Mass Murderers Books

I am a voracious reader and I read this about the time I entered high school. It is one of the very few books that I can remember reading several times. It did engender interest in the books of the bible that were about women, and I really think that it helped me cope in a way with being a foster child from the age of 8 to 17. I still remember it and it's been about 40 years since I read it for the first time.

If one book I have read comes close to being "perfect", it is
"Behold Your Queen"! The biblical characters come alive, as real people, the "tour" of ancient Persia is vivid, and the story -- (straight out of the Bible....yet anything but dry
and stodgy...in fact, it may send you TO the Bible to read
the original!) -- exciting, romantic, scary, and in the end,
triumphant!

Courage and moral values are at the core of this book -- but
they are not taught by rote here. REASONS for these things
are given. Also -- there's a lovely lesson in "dating" --
how to get a guy interested in you. Simply -- be interested
in him! The love story between Ahasures and Esther is that
of two young people who find each other in the midst of lone-
liness, (each is an orphan), and splendour....yet it is the
splendour of their love that shines through.

Esther's love is tested when it is revealed to her that the
Prime Minister, (Haman), plans to have all people belonging
to one race in the Persian Empire killed. These people are
the hereditary enemies of Haman's people -- the Amalakites.
Unknown to Haman, the new Queen Esther is one of those
people -- the Jews -- whom Haman would have destroyed. Haman
does not know this, (initially), because Esther was told by
her Uncle Mordechai, (who brought her up), to keep her
origins a secret. (This is another lesson of this book --
though told as children we must always tell the truth, the
maturing person realizes that some things -- things that
would hurt others, or even one's self -- need not be told
...at least at first) How Esther decides that she must
risk her life so that she -- and all other Jews in the
Persian empire -- can at least defend themselves...is a
lesson in courage for all time. She not only risks her
life...but also his love, which she has found so precious...

True, there are some non-politically correct parts of this
book. Yet they are minor....and could easily be remedied.
For instance, at the beginning of the book, Queen Vashti
is banished because she refuses to appear at a banquet
clad only in her royal crown, at the behest of drunken
guests. (This is why a beauty-contest is later held
throughout the empire to choose a new queen.) The message
here might be, "Obey your husband or else" -- and the
danger of wives, following Vashti's lead, and disobeying their
husbands, is indeed what Ahasures's counsellors warn against.
However....one of them saying, "...And even wherein a wife and
husband act as one, lovingly consulting each other, as did
your royal parents, there will be strife...for the wife will see she need not even consult her husband any longer -- and
one will again become two!" -- could now be added. Also --
(to please traditionalists, (boo!) -- who believe that Ahasures was an older man, and that Esther -- true to her faith -- did not really love him, another minor change could be made. In fact, when I told a relative of mine about this book, mentioning that in it, Ahasures and Esther fell in love in it, he said, "Oh -- that ruins the whole story!" -- oh, if only I had had the book there for him to read!) So, to please these tradtionalists, Ahasures could stay in love with her, remain
young and handsomne, (sigh!), and Esther could remain deeply
in love with him, (double sigh!!) But -- to make tradition-
alists happy, Ahasures could also be shown to take some
interest in Judaism, (which -- before Christianity -- was, (in my own estimation) the most moral, and perhaps the only moral religion in existance. (Later on, it was joined by Christianity and Islam, two other highly moral, modern religions, of course). Ahasures could even be shown to be toying with the idea of conversion,and/or gaining more and more respect for Judaism even if he doesn't convert. This would please the traditionalists no end, and so they would be, (at least a little bit!) in favour of the deep romance that is gives this wonderful book so much of its essence, charm, amd power! Ahasure's growing interest in Judaism could be added after Haman's demise, towards the end
of the story. It would fit beautifully there, as Ahasure's
coming defeat, at the hands of the Greeks, (with their new idea
of "democracy") could also account for this: the shadow of defeat often leads to intellectual curiousity and growth....
In fact, in another telling of this story, "Esther", by Nathanial Weintrab, just this coming defeat at Greek hands is touched upon, and added. These very, very slight changes changes could be added, to make the book more viable
for today's audience, and added to keep traditionalists
happy, too.

