Reviews (25)

A lot of research, thoughfully presented
The books is well-written and paced and reads like a crime thriller that becomes labyrinthine. The author grew up in the Hollywood of the 1940s and adds his own recollections into the mix of exhaustive research and interviews. No one without access to the complete files (still not available to the public) can say whether or not his theory of who killed Elizabeth Short and why is true, but he convinced me he has partially or totally solved the mystery. The book is eye-opening and occasionally gruesome and reads like a pitch black film noir of corruption and intrigue.
Not the Last Word
Often those who believe in reincarnation find themselves related to Alexander the Great, Shakespeare, Dolly Madison, etc.; rarely do they imagine their ancestors as undistinguished bakers or a nameless Chinese warriors lost to history--such is the need for myth. This same naive need to attach ordinary or sordid events to renown dogs Donald H. Wolfe's book on the unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia, i. e., poor runaway Elizabeth Short, 22, hopelessly chasing love and fame in Hollywood, only to be murdered in horrific fashion in January 1947.
LOGICAL CONCLUSION
For those who wrote negative (and vaguely defensive) reviews, don't worry; I didn't spend a dime on this book. Checked it out of the library. That aside, I find the author's conclusions intriguing and quite logical. With hindsight, the simplicity of it is obvious. Why hasn't anyone ever questioned the possibility of organized crime in the Dahlia killing (cutting up the body for easier transport, gouging into her leg to remove an identifying tattoo, etc.)? Maybe those who claim the whole thing is rubbish will have a chance, in the days ahead, to prove it. Until then, I'd say, give it a read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Case studies    3. General    4. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    5. Investigation    6. Los Angeles    7. Murder    8. Murder - General    9. True Crime    10. True Crime / Espionage    11. True Crime / General   

Reviews (5)

Informative, and Fun to Read
A must-read. The author describes in details many different types of scams through which people get defrauded. The book is also fun to read because it shows how the scammers use people's psychological traits (like greed, insecurity, or even loneliness) to get them to part with their money. It's very interesting and you can actually see analogous strategies being played out in TV commercials or even in your daily interactions with people who try to get things from you. I feel much more prepared to deal with life after reading this.

Better Safe Than Sorry!
Reading Les Henderson's Crimes of Persuasion is much like observing a series of 40-foot long steel containers being dropped from a dockside ocean freighter onto a flat-bed truck.The impact, over and over again is huge, as the trailer bounces and flexes, as its tires resist the extra weight of each drop.With each page you keep saying to yourself, "That's how they do it!""That's how they organize!""That's the come-on!""So, that's the hook!"We learn all about the players in the game too:the "Fronter," the "Qualifier," the"No-Saler," the "Takeover" Man.We learn all about the mechanics of the games themselves--"clean sheeting," "blind pools," much more. ##### Sometimes it takes simple minds to understand complicated situations.Thank goodness. Because con games are usually very complex--thoroughly thought out, prepared, and worked by brilliant people--we "Marks" (simpletons--the victims), in this case have a chance.#####With the aid of this book you are prepared for just about anything the con man might throw at you.It's beautifuly Contents-ed and Indexed.Want to know about sweepstakes scams?Right there. Just look it up.How about telemarketing frauds, home equity, elder abuse, home repair, identity theft, internet shenanigans, etc.On and on.On and on.On and on.It's all right here.You only have to look it up.It's a great defensive tool for everyone, in this day and age of get-rich-quick, follow the bouncing ball, smoke and mirrors trickery. #####What's the underlying premise of con games?Gain your confidence. Pure and simple.Here's just one example:You get a call from a smooth-talking stock "Expert," who is pitching you because he knows you are an investor.He tells you to watch ABC co. stock; it's going up. A week later, after the stock of ABC co. has gone up, as he said it would, he calls you back and confides that the stock of XYZ co. is going down; keep tabs.When the stock drops, exactly as he said it would, you now have a level of confidence in him when he calls the third time.Right?That's the point.You are now "set-up," vulnerable to whatever kind of investment he may now say is desirable.How did he do it?How did he knowABC was going up and XYZ was going down?Easy.He started out with a list of 200 names from the phone book.He was right on 100 of them.He then called that 100 and was right again on 50.You were in that list of 50.Presto! #####In all, this book is about the most encylopedic tome for consumer protection I've seen, covering the whole gauntlet of cons, scams, and frauds like the proverbial "blanket."The next time you are in Ceasar's Palace, note the small warning sign by the door, "Gambling can be addictive; if you think you have a gambling problem, call the number below to contact Gamblers Anonymous."Similarly, if you think you might have a Susceptibility-to-Con-Games problem, ownership of this book, Crimes of Persuasion:Schemes, Scams, Frauds is your "Gamblers Anonymous".

