Mass Murderers Books

This is the WORST book I have ever read in my life. Riddled with discrepancies, the author felt the egotistical heroism to change the name of some of the victims (which are readily available to anyone who wants to research them anyway) all this book does is irritate and confuse those who are already familiar with the Night Stalker case. Even some of the names he DIDN'T try to cover up, he got wrong. The suspect's sister, as one example. The author is obviously biased and will make underhanded cheap shots at Mr.Ramirez at any open opportunity. It's childish and disgusting and makes for a terrible read, completely un-educational, the false facts poison the entire story. Mr.Linedecker couldn't even get the number of siblings Richie had/has correct, he consistantly goes back to change the "facts" he had already mentioned and gotten incorrect (such as how a victim had been killed, going from shooting an incorrect number of times, to stabbing). Falsified information, he repeats himself endlessly, skips details altogether, and just plain makes things up. I have zero respect for this author, this was an uninteresting read through and through. Before I had even begun, I was curious how someone could fully cover a subject like this with so few pages, and the answer is--you can't. I felt as if I was reading the rough draft of an awful story that a 5th grader had written, I hope the author didn't get paid for this piece of trash. Take this one out of the 'true crime' section and file this one under FICTION, in the bargain bin.

If you want the real deal, please, I cannot beg you enough, read Night Stalker by Philip Carlo. He's a brilliant author who spent over 100 hours talking with Richard Ramirez himself. I trust that he got all the information he possibly could, as close to truth as humanly possible. He's creative with his words, expresses environments in such a way you can nearly feel it, and most importantly he isn't biased. He brings us enlightenment on every area of the subjects life, this book provides a wonderful insight into the killers mind, and puts you right there in the action.

Leave Linedecker's garbage in the trash, where it belongs.

A hispantic man in the Los Anglos area goes around killing people. He tortures, mutilates and kills many innocent people for his own pleasure. He does this things to "please Satan". He makes his victems swear to satan that they won't scream. Richard Rameriez is the killer. He leaves the pentagon (a satanic symbol) in each victems house. His man target is Asian people. He only does these things to the people in a one story house and that live close to a highway. When he is caught he admits to his crimes and he feels no remorse for what he has done. He is proud of what he has done.

"I'm your night prowler, break down your door
I'm your night prowler, crawling 'cross your floor
I'm your night prowler, make a mess of you, yes i will
Night prowler, and i am telling this to you
There ain't nothing you can do"

AC-DC's "Night Prowler" (1979)

From to 17 March to 8 August 1985, fourteen people were murdered and mutilated, with others surviving horrific ordeals. This was a serial killer, who in the case of couples, killed the man first, and if the woman was lucky, her too, as many left alive suffered even more. What initially puzzled the LA police was that the victims cut across race lines. Even though the first victims were Oriental or East Asian, the addition of dead Anglos put paid that theory. But what set the killings apart from the usual convenience store shootings was their sheer savagery, as one of the victims had her eyes plucked out. Another victim bravely spoke to him after her ordeal so she could remember his face should he be caught.

Clifford Linedecker's account of Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, is a well-detailed account that takes the reader from the first victim, to his being sentenced to death by a California jury, and even a to-date postscript, showing that he is still on death row.

The book delves into more than just the killings themselves. Linedecker explains the race and population demographics in LA as a background. LA is such a racially diverse place, that various race groups formed their own enclave in the metropolis, such as the Japanese and Chinese in Cerritos, the Thais and Salvadorans in Hollywood Hills, and Mexicans in east. It's also such an economic powerhouse that it could be an independent country if it chose.

Night Stalker also details the working of the press and how things haven't changed since the days of Al Capone and Bonnie and Clyde, that of making killers into heroes. In this case, it was the Los Angeles Herald Examiner that gave Ramirez his well-known monicker, The Night Stalker. And the methodology used by detectives in tracking down serial killers-Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders is used as the example-is included.

If anything, Ramirez turned LA residential areas into fortresses. Demand for guns, security systems, fences, and guard dogs skyrocketed, Neighbourhood Watches sprouted like duckweed, and any unfamiliar person in the neighbourhood were reported. In fact, one husband gave his wife a cyanide pill should the Night Stalker break in, figuring that death was better than what he would do to her. But what also amazed me was the relative laxness in home security. Ramirez entered via unlocked doors. Why not just put a sign on the door saying "Hey, Night Stalker, kill and torture me"?