Added to what? To a NEW PRINTING OF THIS BOOK! And,
as well, perhaps a MOVIE VERSION???? This book cries out
for both....for courage, tolerance, moral values and love, have no barriers of place, or people. BEHOLD YOUR QUEEN! is a
story for all time -- and, perhaps, especially for our own time,
when courage, tolerance, moral values, and love, often seem
at various times, to be derided as old-fashioned and unnecessary.
The story of Esther is a great story in all respects, and never was it better told than here. Our post-911 world NEEDS a
movie of BEHOLD YOUR QUEEN! -- or at the very least, a reprinting of this book. Who knows -- even Osama Bin Laden could learn a thing or two from it? I hope so ...and why not?
(STEVEN SPEILBERG....PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!!!!! I know I am not
the only person who would love for these things to happen!)

Behold!

Like other reviewers, I read this as a young person at about age 8 or 9. I have re-read it many, many times since.
It was also my first exposure to the Middle East, and ancient culture.
It's the story of Esther, from her young maidenhood to her rise as Queen of Persia.
Beginning with her as an innocent girl brought up with strong morals and respect for others, we follow her as she is selected to be taken to the King of Persia as a prospective wife. Throughout her journey from naive youngster to cosmopolitan sophisticate, she never loses the values she was raised with.
The characters come alive, and the scene descriptions are vivid- you will feel like you're there!
The two best things about this book (IMO), are the enchanting descriptions of Ancient Persia, and the emphasis on being true to yourself above all else.
Esther showed us that loving yourself and being courageous enough to stick to your principles makes you more beautiful and valuable than any superficial, cosmetic facade ever could. This book makes doing the right thing seem much more attractive than having power and fortune.
I was lucky enough to find 2 hardcover copies at a library auction, and they are keepsakes I will pass on to future generations!

Yes, this once "dry" biblical tale is brought to stunning life by Malvern. It sticks closely to the biblical account (keeping the age group in mind) and even shows how hard a decision Esther faced after the saving of her people began. A book that will inspire anyone and will be picked up time and again. Please bring back into print. Many of Malvern's books were my "friends" growing up, I would desperately like to visit them again!

Behold Your Queen! is a wonderful retelling of the Book of Esther. Malvern's writing incorporates credible motivations into the story, and adds a rich wealth of detail that make the story come alive with a vivid vitality. I first read this story when I was 8, and did not stop reading it until the (misguided) library withdrew the book from its shelves. If I could find a copy it would be on my shelf today, and eagerly reread. I would love to share this book with a new generation. As a teacher, I know this book has much to offer to young women facing difficult decisions about family, loyalty, honor, faith, personal safety, and love. Hadassah faces difficult choices in dangerous times, and Malvern's tale gives the reader the opportunity to share in the anguish and fear in Hadassah's choice, as well as in her final triumph and affermation. PLEASE REPRINT THIS BOOK!!!

Cuneo is very accurate with his facts (I should know, I was there), and he also has an excellent writing style.

This December, ten years ago, while a hostage to a group of terrorists
in Lima Peru, my name was called for me to come down from the second
floor of the Japanese Ambassador's residence. I was to be released.
It happened at 11 am on a Sunday morning at the same time a special
prayer service was going on at my church in Lima. My pastor was asking
for the safe release of all the hostages. He asked that the Lord to
intervene and gain the release of me and other church members held
hostage. It was already happening as they prayed.

All of us have our own stories, we know there's power in prayer.

I thought of all that when I read "Almost Midnight" by Michael Cuneo.
The book is about Darrell Mease, a criminal in Missouri who brutally
killed three people in a drug deal (crystal meth). Mease was convicted
and sentenced to death. He had received the Lord at an early age and
his mother was still active in the Assembly of God church. She led
prayers for her son. Mease turned to the Lord again and made what many
considered to be a sincere conversion. A blue grass musician received
a word from the Lord that he was to speak to Mease and tell him that
the Lord was his lawyer and that he was not to worry he would not be
put to death. After the musician visited him in jail, Darrell Mease
had a revelation that he was to be spared the death penalty. Time went
by and his execution date was scheduled for late January 1999. He
never lost faith that he would be spared.

