City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime

Average Rating:

.The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Kate Summerscale

July 26, 2008
This book exists of three interwoven strands: a recounting of a murder, a social history of the period that the murder occured, and discussions of contemporary crime fiction.

The first strand worked fine, and I appreciate the necessity of the second, but the detours into the contemporary crime fiction completely ruined the rhythm of the book for me. Where I had been hooked, I found my mind wandering, hoping the book would get back on track in as short a time as possible.

The prose was also, at times, rather too flowery for my liking.

I would have enjoyed the book more if it were a straight account of the murder which, it must be said, the author has researched very well.
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House

Used Price: £30.72

Average Rating:

.Homicide:
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: David Simon

September 04, 2008
How do you fill the void left after watching the final episode of one of the greatest tv shows of all time ? Go back to the source and that's what this is without this book there is no The Wire. It's a remarkable book and one that hasn't really dated unlike the TV series of the same name.
The premise is well described David Simon writes about a year in the life of the homicide department of Baltimore what suprised me was that it isn't written for the journalist point of view so instead we get informed what the detectives are thinking. It's hard to explain that for the veteran detectives we see that there is no personal crusade to solve the crimes it's a job and not a highly paid one so if it's not the money what compels these individuals ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Homicide:

Used Price: £9.66

Average Rating:

.In Cold Blood : A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences (Penguin Modern Classics)
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Truman Capote

February 03, 2000
I read this book over several weeks yet every time I picked it up I was able to get straight back into the story. I think this is slightly due to the style of writing giving out accurate information in a chronological order similar to a long running news story.

Capote's writing is always brilliant whatever he writes about. There is no word wasted here, no over the top descriptions just a very gripping true story told from every angle. He doesnt judge anyone involved but gives enough detail to make you sympathise 'almost' with the killers.

Before reading this book the only story I knew of Kansas was the Wizard of OZ which also evokes the huge plains where farming is the main source of income, windy and lonesome with ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on In Cold Blood : A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences (Penguin Modern Classics)

Used Price: £2.99

Average Rating:

.Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Roberto Saviano

January 18, 2008
Saviano's insight on this deadly subject made me wonder a few times about his personal relationship with the people he so openly denounces. This is a 28-year-old courageous man who has decided to put his life on the line to cast some light into the darkes area of Italy's social and political life. When I read the first chapter, I had the distinct feeling that what I had in my hands was a truly ground-breaking book. When I read about the links between organised crime and global trade, and to such a scale as well, I could understand why Italy is in the G8 in spite of his disastrous economy and almost irreversible ideological void. Who thinks that organised crime is a phenomenon contained within the Italian peninsula, must think again. Eye-opening and inspirational.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia

Used Price: £10.13

Average Rating:

.One Blood: Inside Britain's New Street Gangs
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: John Heale

August 18, 2008
This is a fantastically well-written insight in to Britain's gangs. Heale has conducted some fascinating (and frankly extremely brave) interviews with those figures at the heart of gang culture. This could have been written simply as a chapter-by-chapter account of these interviews, but Heale's novelistic style makes this a truly gripping, and at times traumatic, read. One Blood could also have sensationalised Britain's gangs, but it provides a very real, intelligent and mature account of gang life and an intriguing analysis of the problems associated with it. Indeed, it is often the casual and arbitrary nature of violence in this chaotic world that will shock the reader most of all.
Having finished the book, your perceptions of gang culture and the solutions ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on One Blood: Inside Britain's New Street Gangs

Used Price: £7.36

Average Rating:

.No More Tomorrows: The Compelling True Story of an Innocent Woman Sentenced to Twenty Years in a Hellhole Bali Prison
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Schapelle Corby, Kathryn Bonella

June 05, 2008
Ms Corby has over a dozen web sites supporting her innocence, and dozens of bloggers from both sides. The pro camp insist that she was set up for the Bali airport bust where over 4kgs of hydroponically grown marijuana was discovered as she landed from Sydney, while the against bloggers grumble that she must have been aware of the contents of her oversize `boogie' surf-board bag. They point to her party-loving family and friends but scarcely prove much. The book is naturally in the pro group building a case only slightly marred by feverish insistence and sentimentality.
Professionally written by a journalist working with Schapelle, No More Tomorrows keeps interest high even if questions remain. The book is among the better of this year's prison-hell books, although ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on No More Tomorrows: The Compelling True Story of an Innocent Woman Sentenced to Twenty Years in a Hellhole Bali Prison

Used Price: £5.50

Average Rating:

.Muscle
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Carlton Leach

March 14, 2003
Let's start off with Mr Leach is not a man to mess with he looks the part and that's just on the cover of the book. You would certainly want him on your side if you where in a spot of bother and not knocking on your front door looking for you. In all this was a very good account of the underworld which you can believe or not it's up to you. I enjoyed this book and it will certainly be staying in my book collection.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Muscle

Used Price: £2.34

Average Rating:

.Gangs
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Ross Kemp

July 31, 2008
This is a must read book. Very easy to read; very difficult to put down. A terrifying account of a disaffected youth (around the world) with no families, no morals, no futures and no hope. The author deals with the issues with sensitivity and fairness. You begin to understand why young people (some of them of obviously high intelligence) have become affiliated to gangs. Read this book and ask, "what the hell has gone wrong with civilised society?". A superb,thought provoking book.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Gangs

Used Price: £3.70

Average Rating:

.Cocky: The Rise and Fall of Curtis Warren, Britain's Biggest Drugs Baron
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Tony Barnes, Richard Elias, Peter Walsh

April 10, 2001
Highly recomended book if you like this sort of read. Everyone I have passed it on to loved it and could not put it down.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Cocky: The Rise and Fall of Curtis Warren, Britain's Biggest Drugs Baron

Used Price: £2.59

Average Rating:

.The Damage Done: Twelve Years of Hell in a Bangkok Prison
City Travel Guides > Books > True Crime
by: Warren Fellows

October 07, 1999
The author has beefed up his account.As someone who has acted as a courier there are some glaring inconsistancies.Why not include accounts of his supposed many 'runs'to Thailand,India,South America.Warren does not provide details.Did they happen?The line about Avril,what was that about,other than to pad out the pages?The warning signs before the bust ,especially his taxi driver who apparently was his contact also who left a message that he could not drive Warren to the airport.That should have sent alarm bells.Why did he not clear out of the hotel,left heroin in left luggage and gone to another hotel to think it through.Why rope Paul into the scam?Either Warren is the slopiest courier around or he has embelished the story.The only part thats true,i suspect,is they were caught.Perhaps ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Damage Done: Twelve Years of Hell in a Bangkok Prison

Used Price: £2.22