All Crimes Are Not Created Equal
923415
This was my first Spider Shepherd novel and although it is the sixth in the series it did not detract from my experience. I enjoyed it. Leather is such a prolific writer that I get the feeling he has three speeds: good, better and best. The Chinaman is the best I have read by Leather, which I thought was superb. Live Fire was a nice intro to the series for me and I will read another for sure. I like crime fiction set in Asia and this one fits the bill with much of the action taking place in Thailands tawdry Pattaya City. I learn more about fundamentalist Islam religious beliefs through Leather than anywhere else. The dueling stories contrasted well and both held my interest throughout. A good, quick read even at 472 pages.
2195741
As someone who prosecutes murderers and rapists for a living, I typically refuse to read crime novels. They are usually full of predictable plot twists and overly dramatic police characters, but a friend told me about this book, and I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone!

Yes, it's a little dark, but in a very realistic way. His characters, for the most part, are spot-on in their mannerisms and personalities, and watching how they develop throughout the story was intriguing to watch.

The best thing about this book is how the author illustrates the struggle between justice and vengeance, and how that struggle effects each character in a different way. That in itself is not a new concept, yet this author finds a very unique way of mixing that concept with a high tech twist that made it impossible to put the book down.
79961
True crime doesn't get any better than this.

In 1984, a mother and daughter, Delores and Janie Lynch were found murdered in
Kentucky. Ten months later octogenarian Hattie Newsom was found murdered along with her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Florence Newsom in North Carolina.
What connected the murders were Tom - Delores' son  - and Susie Newsom Lynch - Bob and Florence's daughter - an estranged married couple with two sons. Susie, who becomes increasingly mentally ill as the narrative progresses, hooks up with her certifiably sociopathic cousin Fritz Klenner, and evil ensues. I will not discuss the plot further here.

The book is BITTER BLOOD, and author Jerry Bledsoe has done a magnificent job with amazingly convoluted story. Bledsoe provides research as in-depth as any you'll read in true crime, with extensive background on all of the major players. His writing is adult and reportorial, which means that the stupid similes, overwrought melodrama, and just plain incompetence of all too many true crime works are absent.

Due the complex nature of the cases and Bledsoe's hard work in developing a lot of interesting and pertinent information, BITTER BLOOD is 573 pages long. And never once was I bored; never once did I skim any part of the book.

Jerry Bledsoe is an outstanding writer and reporter, and as a thoughtful and necessary bonus he includes a genealogical chart at the front of the book. The pictures too are first rate, the majority of them of the main people in the story. In other words there is no more filler in the pictures than in the narrative - which is to say there is none.

BITTER BLOOD is great true crime and should be read by every aficionado of the genre. You will all love it, and I wish to thank my friend in Ohio for lending me her copy.
789666
You see, it is not only the child sex abuse case that we (as American citizens across the board) ought to be concern about. Yes, THIS case and yet many OTHERS outside of this kind of witch hunt SHOULD be re-considered AND CONSIDERED WHOLLY. There are many, many cases involving just this type of abuse of power from cases involving housing and property managers who abuse the very same resources as Perez and many other law enforcement types who destroy the lives of many. I have only learned of this case while watching Dateline on ID and of course this led me to do my own thinking and research as many other Americans ought to be encouraged to do so. Also, the media can be a detriment or a support in revealing the FACT that in NOT only cases of child sexual abuse, however, cases where the abuse of power AND collective lying through and by officials who have used their power (when others who are so very socially inept of thinking for themselves, so gullible in believing anyone in power). There are so many individuals in this country who rely solely upon news of any type, who believe that ANY one who is in power of law enforcement or in housing, or in ANY facet where our lives and rights are so easily erased due to the bullying, manipulative, blind ignorance, and simply just plain evil individuals who are in power. I am outraged at this type of vigilante justice and the hyped topics (which seem to be many) that we are subjected to in today's journalistic and non-objective or even non-subjective places of opinion. Please wake up EVERYONE and read this book and again, DO YOUR OWN THINKING and STOP being so easily impressed at titles or television and those who are elected officials, be it in our churches or in political offices where our rights stand to be destoyed and are being destroyed at the hands of those who yell fire when there isn't even smoke. We need to return to individually investigate every single accusation or charge made against anyone. When we take responsibility for our position in life by doing the work necessary in finding the truth and applying every statute and law needed in finding the truth apropriately, we may see much less of these types of cases across the board occuring in such a manner detrimental for and to the very rights established in 1776. These rights were written for EVERYONE by minds who were humbled enough to say, "look, we may be wrong from time to time" or "look, let's truly listen and take the time to apply the processes needed to consider BEFORE accusation and prevent this type of systematic destruction of each and every life valuable in our society". The irony is that far less responsiblity is taken when the actual suspect who has actually committed any such civil or criminal assault. We are failing drastically as a supposed evolved society when and if we do not take the proper measures of investigative technique or execution in solving a crime (not in only physical assault and murder) but also in crimes which seem oblivious to the average person who believes that this may not ever happen to THEM. We need to learn to be vigilant in true justice (with out the witch hunt or intimidation) and not in the type where we assume the worse. Many times, we are wrong. This will take much work and balance. Whoever said that life is easy. We are to take responsibility and learn where boundaries need to be placed. If we do NOT take the time to care, if we continue to live in "me"-ism and accusation based on social prejudices, we may find ourselves being accused for something that we had NO involvement or are falsely accused due to prejudice and convienience. It can happen to ANYONE. SO get off the cell phones, idiot cable reality programs and ipods and learn to re-educate yourselves about your rights and the lives of others. MAKE the time, because this is YOUR life and the lives of others which are being threatened to this type of injustice. When your neighbor, or the person in passing is falsely accused, BEWARE as your life may be next.
2151320
The structure of the Nutshell is well done, clear.