Another chapter delves into the clues and how they weave into past history and the prevalent pop culture. Ramirez's AC-DC cap fuelled the fire of heavy metal being the devil's music, and all amid the teen suicides that took place because parents blamed albums by Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest. In fact, "Night Prowler" from AC-DC's Highway To Hell album was made the Night Stalker's anthem. Another is the pentagram drawn on one of the victims. There follows a brief discussion on the devil-worshipping and the Knights Templar. At least Linedecker gets accurate Anton LaVey's sect that they don't sacrifice animals or people.

The final section deals with the trial, which took three and a half years of legal juggling on the side of the defense. Ramirez wasn't the most genteel of defendants, his outrageous behaviour resulting in his removal from the courtroom.

A well-documented account of one of the U.S.'s most notorious serial killers.

The Night Stalker has the tendency to keep you on the edge of your seat. There's no way possisble to not finish this book. You will learn more about what happened in LA in this one book than anywhere else. It is very detailed in what had happened to all his victims and it puts you in the victim's families place. I highly recommend this book but only if you're into true crime.

Not what I would call a well written book.

Not even what I would call a factual book.

That being said, I'd suggest that if Richard Ramirez fascinates you, and you wish to learn more about him and the crimes that he committed pick up a copy of Philip Carlo's book "The Night Stalker: the life and crimes of Richard Ramirez". Carol's book is a much better documented account of Ramirez, due in part, because Carlo actually interviewed Ramirez numerous times.

If you really don't care that the information is correct or you just want a macabe story to read, then by all means, get this book. Otherwise, buy Carlo's book, you'll be happy you did.

I couldn't put this book down. A horrific account of a selfish calculating monster. What a shame Jill Cahill wasn't allowed to live her dreams. When she finds the "white hair" she found in her eyebrow in the hospital about sums everything up. Jill was a very courageous woman indeed! This book was inspirational to say the least about overcoming odds and the human spirit!

Frightening story of marriage for the wrong reasons, hanging in "for the kids sake", and in-laws from hell. There is something to "blood being thicker than water", but this is something else. How any of the in-laws can live with themselves is beyond me.
The book left some questions unanswered for me, and some time sequences seemed off, but, for a true crime lover, it kept me turning pages.

While the story was fascinating, the author's lack of structure was often distracting. No paragraphs where there should have been......and she often got ahead of herself in telling the details. The facts were interesting though. Worth reading...

This book was riviting and just pushed you to see what happens next but in another way it was extremely horrifying. It is really hard to believe but in your heart of hearts you know it is true. I found it a very good and fast read.

I read this book after I ran across it and wondered how the case was covered. I have lived in the community of Skaneateles where this heinous crime occurred for 44 years 21 as a summer resident as a kid and the last 23 as a year round resident. I knew Jill Cahill as I had helped her with breastfeeding difficulties when her premature daughter, Mary, was born. I did not know what went on surrounding other aspects of her life so I thought it would be interesting. What I found was an author who needed a fact checker! I knew many of the people in the book and she spelled many of their names wrong. It drove me crazy!She had the name of the ambulance company that responded to the scene of the crime wrong and that is just a few of the problems with this book. I used to work on the ambulance (S.A.V.E.S)Skaneateles Ambulance Volunteer Emergency Services so it was kind of a slap in the face to this wonderful volunteer organization that she screwed it up. The writing style is that of a highschooler and very unpleasant to read. I plan on writing to the publisher to complain about the inaccuracies in just the areas I know about. It makes me suspicious of the other things she is discussing that I don't know about and if they are as inaccurate as the other things I do know about. This was an interesting case, in a small town where nothing much ever happens, particularly after the killer's death penalty was overturned by a higher court. I thought my new attorney son would find the book interesting, alas the writing style will drive him crazy. Sadly, this story could have been done much greater justice than this author gave it.

I'm a big biography and true-crime fan, and have read hundreds of books in these genres. The quality of the writing is so variable in true crime that it is often a gamble when you buy one of these books. This story has so much potential to be gripping, moving, chilling, upsetting, enlightening, or SOMETHING - how could it end up being written so dully? Well, it was... dull. Deadly, horribly dull.

