True Crime Books

O'Connell's true crime novel Fourteen is a definite must read. From setting the mood of the late 1960's to the relationships of all the parties involved this book is packed with page turning details of this horrific crime. O'Connell follows the Stukel family from the time of the murder till present day and with grace and dignity and finally lets them have a voice. He also gives key insight into the family history of the two killers and also other key players in the trial to follow. Packed with insight O'Connell definitively did his homework!

A wonderfully written and enthralling book. I went through a myriad of emotions while taken through this absorbing story. Mr. O'Connell is a gifted writer.

I couldn't put this book down.

Bill O'Connell has crafted a well written, compelling account of an old murder which made as little sense when it was committed in 1968 as it does today. Meticulously and thoroughly researched, this book details the crime without being overly judgemental about the perpetrators - a difficult thing to do - and lets the reader form his/her own opinions about them. The other reviews describe the book well; I won't attempt to copy them. "Enjoyable" might not be the best work to describe the story - I'll fall back on "compelling" again. All I can add is that I couldn't put it down.

Perhaps it's because I began my teaching career at Joliet East High School. Then again, perhaps it's because I taught mostly freshmen. For whatever reason, I can hardly bare to look at the face of David Stukel on this book's cover. Freshman boys were an interesting lot. Some were men-in-the-making with peach fuzz above their lip, and heads that turned at any girl that might pass by. Others were still little boys, small in stature and a bit uncomfortable with the transition from eighth grade. After school, theirs was still a life of bicycles and play. The descriptive narrative used to describe David Stukel painted a picture of one such "little boy." Further details brought to life this freckle-faced young boy whose ears had yet to grow into his face. The telling of the murder brought 1968 into my living room. Without missing a detail, Bill O'Connell breathed life into the murder and its aftermath. I could see and feel David's fear. I could feel his confusion when asked to comply with demands foreign to him. I could feel his insides cringe as foul, "bad" curse words met his ears. He was a fighter without training or gloves in an arena without bounds.I could feel his defenselessness in the foreign world of bullies, vile language and the desire to harm. I could feel his horror. Through the expertise of a gifted writer, Bill O'Connell brought David into my home. His expert writing forced me to look into David's eyes. His writing enabled me to hear David silently mouth, "Help."

For anyone who has children, this book is an eye-opener to the world of bullies. For anyone who values justice, this book portrays the disappointment of a broken legal system. For anyone who wonders about the impact of family life on the future of a child, this book reveals the ugly truth. Fourteen by Bill O'Connell is a page-turner, a heart breaker and a must-read.

A small Midwestern town, a quiet farming area, made up of multi-cultural, working middle class families in the late 60's. When one weekday afternoon as people headed to the comfort and protection of their own homes, an unspeakable horror occurred, at the back steps of what was considered then, a safe place. Bill has done an excellent job bringing all the facts and players into clear view. I could not put it down once I started reading it. These events changed not only the lives of those closest to it, but everyone in that community. Thanks Bill for attentively putting together all the facts, faces, places, and stories and doing it with grace and thoughtfulness. Even for someone opposed to violence, this book is a must read. The tale that it tells puts a light on evils that might lurk in your own backyard.

What a great book! Informative yet readable, intellectual yet approachable. Larry Morris understands why women are dangerous. He sees the necessity for understanding why people commit crimes and finds answers in the under-studied area of women's behavior and how it can lead to crime.

Besides being relevant and informative, Dr. Morris touches on a subject that so badly needs our attention and focus-- the politically incorrect discussion of women as dangerous!

Larry Morris has approached a subject that is on the minds of everyone who watches true crime shows on TV or is one of the millions of readers of such stories who wonders: "How could a woman do this?"

Tackling his subject with professional detachment, Morris, a forensic psychologist, takes a close look at the women in his collection--from Mary Winkler, who murdered her minister husband and was set free, to astronaut Lisa Nowak, who drove thousands of miles to do harm to a romantic rival. Morris explores roughly thirty "dangerous women" whose lives took a wrong turn to find out what turned them into stalkers, murderers, and molesters. Some may argue that Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan didn't quite reach this level, but as members of the "growing up dangerous" category who have all been jail bound for their behavior, they certainly belong in this book as examples of what NOT to do when bringing up a teenage daughter.
I think the author has outdone himself with this book, and I can't wait to read his next one!

