This is another installment of Augusten Burroughs memoirs, which I was excited for. I love his stories and sarcasm. This was a great book. I am never disappointed by anything that he writes. 

 This is the personal account of Lynda Milito, who married into the mob. Her husband, Louie, began as a low level criminal, and eventually became friends with Sammy The Bull Gravano and John Gotti. This book delves into her life as a gangster's wife, and the circumstances surrounding the murder of her husband by his associates. It was a fairly good read, and I cannot imagine living a life like that. 

 This book is about the Philadelphia organized crime family, at the time, led by Nicky Scarfo. This particular story is told by the underboss of said family, who also happened to be the nephew of Nicky Scarfo, Phil Leonetti. Leonetti earned himself a reputation with his familial connections as well as his actions on behalf of the family, at one point earning himself the nickname "Crazy Phil". This particular era of organized crime history was interesting and volatile, with major players that included John Gotti. I had actually not read very much about organized crime families outside of New York, New Jersey, and Chicago. This was a pretty good glimpse into the connectedness between Philadelphia and other cities. I always like books written by former members, and this one did not disappoint. I would recommend this book. I have the Audible version, and it was about six hours to listen to it. 

 This book is the account of Rosalie Bonanno, the wife of a prominent mobster. I cannot imagine being married to someone who commits all manner of crimes and whose life is in danger from intrigues. Though, I suppose it is a lot like being married to anyone else with a dangerous job. I wonder how so many of these Mafia wives are able to handle that life. It was a good book and very insightful. 

 This is the personal account of Linda Scarpa about her life growing up as the daughter of one of the Colombo Family's premier hit men, Greg Scarpa. By her account, he was a great dad who spent plenty of time doing things with her. A lot of guys in the crime syndicate are able to separate their work life from their family life. Several accounts from family members of various people indicate that this person who was involved in all of these crimes and doing unspeakable acts were pretty amazing family members. It was really interesting to see this side of someone who was nicknamed the Grim Reaper in the papers and on the street. 

 I generally buy every Mafia related book I come across, so I was excited to find this one. I have not read much about the organized crime families in New Jersey. Most of the things I find are about the New York families. This was very interesting, and I enjoyed it. 

 This book covers the life and activities of Robert George Irwin. Irwin was the son of Reverend Benjamin Irwin, a preacher in the Holiness Movement. (I have family members who grew up in this Holiness Movement, and having first hand experience with some of these believers makes this make a lot of sense.) His father married his mother, while already married, and abandoned this second family. Irwin subsequently spent fifteen months in a reformatory, where he learned to sculpt. He was actually a proficient sculptor, making wax figures and commercial busts of notable people. He was in and out of mental institutions for various behaviors, including trying to emasculate himself with a razor and suicidal thoughts. He had enrolled in school, and was dismissed due to his unstable nature...a few days later, he carried out his murders. He killed three people on Easter Sunday, 1937.

The book also covers relevant crimes and locations of the area, which slightly confused me at first. I wasn't really sure how it tied in. I love Harold Schechter, who was originally recommended to me via a podcast I listen to. (The Last Podcast On The Left- they reference his works on other killers several times.) All of his work is well researched, and he does give outside context instead of just laying out the facts of the case, which I like as a historian. This book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited and in the Audible Plus catalogue. 

 This book is about the genocide in Rwanda. Specifically, there are interviews with those who participated in the rape and murder of thousands of people. It was a little difficult for me to read, because I got bored with it in places, but I was able to finish it in one day. It was interesting to hear what these people had to say, and the reasons for participating in these activities. There was a staggering lack of remorse and accountability from some of these men. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interesting in the genocide, or in African history. 

 This is another compilation of true crime stories, which is not my most favorite of her books. The author pulled these from her files, and they did not include the depth of research that her standalone books do. However, they were all interesting and well written. 

 This book is on the reading list for The Last Podcast On The Left (Episode 281&282, Jerry Brudos). In this book, Ann Rule covers the case of Jerry Brudos. Brudos was a skilled electrician, a mild mannered man, and, by all accounts, a decent husband and father. As a teenager, Brudos was institutionalized for his errant behavior, and subsequently released back into society. Essentially, he was just told to grow up and act right. How different would so many lives be if he was not released back into the world? Brudos was a serial killer and engaged in necrophilia. He also had a shoe fetish. He lured his victims into his garage or abducted them and forced them into his garage, where he committed some vile acts against them. He never felt remorse for his actions, only that he got caught. Ann Rule has presented the information in a tasteful manner. I liked this book a lot.