Murder Books

On May 16, 1991 R. Scott Dunn, then 24 vanished. The only person who appeared to have any insight as to his whereabouts was the gruesomely named Leisha Hamilton, with the equally gruesome personality as reported in this book.

Scott, then 24 was highly regarded for his proficiency at electronics and repair. He took great pride in a restored Chevrolet Camaro, which he named "Yellow Thunder."

In 1991-92, Scott, who was living in Lubbock Texas at the time was engaged to be married. However, he was living with Ms. Hamilton who sounded like a master manipulator. She called Scott's father, Jim to inform him that his son was missing. Each encounter she had with Jim and local law enforcement people was an exercise in manipulation and cruel, inappropriate comments. Although she claimed to be in love with Scott and expressed pleasure at sharing an apartment with him, she was actively involved with another man and even tried to lead authorities to suspect him as being involved in Scott's disappearance.

Jim Dunn is a man one can respect. He is to be commended for his dogged persistence and untiring diligence in working with law enforcement and the Vidoq Society. It is through their hard work that they were able to bring Leisha Hamilton to justice, although Scott's body has not been recovered at the time of this review.

Mike & the Mechanics' 1989 song "The Living Years" which is about fathers and sons appears to underscore this book very well. It was truly heartwarming to read about a father and son who loved and had respect for one another.

My heart goes out the Scott Dunn's family. The terror, frustration and then grief for all these years must have been horrible. It is about time that victims and their families should have as many rights as people who are suspected or actually commit crimes. I live in Lubbock and cannot believe that a jury could believe Smith could have been part of the murder or cover-up and still let him loose on the streets. I hope that some day the Dunns will know what happened to their son or at least where he is.

This book reads like a fiction mystery novel, it keeps you on edge and you just can't wait to see how it turns out.

Jim and Scott Dunn have a very good, long distance father-son relationship. They talk frequently by phone.

Scott is an attractive 24 year old young man who had learning problems in school. However, he is a wiz at installing stereos and restoring old cars. He loves his cars and he excels in his job.

Scott had recently called his dad to tell him that he was in love and had just become engaged to be married to Jessica.

Then, Jim gets a call from Leisha, who tells him Scott has disappeared, leaving his most prized possessions, his car which he had named Yellow Thunder, and a boat. When asked who she is, she says "Oh, I have been living with Scott for a while". Jim is in shock. He has never heard of her.

Who is Leisha? How does she figure in Scott's disappearance?

Leisha is a woman who manipulates men to do what she wants, she plays one against another. She lies when it suits her.

Jim vows to find his missing son, but soon he begins to expect foul play.

Jim is a determined father, trying to solve this mystery. He prods police and other experts, to keep the investigation alive. He never quits. He is determined to find his son, dead or alive.

There are lots of technical data and lots of tedious facts, but the book is never boring.

Scott Dunn was a wiz at fixing up cars and installing stereos in them, and he took special pride in his own "yellow submarine." Surely he wouldn't have left town without it? But his father, Jim, hadn't heard from him in some time. When he rang up the boy at home, a strange woman answered the phone. Thus begins the true-crime puzzler TRAIL OF BLOOD.

Poor Scott was only 24 when he met Leisha, the sort of woman who pops up in noir movies in the late 1940s to destroy the men who loves her. Leisha was seeing a few other guys on the side, just to keep her hand in, but she hated being rejected.

When Jim came to see the house she shared with Scott, he wondered why she had a big couch right over a patch of carpet and why an afghan was covering the spots the couch could not. Once you pulled up the afghan and moved the couch, you could see where a huge section of the wall-to-wall carpet had simply been hacked out. And Leisha pretended she had never noticed this before!

Local police and the DA said to Jim, "Sorry about your son, but without a body there is no case." He was in despair until he turned on the TV and happened, just happened, to see a profile of the mysterious "Vidocq Society," about which I will say no more.

The book tells a lot about fathers and sons and it's a sort of plea to sons to keep in better touch with their fathers, and also to fathers, it gives the wise advice that you should cherish your son while you can, he may not be with you forever.

Trail of Blood tells the story of the murder of Scott Dunn, and how the mysterious Vidocq Society was able to help Texas law enforcement bring his killers to justice even though Scott's body was never found. This is a great book not only for the technical details and the ins and outs of the legal system, but also for all the fascinating people involved. The victim, Scott Dunn, was a talented guy with a magnetic personality. His killer Leisha Hamilton is a psychological case study with an amazing ability to manipulate and lie. Scott's father, James Dunn, doggedly pursued justice even when it seemed like there was nothing the police could do. Finally, the Vidocq society's forensic psychologist provides insiight into the criminal mind of Scott's killers.