Poor language makes this book uninteresting to read
The author certainly knows a lot about the subject, however he fails to make the book readable. Run-away sentences filled with precise numbers, most probably taken out of the sky, results in totally unreadable text. The book reminded me of a really boring free newspaper, except the editor never learned to use a spell checker.
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Subjects:  1. Business Ethics    2. Criminology    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. True Crime / General    6. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / General    7. Crime And Criminals    8. Fraud    9. General    10. True Crime   

Editorial Review

This 1992 Edgar Award winner for best fact crime is nothing short of a classic. David Simon, a police reporter for the Read more

Reviews (50)

funny and filled with drama
what was the most funniest parts were is when dave brown and donald worden kept pestering one another.

Best Cop Book Ever
I will keep this short: I have been a city cop for almost eighteen years and I defy anyone to find a better book about policework than this one. This is the closest you can come to knowing what being a cop is all about short of actually wearing a badge.

Love the show... love thebook
My husband is a BIG fan of the TV show.We have every episode on DVD.This book was a great addition to his collection.He loved the book and could see how the award winning TV was based on it. It is different enough that he throughly enjoyed it.I am now reading it and am enjoying it too! It is not the same as the show, and is a great book on it's own.
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Subjects:  1. Baltimore    2. Criminology    3. Murder - General    4. True Crime / Espionage    5. Travel / Africa    6. True crime    7. Maryland    8. Police Dept    9. Homicide investigation   

Editorial Review

For 56 years, the Black Dahlia murder case remained one of the most notorious and high-profile unsolved crimes of the 20th century. Now, Steve Hodel, a 24-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, believes he has finally solved the case.On January 15, 1947, 22-year-old Elizabeth Short—"The Black Dahlia"—was found dead in a vacant lot in Los Angeles, her body horribly mutilated, bisected at the waist, and posed in a bizarre manner. The horrific crime shocked the country and commanded headlines for months as the killer taunted the police with notes and phone calls. Despite the massive manhunt, the murderer was never found.Read more

Reviews (182)

Thought Provoking, But Not A Standalone Work
I've just finished Hodel's book, have read Gilmore's book, and have also read Harnisch's web site. I deemed Knowlton a disturbed individual and her book unworthy of my time or money. Wolfe has been so effectively discredited by Harnisch, I similarly dismissed his work.
Not convinced.
Mixed feelings on this book; I don't believe the author shows any "without a doubt" evidence that his father was anything but a genius/wierdo/creep.I also do not see any resemblence in the two photos he swears are Elizabeth Short from his dad's collection.I got the impression during most of the book that he is guilty of trying to force the evidence to fit his theory so he can claim to solve the crime no one else could solve.Speaking of, I got the impression at the beginning that the author is a little "full of himself".
Take a Chill Pill
The very divergence of the reviews for this book show that it is worth consideration. When you've got lavish and credible praise from one side and rancorous abuse on the other, you know you're onto something.
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Subjects:  1. California    2. Case studies    3. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    4. Investigation    5. Los Angeles    6. Murder    7. Murder - General    8. True Crime    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. True Crime / General   

Reviews (20)

Looks like Officer Camm planned the perfect crime.
8086Indiana State Trooper David Camm obviously planned to murder Ex Con Charles Boney and blame the murder on Boney!
Review on Book Order
My book arrived ahead of the time stated and was in excellent condition. Just all around great service. Thank you!!
UNBELIEVABLE STORY
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I AM STILL LEFT WITH A ? TO WHO IS REALLY GUILTY AT THE END OF BOOK. THERE SEEMED TO ME TO BE REASONABLE DOUBT ABOUT THE PERSON THAT WAS CONVICTED. WHAT A STORY!!!!!! IF YOU LOVE TRUE CRIME, READ THIS BOOK, YOU WON;T BE SORRY!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indiana    2. Investigation    3. Murder    4. Murder - General    5. Trials (Murder)    6. True Crime    7. True Crime / Espionage    8. 21st century    9. USA   

