True Crime Books

I received my order within a couple of days, very fast shipping. The book itself was a great read. Would recommend this book to anyone.

The two boys had every reason to do what they did, and if they had looked or acted remorseful during that time, it would have been to their benefit. But no, page 186 describes Jason telling another inmate that he killed his mother, grinning about it the entire time. What did he expect? That they wouldn't consider him a threat to society if he acted like that? Then there's the unfortunate fact that this young man was 18, and considered an adult, who could have gone out into the ring and taken the legal system on himself for custody of his brother.

I agree that this story is tragic for many reasons. First of all, because someone should have taken custody away from the mother, she was in no shape to be raising two teenage boys. Even their father sort of backed out after he left her and sort of saved himself. If anyone had made a case out of this, I doubt any judge would have left two boys with a mother who is obviously and unmistakably mentally ill.

The other reason this story is tragic is the fact that it ended with murder. The children's mother was very sick and someone should have tried to get her help, instead of treating her like she had full mental capacity and holding her responsible for her actions. She probably did not mean to hurt the boys the way she did, but she was terrified every day herself of millions of formulated threats and being stalked by "the henchmen of Duncan Sheik." She was scared, in some ways really a victim herself, and she needed to be in the care of a psychiatrist and on some kind of medication that might have aided her in living a normal life.

And however much she tormented and abused her sons, in the end, she also wasn't the one who committed murder.

So while this book demonstrates a complete lack of regard from the entire world on the abusive situation the boys were forced to deal with for years, it also demonstrates a lack of regard and compassion regarding a woman who was seriously mentally ill, by no fault of her own, that no one bothered to aid or care about until it was too late.

I think Jason's punishment was apt. Matthew, however, really does deserve a second chance at life.

Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder

This story is very frustrating because several people knew this mother had mental problems and did't try to get help for her or her children.

This book should make clear to anyone who reads it the hypocrisy and double standards with which our culture reacts to murder. If the genders were reversed, Jason could have been ten years older and would have been portrayed as rising against the shackles of patriarchal oppression. There would have been celebrities and artists and feminists turning the case into a cause celebre, as they did with Aileen Wuornos, who had far less reason to commit her depradations than these boys. I, too, think the punishment for Jason was appropriate, although the expectation that he could have been repentant is ridiculous. Most people -- male or female -- who are raised under such circumstances aren't. Jason was rightly held socially responsible for his actions, but the root cause of this ugly tragedy was mainly the monster "mother" who "raised" him.

Note, too, the eager willingness on the part of female readers to assume this "mother" was mentally ill. Apparently, there are those who believe that only men are capable of abuse, violation, and oppression through the force of their own will.

This is a well-written, gripping true crime tale. I simply could not put the book down! It is a tragic story that is profoundly sad, as it deals with the murder of a woman, Jane Bautista, by her older son, Jason Bautista, with the knowledge and blessing of the younger one, Matt Montejo. Jane Bautista was mentally ill, and they simply could no longer deal with her erratic and frightening behavior. Jason's regrettable act was one that he deluded himself into thinking would restore normalcy into his and his brother's lives, only to find that his young life would never be normal as a result.

The book lays out the pattern of the children's lives over the years, living with a mother that had, undoubtedly, developed paranoid schizophrenia in her early adulthood. Her behavior was erratic, frightening, and totally paranoid. Although she came into contact with adults, including her own family, displaying frightening, irrational, and peculiar behavior, no one did anything or notified anyone to intervene in what certainly must have been a very difficult situation with which to cope for her poor children. Their life was anything but normal.

The Deputy District Attorney who tried the case seemed to be totally without compassion, seeking the maximum penalty for this murder. He saw it simply in black and white terms. It is true, however, that Jason, who was about twenty years old at the time of the murder, could have sought outside help or simply left the household instead of murdering his mother in cold blood. Instead, he not only killed her but chose to dispose of her remains in a way that shocks the conscience. Although given his home life, it is difficult to expect him to have been totally rational. Yet, there is simply no way one can condone what he did. Still, one cannot help but feel that the criminal justice system dealt with Jason over harshly, given the context out of which his actions arose.

