New BooksTalk Booklist - It's Criminal: True Crime with Jen J.

In September 2021, Jen J., from the Bennett Martin Public Library in downtown, presented a new booktalk, focusing on 10 recent "true crime" books she's enjoyed reading. In addition to her booktalk, Jen was also one of the attendees at the first few meetings of a new book group, held at Gere Branch Library in September, October and November -- Once Upon a Crime. Click that link to check out the handouts that were made available to true crime attendees at those meetings of this new discussion group!

And, to check out Jen's recommendations, try this new booklist on BookGuide at the following link:

It’s Criminal – True Crime with Jen J.

Which Way, Yahweh?

Which Way, Yahweh?
by Hilda Neufeld Schmidt

This book chronicles the story of a young man who fell in with the wrong crowd, and he lost his life for it. This particular crowd, living in various midwestern areas (ending up in Rulo, NE), basically became a sort of religious cult. As a part of their directions from their leader, who claimed he was spoken to by God, the group tortured and killed a 5-year-old boy and a young man named James Thimm. This was really difficult to read, due to the detailed description of abuse the protagonists endured, but I felt it was important to learn what can happen right under our noses. So sad, so very heartbreaking and sad. It's pretty graphic... almost made me upset to my stomach, reading it. The story is somewhat poorly written – grammatical errors, that sort of thing; but the information is pretty complete and detailed. The story gets across with no problem. Considering it was written by the victim, James Thimm's, mother, I let that slide. (Am usually so critical of that sort of thing.) -- recommended by Tracy T. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try In Cold Blood by Truman Capote; Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.]

[ "Nightmare in Rulo" Nov 16 1986 article in the Chicago Tribune ]

Have you read this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Cemetery Girl: Book One - The Pretenders

Cemetery Girl: Book One - The Pretenders
by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden

Having been a fan of Charlaine Harris' novels for many years, and also of Christopher Golden's TV series tie-in novelizations for just as long, I was pleased to see this graphic novel (with illustrations by Don Kramer) on the "new books" display recently and gave it a shot. I'm very glad I did. This is billed as the first in a three-part graphic novel storyline. A young woman is dumped in a cemetery and left for dead, but awakens not long after with no memory of who she is except for the knowledge that somebody wants her dead. Hiding in the cemetery, she gives herself a new name, cobbled together from various tombstones, and takes up residence in an unlocked but surprisingly comfortable crypt. This would have been enough of an existence, befriended by the elderly cemetery keeper and a curious woman from the neighborhood. But Calexa Rose Dunhill's life is far from simple. She seems to have the ability to commune with recently departed spirits, and when she witnesses a ritualistic slaying in the cemetery after hours, she finds herself bound inexorably with the spirit of the murdered girl. Her struggles to achieve justice for this young victim, without exposing herself to further danger, is the theme of this installment. Well written, with excellent art. I look forward to the remaining two parts in upcoming months. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[If you enjoy this, the libraries now have a growing collection of graphic novels based on contemporary urban fantasy authors' works -- check out those graphic stories based on novels by Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher and/or Laurell K. Hamilton.]

[ official Video Trailer for "The Pretenders" ] | [ official Charlaine Harris web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

My Dark Places

My Dark Places
by James Ellroy [364.152 Ell]

In 1958, James Ellroy's mother, Jean, was murdered in Los Angeles. Her murderer was never found. James was only ten years old at the time, and soon he became obsessed with murdered women and crime. In 1994, Ellroy teams up with long time homicide detective Bill Stoner to reopen the case. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Black Dahlia Files: the mob, the mogul, and the murder than transfixed Los Angeles. Call number 364.152 Wol. Also consult the subject headings for Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia.] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ My Dark Places page on Wikipedia ] | [ James Ellroy page on Wikipedia ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.