What a book!!! I had no idea Cleveland even had a mob until I started researching Tampa's mob history. There I found out about the Hotel Statler mob meeting back in the 20s, and later when I read up on Vegas and found out about Moe Dalitz. This book gives you insight into the art of rumrunning. This borgata starts out so fierce in the beginning, but just died off and lost strength due to guys getting old, getting killed, and getting flipped. Thanks to this book I'm no longer in the dark about the full scale of organized crime in America.

Great historical facts. Could have been better if it flowed better with less jumping around. Would have enjoyed learning the facts more if it had been done as a factual novel. A must read for any history buff interested in the Clevland area.

I love mob books and this one doesn't dissappoint. Must have for the mob book lover.

Organized crime flourishes beyond New York and Chicago and the mob wars of Cleveland, during Prohibition and since, were as colorful and violent as any elsewhere. Rick Porrello is a fantastic writer, a dedicated Mafia researcher, and as both a Cleveland cop and a descendant of Joe Porrello has the inside track on the Cleveland Hit Parade!

There was room for five families in New York. In Cleveland there was only room for one. The Lonardos and the Porellos struggle to control the manufacture and distribution of liquor during prohibition is well-chronicled in this work. Moe Dalitz financing of Las Vegas casinos is discussed. The book even continues on into the racketeering of Danny Greene and the ILA in the 1970's.

If anyone is going through the hell of being stalked, or even think they are being stalked, they MUST by Detective Proctor's book "How to Stop A Stalker"
I have read other "stalking" books, and they have been helpful, but none to the extent of Detective Proctor's book.
The information, the suggestions, everything is a MUST for someone being stalked.
He UNDERSTANDS, something that I didn't feel from the other stalking books.
Detective Proctor knows the reality and horror of stalking in an easy read and extremely informative book.
This book is up to date (unlike some of the other Stalking books) and my only problem is that he doesn't have a sequel. Hopefully that is something he is working on.
I give this book ten stars. This book literally saved my life and it can save yours.
If you, a friend, or a family member are being stalked, you must read this book.

A practical guide on how to deal with and survive a stalker. I applaud the author for writing about a subject that many in law enforcement and society itself dismiss cavalierly, until it is too late. We need to take these crimes seriously and deal with them early before they escalate out of hand. This book highlights the do's and don'ts to help victims persevere and overcome the abuse of a stalker. A definite eye opener.

I have taught an upper division course on Family Violence for 20 years. After many years of searching for a credible and useful book on stalking I came across Det. Proctor's book on how to stop a stalker. I have also had 28 years of experience in law enforcement; therefore, I approached the book the first time I "studied" it from both an academic and an applied perspective. The true value of the book lies in the fact that the author bases it on years of field experience investigating and studying stalkers. He is to be commended for stating that he does not know everything and continues to learn new things about the subject. Two major typologies are developed. The first typology presents the elements of the crime of stalking--harrassment, credible threat, and course of conduct. The second typology presents the three types of stalkers--domestic, acquaintance, and stranger. Proctor draws on the two typologies throughout the book as he systematically writes about stalking. The book helps to understand the difference between romantic compulsion and stalking. Drawing on case histories Proctor provides insight into why they stalk, how they target victims, techniques of stalking, compulsion, and the impact on the victims' lives, as well as the victims' families, friends, and co-workers. Proctor does an excellent job of differentiating between male and female stalkers. The use of case histories is what makes the book come alive. Sound practical advice is provided for investigators as well as victims. I highly recommend the book for use in the classroom. My students were impressed and it generated insightful discussion--including personal experiences, on campus and elsewhere, as well as experiences of friends and family members. All criminal investigators and prosecutors should read the book as well. These are not easy cases to investigate and prosecute and Proctor' recommendations are both thorough and helpful.

