True Crime Books

I have read most of the books on the trial and murder of Lizzie Borden's parents (including Porter's reprint). I have to say this is the most enjoyable of all. Reason? Well, it's not boring. I liked the authors tongue and check style. He does a great job in cutting through a lot of hoopla. I suggest reading another book on the Murders first, like Forty Whacks, or watch the A & E or History Channel special on the murders first. I just think you will enjoy this book more, if you read a cut and dry version first. I wish this book had been printed in hardback, and not such a silly name for the book and cover art work, but that is really the only complaint I have..... Still five stars!!! Bottom line - If your interested in the Borden murders you have got to have this.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lizzie Borden was acquitted by the superior court, but hung by public opinion for the hatchet murders of her parents around the turn of the century. It's been a sensation for true-crime junkies ever since. This particular book does not present a far-fetched or ridiciulous explanation of what really happened that day. The explanation he gives is entirely plausible... and, yes, he does suggest who the murderer was.

I read this book four times it gives you
another way at looking at lizzie it could change your mind.
I just love it great book

This is a very readable non-fiction Lizzie book. The first two-thirds where Masterton deals mostly with just the facts (though somewhat selectively) are the strongest part of the book. The last third where he theorizes is less effective. He's perhaps not a very convincing theorist, but he writes well and this book is a really fun read, with a few humorous witticisms thrown in.

David Rehak
author of "Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It?"

We know "Lizzie Didn't Do It" because that was the verdict in 1893. The first half of the book is best as an introduction to this case. In the second half William Masterton creates stories about the other suspects. Presumably they were all investigated by the Fall River Police Department and ruled out as suspects.

The two main suspects, based on other books, was Joseph Carpenter (the former bookkeeper who embezzled funds from Borden's business), and William Brayton (the member of the family who was swindled out of property by Andrew Borden). Both had alibis for the time of the murders.

William Masterton concocted a story that Abby was killed after Andrew! This is historical nonsense! The alarm was raised not long after Andrew was killed, the home was guarded, there was no opportunity for Abby to have returned home after Andrew's death. You can only guess at the reason (or prejudice) for this.
William Masterton didn't solve the crime.

Oh My Goodnes!!! I lived down in Conway SC. when this all happened and as I read the book I can remember this as if it was yesterday. He is very true and down to the point with every detail. To think that Mr. Registar offered all of his time and help to locate Crystal Faye Todd (even helped at the funeral, sat with her mother, etc.) and he knew the entire time where she was and what happen. I cannot even explain how real and true this book is. He is a great author and if you can ever get your hands on any of his other books I would recommend it.

I bought this book based on all of the five-star reviews and the abject raves from other readers, and am I ever disappointed. It's a run-of-the-mill murder "mystery" that is solved fairly quickly, with an uninteresting departure of focusing on the wrong guy. The "boy next door" stabbed to death 17-year-old Crystal Faye Todd in a monstrous frenzy. But nobody is prepared to believe when DNA points to teen who has given comfort and a shoulder to lean on to Crystal's mother. The murderer's parents believe the police have done a "frame job," and come across as almost comically ignorant. Get ready to read a lot of "it weren't a good thing." An Hour to Kill is a compelling read, but it cannot compare to classics in the "true crime" genre.

True crime is my genre; about the ONLY thing I read. And in many years of reading this genre, I have read many, many books whose setting was in the South, even the deep south Georgia, but I have NEVER run across authors who did such an excellent job (said tongue in cheek)of making the "characters" out to be such hillbillies. Living in a small, southern town myself, I can say this: sure, we have some odd sayings and our own dialect; but, come on, do you have to play on it? Even though I speak "the language" of these people, I still had a very difficult time reading it.

And this has to be the only true crime book I've read to date that included photos, but not any clear photos of the victim or the accused. Readers are provided with a grainy photo atop her headstone, taken at a distance of the victim and one side view photo taken of the accused. But, hey, there is a clear photo of Mickey Spillane and his wife, Jane, for your enjoyment! Go figure!

