True Crime book reviews

Buy The Book! (USA)	The Green Bicycle Murder by C Wendy East C Wendy East provides a well written, carefully researched and detailed account of this classic English murder which attracted national interest in its day, and still has much to fascinate us now. In a quiet leafy country lane in Leicestershire in July 1919, a young woman was found dead beside her bicycle. She had been shot. Bella Wright had last been seen accompanied by a stranger riding a green bicycle. There was a good description of both man and bicycle, and it was thought that the man would soon be identified and arrested, but as the months passed it seemed that the trail had gone cold. Then, in February 1920, parts of a bicycle were fished out of a canal. Efforts had been made to erase any identifying numbers, but a number still remained which caused the bicycle to be traced to the ownership of Ronald Light, who fitted the description of the wanted man. Initially denying that he had owned the bicycle he was eventually obliged to admit that it was his, and that he was indeed the mysterious stranger who had last been seen with the deceased. He was fortunate indeed in having for his defence counsel Sir Edward Marshall Hall, then at the peak of his career. Light went into the witness box and disarmingly admitted everything except the murder, and that was the one thing that could not be positively proved. He was acquitted. In the final chapters of the book the author takes a more detailed look at Light and his early history, and greatly adds to our understanding of what happened on the fateful day, concluding with Light's history after his acquittal. A very satisfying book.
Buy The Book! (USA) Buy From UK	Prisoner 1167 the Madman Who Was Jack the Ripper by James Tully It may seem strange to start by saying that for your best enjoyment of this book it would be as well to put aside any thought that James Kelly, its subject, was actually Jack the Ripper. This, after all, is to a great extent the raison d'être of the book. I shall not, however, dismiss the book for failing to achieve its object, since it does succeed as a true crime book in its own right. Kelly was mentally unbalanced, and formed the delusion that his wife was a prostitute. In 1883 he stabbed her to death, and was sent to Broadmoor. He escaped in 1888, and was therefore at large during the Ripper murders, however there is no positive evidence that he had any connection with them. He roamed Europe, and tried to give himself up on a number of occasions, eventually returning to Broadmoor in his old age. Kelly's impassioned murder of his wife is quite a different kind of killing to the Whitechapel murders, so forget about Jack the Ripper and instead appreciate the book's well researched account of an otherwise unknown case. Of course if you are a Ripper buff you will want this book to add to your collection of Ripper theory books!
Buy from USA Buy From UK	The I-5 Killer by Ann Rule I have read many of Ann Rule's books and have always been impressed by her thoroughness, her great readability, and her talent for getting to the centre of her subject. It is easy to identify with the people she writes about - to feel the pain of the victims and their families, and the frustration of law enforcement authorities. In this book Ann Rule also looks deep into the motivations of the killer. Randy Woodfield was a monster with a handsome face, an athletic body and a soft seductive voice. He seemed to have all that was necessary to attract women and yet he set out to pursue them in a crass insistent manner, that told of his underlying insecurities and alienated all but the most immature. When his heavy handed approaches resulted in rejection, he took his anger out on his victims, young women and girls whom he terrorised, sexually abused, and in some cases, murdered. This book is a warning to women about the dangers of trusting smooth-talking strangers. It might also be an eye-opener to would-be medallion men since it shows quite clearly how women view them!