Sometimes it lacks precisions, grahics of how the concepts have to interact would be helpful to better understand the structure of the core crimes outlined.

The most important recent cases are not integrated.
1367490
We keep seeing these patterns of bias, and why they continue is far from being adequately addressed.  While some progress has been made, there are cases like this one that need to be put front and center, so the legal system can face its inadequacies and change the behaviors of those who minimize the importance of finding the truth, based on facts, not fictions of outmoded thinking.
3839529
As a Federal criminal investigator for 30 years, I found that virtually every page brought new gasps of "That couldn't possibly happen!".  Flowingly written, entirely credible, this tragedy is a lesson to all - that even with all the supposed checks and balances throughout the criminal justice system, we as a society need to be vigilant for abuse, corruption and incompetence.
2190882
Its astonishing how often this happens. And sadly, I get the impression this book just gives us a hint as to how often it really does happen.

The cases chosen for this collection are diverse, well-researched and extremely compelling. Be prepared for an all-nighter my fellow crime buffs. In this book, you'll see cases where both men and women are the perpetrators; where a history of violence was visible, and some not; and where the couple were married for a very short time - as little as 4 days - when the murder took place, while others were almost a year. Some cases had the most intriguing circumstances surrounding the murders that they left me dumbfounded and speechless. Most have a resolution, however, there are a sad few where the victims families are still looking for answers.