Throw in that this book plays on the fact that Crystal Faye Todd was murdered by her best friend Ken Register, but we're not given much background information on neither them nor their families; only that they had all been life long friends. Btw, how is that Ken Register was her best friend, but she had refused to date him and told her mother it was because he wanted sex all the time and smelled badly? Doesn't really sound like best friend material but, amazingly, Bonnie Faye Todd considers him as someone she can lean on and trust.

However, if a reader can wade through all that mess, there is a good argument here for the conviction. It was based mainly on past actions of the defendant and primitive use of DNA. Quite frankly, the jury, in my opinion, didn't have enough evidence to convict but read it and form your own opinion. Just plan on having Jethro's voice in your head while you do!

I purchased this book because of the strong reviews. Perhaps the other reviewers have not read a lot of true crime, because there was nothing special about this. Basically, it was a newspaper article extended with a few more facts to make a book. The story is horrifying, but you never really learn much about the people.

An Hour To Kill is the story of a brutal murder in a small South Carolina town. As an avid reader of true crime, I have mixed feelings about the book. There are a number of negatives: The center picture section is weak. There is NO decent picture of the victim, Crystal Todd, merely a tiny blurred picture of her on her tombstone. As she was a high school senior, it should have been relatively easy to at least get a yearbook picture. Also, for no other possible reason than to fill up the section there are pictures of Mickey Spillane and his wife! These people really have nothing to do with the book, except as an afterthought, not even appearing in the book until the last few pages.
There is no depth given to the main characters, Ken Register and Crystal Todd. Due to a lack of information or interest, the authors present them as little more than props around which to base the story of the arrest and trial. This is especially poorly done with Crystal. She is the victim of a brutal murder and we learn virtually nothing about her except that her mother loved her.
There does not seem to have been much in depth research in the writing of this book, which would have helped as the crime is not in itself really that interesting or unusual, except for its sheer brutality,

This book could have been a total true crime trasher due to the serious faults listed above, but it is saved by the authors' narrative abilities.
The writing is crisp and clean. It is for the most part reportorial in nature, and avoids the trap fallen into by lesser true-crime writers, of feeling that they must express their own opinions of the crime. Consequently they do not impose their own personalities on the story, which in my opinion is almost always undesirable in a true crime book. The writers, Hudson and Hills, move the story along briskly and professionally. Ultimately, An Hour To Kill is an easy read, but could have been much deeper.

Kenneth McDuff is probably the only murderer to be sentenced to death twice...in two decades! It cost at least four women their lives when McDuff was paroled in 1989.

Learn the harrowing tale of how a serial killer was released after his death sentence was commuted and later he was paroled.
He wasn't charged with his first known rape and murder of a teen girl due to sloppy prosecution and faulty paperwork.

He routinely violated his parole and probation conditions,sometimes within mere minutes after appearing in court! Mr. Lavergne aptly states that McDuff had "no moral compass." He wasn't an intelligent individual,he was aided by luck and mysterious assistance in leaving Texas after his murders. His neurotic mother regularly enabled him with financial support throughout his life.

There a few mysteries left unexplained, the chief being the identity of the CI that coaxed McDuff into helping to locate the burial sites of his victims while on death row.

Gary Lavergne has done his research and written in detail the chilling actions of a serial killer that got to continue killing long after he should have been executed.

Being a true crime buff and former resident of Texas, I was really excited to read this book... When I finally recieved it and began to read it, I was truly disappointed. It is very poorly written and hard to follow. I normally read a book in 1 to 2 days and it has taken me 5 days to read this one. I do not recommend wasting time or money on this particular book.