It was really skimpy on details, which I understand some readers may appreciate, since not everyone wants to know every grisly moment. OK, but if you're going to skip the scary/gross/perverted/evil minutiae, at least make it interesting somehow. This book was just sooo dull, dry, simplistic, and written at a fourth-grade reading level to boot.

Here, you don't need to buy it - literally here it is: there was this guy named Mike Debardeleben, who was obsessed with his overbearing, overweight mom (like all serial killers, yawn) and he traveled around doing various crimes, including counterfeiting (where did he get so skillful? Where did he get his equipment? I sure don't know), and raping and killing women. He was 100% evil and vile. Then he got caught due to the pure-hearted heroism of the federal agents and cops. They are 100% good. The cops thought alot of the evidence was yucky and it made them feel icky, but they didn't give up, and Mikey ended up in jail.

Real life isn't that black-and-white.

The story of Mike Debardeleben, as related in Stephen Michaud's recent publication, Beyond Cruel, is written more in textbook style than in standard true crime books. Instead of taking the facts and making an easy to reading, easily flowing story, Michaud's somewhat just list the facts paragraph by paragraph then breaks it further down into chapter by chapter.

And while Debardeleben's crimes were absolutely horrendous, I would not, by far, call him the most sadistic killer.

Also, be prepared to wade through tons of information about his counterfeiting crimes while looking for the "sadistic" part of the story.

The most interesting part to me was the epilogue that detailed follow up information on his children; especially the daughter that was placed for adoption at birth.

This book was a fast read partly because the author has written short chapters with specific titles. Every true crime writer is probably trying to find the next Ted Bundy. Mike is no Ted Bundy although he thinks he is smarter and more sophisticated but a student of the man's crimes. Mike is a very sick man who has done horrible acts of violence towards innocent women including his wives and other women like real estate agents. His murder count is a lot lower to our knowledge because it's possible that he killed more but won't talk about it. He's in jail for life. He did have a sick, perverse sexuality which featured unwilling participants in bondage. He murdered a couple of women and a man who ill-stricken in Greece, New York. There are pictures and some basic information about his crimes but not enough detail or thorough explanation of how he became a monster in human flesh.

This book was hard to read in my opinion. I was anxious to get to the end and felt as though I never would. One of the most aggravating things about this book was that the authour used the main character's full name every time he mentioned him. I finally just skipped over the name or just said 'MIKE' to myself.

Dead Ends..... is a true account of the consequences that come with the destruction of a young woman's youth. After being used up by men and treated like garbage (a beer bottle thrown out a car window) Aileen lost all trust for men. She didn't care what their nature was anymore because she would never trust another man, she hated all men at this desperate point in her life. And in her mind, all men she could trap in her web of hatered for men would pay dearly for the pain she had suffered for so many years by the hands of men. If someone would have loved her and shown her love, and caring nurturing , getting her psychiatric help, like so many of us need today, things may have been some what different in the out come of her future! I do believe that she did know what she was doing when she killed all of the men, but she was already to far gone with her sickiness. ( lack of having love as a child and good direction for life)She was paying every man back for what she was put through as a child and as a woman.... This book is a must read if you are a true crime reader!

I am an avid fan of true crime books and this is by FAR the most one-sided book I've ever read. It wasn't about the crimes, it was about this author's personal feelings and dislike of Aileen Wuornos. He has a real problem with women, lesbians in particular. He made Ms. Wuornos out to be someone she wasn't. She had a hard life, yes and chose to committ crimes, but that wasn't what this book was about. Again, it wasn't worth the $. I actually threw my copy of this away.

It seems peculiar that Reynolds' 1992 account of the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos has not been promoted in conjunction with the Oscar-winning film MONSTER, which was based on Wuornos's life. Perhaps the substantial liberties which the screenplay takes with the facts are the reason.

MONSTER is a work of art, whereas DEAD ENDS is a fast-paced factual presentation of the crimes. Ty, Lee's sidekick, is little like the character portrayed by Christina Ricci. First, she's unequivocally unattractive physically. Second, in reality she was much older than Ricci's character and was far more responsible for her own actions. She was not merely a thwarted adolescent whose repressive family loathed her same-sex tendencies. Finally, she lived with Aileen Wuornos for several years before the murder spree began. The scriptwriter clearly wished her characters to have understandable motivations; in contrast, in DEAD ENDS, readers never get enough background information to fully make sense of Ty and Aileen's lengthy relationship--particularly why Ty stayed on with Aileen for so long.