Well-written and commonsensical, this collection is a fabulous read for anyone - whether a true crime fan or not. In many of these cases, the warning signs are there before the couples got married. At the end of the book the author includes a list of these warning signs of domestic violence and where you can go for help. If you or a friend are in a situation like this, please seek help. Marriage will never make your situation better.
3977036
Although fiction could give hope that sometimes justice does work. Never rely the 'system' solely however. Do your own investigating as Alex and Bred did.
3330067
A fast moving, well written novel that points out some of the flaws in our social services system.  Children are abused but because of rules or lack of facilities are put back into the same situation that lead to the abuse.  This is real.  It happens far too frequently.  Also, police officers who act like the law the sworn to uphold doesn't apply to them.  Again this happens all over the place.  A great story with great characters that point out some of the flaws in our systems.
3676052
Having spent over twenty years on the mean streets of Monroe County, Patrick has seen the worst mankind has to offer. Yet he has taken those experiences, and shared some of them in an effort to help educate future police officers, detectives, and crime enthusiasts alike.
This is a "must read." These are true crimes- the headlines couldn't share all that went on. Patrick brings you into the behind the scenes stuff the media can't. He brings you into the stark reality and darkness that can be so much the life of a Major Crimes Detective. He also shares the true reality of the goodness that comes from those intimately involved- witnesses, parents, the judicial system, even understanding spouses. His was not a life of bringing justice, but rather finding the truth. Job well done, Patrick- job well done!
2653695
This book is a must read for everyone. It is a well written account of the horrendous crimes of a man many of us would trust. Not only was he a police officer but he went on to be the local cable guy. It will open many eyes to the concept of be very careful who you trust because evil doesnt necessarily look evil. This book also shows the difference between how police officers doing their jobs keeps us safe and those officers that are lazy and careless end up being partially responsible for the future crimes that could have been prevented. This is a true story with real life heroes from officers of the law to the parents of one of the victims. Im an avid true crime reader and this book is fast paced and fact based without the author pushing his views or opinions onto me. I hope this author is already working on his next true crime story.
1561361
I  agree with most of what Stephen King writes.  What  I don't agree with in this debate is the mental health issue.  You can not tell me that the people who  commit these crimes are insane! To be able to plan out and carry out these crimes take some cognitive thinking. The penalties for these crimes need to be stricter , you want to use a gun to commit a crime ,an innocent person gets hurt  you die! That's where we need more control. Stiffen the penalties along with the restrictions! Oh I'm sorry "he was insane" after the fact. He sure as hell wasn't before the fact!
601350
If you have ever met someone so other-worldly that you thought they could almost be from another planet, then Murder on Muritai may be all the confirmation you need that aliens  Ryxins from the planet Ryxin in this case  have indeed settled on Earth, in human guise, naturally.
The book opens like any other murder mystery, with Curtis McCoy, a private investigator, listening to his clients report of her partners death, which she assumes was murder. We soon learn however that this is no ordinary crime scenario since the deceased is Ryxin, and Human police are forbidden by law to investigate crimes involving Ryxins. Muritai Island should be an idyllic setting in the southern Pacific Ocean but instead its population is deeply divided: lawless Ryxins are striving to outnumber the Human population. McCoy is a new comer to the island and a new comer to detective work  this murder is his first case and as he tries to solve it he becomes entangled with the worst features of Ryxin society. At the same time, his involvement with a couple of Ryxin women distract him from his investigation to the point where he seems to have forgotten that he has a murder mystery to solve. And yet, cunningly, as the book draws to an end, McCoy pulls himself and all his clues together and identifies the killer.
And on the surface, this is Murder on Muritai: a not overly gripping crime novel where the investigator spends much of the book either racing around the island (or catching the ferry to the mainland) in pursuit of various women, or mourning the end of his marriage to a Human.
In spite of weaknesses in the crime-solving aspects of this book, I found Murder on Muritai both fascinating and disturbing. Cotterell cleverly brought the Ryxin aliens to Earth  to Ireland in a flash of blue light, in 1905  not so very long after the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand must have seemed like an alien invasion. From Ireland, many Ryxins have made their way to Muritai Island in search of a better life. Some of them have obeyed government regulations and only mated with Humans, thereby diluting Ryxin blood. Others are intent on illegally preserving their full-bloodedness, and all the superior powers that that entails. Putting the science-fiction - suspended reality - aspect of Murder on Muritai aside, it is impossible not to reflect on its parallels with some of the volatile racial and migrant dramas currently unfolding around the world, with their associated issues of socio-cultural diversity, integration and identity preservation, or to muse on colonisation, ethnic cleansing and master races. And then theres the question of those other-worldly people that weve all met from time to time: could they have really come from another planet?
Murder on Muritai is book one in the Ryxin trilogy. If Curtis McCoy is going to stay in business he will have to spend less time chasing beautiful women, but like all good first books in a trilogy, Murder on Muritai ends with some questions still unanswered  a reason for catching up with McCoy, as he strives for a better Muritai Island, in book two.
1896335
This is an amazing book.  The author who writes true crime stories is writing as a true crime author.  The story itself is about an odd and sleezy crime where two completely brazen and awful women are able to convince two not-too-bright men to try to kill a third man so they can get custody of the younger of the women's daughter.  They have already been convicted in the book and the author's goal is to describe their story and perhaps find that they aren't guilty.  Although it sounds odd and impossible, it is actually quite brilliant.  The stories of the crime writer and the criminals are interwoven.  What the reader believes they are reading changes immediately into something else.  It keeps you turning the pages and believing several different things are going to happen when none of them will happen.  Read it, it's wonderful.
735618
Sometimes it seems like almost everything that could be said about the holocaust has been said, but of course that can't be true. There have to be at least as many stories as there are participants, both direct and indirect. The genius of this novel is to remind us that the geographic and generational boundaries of that participation is almost limitless. The accounting for crimes against humanity which began at Nuremberg will not stop there.  The Nazis who followed orders were clearly culpable, but so were collaborators.  It was not the first nor the last time hate for the neighbor was unleashed in its full destructive power. It is a cautionary tale for all of us.
3405755
Why I read it:
Years ago a friend's ex-husband did something that could have landed him in prison. He'd been desperate, but, still, had broken the law. Around this time I was reading in bed one evening, my cat snuggled against my leg, when I was overwhelmed by the thought of what it must be like to go to prison. I shivered, then got up, grabbed a beverage and a snack, and snuggled back into bed with my book and cat, resolving to never do anything to land in prison.

But what if you land in prison for a crime you didn't commit? It couldn't happen to you, right?

In Stolen Years journalist Reuven Fenton tells the story of ten people who didn't think it could happen to them either. Yet these ten people were wrongfully convicted for crimes they didn't commit. These eight men and two women spent a combined total of 176 years in prison. The shortest time was nine years, the longest thirty. Can you imagine?

False accusations, eyewitness miss-identification, false confessions made under duress, improper forensic science, and official/government misconduct are what wrongfully put these people behind bars. Studies estimate that between 2.3 to 5 per cent of people currently serving time in U.S. prisons are innocent. That's up to around one hundred thousand people wrongfully convicted. Not only are the inmates' life ruined, but the impact on family and friends is monumental. Not to mention that the real murders were left to walk the streets.

These stories are compulsively readable yet I found myself only able to read one or two per sitting. It's overwhelming to read about real people who are plucked out of their lives and thrown into a nightmare. At the heart of the matter is a legal system that's based on winning or losing rather than justice.

In his conclusion Fenton offers suggestions on how to change the system, what reforms some states are already implementing, and what citizens can do to help. One of the easiest things citizens can do is thank journalists who write about people who have been exonerated and share the stories on social media. Doing this will help keep the focus on such stories. The more the public learns about problems in the justice system and begin the put pressure on elected officials, the sooner reforms will be implemented. Visit innocencenetwork.org to learn more.

Stolen Years is a quick read that will probably stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend it to readers who are new to the issue of wrongful imprisonment and/or interested in our criminal justice system. It will make for interesting book group discussion.

Source: Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours.