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~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~😛
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The book starts with a ‘journal’ written by John Haye, we get a picture of a young man, in love with life, with good friends and plenty of options and dreams. Then tragedy strikes, on the way home from boarding school, he is blinded in a terrible accident that also disfigures him. The rest of the book deals with his recovery from the accident and how being blind affect his life and how people now treat him.
What I thought was interesting was how Green showed everyone doing what they thought was best for John or what he wanted, without consulting him. John just puts up with the treatment, perhaps feeling that now he is a burden on them and as such shouldn’t complain. John falls for a local girl, the daughter of the town drunk and imagines them going away together, but both know it is not possible. In the end, John’s step-mother takes him to London, believing he will be happy there and John plans to write, something he aspired to before the accident.
This is a character driven novel, it is rather short and interesting. I recommend it.
Written in 1926
Finished September 9, 2010
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This book was recommended to me by someone who knows I like true crime books, he told me that while fiction, it was based on the Rostov Ripper. It was described as a propulsive, relentless page-turner. While I did find this book to be interesting, I don’t agree with either description.
While there is a serial killer in the book, that is not its main focus. The author deals more with the history of Russia, starting with a devastating famine, then goes on to detail what it was like living in Stalinist Russia, a place where paranoia was rampant, because no one could be trusted. While trying to set up a paradise for its workers, the State has become the biggest threat to them, with its spies and ideals.
In the midst of this ‘paradise’ a serial killer is operating, except, that is impossible according to the state. Leo Demidov, a war hero with a beautiful wife, is a member of the MGB, the State Security Force and is a courageous, conscientious and idealistic officer. Until an accusation sends his life spiraling out of control, he finds himself interrogated, then exiled and hunting this killer on his own. A life and death situation for Leo, his wife and parents.
Unfortunately the book doesn’t live up to the hype. While it is very interesting and gives a riveting and accurate portrayal of Russia, it is not a page turning thriller. The book seems to get bogged down in details, as if the author while describing an event or place can’t decide how to finish it and go on. And the serial killer angle, while a central part of the book, is actually made secondary and by the mid point of the book, who the killer is can be figured out rather easily.
I would recommend this book to people looking for a character driven story about Russia with a mystery thrown in, I would not recommend it to thriller lovers.
On a positive note, I know have 3 books added to my wish list and another serial killer to read about. Andrei Chikatilo ~ Rostov Ripper
Pub. Date: April 2008
Finished: August 26, 2010
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A Twisted Faith: A Minister’s Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church by Gregg Olsen
On December 26, 1997, near the affluent community of Bainbridge Island off the coast of Seattle, a house went up in flames. In it was the shy, beloved minister’s wife Dawn Hacheney. When the fire was extinguished, investigators found only her charred remains. Her husband Nick was visibly devastated by the loss. Even though there was evidence that she was dead before the fire started, her death was ruled accidental; even though some speculated that Nick had killed her, there was minimal investigation into the fire and Dawn’s death.
As I discovered with the last Gregg Olsen True Crime account I read, he goes into considerable detail when he writes. His attention to the facts is meticulous and his research is extensive. Reading one of his books is like being lead through a path in the woods, a path with twists and turns, rocks and branches in the path, and holding your hand is a careful gentle guide that doesn’t want you to miss a step or stub your toe. Every so often, Gregg gives you a flash of what the future holds, but it just that, a brief glance and you are back to examining events in a chronological order.
Nick Hacheney was the youth minister, marriage counselor in the church and claimed to receive messages and direction from God. The truth is, he was a philanderer and a murderer and in this account the layers of his deception are pulled away. Many lives and families were damaged by his actions, a community left to pick up the many pieces broken away.
This book is different from most I’ve read in that Gregg doesn’t cover the investigation or trial. I didn’t miss it, since the trail was mainly the testimony of one woman, it would most likely have been a repetition of what was already covered in the book. Despite that it is a fascinating account that covers the lives of everyone involved without being boring or repetitious.
I got this as an e-book and there were no pictures in it. I have been told there are pictures in the print version.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to true crime fans.