DEAD ENDS also is much less empathetic than MONSTER to Wuornos herself. Though it is clear that Wuornos grew up in a grotesquely dysfunctional family (her real father was a convicted pederast who probably hanged himself in prison; her adoptive father was her own grandfather, who committed suicide and very possibly murdered his wife, Wuornos's adopted mother; her real mother abandoned her and her brother while still a teenager; and on and on), DEAD ENDS lends little sympathy to this woman who murdered seven men in a sociopathic spree (which easily might have included far more victims, but for the machinations of Lady Luck).

Aileen Wuornos was not the first but the thirty-fifth female serial killer documented in American history; however, her methodology--using violence in a world which tolerates only masculine force--is what seems to have made her so repugnant to Reynolds and others. It was an interesting tact to take on the part of the screenwriter of MONSTER: in the film, the audience cannot help feeling sorry for this wreck of a woman.

On a planet where physical crimes by men against women astronomically exceed those by women against men, it is fascinating that the prosecutors of Aileen Wuornos, as well as Reynolds himself, find her so repulsive. Hollywood and the popular media project image after image of male violence inflicted upon females. How curious that in a global patriarchy, pathetic characters like Wuornos are so loathed (recall the furor caused by THELMA AND LOUISE?) while the groping Mr. Schwartzenegger is elected to the governership of California!

I was going to buy this book, but when I looked at the inside and how it was written, I decided not to. My God, this writer can't spell - the grammar is horrible, and that was just on the first few pages. So I've decided not to buy it. Get Lethal Intent instead. Also about Aileen and very well written.

This is, by far, one of the worst books I have ever read. The plot line is so illogical. Why a sharp, intelligent woman would be interested in leaving her husband for such a creep is not credible to me. I kept thinking the book would get better as I progressed, but it never did. Don't waste your time.

This book is totally awesome. Mr. Yglesias describes every detail using brilliant words, and creates an exciting plot to keep you turning pages til the end! It's awesome!

Yes, but what actually does go through a murderer's mind in the weeks and days leading up to his (usually his) eventual eruption? This book doesn't provide much enlightenment on that score. It is mostly a cursory summary of a broad range of mass murderers or spree killers.

Part of this book's problem is that it attempts to cover too much ground. It takes in everything from the shooting sprees of a few postal workers, to the Nazi Holocaust. In between those extremes, it also includes cult murders, cult suicides, women with postpartum depression who killed their children, and students who take assault weapons to school. There isn't much that all these murderers have in common, other than perhaps a free-floating sense of disappointment and failure in their lives.

After reading this overview, we are still left with the big question, "Why?" It would perhaps be more revealing to read an in-depth view of a few murders than this abridgment of many.

Joyce Egginton' TOO BEAUTIFUL A DAY TO DIE (TBDD) - originally published as DAY OF FURY - chronicles the tragic shooting of innocent school children in Winnetka, IL., by Laurie Dann.
Dann was a marginal person who had no sense of her inner self and as a result depended on others, especially her husband, to define her. Laurie was also mentally ill with an obsessive compulsive disorder which, along with a neediness caused by her lack of internal emotional integrity, made her increasingly difficult to live with. When her husband finally initiated divorce procedings, Laurie's tenuous hold on reality collapsed and she descended into a whirlpool of aberrant and ultimately murderous psychosis.
Egginton's description of Laurie's continually deterioriating behavior and relationships with others - particularly her strange and sad parents -and her general research into Laurie's life are outstanding. Egginton is a highly competent and professional writer, and these segments, interspersed throughout the book, are by far the most compelling parts of TBDD.

