Murder Books

This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down! Those last pages were insane! Those of you who said it was good, well you just need to learn how to leave your surondings, and use your imagination! The whole time i thought it was Amberly, especially the way she was dressing. I think it was great how Sabine told Noelle and JOsh about the fact that Reed had been on extasy the night of the Lagacy, i'm still not positive they'll get back togeather, though. All in all, i thought this book was flat out insane, and i can't wait for the next!

Life couldn't possibly get any worse for Reed Brennan, could it?

Welcome to book eight of the PRIVATE series by Kate Brian.

When we left the Girls of Billings in AMBITION, Reed had just pulled of the coup of the year with the fundraiser to save the school, only to have her reputation smeared across campus via the technology of cell phones. Someone had caught her 5-minute make-out session with Dash McCafferty, Noelle Lange's on-again/off-again boyfriend.

Reed has just returned to Easton Academy after Thanksgiving break, and her first night back, she receives the shocking news that the Girls of Billing have voted her out. It wasn't a unanimous vote, but still, majority rules, and the only home she's ever wanted at Easton is no longer hers. She now knows how far Noelle will go to get back at anyone that crosses her.

So Reed finds herself in a disgustingly ugly small single in, dare she think it, Pemberly? But Reed packs her stuff and, with the help of her few remaining friends from Billings, moves. But it gets even worse. For her next-door neighbor is none other than her ex-boyfriend Josh Hollis' new girlfriend, Ivy Slade. But Reed isn't beaten yet. She's bound and determined to get back into Billings and clear her name of everything. Granted, she can't undo the error with Dash, but she can find out who is responsible for Cheyenne's death and who's been stalking her.

Yes, even with moving into Pemberly, Reed is still finding mysterious items of Cheyenne's in her room. Things keep appearing but Reed refuses to think she could possibly have anything to do with it. She keeps telling everyone that she had nothing to gain by murdering Cheyenne. Cromwell was already expelling her, so there was no reason to make it worse on Cheyenne.

REVELATION will let the reader finally know the truth of Cheyenne's death. As Reed investigates and gets closer to the truth, people that she thought she couldn't count on come to her aid. And those she thought were the ones she could always count on may turn out to be the ones she should've been watching out for all along.

Readers have to wait until February 2009 to find out the continuation of Reed and the aftereffects of the Easton Academy Holiday Dinner. However, those needing their fix of Easton Academy have the LAST CHRISTMAS: THE PRIVATE PREQUEL to look forward to on October 7, 2008. And the new series with Ariana Osgood (isn't she locked up?) is due out on December 30, 2008.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Sixteen-year-old Reed Brennan has lost everything she had obtained since entering Easton Academy and the much coveted Billings House. She's lost the presidency at Billings after everyone sees her making out with Dash, Noelle's on-again-off-again boyfriend, through a stream video message. Her ex-boyfriend Josh is seeing another girl. And of course she loses Noelle's friendship -- and, as a result, her spot at the Billings house. Now Reed is in one of the single rooms in a lesser-known dorm. But if that wasn't bad enough, Ivy, Josh's new girlfriend and bane of Reed's existence, is her new neighbor. She is a social pariah now. Her life as she'd known it is over. But that is not the worst of it. Reed is informed that Cheyenne's death wasn't a suicide. She is still getting those creepy e-mails that began right after Cheyenne's death, and now she is getting strange messages in her dorm room. All Reed knows is that someone is doing this to her. Someone very close. Is it Ivy, or is it the girl who has taken Reed's place at the Billings house? There are rumors that Ariana has escaped from the mental institution she's locked into for murdering Thomas Pearson. Could -- oh horror of horrors -- she be behind all this? In order for Reed to find out, she has to win back Noelle at all cost. But how could she do that when Noelle won't let her get close? It seems that Noelle wants everyone to believe Reed is Cheyenne's murderer, which has alienated her from almost everyone at the campus, all except for Constance, Sabine and a few others. But Reed will not give up. Not only will she win back her spot at the Billings house, but she will also clean up her name, win back her friends (and make some new ones in the process) AND find out who her tormentor is. The revelation will truly shock you...