Buy The Book!(USA) Buy Hardback From UK Buy paperback from UK	Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away With Murder by Vincent Bugliosi Bugliosi, renowned prosecutor and author, gives his own authoritative account of the handling of the case against Simpson. He is passionate, scathing, and immensely readable. He cuts through the smokescreens with a case of stunning clarity, and few of the people involved emerge unbruised. Although he feels strongly about the mishandling of the case, he never allows emotion to cloud his thinking. Quite apart from his observations on the case itself, his comments about incompetence and lying in society in general are unmissable. This is quite simply a must-read book. Also by Bugliosi, the ultimate classic book about the Manson murders from the man who prosecuted Manson - Helter Skelter - Buy it Here! (USA) Buy from UK
Buy the Book USA UK	The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Crimes by Roger Wilkes It is not often that I can unreservedly recommend a compilation of this kind. My taste in true crime books runs to the meticulously detailed account of an individual case or the memoirs of a crime investigator. The title of the book, being a "Mammoth Book of", one of a series of other "Mammoth Books of" suggested to me that the content would be lightweight, and I must admit that I acquired it as a bit of holiday reading fluff. I soon realised that the book was much superior to its title. What makes this a book I can happily recommend to the serious crime buff are three things - first of all the excellent choice of the editor of the 36 essays on crime, coming as they do from the cream of true crime writes, secondly the interesting and informative introduction and comments by the editor, and thirdly the fact that many of the items, which have originally been published elsewhere, are no longer easily available, as the original sources are out of print. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Buy the Book	Where There Is Evil by Sandra Brown A harrowing and emotional tale of one woman's crusade for justice. Sandra Brown was brought up in Scotland in the 50's in an age of trust and innocence, yet she soon grew to feel unhappy and uncomfortable in the presence of her father. By the age of 7, she was aware of his frequent infidelities, and the strange and horrible "games" he played with her schoolfriends who were soon warned not to go to her house. In February 1957 on a cold and snowy night, her father was working as a bus driver. A little girl, Moira Anderson, went out to buy a birthday card for her mother, and never returned home. The years passed without any clues as to her disappearance. Sandra's parents were divorced after her father left with another woman, and she had no contact with him for many years. In 1992 she met him at a family funeral and had a brief conversation with him that changed the whole course of her life. He revealed to her that his own family had suspected he was involved in Moira's disappearance, and that he had been driving the bus on which the girl made her last journey. Sandra began to re-examine the past, and interview friends and family. She discovered to her horror that her father had been a notorious child-abuser, his activities hushed up by a shocked family. But had he abducted Moira? Had Sandra herself been the victim of abuse and repressed the memory? Could justice now be obtained after so many years, for Moira, and all those little girls, now grown women, whose whole lives had been blighted by abuse?
Buy the Book USA UK	The Napoleon of Crime by Ben Macintyre This fascinating and entertaining book is an account of the life and career of the master-criminal whose exploits directly inspired Conan Doyle to create the character of Moriarty. A host of colourful characters march across its pages, notably his associate "Piano" Charley, who married and shared with him the affections of the beautiful and vivacious Kitty Flynn, and his nemesis and eventual friend, William Pinkerton. Worth's most daring crime was the theft of Gainsborough's portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire, which he kept hidden from the world for 25 years. The writer has a gift for wry humour which makes this a very enjoyable read.
Buy the book USA UK	Depraved by Harold Schechter Schecter writes extensively about the most depraved and deranged killers there are, but in all the horror and iniquity he produces some of the most readable books in the field. This is a study of H H Holmes who built a remarkable house called "The Castle" in Chicago where he murdered and processed the corpses of those who were unfortunate to stay there. He was undone by an exploit to murder his partner and collect the insurance money, and was not averse to the cruel murder of his late partner's children before he suffered the fate he richly deserved. A gripping, harrowing thriller of a book, marvellously well written and compulsive reading.
Buy the book (UK)	The Jigsaw Man by Paul Britton In 1984 psychologist Paul Britton was asked by the police to advise them in their investigation of a brutal murder. He made a careful study of the photos of the crime scene, but he also knew that he needed to learn as much as possible about the victim. Eventually he was able to write a lengthy report describing the psychological make up of the killer . This, although he did not realise it at the time, was the start of a distinguished and controversial association with the police, advising them on such crimes as the murders of Jamie Bulger and Rachel Nickell and the series of murders carried out by Fred West. It is with a sense of horror that Britton chillingly describes the crime scenes which are a part of the clues he must fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, the answer being a picture of the mind of a deranged killer. Britton was the designer of the undercover operation to investigate Colin Stagg in connection with the murder of Rachel Nickell (Stagg was tried and acquitted in a trial which called into question the validity of such an approach). It is particularly interesting therefore to read about the planning and implementation of the operation, and the excepts from letters written by Stagg and the undercover policewoman have a terrible fascination. The reader must judge for him or herself as to the validity of the exercise, the criticisms it aroused, and the conclusions to be drawn from it . My only criticisms of the book, which I read in paperback is the lack of any illustrations, though considering the graphic descriptions of the crime scenes some may feel this to be an advantage.