First off, the royal we becomes annoying really fast.

When he sticks to his topic, he's informative, enlightening, and even entertaining. He knows his stuff and he covers a lot of ground, including the Internet. I feel like I've learned a lot of information from him and I don't regret reading this book.

Too often, however, he veers off into "this is why me and my group and wonderful and have to face a whole bunch of idiots." Like in the section on sadism where he never gets around to giving the example he promised, but rather discusses problems he had with a jurist from another jurisdiction.

Overall, the tone is quite juvenile, and I had to keep reminding myself this was a man in his fifties, not early twenties. He comes off as a bit of a puppy. The name calling gets tiresome after a while. I'd also rather he not talk down to the reader. I didn't need him to clarify that no, dead bodies don't sit up and give statements to the police, thanks.

Those last two points are what keeps the book from getting 5 stars. It's a good book; it could have been a great book.

I expected a work on stalking to be very dry and difficult to get through. This book,however, was extremely interesting,informative and easy to read. It is the sort of book that the normal man in the street could read and apply as easily as someone who is more knowledgeable about the subject. A wonderful handbook for anyone having troubles of this nature and a wothwhile read for any safety conscious individual.

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I tend to be the type to think everyone accused is guilty and while I do think Darlie probably is, this book really pointed out the scary inconsistencies of the States case against her. It was troubling that the author began by seemingly supporting that she was guilty but by the last 1/3, he really was leaning towards her innocence. He does to a good job pointing out the holes in the prosecutions theories but spends a little too much time doing just that. Overall a very good read and I look forward to ordering the other books on her case.

THIS BOOK WAS HARD TO GET THROUGH. AT THE END, I WAS STILL WONDERING IF SHE KILLED HER CHILDREN OR NOT. THE LAST 10 OR SO PAGES WERE THE BEST OF THE WHOLE BOOK. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HER HUSBAND DID NOT HERE THE CHILDREN SCREAM-SEEMS FAR-FETCHED TO ME.

I liked this book because it presents the basic facts of the case, as well as the positions of the State and the defendant, Darlie Routier. I do not know if I would agree with reviews that say Don Davis seemed to conclude in the end that Darlie was innocent. Rather, I think Davis was trying to get across the point that he was disappointed with the trial because the State played to the emotions of a conservative jury instead of staying close to the facts.

This case is probably too difficult to crack because even the two experts for the State, James Cron and Alan Brantley, figured out that there was no intruder, but neither expert could specifically state why Darlie would have killed her two sons. My opinion, which is basically Crime Scene Analysis 101, is that the correct person is behind bars, but that this is a jealous (because the attack is neither a sustained attack nor a quick kill) rage (I think that putting a knife is someone's back six times is a pretty good indication) killing. If you look hard enough and think long enough, you will be able to find both jealousy and rage in this case. Although most people believe that the killings were for money, this type of killing is not consistent with a killing for money, which tends to be matter of fact and have much less violence than what we see here.

On the night of June 5, 1996, Darlie Lynn Routier stabbed her two sons, six-year-old Devon and five-year-old Damon, to death and then slashed her own throat, all while her husband and baby son slept upstairs. New York Times bestselling author Donald A. Davis, former news correspondent, editor, and now writer of some of the biggest crimes of the decade, writes the biography and the case of Darlie. Although Davis succeeds in accuracy and is extremely knowledgeable about crime in general, the book is almost completely one-sided and leaves many questions unanswered.

Darlie seemed to be the perfect mother to most of her Dallas community, until police found that her story was filled with far too many inconsistencies. Davis successfully paints a clear background of Darlie and her husband, Darin Routier's, past through chapters 10 to 12 and is very knowledgeable when it comes to crime and criminal cases. He also pays very close attention to the details of the case. Unfortunately, while the cover and summary clearly state that Darlie is a cold, calculative killer, Davis almost completely takes Darlie's side and the story continues in that manner, paying close attention to the defense's testimonies in the case and not enough to the prosecution's.