This is the best and most revealing installment in the Private series since Confessions. What makes this one so great is that many questions and loose ends are answered. You also get a lot of new scattered pieces to this intriguing puzzle. Various characters are developed in this book and you get a bigger picture and stronger sense of who they are and what roles they play in Reed's life. The cliffhanger is also extremely shocking, not to mention frustrating, for the next book, Paradise Lost, won't come out until February. For now, I will have to settle with digesting this book and Last Christmas -- the prequel to Private that centers on Ariana Osgood and Thomas Pearson -- and wait for the release of Privilege, the spinoff to Private, also centered on Ariana. The Private series isn't the typical YA book series centered on rich private school kids boyfriend-hopping, backstabbing and partying. It is so much more than that. Better than Gossip Girl and It Girl, in my opinion. Kate Brian has a wonderful imagination. Read this, but not before reading the other books in order. You won't regret it!

If you don't know if you should read the Private series, well you SHOULD. all of the books are great but i think this one was the best. With all the plot lines, kate brian made you think it was one person, then a different person. But I was never expecting it to be who it was. That was very surprising. I LOVED IT.

As a huge Private series fan, Revelation didn't disappoint at all! This book was Kate Brian's best one yet, I think. It was a very quick and smooth read; I never wanted to put the book down! I finished it in a couple of hours. This latest installment with it's unexpected twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. Drama is in basically every chapter. I am a junkie for this kind of stuff; drama, cussing, love, you name it. The ending was especially shocking, I never saw it coming! Of course I won't ruin it for you readers, but let's just say I'm dying for the next book, "Paradise Lost" due out in February!

SEX KILL is an excellent collection of true crime stories, marked by the sadistic intent and actions of the real-life monsters that prowled our streets from decades past.

All too often, we are lulled into the belief that man's inhumanity to man has grown to unprecedented levels in today's society. As SEX KILL demonstrates - the evil that lies in the hearts of men has always been there...stalking its prey...and waiting for the moment to strike.

Sex Kill is a compilation of true stories based on the crimes of some of the most sinister (and demented) minds to exist. To paraphrase one of my favorite movies, it reads like a tale of demon's machinations - stories of murder, sadism and terror.

These criminals might be called "mad dogs" - but the reality is that many of them were sane, and had the presence of mind to know right from wrong. Unfortunately for their victims, they chose the path of the latter, where concepts such a morality and decency simply do not exist.

If you are a fan of True Crime, the book is a must have.

SEX KILL collects some of the prior century's most horrific true stories of crime, with the period flavoring of Detective/True Crime Magazines like POLICE DRAGNET CASES and MASTER DETECTIVE.

More than just police reports, these stories present with an intensity and emotion that that is unmatched even today.

For any fan of books/movies like L.A. Confidential (Two-Disc Special Edition) this is one book that you have to add to your collection!

When looking at this collection of true crime stories, the reader is left disturbed on a two core levels. First, with the realization that criminals like this actually exist - and I use the term "criminal" loosely...men like Ed Gein go beyond the term, with a more apt description being that of demon instead of criminal.

Second, the fact that many of these real-life monsters act with complete knowledge of their actions, but believe that they are either above or beyond the law, and have the right to satisfy all of their sadistic lusts.

Fortunately, to the latter point, these men of evil intent were NOT beyond the reach of the law. Pick the book up today - you will not be disappointed!

I picked up SEX KILL last weekend based on the recommendation of a friend who likewise is a fan of the true crime genre. This compilation follows a format of presenting some of the most significant true crime stories circa the 1950's, from some of the best magazines of type, including Master Detective, and Police Dragnet Cases.

If you are a fan of James Ellroy or Dominick Dunne, and want to immerse yourself in the flavor of the writing style of the time, this book is a must have for your collection!!!

Cantrip is missing! Having been seconded to assist with the mysterious Daffodil settlement in the Tax Haven of the Channel Islands, he disappears, and there seem to be bodies all over the place, bodies and unlimited suspects who might well have been involved in murdering them - or then again might not. Even murder isn't necessarily on the cards here. Really, it is up to Professor Hilary Tamar to sort things out and find the culprits, and find Cantrip at the same time.