USA edition UK edition	Killing the Dream by Gerald Posner More than 30 years after the event, the assassination of Martin Luther King jnr. on 4 April 1968 arouses strong emotions and intense controversy. Many people, including the family of Dr King believe that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of the crime, was an innocent patsy in a massive government conspiracy. Still others, while believing Ray to be guilty, are convinced that he did not act alone. Over the years the area has been considerably muddied by changes in testimony, invented stories and wild speculation. Deftly and meticulously Posner sifts through the mass of evidence, going back to original sources and conducting personal interviews. The foundation of the book is his account of the early life of James Earl Ray, giving the reader a strong impression of the man and his motivation. On this he builds a detailed picture of Ray’s movements in the weeks before the assassination, and the period from the shooting to his arrest. In particular, he examines the evidence for the existence of the mysterious Raoul, an underworld figure Ray said he had meetings with, and who many believe was the real assassin. Posner’s conclusion, that Ray acted alone, and that Raoul was an invention, is convincingly put, as is his skilful demolition of some of the 'evidence' cited by conspiracy theorists. Essential reading. Also by Gerald Posner - Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK
UK Edition USA Edition DVD and VHS out soon!	Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt Enthralling, exotic, spooky and full of surprises, this lush subtropical cocktail of a book is a must-read. Easily fitting into the "Travel" category it will sit just as easily on your "True Crime" shelves. It reads like an elegantly crafted novel, yet all the extraordinary people in it are real, and all the events are true. Berendt visited and quickly became enchanted by the city of Savannah Georgia, its delightful old-world architecture, its eccentric inhabitants. He wrote about both with curiosity and affection, but his original purpose was highjacked when one of his subjects murdered another. It is a blend of mystery and magic which has sent Americans by the plane and coachload to visit the city of Savannah, which has thankfully resisted all efforts to update its antique charm. Now a film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, Jude Law and playing herself, the fabulous Lady Chablis.
Order the paperback from the UK	Unnatural Murder - Poison at the court of King James I by Anne Somerset The horrible death of Sir Thomas Overbury in the Tower of London in 1613 might have been a mere nine days wonder. His insolent and arrogant manners had alienated his few friends and annoyed King James I. His imprisonment had been a source of relief and even pleasure to many, and his death was little regretted. Overbury had fallen out with his one real friend, the Earl of Somerset, favourite of the king, over the Earl’s plans to marry the beautiful Lady Frances Essex, thus earning him her enduring hatred. It was Somerset’s great error, having achieved a powerful status in court with the aid of Overbury’s intelligent advice, to lose that favour through greed and laziness. His enemies began to talk of how poisoned tarts and jellies had been sent from the Somerset household to Sir Thomas, and it was alleged that when Overbury had been taken ill, he had been dispatched by means of a poisoned enema. The band wagon of rumour began to roll and before it stopped four people, one of whom was quite possibly innocent had been hanged and the lives and reputations of the Somersets were in ruins This immensely clever, scholarly and readable book does far more than document the circumstances of Overbury’s death and the downfall of those involved, it steers a fascinating path though the events showing how the ambitions, rivalries, greed and sexual preferences of the principals in this absorbing historical drama influenced events at every turn. The author has a facility for finding the most apt and amusing quotations from the time, bringing to life some extraordinary personalities. She reveals the corruption and vice at the heart of the English court, and the scandalous behaviour of the King and nobility.