This is an excellent true crime book, three dimensional in the telling and well-researched. It is certainly one that aficionados of the genre will greatly enjoy reading.

It is a very good and exciting introduction to the study of private investigating. He covers a broad range of subjects in the field, and helps you with further studies. Thanks Steve My friends think it is good also because I have not recieved it back yet.

This is a very good book for someone who knows nothing or very little about investigations. Some advice is common sense but other are very good techniques almost anyone can use. The writer is an ex FBI agent who knows what he is talking about. The book also has very good advice on getting free (or at a very low price) information. It's a very good reading even if you are not going to work as a P.I.

I have finished reading this book, and here are my findings:

The book is very easy to read. In some portions, it is almost a page turner, and you could forget you're reading an instruction text. The information is presented clear and accurate, with enough personal stories to put the use of the techniques into context without becoming too "wordy" or redundant. The book does not extensively cover legal terminology or evidence collection and photography procedures (for that, I'd recommend "The Process of Investigation" by Sennewald and Tsukayama), but it does a great job of covering the basic techniques of Surveillance, Interviewing, Interrogation, Internet Database and Public Records Searchies and other Electronic Surveillance measuresOverall I would say that this book is a must read for anyone who is considering entering the field of Private Investigation.

My husband and I own a private investigation agency in Florida. I ordered this book based on other positive reviews and it exceeded my expectations. The numerous web site resources listed in this book by Mr. Brown make it worth purchasing. Reading the book was like taking a mini-course on private investigation, and whether you are a newbie or an experienced investigator you can learn a lot from it. It is well-written, fun and interesting to read. I would have liked to have seen a little more detailed information on how to market your PI business, especially online, but that is just my personal opinion and that topic is probably another book in itself. In summary, I recommend this book highly for anyone in the PI field. FIVE STARS!!
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I am a licensed PI in Washington State, primarily working for attorneys providing litigation support. By the time I'd gotten to page 50, I'd learned something which would save me more than the price of the book on my next case.
Each chapter is summarized with "The least you need to know" and all are written in a matter-of-fact yet entertaining way. I enjoyed Mr. Brown's wry sense of humor and have gleaned much more from the book than I'd expected.
Lots of techniques, sources, and practical knowledge in here, an excellent value. Never mind the title, this is not for, nor written by, idiots, I wish I'd gotten a copy sooner.

This book will definitely make you reconsider the murder of JFK, along with the cancer so many of us fight each day. It's scary to imagine what the government can do.

If you don't want to be challenged, or you want to believe the Warren Commission Report that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and unaided in the assassination of JFK, or that New Orleans and the events taking place there played no part in the assassination, don't bother to read Dr Mary's Monkey, for it will disrupt your complacency and demolish your assumptions.

This book is a serious attempt to move into an area of research that is as-yet mostly uncharted with little documentation. And it is no surprise -- most of the people involved are dead -- something happened to them soon after the assassination. One has survived, though; a woman who has created more controversy and discussion than anybody connected to the assassination, save for perhaps Lee Oswald himself.

Judyth Vary Baker, who now resides outside of the US for her own safety, is the witness whose statements pull together this book into a cohesive theory of what might have happened behind the scenes of the assassination. In addition, Haslam is a good writer who uses his own experiences (they create rather eccentric credentials for his passion for his subject-matter) to give us a book that is a real page-turner. An updated and expanded version of his earlier outrageously fascinating book "Mary, Ferrie and the Monkey Virus", which gained a considerable cult following over the years, this edition has photos and documentation galore.

I was amazed when I read Dr Mary's Monkeys. This is honest research and shows just how corrupt scientists and governments can be. It also explained the connection to why JFK was murdered.