Reviews (14)

Another Fine Crime Files Book
Ann is my favorite true crime writer; in fact, she's pretty much the only one I read regularly.I really enjoy her story-like style which allows the case to unfold in a very real and natural feeling way. I especially have appreciated this series, with a "main" case and then several short story length ones after.
Ann Rule Gets Better With Each Book
The most recent release of one of the best true crime authors Ann Rule, is a great compilation of stories relating the tales of those depraved, twisted individuals that found others lives to be more valuable to them, whether financially or physically, dead than alive.
Another Great Read, Better than Last Few
First, I am a fan of Ann Rule.I feel she handles her genre expertly.With the past few crime files books, however, I found myself becoming a little disappointed although I still enjoyed her books.I felt that too much time was spent on the detectives (yes, I am sure that her police background makes her partial) and I found that old cases were being written about without any new information added.Along came this book and I purchased it expecting to be entertained but not expecting the book to be up to Ms. Rule's usual standard.Well, this book surprised me.I thoroughly enjoyed the five stories in this volume and I will now look at the next in the crime files a bit differently and without skepticism.I feel like this is a worthy book and not one that the publisher was in a hurry to get "out there" in order to make a buck.Whether you are new to Ann's book or someone who has read everything she has written, you will enjoy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Cold cases (Criminal investigation)    3. Criminology    4. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    5. Murder    6. Murder - General    7. True Crime    8. True Crime / Espionage    9. United States    10. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (2)

Power and corruption with a bullet
Having read this book was quite more of an eye opener than I would have liked to think in regards to what takes place in the hip-hop realm. It is quite unfortunate to read about what goes on with many of the hip-hop artists from an insider and investigator's point of view. The self-perpetuating, and often self-fulfilling lethality of hip-hop is something one could only hope would one day cease to exist. The corruption within the police force...I suppose when one can genetically remove human nature then this could end that.
NYPD Blue in a book
Parker is a true character, and he and Diehl really make this book into a conversation between him and me (or you, when you read it). I appreciate the attention lavished on the old-school (Jay bookends the story) and the explanation of the continental divide that started in the 90s.
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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Crime    3. Crime And Criminals    4. Criminals    5. Genres & Styles - Rap & Hip Hop    6. Hip-hop    7. Law Enforcement    8. Murder - General    9. Music/Songbooks    10. New York    11. New York (State)    12. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    13. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    14. True Crime    15. True Crime / Espionage   

Reviews (1)

Not as Good as Some Years
This year's edition of Otto Penzler's and Thomas H. Cook's BEST AMERICAN CRIME WRITING hasn't a whole lot to recommend it, and most of these stories are pretty blah.I don't know if good crime writing needs space to expand, and suffer with the enforced brevity of a newspaper article or magazine piece, but these tales seem like they were fished out of ancient copies of READERS DIGEST.
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Subjects:  1. Collections Of Monographs, Essays (Multi-Subject)    2. Crime And Criminals    3. Criminology    4. General    5. Sociology    6. True Crime    7. True Crime / Espionage    8. True Crime / General   

Reviews (26)

The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Michael Newton
The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is by Michael Newton. It is encyclopedic in scope. A lot of research has been done about murderers and their motives. Much of the research overlooks the fact that the most prolific serial killers were socialists, both as representatives of the government, or as individual murderers.
The Encyclopedia Schools Haven't Found Out About Yet...
....and I'm glad they haven't! This book both disturbed and fascinated me. It's nothing less than a compilation of all the notable people throughout history twisted enough to turn to killing innocent people for personal pleasure (most crimes are sexual, too). Although I normally love this stuff, this book disturbed me more than any others have (including "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, which came close). I mean....at the risk of sounding hopelessly naive, THIS IS REAL. I can read story after Stephen King story, but these are real crimes and real killers.
Interesting
I felt the book was very interesting, very well organized, but to me it lacked something. Not sure how to put my finger on it but a good reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Encyclopedias    3. Homicide    4. Murder - General    5. Nonfiction - True Crime / Espionage    6. Serial murderers    7. Social Science    8. True Crime    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. English    11. Reference works   

Reviews (32)