Hush Little Babies is overall an easy read. It builds up suspense and then leaves you wondering what will happen in the next chapter. When changing to an idea or another viewpoint Davis separates them with asterisks, making it easy to tell when the story will change. The chapters are extremely short, however, with 32 in the whole book. This sometimes makes the story feel choppy and confuses the reader into thinking the subject of the chapter will change, when the exact same information will be separated into three different chapters.

When I first started to read Hush Little Babies I was prepared to read a biography with a few interesting details into why this mother would kill her children. Instead I felt I was reading dramatic work of fiction that outlined Darlie as a "poor, defenseless" mother who sat "horrified" as she "watched her sons die in a pool of their own blood". While there were details of the case poking out through all that drama, I found that in some instances there were far too many. On page 175, Davis goes so far as to mention the temperature and average rainfall of the tiny little town in which the case goes to court! While the style of the story did hurt the overall book, Davis succeeded in his comparisons of past cases, including the case of Susan Smith, who strapped her sons into her car and drove it into a lake. His knowledge of past cases and of how the court system works also makes the story more interesting. I only wish he could have answered the question of whether Darlie was actually the murderer, or what happened to her family after she was finally sentenced to death.

Overall, Hush Little Babies was an interesting read with very good details and a simple format. The only thing that really hurt the story was its style, and the fact that it tried far too hard in showing that Darlie Routier may have been innocent.

Story written about the infamous Darlie Routier who was tried and convicted for the murder of her young son. Although both boys were murdered the state of Texas only tried her for one murder. She was found to be guilty and sentenced to death. There have been several books written about the case, some good, some not so good. This read was mediocre, it didn't bring about anything that hadn't already been wrote, but the story was told accurately as reported by the media.

Well, let's see....I bought this book in the hopes of learning about some type of connection with the P.I.R.A and the Southie Irish "mob". First, I had to get through the first ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE PAGES which had to do with Mr. Nee's life prior to his involvement.

If you couple that with the forty or so pages that dealt with the actual boat trip, which Mr. Nee wasn't even privy to, then you have about TWENTY pages actually dealing with the topic of "The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection".

Listen, Mr. Nee, I understand you not wanting to tell the "whole" story about what you did as I'm sure the statute of limitations hasn't run out. But don't spout off about some huge connection between the Irish "mob" and the P.I.R.A if you don't have much to say. You wrote more about Jimmy Bulger than you did about anything else!

The only saving grace of the book was that you felt like you were bellied up to the bar in some run down gin mill swapping stories with ole' Patty himself. It's an easy read, completed it in a night, but only pick it up if you're interested in one-sided war stories about criminals who victimized Southie.

A Criminal and an Irishman is a terrific read, particularly for anyone interested in American connections to the defiance of British rule and oppression in Northern Ireland. Highly informative and entertaining, the novel also provides a great deal of excitement in its recounting of its anti-hero's adventures as a criminal and a gun runner for Irish freedom fighters. Pleasantly, it avoids glorifying crime, yet it does provide insight into why Pat Nee made the choices he did, as both a criminal and an Irishman. Further, it provides facts too often ignored in the US press about Britain's continuing atrocities against Nationalists and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Anyone who wants to know the truth about what goes on in that enemy-occupied country would do well to read this book.

This is the best book in its class. Nee is everything that Mac, Weeks, Shea aren't. He is truthful and honest. Nee's story puts it all into perspective and negates all the other fiction. Nee's story is the one that you want to hear about. Recounting the events of his life, that he remembers. The South Boston gang war chapter is outstanding, and the valhalla chapter is almost a "how to smuggle" for those of you interested. Nee's story is both moving and compelling, with his sentiment towards his brother and his belief in the IRA as opressed people. Nee's image of Whitey Bulger is outstanding. This is a definite good read. buy it.

This is a solidly wriiten book on criminal activity in Boston and arms smuggling to Ireland. The author pulls no punches about what he did and offers no apologies to the lifestyle he choose. You can either love or hate him but he seems to be a respectable guy from this book. The co-authors do a pretty good job putting his voice into a readable manner.