True Crime, Non-fiction
E-book
Stars: 4
Copyright: 2010
Finished 8/21/2010
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Cruel Death by M. William Phelps ~ 8/24/2010
Deadly Secrets by M. William Phelps ~ 8/24/2010
Perfect Poison by M. William Phelps ~ 8/24/2010
E-book from Kobo Books for free.
Stones Skipping on Water by Richard Taylor ~ 8/27/2010
E-book sent to me from the author for review
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Purchased Columbine by Dave Cullen from Sony E-Book Store.
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Summary: You are U.S. Army Military Intelligence trainee David Dengler. Following Army M.I. protocol, you are sent on a training exercise to a city you’ve never visited before and ordered to surveil a public person (‘public persons’ having little recourse if their privacy is invaded). You can’t believe your good fortune. You draw the assignment to surveil Marilyn Monroe. It is early August, 1962, and you have just been made a witness to the murder of Hollywood’s biggest star.
Red Mist is a fast-paced thriller that recreates the world of 1960s America, a decade obsessed with sex, violence, and espionage. Follow David Dengler as he flees from unknown assassins, and struggles to stay alive as dark forces compress him from all sides, driving him to a rendezvous with death… in Dealey Plaza.
David Dengler was expecting to be assigned to a low level politician, instead he is assigned to surveil Marilyn Monroe, one of the most beautiful and famous movie stars in Hollywood. His dream assignment turns into a nightmare, and he finds himself on the run and in hiding.
This book takes you from the glitter of Hollywood to the mines of West Virginia, we find out about Dengler’s dreams and loves growing up, how he overcame all this to achieve his goal. All of this turns out to be important later in the book.
Although I did not like this book I gave it 4 stars. There was good character development, I really started to feel like I knew the main character, I could feel what he was feeling. The word descriptions were vivid and the plot was solid with enough twists to keep me reading till the end. The plot twists were not wild or unbelievable. I finished this book, but I didn’t have to force myself, it was an enjoyable read, it just turned out to be a subject that didn’t interest me.
I would recommend this book to fans of political thrillers who like a personal touch to their books.
Thriller
E-book
Stars: 4
Copyright 2010
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Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan with Peter T. Maiken. From the front of the book: The shocking true story of the man convicted of more murders than any other person in United States history!
Some might think that back to back books on the same person would be boring, but each author has his own style. Terry Sullivan was one of the District Attorney’s who help prosecute John Wayne Gacy. He was in on the investigation from the beginning.
This is a very detailed account. The investigation is broken into days. It was 10 days from John Gacy’s last victim being reported missing to the first human bone being found in his crawl space. Terry Sullivan relates where Gacy went and the numerous problems the surveillance team experienced along with the investigation being conducted during these same 10 days. Then begins the recovery process and the preparation for trial.
There is a break right now to go back in time to consider Gacy’s life. The trial is broken down into weeks, again very detailed, with who testified to what at times with word for word transcript. Terry Sullivan does a good job of giving us the meat of the trial without being boring and tedious. Since this book was written in 1983 there is no follow up after Gacy is sentenced.
Killer Clown gives us a very different perspective on Gacy that is informative and interesting.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to true crime fans.
True Crime, Non-fiction
Page count: 375
Stars: 4
Copyright: 1983
A book about John Wayne Gacy does not really need to be summarized so I will jump right in with my review. Joseph R Kozenczak was the arresting officer and chief investigator in the John Wayne Gacy serial murder investigation. John Wayne Gacy hated him, during interrogation he would answer any question the officers put to him, but refused to speak if Kozenczak was in the room.
Since this book was written by the chief investigation officer it is like a look inside the police department. It is detailed but does not get bogged down. Kozenczak is a very compassionate man with a lot of empathy for the victims and is unstinting with his praise of other officers dedication, talents and efforts extended to at first, find a missing young man, and then gather the evidence needed to arrest and convict Gacy. He’s a little light on the trail, something that is a plus with some readers, but even there he gives enough for you understand what happened.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to true crime fans.
True Crime, Non-fiction
Page count: 251
Stars: 4
Copyright: 2003
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