louiepotterbook's review against another edition
5.0
This book is incredibly detailed and amazing but after finishing it I really wanted some wine. Kirby is the most disgusting human being
toml72's review
2.0
I agree with the naysayers. Far too much time spent on what happened in the courtroom.
theyalibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This true crime memoir is really disturbing. Don’t eat before reading. Don’t sleep before reading.
Still the court room documentation is fascinating. It was really intriguing how the lawyers sparred. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was top notch.
Recommended.
Still the court room documentation is fascinating. It was really intriguing how the lawyers sparred. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was top notch.
Recommended.
wulfwyn's review against another edition
5.0
I hate that I’m giving this 5 stars but I do think it is what the book deserves. I read true crime, listen to podcasts and watch some YouTube videos about it. I want to understand the why because if we know why maybe we can find how to change it. Unfortunately, I never really get that. This book comes close. There is a lot of good information towards the end of the book that goes a bit into understanding. First though, you go through a horrific crime. I was crying my way through it. It is graphic and difficult to read. It is one book I’m happy I read as opposed to listening to the audiobook. I don’t think I would have made it through listening. The author did a good job with it. He reports the facts. He tells us of the investigation and trial. He gives a little update on some of the family members. He doesn’t really go into the victims and who they were. In a lot of true crime books, I like when they tell me about the victims. I feel like remembering who they were is a way to honor them. However in this book, I preferred it as written. I will not forget Nancy, Melissa, 8 years old and Angie Newman, 2 years old. Reading about who they were, though, would have ripped me to shreds. My heart broke for them and all those who knew and loved them. They died horribly at the hands of a family member they tried to help. Prison is too good for their killer but so is death. I want him to suffer, (I usually am not so rabid but I’m beyond angry and sad.). I am purposely not mentioning his name. I want his name forgotten while Nancy, Melissa and Angie’s names are remembered.
This is a book I would recommend to those who read true crime, to those who hope to go into law enforcement, criminal law and those with an interest in psychology. There is a lot of information on things like dna in its early days. I thought that was interesting. At the end, the author includes information on psychopaths. This helped me form a clearer picture of why, though really I just can’t even imagine the why. There are several pages of photos included in the Kindle version.
This is a book I would recommend to those who read true crime, to those who hope to go into law enforcement, criminal law and those with an interest in psychology. There is a lot of information on things like dna in its early days. I thought that was interesting. At the end, the author includes information on psychopaths. This helped me form a clearer picture of why, though really I just can’t even imagine the why. There are several pages of photos included in the Kindle version.
thebookdisciple's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I thought this was a balanced take on the story. While it makes a strong case that Anthoney was a horrible criminal, it does provide some balanced legal info that purported the other evidence. The narrator was good and did a good job of changing intonation when reading monologues from various players (lawyers, Anthoney, the judge, etc).
toasted_coconut's review
5.0
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** This books contains a lot of details about the trial. If you're a trial junkie you'll love it! The author includes information and arguments for many of the motions. For some readers this will be boring but if you like learning the legal details behind trials then this book is for you.
**Warning, this book is about the sexual assault and murder of a mother and her two young daughters.**
As a reminder, this crime and trial took place in the late 80's. This is during the early days of DNA evidence.Much of the physical evidence is hair, fibers and blood typing/antigens etc.
What wasn't presented in the trial was much of the defendants' background. The details are disturbing with physical and sexual abuse throughout the defendants' relationships. Early on in the defendants life he was abusing animals and committing petty crimes.
The FBI behaviour science unit was consulted and they provided a profile to aide the police in their investigation. If you're familiar with profiling during that era you'll know although law enforcement had embraced profiling the courts were very apprehensive to allow such expert testimony.
The book is very thorough and interesting. Anybody with a interest in profiling will find this book just as engrossing as any John Douglas book.
There is something oddly unique about murders that take place in Alaska, and this crime is no different. Maybe its the cold, darkness or isolation.
Interesting Fact: If you're a fan of Netflix's "MindHunter" , in season 1 we're are first introduced to character "Detective Jim Barney". He's a black detective from the south that interviews for a job with the F.B.I. in the new behavioral science unit. He is passed over for the job in season 1. But in season 2 Detective Barney is back to help the profilers with the Atlanta Child Murders. That character is supposedly a composite of the real detective turned FBI profiler, Judson Ray. Mr. Ray is the actual profiler that would help Alsaka law enforcement with a profile of the killer. The state prosecutor would later seek his advice on how to cross-exam the accused as well.
**Warning, this book is about the sexual assault and murder of a mother and her two young daughters.**
As a reminder, this crime and trial took place in the late 80's. This is during the early days of DNA evidence.Much of the physical evidence is hair, fibers and blood typing/antigens etc.
What wasn't presented in the trial was much of the defendants' background. The details are disturbing with physical and sexual abuse throughout the defendants' relationships. Early on in the defendants life he was abusing animals and committing petty crimes.
The FBI behaviour science unit was consulted and they provided a profile to aide the police in their investigation. If you're familiar with profiling during that era you'll know although law enforcement had embraced profiling the courts were very apprehensive to allow such expert testimony.
The book is very thorough and interesting. Anybody with a interest in profiling will find this book just as engrossing as any John Douglas book.
There is something oddly unique about murders that take place in Alaska, and this crime is no different. Maybe its the cold, darkness or isolation.
Interesting Fact: If you're a fan of Netflix's "MindHunter" , in season 1 we're are first introduced to character "Detective Jim Barney". He's a black detective from the south that interviews for a job with the F.B.I. in the new behavioral science unit. He is passed over for the job in season 1. But in season 2 Detective Barney is back to help the profilers with the Atlanta Child Murders. That character is supposedly a composite of the real detective turned FBI profiler, Judson Ray. Mr. Ray is the actual profiler that would help Alsaka law enforcement with a profile of the killer. The state prosecutor would later seek his advice on how to cross-exam the accused as well.
lisaeliza's review
1.0
This is a review of A Taste for Blood by the same author:
I had just started the book when I encountered a horrible prison rape joke. The author refers to a man who kills his wife as understanding what being a wife was like because he's now someone's wife in prison. Prison rape isn't a punchline, it's a horrible sexual assault that the victim can't escape because they are locked in with their rapist. I was looking forward to reading both books by this author but I won't be reading any books by him due to his blasé attitude towards sexual assault.
I had just started the book when I encountered a horrible prison rape joke. The author refers to a man who kills his wife as understanding what being a wife was like because he's now someone's wife in prison. Prison rape isn't a punchline, it's a horrible sexual assault that the victim can't escape because they are locked in with their rapist. I was looking forward to reading both books by this author but I won't be reading any books by him due to his blasé attitude towards sexual assault.
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