Trail of Blood is a great read, and sure to satisfy anyone with an interest in true crime stories.

Fun sequel to the first Kate Dennison mystery story. Hopefully there will be more to the series. The herone has a refreshingly honest viewpoint regarding the developments that surround her new position as a reporter for a Wilmington, NC newspaper.

Judy Nichols has written another fast paced murder mystery. I was drawn into single mom Kate's world, where her new job at a small town newspaper has her reporting on a shadowy eco-terrorist group accused of arson and murder. But while getting the story, Kate's humanity always shines through - her struggles with trying to be a good mom, dealing with her ex-husband, and nurturing a new romance. Along with the suspense and danger, the characters are realistic and the story often tugs at your heartstrings. This book is a page turner that won't sit on your nightstand once you start it. A great beach read for this summer.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a good story with a nice variety of characters. Ms. Nichols has a real flair for dialogue, and her female protagonist, Kate Dennison, is wholly believeable as a young single mother trying to maintain her balance while handling parental responsibilities and a new, unexpectedly dangerous job. I only wish the book had been somewhat longer, with more description and maybe a slightly more leisurely pace. However, it is fine as it is. Not to wish Nichols a lifetime of writing about the same character over and over, I hope she will give us at least one more Kate Dennison book so we know how the romance is working out.

In the manner of Scott Turow, Ms. Nichols keeps her stories fresh by having a new protagonist in the same fictional world. In Tree Huggers the amateur sleuth is Kate Dennison, a newly divorced mom re-entering the work force as a reporter for a small struggling newspaper. She mixes investigative reporting with motherhood and a newly budding romance. The author combines mystery and danger with a realistic portrait of a woman balancing work and mothering. The characters seemed so real. I really cared what happened to them. As a special treat, it was fun to see Kate use her mommy knowledge to save her own life with the bad guys seem to have her cornered. I couldn't put it down.

Not all tree huggers fit into the stereotype of the peaceful environmentalist. "Tree Huggers" follows Kate, a fresh reporter who follows the story of an environmental terrorist group and their alleged arson. She covers the trial of the man who is directly charged, but soon finds that what the public believes may not be the truth, and that the truth is far more deadly than the accepted fiction. A gripping mystery and thriller, "Tree Huggers" is a must for mystery fans everywhere and libraries catering to them.

Captures very well a particular time and place. The central character, Twylla, has an appealing sweetness, an innocence, just right for the time. She is all the more compelling when corruption and violence erupt around her. Twylla is a fast, fun read.

I cried for this young girl. I thought she showed a lot of courage to finally face the ghosts of her past. Although the story centers around a mystery, with a fair amount of violence, the book is really about people and making the good choices in life. I recommend Twylla to anyone who wants an unforgettable journey in to the real world of both joy and pain.

As well-conceived mystery thrillers go, this one has terrific character mosaics and a bittersweet if not surreal romance going for it. I see this gal as your typical high school sweetheart trying to run from her past only to get swarmed by really evil people trying to do her in. She brings out the hero in all us home-boys.

I cried for this young girl. I think she showed a lot of courage to finally face the ghosts of her past. And I loved the ending. Although the story centers around a mystery, with a fair amount of violence, the book is really about people and making the good choices in life. I recommend Twylla to anyone who wants an unforgettable trip in to the real world of both joy and pain.

As well-conceived mystery thrillers go, this one has terrific character mosaics and a bittersweet if not surreal romance going for it. I see this girl as your typical high school sweetheart trying to run from her past only to get swarmed by really evil people trying to do her in. She brings out the hero in all us home-boys.

I read this book several years ago and was in a bookstore a while back and recommended it to a friend. It's the classic plot of finding and setting up a dupe to kill and collect the life insurance. What was most perturbing to me about the book was not the plot itself, but the easy with which the detectives were going to close the case without investigating and that the insurance company was simply going to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars no questions asked.

I READ UNHOLY MATRIMONY A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH BOOK SINCE. BEING A NATIVE OF NEW ORLEANS I WAS FASCINATED BY THE STORY LINE. IT WAS A COMPELLING STORY OF EVENTS. MR. DILLMAN WROTE WITH SUCH COMPASSION THAT YOU CANNOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY.

