June 16, 2010

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

In the summer of 1954 U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule come to Shutter Island. A patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando has escaped from Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, located on Shutter Island. It appears to be impossible for her to have escaped from her locked room, they begin their investigation, hampered by un-cooperation from the doctors, orderlies and warden, while at the same time a hurricane is bearing down on the island.

As their investigation continues, they come to realize that everything at Ashecliffe Hospital is not as it seems on the surface. Even their reason for being there, is it a missing patient, or to investigate claims of drug experimentation, hideous surgical trials and experiments in brainwashing? Or is Teddy there because of who he is, because of something in his past?

Trapped on the island by the hurricane, Teddy and Chuck get closer to the truth, but the questions increase and Teddy begins to believe that they must leave Shutter Island, or be driven insane.

This is not a long book, it falls into the category of thriller, and once you start on this thrill ride you need to see it through to the end. I kind of had clue to the end because of another review I read so I don’t know if I would have guessed the ending on my own, I don’t think I would have. The book has a sense of impending doom, I found myself, hoping it would have a good ending, but dreading that it wouldn’t. At the same time I couldn’t stop reading it. The plot follows a logical course, as logical a course as one can have in an insane asylum, at times confusing, but as events unfold the meaning of events becomes clear, the ending wraps things up, then you get the sense that things aren’t really over ….

Thriller
E-book
Stars: 4
Copyright 2006

I’ve linked this review to Cym Lowell: Book Review Party Wednesday

Posted by on June 16, 2010 in 2010, Suspense, Thriller and tagged , .

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June 10, 2010

Die, My Love: A True Story of Revenge, Murder, and Two Texas Sisters by Kathryn Casey

On October 30, 2004 Fred Jablin, respected well-liked college professor was found lying in his driveway, he had been shot and had died, while his children were sleeping just yards away. The usual suspect, his ex-wife, Piper, who had lost custody of the children and been ordered to pay child support was in Houston, Texas, one thousand miles away, or was she?

With her usual attention to detail, Kathryn Casey takes us through Piper and Fred’s childhoods, how they met, their marriage, their divorce, Fred’s murder and finally the investigation. How the investigators followed the ‘bread crumbs’ left by the murderer to not only get enough to arrest the murderer but also secure a conviction.

It is no secret I am a fan of Kathryn Casey and this book is one of the reasons why, well researched and written to capture your attention and draw you into the lives of Fred and Piper, their children and extended families. One ends up feeling like they are there, watching the events as they occur. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true crime.

True Crime, Non-fiction
E-Book
Stars: 4
Copyright: 2007

Posted by on June 10, 2010 in 2010, True Crime and tagged , , , .

2 Comments

June 6, 2010

The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez by Philip Carlo

Summer of 1985 in Los Angeles was a summer of terror. Richard Ramirez committed numerous break-ins leaving in his wake 13 dead bodies and many more shattered lives. He was a completely different kind of serial killer.

From the back of the book: The classic account of one of the world’s most feared serial killers.

Philip Carlo divides the account into 4 parts labeled books, “The Hunted and the Hunters”, “Richie”, “Capture”, “The Trial”, an Epilogue and “special Update of the Tenth-Anniversary Edition”. First is a consideration the crimes, then an account of Ramirez’ childhood, the events leading up to his crimes, how he was captured, a very comprehensive reporting of his trial (58 felony charges) that is detailed but fascinating, never boring. In the Epilogue he reports on Ramirez wedding and the women that have become fascinated with him. The special update contains a transcript of an interview Carlo had with Ramirez on death row.

In the last paragraph I said that the trial coverage was fascinating never boring, that could be said about the entire book. Carlo had done his research and the reporting is detailed, but not overly done. Enough information is given to understand the crimes and the perpetrator, but not so much that it is boring and repetitious. It is a long, thick book (592 pages) but it needs to be because of the extent of the crimes and the trial.

I would recommend this book to true crime fans.

True Crime, Non-fiction
Page count: 592
Stars: 4
Copyright: 1996

Posted by on June 6, 2010 in 2010, Non-Fiction, True Crime and tagged , .

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May 30, 2010

New Books I have

Purchased at Strand Book Store Friday.

Murder in the Heartland by M. William Phelps

Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey

Posted by on May 30, 2010 in Acquisitions and tagged .

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May 17, 2010

While They Slept: An Inquiry into the Murder of a Family by Kathryn Harrison

From the back of the book: Early on an April morning, eighteen year old Billy Frank Gilley, Jr., killed his sleeping parents. Surprised in the act by his youngest sister, Becky, he turned on her as well. Billy then climbed the stairs to the bedroom of his other sister, Jody, and said, “We’re free.”

This book was in the True Crime section, but it reads more like a memoir, a combined memoir of the author’s life, Billy’s life and Jody’s life. With extensive interviews of the children, friends, and others she has brought together Billy’s and Jody’s memories into a cohesive account. She details the years of abuse, the alcoholism of the parents and how Jody rebuilt her life as the only survivor of a murderous rampage.

Being a survivor of incest herself, she is able to bring an understanding to the actions of the children, what they had to do to survive.

