Blogcritics Category: Books: True Crime

Book Review: Daughters of Juarez - A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border by Teresa Rodriguez

Brandy — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:54:48 EDT

A horrifying, true tale of serial crime is told with unflinching compassion and unassailable facts. This book is a must-read.
The desert sky is vast and cloudless. It shelters all and hides nothing. The desert sun is unforgiving. It bleaches all beneath it. The desert breeze walks through the landscape, softening the searing sun, or freezing beneath the evening star. It is a landscape of extremes. A desert landscape can be beautiful - cactus flowers, an endless horizon,...

Book Review: John Dillinger - The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal by Dara Matera

Adam Wilson — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:42:25 EDT

A fascinating biography on the life, and death, of America's first celebrity criminal, John Dillinger.
A little while ago, I saw a TV show on the History Channel about the era of John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde and J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. It was really intriguing, and I was especially interested in Dillinger. So I went out and got John Dillinger: The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal by Dary Matera. Weighing in at 371...

Book Review: The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder by Vincent Bugliosi

Jordan Richardson — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:00:23 EDT

This is no unsophisticated Bush-bashing routine; this is the real deal.
Vincent Bugliosi is mad as hell and isn’t going to take it any more. The Charles Manson prosecutor has released The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder, a sweltering indictment of the president from one of the best prosecutors in the United States. Bugliosi successfully prosecuted 105 out of 106 felony jury trials, including 21 murder...

Book Review: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Philip Spires — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:57:11 EDT

A truly frightening view of how violence and murder can come home.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote was published in 1966, and is based on events that happened almost fifty years ago. The events were real. This is not a work of fiction. The Clutters, an appropriately surnamed Kansas family, have their own complications within their rambling homestead. What family doesn’t? Clutter the father is a farmer. Who...

Graphic Novel Review: Family Bones: Volume One by Shawn Granger et al

Bill Sherman — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:41:11 EDT

The first of a two-book graphic novel mini-series tells the story of a teen boy's summer with two serial killers.
"Based on a true story," Shawn Granger's Family Bones (King Tractor Press) recounts one teenage boy's horrendous summer in the American heartland. Dumped with his grandparents by his bickering parents, young would-be punk Sean is quickly shunted off to an aunt and uncle's farm after his grandfather gets hospitalized in a...

Book Review: Murder in Mayberry - Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town by Mary Kinney Branson and Jack Branson

NancyGail — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:23:13 EDT

In one family's hunt for a vicious killer, the most unlikely suspect had to be considered...
When Ann Branson of Madisonville, Kentucky, was violently killed, the incident quickly became the talk of the town. Even though family members were shocked, more than anything they wanted to find out who would take someone else's life. Ann's nephew, Jack Branson, was particularly eager. He knew better than anyone not to focus on obvious...

Book Review: If I Did It - Confessions Of The Killer

Laron Cue — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:42:14 EST

If I Did It will raise the hairs on your neck, and you'll definitely be disturbed by O.J.'s confession.
After reading the "confessional" story behind the infamous Simpson murder case, you might find yourself both perplexed and most definitely disturbed by its tale. The events surrounding the brutal murder case have become legend, and now Simpson has released a book, detailing his side of the story and what happened. Sort of. If I Did It is...

Book Review: Ringers & Rascals by David Ashforth

Dan Schneider — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:06:18 EST

A deftly written delve into the underbelly of horseracing.
In the plethora of books that see print in any given year there are only a handful that will ever make any impact in the world. A good 99.9% will be, ultimately, wastes of time and effort. However, other than those few books that have any literary, historic, cultural, or scientific value, there are simply books that entertain -- however briefly...

Interview with True Crime Author Dennis N. Griffin

Mayra Calvani — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:49:05 EST

"Frank [Cullotta] provided me with nearly 400 pages of notes about his life and crimes. I took my treasure trove home and started to read."
Dennis N. Griffin writes fiction but his specialty is true crime. In this interview, Griffin talks about how he came to write the biography of one of the most infamous Las Vegas criminals. He also talks about outlining, looking for the right publisher, and promotion. Tell us about your latest book, Cullotta. Cullotta is the biography of Frank...

Interview with Dennis N. Griffin, True Crime Writer

Jill Hart — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:41:58 EST

Griffin has written six books, the newest of which is Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness.
Dennis N. Griffin, is a true crime author. He’s written six books, the newest of which is Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness. Griffin recently took time out of his writing and researching to answer a few of my questions.Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:The real-life story...