With only two weeks to go before his execution, the date was suddenly
changed. It seems that Pope John Paul II was scheduled to visit
Missouri on the same day as the original execution date and Governor
Mel Carnahan had it changed to early February to avoid embrassing the
Pope who was a strong opponent of the death penalty. The Papal staff
were aware of the change in the execution date for Mease. The Pope's
visit was a one day stopover in St. Louis. During the visit, the Pope
presided over a special prayer service attended by Governor Carnahan.
As the service concluded, the Pope slowly made his way to the Governor,
took his hand and whispered in his ear, "Please have mercy on Mr.
Mease."

Amazingly, Governor Carnahan commuted Darrell Mease's death sentence
based on this personal plea from the Pope.

One of the pastors who had attended the interfaith prayer service at
which the Pope had descended from the altar and talked to the governor
had also ministered to Darrell Mease on death row and had urged him to
make peace with God as his execution date approached. Darrell had told
him that God had been clear that he would not allow his execution. The
pastor said, "I was blown away -- Darrell had never asked the pope to
say a word on his behalf. He'd simply continued to pray. Absolutely
remarkable. And I thought there was a lesson here for all of us. The
Scriptures are radical, and God's mercy is boundless. But most
Christians don't truly appreciate this. We're too timid in the our
faith. We needed someone like Darrell Mease to drive it home."

The story went on with other strange twists. A few months after he
commuted the death sentence, Governor Carnahan was killed in a plane
crash as he campaigned against John Ashcroft for the US Senate seat
from Missouri. Carnahan, although dead, received more votes than
Ashcroft on election day a few weeks later. The new governor of
Missouri named Carnahan's widow to fill her late husband's Senate seat.
Ashcroft went on to be named Attorney General of the United States.

God answers prayer -- "Almost Midnight" made me remember that again.

Michael Maxey

"What on earth is a Canadian of northern Italy Jewish descent teaching at New York's Fordham University researching a meth-related multiple murder in the Ozarks?" I asked Mike Cuneo as he sat across from me in Branson's Bob Evans Restaurant. He was in the tourist town researching the Darrell Meese case for a book. Meese was sentenced to die by lethal injection in 1990 after the brutal shotgun murder of three people, Lloyd Lawrence (a man many locals admitted "needed killing") his wife, and their paraplegic grandson. A drug kingpin might deserve it, but two innocents?
Governor Mel Carnahan had just recently made news for his commuting Meese's death sentence, after having met with Pope John Paul II in St. Louis during the Pope's visit. Cuneo,
"I don't know why Carnahan would do that. He's killed himself politically, I would think," I told Cuneo. Little did I know that the governor who saved Meese's life would lose his own in a tragic plane crash during a race for senator-and still beat opponent John Ashcroft.
Like the Meese case, Almost Midnight, Cuneo's "American story of murder and redemption" is filled with sudden turns, surprises, and ironic twists. It's interesting and riveting investigative journalism. For Ozarkers, it shows a subculture that exists in the land of Bible belt religion, country music, and family-friendly tourists, a subculture unknown to many residents unless they are involved in law enforcement or social services. Cuneo covers the events that lead up to the murders, Meese's hair-raising road trip to the Southwest that only leads him closer to justice back home and death row, and the trial itself. He also looks closely at Mease's time in prison, where the convicted murderer rediscovers religion. It is there that he professes "God is my lawyer" and is miraculously delivered from lethal injection-just as he predicted he would be.
It sometimes takes an outsider, or a novelist, to show us the family skeleton we deny exists. Cuneo takes us on the real wild ride in actuality that Dan Woodrell does in fiction in Tomato Red. For those who are Ozarkers, the book is interesting to read just to see "if Cuneo misses the mark" in capturing a portrait of an area and a culture. For non-Ozarkers, it's an interesting portrait of the Ozarks and its denizens that, unfortunately, can add to the stereotype that exists. Cuneo's Almost Midnight, with its detailed descriptions of the virtues-loyalty, self-reliance, family, and faith-and the negatives-violence, chemical dependency, and lawlessness-of our Ozarks' culture presents a remarkable portrait of Meese and ourselves.
The tourist area that prides itself on family values and a friendly atmosphere while hosting almost 8 million visitors annually has a below-the-surface reality that's hard to confront. All it takes is a Meese incident, or an incident like the triple murder of the Husman children and mother at Kissee Mills, Mo., this last March, to let us know now shallow is the soil that covers what's beneath. Michael Cuneo probably has material for another riveting book.-Fred R. Pfister: Editor, The Ozarks Mountaineer

I was reading a lot of books with the word MIDNIGHT in the title when I stumbled across this one. This is by no means the worst one of the bunch. In its own unique way, it's a fine study of redemption, breeding, and forgiveness.

