Final Truth : The Autobiography of a Serial Killer
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Very interesting read
  • A few things unanswered..........
  • Final Truth or Final attempt to "Become Famous?"
  • The gospel of victimology
  • Final Truth is Mostly Lies
Final Truth : The Autobiography of a Serial Killer
Donald H. Gaskins , and Wilton Earle
Manufacturer: Adept
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0963242202

Book Description

The autobiogarphy of Serial Killer Gaskins, written as collaboration bwteen Gaskins and Wilton Earle. Gaskins graphic story of his life and crimes.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Very interesting read.......2007-02-04

As someone who lives in Sumter, SC I've heard a good bit about Pee Wee Gaskins. He actually used to live in a house right down the street from where I sit now. In any case, I have talked with people who are friends and who actually knew Pee Wee back when he hung around places like The Neck, (which by the way was 100% described accurately in the book..... it was a ROUGH place where the cops would NOT venture into) and they described him as a 'nice guy' but one that you would definitely not want to cross. He was known for a hot temper and my friend said that there were bodies that people would never find left from Pee Wee (I trust my friend on this one.... he was involved in a lot of things back then before he got his act together.)

If you are reading this for a glimpse into a serial killer's mind then this is an excellent book. There were parts that made me cringe, especially since my best friends can remember some of the incidents (missing persons) when they took place (I was too young then). It adds a frightening touch to think that I drive by places everyday where it is rumored that he had buried bodies.

For those who have 'researched' and hold the belief that Pee Wee lied about all of this and was only seeking to be more 'famous', I'd like to remind everyone that the deal was made with the author that this book would NOT come out until after his execution and that he received NO funds whatsoever (nor did his family) for releasing this book. I feel that if he only did it for 'attention' that he would have wanted it released before he died. And after talking to people whom I trust who could tell me about his personality and demeanor, I firmly believe that 90% of the book at least is true (everyone embellishes after all... so I'll leave 10% for that).

All in all, a GREAT but sad look into the life and mind of this murderer.

4 out of 5 stars A few things unanswered.................2006-05-31

I first heard the name "Pee Wee Gaskins" in 1994. My new boss and I were traveling through the upstate part of SC to pick up a company car. We were discussings things unrelated to work and getting to know each other. When he asked if I enjoyed reading, I told him I enjoyed reading books about true crime, serial killers in particular. At that time, he told me I should get the book "Final Truth". I did.

After reading the book (which I found somewhat disturbing because of the details yet refreshing for the truths told about the corruption in the "justice system") I began traveling extensively through rural SC for work. After visiting that particular part of the state, I found it quite believable that Gaskins could have commited all the murders stated in Final Truth. There are rural parts of the state where there isn't so much as a house or gas staion for literally miles.

Not having actually known anyone who knew Gaskins, I took this book at face value. While it may be true that Gaskins wanted "notoriety" like Bundy or Dahmer, I actually got from the book he was telling the truth.

There are a few questions I have always wanted to ask ANYONE who knew Gaskins. I have actually talked with people from Sumter, Florence and that area in general but only people who "knew of" Gaskins and his crimes.

Did the police ever search the areas where he claimed to have buried his "coastal killing" victims?

Has anyone ever seen any of the "artwork" that he supposedly taced, signed and sold from death row?

Gaskins spoke of a "writer" that wrote a book (I'm assuming) about him which was filled with lies about his wives and children. Does anyone know what he is talikng about? The only other book I can think of that Gaskins was referring to was titled "Slaughter in Carolina". I have not read this book but am looking for it. He calims in Final Truth this libelous book or story was written by a woman and a woman wrote "Slaughter In Carolina" (I finally found this book and have written a review of it as well as scanned an image)

I never got from the book that Gaskins was an abused by his mother. In fact, he claims the only abuse at home was from his step father and that was just an occasional slapping (no type of sexual rape is discussed in the book at the hands of his step father). I believe the gang rapes discussed by Gaskins at reform school and prison are probably accurate.