However, in what I can only conclude was an effort to reach a mandated number of pages, the book is also laden with filler. There are a vast number of police, firemen, clergymen, EMTs, and doctors. It probably only SEEMS like thousands. Egginton describes to the reader the emotional reaction of each and every one of these people who is mentioned for more than a sentence or two. They are universally horrified, disbelieving, shocked and saddened beyond belief.
Well I would suppose so since a madwoman has just killed or severely injured four second graders. Additional anguish is felt by those who have small children, are pregnant, had small children at one time, or hope at some point to have children, as they experience the frightening realization that these children could have just as easily been their own, regardless of his or her stage of completion. It is obviously important to report the general reaction - once or even twice - but Egginton's interminable repetition leads to numbing boredom. I did a lot of skimming over the last half of the book, sometimes 20 pages at a time.
There was, as you would expect, no variation in the scores of reactions as reported by Egginton. I mean, innocent children were randomly shot. No one's FOR it.

As stated, Egginton is a literate writer, who I believe could have written a better book. I would rate the positive parts 5 stars and the negative ones 1 star, with an overall rating for TBDD of 3 stars.

This is SE Hinton's first novel in over fifteen years, according to the blurb on the back. As such, there are many expectations that can come regarding the author of such works as The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, and That was Then, This is Now. Almost inevitably, Hawkes Harbor will be compared to those works that most of us will remember fondly from our younger years.

Unfortunately, Hawkes Harbor just doesn't live up to The Outsiders, which is unfair to Hawkes Harbor. On its own, Hawkes Harbor actually ends up being a very nice story. However, it does suffer on a couple of points. There is a lot of jumping back and forth in time as the main character, Jamie, struggles to remember his past while in a mental institution. Whether or not the feeling is on purpose, the disjointedness of the piecemeal recall can be disorienting and disheartening.

Also, as with the expectation of Rumble Fish quality, the reader may be confounded by expectation of plot and/or genre. Due to some of the reviews and blurbs on the covers, some people will come in with the expectation of a supernatural thriller, but the book doesn't start out like one, instead choosing to set the stage through the flashback scenes. Once involved in the book, it doesn't read like a normal supernatural thriller or romance in the vein of an Anita Blake novel. What the novel truly ends up focused on are relationships between Jamie and other characters and how those relationships change. There are certainly some exciting and terrifying moments, but more importance is placed on how people change and the evolution of their interpersonal relationships. In this exploration of perception and misperception is where there is some common ground with Hinton's previous, more well known works.

In the final analysis, I found the book very rewarding. I was ready to put it down in the middle due to the disjointed recollection of past events, but wanted to stay with it due to the book's relatively short length. In staying the course, I found the exploration of different relationships ultimately very satisfying. The jumping back and forth will kill off some readers' enthusiasm as will false expectations of what the book is supposed to be about. In the end, the enjoyment each person will derive from Hawkes Harbor will ultimately be up to that individual's taste. Your reaction will be a very personal thing.

this is my favorite S.E. Hinton book. i really dont understand some of the low ratings for this book. id recommend this to anyone. all of hinton's books have grabbed me till the very end, this book is no different and is very, very well written. Truly one of the best books i've read

I knew that this book had been poorly reviewed when I bought it, but because I like both Hinton's YA novels and novels about vampires, I expected this book to by right up my alley. Unfortunatley, the characters in the book were universally unappealing. I just couldn't bring myself to care much about any of them. I was frankly relieved when I finished the book and could move on to something more interesting.

Being a huge S.E. Hinton fan when I was in my pre-teens, I was excited to find this adult book written by her. However, I was greatly disappointed that the language was very strong and honestly made me, as an adult, uncomfortable. I really hope Amazon will remove this book from being listed under any category for teens or children, as the language is not appropriate for this age group. The words used in the book would make a movie rated R. Just a warning to parents out there, and any adults who do not appreciate foul language in novels.

Maybe I've lived a deprived childhood having never read a Hinton book before Hawkes Harbor, but I love this story. There is no predictablity as Jamie Sommers' life unfolds, then unravels. Jamie lives his life to the fullest but trusts the wrong people and is launched into heart wrenching situations often with no possible outcome but tragedy. Yet he perseveres thorough some of the most difficult of life situations, including horror no one would believe - even if he could speak of it. But by the end of his story, Jamie is a completely remade man with a rich life he so deserves.

It is this last glimpse of his life which moves me most; and though I know I will be emotionally wrenched once again, I find myself putting that first cassette in my player and willingly live it over again.

Ms. Hinton, thanks so much for this first foray into an adult story. It is one of the best I've found.