Well-written true crime story of conspiracy to commit crimes for money - including conning a very naive girl into marriage (to an already married man), obtaining a large insurance policy on her life, and then murdering her in a horrific manner. Amazingly cold-blooder killers: however very little background history on them, which is probably why this book is a little brief. There was another story done, "The Girl, The Con Man, and the Massage Parlor King" by Gregory Curtis in Texas Monthly July 1976, and it is now in a book called Texas Crime Chronicles. This story gives a little more information, from a bit of a different perspective, if you are interested.

I searched for quite some time before I asked Amazon.com to find this Dillmann treasure for me. It was certainly worth the wait! Mr. Dillmann takes his readers through the dirty detective work of tracking down a killer in a way that just won't allow you to put the book down. Being a native of the New Orleans area made this thriller even more interesting to me, however, anyone would enjoy this well written tale. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a mystery or true crime.

If you love true crime, this is a book not to be missed. Although being a native New Orleanian adds to one's appreciation of the story, every true crime fan will become engrossed in the story of a con man and his co-conspirators, who take advantage of a young naive girl. The story of the investigation is fascinating. Dillman is a master storyteller, as evidenced by his other books. Highly recommended!

This book was extremely well written and very exciting. Great attention was given to historical detail, with vivid and vibrant settings. The main character struggles against oppression and his search for faith. All in an action packed format. A must read.

I love a good story, and this book was a great read. Even though it looked like a big book when I first picked it up, I got into it right away and finished it in a couple of plane rides. It's reminiscent of the movie Gladiator in setting and action, and is a really solid story, not your typical paperback action book you pick up in an airport newstand. I also definitely got into the characters, I love reading a book about someone who is just a minor person in another work, but is developed into a protagonist, with a fascinating history, purpose, romances, life (as in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead vs. Hamlet). This book goes into the life of Barabbas from the Bible, of whom all the bible tells us is that he was freed and Christ was crucified. The story explores why he was doomed for crucifixion, what his purpose in life was, and what happened when he was freed at the will of the people of Israel. I also love the historical accuracy, I learned a few new things about Roman and Jewish customs. I like pretty much any story about ancient Rome. On top of that, there was one scene that really moved me. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say I definitely recommend this book for some fun reading!

Maybe its because I haven't read fiction for a while, but I found this book totally engrossing. Of course, historical fiction has always been one of my favorites. This book is basically the story of Barabbas whom we all know better as the zealot who was freed from prison and replaced by Jesus on the cross. The book revolves around Barabbas and his band of zealots as they oppose Roman dominance in Judea. Their animosity towards their Roman overlords and the virulent battles that ensue present us with a view of a violent time in history complete with religious extremism and government corruption. Perhaps that much hasn't changed after two thousand years?

Most of the story takes place after his release from crucifixion. While Jesus plays a relatively minor role in the story, his followers provide a backdrop against which the violence is contrasted. Barabbas' release is actually part of the story and his zealous ways are contrasted with the new-found, peaceful beliefs of the followers of Christ. A quest for a hidden "copper scroll" that reveals the location of an ancient Jewish treasure provides the impetus that drives the story to its conclusion. Yes, greed, depravity, brutality, blind obedience to power, and treachery all play a part in the story. I should say no more lest I reveal the ending.

In short, if you are a Christian, don't let the fact that Jesus is not a central character throw you off. In no way does this book minimize Christ's importance or effect on civilization. If you are not of a religious bent, enjoy it for its' historical context and to catch a glimpse of a turbulent period. But most of all, read it because it is a great story that will have you turning pages and telling your friends.

I usually read about 1 book a week and I was looking for something new and different. I certainly found that in Sean Young's new book. This book was thoroughly researched, well written and he keeps the pace up throughout the book. When I picked up the book I was interested in the Copper Scroll and the treasure that it was protecting, never suspecting the other plots that ran through the book. Action, suspense, romance, twists and turns and a lead character that you will grow to love. Sean now ranks at the top of my list of favorite authors and I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good read and interesting tale. I am looking forward to his next endeavor.

The length of this book scared me at first. It's a long one. But I was very intrigued by the idea of a story of Barrabus, and so I was looking forward to this book's release. I can tell you I was not disappointed in the least.

The sheer amount of fight in Barrabus and the rest of the zealots is amazing. Strong charcters abound in this story, from Barrabus himself to Gaius the centurion to Deborah the prostitute to Leila the merchant's daughter. All of them important, and all of them well drawn and beleivable. This book really does take you back to another time and place, as author Jeremy Robinson has said. It's obvious a great deal of time was spent on research.