A while ago we were discussion (on a Jane Austen list) the art of the epistolary form of the novel - and perhaps this is the original idea behind Caudwell's form of mysteries - they are very reliant on letter writing. While the first mystery featured letters by Julia from Venice (Thus was Adonis murdered), and the second Serena from Corfu (The Shortest Way to Hades), this has Young barrister, Michael Cantrip, writing from..... well.... all over France - and using the handy mechanism of the Telex machine to send his messages back to the members of the nursery at 62 New Square (and the occassional less than flattering note to their Clerk, Henry).

A very funny, bouynat mystery with the usual Caudwell twist at the end - I guess the unexpected seems to occur every few pages really - The only thing I would mention is that I didn't feel like all the clues were quite at my grasp as they might have been - however, I didn't mind, it was such a rollicking good fun ride. Sometimes I wonder if I read these as mysteries or comedies - they are lovely as both. .

After the relatively disappointing second book in the series (The Shortest Way to Hades) I was enraptured to find The Sirens Sang of Murder on a par with the first Sarah Caudwell, the one that made me sing hosannas and rush out to buy everything she had written. One of the strengths and pleasures of Sirens, as with Thus Was Adonis Murdered, is that a large part of it takes the form of an epistolary novel, in this case through telexes in the hilarious voice of Cantrip. Surely Caudwell is a fan of P.G. Wodehouse, since the hapless Cantrip reminds me irresistibly of clueless Bertie Wooster, even down to his malapropisms and his dotty uncle (reminiscent of Uncle Fred). Having so many adventures related through his harried, well-intentioned, quirky voice ("pottle" is one of his favorite verbs) makes everything that much livelier. Another clever, enjoyable device is the use of hackneyed romance-novel cliches, which circulate due to Cantrip and Julia's collaboration on a would-be bestseller. Added to this heady mixture is the faintly dangerous, sexy whiff of witch lore and the supernatural.

If you enjoyed Thus Was Adonis Murdered, don't hesitate to heed the Sirens' seductive cry.

This is the third of Sarah Caudwell's sublimely funny murder mysteries narrated by Hilary Tamar, professor of legal history at Oxford, and featuring her young barrister friends. All four of these books are hilarious, and this is the funniest of the lot. Not many books in my life have made me cry with laughter, but this one reduced me to tears on several occasions. The adventures of young Michael Cantrip (educationaly disadvantaged, poor boy, he went to Cambridge)in the Channel Islands and in France and Monaco are full of wildly funny incidents. The poor boy has to suffer spending five hours shut in the boot of a car, being locked in a wine celler by a dotty waiter etc, meanwhile back in london his colleagues are having to cope with his barmy uncle. The plot is amazingly convoluted, and like all the books you may find yourself getting a bit lost in the complexity of the financial details, but who cares. Just enjoy the ingenious story, the wonderful characters, the witty dialogue, and Sarah Caudwell'smarvellous style. What a tragedy that there are only four of these marvellous books.

I was delighted with Cauldwell's third book in her too-short series. Much maligned Cantrip always makes me laugh, and you get plenty of him in this book.

The humor is elaborate and depends on convoluted witticisms couched in a pastiche of eighteenth century prose, alternating with sharp observations of contemporary British life and amazingly effective slapstick. This sort of thing has to be done superbly well or it falls flat. This is done superbly well. The plot seems completely fantastic until the murderer is revealed and you realise you should have thought of that person all along. The same setting as the other Caudwells - the London singles bar scene.

Once I picked up this book I was unable to put it down. I couldn't believe what this family went through. I also couldn't believe that this happened in my hometown. I have lived in Staten Island, not to far from where this happend for the last 25 years. No one ever thinks that something like this can happen in their own back yard. I'm just glad that justice was served. No one deserves to suffer the way this family did.

This is a beautifully written account of a family's quest for survival and justice. It is a book that needed to be written because it opens the readers' eyes to the injustice of our criminal "justice" system. I was appalled by the indignities this family suffered at the hands of the SYSTEM. Not only did they suffer the horrific loss of their family but were also forced to relive their tragedy year after year as the court system dragged its feet.