Buy the book from the USA	In the Footsteps of the Whitechapel Murders by John F Plimmer Books about the Whitechapel murders tend to fall into two main categories, either they are encyclopaedic reviews of the crimes. listing the main suspects, or the author is trying to prove that a specific individual was the killer. Refreshingly, this book is neither of those things. Plimmer has over 30 year experience as a police officer, during which he has taken part in many high profile murder investigations. He brings this experience to bear on the Whitechapel murders, looking at how they would be investigated nowadays, giving a police-eye view of the clues and what they mean, and comparing this with what actually happened in 1888. He arrives at a picture of the kind of person the Ripper would have been, and ends with an imaginary interview. I have only two minor quibbles with the book. Firstly, I cannot agree with Mr Plimmer that the Ripper was in his 50s, and indeed, he supplies no really convincing argument to support his contention. I also found that the editing was a little lax in places, leading to the occasional howler, e.g. "He drank numerous cups of tea until he thought it was bellowing out of his ears." But overall I would recommend the book as an intelligent and thought-provoking analysis from a professional. It also makes one consider that if the crimes had happened today, improved procedures and forensic analysis would have identified the murderer.
	Shadows of Deadman's Hill - A New Analysis of the A6 Murder by Leonard Miller (Zoilus Press 2001) For nearly 40 years, there has been a dedicated campaign to clear the name of James Hanratty who was hanged on 4^th April 1962 for the murder of Michael Gregsten, a crime that has become known as the A6 murder. Numerous books have been published proclaiming Hanratty’s innocence, notably Who Killed Hanratty? By Paul Foot and Hanratty: The Final Verdict by Bob Woffinden. Even Louis Blom-Cooper, who criticised the judicial system in his 1963 book, The Semblance of Truth, while believing that Hanratty was guilty, later supported calls to review the case in the light of a strong, intelligent and well-directed campaign. As we now know, recent DNA tests have found a match with Hanratty and cleared Peter Alphon, who for many campaigners was the prime suspect. Now, Leonard Miller has re-examined the case, and for the first time in 38 years a book proclaims Hanratty to be guilty. Miller believes, quite rightly, I feel, that anyone reading this book will already be very well acquainted with the facts. His task is not to go over the ground so thoroughly covered by Paul Foot and Woffinden, but to submit the available evidence to a fresh analysis. He first of all points up some of the anomalies in the case, those which have bothered both the champions of Hanratty’s innocence and those who believe him to be guilty. What was the motivation behind the crime? How did a petty thief suddenly become a rapist and murderer? Why did the killer drive the stolen car so erratically when Hanratty was said to be a good driver? Why did Hanratty’s friend Charles France commit suicide a fortnight before the execution? After a brief overview of the crime, and a history of the campaign to clear Hanratty, Miller turns to examining the evidence. This is the core of the book, and a fascinating one it is. He exposes the Liverpool and Rhyl alibis to a critical analysis revealing the inadequacies of both, and applies some sorely needed common sense to the conspiracy theories. To Miller, the key to everything is in the upbringing, early experiences, intellect and personality of Hanratty. With this as a sound basis, he looks at the crime in detail, following each action step by step. The murder and rape were not, as has been supposed, part of a planned crime which went wrong, but a crime of impulse, committed by a not very bright man, who was using a gun for the first time and suddenly found himself out of his depth. What happened was very much due to the nature of Hanratty himself, a problem son of an otherwise respectable family. Miller was once a fervent believer in Hanratty’s innocence, until he spotted in the mass of evidence small details which troubled him, and which prompted this book. For many people, Hanratty’s innocence is an article of faith. It is the point from which all investigation begins, and in the light of which all evidence is viewed. They have rejected the DNA results, since, on the assumption that Hanratty is innocent, the tests simply have to be wrong. Dedicated campaigners will not be swayed by this book, but anyone retaining an open mind should read it, and be prepared to reconsider. For myself, I was a believer in Hanratty’s innocence, until the DNA tests. A few anomalies still troubled me, but Miller has clarified these to the point where I feel satisfied that Hanratty was indeed the A6 murderer. As always one’s sympathies must lie with the victims, Michael Gregsten and his family, Valerie Storie, raped and permanently disabled at the age of 22, and the Hanratty family, who, one fears will never find peace. ISBN 1902878221 154pp £12 Zoilus Press PO Box 9315 London E17 4UU
	Dear Boss: The Victim's Victim by Thomas Mead and Kevin Marks For those of you who like to collect different theories about the identity of Jack the Ripper (and I know there are lots of you out there!) here is a totally new one, which I have to say took me by surprise when I first heard it. The idea behind this book is that Jack was none other than his great contemporary icon, Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man. It's an extraordinary idea, and the authors do make a good case, but in the end, I am unable to agree with their conclusions. Still, that's only my opinion; do feel free to make up your own mind! If you want to add this one to your collection of Ripperana, you can download it as an ebook at www.1stbooks.com If you are interested in finding out more about Merrick, have a look at this tribute site.
