Book recommendations.

[Ms Diddles]

Hello Ms. Diddles,

Yeah, I have had my eye on The Executioner's Song for some time. I do need to read it.

Have you seen the In Cold Blood movie? Filmed in black and white to make it even more chilling. Excellent acting.

c.d.

Hi c.d.

Yeah, I saw the film back when I was reading the book for A Level.

I recall liking it, but that was thirty years ago now, so it's probably worth another viewing!

In more recent years I've watched the Philip Seymour Hoffman film "Capote" and also "Infamous" with Toby Jones as Truman Capote and Daniel Craig as Perry Smith.

They're both worth a look too if you haven't already seen them.

I would absolutely recommend The Executioner's Song.

It's a seriously impressive piece of work, and really compelling reading.

[c.d.]

Hello Ms. Diddles,

Yeah, I have had my eye on The Executioner's Song for some time. I do need to read it.

Have you seen the In Cold Blood movie? Filmed in black and white to make it even more chilling. Excellent acting.

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

In Cold Blood - This came out some time ago but it is excellent. As is the movie as well.

The book has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23KMVC03ZA43T&keywords=in+cold +blood&qid=1679333393&sprefix=in+cold+bloo d%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

c.d.

Yeah, c.d.

It's a classic.

It was on our syllabus for A Level English Lit when I first read it.

That and Jane Eyre kicked the @rse off of DH bloody Lawrence as I recall!

If you haven't already read it, I'd recommend Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song.

It's a similar idea and also extremely well written, although that one had passed me by until I read it last year.

If you like In Cold Blood, it's a dead cert!

[c.d.]

In Cold Blood - This came out some time ago but it is excellent. As is the movie as well.

The book has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23KMVC03ZA43T&keywords=in+cold+blood&qid=1679333393&sprefix=in+cold+blood%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

"Silent Witnesses" by Nigel McCrery is a history of forensic science which is very readable.

He's the guy who came up with the tv shows "Silent Witness" and "New Tricks" too.

I just popped into the library Colin to keep me going while I’m waiting for a couple of books that I’ve ordered and I noticed that one on the shelf. I’ll make a note and grab it next time. Cheers.

[Bridewell]

"Silent Witnesses" by Nigel McCrery is a history of forensic science which is very readable.

He's the guy who came up with the tv shows "Silent Witness" and "New Tricks" too.

[Bridewell]

"Penguins Stopped Play" by Harry Thompson

[Bridewell]

Also the follow-up. "As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning" by the same author.

[Bridewell]

"Cider With Rosie" by Laurie Lee. It's been around for decades but is one of the best books in the English language in the 20th century IMHO.

[Herlock Sholmes]

To call this book a cracker would be an understatement. I really think that it’s destined to be considered a true crime classic. I bought it after reading a review from Jon Menges in Ripperologist #158 where he described the book as:”, a page-turner and probably the best true crime book I’ve read this year”.(2017)

Its called The Man From The Train by Bill James and his daughter Rachel McCarthy James.

I couldn’t agree more. Basically it’s the story of a monster. It’s written in a very down to earth, common sense way with a bit of humour here and there to lighten the load - and this is a dark story. It’s a story of a man who very possible could have killed 100+ people. James is very fair when looking at the various cases though; avoiding the leaps of faith that some writers can resort to. These are all cases where families are killed and he weighs up the ones that he’s certain about, the ones that he’s reasonably certain about and right down to one’s that he feels have an outside chance of being by the same man. I can’t fault his assessments because of the clear similarities in these crimes. 100 victims isn’t unreasonable imo but I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t more. He even finishes with a ‘possible’ in Germany (I won’t name the killer but he was possibly/probably German, and might have returned there)

Anyway, in short…….buy this book.

If you don’t like it Mr. Menges we refund the price.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’ve just finished reading A Desperate Business by Simon Farquhar - the story of the kidnapping and murder (although the body was never found) of Muriel McKay by Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein. This is an excellent presentation of the case which keeps you interested from beginning to end. The Hosein brothers weren’t the brightest of criminals but they were utterly impervious to the suffering of the family involved (and the victim who one of the brothers later claimed died of a heart attack when she was undoubtedly murdered) Arthur died in a secure unit in but Nizamodeen was released after 20 years and then deported back to Trinidad where he married and still lives as far as I’m aware. Well worth a read.

[Herlock Sholmes]

There are quite a few books on the Unabomber case. Can anyone recommend the best or better ones?

[Herlock Sholmes]

The one on Prohibition in America was also very good.

c.d.

I missed that one last time around (forgot to record it). Waiting for the repeat showing.

[c.d.]

I’ve seen a few Ken Burns documentaries c.d. and every one has been brilliant especially the ones on The Civil War, Franklin and Roosevelt. The last series I watched was on Country Music and over Christmas the series on Jazz is being shown over here which I haven’t seen yet. Good stuff.

The one on Prohibition in America was also very good.

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Johnson was one of the greats and an absolute character. You are right that the Ken Burns documentary was really good.

c.d.

I’ve seen a few Ken Burns documentaries c.d. and every one has been brilliant especially the ones on The Civil War, Franklin and Roosevelt. The last series I watched was on Country Music and over Christmas the series on Jazz is being shown over here which I haven’t seen yet. Good stuff.