Linda Principe's Surviving Murder is a must read. The author's account and descriptions of her Italian American New York family instantly connected me to the family, and allows the reader to feel a genuine sense of shock as Linda describes the day her family received the grim news about Anthony and Ann Camerlengo. The author did her job well; her descriptions put the reader inside the courtroom, and inside the hearts of those closest to the case.

As the author of Surviving Murder, I find J. Johnson's review quite interesting. I would like to clarify a few points. It is true that the book reflects a personal odyssey, and I would call to the reviewer's attention that the book is classified as a True-Crime-Memoir, that is a blending of two types of writing seldom seen. The true crime part was, in fact, drawn from actual court transcripts and from my notes. The memoir part, I think, speaks for itself. As for the absence of photos, this was intentional. Most people buy true crime books for the gory photographs. I did not want my book to sell itself that way. This was more work for me, since I had to recreate events via description, something I am told by other readers I did a bit too well, in some cases. I respect J. Johnson's opinion and am always interested in feedback, but I do think the reviewer missed the point, especially regarding the concept of true-crime/memoir as a literary form.

About half-way through this riveting read, Linda Principe says that "Murder makes you extraordinary in the most unexpected ways." This author's efforts to document the horrific tragedy experienced by her family proves this observation.

Principe's experience as both a published poet and professor of English is apparent through the sensitivity to details with which she documents how her warm and close extended Italian American family went from the everyday normality of family dinners, home improvements and banal chores that comprise daily living to the horrendous and turbulent storm of terror, anguish and self-preservation when a cousin murders and beheads his parents. She effectively captures the confusion, anger, fear and exhaustion as family members not only have to deal with a very public invasion of the innermost family structure, but the feelings of isolation when they have to deal with an agressively imperfect judicial system on top of their own continuing grief.

As the author of eight non-fiction books, including "The Dark Son" and "A Call For Justice" -- both about young killers -- I have witnessed the roller coaster of emotions these "insider" crimes inspire. I can only marvel at the author's strength as she delicately balances softer memories with harsh and hurtful realities. An act of murder forever divides a family's history into "Before" and "After" and Principe's stunning account will forever change your perception of what's really happening when you see another "media circus" surrounding a tragedy. An excellent read!

Author Susan Braudy admits that she began writing this book to prove that Dominick Dunne's book The Two Mrs. Grenvilles and Truman Capote's unfinished novel Answered Prayers: The Unfinished Novel contained the REAL story about the tragic 1955 Woodward murder. While doing a thorough job of research, Susan found herself swayed.

Ann Crowell was a beautiful young girl from Kansas who wanted to be famous; she downplayed and changed her humble beginnings and enjoyed modest success as a New York City radio actress. She met wealthy Billy Woodward, Jr. and a tempestous love affair began for the two of them. Woodward's snobby family though Crowell beneath them, and never accepted her into the fold. Ann fought for acceptance until they day she died, attempting to better herself and mimic the gestures, vocal inflections, and sense of style that were part of the upper crust. Woodward preferred her as she was, and her social climbing caused many a problem for the marriage. Ann constantly sought Billy's approval in everything that she did; Woodward's affairs and bisexual leanings did nothing to help allay her insecurities. Tragedy came in the form of Ann accidentally shooting her husband, thinking he was the prowler that had been terrorizing the neighborhood. Although found innocent in a court of law, Ann was privately found guilty by society, and lived the rest of her days floating from one city to the other, looking for love and acceptance. It is truly a sad tale, and much more fascinating that Capote's acidic bitter grapes story that was founded on hateful gossip.

Braudy has used Ann's journals as well as firsthand witnesses to recreate her; Ann becomes a living breathing human being again through Braudy's account. What a heartwrenching tale, especially for Ann & Billy's children . I HIGHLY recommend this book! Plenty of great photos as well.

This is an excellently written book. So many true crime books tend
to bore me or I find too bloodletting to stay with it. This book is
a refreshing change. It is a big book but I find I couldnt put it down
til done. She explains beautifully all the trials and tribulations the
poor little girl from Kansas faced when she landed one of the richest
men in the country, Billy Woodward. Coming from two entirely different worlds, you wonder how these two stayed married so long before
tragedy struck. Their love and hate relationship ultimately destroyed
one then the other taking other family members down with them.
At about 420 pages, it is well worth the time to read this fascinating story.