Intriguing, but not really worth the hype.
I heard so much about this book I got curious and sought it out. According to the stories, it's a diabolical guide to committing murder full of dangerous information.
Old tech that still may work today
This book was interesting back when I first saw it, in the 80's. My friend and I found it rummaging through his father's closet. At the time his father was in the police department, and simply had interesting books, this one was one of them.
don't waste money
This is a great book.However, unless you're a book collector...don't waste your money.After the said lawsuit was finish between the publisher and the plantiff. The publisher dropped the copyright vowing to never publish it again.This allowed anyone to provide it free via copies; internet; etc.If you want to just read the book visit-- ftp.die.net/mirror/hitman/ ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal methods    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Murder    4. Murder for hire    5. True Crime / Espionage    6. Other Technologies   

Reviews (16)

Poster Child for the Evils of the US Constitution
Harvey Carignan is a prime example of why the US Constitution so frequently works against victims while offering loopholes for perpetrators; often setting them free to repeat their crimes as is this case with Carignan. On the side of the fence, readers develop sympathy for Mary Miller, whose daughter was the first known victim of Carignan after most recent prison release.
early ann rule
"The Want Ad Killer" is one on Ann Rule's older books.She used to write for true detective magazines, and her earlier works show a no-nonsense writing style which has evolved over the years.In her more recent stories, Ann Rule delves into the past of the killer, doing her best to answer the curious reader's question:WHY?The quality that makes Ann Rule the very best true crime writer is her in-depth research and psychological insight in exploring what makes the killer tick.I feel that she did this to a greater extent in "The Want Ad Killer" than she did in her other early books "Lust Killer" and "The I-5 Killer".Harvey Carignan was always the unwanted, troublesome child.Still, I think if Ann were writing this today, there would be more in-depth character development, and that is what I miss here.I love the detail present in Rule's more recent books.If you are interested in true crime, this is worthwhile reading.Even Ann Rule's earliest books are better than 99% of the true crime writing out there today.

Want Ad Killer
This is the usual Ann Rule thriller.It is fast reading and hard to put down.Rule's writing is gripping.I'm addicted to it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Crime and criminals    3. Criminals    4. General    5. Murder    6. Murder - General    7. True Crime    8. True Crime / Espionage    9. United States    10. Crime & mystery    11. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Reviews (13)

gripping, realistic, really Maine
Being wicked close to having been a Mainer all my life, I remember how murders back in the 1950s and 1960s held everyone's attention because we were a small state, way off in the northeast corner and relatively unpopulated. Mainers just didn't do each other in; get hammered on Saturday night and whack the heck out of each other, yes, but murder someone? Well, that was rare. A Boring Read - Could Barely Finish
I am a avid reader of true stories and have read many books in this genre over the years.This one was slow-moving and basically you knew who did it from the very eaerly pages.There was no mystery, just lots of dragging boring details.

Finding Amy
I just finished Finding Amy and I have to tell you - it was a great piece!I was reading two other books (about mobster Whitey Bulger) but had to put them down completely when I started Finding Amy.This book captured my attention and kept it right until the last page.It was pretty unique to read about colleagues in your profession - many who you know and have worked with - and to read about their dedication and tenacity to bring this killer to justice. The book was well written, informative, and told from a cop's point of view - all the while reliving the story as it happened.Congratulations on your endeavor - your hard work certainly paid off!Well done!
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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Investigation    3. Maine    4. Murder    5. Murder - General    6. Portland    7. True Crime    8. True Crime / Espionage    9. United States - Northeast - New England (General)    10. True Crime / General   

Editorial Review

When telecommunications companies merge, the news is immediately analyzed by the media and government agencies. Owners of the companies' stock immediately vote on the wisdom of the move by buying or selling. But when criminal organizations merge and make their operations global, it takes years for law enforcement to figure out what happened, who was involved, and what the implications are. Ever since Italian-American mobster Lucky Luciano linked Mafia families in Sicily and the U.S., crime cartels have been finding ways to expand their operations across national borders, making those countries' policemen play an extended game of catch-up. Jeffrey Robinson is an authority on international crime, especially money laundering, and his book Read more

Reviews (19)

Grab-bag of crime stories lacks focus
An unstructured sampler of crime anecdotes does not add up to a well-developed book-length thesis.
A complex subject presented with the drama of a novel
An outstanding look at modern international crime. Robinson has all the details and facts but puts them together in a compelling fashion that makes this book as much a page-turner as any crime novel. He has a knack for taking a complex subject and making it very clear without dumbing it down. I highly recommend this book, especially if you want to know why the "war on drugs" is failing miserably.