If anyone would like to discuss this, please email me at pumpkins2002@comcast.net

2 out of 5 stars Final Truth or Final attempt to "Become Famous?".......2005-10-23

This book is a good read ( i finished it in a day ) but i just have some trouble beliving some of Pee Wee's stories - he even states himself that he has told several versions of the stories -so why should i believe without doubt that this book is "the truth"? ... from reading profiling books on serial killers - you find that these killers may change up the way they kill / despose of their bodies - to make an improvement - but gaskins has 2 ways of killing people and he bounces back and forth between them -- doesn't make much sense ...
at the end of his book he lets the readers know that he wanted to become famous - but, he and his crimes really aren't known outside of the southeast ... i'm not saying he didn't kill a lot of people, i'm not saying he didn't torture them ... i'm just having a little trouble beliving mr gaskins versions, i just get the feeling that he is admiting to more, for one last attempt to in his words "be famous" ... he even mentions that back when hurricane hugo hit the grand strand, that there were reports of bodies (remains) being found, but it was reported that those were from graveyards .... i believe that to be true because, gaskins said that he "sank" his victims, with big chains, etc., and sank their belongings, he also says that when he felt he was about to be caught he took all of the tools he used for his killings and all the chains he had left and sank that to the bottom of the marshlands in horry and georgetown counties ... when hugo came through -- this is a definate time that things would have been brought up from their watery grave ... but no reoprts of the 30 plus chains, and other tools have been documented

1 out of 5 stars The gospel of victimology.......2005-09-20

This autobiography by serial killer Pee Wee Gaskins is brought to you by the apparently easily-duped co-author, journalist Wilton Earle. Gaskins' justifications and distortions are passed along with little examination or challenge, and probably bear small resemblance to the facts.

1 out of 5 stars Final Truth is Mostly Lies.......2005-08-23

I've studied Pee Wee Gaskins extensively and interviewed his family, former teachers, neighbors, law enforcement, prosecutors, etc. Pee Wee was never beaten and abused as a child -- quite the opposite. As a handsome and intelligent little boy, he was the darling of his family and was pampered. His family members were hardworking, decent, church-going people, who were as shocked as everyone when it became clear that he was a psychopath -- killing birds and frogs at the age of 5.

He was an incredible liar and used this autobiography to enhance his legend in the Florence County area of South Carolina. When one tries to verify the details in the Final Truth, starting with basics like his mother's age when he was born, one realizes how fictional most of Gaskins' account is.

The story of Pee Wee is fascinating, but you won't learn it from this book.
H Is for Homicide (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Another winner
  • the ending will get ya
  • Absolutely the best female PI
  • Weak Link in a Great Series
  • From an occassional reader of the Kinsey Millhone series
H Is for Homicide (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
Sue Grafton
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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  1. I Is for Innocent I Is for Innocent
  2. G Is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries) G Is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
  3. J Is for Judgment J Is for Judgment
  4. "F" is for Fugitive (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries) "F" is for Fugitive (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries)
  5. K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries) K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)

ASIN: 0449219461
Release Date: 1992-03-22

Book Description

"THE LADY CAN WRITE . . .

Any reader who needs a smart and sassy P.I. would do well to hire Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. . . . H' is for Homicide continues to show the author in strong storytelling form. . . . [It] finds Kinsey Millhone working on a case involving the death of a claims adjuster for a California insurance company. The story takes her into the Los Angeles barrio in pursuit of a violent criminal, into jails and hospitals, and into a grungy bar named the Meat Locker. . . . Count on Millhone not only to corner the murderer but also to make a statement against the foibles of the insurance game."
--The New York Times

"The eighth in Grafton's bestselling series is perhaps the wildest ride yet. . . . Grafton's skill with dialogue, her vivid characterizations and California scenery are priceless. . . . There are moments when the tension becomes so unbearable that you are tempted to skip paragraphs out of self-preservation."
--USA Today

"One of the best . . . A vivid, funny portrait of life in an ethnic underworld, viewed without judgment. Suspense there is, plentifully, and a final suggestion that Kinsey will be exploring different mischiefs next time. Outstanding."
--Los Angeles Times

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Another winner.......2007-05-05

It's been a while since I read one of her books, but they're just as great as I remember. I don't recall her others being quite so violent as this, but the violence was necessary to the story. As an added bonus, but one that applies solely to this reader, I once had what I thought was a great idea for an antagonist in a thriller but was horribly unable to write the thing. Sue Grafton used a similar idea quite successfully here. I hate to see great ideas go to waste, so I'm happy she did that. As a fine and final endorsement of this novel, I'm going to read another one. Next week, unfortunately. Tough editing schedule.

