davis briefly covers some of the books that were contemporary with his.
The only thing he doesn't do is name the actual trigger men.
This book is available and inexpensive.It's a book I highly recommend for anyone wanting to study the assassination of JFK.

While the stories here are interesting true crime stories we have either read about or followed in the media, I was very disappointed that the author did not take the time to do any in-depth research like read court documents, interview witnesses, etc. The stories are therefore very scanty in details; very superficial. Tammy Cohen could have done a better job and made this book worth its price.

A rehash of twelve sensational murders that that have been written about extensively elsewhere. They have also already been subjects of many true crime television shows. The author uses slangy, tabloid-style language.

Tammy Cohen's recent publication DEADLY DIVORCES will make on seriously reconsider the concept of marriage!

In DEADLY DIVORCES, Cohen offers up twelve short stories on the lives (and deaths, of course) of couples who, for a variety of reasons, felt that murdering his/her spouse was the only way out.

I found these stories to be so well written that I was engrossed and couldn't stop reading. Thankfully, being short stories, I was able to break away. Readers will find this book a quick read, but one very well worth it.

DEADLY DIVORCES will make the single ponder if marriage is worth the risk; while the married reader will look at his/her spouse in a new light, with a new question in their head...."Could s/he ever kill me?"

As a true crime reader, I've read over 100 books dealing with the subject. What drew me to this book is that it has 12 stories all in one neat package. Not only that, there are stories from the UK, which is refreshing as I've read so many from the US, it's hard to find new ones! The chapters read more like 'stories' than your traditional true crime. Heavy on drama, light on police work and background, the tales are none the less interesting and intriguing. I loved being able to read one or two before bed. While not as heavy as many other TC that focus on one in-depth story, it's still a great read. Full color pics are nice as well.

Although nominally about the material designated in its title, this book is no mere collection of statistics, but contains wide-ranging discussions of evolutionary psychology, which Daly & Wilson use as the framework for an understanding of the phenomenon of homicide. So if the propensity to homicide is bred into the human race by millennia of natural selection, so also are other phenomena with which society struggles, like sexual harassment. I guess my point is that this book is about homicide and more. It's also lucid and even witty. It reads like a detective story, which indeed it is, but the culprit here is manifold rather than singular. The book will also furnish guidance to those who subscribe to the view that arrest, conviction, and incarceration will have only limited effects on the homicide rate, and that homicide be treated also as a public health problem. Daly & Wilson consider anthropological data from around the world and historical data as well to draw their inferences. In the most common type of murder the perpetrator and victim are young men who know each other and are in (ostensible) conflict over some trivial matter. But Daly & Wilson say that murder is the rare outcome of a common situation where two men face off against each other with each trying to appear more formidable and dangerous than the other. The (biological) reason they behave as they do is that such behavior causes them to acquire (or keep) control of the reproductive behavior of their women. Think about it: wimps, who allowed their women to be taken away from themselves, left no wimp genes in the gene pool. Of course there are a lot of other kinds of murders: children are occasionally murdered, sometimes by their natural parents, but more often by step-parents. It appears that there is a basis for the ever-popular myth (in many cultures, not just western European) of the evil step-parent. Husbands murder wives, but this seems to be a case of violence being used to control the wife's reproductive behavior, and the violence gets out of hand. When wives murder husbands (a rarer occurrence) it tends to be defensive in nature. Wonderful book! Very thought provoking.

This book presents the view of evolucionist pychology. These authors have some excellent points, especially concerning social anthropology and some of Freud's misinformation, and anyone interested in psychology should not miss this book. However, once the authors have given an overview of behavior in the species homo sapiens, their theories cannot be translated to the individual. They have not taken into consideration the complexity of the human brain and the resultant behavior, especially the ability to symbolize. I felt like I was reading a book on how to assemble a Swiss watch using a pick and shovel

I've now read this book about 10 times over the past three years while teaching an evolution of human behavior course at the college where I'm employed. I was motivated to say a few supportive words about this book because I have become convinced of its groundbreaking importance in the scientific literature. After a decade of reading and studying evolutionary anthropology/psychology I find no other single book that so clearly and convincingly articulates the application of Darwinian thinking to modern human behavior. It is a perfect text to use with students as it not only teaches a wealth of information, but is also an excellent example of critical interpretation of data. Many of my students have commented on the power of this book to transform them into appreciative readers of science. From my own experience, it is one of a few books that transformed me from a standard social science undergraduate--mired in theoretical mush--into a more critical and thoughtful scholar. The other books that influenced me were by Sarah Hrdy, Don Symons, and later, Jarome Barkow et al. I encourage anyone interested in human behavior to read this book. Bring along a collegiate dictionary if your vocabulary is anything like that of my undergraduates!

i REALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ENGAGING BOOK. HOWEVER, CLOSER TO THE END IT STARTS ALL THE LEGAL JARGON AND YOU GET LOST. THE STORY IS ONLY FROM THE BEGINNING TO MIDDLE OF THE BOOK THEN IT STARTS THE TRIAL AND THUS THE BORE FROM MIDDLE TO END. WAY TO MUCH LEGAL JARGON FOR ME. I REALLY LIKED READING THE STORY AND WHAT THE BOOK IS REALLY ABOUT.