And marketing too, for it seems almost as though the late Pope John Paul II was the victim of a marketing scam when he decided to pardon Darrell Mease, the killer at the heart of this wonderful biography. He was coming to St. Louis on a once in a lifetime trip, and a local cleric decided that he would gain some press by picking out a convicted killer and seeing what JPII could do for him.

It helped that the circumstances of the crime indicated that Darrell was himself well loved in his community (in the fields of rural Missouri) and that the man he killed, Lloyd Lawrence, was hated and feared. On the other hand, Lawrence's wife was killed too, as well as a poor paraplegic boy who hardly ever did anything hurtful to anyone.

Methamphetamine, the scourge of the Ozarks, was behind the killings. Darrell, who served time in Vietnam, was one of those who couldn't get it together after his tour of duty. He had a surface charm and affability, but inside, he was troubled. We get all of this through multiple narrators, people in the community who tell us his whole story from birth to the present. Like CITIZEN KANE, ALMOST MIDNIGHT gives us a constantly shifting perspective on a hidden corner of America. The popular TV sitcom MY NAME IS EARL will come to mind when you read this book, for the multiple murders that claimed the lives of the Lawrence family are just one more twist removed from the wacky trailer-motel life of the MY NAME IS EARL characters. Or, Johnny Depp in CRY BABY.

Roughly the first half of the book concerns the life and crimes of Darrell Mease, hard-partying hillbilly 'Nam vet and would be meth cooker. The detail in which Mease's life is recounted makes it hard not to sympathize with him and to understand his crimes, a feeling which the author appears to share.

The second half of the story explores Darrell's trial, imprisonment, conversion story and ultimate pardon from execution. In that part, Darrell is portrayed less sympathetically, and there is even a suggestion that he is undeserving of his eventual pardon from death row.
This apparent shift in viewpoint is appropriate to this complex tale, though, where Darrell comes to represent something different to everyone who comes into contact with him: death penalty opponents, Ozark locals, the victims' family, law enforcement, even Pope John Paul II!

It's a fine book, ultimately, and explores a lot of the issues (religion and government, death penalty, small town policing, veterans' problems, rural poverty, drugs) raised by this unusual case. Well written, compelling and highly recommended.

Joel Rifkin, the most prolific serial killer in New York history, was adopted at the age of 3 weeks and raised by loving, community-minded, and educated parents. Rifkin's parents also raised an adoptive daughter who was popular, intelligent, and conscientious. So what happened to Joel?

It is highly likely that Joel was born with brain abnormalities (e.g. undiagnosed brain lesions, cognitive processing delays, etc.). As a child, Joel was physically awkward, socially delayed, and exhibited odd and eccentric behaviors. However, no one could have predicted the murderous impulses that were later unleashed on the prostitute population of New York.

The final chapters of the book make reference to another book, "Guilty by Reason of Insanity." I have read this very well researched and thought provoking book. The authors, who studied many violent criminals, including Joel Rifkin, provide documentation of congenital brain abnormalities and/or a history of head truama associated with many, many violent criminals and serial killers. While this in no way excuses the behavior of Rifkin, it does provide explanation. Rifkin probably never had a chance.

There are numerous Rifkin quotes throughout the entirety of the book, providing a glimpse into the contradictory thinking and bizarre rationalizations of a serial killer. My only complaint about the book is that Rifkin was less than insightful at times, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. But then, what should one expect of a serial killer? I would suggest that more inquiring minds read "Guilty by Reason of Insanity" for a more comprehensive understanding of the enigma Rifkin always was and continues to be.

A friend gave me this book to read on the plane, I am glad I had it, we were delayed two hours. I really liked this book, it is a little different than the other true crime books I have read, the writer shares his life, his own shortcomings, fears and insights with the reader. I also thought the book a had a good pace, there was always something around the corner...

This book was well written. I enjoyed the many comments directly from the subject of the book, and I really appreciated the author's sharing of his own thoughts-both good and bad. I felt the author was very honest with the reader and found it easy to identify with this author and his feelings of confusion.