Whenever I read about the rich and of the problems they may have, I feel less inclined to lament the fact that I am not wealthy. If ever there was a case to support the statement: Money does not buy happiness, this sad story should do it. If Ann Woodward had only studied the moral of Scott Fitzgerald's story "The Great Gatsby", the fairytale might have had a happy ending. Read this book, enjoy the excellent writing, but learn something of human nature that, deep down, you should already know.

This story had all the trappings of a Ross Hunter production of a Lana Turner tearjerker. I can see John Gavin in the Billy Woodward part. It was fifty years ago that Ann Woodward made a double-barreled blast into the headlines when she mistook her husband for a prowler and shot him. Twice. (The first time, she missed.) And thus was born not only the misery of Ann Woodward and her children but the delight of Truman Capote and his book "Answered Prayers." Tru intended to make the Woodward murder the highlight of his first excerpt in Esquire magazine, labeling her a "malicious Betty Grable." When word filtered back to her, Ann Woodward swallowed a cyanide pill leaving her two sons orphans. What makes this tale of passion and death so moving and sad is the children. Both of them followed their parents to an early grave. Both by jumping from windows. They say the murder house is haunted to this day.

Dominick Dunne would go on to soften Ann's image with the two Mrs. Grenville's, giving justification for her bewitching success in captivating society's finest and most eligible bachelor. She couldn't be completely bereft of any redeeming features whasoever.

Susan Braudy attempts to fully rehabilitate Ann's image here, and the mistruths told about her case. Her attempt is largely successful except for one major thing. Ann Woodward aimed at her naked husband (most prowlers arrive clothed) and fired. Twice.

Although meticulous, Braudy doesn't address a theory put forth that the elder Mrs. Woodward paid the prowler to confess to being on the roof that night. If that theory is false, then Ms. Braudy has posthumously exonerated Ann Woodward and is to be applauded.

This Crazy Thing Called Love is a beautifully written book, spare and yet lush at the same time. I could not put it down because everything is spot on perfect, not least of all the idle arrogance of the upper classes who flocked to parties featuring those boring marionettes, the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor, who were reduced to charging their hosts by the hour for personal appearances.

Braudy knew William Woodward III and was actually introduced to Ann Woodward herself, and she writes about a meeting with her at her maisonette apartment which had me riveted to the page.

It is interesting to note that the Woodward women, strivers in their own day, all turned out to be perfect little snobs themselves. But isn't that always the case.

If you are as obsessed with the Woodward case as I am (I grew up nearby and remember the case), this is the definitive word on this particular crime. I read Truman's La Cote Basque piece in Esquire and of course Dominick Dunne's book The Two Mrs Grenvilles. I even drove out to the Woodward "Playhouse" where the murders took place and swung my car around on the same cobblestones Mary Queen of Scots walked over to her execution. Ann was so proud of them. Suddenly, there it was, the plain, art deco-ish exterior with the trellis and the porthole windows.

I noticed that Dominick Dunne had the author of this book on as a contributor to a segment he did on the Woodward murder on his television program. She has done a masterful job putting together this book. Although Dunne is not listed as a source, a clue is given as to who the real "Basil Plant" is in The Two Mrs. Grenvilles. It isn't Truman Capote, but an actual employee of a cruise ship, the cruise ship from the opening of The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, who knew both Dunne and Capote.

Five stars. Great read.

Unlike The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, this book is based on truth. The author was a friend of Mrs. Woodward's son. Doing her research she takes us through the nuts and bolts of Ann's marriage, and what most likely happened the night her husband was killed. It is probable that Ann did NOT mean to kill her husband, as he was her meal ticket, so to speak, and her entire life revolved around him and the comforts and acceptance (from society) that he provided her with. True, she was more emotional than the typical "society lady" who allowed their husbands to wander...

It was interesting how Ann had been brought up - by a liberated mother with apparently very poor taste in men. This book shows much empathy to Mrs. Woodward and explains a lot of unanswered questions.

Having known Dennis since I was in High School and as a retired policmen myself, Threshold of Pain really hits home, it is hard hitting and gives you some insite of police work and how much garbage you sometimes have to go through to get the job done. I feel like I know almost everyone in the story. Once you start you won't be able to put it down.