I really don't understand the positive reviews of this book. It is poorly-written and amateurish, and the story-telling is not at all compelling. I would read 20-page blocks of this book and then forget about it for a month. The description of people and events is extremely thin, and it's obvious that little research was put into it. That might be forgivable if, as I said, the writing wasn't of such low quality. Compare this to a classic true-crime book like The Executioner's Song, and it's like a clinic for whoever wrote this book.

Disturbing. I'd watched a documentary about the "broomstick killer" and was curious about what made him tick. The book reveals what was behind the creep's actions. And that was really nothing, just a vicious, vacant man devoid of any pity or feelings. Written in a factual, chilling manner. Me thinks I learned a bit too much about this mad man.

This book reviews the history of Kenneth Allen McDuff... the only serial killer in Texas history, perhaps the entire world, to be sentenced to death, paroled, and then sentenced to death a second time. There can be no doubt that this book is impeccably researched and well written. The author certainly did his homework. While the story itself is inherently interesting, I do have some reservations about recommending this to the masses of True Crime fans.

1. After being paroled from Death Row, McDuff manages to associate himself with numerous nefarious characters and many law enforcement officials from various cities and agencies. Given that McDuff had no real friends and prefered to surround himself with others to whom he felt superior and whom he could manipulate, the many criminal acquaintances and law enforcement officers mentioned becomes rather confusing near the middle of the book. A glossary of persons for quick reference would have been helpful and would have lessened the confusion.

2. Given that the book covers a span of time nearing 30 years, a timeline of some sort would also have been useful to the reader. (Oddly, one of the final chapters reveals that during the trial, the prosecuting attorneys actually made a timeline for jurors. It is unfortunate that readers were not afforded the same privilege.)

3. The ending of the book is rather anticlimactic. True, the reader knows from the get go that McDuff is eventually executed. However, a final chapter about the criminal mind behind McDuff's murderous activities might have given the book a more "finished" appearance and feeling.

The final line of the book reads: "To the very end, he (McDuff) considered himself misunderstood, oppressed, and the victim." I believe this last sentence could have the been the first sentence to a final, closing chapter exploring those elements that may have contributed to McDuff's sociopathy and vicious personality. McDuff was not one to speak to authorities or mental health professionals about his upbringing and, even if he had, most of it probably would have been lacking in insight or filled with half-truths and lies. That being said, given that the author does include comments and insight from many who knew McDuff, intelligent conjecture about the criminal McDuff became would have been possible. Instead, the book simply ends in tepid disappointment.

Was recommended by a friend because I enjoy fictional crime novels. Found it incredibly interesting, especially knowing these were real incidences. Would highly encourage others to read this book. But set aside some time, cause you won't want to put it down.

You will be very surprised how much stoilen art gets bought and sold all over the world and how it takes a courageous undercover operative like Mc Shane to stop it.

Words cannot express how wonderful this book is or the level of passion Mr. McShane has for his career. A nail biting tale filled with the amazing adventures of a former FBI Agent. McShane makes you believe that you are in the scene and in the moment. Such a great read, I recommend that everyone get lost in the mystery and adventure that is "Stolen Masterpiece".

.Stolen Masterpiece Tracker

Stolen Masterpiece Tracker is a work done with extraordinary skill, charming wit and sluethound style.
The reader is taken on a true, intriguing and mysterious journey. Mr. McShane is an adventurous FBI agent who uses tricky devices and masterful disguises in his artful quest to track the world's stolen treasures.

An enjoyable and thrilling life story that can be vicariously shared with the Masterpiece Tracker!! Artfully written and artfully enjoyed!!

A Masterpiece for Prime Time!!!

Loved the book!! The author Thomas McShane tells many interesting and exciting stories about his life as an undercover FBI agent in the art world.

I was a little hesitant to order a book based on the real crimes behind the episodes of Law & Order, but I was pleased. The stories were brief, but being an avid Law & Order fan, I recognized the stories of Law & Order from the descriptions of the real crimes.

Although the book has little to do with the actual LAW & ORDER shows, it does a great job of going "behind the scenes," as it were, of 25 of the show's episodes to explore the true crimes they were based on.

