Book recommendations.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’ve just started this book which I picked up on the shelf in Waterstones. It’s started really well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Keep-Dea.../dp/1785151991

I just finished the one above and it was a bit of a page turner with plenty of twists and turns with different suspects homing into view at various stages. Very well written. But.. a few of the reviews said that it was too long. I’ve heard this criticism about other books and a lot of the time I’ve disagreed with it (although imo some writers do tend to overpack books by telling a story and then adding a huge chapter where they trace the family back to the 15th century which has no connection to the events in question) Maybe this might have benefitted from being slightly shorter? I’m unsure. But don’t let that question put you off. It’s not as if the book is dull….it certainly isn’t.

One reviewer though said:

“The only disappointment and this is no spoiler, is that there is no real conclusion.”

Well, it’s not a spoiler because there was a conclusion. Perhaps he missed the part about the DNA identification and the announcement of the killer at a Press Conference. It makes you wonder if some people actually read the books that they’re reviewing.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Probably a safe bet, his book on Stalingrad was very good. He's got an accessible writing style.

I have a friend who’s into his WW2 history and he says that he’s a good writer on the subject.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Thanks, Herlock. That sounds interesting. Like the Bible says "seek and ye shall find."

Here is a link to it on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Witchfinders-Seventeenth-Century-English-Malcolm-Gaskill/dp/0674025423/ref=sr_1_1?crid=131R5LIP3BSV4&keywords=witchfinders&qid=1670171750&sprefix=witchfinders%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-1

I also have a book on the Salem Witch Trials on my to read list.

https://www.amazon.com/A-Delusion-of-Satan-Frances-Hill-audiobook/dp/B00LAE0DTI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5KDWBO55BEY1&keywords=a+delusion+of+satan+salem+witch+trials+book&qid=1670172105&sprefix=a+delusion%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

This looks really interesting as well. What is so amazing is that this was going on late in the 19th century.

https://www.amazon.com/Food-Dead-Trail-England-Vampires-ebook/dp/B09QWY5639/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BWP75U6OE7TN&keywords=Michael+Bell+new+england&qid=1670172202&s=audible&sprefix=michael+bell+new+england%2Caudible%2C79&sr=1-1

c.d.

I’ve read one book on the Salem trials c.d. and checking online I’m pretty sure that it was this one (I have some books in boxes that I can’t access to check plus I’ve given some away to create space) I remember it being a good one though.

Ive have this one on my ‘possible books to get’ list.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witches-James-English-Witch-Hunts/dp/009954914X/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_w=r93xc&content-id=amzn1.sym.2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_p=2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_r=YZVYZ3ZZ59DSB88MX0R3&pd_rd_wg=12AEr&pd_rd_r=206f41b3-1714-4168-b089-2ba2e2b6c46e&pd_rd_i=009954914X&psc=1

[c.d.]

Probably a safe bet, his book on Stalingrad was very good. He's got an accessible writing style.

Yes, he has a number of books and they all seem to get good reviews.

c.d.

[Al Bundy's Eyes]

My next book is "D-Day: The Battle for Normandy" by Antony Beevor

https://www.amazon.com/D-Day-Battle-Normandy-Antony-Beevor/dp/0143118188/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2FRVLGC7SD5IV&keywords=beevor&qid=1670174449&sprefix=beevor%2Caps%2C499&sr=8-6

c.d.

Probably a safe bet, his book on Stalingrad was very good. He's got an accessible writing style.

[c.d.]

My next book is "D-Day: The Battle for Normandy" by Antony Beevor

https://www.amazon.com/D-Day-Battle-Normandy-Antony-Beevor/dp/0143118188/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2FRVLGC7SD5IV&keywords=beevor&qid=1670174449&sprefix=beevor%2Caps%2C499&sr=8-6

c.d.

[c.d.]

I’m going to recommend a book that I’m only half way through. It’s called Witchfinders by Malcolm Gaskill. Not surprisingly it’s about the Witchfinders of the Civil War era, notably Matthew Hopkins (of course) and John Stearne. This is a brilliantly written book that really evokes the atmosphere and paranoias of the time. A time when the supernatural (imps, and demons and witches) were an absolute reality to most people. At time when an unexplained illness or death could lead to an accusation and a trial. It reminded me a little of todays conspiracist paranoia and how it only takes one accusation against someone disliked. This is a cracker in my opinion.

The reason that I recommended it before I’d finished it was for UK readers. If you have a branch of The Works in your local town pop in and have a look. They’re on sale there. Worth £3 of anyone’s money.

Thanks, Herlock. That sounds interesting. Like the Bible says "seek and ye shall find."