5 out of 5 stars the ending will get ya.......2007-04-28

I started the series when my husband went off to Iraq and sadly I got out of order! Finally, getting back to the begining of the series and I was at "H" Far and away her best book yet (and I have read the most recent). I admit I was concerned for Kinsey and had to skip certain passages. However, the last three words (as another reviewer aptly put it) will have me picking up the book again and reading it much more closely.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely the best female PI.......2007-03-10

I bought this audio book to replace one I had worn out. Sue Grafton has created the most realistic and likeable PI ever. I love her books, but she has turned me into a "pusher" in that I have gotten a number of friends hooked on Kinsey and her exploits.

2 out of 5 stars Weak Link in a Great Series.......2006-09-07

I read A is for Alphabet years ago and did not get pulled into the series. Years later I read S is for Silence and was hooked. I started to read the series--backwards at first and then jumped to the beginning. I have really enjoyed the books and felt a connection to the heroine (and forgiven Ms. Grafton for making her weigh 118 lbs on her 5'6" frame). However, I agree with the other readers who feel like this is not Grafton at her best. You just can't believe that Kinsey would put herself in these ridiculous positions---belting a police officer to endear herself to a woman she is investigating, remaining in an incredibly (and unbelievable) dangerous situation, to name a few. The dialogue is weak,the sexual situations seem gratutitous, and there is a fair amount of stereotyping of hispanics. But even with these issues, I did finish the book. Grafton at her low point is still a good read!

5 out of 5 stars From an occassional reader of the Kinsey Millhone series.......2006-05-07

I am only an occassional reader of this series as you can probably tell since I am reading this one 15 years after it was first published. I have no idea what letter Grafton has worked her way to by this point but I am more interested in catching up after reading this installment.

Lots of fast-paced action keeps Kinsey thinking on her feet throughout the book. Ostensibly, she is undercover to expose a car insurance fraud ring (they cause low speed accidents and fake serious hard-to-prove injuries such as 'back pain') but mostly she's trying not to get killed as things spiral out of control.

Good job. I give this one an A.
Three Complete Novels: "G" Is for Gumshoe, "H" Is for Homicide, and "I" Is for Innocent
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I got stuck with "Gumshoe"
  • Gotta Read!!
  • Wonderful, I love Kinsey
  • I loved them all
  • "G" is for Gumshoe
Three Complete Novels: "G" Is for Gumshoe, "H" Is for Homicide, and "I" Is for Innocent
Sue Grafton
Manufacturer: Wings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. "F" is for Fugitive (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries) "F" is for Fugitive (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries)
  2. "D" is for Deadbeat (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries) "D" is for Deadbeat (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries)
  3. "E" is for Evidence (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries) "E" is for Evidence (The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries)
  4. J Is for Judgment J Is for Judgment
  5. K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries) K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)

ASIN: 0517221047
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Book Description

Here is our third exciting collection of crime novels in the alphabet mystery series by New York Times bestselling author, Sue Grafton. Featuring former cop turned private investigator, Kinsey Millhone, one of the most popular female sleuths in modern mystery fiction, these three complex stories demonstrate the intricate plots, conflicted relationships and strong heroine that Grafton consistently portrays. Loyal fans and new friends alike will welcome this hardcover volume of bestselling novels, where G is for great read, H is for highly entertaining, and I is for instant classic.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars I got stuck with "Gumshoe".......2007-10-11

"G is for Gumshoe" was my first Kinsey Millhone novel. I will tell you that I went back and read everything leading up to "G" before "H" came out. I have been an avid Sue Grafton fan since the beginning. She makes Kinsey so fun and fallible. You just have to love her and her stories. I especially love Henry.

5 out of 5 stars Gotta Read!!.......2007-07-07

I love all the alphabet books, but even better was having three in one!
I am currently reading K is for Killer, each one gets better and better!

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful, I love Kinsey.......2007-06-14

I have read almost all of Grafton's books, I still have a few that I have missed, she is ingenious, every single novel is original. The reading is easy, I can devour a book in one to two days, and then I am looking around for another. I have just finished J,K,L,M, am working on N, and am now looking for the ones in between that I have missed.

Dorothy Harper, Northridge, CA

5 out of 5 stars I loved them all.......2007-06-03

I've read the whole series and can't wait for the next one to come out.