As a native New Orleanian, I was 20 years old when Dr. Sherman was murdered and remember parts of the strange story of her murder in her St. Charles Ave apartment. Having actually met a couple of the players in the book, back in the early and mid-60's, remembering the stories of the Primate Center over the years and various related vague controversies, I find Haslam's story very compelling, well researched and totally believable - it sure tied up a lot of loose ends for me about many questions I've had since 1962. It also helps explain why so many people of my generation (who took the polio vaccine in question) seem so susceptible to the current cancer epidemic, at least here in New Orleans. Call me cynical, but to me, there is nothing far-fetched in this book at all and Haslam clarifies a lot of issues/mysteries that have been successfully suppressed for 40+ years.

This book was somewhat "under the radar' here and was a word-of-mouth type of thing that locals started to talk about, passing around their copies of the book (which I could initially only find on Amazon); however, I noticed it on display at a Border's store this week (at $19.99). I've referred the book to everyone I know and I am ordering another 4 copies today from Amazon for friends - I think it is a must-read - even if you don't believe part of it, it is a book that is hard to put down and frightening on many levels.

An incredible journey.Absolutely Brilliant writing! A book that should be in everyone's home. The millions of children innoculated with the polio vaccine,that were contaminated with monkey virus'. This led to a possible
development of soft tissus in later life,(and possibly AIDS). Even worse after the discovery,was the cover-up by the Government.You can NOT put this book down.The documentation and footnotes,are flawless. The new Orleans Connection,Lee Harvey Oswald,Jim Garrison,the death of President Kennedy,and the homicide of Dr. Mary Sherman,The links to the finest researchers brought to New Orleans to try to keep the secret while trying to find an answer. One of the best and most riveting books I have EVER read!

This book is so well written Corey Mitchell has done it again. He is a great true crime writer. This is a very sad book.
This book is for all true crime fans,Mitchell is such a great writer!!
Run out and buy it now.

I have been an avid reader of true crime for a number of years, but have only been compelled to review the work of one author: Corey Mitchell. There is something about the way Mitchell writes that not only pulls me directly into each story he tells, but also inspires me as a citizen. No other true crime author is able to compile so much research, yet make it interesting, gripping, and terrifyng. In addition, a reader of his books learns about all the key players involved, not just the victims or just the killers. He is truly a gifted author who stands head and shoulders above all modern day true crime authors and easily ranks among the greats like McGinniss, Capote, Rule, and Bugliosi.

Mitchell's excellent writing reaches an even higher level with the story of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, murdered by six teenage boys in Houston in 1993. Most true crime books throw the murder in your face within the first ten pages. Not Mitchell. He draws out the tension by forcing you to get to know both of the girls, what they are like, their character and their flaws; and the boys, all six of them, and how they got to the point of being capable of murder. It takes almost 200 pages to actually get to the murder, and by the time you are there it is almost unbearable. Mitchell's ability to make you feel for the victims and fret for the killers has not been replicated in other recent true crime works. The tension is palpable, and, as always, Mitchell thrusts you right into the horrible scene on that hot Houston day.

The crime itself is almost too frightening to believe and Mitchell paints a most vivid depiction. I'm glad he does because it made me realize how truly despicable these young men were and how horribly they assaulted, raped, mutilated, and finally killed these two sweet teenage girls.

The second half of the book is a heart-wrenching look at how insensitive the legal system is for the family members of crime victims. The ordeals that the Ertmans and Penas had to endure were outrageous, yet somehow, the families come off as dedicated, yet humorous individuals. Both families are to be commended for how they have dealt with the continuous legal manuevering by the defendants for fifteen years and counting.

Not much of a death penalty advocate, I had no problem whatsoever in feeling relieved that one of the killers, Jose Medellin, was executed in Texas recently. The fact that he was allowed to live 15 years after these murders is pathetic, as were the attempts by President George Bush and Condoleeza Rice to stall his execution.

"Pure Murder" is a heart-wrenching classic that is truly destined to become one of the most memorable and greatest true crime books ever penned. An instant classic.

I read this in one day... I was so into the story that I couldn't put the book down! Corey Mitchell did a wonderful job describing what took place back in 1993. He gives great detail describing the character of each individual in the story and makes you feel like you are right there when the murder takes place. This was an awesome book and I look forward to reading more stories by Corey Mitchell.

