What if a child-killer stole your identity?
358381
What if your worst moment was someone else's dream?  In True Story, journalist Michael Finkel tells the story of how his identity was stolen at the worst moment of his life.  As he is being fired from his dream job at the New York Times, a man is being arrested, a man who was pretending to be Michael Finkel who was alleged to have killed his own wife and three children.  The man stole Michael Finkel's identity because he wished to be Michael Finkel.

Michael Finkel gets to know Christian Longo, and in the process of writing about this man accused of killing his family, he must also reveals his own flaws and worst traits.  It's a profoundly affecting book, as Finkel explores how his own excesses led to his downfall, at the same time talking about how Longo's problems led to his making heinous choices.  That the two share some traits is very disturbing.  The book asks the question, "What separates the journalist from the subject?  What separates the writer from the murderer?"

I recommend this highly.
2108861
The story reminded me a lot of Silence of the Lambs when she contacted the serial killer for advice. What would possess her to ask a grieving family that blames you for allowing a serial killer to murder again; permission to go see the killer?
3352104
my heart  broke for this child..but it happened  everyday..and no one knew..it had to be kept secret by the children or it got even worse,..no one believed..complaints were said to be domestic
1869846
Parents - what would you do if your child was taken and the kidnapper asked for money but didn't specify an amount?  What IS the value of your child's life?  Priceless, right?  This is a story of parents living their worst nightmare and a newbie detective, Josef Lindahl, trying to figure out who is taking the children - and why.  The characters are believable and the clues are there - but it doesn't all come together until the very end.

I am usually a snob when it comes to spelling, grammar, and punctuation - but this time - I am giving the author a break.  If you read his bio - he's from Sweden - and I must say that he speaks and writes English far better that I speak and write Swedish.  Some reviews have also mentioned the foul language used - but I didn't mind it because I do believe that if I was the character speaking, I would probably say the same thing. (I know - and then wash my mouth out with soap.)

I will be looking for more of Mr. Crowson's books.  He is a terrific writer and wrote one terrific story.

An excellent read - I couldn't put it down!!.
2958618
Imagine you're a mother with a secret. One well kept from the child you are raising. It's a terrible mistake you made years ago. You thought it would change the world, but instead, it only put you in hiding. Are you willing to take the trip, read this book, to find out what she did, who she affected, and it's worth?
928744
The bank tellers did not recognize me even though I've been coming to that same branch for years. Unfortunately, my son decided to become a vigilante after finding the mask in the glove box of the getaway vehicle and his first crime fighting act was to turn me in to the police. It's lyrca spandex, so it stretches to confirm to the face of the wearer.
432172
I will never understand how anyone can harm a child. They are so innocent.
I think Mr. Hunter competently presented his case that Perry & Hickock  were most likely the killers of the Walker family. Based on his information logically we could conclude they were indeed guilty. They paid the ultimate price for the Clutter murders, but somehow, someway I hope they are suffering if they indeed destroyed this family. I still cannot conceive of a childhood so "bad" that you can gleefully murder innocent people.
Very nicely written, but it could haven been a little bit longer...
2020193
I knew the kid did it about half way through the book. Enjoy how this author takes the mystery of who done it and throws other suspects at you. You will enjoy reading her books.
3424789
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What could be more devastating than the loss of custody of a child? Richard not only loses the custody of his son, Sam, but Sam's testimony seals Richard's fate: prison for murder.

But what can a five year old boy know? What did he really see? This is the question that haunts the reader throughout this story, and keeps the reader guessing.

How does the grandfather truly fit into this dysfunctional family? What really happened to Sam's mother?

The twists and turns keep the truth obscured, until a surprising end.
981190
Child abuse, psychopaths or sociopaths, self-recrimination, secrets and deceptions, mating, unsolved murders, accusations and poor decision making. The only negative is the ugly use of the "F" word and explicit sex. I plan to read the next book, but I know what to expect.
1491302
While I understand the love parents have for their child, but these two are in denial about their son's actions. Wow! DNA and video taped evidence show that he is culpable. He has no remorse for the brutal death of Cassie and neither do his parents.

Look at the autopsy photos?! The chilling video before 'they' killed her! What about Cassie and her love ones?!

This mother and father have coddled a monster! Look at the documentary, "Lost for Life." Your son has no remorse for his actions and this crime.

If he is ever freed under the new juvenile sentencing law he will undoubtedly kill again.
1804561
A nice mystery - a young irish policewoman finds a lost little girl while looking for a kidnap victim. Can finding out who this traumatized child is and what happened to her help solve the mystery of what happened to another missing child?
2113636
Abandoned as a baby by your dad,
  Abused as a child by your step-father,
  Raped as a teen by a street stranger,
  Jailed for failing to pay parking tickets and ousted from your home,
  Homeless, with no deposit, no guarantee of food, nothing to cling to but yourself and your toddler son,
  If you were also categorized as above-mentioned, do you think you would have the slimmest chance of success?
  If you don't know the answer, read this book, it'll not only give you an answer, but much much more.
4471927
Who is more evil? Who influenced who? This story will have you captured and horrified and will have you asking those "who" questions. True crime is scary as it is real. I kept thinking about their daughters and wondering how they can get past this
2431914
the reaspm why i ordered this book is because you need to learn what you didn't know about how you can risk all identity theft and other personal things that you didn;t know about to putting you in danger.. so then  now you can read up and try to figure out the things you need to learn and know about...
3226652
Imagine a world where the people among you wear their crimes all over their bodies. People whose skin has been changed a different color to fit the crimes that they have committed.
Hannah Payne was one of those Chromes. Her whole body was now Red. Her crime? She had an abortion and had refused to name the father of her baby as well as the person responsible for its death. She has been shunned by her own mother and is a disgrace to her entire family. It's hard enough for Chromes to walk around everyday let alone get a job.
Hannah's father decides to help the best way that he can by putting her in a "christian" home so that she can repent her sins and begin on the path to righteousness. But this place is anything but that, there has to be a better way.
She finds a way to get out of the home, but the consequences of her actions, make it for a difficult road to get to a place of freedom.
Will she ever name the father of her baby, or the abortionist? Will there be a way for her to live as a chrome and have a slightly normal life? Will the people she meets along the way help her or hurt her?

When She Woke is an interesting novel that makes you think about what you would do if you new the person riding on the subway next to you was a murderer, or a theif, or a child molester. Just by the color of their skin.
4775973
A computer specialist named Joy is the key figure in this story. Only at the end does she assume a new identity: that of Sydney Rye. She has an uncanny sense of what a good investigation needs, but must change her name because she is a fugitive. Considered a hero by some, a cold-blooded killer by others, she accepts the new role of private investigator with her new identity...and there will be more adventures to come.