I had high hopes for this one, in light of the pros working with Nee. It just seemed to degenerate into a political polemic, however, about half way through; almost like two mini-books with stange pacing by the editor. Without trying to, I found myself mentally substituting "Al Qaeda" for IRA, trying unsuccessfully to differentiate in my mind why these guys were substantially different from middle eastern "freedom fighters". Left unexamined was the tragic way his family started him on his path in life, making him a really angry guy in general. Despite service in the USMC, he doesn't refer to himself as an American throughout most of the book. I really wish I could have liked this one more but I know plenty of guys like Nee who made better life choices.

This is a sad story and I feel horrible for the Fahey family, but Ann Rule totally overdoes it. Deborah McIntyre was NOT the victim. And Ms. Rule continuously goes on and on stating how beautiful she was when she so clearly is NOT (sorry I just have to say that). Tom Capano is a disgusting individual. Ann Rule gets so carried away trying to explain away Ms. McIntyre's mistakes and Ms. Fahey's mistakes that it takes away from the story. She didn't have to. To read about the case, Summer Wind is much better.

I, wanted to read the book to see if there were additions to the DVD version. Very Intersting Reading.

Enjoy!

Ann Rule delivers another of her thoroughly researched and grippingly written tomes in the tale of Thomas Capano and Anne Marie Fahey.

This reviewer, True Crime afficianada, and regular Ann Rule reader, recently discovered a gem of a Made-for-TV movie Ann Rule's And Never Let Her Go. But even with its runtime of 3 hrs 20 minutes, it is not long enough.
Adam Greenman's teleplay adaptation of Ms Rule's book leaves out a lot and might leave the non-reader watcher befuddled and confused. For example, the torrid tawdry Capano/Christine affair is barely hinted, although it was a focal point of the book, the trial, and fodder for the tabloids.

So, get the book and the movie. Read the book this week, then, this weekend, make a nice cozy fire and settle in to watch a wicked good movie of the Evil that Men do.

/TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

Like most all of Ann Rule's true crime novels, this was absolutely absorbing. Very thorough research made for an indepth reading about the lives of everyone involved in the case, everyone except - Kay Ryan Capano, the wife of the murderer. Throughout the whole book, I found myself asking, "What about Kay? What did she know and when?" I suppose it isn't the fault of the author if it is because Kay wouldn't grant her a real interview, but I just found it to be a major missing component of the story. I finished this book feeling so angry with the narcissistic Capano family.

Tom Capano is a rich, successful, EXTREMELY egotisical, affluent pyschopath that murders Anne Marie Fahey, the young woman he was having a secret affair with. This man had a wife, who had the good sense to 'get out'. He also was involved(at the same time) in another affair with a woman who became so manipulated by him that he actually tried to frame her for Ms. Fahey's murder. She was so under his control, that he seemed to really believe, she would take the fall for him. Although, she was not involved, this mistress came to know he killed Anne Marie. After he was arrested, this mistress continued to visit him in jail. She well knew, he tried to frame her, but was still trying to "hang on". Believe me, I've had my bad moments, but self esteem that low; I cannot grasp. That type of mentality, I do not understand. It is an engrossing tale. Anne Marie's family was so forthcoming with interviews, that you could sense their real love, strength, and closeness. When they realized Anne was missing, they searched out and uncovered her secret affair with this man. They pieced together what happened, and despite their grief, would not stop until, Tom Capano was brought to justice; very affluent though he was. The only problem I have with Ann Rule, is her tendency to make victims out to be so saintly and innocent. This beautiful young woman certainly didn't deserve this monster--but she did choose him. She kept her affair from her family, even though they were very closeknit. Her family truly loved her. I sure her brother would have read her the "riot act" if he had known, She realized this too, that why she didn't tell him. She knew Capano was married. She made a mistake many women make, but unfortunately he was psycho. The hard fact is she was not without responsibility for putting herself in the position to be butchered by this man. At one point, she had broken off her relationship with Capano and found a young man she could have had a future with. Capano stayed away. One day at work, Ms. Fahey discovered her car wouldn't start. In a moment of weakness, she called Capano to come and pick her up and take her home. It was a momentary lapse, or maybe she was confused. Sometimes, you break up with someone because you know they are not good for you, but part of you still wants them. I believe Capano thought she was interested in re-establishing a relationship with him when she called him to pick her up.
He set out to woo her with expensive clothes and dinners. When he realized she really didn't want him back, I really believe, he felt she was toying with him. He could not comprehend, she really wanted someone else. I can also mentally envision, egotisical Tom's thought processes when he realised, she really did not want him any longer: Who does this B**** think she is? I'm Thomas Capano, nobody plays with ME! Nobody messes with ME!--and lives another day. He snapped and killed her. It was disturbing. I wondered if she might still be alive, if she had stayed resolute and not contacted him after she initially broke things off. She had a beautiful spirit, you can see it in her photographs. So sad.