In the late 1990s, Joel Rifkin was a serial murderer of prostitutes who is jailed for life in the New York prison system. Author Robert Mladinich was a New York detective and writer who, in college, had briefly known and liked Joel Rifkin. It was inconceivable to Mladinich that someone he had considered a kindred spirit could have committeed the senseless murders Rifkin did - murders of people who had not threatened him nor harmed him in any way - and he began a mission to understand the soul of Joel Rifkin and ultimately of himself.
Rifkin as an adult was insecure, fearful, and socially inept, and - as might be expected - was the same as a child. He was the sad child we have all known: friendless, excluded, and the perennial target of bullies. As an example, Rifkin's mother reports that Rifkin, a photographer who played a major role in the production of his high school yearbook, was subsequently not invited to the yearbook wrap party. This seems to have been a pattern throughout his life.
Mladinch allows the personality, psyche, and soul of Rifkin to emerge through Rifkin's own words, provided to the author during numerous visits to Rifkin in prison and through Rifkin's letters to Mladinich. There is no bias and almost no personal judgement by Mladinch which is impressive given the despicably vile acts Rifkin committed. The reader can read Rifkin's words without any commentary by Mladinich about how he is supposed to feel.
The resulting book is simply one of the most outstanding I have read of any kind. It is really not a true crime book at all, but rather in in depth, often painful, character study. Describing the aftermath of Rifkin's first murder, Mladinich writes, "As he sopped up the blood and cleaned up the mess in the living room of the home where had always found refuge from his tormentors, Joel did not realize that, in essence, he had died along with Susie on that cold, damp March morning."
The last two chapters thoughtfully and in considerable depth summarize Rifkin's soul and, due to the bond Mladinich still feels with him all these years later, Mladinich's as well. "What was most apparent was that Joel, living within the artificial environment of a prison, was finally experiencing, in his own mind at least, what it was like to be normal. For the first time in his life he had....a social network of friends who were in no position to betray or abandon him." And, "Joel had finally found his utopia, a place where the disenfranchised and the dissociated were welcomed with open arms...."
Even as he is repulsed by Rifkin's murders, Mladinich retains a bond of humanity with his old friend and, amazing to himself, finds him to be intelligent and in some ways still likable. He writes thoughtfully and intelligently and with a depth, personal honesty, and humanity which are extremely rare, resulting in a book of much greater value than either a dry psychiatric report or many of the often superficial true crime books currently written.
This book is simply outstanding. Although it would obviously be more difficult to obtain material as the subjects are dead, I would love to read a book by Mladinich about the lives of Rifkin's victims. I'm sure it would be fascinating due to Mladinch's obvious personal feelings of a human bond between himself and all other people. I will read anything else he has written.

It is very rare to see an author transform himself during the writing process. Mladinich, a seasoned NYPD Detective, lures the reader in with the gripping details surrounding the well-publicized slayings of serial killer Joel Rifkin. In the true form of a master interrogator, Mladinich draws Rifkin out of his "sociopathic lair" but at the same time enters the domain of a murderer's psyche. He succeeds in drawing parallels between his own seemingly "normal" life and that of a confessed executioner of innocent young women and asks, "what makes an individual cross the line?" It is a must read for any student of psychology as well as fans of the old-fashioned murder and suspense fiction novel ... only this story actually happened. Gripping, insightful, and intelligently written ... I anxiously await Mladinich's next book.

Scott Kaufman writes with an exactness and an eloquence that only a background in legal training, coupled with astute observation of human nature, can produce. The characters draw us to them, or repulse us, in either case, they provoke a reaction. As exciting as a roller-coaster ride, this novel is of the highest order in legal suspense writing.

Highly recommended!

Scott Kauffman is a brillant writer, I couldn't put the book down! I will be first in line to buy his next book. Highly recommended.

I adored this book, insightful, brilliant a heart breaker. Cant wait for his next novel

If you like a deep thinking and deep feeling thriller, this is it. I was surprised at the quality of the writing and the imagery. Very insightful. Spins, relates, and teaches at the same time. No doubt this was taken from the author's real life background. The character development is gripping. The locations as if you were there. Stunned that this is his first novel. I am sure there will be more.