I found this to be a well written, readable book.

Posted by on May 17, 2010 in 2010, Memoir, Non-Fiction, True Crime and tagged , , , .

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May 9, 2010

Eight Days in Darkness: The True Story of the Abduction, Rape, and Rescue of Anita Wooldridge by Angela Roegner, Anita Wooldridge

This is the true account of the abduction of Anita Wooldridge on June 25, 1998. She was taken from her parents’ house, her abductor was not a stranger but he was definitely not a friend either, and he had a prior conviction for rape. For eight days she was held captive, locked in a metal storage cabinet that was 5 feet by 2 feet and repeatedly raped.

Eight Days in Darkness chronicles the abduction, the steps her captor took to avoid detection and transport her across state lines, how he kept his current residence hidden from authorities and the successful efforts of local authorities and FBI agents to find and rescue her.

There is a foreword by one of the investigators, an introduction by Anita Wooldridge and an author’s note. This is an amazing story, but not an amazing book. Anita has strong faith and it comes through in her introduction, some may find it a little preachy. I wish I could say I liked this book but I didn’t.

The first thing I didn’t like was that the authors decided to refer to Anita’s abductor as “the mole”, because “moles have beady eyes, are unattractive, and prefer to only come out of their holes at night.” I don’t ever recall a perp being given a nickname in any of the other true crime books I have read. Her description of a mole is subjective, not based on fact. Moles are amazing animals and I happen to like moles. One mole can eat 45-50 lbs of worms and insects each year (I don’t like bugs). Included in that list of insects are grubs that destroy plants. Moles are not nocturnal animals and are specially designed to live underground. Also they are not predatory animals. Anita’s captor was a predator.

I also found certain aspects of this book to be rather confusing, for instance, the names of everyone in the book were changed to protect their privacy, but in the acknowledgement and captions for the pictures, their real names were used. Not only was this confusing to me and I am sure to others, it totally negated the attempt to protect their privacy.

The book takes you day by day through Anita’s ordeal, however it skimmed through the police investigation, spending more time on the officer’s personal life, how this investigation was impacting their relationships with their wives, girlfriends and so on. I didn’t mind the references to faith in God, I found the constant direct quotes of their prayers to God annoying and a little tiresome.

I thought Anita suffered through a terrible ordeal and is to be admired for the way she handled it and how she is recovering, I think the officers did an amazing job of finding her. I do not think this book does them justice.

Posted by on May 9, 2010 in 2010, Non-Fiction, True Crime and tagged , , .

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May 9, 2010

New Books I have

Yesterday I bought:

While They Slept: An Inquiry into the Murder of a Family by Kathryn Harrison

The Night Stalker: The Live and Crimes of Richard Ramirez by Philip Carlo

Last week I ordered:

The Chicago Killer: The Hunt for Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy by Joseph R. Kozenczak and Karen M. Henrikson

Posted by on May 9, 2010 in Acquisitions and tagged .

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May 8, 2010

Long time

I have a book review to post, but it is not quite ready yet. I am in the New York City Public Library, the building with the big lions in front you know. I have discovered that people don’t come here to get books, they come to tour the library, to do research, to go online (like what I’m doing), if you want to read a book you have to go outside and sit in a chair in front of the library. Isn’t that weird?

Anyway, I am meeting a friend for lunch so I must say good bye for now. My next post will be of my review of Eight Days in Darkness. It had promise, but it disappointed me.

Posted by on May 8, 2010 in Miscellanea and tagged .

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April 18, 2010

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations was written in 1860 or 1861 by Charles Dickens. Some consider it to be loosely based on Dicken’s life. It is considered a classic, considering it is still being read, and reprinted today I tend to agree. I also feel weird doing a review on a book that has been around for 148 years. Here goes.

The book is divided into three parts, the three phases of the main character’s great expectations. Pip is an orphan, being brought up by ‘hand’ by his sister, whose husband Joe is Pip’s only friend. By the end of the book we see that Joe is a true and loyal friend to Pip. The other characters in the book shape (one could say warp) Pip’s development from young boy to young man. Miss Havisham, who has lived in seclusion since being jilted, and her foster child Estella, who is beautiful and has been raised to wreck Miss Havisham’s vengeance on men, with whom he immediately falls in love. He receives a fortune from a secret benefactor so that he can ‘become a gentleman’. Pip moves to London, leaving his family and a life of poverty behind, he makes new friends in London, and becomes a gentleman with their help. With the revealing of his benefactor and the subsequent consequences of this Pip learns his true character.

I would characterize this novel as a character driven novel with most of the action being related in first person and narrative fashion. Charles Dickens is excellent at developing his characters and his descriptions are vivid, when Pip describes the level of his fear in the graveyard, you almost feel it yourself. This is not a book you can rush through, but I felt it was worth the time it took to read it and recommend it.

Posted by on April 18, 2010 in 2010, Classic Literature and tagged .

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April 2, 2010

New Books I have

Today I purchased, A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen for my e-reader.
February 28, 2010 I purchased Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane also for my e-reader.

Posted by on April 2, 2010 in Acquisitions and tagged , .

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