Reading this book was like Deja Vu all over again . Admitting that I'm a personal friend of the author does not in anyway diminish the quality of his story telling . I read it cover to cover in one day because I just could not put it down . This is the Chicago Police Department as told by someone who knows it intimatly . Action packed ? Yes ! True to life in many ways ? YES !!!!!!! Buy this one ....you won't regret it.

Rivetting!!! This action packed thriller should hit the big screen. Dennis Banahan has a unique ability to draw the reader deep into this hard-core, yet emotional, mystery. Get back to work Dennis, I want more...

First of all I must alert you that my objectivity may be a bit skewed. The author is my brother. But anyone who reads this book should know that Denny Banahan is the "real deal." He writes like he lives; honest, hard hitting and blatantly truthful. I found it hard to distinguish fact from fiction, for all of his characters reminded me that "people" count, and life on the street is a never ending search for legitimacy and authenticity, for both the good guys and the bad guys. His thirty years on the "street" and his obvious passion for realism make this an unforgetable trip to Chicago's greatest amusement park, "Bana-World," where honest and decent people people, converge with the scum of earth, and ultimately learn the lessons of a lifetime; not knowing that a lifetime may be only minutes away.

Policemen become involved in any number of good story telling situations in the course of their careers. Most become adept in recounting these stories both to their colleagues and to their non police friends. Dennis Banahan is by far the best story teller I have come accross in my own career. He proves that in this book! I was privileged to read this book several years before it was published during one notably long evening in the 7th District Watch Commander's Office. I told him then that I wanted the millionth copy autographed. Now that I bought it and reread it, that still goes.

To my excitement, I recently found a pristine copy of the original hardcover edition of this book. I am a huge fan of Bugliosi's other work in "Helter Skelter" and "And the Sea Will Tell". This book is less known, but does not lack the sensationalism of the cases in Bugliosi's other books. Until the end of the book, it is well paced and creates suspense in the reader's mind. Bugliosi's decision to included his entire closing argument as the last 1/3 of the book drastically slow the pace.

Allan Palliko's crimes included attempted murder against his first wife, murdering a lover's husband, and murdering his second wife. While the first murder seems clear, the seemingly impossible time frame makes the second murder likely to have been committed by another. Yet when the deaths create income for Palliko, some eyebrows are raised. Could the prosecution gain a conviction despite a lack of physical evidence? The circumstantial evidence and motive of insurance money seem to point in the direction of Palliko's responsibility. Yet the unpredictability of a "jury of your peers" makes the reader wonder if the unlikely conviction is possible.

The book is slowed to a crawl when Bugliosi decided to include his entire closing argument. While the argument was well done, Bugliosi could have better summarized it for the purposes of this book. With the exception of this flaw, "Till Death Us Do Part" is another outstanding read by Vincent Bugliosi.

Absolutely wonderful! I first read it in 1978, and have reread it at least a dozen times. (Something I rarely do) Well-written and constructed, and just as riveting as Helter Skelter. Five stars for Mr. Bugliosi!!

I just started reading this book and so far I haven't been able to put it down just like all his rest so he has not disappointed me there. I just read And The Sea Will Tell and that was a fabulous book also. The dealer I got this book from was great, I got the book in record time. I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy true crime and legal stuff

I've read everything Bugliosi has published that I'm aware of, and find him to be the very best non-fiction law/crime writer out there who I have encountered. He was also apparently a very good and thorough attorney, at least to hear him tell it. This story, like his Manson book, concerns a highly publicized trial on which he was the prosecuting attorney. In Hitchcockian fashion a man had been killed by an unknown stranger while the wife was 200 miles away with a perfect alibi. Insurance claims were modest and eventually paid, and probably nothing would have come of it had not one of the dismissed suspects suddenly become a widower himself, and the 21 year old missus hardly died of old age. Lots of courtroom drama, detective work, and personality studies ensue. Very hard to put down once you pick it up. Compelling without ever being gory, and informative without being pedantic. Very well written and a very unique story.

Neither did I, but if you enjoy seeing someone squirm as he gets caught lying under cross examination, you'll like this. The crimes are sickening. Mr. Bugliosi includes a big helping of law for the layman --very interesting stuff! The murderers were actually prosecuted on circumstantial evidence.