Start with Barrabus' quest to free Isreal from Rome, add a myserious copper scroll that hides a secret that could save or destroy nations, and mix in a prefect who will stop at nothing to get it. Stir those together and you have a fantastic story that more than once had me up past my bedtime because I simply could not sleep unless I knew what happened next.

Violent Sands is easily one of the best books I have ever read. I will be hoping for more work from Young in the future.

Very engrossing story and well written however, the small type on the stark white pages really gave me a headache. Maybe I just need glasses. In any event, read the book it's really an unbelievable case.

A gripping, utterly harrowing tale that plugs you right into the soul of a killer. Kirsch dares us to enter the mind of a thirteen year-old killer. Then, we follow him again as he trods mercilessly down the same path, this time years later. A true literary masterpiece, When Love is Not Enough asks us "Why did we let this happen again?" Read this book and gain a new appreciation for life's fragile gift. When Love is Not Enough belongs on every parent's list of required reading. Read it: you'll be glad you did.

This book had me on the edge of my bed. As one of the 'other' neighborhood kids from the Tara Sue case, I already knew the outcome. Yet, I cried my eyes out, and could barely breathe as each event unfolded. Ms. Kirsch is an excellent writer, and spared no details of the double crimes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has children, anyone who likes to read crime novels, or anyone who likes to read a book that is extremely good! k

A mesmerizing, heart-wrenching story of Timothy Buss, a 12 year old boy who destroys a 6 year old girl. 16 years later, another child is missing...This book will grip you, have you turning the pages well into the night, getting up only a couple times to check on your own children and kiss them for good measure. Mary Ann Kirsch does a better job than most true crime authors on the shelves today. If you like to read true crime or want to explore how American families fail their children, you have to read this one. Enjoy!

I read constantly and this is one of the best. I knew the ending, yet found myself unable to stop reading. Every parent should read this book. It will change your perspective on what's really important and make you want to hold your children close and cherish them. Kirsch's well-written account will keep you up long after the lights should be out.

I was never a real reader until i read this book it is a quick but fun book with a great group of people. This book has got me in to a mystery book CRAZ. It is a cliffhigher for those that need eazier wording (like me) this a great book. It will amaze u who really Killed Olive i counldn't Belive it was _____ oops almost said it but u have to get it to find out.

When you pick up this book, you just can't put it down! A cliffhanger yet funny!

This book was funny and scary. I read it in two days. all the characters are interaesting and have very unique personalitys. This book really deserves 5 stars

Who Killed Olive Souffle? is one of the most interesting and fun to read books i've ever read. The atmosphere of the lone inn , not yet open for ski season really places you in the story.Its fun to try,yourself, to figure out who killed olive Souffle and I personally recomend this book to anyone.

Margaret Benoit came to my classroom and read the first chapter of this book. The first chapter is so exciting, I coudn't wait to get her book! It is really interesting. I learned a lot about crime fighting and got goosebumps at the same time! This book is good for 10 year olds and up (I'm 10)!

Dr. Pelto's book is a brilliant examination of the twisted minds of the worst among us with no conscience. Her descriptions of the depraved sociopaths, the worst serial killers and rapists housed in the LA County Jail are graphic, disturbing, and brutally candid. She is also brutally honest about describing her own personal history and struggles and she is extremely candid about her feelings and reactions while working in this environment. Her indictment of the sexism displayed in the male dominated LA County Sheriff's Department is courageous and much needed. I greatly admire her personal honesty and courage as displayed in this book. Her writing is spellbinding and reminded greatly of the works of Joseph Wambaugh with its stark and brutal realism.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wish an understanding of why society needs to be protected from those around us with no conscience or empathy for others. She has also provided vital information to the warning signs of developing sociopathy personalities. This information is invaluable for anyone working with children and adolescents.
Dr. Pelto's book will be a classic in the field of forensic psychology and a mega bestseller. It is must reading.

Brilliant... It really grabbed me. I loved it. It just kept me reading, which is astounding, because I haven't been through a novel or anything other than a magazine for about 10 years. I highly recommend this book, just be prepared for some outstandingly graphic stories. It will create very visible pictures in your mind.

powerful, riveting. real page turner. this incredable woman able to survive horrors most of can not even imagine. she is a survivor. waiting for the movie. loved it.

This book held my interest from beginning to end. I felt like I was walking the halls at the jail with Dr. Pelto, seeing the sights, smelling the odors, hearing the clanking of the doors. I felt her discomfort when she met with the various serial killers and listened to their detailed descriptions of their crimes. I couldn't have done the job she did!