5 out of 5 stars "G" is for Gumshoe.......2007-05-14

This novel by Sue Grafton is very light hearted and fun to read. Reading a novel about Kinsey Millhone is addictive! I can't put it down.
Sue Grafton GHI Gift Collection: "G" Is for Gumshoe, "H" Is for Homicide, "I" Is for Innocent
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • For those with long drives to and from work
Sue Grafton GHI Gift Collection: "G" Is for Gumshoe, "H" Is for Homicide, "I" Is for Innocent
Sue Grafton
Manufacturer: RH Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. L Is for Lawless L Is for Lawless

ASIN: 0739332287
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Book Description

Here together for the first time on CD, Santa Teresa P.I. Kinsey Millhone is still on the case…

"G" Is for Gumshoe
Kinsey Millhone’s thirty-third birthday brings about final renovations to her apartment, a new case, and the top slot on Tyrone Patty’s hit list. Obviously, it would turn out to be a birthday to remember.

"H" Is for Homicide
To the cops, the death of claims adjuster Parnell Perkins looked like a robbery gone sour; to Kinsey Millhone, it looks strangely suspicious. As the evidence leads Kinsey to insurance scammer Bibianna Diaz, she must race to get to her before Bibianna’s spurned and violent suitor Raymond Maldonado does.

"I" Is for Innocent
Kenneth Voight thought that justice had not been served when David Barney was acquitted in the shooting death of Voight’s ex-wife, Isabelle. Five years later, Voight is the plaintiff in a civil suit in which Barney stands accused of Isabelle’s wrongful death. When Voight hires Kinsey to gather the necessary damning evidence, a simple civil case becomes a deadly hunt for someone who once got away with murder–and may again.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars For those with long drives to and from work.......2007-05-15

I drive 35-45 minutes each way to work. The news is too depressing. I found these mysteries to be an enjoyable diversion. Not too deep, but good mysteries. Following a single character through three mysteries makes her a friend on my otherwise lonely drives. I have now gone through 9 such mysteries. Enjoy!
Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Not As Good As Deranged
  • A True Psychopath
  • Every Bit As Good As I Had Hoped
  • Definitely 5 Stars.
  • castle of horrors
Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago
Harold Schechter
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743490355

Amazon.com

Herman Mudgett, who called himself Dr. H. H. Holmes, seemed the epitome of the late 19th century "Golden Age": he was a well-dressed, charismatic, self-made entrepreneur (think Andrew Carnegie). Unfortunately for his many victims, he was also a liar, bigamist, debtor, con man, and murderer. The setting for several of his murders was the bizarre urban "castle" he built in Chicago--a ramshackle construction with mazelike corridors, soundproof rooms, sealed vaults, oversized furnaces, and chutes leading down to the cellar. Holmes's undoing was an insurance scam in which he planned to use a corpse supplied by a doctor to fake his partner's death, but ended up killing the partner, his wife, and his five children. The Boston Book Review wrote, "[Harold] Schechter's account of this charming, repulsive monster is both an astonishing piece of popular history as well as a near clinical analysis of as sinister a killer as this country has ever produced."
Also recommended: Schechter's books about Albert Fish (Deranged) and Ed Gein (Deviant).

Book Description

The heinous bloodlust of Dr. H.H. Holmes is notorious -- but only Harold Schechter's Depraved tells the complete story of the killer whose evil acts of torture and murder flourished within miles of the Chicago World's Fair. "Destined to be a true crime classic" (Flint Journal, MI), this authoritative account chronicles the methods and madness of a monster who slipped easily into a bright, affluent Midwestern suburb, where no one suspected the dapper, charming Holmes -- who alternately posed as doctor, druggist, and inventor to snare his prey -- was the architect of a labyrinthine "Castle of Horrors." Holmes admitted to twenty-seven murders by the time his madhouse of trapdoors, asphyxiation devices, body chutes, and acid vats was exposed. The seminal profile of a homegrown madman in the era of Jack the Ripper, Depraved is also a mesmerizing tale of true detection long before the age of technological wizardry.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Not As Good As Deranged.......2007-07-19

it was a good read but it wasn't as disturbing or as interesting as deranged. i would still read it though , it's really well written

4 out of 5 stars A True Psychopath.......2007-07-07

I read this book a couple years ago, so I can't remember enough about the writing style to comment on it, but as far as I recall it was well written and certainly informative.

What makes me compelled to write a review, is due to the subject matter. Not to downplay such infamous murderers as Ted Bundy or Ed Gein, but Holmes is in a league all his own. This guy had the most elaborate schemes to kill people that I've ever heard of, and he did it in high volume. We're talking potentially (unverified) in the range of 240, or so, people!! He was a true psychopath in every sense of the word, and you really need to read this book, or the other one mentioned, about H.H.Holmes. What you THOUGHT was the worst and most unbelievable horror story you've ever heard, will seem tame in comparison.