After learning a 31 year old man had FINALLY been excecuted for the murder he (and others) committed at 18 years old. I purchased the book Saturday afternoon and I finished Tuesday evening. I am a mother of 3 children under 5.
I just couldn't put it down and when I did, I said a prayer for those beautiful girls and their families. I felt emotions, anger, scared, helplessness and cried.
The Author just captivated me. The story was there he just put the information in order and shared the VICTIMS injustice. Corey Mitchell put the victims first, NOT the criminals. There was no making excuses for their actions.
Even not wanting to know the animals lives and up bringing, it gave a sense of how the did not value or respect life. I realize not just Adult men are true animals but it can happen in Young men, I am now a changed woman and mother for reading this book! I will always pray that they are ALL executed and burn in hell. Good JOB TEXAS! Better late then NEVER!"

For many years now, I've been a fan of the true crime genre; reading nothing but these nonfiction tales of the worst side of mankind. After a while, while still interested in the crimes, the forensics, and the inner workings of the justice system, a reader can easily reach a point where the crime in and of itself has no shock value.

That was not the case in my most recently read book: Pure Murder by Corey Mitchell.

In Pure Murder, Mitchell tells the gut-wrenching, absolutely sickening tale surrounding the deaths of two Houston, Texas teenager girls: Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena.

On what should have been a short walk home through on of Houston's city parks, these young girls had the bad fortune of meeting up with six of Texas' teenage lowlifes: Efrain Perez, Raul Villarreal, Peter Cantu, Joe Medellin, Venancio "Yuni" Medellin, Jr., and Sean O'Brien.

Simply because the young, innocent girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time when these scumbags were "feeling their oats," they were tortured, raped, and murdered.

For the first time in a while, this true crime piece managed to enrage me as I could not hardly fantom that in a group of six people there was not one decent individual that could have, in some way, helped these young victims.

And, as an added bonus, especially in a time where illegal immigration is such a hot topic, the attempts by Joe Medellin to use his illegal immigrant status as a means to absolve the indictment against him was, to say the least, infuriating. He participates in the raping, mutilating and murder of two young girls and he expects that this country will allow him freedom on a technicality?! I could not even begin to understand the audacity of this pathetic, spineless child killer.

If you're up for a good read that evokes so many emotions you feel as though you are on an emotional rollercoaster, look no further than this newest release from Corey Mitchell.

Written by a former FBI agent, he provides a great deal on the history and structure of the Kansas City Mafia from its inception to the beginning of the Civella era. He includes information from the Kefauver Hearings and background files, from the recently published MAFIA book (from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and with an intro by Sam Giancana, the former crime boss's nephew), Nicola Gentile and the Kansas City Star. Unfortunately he gives no sourcing except for a small list of books that covers two pages. I wish he had footnotes or endnotes. The writing style is also rather dry and matter-of-fact, but it is accurate. As someone who has researched organized crime for over twenty years, I can definitely recommend this book.

I am anxious to read this book! I grew up in the north-end "Little Italy" section of Kansas City (3rd and Gillis). I later became a Police
Offier,where I worked with the Metro Squad, including Mob incidents, as I was familiar with the "family" and knew many of them personally. I remember working with Bill Ouseley and George Lukenhoff at the Kansas City FBI office back in the 60's. John W. Yates, Jr.

This is an entertaining summer read about a minor celebrity of the Thirties. There is a dark undercurrent of violence to the light story of the amazing and unknown golfer who played with the Hollywood stars. He is an unstable youth who gets into trouble in a brutal incident. As an adult, he apparently keeps this violent tendency under control, but when his true identity is discovered, there is no restitution or apology for the victims of the crime for which he is indubitably guilty (a unique clue left at the scene leaves no doubt of that.) Montague also married well, so he never had to have a real job.
He never really accomplished anything other than entertaining some sports writers and readers. While he accomplished no real good, he did some real harm. At least we can be thankful that his dark side was controlled after a certain point--with his terrific strength, he'd have made a very successful murderer.