These aren't stories for the faint of heart, but they do pull at the heartstrings. I remember watching many of the episodes the crimes were based on. This is a great book, especially for those interested in true crimes, but anyone will find them fascinating.

The authors have truly done their research and are to be commended.

Some of these stories I recognized from the media. Other stories were new to me. I liked how they compared the true crime stories to the show.
A good read for the true crime reader.

As a fan of the Law & Order series, I was intrigued by the title. The book actually does not have much to do with the television series franchise, but the true stories inside are presented in a way that any fan of the television series will enjoy.

Included are twenty-five true stories on which episodes of Law & Order are apparently based. These include the Liverpool murder of two-year old James Bulger by two 10-year old boys, the story of Jack Abbott, the protege of pulitzer-prize winning writer Norman Mailer, who stabbed aspiring actor Richard Adan to death over the use of a diner restroom; and the murder of Gulf War vet Anthony Riggs, killed by his wife and brother-in-law over life insurance proceeds.

Reading this book is like watching 25 short episodes of law and order, except that these ARE the true stories, with the real names.

I saw Ross on Nat Geo's "Locked Up Abroad" and the story of his safari group's abduction peaked further interest. Upon reading Ross' book I learned a great deal more about Africa's wildlife and people.

I checked this book out of the library and LOVED it. I spent several months in South Africa with a hunting guide and could relate to the wonderful descriptions in this book. I bought it and read it on the plane on my last trip. It was just as good the second time. I have given this book as a gift several times for any friend who is planning a safari. A fantastic read.

This is an excellent read for all who have been to Africa! I have just re-read it for the 2nd time.
You really feel as if you are back on the Continent.
This book is much more than just about one horrowing experience in Uganda. Its about stories on safari that he brings to life in a very easy and enjoyable way ..... it stirs memories for those who have been!
Buy it and Enjoy!

This is a book that is hard to put down. I think I read it in just about one day's time. Some of it is hard to read, because of the kidnapping. However, one should keep going and read it all. In our travels in Africa we found the guides to be knowledgeable, kind and considerate. While we are not acquainted with Mr. Ross in person, by the time I finished the book I felt that I knew him very well. He manages to make you feel that you are there with him.

Most of this book is about true encounters with amazing animals in East Africa. The stories took me back to my own safari experiences in another part of Africa. If you've never been on safari and are thinking about going, this book will give you a good idea of what to expect. As implied in the title, beauty is also sometimes dangerous. The last part of the book is about an awful incident in which he and two of his clients were taken hostage by rebels who crossed the border from a nearby country. The area they were in should have been safe. Mark did all he could to take care of his clients, but in such a chaotic situation, no one can control what happens. Sadly, the couple who had been on safari with him several times was killed. It may have only been chance that he survived himself. I admire how he has honestly shared his feelings of loss and helplessness and also how he is trying to reconcile his love of Africa with what happened. Reading this book scared me but it also made me want to return to Africa to see more of this amazing continent.

Based simply on the title of Mike Sager's "Scary Monsters and Super Freaks: Stories of Sex, Drugs, Rock 'N Roll and Murder," I had to buy the book. The title promises a lot, and the book delivers.

The compilation of essays from Sager's journalism career at GQ, Esquire and Rolling Stone magazines features stories of real people who find themselves in improbable situations and what becomes of them. Love triangles, religious cults, musicians, surfers, politicians, cokeheads, moms, pornos, law enforcement agents and prisoners: every person and situation that Sager presents, he presents in a way that one might not normally think of. The 19 stories serve our culture up to us in sometimes unappealing but always intriguing ways. And because each chapter is a complete entity unto itself, the book is good for picking up and putting down if you have a hectic schedule.

Completely enjoyable (though I confess there was one story that I had to skip over - which one it was, I won't say!). Thoroughly recommended.