I read Susan Wright's story in two days. I couldn't put it down. It could have been longer and it would have been nice to get more detail with regard to the relationship she had with her husband; that part was a little too short and not enough particulars. It was still enjoyable and mesmerizing. I found the prosecuting attorney's part also very interesting. She was relentless in her pursuit to find justice. Bringing the bed into court and re-enacting the murder was unbelievable. I love non-fiction, especially true crime, so this was right up my alley. Check it out; you won't be disappointed.

It intrigues me because it amazes me how these people think, and how they try to get away with murder.
I could not put this book down!
Great read.

I agree with the previous reviewers. I recomend the book simply because it IS such an interesting crime and will not disappoint readers. However, a post-conviction interview with Susan Wright and/or other family members would have given the story additional depth. However, the history concerning the prosecuting attorney and her prosecution of this case are entertaining and well worth the read. Too bad we do not know as much about Susan Wright.

I had several overwhelming thoughts while reading this book.

1. What kind of woman "snaps" and stabs her husband 193 times? When someone "snaps," they lash out instinctively and then, just as quickly, are horrified by their own actions. "Snapping" would imply Susan Wright lashed out in a moment of desperation and stabbed her husband two, maybe three times. 193 stabs? Give me a break!

2. The forensic evidence suggests Susan Wright tied her huband to the headboard and footboard of their bed... in 4-point restraint style. The evidence also suggests she did some stabbing, took a break, and then did some more stabbing. Crazy? Yes. Snapped? No.

3. If Susan Wright had killed in self-defense or under reasonable, understandable circumstances, she would not have tried... for days, I might add, to cover up the crime. It sounds like the master bedroom was a complete BLOODBATH! Did she really think a few gallons of paint was going to disguise what had happened?

4. I am not sure what is wrong with Susan Wright, but she clearly has and may always have had mental or emotional difficulties. She committed a horrible, gruesome, bloody crime and then attempts to rid her home of the evidence using the most elementary of plans. She buries her huband in a very shallow flower bed right outside the back door and throws the blood soaked mattress into the back yard as well. While the family dog paws at the grave over the next several days, Susan Wright buys paint for the bedroom but continues to leave the bloody mattress in the backyard... in plain sight of any neighbors who might have had 2 story homes or yards nearby. What a nut job!

The sentence for Susan Wright does seem lenient, but I do not view her as a dangerous criminal as much as I do a very sick individual. Let us all hope she is receiving some sort of treatment in prison so that she has some hope of understanding herself and her motivations. There must be SOMETHING in her history to explain her irrational thoughts and behaviors! It behooves Susan Wright to figure out how she became the woman she is.

This book tells the story of Susan Wright who was convicted of stabbing her husband, Jeff, 193 times until he bled to death. The prosection believed that she had seduced her husband with the idea of kinky sex, tied him to the headboard of their marital bed and then, when he was properly restrained and defenseless, proceeded to inflict her rage via a hunting knife repeatedly. However, the defense for Wright said that she was a battered wife and simply just snapped.

Any time you have a "he said, she said" situation and the "he said" part is not there to testify, the case become purely circumstancial. While the dead can testify in their own way through forensics, doing so in this case did not really help since Susan Wright admitted that she had killed her husband. When it came to the "she said" (self defense), there was evidence to prove it; but there was evidence to prove the contrary.

It is most likely this conflicting information that led the jury to convict her yet administer a light sentence. If she had not been in Harris County, Texas, chances are she would have walked with reasonable doubt.

While the information provided is speculated and told from the view point of the prosecution and background information on Jeff and Susan is limited, the story is still interesting; especially if you like to see both sides of the story and form your own opinion.

This book has some great lines about prison. One has stayed in my mind ever since I read the book 25 years ago. Jimmy Smith: "Powell was a punk in the gym in Vacaville. They bent him over a workout bar and browned em."