Buy from UK Buy from USA	Born to Steal When the Mafia hit Wall Street By Gary Weiss This is a compelling and shocking read – the story of Louis Pascuito, who at 18 had nothing except wit and charm and a total lack of conscience. Arriving on Wall Street he met the men in the $3,000 suits and he wanted to be one of them. These stock-hustlers knew little about the stock market, and thought of nothing but money and the commodities and the good times it would buy, and the prestige of being top predator. High on drink, drugs and testosterone, they bonded, partied and beat each other up. Money meant you could do anything, but you had to be prepared to do anything for it. With regulators who either couldn’t or wouldn’t notice, the money rolled in, the kids got richer and the clients got poorer. At the age of 19 Louis was one of the youngest managers on Wall Street. At 20 he had stacks of money in his appartment that he hardly knew how to spend, and still it kept rolling in. He knew it was going to last forever. When he decided to go legit and pass the test for a brokerage licence, he did it in the only way he knew how – he paid someone to take the exam for him. And then he met Charlie. Charlie was a Guy. Not The Guy, because Charlie had a Guy of his own, but he was a Guy and he changed Louis’ life, because all Charlie wanted was a piece of Louis. When Louis was arrested, suddenly it all wasn’t so easy anymore and there were gambling debts and debts to Charlie that he couldn’t pay. Charlie started to slap him around, and the Wall Street dream became a nightmare. Written in a style as brash, hard and shocking as the subject matter, the book charts Louis Pascuito’s rise and spiralling decline in the tough world of the stock hustler.
Order this book from the UK	Death at the Priory by James Ruddick This book is a rarity - it promises fresh information and fresh insights - and it delivers! In 1876 a young barrister named Charles Bravo, just six months married, died in agony, poisoned with antimony. The inquest was a sensation, uncovering the kind of sordid details that 19th century propriety would prefer to have left hidden. In the end, no-one was ever tried for his murder. Could the culprit have been the injured wife, Florence, her devoted companion, Mrs Cox - or even Florence's ex-lover, Dr Gully? Just as it seems that that the last word has been said on this classic Victorian mystery, Ruddick re-opens it with this well-researched and well-written book, containing vital new evidence. Importantly, he analyses events using not only the known facts of the lives of these tragic individuals, but he also brings to bear his knowledge of the social life of the era, and provides a soloution which is entirely satisfying. Highly recommended for those who like their true crime to be true!
Order this book from Amazon UK	Manx Murders: 150 Years of Island Madness, Mayhem and Manslaughter By Keith Wilkinson Most writers looking at the crimes of a specific area have the luxury of picking and choosing the cases they write about. Keith Wilkinson in chronicling the history of murder in the Isle of Man started out with the huge challenge of researching all the cases on the island up to the 1970s. He has met this challenge not only successfully but elegantly. The twenty-one cases include some which are both extraordinary and unique – a stabbing in the camp for Finnish nationals during the second world war, the inexplicable shooting of one British officer by another in a 1916 interment camp, and the tragedy of James Killey, who threw his children down a well and jumped in after them. Many of the cases are unsolved mysteries to this day. Spanning a period of time from 1859 to 1973, they also provide fascinating insights into living conditions on the island, and events in its history. A foreword by the High Bailiff provides details of how the Manx legal system differs from that of the mainland, which are both interesting and useful. This is certainly a worthwhile addition to any true crime collector’s bookshelf. Keith very kindly donates half his royalties to the NSPCC