good insights into the mire
The Cali cartel, whose profits dwarf those of America's largest companies, have a simple mode of operating. All potential partners fill in a simple form listing the names and addresses of all their living relatives so these urbane men know whom to knock off, if they are double-crossed.
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Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. General    3. Organized Crime    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Transnational crime    9. True Crime / Organized Crime   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (55)

No such thing as ethical hacking
Face it, whether you're a white hat or a black hat - hacking is hacking.Alas, the term "ethical hacker" is merely a way for those breaking the law to rationalize their behavior.Littman did a great job of exposing this great debate in the book.In the field of information security, Mitnick is known to all of us as the king of social engineering.Let's be completely honest (even Mitnick and Littman exposed this in the book)... Kevin is not good at hacking but rather at exploiting the human factor.That is - humans are the weakest link in this whole information security thing - not the systems themselves.You want to design a secure system? - educate your users, administrators, managers and executives on how to be wise and vigilant and adhere to a sound security policy.
This is a book about lifestyle, not technology
If you're interested in the technical side of Mitnick's computer vandalism, you won't find it here.You will, however, get a glimpse into his personality and lifestyle, as well as an idea into those of other famous computer criminals of the '90s. Better than similar books, not great
I wish this book had been focused on the media coverage of "hackers." The book does expose how tech companies, and the media, especially Markoff from the NY Times, exploited Mitnik and his story.It also shows the incompetance of the FBI and other agencies in dealing with Mitnik, trying to make him an example for others and nearly making him a martyr instead. This story has no heroes, and its painfully noticeable that even the author is milking the "hacker" phenomenon for what its worth. It is the pathetic world of a computer prankster, his malicious "friends" and a host of others determined to pad their resumes with Mitnik's misery. "The Watchman" was more informative and satisfying, however this is the most fair and balanced treatment of Mitnick's story I've read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Kevin David),    2. 1963-    3. Computer crimes    4. Computer hackers    5. Criminology    6. General    7. Internet    8. Investigation    9. Mitnick, Kevin D    10. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    11. Psychology    12. Security measures    13. Social Science    14. Sociology    15. True Crime / Espionage    16. United States    17. Computer games    18. Current Events / General    19. USA   

Reviews (7)

GREAT BOOK
the last godfather was a very interesting book alot better than donnie brasco i was very impressed in how well its written i only wish it had more pages a fast read

One Hell of a read - Brilliant
The Sopranos in print! This is a gripping read that offers a rare window into the Mafia's contradictory world of honour and horror. Heaven knows how Crittle got this close to their hellish acts, but I'm glad he did. (nb: though I did read in the 'New York Post' that on the day of the book's launch, the author got a call from one of the Wise Guys he writes of - here's hoping Crittle can avoid one of their infamous bloody 'sit-downs' before he writes his next book)
not bad
This is a pretty good rundown of the whole Bonanno soap opera.NOt much of this will be new to anyone who has been following the melodrama closely as it has played out over the past five or so years, but casual readers should be enthralled.I was looking for more info about Vincent Basciano, who is only mentioned briefly toward the end.Also, the lack of an index is a big minus; why do so many true crime books lack indexes?Damn, that's annoying.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Case studies    3. Criminals & Outlaws    4. General    5. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    6. Mafia    7. New York    8. New York (State)    9. Organized Crime    10. Organized crime investigation    11. True Crime    12. True Crime / Espionage    13. True Crime / General   

Reviews (7)

Coroner to Fallen Stars
Dr. Noguchi was Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner of the county of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood. His job is to establish the "manner, cause and circumstance" of death and to report the findings to the public. Every death is a mystery until the cause is known. A coroner is specifically trained to solve that mystery. He collects evidence, interviews witnesses, oversees the autopsy and laboratory reports on the body. In any unusual death, the first duty of an ME is to suspect murder, until proven otherwise. Coroner to Fallen Stars
Dr. Noguchi was Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner of the county of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood. His job is to establish the "manner, cause and circumstance" of death and to report the findings to the public. Every death is a mystery until the cause is known. A coroner is specifically trained to solve that mystery. He collects evidence, interviews witnesses, oversees the autopsy and laboratory reports on the body. In any unusual death, the first duty of an ME is to suspect murder, until proven otherwise.