This is a good read...Although Montague was probably a con man from the start he certainly led an entertaining life. Even though he got away with almost everything he did he provided his friends with entertainment and laughter. I would recommend this book as a good read, but I wouldn't take Mr. Montague too seriously.

A detailed recollection of events in the life of a very mysterious person.
Leigh Montville brings back a time when personalities were indeed bigger than life, and one that reluctantly stood out in that crowd is the subject of the story. As the reader enjoys amazing stories involving some famous hollywood names it becomes clear why our subject is not willing to share the spotlight. I found The Mysterious Montague a wonderful read, and recommend it to all.

My brother, an avid golfer like me, recommended this book. I took it on a cruise ship vacation for occasional night reading, and it was perfect for that relaxed atmosphere.

My major observation is that America fawned over celebrities in the 1930s with the same level of adulation we use now--or maybe they were more intense about celebrities then, since there were fewer of them. Then as now, a person could even establish himself or herself as a celebrity without having a long track record of accomplishment, as with Paris Hilton on the contemporary scene.

Additionally, the legal system treated celebrities with more leniency than officials allowed for ordinary citizens. Today's daily news stories describe how TV and movie stars and athletes don't get the same penalties as nonfamous individuals.

One limitation, for me: Much of the suspense disappeared with the crime scene account that opened the book. If Montville had placed that item later in the book, I would have been far more curious about why Montague didn't want publicity, even when his feats were so newsworthy.

Even so, you are likely to consider this book an enjoyable glimpse into a bygone era, and a visit with some of the more colorful characters who dominated the scene.The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!

LaVerne Moore was one of the more colorful figures in the world of golf in the 1930's and Leigh Montville tells his tale in all its boisterous glory in The Mysterious Montague, A True Tale of Hollywood, Golf, and Armed Robbery.

John Montague, as Moore was better known, was a trick shot artist who could chip a ball into a highball glass or under the sash of a partially-opened window across the room. He reputedly knocked a bird off a power line from 170 yards and consistently drove the ball over 300 yards with a specially-made oversized driver the weighed twice as much as the standard club of its time. Most famously, he once beat Bing Crosby while playing only with a rake, a shovel, and a baseball bat.

Montague had a secret, though. It was why he never allowed himself to be photographed and reputedly why he never entered any professional events. When that secret was revealed, it led to a sensational trial in upstate New York that turned into a celebrity-laden media fest. The secret is told in the first chapter of the book: Montague was wanted under his real name, LaVerne Moore, for the armed robbery of a roadside restaurant in the Adirondacks in 1930. The trial and its aftermath is an interesting window into the media world of the time.

Montville entertains the reader with tales of Montague's prowess, although it's obvious many of them grew to legendary status mainly through the re-telling such feats engender. He also gives us a good look at the celebrities who flocked to Montague's cause. Babe Ruth, Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy, W.C. Fields, Howard Hughes, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, and many more were tied to Montague one way or another. Sportswriter Grantland Rice was his biggest fan.

The end of the book, which chronicles Montague's late-in-life attempt to break into the ranks of professional tournament golf, may be of the greatest interest to players of the game. Weakened by too many years of Hollywood parties and lack of practice, Montague was a miserable failure in his attempts to compete with PGA stars, who had disdained him from the start.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo

As I sat reading Ann Rule's riveting book, it occured to me that this piece of crime writing is actually a classic in American literature. Some may not agree. How many people can start to write about grisly murders and find out that a true friend that used to work by her side was the actual killer? This book takes one into the deepest,darkest, sickest recesses of Bundy's mind and lays him out for what he is, a creature that was unstoppable and who really could not stop himself from these horribly gruesome crimes. One even comes, at times, to care for Ted Bundy, and then just in time, realizes that you are caring for a monster, so sick that words can't describe him. I very much like true crime books, but this one is king of all that have been written and Ann Rule is the queen of her genre. Just beware before you read it. You will never be the same.