Attorney Calvin Samuels left the prosecutor's office to become a public defender in the hopes that he could make a difference in the lives of some of his clients. He takes a particular interest in John Rogers, who could have done hard times for theft as this was his second offense; Calvin cajoled a credible witness into testifying that Rogers was sincere in going straight, attending college classes while waiting for the judge's ruling.. He gets probation, but soon after Rogers is found with two bullets in his head and eyes burned out by a cigarette lighter.

Feeling he let down his friend John by not staying in touch, Calvin vows to provide the best defense possible for Mark Alexander, on trial for murder. He travels all over the state interviewing potential witnesses and family members of the people his client is accused of killing. The most damning evidence comes from Mark's ex-wife Allison Morris who will testify for the prosecution. After seeing her and others, Calvin begins to question whether his client committed murder including the killing of a mutual acquaintance, John Rogers.

Scott Kauffman has written an exciting legal thriller in which the public defender uses his own time and money to track down witnesses and learn the truth; Calvin goes the extra marathon for his clients. The two prime cases (that of Rogers and Alexander) that make up the story line are fast-paced and a thrill to follow as Calvin's idealism and work ethic pushes him to be all that he can be and more. Readers will appreciate this dedicated defense attorney and feel for him when he begins to have doubts about Alexander's innocence.

Harriet Klausner

In May, 1990, Klement Zeman left The Horn of Africa for Hungary. There, he would identify his brother's body and transport it to its final resting place. Karel, the brother, had been an archeologist. His site was a crypt in Hrad Luchov, near the boundary of Moravia and Slovakia. Karel had found something at the site that had changed his life completely. A life that somehow ended in a high class hotel of Budapest.

Dangerous people were after what Karel had found, "The Vigesimal Hours" and the hosts! The book was "illuminated" (painted) by one known only as The Shadow Master. Within it were prophecies. Revelations. It told of The Second Coming!

Klement simply wanted to know how his brother had come to die in a hotel that was way above his financial means. The question leads Klement on a quest of epic proportions.

**** This is one of those books that begins with a mysterious death and several questions, then steadily builds up steam until everything explodes at the end! Very climatic! In a few spots, I found myself fascinated and repulsed at the same time. Recommended reading. ****

If you missed David Chacko's earlier novels, don't pass up this page turner. Once again he proves he is master of his turf in both a literal and a literary sense. Let him take you into the shadows of the lush landscape of Eastern Europe where you will meet some equally shadowy and intriguing characters.

If you missed David Chacko's earlier novels, don't pass this one up. It is a page turner. Chacko proves once again that he is master of his turf in both the literal and literary sense. Let him take you into the shadows of the lush landscape of Eastern Europe where you will meet some very interesting and intriguing characters.

After the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, Klement Zeman, an intelligence officer, comes home to find his brother dead in a strange hotel room. The "natural" death quickly becomes mysterious as Klement begins a furious hunt through the wreckage of the old system and the chaos of his brother's life. Beautiful women, invaluable treasure, angry spirits of the dead, archeological digs and mass murderers, are just some of the things he encounters. They all fall by the side of the road when Klement comes to the end of his journey in the New Europe on the verge of a New Millennium.

THE SHADOW MASTER is an almost perfect book. This one should have Six Stars.

David Chacko's new novel is an exciting piece of work that succeeds in doing everything it says it will. And that's plenty. The Shadow Master takes place after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It begins as an espionage story that becomes a novel of politics and finally ends in a shakey walk along the bridge between the living and the dead. The action and horror are well set up as the tale unwinds from its central event--the death of an archeologist, Karel Zeman. His brother Klement, a spy come in from the cold, conducts an investigation that inevitably leads to the discovery of Karel's secret life--a beautiful woman who haunted his last days in Budapest; a mistress in Prague; an object of fantastic value unearthed in an ancient castle; and the man of great wealth and greater cruelty who emerges from behind the curtain at last. How does The Shadow Master end? Not where it began, and not with characters who have the same perceptions that they held in the beginning. By that time, the miraculous has become the expected and the dead a part of the living past.

I believe this book was well written and I would recommend it for almost anyone who likes scary books. Even though I believe this book is directed more towards women and younger crowds, most people will enjoy this bookand have fun reading it. If your into scary books, Double Date is a great book for you.

