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Profiles of history’s most “elite” serial killers—including Bluebeard, Henry Lee Lucas, and Erzsébet Báthory. “This isn’t a book for the…
faint of heart.” —Publishers WeeklyHistorical in scope and international in breadth, this collection of true-crime stories chronicles fifteen of the most infamous “extreme killers” who ever lived—those with the largest number of confirmed kills, in many cases more than fifty. The subjects range from fifteenth-century French child killer Gilles de Rais, purportedly the model for the folk legend of “Bluebeard,” to Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, who inspired the film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer; to Samuel Little, America’s most prolific serial killer with sixty confirmed and 93 claimed murdered, to Mikhail Popkov, dubbed “The Werewolf” by Russian media for having slain more than 70 women between 1992 and 2010.
Indefensible: The Missing Truth about Steven Avery, Teresa Halbach, and Making a Murderer
By Michael Griesbach. 2016
An insider exposes the shocking facts left out of the hit Netflix series Making a Murderer—proving that Avery was guilty…
of murder—in this true crime book.After serving eighteen years for a crime he didn't commit, Steven Avery was freed—and filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. But before the suit could be settled, Avery was arrested again—this time for the murder of Teresa Halbach. In that now-famous trial, he was convicted once more.When Making a Murderer became a runaway hit, prosecutor Michael Griesbach was targeted on social media—and plagued by doubt. Now he re-examines all the evidence, offering the most complete account of the case available. Griesbach reviews allegations of tampering and planted evidence, the confession by Avery's nephew, and statements by his former girlfriend. He also examines previously sealed documents deemed inadmissible at the trial—as well as a plausible alternate suspect.Through it all, Griesbach shows how the filmmakers' agenda, the accused man's dramatic backstory, and sensational media coverage have clouded the truth about Steven Avery.Includes sixteen pages of photos
In 1961, Reynaldo G. Garza, of Brownsville, Texas, became the first Mexican American federal judge in U.S. history. A Kennedy…
nominee, Garza had risen from the obscurity of his humble South Texas beginnings to become a major player in Democratic politics. The careers of fellow Texans and political giants Lyndon B. Johnson and Lloyd Bentsen would become linked with his own. As an emerging power broker in the predominantly Anglo establishment, Garza personified the new elite in the Mexican American community and in the Democratic Party. <p><p>Garza's long and storied tenure as a federal judge was marked by many more firsts. He became the first Mexican American chief judge of a federal district court, and, in 1979, Garza became the first Mexican American appointed to the United States Court of Appeals. President Carter invited him to become U.S. Attorney General, which would have made him the first Mexican American member of a presidential cabinet had he accepted the appointment. <p><p>Louise Ann Fisch argues that Garza's long list of successes comprises a story of American achievement that had much to do with one man's ability to retain his heritage while forging ahead in an Anglo-dominated society. A product of the cross-border culture of Brownsville, where class and ethnic lines fell differently than even elsewhere along the Rio Grande, Garza integrated himself into the mainstream of American life, successfully balancing the Mexican and American parts of his dual identity. Fisch keenly analyzes the impact of ethnic identity on how he conducted his professional and personal life and looks specifically at the judicial issues he faced which confronted cultural dichotomy. <p><p>Relying on interviews with Garza, his family and associates, verified through extensive archival and documentary work--including unrestricted access to the judge's papers--Fisch has written a book that is as much a careful examination of the rise of the Mexican American middle class in the twentieth century as it is a portrait of one pioneering man. Students and scholars of Mexican American culture, Borderlands studies, American politics, and judicial history will find in this biography an invaluable resource. Readers will be captivated by Fisch's probing look into the mythos that underlies tales of political power and the American Dream.
Chicago's First Crime King: Michael Cassius McDonald (True Crime Ser.)
By Kelly Pucci. 2018
This true crime biography details the remarkable rise of the 19th century mob boss who ran Chicago from the streets to…
the mayor&’s office. Michael Cassius McDonald arrived in Chicago as a teenage gambler and scam artist who quickly hustled his way into running the city through its criminal underworld. Long before the reign of Al Capone, McDonald was Chicago&’s original mob boss. He procured presidential pardons, fixed juries, stuffed mayoral ballot boxes, and operated the city's most popular—and most crooked—gambling parlor. But McDonald also maintained a reputation as a decent man. He was a philanthropist who befriended Clarence Darrow, promoted the World's Fair, ran the Chicago Globe newspaper—where he employed Theodore Dreiser—and funded the Lake Street L. Meanwhile, he had multiple marriages mired in love triangles and murder trials. His remarkable story comes to life in this.
This Depression Era true crime biography chronicles the notorious gangster&’s life, eventual capture by the FBI, and long stay in…
Alcatraz. Growing up in Topeka, Kansas, Alvin Karpis started his life of crime at age ten. By the early 1930s, he was a hardened criminal and leader of the Barker-Karpis Gang. He reportedly committed fifteen bank robberies, fourteen murders, three jailbreaks and two kidnappings. One of only four outlaws to be named Public Enemy No. 1, Karpis was the last—and the only one taken alive. His criminal career came to an end when J. Edgar Hoover and his famed G-Men apprehended him in New Orleans. From there, Karpis found himself confined on Alcatraz Island, where he spent nearly twenty-six years—more than any inmate in the prison's history. This riveting tale of his life takes readers from the rural Midwest to the bustling streets of the Big Easy and into the bleak innards of "the Rock."
The Jersey Shore Thrill Killer: Richard Biegenwald (True Crime Ser.)
By John E. O'Rourke. 2014
The true story of the murders that terrorized New Jersey beach towns for nearly a decade. Beachgoers usually watch…
out for dangers like riptides or sharks—but from 1974 to 1983, a different fear gripped the New Jersey shore: young women were disappearing. Their abductor was Richard Biegenwald, a man released for good behavior after serving seventeen years in prison for murder and spending time in a psychiatric facility. Police arrested him on suspicion of rape, and it was not until they connected him to a woman&’s death in Asbury Park that he finally stopped his rampage. Investigators later linked him to nine murders and convicted him of five. In this account, former New Jersey state trooper John O&’Rourke narrates the chilling story of the Jersey Shore Thrill Killer.
The Mad Chopper: How the Justice System Let a Mutilator Free, This Time to Kill
By Fred Rosen. 2015
The author of the true crime &“masterpiece&” Lobster Boy traces a brutal killer&’s history across two decades of slipping past…
the legal system (The Guardian). When police in Tampa, Florida, arrested Larry Singleton in 1997 for brutally murdering prostitute Roxanne Hayes, they soon realized it wasn&’t the man&’s first violent attack. Back in 1978 he had gained notoriety as &“the Mad Chopper&” for raping and cutting off the arms of 15-year-old Mary Vincent on a patch of desolate, sun-scorched land 5 miles off the highway near Modesto, California. When Singleton was let out of prison on supervised parole after serving only 8 years for his crimes, no community in California would accept him. He eventually moved back to his home in Florida, where he killed Hayes nearly 20 years after his original crime. But his first victim, Vincent, had survived, walking nearly a mile to get help after the assault, and testified against him at his trial for murdering Hayes.
From the bestselling author of The Search for the Green River Killer: The account of the family tragedy that became…
one of California&’s most shocking murder cases. On a picturesque street in Sacramento County, California, three healthy saplings stand side by side. But what they symbolize are the deaths of three innocent people—two of them children. The man who took their lives, then planted trees in their honor, was their own husband and father. Hearts went out to Jack Barron when his wife, Irene, died mysteriously in her sleep. Soon after, his two young children were also found dead in their beds. Barron claimed they suffered from the same rare genetic disorder as their mother. But when his fifty-two-year-old mother died, also of asphyxiation in her sleep, law enforcement officials finally took action: The fatal pattern was impossible to ignore. Was this &“devoted&” father really a heartless murderer? Did he suffer from a bizarre syndrome known as Munchausen by proxy, whereby a parent kills a child to gain sympathy? With firsthand interviews and exclusive inside information, author Carlton Smith paints a chilling portrait of a man driven to commit the most unspeakable of acts.
Home Sweet Murder: True-crime Thrillers (ID True Crime #2)
By James Patterson. 2018
As seen on the Discovery ID TV series Murder is Forever, these two true-crime thrillers follow a lawyer struggling to…
stop a killer and a detective angling to solve a double homicide.Home Sweet Murder (with Andrew Bourelle): Lawyer Leo Fisher and his wife Sue are a sixty-one-year-old couple enjoying a quiet Sunday dinner at home. Until a man in a suit rings their front door claiming to be an SEC agent. By the end of the evening, two people will be shot, stabbed, and tortured. And two others will fare worse . . . Murder on the Run (with Scott Slaven): The middle-aged housekeeper found dead with a knife in her throat was bad. But the little boy was worse. After a bloody double homicide that puts Omaha, Nebraska, on the map, Detective Derek Mois promises the boy's parents he will catch the killer, no matter how long or far he runs . . .
The Killing of John Sharpless: The Pursuit of Justice in Delaware County (True Crime Ser.)
By Stephanie Hoover. 2013
The Pennsylvania historian &“deftly investigates turn-of-the-century law (such as it was) to find fresh answers&” in a controversial 19th century…
murder (Main Line Today). On a stormy November evening in 1885, John Sharpless answered a knock on his door. Less than an hour later, he was found dead in his barn from a blow to the back of the head; his bloodstained hat lay next to him on the ground. A three thousand dollar reward for the killer sparked an overzealous bounty hunt across southeastern Pennsylvania, and numerous innocent men were arrested. Samuel Johnson—a local African American man with a criminal record—was charged. Despite the Widow Sharpless&’s insistence that Johnson was not the man who had come to their door, he was tried and sentenced to hang. Author Stephanie Hoover offers an in-depth investigation of the crime. From the events of that night and the mishandling of the investigation by a corrupt police force to the trial and conviction of Johnson and the efforts of the Quaker community to appeal the sentence, Hoover profiles a miscarriage of justice in Delaware County. Includes photos
Murder in Visalia: The Coin Dealer Killer (Murder And Mayhem Ser.)
By Ronn M. Couillard. 2017
&“Recounts all the twists and turns of the case . . . two jury trials, a surprising appellate court ruling . . . and, decades later,…
a shocking development&” (Visalia Times Delta). One October morning in 1979, a stamp and coin dealer was gunned down in his Visalia shop. There were no witnesses. Persistent police efforts across jurisdictional lines connected it to another death. Two months earlier, the body of a Fresno coin dealer was found locked in the trunk of his car. The trail of evidence led to a most unlikely suspect. Author Ronn M. Couillard, retired judge and former Visalia district attorney, lays out the facts in this compelling case from the investigation to the court proceedings and the surprise that almost derailed the conviction. Includes photos!
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words (In Their Own Words)
By Helena Hunt. 2018
&“Like so many cultural icons, Ginsberg has doled out some seriously memorable quotes, thoughts, and observations . . . a quick dip of…
inspiration.&” —Bustle As one of only nine women in a class of 500 at Harvard Law School when she enrolled in 1956 and one of only four female Supreme Court justices in the history of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was frequently viewed as a feminist trailblazer and an icon for civil rights. Ginsburg had always been known as a prolific writer and speaker. Now, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world&’s most influential women by collecting 300 of Ginsburg&’s most insightful quotes. Meticulously curated from interviews, speeches, court opinions, dissents, and other sources, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words creates a comprehensive picture of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her wisdom, and her legacy. &“The standard of courage and intellect and kindness and heart.&” —Gloria Steinem
Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story
By Julie K. Brown. 2021
The New York Times Bestseller“A gripping journalistic procedural… Spotlight meets Erin Brockovich.” —Michelle Goldberg, The New York Times“Julie K. Brown's important…
book offers not just a definitive account of the Epstein case, but a compelling window into her own experiences as a dogged reporter at a regional newspaper, facing off against powerful interests set against her reporting.” —Ronan Farrow, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Catch and KillDauntless journalist Julie K. Brown recounts her uncompromising and risky investigation of Jeffrey Epstein's underage sex trafficking operation, and the explosive reporting for the Miami Herald that finally brought him to justice while exposing the powerful people and broken system that protected him.For many years, billionaire Jeffrey Epstein's penchant for teenage girls was an open secret in the high society of Palm Beach, Florida and Upper East Side, Manhattan. Charged in 2008 with soliciting prostitution from minors, Epstein was treated with unheard of leniency, dictating the terms of his non-prosecution. The media virtually ignored the failures of the criminal justice system, and Epstein's friends and business partners brushed the allegations aside. But when in 2017 the U.S Attorney who approved Epstein's plea deal, Alexander Acosta, was chosen by President Trump as Labor Secretary, reporter Julie K. Brown was compelled to ask questions.Despite her editor's skepticism that she could add a new dimension to a known story, Brown determined that her goal would be to track down the victims themselves. Poring over thousands of redacted court documents, traveling across the country and chasing down information in difficulty and sometimes dangerous circumstances, Brown tracked down dozens of Epstein's victims, now young women struggling to reclaim their lives after the trauma and shame they had endured.Brown's resulting three-part series in the Miami Herald was one of the most explosive news stories of the decade, revealing how Epstein ran a global sex trafficking pyramid scheme with impunity for years, targeting vulnerable teens, often from fractured homes and then turning them into recruiters. The outrage led to Epstein's arrest, the disappearance and eventual arrest of his closest accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and the resignation of Acosta. The financier's mysterious suicide in a New York City jail cell prompted wild speculation about the secrets he took to the grave-and whether his death was intentional or the result of foul play.Tracking Epstein’s evolution from a college dropout to one of the most successful financiers in the country—whose associates included Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, and Bill Clinton—Perversion of Justice builds on Brown's original award-winning series, showing the power of truth, the value of local reportage and the tenacity of one woman in the face of the deep-seated corruption of powerful men.