When you know the ending it is hard to write or read a book without being biased with the knowledge. This book weaves what was known and what was not at any given time so well that in your mind you keep trying to reconcile the two and for those moments you do not want to connect them to the end that is now so well known. The way she introduces Ted in the beginning and the way events unravel, you keep trying to juxtapose the known Ted Bundy and the mysterious and ruthless killer who left a trail of death in his wake, and like her, you simply cannot.
What is also praiseworthy is that the author neither interrupts the flow with personal judgment nor does she glamorize the gore. It was mature and intelligent real-crime storytelling at its best.
There are aspects of the relationship between the author and the main character that wants you to judge not Ted, but herself - did she lead Ted on so she could get a story out of it, all the time backing her actions with moral reasoning? In my opinion that is beyond the scope of this review and the five stars that I think the book deserves.

This may be the best, most insightful biography of a serial killer ever written. Oddly, it was only on my second reading that I realized how short Mr. Bundy's reign of homicidal brutality actually was. From January of 1974 until August of 1975, Mr. Bundy lured, attacked, and murdered young women in Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Utah. In January of 1978 Mr. Bundy went on his infamous, and rather uncharacteristic, rampage on the campus of Florida State University and, on February 9th of that year, he claimed his last victim. So how many women did Ted Bundy deprive of life? Anne Rule suggests that his first victim was Ann Marie Burr, vanished August 31, 1961, when Mr. Bundy was 14 years old. She also mentions that she believes he killed Katherine Devine in December of 1973 (see p.435), but DNA tests have since confirmed that her killer was a loser named William Cosden. Mr. Bundy himself admitted to killing 8 young women in Washington State, 5 in Colorado, 5 in Utah, 1 in Oregon, and 3 in Florida. The author also suggests that Bundy was responsible for a murder in Vermont in 1971 (his MO) and perhaps in Pennsylvania in 1969 (not his MO). Mr. Bundy also claimed he killed a hitchhiker near the Washington coast in 1973, but apparently no one ever missed her. Rule also thinks Bundy may have murdered a woman in 1966 and likely dispatched two additional young women in Utah in 1975 and 1976. So, if my math is right, Bundy admitted to killing 23 young women total. The author suspects him of 5 additional murders. And Mr. Bundy himself, despite his being a notorious liar, did hint that he had left some bodies in California as well. So much misery and so much pointless cruelty leaves this reader rather sad and rather shaken.

I am 28 and so was only a young girl when Bundy was executed. I had heard of him, but was not familiar with the extent of his crimes. Working in the forensic field, I am fascinated with the stories of true crime and serial killers. I am an avid reader but sometimes it is hard for me to find non-fiction books that really hold my attention. Not the case with this book. I received this book for my birthday and started it as soon as I finished the book I was reading at the time. I couldn't put it down!

The original book ended before Bundy was executed but there are several follow-ups at the end that really carry the story through to today. Because Rule knew Bundy, she is able to provide much insight and goes above and beyond just the facts.

I highly recommend this book if you are at all interesting in knowing more about one of the most notorious serial killers of all time.

Being friends with and trusting a man who is actually a serial killer is very creepy. It is also sad to know that Ted Bundy took the lives of so many young woman who were just starting live on their own. I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.

I really enjoyed the book. Being a member of the law enforcement community and also a Harley rider, it was hard to put down. A good read. Buy it.

This is a story every bit as fascinating as Donnie Brasco. Should also be a movie. Living undercover as a Mongel member for two years with those dirty drunken drug users had to be an awful extistence. Or maybe it was fun. However it was, it is a great read.

as with most books i've read, there is always something i see or hear that piques my interest in a topic/subject matter creating a domino effect that leads to obsessive reading. this seems to be the case here: "gimme shelter" led to sonny barger's "hell's angel" which led to the "gangland" television series and then to searching amazon.com for books about outlaw biker clubs, starting with "under and alone".

the first chapter of this book was such an effective teaser that it actually fooled me into believing the book was ghost-written due to the author not surviving his undercover assignment ... it worked, because i couldn't put it down.