First things first. I bought this book based on having read Sager's "The Devil And John Holmes" story in Rolling Stone back in '89 and really enjoying it. While I enjoyed all 19 of the stories presented here, I was close to tearing the damn book in half by the time I reached the final offering. Why? Because as I progressed through the book, I began to dread Sager's pet phrase of having someone "cut their eyes" at someone or something else. It's in almost half of these stories. Don't believe me? Check out pages 24, 39, 138, 154, 170, 209, 299, 357, and 416. I fault his editors at GQ for this as at least 6 of the 9 stories were first published in that magazine. Would that stop me from reading anything else by him? No, but in the back of my mind I'd be waiting for someone to "cut their eyes".

each piece in this book is somewhere in the 20 to 50 page range, but despite the brevity, you feel as though you've gotten an in-depth look at some dark, dark american lives. nothing here that you could call feel-good fluff. but it is mostly all very interesting; it kept my fingers flipping the pages faster than 90% of the other books i've been reading of late. highly recommended for those who like good writing on sex & drugs & murder & other sorts of mayhem. and personally i don't think there is a lot of good writing out there on those sorts of things.

I bought this book on a whim because it looked interesting in the store. I'm glad I did as I've enjoyed it very much. The book is a collection of nineteen articles originally published in Esquire, GQ, or Rolling Stone. The subjects are generally sad and sordid but Sager takes the time to understand his subjects and explain not only what happened to them but why. Some of the incidents he describes are familiar but Sager's work has depth and reveals and explains things other more superficial coverage missed. I recommend this book and will be looking for future work by this writer.

You have probably read some of these articles over the years in magazines and weekly newspapers. Here are some great stories of the last twenty years. Stories about John Holmes and Rick James are great. Mike Sager goes into great detail to give a rounded picture of all his subects. The stories about journalists Janet Lewis and Veronica Guernin are pretty intense. Some of this stuff is about obsessions we all had about ten years ago like Easy-E Eric Wright and the Heaven's Gate Crowd. It's funny how time flys. Check it out.

Superthief reads more like a self written biography than it does a crime/suspense story. Porello explains that Phil's 1200 page manuscript was the basis for this story and In my opinion, it really shows. The book recounts phils' life story in a "and then, and then , and then" fashion. We don't get much build up to the bigger moments, little to no foreshadowing, and details that seem very important are completely glossed over. A decent story which really suffers from poor writing and editing, you would be better off catching similarly themed books "Killing Pablo" or "The Ballad of the Whisky Robber"

Christopher is an older guy from my neighborhood.....I grew up in Collinwood near the end of its salad days........we used to go on vacation without locking our doors. The place is all but gone now to the blacks.........mostly thanks to white flight and the old desegregation order of the 70's

Originally drawn to the Las Vegas-style book cover, I discovered that the story itself lived up to the bling of the high rolling art work of the cover design. This book is what I used to call a "good subway book." In other words, one that makes the train ride go quickly. It is a snappy, fast story of one man's first-person account of his criminal activities. It can be argued that remorse is not high on mob associate Phil Christopher's list of moral imperatives. But a criminal who shows no remorse is much more typical, and realistic, than one who sheds crocodile tears in a bid for sympathy made after-the-fact. The author seems to know his subject and brings to the story, much personal experience with life in an Italian-American neighborhood. This book has so much flavor, you can almost smell the meatballs frying and the Sunday gravy sizzling.