...about a man who would write with such glee and intimate detail about the torture, sexual assault, and murder of women --- then try to offset it with a spunky young programmer protagonist. An ineffectual entry in the FBI/CIA action genre. I won't be reading any more by Mr Mills.

I read this recently when a dear friend loaned it to me after it caught my eye on her bookshelf. The one I read had a red cover with black on it though, but still the same book.

Scanned through a couple of 1 star reviews and it was basically cruel and disgusting. Yes, it is cruel and disgusting, but that's no reason to hate a book. The plot is fantastic and I'm loving the characters. An awesome thriller that you won't stop reading or thinking about. (Whether in a bad or good way) Yes, there's rape, torture and more, but it's not like it doesn't happen in everyday life. Children and adults are raped each and every day and just because it's written in a book and a pretty big part doesn't mean it's not a good write. All other thrillers have murderers and such, but this author when deeper than deep. It's like you can picture it in your mind and feel the pain and hear the cries of the victims.

A great book that should not pass your eye. It's only rape and a chunk of torture isn't it? Such a good plot and it's not like it's all slaughter, there's a plot if you can look deeper and shift through the violent parts.

All thrillers have the same problem which is how do you create a situation where one person tackles the world of corruption and danger and comes out alive. In addition to that, how do you spin yet another serial killer idea which has been beaten to death.

Kyle Mills may not possess the skill to make the ride believable -- but what's the point of that anyway? He does manage to create a fast paced thriller that does deliver to its intended audience.

My only caution is that Kyle incorporates a great deal of gruesome violence that can be very, very disturbing.

My only complaint is the usual tired and worn out "villain meets the main character" plot line in the end that seems to force itself into just about every thriller I have read. The entire problem with that idea is that the ending now becomes a tired piece of predictability and all the tension in the world does nothing to solve that dilemma.

So this isn't Les Miserables nor it is intended to be. It's a quick read that entertained me and gave me a break from the type of books that I usually read such as Les Miserables, Tale Of Two Cities, etc.

This is the first book I have read by Kyle Mills. The entire plot was developed and resolved well. EXCEPT the epilogue - an entire page and a half of absolutely no explanation! I reread sections of the book to determine the introduction of the last character mentioned. If one is not familiar with this author, there is no way to resolve the end of the book. No explanation whatsoever of who Mark Beamon is or what the reason for introducing him. BAD ending to OK thriller!

I like a good thriller and thought this one sounded like it would be a good break from reading more serious stuff. It DID keep me reading and I thought the Dr. Edward Marin character was one of the best villains I'd encountered in a long time. It was difficult to read of his horrific attacks on innocent girls, but, in my opinion, in order to have a character this evil, you have to let the reader know what he's doing. I also liked the character of Eric Twain, whose story was interesting. Two geniuses, one evil, one misunderstood.

Where the book falls down is in the many little details that didn't connect. Eric's home burns, but somehow he still has his laptop computer. He seems to feel no sense of loss as his art work is all lost. Quinn loses a shoe when trying to escape one of the many close calls, but we never learn how she got shoes again. Did she have a spare pair in her purse? In another scene, Quinn tears off a piece of her skirt to wipe away blood and Eric uses his shirt to stanch blood from a wound, but somehow they both go to General Price's house and don't seem to be worried that Eric has no shirt and Quinn has a bloody ripped skirt. It's actually not all that easy to rip a piece off a skirt, so this seemed totaly phony to me.

And BTW, why are all the women in the story always wearing skirts? I believe most working girls today (I mean cube-dwellers, not...) wear pants to work. And how did Eric and Quinn pay for those fancy hotel suites they stayed in while they were on the lam? Did Eric use a credit card? In that case, they could have been tracked. Did he go to an ATM? There's lots of scenes with ruined or bloody clothes, but we never hear about them getting more clothes, except once when Quinn buys a suit with a skirt that's too short. A suit? They're running around trying to escape crazy bad guys and she buys a suit?

I don't think the author really knows much about IT work either. His "computer programmer" engages in stereotypical behavior and he refers to PCs as "terminals" (which, technically, are just monitors connected to a mainframe and not much used anymore). The basic plot is interesting enough that I read to the end, but I had to ask myself if someone like General Price could really exist? I don't want to give away the plot, but what this guy does "for his country" is something I hope no real person would ever consider doing.