Here is a link to it on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Witchfinders-Seventeenth-Century-English-Malcolm-Gaskill/dp/0674025423/ref=sr_1_1?crid=131R5LIP3BSV4&keywords=witchfinders&qid=1670171750&sprefix=witchfinders%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-1

I also have a book on the Salem Witch Trials on my to read list.

https://www.amazon.com/A-Delusion-of-Satan-Frances-Hill-audiobook/dp/B00LAE0DTI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5KDWBO55BEY1&keywords=a+delusion+of+satan+salem+witch+trials+book&qid=1670172105&sprefix=a+delusion%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

This looks really interesting as well. What is so amazing is that this was going on late in the 19th century.

https://www.amazon.com/Food-Dead-Trail-England-Vampires-ebook/dp/B09QWY5639/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BWP75U6OE7TN&keywords=Michael+Bell+new+england&qid=1670172202&s=audible&sprefix=michael+bell+new+england%2Caudible%2C79&sr=1-1

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’ve just started this book which I picked up on the shelf in Waterstones. It’s started really well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Keep-Dead-Close-Harvard/dp/1785151991

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’m going to recommend a book that I’m only half way through. It’s called Witchfinders by Malcolm Gaskill. Not surprisingly it’s about the Witchfinders of the Civil War era, notably Matthew Hopkins (of course) and John Stearne. This is a brilliantly written book that really evokes the atmosphere and paranoias of the time. A time when the supernatural (imps, and demons and witches) were an absolute reality to most people. At time when an unexplained illness or death could lead to an accusation and a trial. It reminded me a little of todays conspiracist paranoia and how it only takes one accusation against someone disliked. This is a cracker in my opinion.

The reason that I recommended it before I’d finished it was for UK readers. If you have a branch of The Works in your local town pop in and have a look. They’re on sale there. Worth £3 of anyone’s money.

[Abby Normal]

I think Bittrolff is one LISK, though I don't think he's responsible for all the killings. Also, I would assume they moved their dumpsite as opposed to stopping the murders. Nobody in their right mind is going to dump another body there, that doesn't mean they stopped killing, that's all conjecture and/or wishful thinking. Then again, so is my opinion.

the killings and disapearances stopped after bittrolff was in prison. and there is no evidence that bodies were dumped anywhere else after they were discovered in and around gilgo beach. But After they discovered his first two victims cut up and stuffed in suitcase off the side of the highway, Bittrolff DID start dumping them somewhere else,in a more hidden location nearer to the beach.

And there might be a onesy or twosy in there that wast him, but the majority of victims were from the LISK, who was undoubtedly Bittrolff.

[bjgourley]

yes good book. I cant remember if they named him, but the LISK is JohnBittrolff, in prison for the murder and dismemberment of two sex workers just prior to the gilgo beach victims disapearances. He lived in manorville, LI (where several links to victims were found) and partial DNA was matched. He was a hunter and used a shed in his back yard where he cut up his game, and probably his victims too. The prosecutor in his case named him a suspect in the gilgo beach murders and the killings stopped after he was arrested and imprisoned for the afore mentioned crimes.

I think Bittrolff is one LISK, though I don't think he's responsible for all the killings. Also, I would assume they moved their dumpsite as opposed to stopping the murders. Nobody in their right mind is going to dump another body there, that doesn't mean they stopped killing, that's all conjecture and/or wishful thinking. Then again, so is my opinion.

[Abby Normal]

Halfway through Lost Girls (Gilgo beach et al) and Robert Anderson was right, great book, but so hard to follow the timeline.

yes good book. I cant remember if they named him, but the LISK is JohnBittrolff, in prison for the murder and dismemberment of two sex workers just prior to the gilgo beach victims disapearances. He lived in manorville, LI (where several links to victims were found) and partial DNA was matched. He was a hunter and used a shed in his back yard where he cut up his game, and probably his victims too. The prosecutor in his case named him a suspect in the gilgo beach murders and the killings stopped after he was arrested and imprisoned for the afore mentioned crimes.

[bjgourley]

Halfway through Lost Girls (Gilgo beach et al) and Robert Anderson was right, great book, but so hard to follow the timeline.

[Ms Diddles]

Hi Ms D,

Yes, who knows. Maybe in the case as a whole an element of truth is combined with an element of jumping on the bandwagon? Also there certainly was a culture in the fairly recent past where this kind of unacceptable behaviour was considered par for the course and ‘harmless.’ We’ll never know the full truth and any historical case is fraught with problems especially when it’s one persons word against another’s.

It's a tricky one, isn't it?

I have always disliked the old "there's no smoke without fire" saying, as that outlook has ruined many innocent peoples lives over the years.

You are of course quite correct in that such behaviour was deemed "harmless fun" during the era in question.

Well, it certainly was by the perpetrators and the institutions which enabled them. Less so by the victims of the unsolicited attention.

I'd say don't feel too bad for Harris if you think that there's a chance he's innocent of the charges.

He is at the very least an arse-grabber!!

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Herlock,

By sheer coincidence I was out at my friends house for dinner last night.

There was a woman there who told a story about Rolf Harris grabbing her bum when she was waitressing at an event in Henley on Thames aged 17.

She was completely credible and it would be fair to say that everyone who heard the story was 100% inclined to believe her.

Now, I get that in terms of evidence "some woman from the casebook forum met another woman who claimed to have been manhandled by Harris" is on a par with "a bloke down the pub told me..."!

Also she was not underage when the incident occurred, but I thought it was interesting in light of the discussion on here.

Sounds like there are some people who can attest to his "creepiness" after all.

Hi Ms D,

Yes, who knows. Maybe in the case as a whole an element of truth is combined with an element of jumping on the bandwagon? Also there certainly was a culture in the fairly recent past where this kind of unacceptable behaviour was considered par for the course and ‘harmless.’ We’ll never know the full truth and any historical case is fraught with problems especially when it’s one persons word against another’s.