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theremightbecupcakes
1 1/2 stars.
At times the author was unnecessarily and disrespectfully vulgar concerning the victims. There is no reason to say a child victim “shit herself” when she died. How about this? “The victim was so frightened that she defecated on herself during the rape.” It’s still brutal to read about a child, but it’s a more professional and respectful manner in which to describe the crime scene.
He also joined with the perpetrator once, in a disturbing way: a national expert on sex offenders who treated the defendant was testifying in court about the pornography the defendant had (that he was not supposed to have during treatment), and how it all depicted women looking young: ankle socks and shaved pubic hair. The author interjected with a rather gross aside about why some people prefer it “clean”. Excuse me?
At times the author was unnecessarily and disrespectfully vulgar concerning the victims. There is no reason to say a child victim “shit herself” when she died. How about this? “The victim was so frightened that she defecated on herself during the rape.” It’s still brutal to read about a child, but it’s a more professional and respectful manner in which to describe the crime scene.
He also joined with the perpetrator once, in a disturbing way: a national expert on sex offenders who treated the defendant was testifying in court about the pornography the defendant had (that he was not supposed to have during treatment), and how it all depicted women looking young: ankle socks and shaved pubic hair. The author interjected with a rather gross aside about why some people prefer it “clean”. Excuse me?
I was given this book by Wild Blue Press in exchange for an honest review.
This is fascinating, in that it was written by a local reporter that has been following this case for two decades. He really delves into the oddities surrounding whether or not Heather Wendorf knew about the murders, encouraged them (even casually, even unknowingly)—she’s an interesting character. Turns out her older sister, Jennifer, is as well—her most damning statement on the stand…well, she wasn’t even sure if Heather actually said it!
My only complaint is that there were no photographs included. So much about this case is appearance.
This is fascinating, in that it was written by a local reporter that has been following this case for two decades. He really delves into the oddities surrounding whether or not Heather Wendorf knew about the murders, encouraged them (even casually, even unknowingly)—she’s an interesting character. Turns out her older sister, Jennifer, is as well—her most damning statement on the stand…well, she wasn’t even sure if Heather actually said it!
My only complaint is that there were no photographs included. So much about this case is appearance.
This book messed with my head in the best way. I say in my profile that I love books that overturn my apple cart. Apples everywhere on my path. I am actually a little creeped out, to be honest.
1. There was no kidnapping. I won't spoil it for you, but that poor baby was not kidnapped.
2. Lindbergh was this strange figure who could just approach anyone and tell them he was now working for/with them...and it was so. We should never give anyone that much power again. No education or qualifications, and he would be working on scientific or government projects because he wanted to. Insane.
3. Charles Lindbergh was not a good person at all. He was a controlling narcissist and a Nazi sympathizer.
4. Everything you have heard about this case--how the board from Bruno Hauptmann's attic perfectly matched the missing rung of the ladder, for instance--is wrong.
Trust me, this book is the definitive work on the case, written from all available case documents, including some that were private until given to the author, and it took eight years to research and write.
1. There was no kidnapping. I won't spoil it for you, but that poor baby was not kidnapped.
2. Lindbergh was this strange figure who could just approach anyone and tell them he was now working for/with them...and it was so. We should never give anyone that much power again. No education or qualifications, and he would be working on scientific or government projects because he wanted to. Insane.
3. Charles Lindbergh was not a good person at all. He was a controlling narcissist and a Nazi sympathizer.
4. Everything you have heard about this case--how the board from Bruno Hauptmann's attic perfectly matched the missing rung of the ladder, for instance--is wrong.
Trust me, this book is the definitive work on the case, written from all available case documents, including some that were private until given to the author, and it took eight years to research and write.
I was given this book by Wild Blue Press in exchange for an honest review.
It’s not only the story of the true crime that inspired the novel Peyton Place, but also the story of the peculiar and eccentric author herself. The two stories are hopelessly intertwined; Grace was a strange woman, who exaggerated and fibbed about everything except her fiction. She was desperate to write, abandoning her housework…and her family, emotionally. And she continued to stubbornly live amongst the community that resented her telling their stories out of turn for the rest of her life.
The crime itself is unclear. The motive is clear. But how it happened is not at all, was never worked out forensically by the court. That part doesn’t make sense. See what you think.
It’s not only the story of the true crime that inspired the novel Peyton Place, but also the story of the peculiar and eccentric author herself. The two stories are hopelessly intertwined; Grace was a strange woman, who exaggerated and fibbed about everything except her fiction. She was desperate to write, abandoning her housework…and her family, emotionally. And she continued to stubbornly live amongst the community that resented her telling their stories out of turn for the rest of her life.
The crime itself is unclear. The motive is clear. But how it happened is not at all, was never worked out forensically by the court. That part doesn’t make sense. See what you think.