This is not your typical true crime story--this is the story of a normal, small town girl thrown into the wolves' den that was the Los Angeles Mens' County Jail back in the 80s! Names that can still evoke nightmares--Ken Bianchi, Doug Clark, William Bonin--were the budding psychologist's daily visitors. Vonda's job was to keep them alive, and theirs were the faces that greeted her each day--for coffee and cookies--and the chilling retellings of their crimes. Dr. Pelto seemlessly weaves the stories of these monsters with tales from her own life as she struggles to balance some semblance of normallcy with the terrors of her day job. Fasten your seat belts--this is a wild read!

I picked up Adverse Selection and couldn't put it down. Medici takes you on a wild ride around New York with greed, extortion, empathy, and death as the drivers. It is extremely well written and just a pleasure to read. I recommend it to anyone that likes murder mystery type novels.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor [...], 4/08
It was a typical day in the life of Dr. Ken Crosby until someone shot him. His family would be well provided for; he had an insurance policy worth $1.5 million. Gordon Carlson is the CEO of an insurance company. His life was about to change. The killer sent a letter to Gordon. It was a list of intended targets. Each target had large insurance policies. The killer would element them one at a time until he received $500,000. Gordon has a dilemma: contact the police, hence protecting clients, or pay the money and avoid the publicity. Gordon was damned no matter what decision he made.
Adverse Selection by Stephen F. Medici this fictionalize tale of an actual event. The plot slowly builds the tension. The readers are exposed to the exploitation and deception that goes along with big business. There is always the question: Do I put people first or the company? The characters are well-developed. Fans of mystery and suspense need to read Adverse Selection.

This novel is so suspenseful I honestly couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to everyone!Adverse Selection

I loved it! I especially enjoyed all the Long Island landmarks mentioned in the book.

Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical mystery novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He also writes about Ancient Egypt and the Greek period in history of Alexander the Great.

This is the first book in the series of mysteries called the Canterbury Tales. It is The Knight's Tale of Mystery and Murder As He Goes on Pilgrimage from London to Canterbury.

A group of pilgrims have joined together, both for company and also for protection as the roads and forests are littered with thieves and rogues, only too willing to relieve a traveller of their purse and most probably their lives as well. What adds even more spice to the journey is that several of the pilgrims know their fellow travellers but are not letting the fact become public knowledge.

The pilgrims have agreed that at the end of each day's journey when they stop at an inn or other resting place one of them will entertain the others with a tale. Whether the story is true or not only the storyteller will know

. The Knight begins his tale with the destruction of a sinister cult in the reign of William the Conqueror, and then moves on 200 years to a series of terrible murders that seem connected to the legends of the cult. True, or false?

If you're anything like me, you hated reading the Canterbury Tales at school. OK, Chaucer is a literary genius of classical verse, and his work has undoubtedly had an enlightening effect on post Dark Age literature, but weren't 'The Tales' just really boring confessions of a medieval window cleaner? Reader, I must apologize to Chaucer - his pervasive influence is clear in Paul Doherty's series of Pilgrim's Tales. This first episode - The Knight's Tale, is a morbid and suspenseful adventure - and it's simply one of the best books ever written. Michael Crichton, learn from the best! And Mr. Spielberg, when you're ready to make the movie... give me a call!

This is probably one of the bloodiest medieval tales that I've ever read, but it is extremely well-written. In it we meet a brave knight and his clerk as they try to rid the town of Oxford of a huge evil. We also meet dark lords, satanic priests and members of the living dead. The valour of the knight and the constancy of the clerk are very convincingly portrayed, but so is this rampant evil. The background behind the tale is also interesting. We are all aware of Chaucer's pilgrims to Canterbury and the tales that Chaucer had each of them tell. This book is the first in a series of tales told by these same pilgrims, but the difference is that these are tales of mystery, murder and evil. P.C. Doherty brings medieval England to life, and the book is a page-turner from start to finish.

This is the first book in Mr. Doherty's Canterbury Tales type stories. The Knight tells a tale of vampires and strigoi(shapechangers) set in the city of Oxford, England. Students come up missing, towns people are found dead with their throats ripped open and the King sends out his Knight Sir Godfrey and his clerk Alexander McBain to ferret out the evil doers. Sir Godfrey comes up against an ancient evil that had supposedly been taken care of two hundred years earlier.

This novel is full of enough medieval history, blood sucking monsters and mystery to keep the most ardent reader of historical mysteries engrossed.