5 out of 5 stars Every Bit As Good As I Had Hoped.......2007-05-17

I too bought this book after having found out about H.H. Holmes from reading Erik Larson's The Devil In the White City. I read a lot of true crime books and had never heard of him before, so I had to find out more and I think this book did a really great job in describing his crimes without glorifying them.

Harold Schrecter had a way of keeping me interested even during some parts that could have been very tedious with all of the details, but then I think details are important in cases where you are trying to understand how someone could commit such terrible crimes especially over 120 years ago.

A must read for anyone into true crime and anyone who is a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, since the types of crimes this man actually committed belong in one of his tales of fiction.

5 out of 5 stars Definitely 5 Stars........2007-03-03

This is a great book! I read it in two days. Very hard to put down. The writing is terrific. It reads like the best horror mystery. And the subject is interesting. It's at least as good as Thomas Harris' RED DRAGON, and much better than the other Hannibal books. This is the sort of book you wanna take with you on a business trip, or vacation, or to your in-laws house. The other reviews already covered what the book is about; I simply want to add that it's a great read.

4 out of 5 stars castle of horrors.......2006-12-30

H.H. Holmes commited his crimes in the late 19th century in Chicago. It's incredible how Harold Schechter has been able to write such a detailed account on this monster. Another must-read.

The dapper, charming Holmes, as he was described by the people who knew him, was also a liar, bigamist and a murderer. How many people were murdered in his 'castle', no one will ever know. Schechter's description of the castle is chillingly good. It feels like you're hiding in a corner, watching how Holmes is walking around, inspecting every room while commiting his grotesque crimes.

The book could have done without the detailled descriptions of Holmes' travels around the country. It tends to get a bit boring, certainly when, in the next chapter, the investigators revisit the same places. The middle of the book is a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, a well written true crime book.
Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • COLD CASE HOMICIDES IS HOT!
  • Comprehensive and Practical
  • Great textbook for ALL homicide investigations !
  • Author of Practical Homicide Investigation
  • Interesting reading, even for a non-professional
Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques

Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  5. The Restless Sleep : Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad The Restless Sleep : Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad

ASIN: 084932209X

Book Description

Written by a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques provides effective and accessible information to those responsible for investigating and resolving previously examined - but still unsolved - cold case homicides. The book merges theory with practice through the use of case histories, photographs, illustrations, and checklists that convey essential, fundamental concepts while providing a strong, practical basis for the investigative process. It combines proven techniques from forensics, psychology, and criminal investigation, and focuses on technologies that may not have been available at the time of the crime. This guide defines the characteristics of a cold case homicide; details various investigative methods used by law enforcement agencies; explores the actual experiences of detectives in re-opening case files; and presents current technologies such as ViCAP, HITS, and TracKRS used in the identification of cases related to the re-opened case, or its perpetrator. It also highlights technological changes that contribute greatly to law enforcement's abilities to solve cold case homicides such as computerized print technology, the specificity of DNA, and the expanding data banks that enable the linkage of previously unknown suspects to the crimes they committed. Addressing methods particularly valuable to cold cases, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques assists the investigator in being prepared, focused, objective - and successful in obtaining the truth.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars COLD CASE HOMICIDES IS HOT!.......2006-08-10


Dr. Richard Walton's COLD CASE HOMICIDES is not just a textbook for cops and criminalists. His well researched, plain talking "How To" is for anyone and everyone interested in knowing how a real murder case is painstakingly put together, a fiber of trace evidence here, a reinterview of a cold case witness there, until it is solved. Its all here, from crime-scene to courtroom. This is a must have, easy reading reference book that should be in the library of every mystery fan and writer. Law enforcement professionals know the value of this book and I expect it has already been shipped to most police academies and Criminology 101 classes. But, I believe the book's greatest contribution will come from how it informs the layperson of how real cold case murder investigations should be conducted. Congratulations to Dr. Walton on a job WELL DONE.

Steve Hodel
L.A.P.D. Homicide Detective Supervisor (ret.)
Author, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder

5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Practical.......2006-07-31

Dr. Walton has done an excellent job of presenting one of the few textbooks on this topic. This is a thoroughly researched and carefully documented book containing not only Dr. Walton's expertise on the subject matter but that of several other experts in the fields of behavioral profiling, geographic profiling, forensic document examination, and forensic dentistry. The illustrations are excellent and tell much of the story visually. The last chapter, which details how investigators solved one of the oldest cold cases to date had me reading late into the night, even though I knew how it ended from reading newspaper articles at the time!