Tracy and her boyfriend Kyle are invited on the date of a lifetime by Christie and Travis. Travis is a very heavy practical-joker, and it shows from the very start of the date with his gruesome pranks. Tracy is uncomfortable at first, and feels that something isn't right. Why does Christie and Travis keep looking at eachother as though they're planning something? Like they hold a special secret? Tracy is forced to believe it's just her imagination by her boyfriend, who finds the pranks funny and harmless. But nothing's funny when Travis takes them all to a deserted mansion and they each start disappearing, one-by-one!

"Double Date" was awesome. It was so interesting that I finished within 3 hours! From the very first page, it has you hooked, which is a great start. From there, the book zooms by, each page holding a different surprise, until you realize that you're finished. The only downfall that I could think of is that towards the end, the killer's attempts were a little weak. Other than that, a must-read!

Also recommended:
a.) "Amnesia," also by Sinclair Smith
b.) All books by Joan Lowery Nixon

I really liked this book because it was interesting and scary. My best friend read this on a family trip that she took. Her brother grabbed it and only intended to read a few pages, but when he got into it, he couldn't stop!

As I said, I barely remember when I read this book, but I know I liked it. I remember that it was VERY creepy. That was the cool part. The final attacks by the killer were rather dumb, I think, but I could be remembering it wrong. Basically, I recommend this book. It was very creative and very scary.

Ann Larabee tells an engrossing story. A well structured, well written narrative. Meticulously researched. An enjoyable read.

Why would anyone want to read a novel when they can spend time with this true-life thriller? The author has unearthed the real story of a despicable but fascinating character. The book is thoroughly researched and informative, as well as nicely written. This is a page-turner for anyone interested in true crime and/or the American Civil War.

Ann Larabee has written a fascinating portrait of a Victorian villain as coldblooded as any killer today. Unfortunately some small defects may distract the reader.

On page 40 she writes that in the 19th century "no CIA or Interpol existed, and bored diplomats were the principal international spymasters." Interpol has nothing to do with spying, and while diplomats have always been responsible for reporting to their governments what is going on abroad, that makes them neither spies nor spymasters.

Page 47: "Ice...was desperately needed as the only truly effective remedy for yellow fever." Ice was not effective, nor did anyone think so.

Page 48: The author translates the Latin motto on the Confederate seal, Deo Vindice, as "God will vindicate." The two nouns, in the ablative case, mean "With God as avenger."

Page 115: The town of Bodenbach (Decin, today) is up, not down, the River Elbe from Dresden.

Page 119: Professor Larabee says that in the 1870s "well over 10,000 ships sank every year, mostly small boats...." Ships and boats are different things.

Pages 127-128: The Washington paper published by the bomber's fellow passenger, Donn Piatt, was The Capital and not the Washington Capitol. Nor was Piatt, as she says, ambassador to France. We had no ambassadors abroad in his time, only ministers heading legations. Piatt was secretary of legation at Paris, the minister's deputy.

Professor Larabee calls her book narrative nonfiction and says she has taken few liberties with the historical record. One could have hoped, however, that she would cite more sources for her narrative. She thanks her editor, who "reigned in some of my narrative excesses." Whatever the reign, the reins should have been tighter, including a spell and grammar check.

Wow! What a read: I couldn't put it down once I started it! It's obviously well-researched, but it read like a novel. I never knew what historical figure I would meet on the next page, Keith crossed so many paths.

Larabee has done an excellent job bringing to light little-known aspects of wanton terrorism, with its roots in the U.S. Civil War and extending to the Continent.

This is a very good book,with lots of photos that are revealing.The Principal of the school cradling that young child in the hard cover edition?Priceless..MAnly for sure,that's what a real man is.Hard to believe that some of the most ritzy communities were the scene for this.I know thE teacher who was not there, as it were, during the shootings.She had her son's confirmation to go to during one of her only days off that year and thAt day off ended in Laurie Dann shoOting some of her studentS.Very manly book with lots of Chicago Jewish histOry..