Quinn Barry hovers close to being an unbelievable character. She and Eric spend time in hotel rooms and never acknowledge their mutual attraction? In some ways she's a strong woman, but in other ways she's the prize that both the evil genius and the sympathetic genius want. Of course, the good guy wins the girl.

HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT. I READ THE FIRST BOOK AND WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT 5 STARS. IS THIS AMERICA? ARE WE NOT INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY? WE SHOULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM RICHARD JEWELL. YEAH, I GUESS THERE IS A REMOTE POSSIBILITY HE COULD HAVE BEEN ZODIAC, BUT WHAT IF HE WASN'T. ALTHOUGH HE WAS ODD, NO ONE DESERVES TO BE PERSECUTED BY THE MEDIA IN THEIR FINAL YEARS OF LIFE (UNLESS FOR SURE HE WAS ZODIAC). COME ON-HIS DNA DID NOT MATCH, THE FINGER PRINT DID NOT MATCH. IT SEEMS THAT MR GRAYSMITH HAD TUNNEL VISION AND IS TRYING HIS HARDEST TO CONVICE US THAT HE WAS ZODIAC, WHEN THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE SAYS DIFFERENT. SKIP THIS BOOK, JUST BUY "ZODIAC", GRAYSMITH'S 1ST BOOK.

I'm shocked by the reviewers who read this and didn't think Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac. It reaches a point where an unbelievable number of coincidences, and identifications from witnesses and victims are too compelling to consider otherwise.

Yes, Leigh's fingertips didn't match. Yes, his handwriting didn't match. Yes, they never found a "smoking gun." Leigh was an intelligent person who took considerable precautions to ensure he wouldn't get caught. Plus, there is no proof the fingerprints in question were from the Zodiac. They could have come from a number of different people (they did not get elimination prints from everyone at the scene).

As for peoople who didn't like the way the book was written, keep it mind this is not a mystery novel. Events were written in chronological order and often required additional information so the reader would understand.

I agree that some material is repeated and could have done without some of it myself. If you're interested at all in this case, the overwhelming amount of research and information is worth such a minor flaw.

Author too long winded. I love true crime, but this book just couldn't hold my attention.

After seeing David Fincher's film ZODIAC I got a craving to find out more about the crimes Zodiac committed, so I ordered a copy of Zodiac Unmasked, seeing as how the screenwriters adapted this book into the script. All I can say now is, the screenwriters must be geniuses for I have never read so disorganized and badly written a true crime book and I've plowed through some doozies in my lifetime. If you've seen the movie, you've seen Jake Gyllenhaal playing Robert Graysmith, this inoffensive, innocuous mousy cartoonist who hangs out all day at the Chronicle newsroom and little by little he becomes obsessed with the case to the detriment of his home life.

It's not that cartoonists can't write good books, but I wonder how good a cartoonist Graysmith was because as a writer, he's the bottom of the barrel. Not one sentence he writes make sense. Okay, some make sense but then the problem is that whatever interest you had at the beginning of the sentence evaporates by the time he gets to the end. Part of the problem is the hugeness of his topic. Not only are there literally hundreds of suspects, very few of whom ever come alive as "characters," but there are hundreds of cops, ditto, and witnesses, ditto, all of them a huge blur, and there also seem to be hundreds of Northern California towns all of which Zodiac knew well and left terror there.

We can never get an estimate of how many crimes Zodiac committed nor how many letters he wrote. Graysmith doesn't want to say "no" to any possibility, so all of them are left flapping in the wind like the monkey's gumballs.

And yet another part of the problem is that, halfway through the events he relates, he makes the central one the publication of his first book about Zodiac, in which he identified his main suspect under a pseudonym (the man was still alive at that time), so we get hundreds of new sightings based on readers who read #1, called up Graysmith, told him they knew who he was talking about, and he was right, that man is strange. Maybe the first book was better for it wouldn't have all this patting himself on the back in it. This one is nigh unreadable. However since it was the basis for one of the best thrillers I've ever seen, I'm bumping it up a notch or two.

I enjoyed both Graysmith/Zodiac books, but ZODIAC UNMASKED was 100 PAGES TOO LONG. Plus much of the info was repeated 2-4 times. I was almost expecting a test at the end!