book reviews
Book reviews for true crime junkies; probe the minds of murderers with our collection of novels, memoirs, biographies, criminal psychology and forensic science books.
Blueberry Tea for Burglars
“One last chance, loser,” was my parole officer’s first words to me after the parole board let me out. “This time, you either get a job and stop pickpocketing, breaking and entering, burglarizing, mugging, robbing, taking from people and whatever else it is that you do, or its life in here for you,” My parole officer sneered. The idiot didn’t know that I already knew about three strikes. What does he think I am, a moron?
By Alex H Mittelman 3 years ago in Criminal
Review of Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod by Casey Sherman
A well-written, uniquely informative, and exploitative written dramatization of the serial killer that terrorized Cape Cod: Tony Costa. Weaving and connecting real figures (such as writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer) while impressively providing the cultural and historical context of the 1960s, Sherman has a highly readable and interesting writing style. However, there are details and descriptions related to the serial killer’s crimes that are unnecessary and starkly stick out negatively. There is also the issue of the ending, discussed at the end so spoilers can be easily avoided since it barely has connection with reality and ends the book on a sour note.
By Chaia Levi3 years ago in Criminal
Who was Jack the Ripper? The legend of the most famous criminal in history
1888: Queen Victoria's England is at the height of its power. London had become the first capital of the world. But alongside the columned white marble facades of Mayfair and Kensington, the sordid slums of the East End, Whitechapel, and Spitalfield suburbs persist.
By Viorel Secareanu3 years ago in Criminal
Lies Terror and Redemption
Lies Terror and Redemption 2005 The start of Jasmine’s Rain of Terror. Jasmine was just 15 at the time she knew she had to make a way. Jasmine grew up in one of the poorest parts of New York city. Even though her mother was a nurse they were still poor because Jasmine's father was stealing all the money so That left very little for them. His excuse was that he was paying the bills but you and I both know he wasn't. Jasmine already knew how to get the things she wanted Just by selling snacks at school but she wanted more. Follow us into the life that Jasmine had to partake in thought stealing, sell drugs,and more.
By Kanye45 Nelson4 years ago in Criminal
"Set in a Small Town" - Mystery Thrillers with a Common Backdrop
The world of mystery and suspense fiction is vast and filled with all varieties of stories. Nonetheless, in all these stories, there is a central puzzle that must be solved. A question is posed at the beginning of the story and readers are promised answers at the end. A good mystery should grab its readers' attention with an intriguing question and then urge them to stay invested till the resolution. Part of the intrigue is associated with the central puzzle itself. The rest of the intrigue is associated with its backdrop. Just as an old, creaking house feels more spooky when one enters it on a quiet night, the place where an incident occurs gives the much-needed context to our question and compels us to think about why the question is important. Another important aspect of the story is the set of main characters who undergo all sorts of twists and turns to resolve this great puzzle. The journey that these characters undergo is central to the overarching theme of the story. Readers might not feel invested in the revelations of the story if they do not believe in the characters or their journey. Therefore, an apt combination of an incident, its backdrop, and a believable main character is required to capture the readers' attention and keep them engaged throughout the story. In this blog, I would like to talk about one such combination and the books in which I have encountered them.
By Kaumudi Singh4 years ago in Criminal
"Telling a Lie" - Does it Work as the Main Plot Device of a Story?. Top Story - April 2022.
I love reading and I want to love everything that I read. But, alas, I do not end up enjoying every story. There are some that I admire immensely and there are others that fail to impress me. In this blog, I would like to talk about two stories, viz., "Anything You Do Say" and "The Lying Game", that just could not hold my attention because of their main plot device - "characters lying to one another".
By Kaumudi Singh4 years ago in Criminal
