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Janine O (2 KP) rated The Perfect Husband in Books
Oct 23, 2017
The Research (1 more)
The Characters
The Perfect Husband is a perfect novel
I have an admission to make. I am a true crime buff.
I love reading about unsolved mysteries, solved mysteries and everything between. I read books, listen to podcasts, and belong to several amateur sleuth blogs. Yes. I even belong to the Hunt A Killer curated box mystery. There. I've admitted it.
In the world of true crime my biggest passion is serial killers. Cliche, perhaps, but it's true.
I, like many, always asked myself about the family that surrounds serial killers; both before and after they are caught. Most importantly, what about the wives of serial killers? Lisa Gardner attempts to answer this question.
The thing I love most about Lisa Gardner's work is that she takes the time and effort to research before she even puts words to page. It is clear by the lingo that she uses and the characters that she builds that Gardner talked to actual law enforcement officials, and really listens to what they do.
The main character is the abused and traumatized wife of a sadistic serial killer. She is attempting to learn to protect herself and in so doing turns tot he meanest mercenary that she can find to teach her. She wants to learn to fight and shoot so that she can handle the man that law enforcement lost, the husband who is obsessed with killing her.
I absolutely adored this book, and immediately went out and bought three more of her novels.
The main female character is suffering from battered woman's syndrome. She is trying her best to cast off the mental and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her narcissistic and criminal spouse.
The mercenary she turns to...has issues. He is, in his own way, as broken and screwed up as our heroine. But, through her, he begins to give a damn again.
The killer, our heroine's former husband, is so fantastically well done that it is almost too easy to picture him on the front page of a newspaper, or scattered across social media blogs.
It's fantastic. I recommend this to anyone who likes female protagonists, serial killers, or thrillers.
I love reading about unsolved mysteries, solved mysteries and everything between. I read books, listen to podcasts, and belong to several amateur sleuth blogs. Yes. I even belong to the Hunt A Killer curated box mystery. There. I've admitted it.
In the world of true crime my biggest passion is serial killers. Cliche, perhaps, but it's true.
I, like many, always asked myself about the family that surrounds serial killers; both before and after they are caught. Most importantly, what about the wives of serial killers? Lisa Gardner attempts to answer this question.
The thing I love most about Lisa Gardner's work is that she takes the time and effort to research before she even puts words to page. It is clear by the lingo that she uses and the characters that she builds that Gardner talked to actual law enforcement officials, and really listens to what they do.
The main character is the abused and traumatized wife of a sadistic serial killer. She is attempting to learn to protect herself and in so doing turns tot he meanest mercenary that she can find to teach her. She wants to learn to fight and shoot so that she can handle the man that law enforcement lost, the husband who is obsessed with killing her.
I absolutely adored this book, and immediately went out and bought three more of her novels.
The main female character is suffering from battered woman's syndrome. She is trying her best to cast off the mental and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her narcissistic and criminal spouse.
The mercenary she turns to...has issues. He is, in his own way, as broken and screwed up as our heroine. But, through her, he begins to give a damn again.
The killer, our heroine's former husband, is so fantastically well done that it is almost too easy to picture him on the front page of a newspaper, or scattered across social media blogs.
It's fantastic. I recommend this to anyone who likes female protagonists, serial killers, or thrillers.
A Monster Of All Time: The True Story of Danny Rolling, The Gainesville Ripper by JT Hunter
It's not very often I venture out of my fantasy/paranormal bubble. I usually read to escape from reality, not learn about the horrific nature of what's out there. However, my guilty pleasure is True Crime, if only for the fact it reminds me just how good it is to escape!
This is one of those books. The one where I can't put it down, gripped by morbid fascination to find out what happened to the killer, even as I mourn his victims. I'm from the UK, and so have no real grasp about the death sentence, being as the last person died in 1964, but these books do make me wonder. I find myself wondering if he would EVER have changed. I seriously doubt it considering the run up to the murders. Why should the tax payer have to cough up for his keep and health, when he so brutally extinguished the lives of eight people? I don't know. I don't have the answers. What I do have is more information about this 'man', what he did, the aftermath, and other people that were involved.