Conflicting Loyalties: My Life as a Mob Enforcer Turned DOJ Informant
By Aiden Gabor. 2023
A memoir of a double life as a Mafia enforcer and a DOJ informant taking down corrupt cops and politicians.…
Aiden Gabor was still a teenager when Department of Justice agents approached him with an ultimatum: spend his life in prison for racketeering, embezzlement, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder, or become an undercover agent. Conflicting Loyalties is a sharp, honest memoir in three parts: the bloody life of a mob soldier from outside la famiglia; the death-defying, paranoid existence of an informant bringing down corrupt politicians and police departments from the inside; and unexpectedly finding peace late in life through the Baha&’i faith while coping with an ALS diagnosis. Conflicting Loyalties is a visceral tale of a man who gambles with his own life in order to save it, dodging his fate while searching for an identity, a father, and a family. It is for readers of Gianni Russo&’s Hollywood Godfather, Joe Pistone&’s classic Donnie Brasco, and anyone interested in mob life, police and political corruption, and finding peace after a life of violence.
Out of the Mouths of Serial Killers
By Mary Brett. 2021
Learn why serial killers kill through their own words—including Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, the BTK Killer, Aileen Wuornos, and more…
than 70 others. In this one-of-a-kind book, author Mary Brett corresponded with some of America&’s most evil convicted serial killers and asked just one question: WHY? Their return letters give an insightful look into the dark mind of each killer. The reader also will be able to scrutinize direct quotes, unedited, from interrogation statements, trial testimony, media interviews, and parole hearing inquests Seventy-five serial killers are included in the book, some only known to the unfortunate victims&’ family, friends, and community, while others are the most infamous in the annals of serial killers. All bios feature the crime, the capture, the victims, and background facts. Crime scene photos, some graphic, are featured.
The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women
By Lisa Perrin. 2023
A feast for the senses, this sumptuously illustrated book will introduce you to some of the most infamous women throughout…
world history, united by their shared taste for poison. Welcome to the League of Lady Poisoners.This riveting and well-researched volume by Lisa Perrin weaves together the stories of more than twenty-five accused women poisoners, exploring the circumstances and skill sets that led them to lives of crime.You might find yourself rooting for some of them—like Sally Bassett, who helped poison her granddaughter's enslavers in Bermuda, or Giulia Tofana, who sold her name-brand concoction to women wanting to be rid of their abusive (or otherwise undesirable) husbands. Other stories, though—including that of Yiya Murano, one of Argentina's most notorious swindlers and serial killers, or the terrifying Nurse Jane Toppan—may prove less palatable.Organized into thematic chapters based on the women's motives, the book also includes an illustrated primer that delves into the origins and effects of common poisons throughout history, as well as a foreword by Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, creators and hosts of the podcast Criminalia. It is a treat for true crime fans, feminist history buffs, and any curious readers fascinated by the more macabre side of human nature.TRUE CRIME GALORE: Women can do anything—even commit murder. This thoughtfully researched and insightful survey into the lives of the poisoners explores the toxic events that put these women in the spotlight, the deceptive methods and substances they used, and their legacies today. The League of Lady Poisoners is a thrilling deep dive for fans of true crime podcasts, docuseries, and books.EYE-CATCHING GIFT: Illustrator and author Lisa Perrin's beautiful and distinctive art style blends the romantic allure of these pop culture legends with the disturbing and twisted facts of their lives. The hardcover is decorated with shining foil, and the interior contains clever Victorian-inspired lettering, borders, and diagrams that complement the text. Readers and illustrated book collectors will love all the details honoring the Golden Age of Poison. FASCINATING, DIVERSE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO KILL: These women lived in different time periods and had varying cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds that influenced their motives. Some acted out of defiance—like the Angel Makers of Nagyrév, who taught women how to dispose of their abusive husbands in Hungary. Others schemed their way to power and money, including Empress Wu