There is a movie, as the same title

excellent everything

there is people, like me, who feel REFLEX on this story (personality)

I have been reading true crime since I was about 11 years old and I must say this one will stay in my collection. I find that many true crime books are written without much attention to background or in-depth analysis. I began reading this after having just finished Jim Schutze's "Bully" and I had been dissapointed with the lack of depth in that book and how it seemed rushed. Cannot say that about "Murder of Innocence" at all! This account, and I have yet to read Eggington's book on this case so I cannot compare, goes into great detail to descibe Laurie Dann as the person she was from childhood to age 30 and describes her descent into madness in such a way that I kept wondering "What is she going to do next?" There are alot of characters to keep straightened out - as to who is a relative, in-law, roommate or just someone who slighted her somehow; indeed this book is for the serious reader and not one looking for a quick superficial account of a case. The manner in which Laurie hops from one college to another is amazing; clearly her parents never sat her down and seriously told her "You have a failed marriage and you have enrolled in college several times but dropped out. You seem to be lacking direction in your life and we want to know what the problem is and what we can do to help." More often, her mother was aloof regarding Laurie's problems, and her father, although he did seem to love her, could not, or did not want to, see how serious her problems were. Her parents were ostriches with their heads in the sand - probably hoping Laurie would skate through life and hopefully find her way without too much of a burden on them. I cannot help feeling also that her medical care could have been more aggressive, but it appears that her psychiatrist tried numerous times to keep in contact with her but Laurie treated doctors and dormitories like revolving doors. I highly recommend this book for anyone studying forensic science or psychology, and it should be recommended to those in law enforcement as well. Excellent job!

This book should be required reading for all teens. His writings capture you "in the moment" of what he as doing and/or planning to do. What he has experienced in his life has never left me. The impact was overwhelming to say the least and extremely powerful. I thank Tim for writing this book. The power that God had in turning his life around was something one would have to read to feel the full impact.

Battle Scars is the autobiography of a man who, as a teenager, lived on the wrong side of the law, overwhelmed by his hatred to the extent that he nearly became a mass murderer, yet was stopped on the way to attacking his high school with an assault rifle. His success in turning around his life into something positive - he became an EMT credited with saving two lives, an expert on teen violence, and a husband a father - makes for an uplifting and motivational true tale that readers of all backgrounds can understand and learn from. Highly recommended.

This true crime book is a wonderful antidote to the Ann Rule cases, where young, beautiful, innocent victims are always falling for some crudball psychopath. If nothing else, the editors of the Time-Life crime books are less apt to overuse clichés and wimpy adjectives. The writing is crisp and factual. A standard feature of any Time-Life book is the photographs, and the crime series holds to this tradition.

Criminologists categorize people who kill several victims in a single short and bloody episode as 'mass murderers.' This particular book has seven chapters, featuring the following mass murderers:
* "Loser"--Richard Speck--"Yeah, I killed them. I stabbed them and I choked them." Eight young nurses were murdered by Speck, and that might not have been his only mass murder. Police also suspected him of the 1966 deaths of three young women in the Indiana Dunes National Lakefront Park, whose bodies were never found.

* "The Tower"--Charles Whitman--"At times it seems as if I am going to explode."--Whitman killed his wife and mother before climbing to the top of the University of Texas clock tower and killing 16 other innocent victims.

* "Days of Rage"--Snapshots of fourteen murderers who killed a total of 123 people.

* "Mata"--Mark Essex--"My destiny lies in the bloody death of racist pigs." 9 people were killed and 12 people were seriously wounded, mainly in the New Orleans Howard Johnson hotel where Essex made his stand.

* "The Tally"--James Huberty--"I believe in paying my debts, both good and bad." Huberty was responsible for the massacre of 21 people at the San Ysidro McDonald's restaurant.

* "Small Game"--Marc Lépine--"Feminists have always had a talent for enraging me."--14 women died; 15 men and women were injured, some seriously. Lepine was Canada's worst mass murderer.

* "War Game"--Michael Ryan--"I wish I had stayed in bed." --15 victims, including his mother in Hungerford, England.

Most of the killers featured in "Mass Murderers" died from police fire or self-inflicted gunshot wounds. One of the most chilling features of this book is the amount of documentation that the killers left behind to justify their massacres.

This is a oversize true crime book with many pictures. It had Richard Speck, Charles Whitman, Howard Unruh, Arizona killer Robert Smith and others. If you are a true crime fan this is a book to read. full of information.