This book is non-fiction, but at times, it almost reads like fiction. The writing style was easy to follow, and not being as dry as some I have read. It is very graphic in parts, but no pictures. I loved how he isn't referred to by name during the time he was actually committing the crimes, and how the ending was about the victims - they are the ones whose names we should remember, not his.
I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. That would just be wrong. However, I can say that it is excellently written, without glamorising the murders, or the murderer. If you like true crime, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is one of those books. The one where I can't put it down, gripped by morbid fascination to find out what happened to the killer, even as I mourn his victims. I'm from the UK, and so have no real grasp about the death sentence, being as the last person died in 1964, but these books do make me wonder. I find myself wondering if he would EVER have changed. I seriously doubt it considering the run up to the murders. Why should the tax payer have to cough up for his keep and health, when he so brutally extinguished the lives of eight people? I don't know. I don't have the answers. What I do have is more information about this 'man', what he did, the aftermath, and other people that were involved.
This book is non-fiction, but at times, it almost reads like fiction. The writing style was easy to follow, and not being as dry as some I have read. It is very graphic in parts, but no pictures. I loved how he isn't referred to by name during the time he was actually committing the crimes, and how the ending was about the victims - they are the ones whose names we should remember, not his.
I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. That would just be wrong. However, I can say that it is excellently written, without glamorising the murders, or the murderer. If you like true crime, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated The Scarlet Pen (True Color #12) in Books
Jul 10, 2021
The last book in the True Colors series is called "The Scarlet Pen." What a story it told. Though at first, you might think about what is going on. Why would parents be concerned for their daughter and not allow her to marry her friend?
We meet a young woman and her sweet talk lover Stephen. But will they end up getting married, or will Emma finally see what is going on with their beloved and find true love? We seem to follow Stephen's journey from his marriage proposal to a young woman to his eventful capture.
There a young man on horseback comes to visit and do some business. As the twist and turns show up. Something happens to make Stephen and his friend jump town; Stephen tries to keep Emma at bay and in the dark. Clay seems to want to help and protect her. Emma seems to want to defend Stephen. Why is that?
There seems to be a trail of banknotes that keep leading back to Stephen and connecting to Emma. Will Emma confront a man that may harm her and possibly kill her. Or will someone come and save her.
Who is this serial killer? Why is he doing it? Clay seems to get hints and information and then loses Richards while he is on the run. Will they all make it out safe? Will Stephen get caught, or will he run free. I felt terrible for the family that brings Clay to face the past that happened to him and his family.
The True Color series is a favorite of mine. The books are set in history and tell about true American crimes and have some fiction. These books are great for historical fiction fans and crime fans as well. This one has quite a few killings but not too much detail of the gruesome deaths. Enough to know how it happened. The stories transpire based on actual crimes in American history, but there is some friction that the author brings up in the book.
We meet a young woman and her sweet talk lover Stephen. But will they end up getting married, or will Emma finally see what is going on with their beloved and find true love? We seem to follow Stephen's journey from his marriage proposal to a young woman to his eventful capture.
There a young man on horseback comes to visit and do some business. As the twist and turns show up. Something happens to make Stephen and his friend jump town; Stephen tries to keep Emma at bay and in the dark. Clay seems to want to help and protect her. Emma seems to want to defend Stephen. Why is that?
There seems to be a trail of banknotes that keep leading back to Stephen and connecting to Emma. Will Emma confront a man that may harm her and possibly kill her. Or will someone come and save her.
Who is this serial killer? Why is he doing it? Clay seems to get hints and information and then loses Richards while he is on the run. Will they all make it out safe? Will Stephen get caught, or will he run free. I felt terrible for the family that brings Clay to face the past that happened to him and his family.