This is the highly engaging and very readable life story of master burglar/drug trafficker Phillip Christopher. Through the frequent use of the first-person, author Rick Porello provides a look inside the mind of a professional criminal. We are treated to the details of Christopher's life -- from his Catholic, blue-collar upbringing in the Collinwood district of Cleveland, Ohio, through his spectacular criminal successes and equally spectacular blunders, to his declining years as an easy target of state and federal law enforcement -- in what is purported to be Christopher's own words.
We share Christopher's real-life experiences in family, business, underworld and prison situations. His lengthy and continuing rollercoaster ride through the criminal justice system is particularly educational. Christopher seems to have encountered every unfair advantage and unfair disadvantage built into that system.
Due to its frank handling of its subject matter, I suspect this book will cause those who have invested in electronic security systems to lose quite a bit of sleep. The thwarting of alarms, the acquisition of secret allies among security company employees and within local police departments and the prying open of safes and vaults are all discussed in detail. Porello-Christopher stop just short of providing a primer for aspiring safe-crackers. The various elements of the 1972 burglary at the United California Bank in Laguna Niguel, the biggest bank heist in U.S. history, are expertly rendered.
Those are the book's positives, but unfortunately they are not the whole story. While I enjoyed Superthief and remain a Rick Porello fan, there are some noticeable flaws in the book.
For one, it is difficult to accept many of Christopher's statements as fact. Examples: his Robin Hood-like escapades as a child thief, botched jobs that were always someone else's fault and the high esteem in which mob bosses, union leaders and even prison personnel universally held him. Porello provides little obvious help as we strive to separate the wheat from the chaff. There is rare corroboration in the form of a quote from a girlfriend or a law enforcement officer, but Christopher's story appears to have been left pretty much just as he told it.
Another problem stems from Porello's inclusion of the word "Mafia" in the title. Phillip Christopher was never a "made" guy, and the Mafia has a very small, supporting role in the book. Some of the more interesting Mafia episodes of the time/place are tossed in as asides, though Christopher had nothing to do with them. The Mafia remains off in the distance and out of focus.
Though Christopher spent a lifetime living this story and Porello spent five years writing it, what lies between the front and back covers seems thin and could have been better crafted. A bit of narration in the middle chapters could have helped drive home the importance of the Laguna Niguel heist. The reader is liable to plow right through it, judging it to be a disappointment. Insight also is lacking. While we are thrust inside Christopher's mind, we find little in the way of illumination there. He committed burglaries, he repeatedly tells us, because he wanted a lot of money. (Willie Sutton reborn.) We're dragged along into deceit, infidelity and murder without knowing why. We readers are left in the uncomfortable position of being within the mind of a person we cannot understand and do not like.
At the bottom line, this is a good story, entertaining and informative, requiring minimal effort and investment from the reader. It should someday become an exciting movie. However, it falls far short of its considerable potential as a window into the mind of a career criminal.

I could not put this book down. I loved reading what goes thru a thiefs mind, and then reading some background and filling in some of the questions that would come to my mind that the author seemed to anticipate. Just a great read. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the other books authored by Rick Porrello..

Every once in ahwile I read a true crime story just to mix things up. As I read this story I was most amazed that something like this could happen so easily. It wasn't the best story I have ever read but the pages did fly by pretty quickly.

We should add Kristen Heather Strickland Gilbert to the list of sociopathic narcissistic murderers who are female. She is cold-blooded, calculating, manipulative, controlling, obsessive and possessive over her husband, her children, her boyfriends and friends. Kristen comes across as the angel of death but she suits her nickname. As a nurse in a veterans hospital, she would claim several lives through poisoning and rare medicines misused on purpose. She has a terrible attitude and discards everybody around her as easy as the needles that were filled with poisonous injections. She would finally get justice and be sent to Texas to remain a federal prison for the rest of her life. Despite a near death sentence, she is probably far away from Leeds, Massachussetts and the terror that she caused while as a nurse on duty during the graveyard shift. The patients were much better off being neglected than meeting with the angel of death who caused such terror, heartache, and misery where ever she went.

I HAVE GOT NOTHING DONE FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS. THIS BOOK HAD ME WANTING TO KEEP READING IT EVERY SECOND. GILBERT WAS REALLY, REALLY A SICK, SICK PERSON.