5 out of 5 stars Great textbook for ALL homicide investigations !.......2006-07-29

I am a retired Chief Investigator for a DA's office in California with over 30 years of criminal investigation experience. I currently operate a private investigation business, also in California. I have specialized in the investigation of violent crime for decades and have taught related courses at the college level. This textbook is by far the best homicide investigation textbook that I have ever encountered. While the title might lead one to believe it is primarily a "Cold Case Homicide" textbook, it is actually the best text on ALL homicide investigations that I've found. It's a "must have" for anyone involved in such investigations or teaching a course on any kind of homicide or other violent crime.

5 out of 5 stars Author of Practical Homicide Investigation.......2006-07-27

Richard Walton's COLD CASE HOMICIDES: Practical Investigative Techniques provides the law enforcement and forensic communities with the most important and comprehensive work to date on the subject of cold case homicide investigation. Walton has combined his thirty years of law enforcement experience and his impressive graduate work to merge theory and practice into impressive textbook. The case history format, which I find to me an excellent methodology, combined with the checklists, photographs and illustrations makes this book easy to read and comprehend.

Walton has provided the definitive roadmap for those who wish to successfully investigate cold case homicides. His innovative and time proven methods offer the reader a realistic overview of the cold case homicide and details various investigative methods to be used in this inquiry. Walton also provides practical and current information technology and advanced investigative tools, which have allowed law enforcement to re-examine cold cases with new forensic tools.

This publication is an invaluable asset to law enforcement and I am proud to have this book in my Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation Series.

Lt. Cmdr. Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S
Author Practical Homicide Investigation
Series Editor, Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation
Taylor & Francis

5 out of 5 stars Interesting reading, even for a non-professional.......2006-07-16

I bought and read this book because I'm related to Walter David, accused along with Jack Ryan, in the 1925 murder Dr. Walton refers to in the introduction and throughout the book. This book is very readable, even for non-professionals. I learned a lot and can see this would be a very helpful textbook for law enforcement professionals wanting to learn more about investigating cold cases.

I wish Dr. Walton great success. His investigation became a 13 year hunt for the truth, resulting in the long overdue pardon of Jack Ryan.
Over the Edge (Jennie Mcgrady Mysteries)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of her best books!
  • One of the best Jennie McGradys
  • My favorite Jennie McGrady
Over the Edge (Jennie Mcgrady Mysteries)
Patricia H. Rushford
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

TeensTeens | Subjects | Books | Authors, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Health, Mind & Body | History & Historical Fiction | Horror | Literature & Fiction | Manga | Mysteries | Reference | Religion & Spirituality | School & Sports | Science & Technology | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Series | Social Issues
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  5. Abandoned (Jennie Mcgrady Mysteries) Abandoned (Jennie Mcgrady Mysteries)

ASIN: 1556615620

Book Description

Jennie McGrady plans to spend the last weeks of summer relaxing and hanging out with her boyfriend in her grandmother's coastal hometown. But she barely arrives before learning that the mayor's teenage daughter has been murdered. Jennie's reluctant to get involved in the emotional case, until the suspect turns out to be someone she knows-

Todd Kopelund is under arrest for murdering the mayor's daughter his girlfriend, Jessica Ames. He claims he's innocent, and Jennie can't imagine Todd hurting anyone. But the mayor is determined to prove Todd guilty and the evidence is pretty convincing.

Ryan Johnson is Jennie's boyfriend and Todd's best friend. He says he cares a lot for Jennie, yet when she expresses doubts about Todd's innocence, Ryan pulls away leaving Jennie to look for answers on her own.

Jessica's death is only the beginning-

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of her best books!.......2000-01-01

I couldn't tear myself away from this book at all! The suspense kept me at the edge of my seat, and her flair for writing mysteries was evident throughout the twists in the plot. It kept me guessing to who really killed Jessica, and whether or not Jennie and Ryan would survive. I have to buy this book just so I can reread it whenever I want!

5 out of 5 stars One of the best Jennie McGradys.......1998-04-07

Jennie goes on a vacation to her grandmother's house and when she gets ther she finds out that the mayor's daughter had been killed. This book has multiple suspects and the real killer is suprising. Read this book! Patricia Rushford, PLEASE don't stop writing Jennie McGrady books!