Zetian of China and Belle Gunness, who killed more than 14 people in the American Midwest. Discover all their stories in this engaging collection . . . if you have the stomach for them.Perfect for:Lovers of true crime podcasts like My Favorite Murder, Morbid, and CriminaliaReaders who enjoy historical biographies, especially of womenReaders who love a good villain, antihero, or underdog storyMurder mystery fansArt lovers and illustrated book collectorsFans of Lisa Perrin's beautiful illustrationShoppers looking for a unique feminist gift bookFans of period dramas like The Serpent Queen and The BorgiasReaders who enjoy books like Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History and The Trial of Lizzie Borden
Never Let Them See You Cry: More From Miami, America's Hottest Beat
By Edna Buchanan. 1992
True stories of crime in Miami by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Corpse Had a Familiar Face. Set…
against the neon backdrop of the South Florida city where Miami Herald reporter Edna Buchanan covered the police beat for nearly two decades, this memoir collects true tales of both heroes and villains—from the heartbreaking to the heartwarming to the outright hilarious. &“A flurry of cases—of criminal Christmases, historic crimes, homicidal love, cop heroes, rescuers, odd occurrences (such as that of the barbiturate-soaked gunman who took 26 direct hits from cops&’ guns and kept shooting until a 27th round took him down) . . . a generous bonanza for crime buffs, presented by one of the sharpest writers in the field.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.'s Notorious Mobster
By Tere Tereba. 2012
The sensational tell-all biography of Hollywood&’s most infamous mob boss who dominated Los Angeles&’s underworld—and headlines—from the 1940s to the…
1970s. When Bugsy Siegel was murdered in 1947, his henchman Mickey Cohen took over his criminal enterprise in Los Angeles. As charismatic as he was ruthless, Cohen attained so much power up until his death in 1976 that he was a regular above-the-fold newspaper name, with more than one thousand front-pages in LA papers alone. His story is inextricably intertwined with the history of the city of angels. Mickey Cohen is a seductive tale of Hollywood true crime history with a wildly eccentric mob boss at its center. Biographer Tere Tereba delivers tales of high life, high drama, and highly placed politicians—among them Robert F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon—as well as revelations about countless icons, including Shirley Temple, Lana Turner, Frank Sinatra, and even Rev. Billy Graham. Meticulously researched, this rich tapestry presents a complete look at the mid-twentieth century Los Angeles underworld. &“The author does a superb job of tracing the ins and outs of Hollywood&’s gang world in the 1940s and &’50s.&” —The Wall Street Journal
Oswald's Game
By Jean Davison. 1983
While much was written in the wake of Lee Harvey Oswald&’s assassination of President John F. Kennedy, few journalists stopped…
to ask who Oswald really was, and what was driving him. In Oswald&’s Game, Davison slices to the core of the man, revealing Oswald&’s most formative moments, beginning with his days as a difficult but intelligent child. She traces his erratic service in the Marine Corps, his youthful marriage, and the radical interests that prompted him to defect to the Soviet Union. A rounded and enthralling portrait emerges, illuminating Oswald&’s intense conflicts and contradictions. Writing against the grain of earlier accounts, Davison sifts through the evidence to compose an utterly persuasive narrative of Oswald&’s personal and political motivations, based not on conspiracy but on the life of a profoundly troubled man.
Tall Tales and Half Truths of Billy the Kid (American Legends)
By John LeMay. 2015
“A great exposé . . . that humorously captures the many myths that Americans are willing to believe and that make up…
the tapestry of the Old West.” —Former Representative Morgan NelsonWhile many respectable books on Billy the Kid aim to demystify his illusory life, this one-of-a-kind collection proudly has no such intention. Find all of the untold and potentially true—but very unlikely and highly embellished—stories of the Kid’s life, death and enthralling life thereafter. Be thrilled by sightings of Billy’s ghost riding through old Fort Sumner and marvel at his search for the fabled Lost Adams Diggings. Wonder at the mysterious thefts of his tombstone and discover the famed desperado’s dozen or so doppelgangers who posthumously popped up all across the Southwest. Courtesy of yarn-spinning raconteurs of yore, author John LeMay unveils the many forgotten and discarded tales of the legendary William H. Bonney, an everlasting emblem of the American West.