I read this book many years ago. Last week, while I was browsing through used books in a Goodwill Store, I came across a hardbound copy in pristine condition. It was selling for $2.00. Needless to say, without hesitation, I bought it. I found myself an absolute treasure. Without a doubt in my mind, this is easily the finest non-fiction story of crime and retribution I have ever read, gripping and haunting thoughout. Only one other non-fiction crime story comes close to it, and that is SWORDFISH by David McClintick. If this book can be purchased, do so without hesitation. Jay Wickramasinghe, Citrus Heights, California

This gripping narrative describes the 1963 kidnapping and murder of Los Angeles police officer Ian Campbell (1931-1963) and the crime's lengthy aftermath. Campbell and his partner Karl Hettinger were kidnapped at gunpoint one night by two hoods during a routine traffic stop, and then driven into the country where Campbell was shot dead in an Onion field. Hettinger managed to flee to safety, but was left with psychological trauma and a crushing sense of guilt over his partner's death. The author details the lives of the two killers, their lengthy trials and appeals, and the aftermath for the traumatized Hettinger, who was blamed by many for allowing the tragedy to occur. Readers learn not only about the crime and its lengthy aftermath, but also about the victimization of survivors, and about our imperfect system of justice.

Author Joseph Wambaugh modeled this book after IN COLD BLOOD, Truman Capote's superb look at the 1959 murder of a Kansas farm family. Wambaugh didn't quite match Capote, but THE ONION FIELD makes excellent reading (it also became a pretty good movie). Readers might also like Wambaugh's THE BLOODING (about the first use of DNA testing) and ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS.

It has been some years since this one hit the shelves, but it is non the worse for wear. Actually, I have to agree with another reviewer in that I too, feel this is one of Wambaugh's best. A true sory, brought to light in a very readable story like format. It is rather unforgetable. The author does a very good job of not only telling us a story (Wambaugh is, after all, first and formost a great story teller), but gives us great insight into the thoughts and motivations of the killers. He gives us a wonderful profile of the oung officer who survived this horrible crime. I cannot in all truth say it is as good as "In Cold Blood," but it comes pretty close to the mark. Recommend this one highly.

The two cops didn't expect anything life-altering when they pulled over the car with the busted taillight in Hollywood that Saturday night in 1963. But that was what they got. Before the night was over, one officer was dead and the other would never be the same.

Joseph Wambaugh's 1973 true-crime account of the killing is perhaps his best-known and most celebrated work, made into a memorable movie and a kind of calling card for Wambaugh's critical yet sensitive way of writing about crime and police work. "The Onion Field" may be based on a true story, but it reads like a novel, much like Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" would have had Capote been as interested in the crime itself as in the problem of capital punishment.

Like "In Cold Blood," you have one killer who is gay and unreasonably violent, another who is a hardened tag-along. Unlike "In Cold Blood," Wambaugh wastes little sympathy for either, especially as they and their attorneys work the system to preserve their lives while the surviving cop is left roasting on a spit, forced to relive the experience that night in the lonely onion field where his partner was killed as the rest of his life spirals out of control.

There are sections where "The Onion Field" is hard to put down and others where it lulls you to sleep. Wambaugh finds everything in this case too fascinating to keep to himself, whether it's a juror with a persecution complex or a defense attorney who objects to everything in hope of getting a mistrial. The first 50 pages may be the dullest in the book, as the "before" lives of several key participants are examined to great mundane length.

But once the two felons, Jimmy Lee Smith and Gregory Powell, find each other, Wambaugh is at his best tracing their brief partnership of crime. Powell styles himself a trenchcoat-wearing mastermind, but his idea of strategy is a getaway car with a burnt clutch so there is no chance of pulling away from a job too quickly. As the pair drive around aimlessly, Powell waving his gun around, Smith wondering when he might ditch his pal and steal the loot for himself, "The Onion Field" is on a par with Wambaugh's best comedy. Then they meet their destiny and the two lawmen, and the bad guys' stupidity is no longer funny.

The other element this book really nails is the story of the surviving detective. Already wrestling with huge survivor's guilt, he is forced to endure much departmental second-guessing about how he allowed the crooks to take him alive. In time, he becomes such a mess he starts to steal, as if willing his own disgrace. Naturally, this gets brought up in court by an opportunistic defense attorney, who labels him a sociopath.

"He doesn't know the meaning of guilt," the lawyer says, ironically enough given by this point of the story guilt's all the guy does know.

I've found other Wambaugh books more compelling, especially "The Blooding," which has many of the same themes (pathology, the strain of police work) but also a better story and sharper focus. "Onion Field" is a memorable book, though, something to shake the most jaded reader into thinking about how many different ways we can find ourselves on the wrong side of the law.