5 out of 5 stars My favorite Jennie McGrady.......1998-02-04

This is probably my absolute favorite book in the Jennie McGrady series. Unlike some of the other books in the series, this one doesn't drag on at any point, and the ending isn't totally the same as the others(i.e. Jennie getting kidnapped by the perpetrator and narrowely escaping). Jennie's parents are recently reunited and off on their honeymoon. She's planning on having a great time with boyfriend Ryan while she's staying with her grandmother, but Ryan is preoccupied with his friend Todd, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Jessica Ames. The plot thickens when Jessica's father also dies mysteriously, and new evidence turns up that points to suicide. Was Jessica really murdered? And is the murderer now after Jennie and Ryan? And why is Ryan seen in a resturant with Jessica's best friend, Camilla? Only time will tell how Jessica died, and if Ryan and Jennie's relationship is as stable and Jennie once thought.
The Dartmouth Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • For What It's Worth
The Dartmouth Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Eric Francis
Manufacturer: St. Martin's True Crime
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312982313
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Book Description

IN THIS QUIET TOWN, NO ONE HAD ANY SECRETS.... NO ONE LOCKED THEIR DOORS.... NO ONE HAD ANY REASON TO BE AFRAID- OR SO THEY THOUGHT....On January 27, 2001, popular Dartmouth College professors, Half and Susanne Zantop, were found slain in their home in the wooded outskirts of Hanover, New Hampshire. Both had been stabbed repeatedly in the head and torso with twelve-inch combat knives. The crime-unprecedented in the bucolic college town-sparked a nationwide manhunt. Then, weeks later, a CB-radio call aroused the suspicion of an Indiana cop, leading him to a truck stop east of Indianapolis-and the arrest of two suspects. Their identities would be as startling as the crime itself....James Parker and Robert Tulloch were two clean-cut, straight-A, Vermont high school students with impeccable reputations. But by the time they were apprehended, the boys were fugitives from the law.When confronted by authorities, the two gave no resistance, and investigators couldn't imagine any motive they might have had for the vicious killings. Could these boys have snuffed out the lives of perfect strangers with such intense, cold-blooded fury? AUTHORBIO: ERIC FRANCIS is a freelance reporter and photojournalist whose work has appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines in over 30 countries. A staff correspondent for People Magazine, Francis has also covered several notable murder cases for The New York Times, the Boston Globe, and Time Magazine. He lives on the Vermont-New Hampshire border and was one of the first reporters on the scene of the Zantop double homicide in January, 2001.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars For What It's Worth.......2003-08-19

What's that song? Something happened here. What it is ain't exactly clear?

If you observe Owen's Ann Rule rule (No Peaking at the pictures in the middle until the suspect(s) are identified in the text,) and also reserve the spoiler-laden Intro, Acknowledgements and cover until after The End, then this True Crime saga reads like a taut fictional murder mystery - until The End that is no End.

Who murdered 2 Dartmouth Profs on Super Bowl Saturday, 2001? Why? In due time, author Eric Francis supplies the "Who?" But, due to publishing before the conclusion of legal proceedings, the reader of his book will be left wanting for "Why?" This reader had to get that off Google - who sent me to Court TV - for free. Reviewed by TundraVision
Femicide in Global Perspective (Athene Series)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Femicide in Global Perspective (Athene Series)
    Roberta A. Harmes
    Manufacturer: Teachers College Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0807740470
    Good Cop/Bad Cop: A True Story of Murder and Mayhem
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • A disturbing and chilling account of Police corruption
    Good Cop/Bad Cop: A True Story of Murder and Mayhem
    Rebecca H. Cofer , and David McElligott
    Manufacturer: New Horizon Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    CriminologyCriminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0882820885

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A disturbing and chilling account of Police corruption.......1998-01-23

    My father was the attorney for the "bad cop" so this book really hit home. I couldn't put it down once I started it. The horrible murders and the subsequent investigation and evidence tampering make you wonder about what you would do if confronted with solving a brutal murder, and having little evidence except for a gut feeling .

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    3. He Chose the Nails
    4. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    5. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    6. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    7. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    8. I Sit Listening to the Wind: Woman's Encounter Within Herself
    9. Insecure at Last: Losing It in Our Security-Obsessed World
    10. Judgment in Death (In Death)

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