I just couldn't put this book down! The author kept me guessing all the way to its surprising conclusion. I could feel the drama unfolding on every page amidst calm blue waters, white sand and majestic palm trees. Each one of the multi-dimensional characters could've been the murderer including the hero himself.

If you like a good mystery I highly urge you to read this one. Well written I could nearly smell the sea air on the pages. Diane

I enjoyed this murder mystery. It left me guessing up until the end. The final chapters unravel the riddles dropped along the way by the craftily created characters.

This story lassoed me on the first page and dragged me through to the last. I couldn't put it down.
A very poignant love story and an unfailingly gallant hero whose sufferings had earned him extraordinary understanding and compassion gave depth to this mystery/thriller.
The hero is heroic to the bone -- as were an astounding number of "our greatest generation." It is good for us to read about such men as we stare world-wide destruction down yet again.

A thoroughly enjoyable read! From the moment I started reading this intriguing mystery, I found myself setting sail on The Granada, along with a cast of characters worthy of Agatha Christie, and knew I was in for a thrill-a-minute Carribean cruise. How right I was!

I actually had the extreme fortune of working with Hollie at the local grocery store in Madison, MS in the early 90's and I found out about her death when I was at home visiting from college in ATL. I was mortified to find out that she was killed and even more so that anybody would do that to her. She was THE most caring, honest and funniest person I've ever known. She was amazing! I can only imagine the pain it is for Mr. Calhoun father to write such an in-depth account on the loss of not only his daughter, but Hollie, as a person. I didn't believe it was about her until I saw her picture on the inside flap cover. This book doesn't even convey how good a person Hollie really was and its even more heartbreaking for me because I really knew her. A phrase that Hollie would say everytime she was right about something, "Thank you for playing!" I still use it today.

I found 400 Hours to be an extremely poignant and gut wrenching story.The authors pain was horrific.I came away feeling that I knew the entire family and had somehow gone through the entire grieving process with them.It's all there.The author made it easy to read by weaving in and out of the various family members and how they each came to grips with the loss of Hollie.I highly recommend this book.

With this book you really feel the pain of Hollies family and the agony they went through during her disapearance and eventual recovery.I really felt like I got to know who Holly really was.

A couraageous writing by a father concerning the life and death of his daughter. He writes of the heart-wrenching path and details of finding out about her kidnap and murder. Through an enlighting look at the process involved in this personal case he gives us all an upclose view of police investigating. The reader acutely experiences the process and shares in the Calhouns nightmare, while also having the privelege of getting to know Hollie.

I lost my brother in an accidental gunshot incident many years ago. That was horrific enough but couple that with murder and abduction and hours of not knowing and you have a true nightmare. This is a rare man who is able to reveal his innermost private feelings about the loss of his daughter. One reels as he describes the numbness, disorientation, and "inappropriate" acting out behaviors which run the gamut of emotions which he experienced. This book inevitably triggers one's own feelings about the out-of-body fog that accompanies the loss of a loved one. He knows correctly that it will never be over, his pain merely gradually muted a little more as each year passes. The sense of disbelief and wondering what might have been will never go away. Rather than being a downer, this book refreshes with its honesty.

As a great grand neice of Dr Dreher and also through other relations, Ada, I cannot wait to read the account that this author has, as compared to what my family has told me, I have also slept in the house, babysitting, and let me tell you it is freaky know what happened where. (my moms sister owned it for a short while)

Ada Bonner LeBouef was my greataunt. She was also my father's godmother. The story is very true, as my mother tells it.

This a true story about the 1st woman excuted in the state of La. I am from this town and the story was told to me by my grandfather..It is a must read item

This is not a review, but I don't know any other forum for asking this question:

Does this book feature photographs of the key players?

As the great grandaughter of Ada and Jim LeBoeuf, I really appreciate the job done by the author. He presents the facts of the case. When reading the newspaper accounts during the time of the trial, it seemed as if the media was anxious to just print dirt and rumor which may have had a great deal to do with the outcome of the trial. Thank you Mr. Hargroder for a well written book on my family history.