In PERFECT POISON, M. William Phelps has written a very good true crime story. Phelps has dug up another of those sociopaths he apparently has no trouble finding, this time a criminal and narcissistic nurse named Kristen Gilbert, who, while intelligent, is, in typical narcissistic/sociopathic fashion, not as smart as she thinks she is.
The book's positive points are very strong. Phelps, as he proved in his EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, is an intelligent, diligent, and professional writer.
He has chosen an interesting story, and he moves the narrative along well, even in the last third of the book which is the often tedious trial segment. Phelps' research is impeccable and he clearly spent a lot of time
and energy on this book.

There are several reasons why I do not think PERFECT POISON is as good a book as EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE and why I rate it 4 rather than 5 stars:

1. PERFECT POISON at 474 pages is too long. I attribute some of this
to Phelps' apparent inclusion of every possible scrap of
informations he found, some of which is irrelevant, uninteresting
and occasionally just nonsense. I personally don't care to know how
lawyers, detectives, etc., are dressed, and certainly not more than
once. On page 232 Phelps spends two paragraphs describing a
building's parking garage, and states "Guards sit in tiny wooden
kiosks and take money as people exit the parking garages." Somehow I
just don't see this as unique. Did Murphy (page 287) really "put
out his first cigarette and prepare to light another."? While
discussing his trial strategy with his detectives, did D.A. Welch
(page 307) really "raise his eyebrows." Cynical,lazy, incompetent
writers of true crime use this device to fill their pages. Phelps
is clearly too good and too thorough to be so all inclusive for
this reason, but the book could use some editing.

2. I believe that in the best of true crime writing an author
as good as Phelps will basically write as a reporter, skillfully
presenting the facts and allowing the reader to form his own
opinions. Phelps does not do this. The tone of PERFECT POISON
is dramatic rather than objective and Phelps' writing in the trial
section is clearly biased toward the prosecution. On page 132,
Phelps writes that the result of an audit of drug security at a VA
hospital indicated that there was no accountability. He then
repeats, italicized, in his very next sentence, "There was no
accountability." On page 66, he writes that "most of the codes
were being called during the busiest times...and, lo and behold,
on Gilbert's tour of duty. Phelps is a talented enough writer
that it is irritating when he uses italics and "lo and
behold"s to emphasize what his narrative has already made crystal
clear, particularly since I would assume that most of his
readers are adults.
In the trial section, Phelps has defense attorney Miles
"delivering a diatribe" and classifies a cross examination of
some government witnesses, which, though unsuccessful, does not
appear to have been especially stupid as "Another misguided
claim by Gilbert's defense." Prosecutor Welch, on the other hand
"had come from the old school of law where litigation was all
about information - possessing it, controlling it, managing it,
and using it effectively." While I'm not sure that statement
has any actual meaning, its tone lends Welch a biased dignity and
competence not found in objective writing.

I present these flaws, as I perceive them, because I think Phelps is an excellent writer who can do better than PERFECT POISON. But even so, it is still a very interesting and well researched story. I'm happy to have read it and think most true crime fans will love it.

The story of Kristen Gilbert, as told by M. William Phelps, is something that hits so close to home. Is there one of us that has not placed our care into the hands of someone who we trusted would ensure our safety and well-being, such as a nurse or doctor? This was the case of many VAMC patients, and their families, who thought they were being treated for their ailments, but instead died of sudden cardiac arrest as a result of EPI posioning. And Gilbert was not discriminate in her victims as they ranged from their thirties to those well into their golden years.

What was the most fascinating aspect of this book is to see the clear evidence of psychosis in this young lady and to ponder how she was able to hide her insanity for thirty plus years.

I found that in the third portion of the book it became a bit redundant with the information regarding her trial. However, there were still many aspects of the trial that were newly presented and attention catching.

M. William Phelps is perhaps the best true crime writer today. His books, just as this one, are well researched, provide indepth information, and, overall, are fast paced and attention grabbing. Just as I have recommended his other books, I highly recommend this one too!