The True Color series is a favorite of mine. The books are set in history and tell about true American crimes and have some fiction. These books are great for historical fiction fans and crime fans as well. This one has quite a few killings but not too much detail of the gruesome deaths. Enough to know how it happened. The stories transpire based on actual crimes in American history, but there is some friction that the author brings up in the book.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Serial in Podcasts
Jan 4, 2018 (Updated Jan 4, 2018)
Gripping first series, second underwhelming
Serial is one of those high-trending true crime phenomena, gripping a nation similar to the likes of @Making A Murderer - Season 1. The first series follows the murder case of a young student Hae Min Lee, allegedly killed by her former boyfriend Adnan Syed and the apparent failings in the investigation. Is he guilty or innocent? Journalist Sarah Koenig tries to retrace the steps of both Adnan and other suspects to get to the bottom of this disturbing story in 12 episodes.
The first series is well-made, each episode carefully crafted to leave you on a cliffhanger. It is easy to binge-listen, but like MAM, there are parts that have been omitted from the case, so not all is what it actually seems. Either way, I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
The second series, unfortunately, is an entirely different ballgame. Unlike its true crime predecessor, Koenig looks at the infamous case of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a US soldier who allegedly defected and was subsequently captured by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. The series focuses on his perception and experiences, and eventual vilification, as his release caused much political controversy over whether a deal should have been negotiated or not. The price of his freedom was an exchange for five Taliban-linked inmates held at maximum security prison Guantanamo Bay. The reason he says, for his defection, was that he attempted to become a whistleblower for the apparently mismanaged unit he belonged to.
Sadly, as with most popular media, the change in direction with the podcast came at a price, as many felt the subject was too dry and too heavy. With dense military language, it seem to become too bogged down with the details, losing its edge.
It's not a perfect podcast, but the first series is still worth the listen.
The first series is well-made, each episode carefully crafted to leave you on a cliffhanger. It is easy to binge-listen, but like MAM, there are parts that have been omitted from the case, so not all is what it actually seems. Either way, I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
The second series, unfortunately, is an entirely different ballgame. Unlike its true crime predecessor, Koenig looks at the infamous case of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a US soldier who allegedly defected and was subsequently captured by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. The series focuses on his perception and experiences, and eventual vilification, as his release caused much political controversy over whether a deal should have been negotiated or not. The price of his freedom was an exchange for five Taliban-linked inmates held at maximum security prison Guantanamo Bay. The reason he says, for his defection, was that he attempted to become a whistleblower for the apparently mismanaged unit he belonged to.
Sadly, as with most popular media, the change in direction with the podcast came at a price, as many felt the subject was too dry and too heavy. With dense military language, it seem to become too bogged down with the details, losing its edge.
It's not a perfect podcast, but the first series is still worth the listen.
Blind Injustice: A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated His Bloody Project in Books
Apr 21, 2020
Intriguingly realistic
I saw this advertised on my library service and I'm a sucker for an interesting looking cover so thought I'd give it a go and it was a rather pleasant surprise.
This is a very realistic and intriguing tale - so realistic that I had to double check to see if I was reading a non-fiction rather than a fiction. But it's definitely not true, and it goes to show how well written and laid out this is that it makes you feel like it's a true story. The structure works very well and despite being set in olden times with slightly old fashioned language, it never comes across as particularly difficult or tedious to read. It's an engaging crime story and keeps you entertained right to the end to find out the full story. Even Roddy Macrae is a likeable protagonist despite his crimes.
My only issue is that the ending is a bit of a letdown. This story turns out exactly the way you'd expect and I think I may have been expecting some sort of twist or surprise. Despite this, it's still a very entertaining and enjoyable read and a different way to tell a story.
This is a very realistic and intriguing tale - so realistic that I had to double check to see if I was reading a non-fiction rather than a fiction. But it's definitely not true, and it goes to show how well written and laid out this is that it makes you feel like it's a true story. The structure works very well and despite being set in olden times with slightly old fashioned language, it never comes across as particularly difficult or tedious to read. It's an engaging crime story and keeps you entertained right to the end to find out the full story. Even Roddy Macrae is a likeable protagonist despite his crimes.
My only issue is that the ending is a bit of a letdown. This story turns out exactly the way you'd expect and I think I may have been expecting some sort of twist or surprise. Despite this, it's still a very entertaining and enjoyable read and a different way to tell a story.
Doped: The Real Life Story of the 1960s Racehorse Doping Gang
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The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story
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LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 'A page-turner with the authority of history'...
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