This was a very different approach for a person that is interested in CSI or forensics. You're in the juror's box. The situation is spelled out for you in descriptive, accessible terms. The jurors instructions and what each charge against the defendant encompasses are defined and explained thoroughly. I highly recommend this book to middle and upper school children studying government or interested in law. As an adult, I found the book interesting and thought provoking.

This is a tight,concise true crime saga with a cast of hundreds of good and bad guys. YET there is only one brave,drivin "warts & all" man who stands out,Detective William Oldham ,who pursued over 7 years basically on his own, the most corrupt detectives NYC has ever witnessed known forever as the 2 Mafia Cops ; Caracappa & Eppolito.Those 2 cops were working directly for the Mafia Luchese family . Without giving anything away ,other than what you may have read in the newspapers ,this is one hell of a compelling page turner . If you thought you knew the politics of the various divisions of crime fighting or the ways of the mafia fully fleshed out. You, my fellow true crime buffs' are in for some major suprises throughout.

It's more like a bad road through an interesting place. The subject is fascinating, but it's not a page flipper. And that's because of the book's organization. It shoulda been divided into Parts with distinct themes and characters. If it was easier to read I'd give it 5 stars.

A riveting account of two rogue cops who freelanced themselves to the Luchese crime family for years and got away with it until a cadre of dedicated investigators compiled the evidence to put them away. The book gives a detailed description of day to day life in the NYPD and the mob. Martin Scorcese should be looking for a cast for a blockbuster movie.

I must agree with reviewer/reader maskirovka in that this book takes liberties not with facts, but with narrative tense and editing. This is not really the story about the infamous mafia cops ( we have to read to almost page 120 to begin the biography of one of the killer detectives ) as much as it is the story of the cop who chased them. Oldham's publishers probably thought we had read enough about supercops fighting the mob and police corruption. The idea of another Serpico or Donnie Brasco was probably a hard sell. Regardless, what we really get is a biography on Oldham and his career in law enforcment. The case of the mob cops was simply the one that he obsessed with the most and that was most infamous. Oldham's writer/partner Lawson is no Truman Capote either. His device of using quotations for some of Oldham's first person narratives are questionable, given the fact that THE WHOLE BOOK is really a first person narrative from Oldham's persepctive. We can imagine Oldham in Hollywood shopping this story to the major film studios. Here's a question for him. "If any of the living criminal characters in your book with a vowel at the end of their name agreed to attend a luncheon with you and a movie producer, just to add an air of credibilty, would you bring them along?" Hmmm.

I happen to just love the work that these two guys did on this book about Lou Eppolito and the other bad cop. I am in the book on pages 358 throu 364 I am Jane McCormick. I had dealing with Mr Eppolito for 3 years. He was a good con man and he conned $45,000 from me . He said if you cant trust a cop who can you trust! Jane harvey was the name I used in Vegas. I am writting my true life story. It is already done but it is being edited now and will be plublished in a few mos. I am hopping to get it on this wonderful web site soon.I have a wonderful writer that is writing But this book will tell it as it really was in Vegas in the 60s and 70s