See What I Have Done/ Sarah Schmidt/ 328 pgs

This is a fictionalized story of the Lizzie Borden murders. It is told from the points of view of Lizzie, her sister Emma, the Bordens' maid Bridget, and a stranger named Benjamin. While I knew about the crime in general, I had never really delved into the details. I found the writing style of this book difficult to get into. The writing is very choppy and while graphic descriptions don't usually bother me, this book is heavy on sensory details that are odd and disturbing by their sheer number. It was definitely interesting to read about the days surrounding this infamous murder but it was also disappointing that the author really didn't draw any new conclusions to what might have happened.

Filthy Rich / James Patterson, et al. / 400 pgs

Granted, this is only my second James Patterson book, but it was light years better than the other one I read. He co-wrote this book with two other authors, one of whom is a journalist, so I am using this book for the Read Harder challenge category to read a book by a journalist.

I must have been really busy with college during the time that the Jeffrey Epstein scandal went down, because I did not know much about it at all. The book was very illuminating about what a horrible man Epstein is, and how, despite the tons of evidence against him, the legal system let his victims down. I also did not know of what Alan Dershowitz and Prince Andrew were accused of until reading this book. I definitely recommend reading the book if you haven't really gotten the full story of Epstein or want a lesson on how the justice system fails victims.

Just Mercy: a Story of Justice/ Bryan Stevenson/ 336 pages

Just Mercy: a Story of Justice is an account of the work done by Bryan Stevenson to find justice for men, women and children on death row in Alabama.  The book closely follows Mr. Stevenson's work with Walter McMillian, sentenced to death on the word of a criminal who recants his story even before Walter goes to trial.  This book is an eye opener to lax representation and social injustices especially to poor or black members of society.  It's cataloged as a biography of Bryan Stevenson, but is really the story of how he came to found the Equal Justice Initiative.  For more information and books of similar topics visit the SCCCLD website.

Missoula:Rape and the Justice System in a College Town/Jon Krakauer/360 pgs.

As Jon Krakauer indicates, the University of Montana in Missoula is not that different from most colleges and universities. It's mainly a college town with the residents very supportive of the Grizzlies--the university's football team. The book focuses mainly on two rape charges against two of the University's football players. However, in a Department of Justice investigation of 350 sexual assaults reported to the Missoula police between January 2008 and May 2012, only a handful were properly handled either by university or local authorities. It's a compelling, and in my opinion, disheartening read. I had naively assumed that our society, on the whole, had moved away from thinking that a rape victim was somehow responsible for his/her attack. In the two main cases that Krakauer focuses on, the victims knew their attackers, which seemed to further hurt their cases. It's a very eye-opening account, and describes situations happening on campuses across the United States--not just in Montana. Highly recommended!

Forensic Science, David Malocco, 129 pages
This is a non-fiction book describing the work of forensic scientists and the law enforcement officers they support.  While it covers a wide range of topics I feel it is meant for someone with little knowledge of any forensic science.  Think of it more as an in-dept dictionary.  A few things one could take away from this book is first, never talk to the police, you have no obligation to say anything at any time if accused of a crime. Second, if you do have a desire to plan the perfect crime, be sure it's against a stranger, in a far away location and you can establish a strong a alibi (go to a convention, rent a movie at your hotel during the time the crime takes place).   Over all a surprisingly small number of crimes are solved, contrary to what we see on TV.

Betrayal/Gregg Olsen/273 pages

When Olivia Grant, a foreign exchange student from the U.K., is stabbed to death in her new BFF's bedroom during a unsupervised Halloween party, the whole town of Port Gamble is shocked. Accusations start flying about both her BFF Brianna and her exchange sponsor, Beth. Twins Taylor and Hayley Ryan want to help their friend Beth and find out what really happened to Olivia. Taylor and Hayley's secret talent for seeing what others can't will help them find the truth. Their involuntary involvement from a long ago town tragedy will put them in danger.


The newest in the Empty Coffin series, this novel is based on the Amanda Knox case which is still making headlines. Even though this is a YA novel, I would recommend it for anyone. The characters of Taylor and Hayley are particularly interesting to me. The details of their lives and their parent's lives are coming out bit by bit in each novel, and that makes me just want more. I'm looking forward to his next novel.

Law & Disorder: The Legendary FBI Profiler's Relentless Pursuit of Justice / John Douglas & Mark Olshaker / 389 pgs

John Douglas is known for helping start the FBI's criminal profiling division and has worked cases for close to 40 years.  He is considered "the expert" when it comes to determining a profile of a perpetrator based on facts gathered at a crime scene.  In this book, Douglas discusses some very high profile cases that he has been called to consult on over the years.  Readers will get an insider's view on the JonBenet Ramsey murder, West Memphis Three trial, and the Amanda Knox case.  This is a must for true crime fans or those who are interested in psychology and criminal minds.

Mister Death's Blue-eyed Girls/Mary Downing Hahn/330 pages

Nora and Ellie can't wait until the last day of their junior year. The night before, they go with a bunch of friends to the rec center to dance and afterwards to the park to drink and dance some more. One of the girls ex-boyfriend follows them there and causes some problems, but everyone gets home safely. The next morning, Cheryl, whose ex was the problem the night before, and Bobbie Jo stop by to walk with Nora and Ellie to school. Nora and Ellie are running late because they are slightly hungover, so Cheryl and Bobbie Jo go on without them. That would be the last time they see Cheryl and Bobbie Jo alive. Someone waits for them in the woods and shoots them. The whole town assumes the murderer is Buddy, Cheryl's ex, but the police have no evidence, so they have to let him go. Nora's summer and whole life have been changed by this tragedy. She starts questioning everything, even Buddy's guilt.

This is an fictionalized account of a true crime that happened during the author's teenaged years. It's obvious that she has been haunted by it for years and has struggled to make sense of all of it. Clearly, this was a book she had to write.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven/Rebecca Nichols Alonzo with Bob DeMoss/296 pages

This is a true story of a young family's harassment by a neighbor who wants to run them out of town whether it be by "crawling or walking...dead or alive" according to one of the anonymous letters they received. Rebecca Nichol's father was the popular preacher at the local church in a small town in North Carolina. When he and his young wife first arrived in Sellerstown, he made an immediate enemy in Horry Watts, a man used to controlling the local congregation even though he wasn't a member. Over the next eight years, he threatens the family while also doing physical damage to their home and their property. Several times, they were lucky to not be injured or killed. Throughout the book, Rebecca reiterates her parents faith that God will protect them and their calm in the face of constant threats and violence.

This is a shocking story of pure hatred and evil directed at innocent people. Rebecca's story of faith and forgiveness is inspiring even if it is sometimes hard to imagine. She is certainly a better person than I.