the thought of a law enforcement officer having the courage to take such an assignment is one thing ... to follow through with that assignment and actually become a full-patched member of such an organization is simply amazing. even more impressive is the fact that queen does such an excellent job of taking the reader along with him ... a true "fly on the wall" perspective throughout the book.

every chapter contains moments where you feel as if queen wouldn't survive his assignment and you almost breathe a sigh of relief when oftentimes, a random moment of good fortune is all that saves him.

what makes "under and alone" such a good read is that the action never lets up ... it is nothing but a continuous series of battles: the battle to hide his true identity from a group in which every member is a potential murderer, the battle to portray himself as outlaw biker material yet not participate in criminal activity, the battle of being a father to his kids and maintain their safety during/after the assignment, the struggle of actually developing a fraternal relationship with men who he will eventually be sending to prison and the constant battle with the expected ineptitude of the agency responsible for keeping him alive. the best battle of all, however, is the continuous grief queen endures from one particular mongol ... "red dog".

i found myself constantly flipping to the pictures in order to place a face with the name of those mongols he writes about ... even "red dog".

the book left me with a feeling of apprectiation that there are people out there willing to do such dangerous work voluntarily. my only regret is that there is understandably no "where are they now" chapter because i would really like to know how certain mongols personally felt about queen and the success of his undercover work.

Billy Queen is clearly an amazingly smart and tough guy. His tale of inflitrating the Mongrols, moving from 'Hang Around' to 'Prospect' to Treasurere and then Vice President of the local chapter is fascinating and well written. And it will quickly disabuse you of any notion that the the Mongols are OK guys have chosen their own path. While some people may have been OK when they joined, Billy makes clear the gang and its members are all to happy to hurt and kill with little or no reason.

Things the book does really well: Give a feel for day to day life in the gang, outline historical background to the Mongols/Hells Angels flue, give a sense of Billy's double life- knowing his gang friends would kill him at the drop of the hat, and that a large chunk of ATF would rather see everything he'd risked his life for throw away then chance the smallest public embarrassment.

The things I found lacking: Would have to liked to know even more about the gangs structure and the relationship between the head chapter (Mother) and the local chapters, would have liked to see more detailed sketches on even more of the members. Still, these are pretty trivials issues.

If you are interested in motorcycle gangs this book is required reading.

We hear many stories of the bad things our law enforcement personnel perpetrate against criminals. Finally a book that shows how courageous some of them are. Bill Queen is one of them, and has rightfully received many accolades. He deserves everyone of them. His sacrifice was immense. I hope he finds the comfort he so deserves.

This book was a fasinating and interesting read.
I know the author, so I know just how hard he worked on this piece. A lot of work and effort went into this book, and it shows.
Monte writes with skill, knowlage, and perspective.
This is the only book written on this massacre, so it must have been a big task to take on.
I reccomend it to anyone who has not read it.
Great job Monte!

By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre

This is a good book. It is very disturbing and sad.

This man should be hung and put out of his misery... He is definately a perverted sicko that tortured his family and to think that some of them stood up for him is so sad. I couldn't put this book down.

Being someone who knew little or nothing of the wesson case, i was completely drawn in by the unimaginable circumstances that were involved. Marcus Wesson is the prime example of the human mind completely gone mad. He himself justified everything he did, from sexual escapades with his daughters and nieces, to brutal beatings that sometimes lasted days, by saying it followed his ultimate plan to do as the lord asked. The truth is he controlled everyone in his family by manipulating them and brainwashing all from a young age. Monte Francis does a spectacular job of following the case from day one and also going into early years of the family to show what, and how things went so drastically wrong. He speaks of only fact an the entire book, and somehow leaves his opinion almost completely out of the picture (which other seasoned authors find hard to do on such disturbing topics).If you are a fan of true crime this books is a must. A page turner that will have you thanking god your mind is not as twisted as some(ex:Marcus Wesson)people in this world.

I found this book to be boring. I could not finish it, and it's a short book. Unfortunate, because the story seemed intriguing (and disgusting). I just didn't care for the writing style.