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Books > Fiction > True stories > Crime
After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Soviet secret police, the NKVD, executed a staggering number of political prisoners in Western Ukraine-somewhere between 10,000 and 40,000-in the space of eight days, in one of the greatest atrocities perpetrated by the Soviet state. Yet the Great West Ukrainian Prison Massacre of 1941 is largely unknown. This sourcebook aims to change that, offering detailed scholarly analysis, eyewitness testimonies and profiles of known victims, and a selection of fiction, memoirs, and poetry that testifies to the lasting impact of the massacre in the collective memory of Ukrainians.
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley held a public reception at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. In the receiving line, holding a gun concealed by a handkerchief, was Leon Czolgosz, a young man with anarchist leanings. When he reached McKinley, Czolgosz fired two shots, one of which would prove fatal. The backdrop of the assassination was among the largest of many world's fairs held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Exposition celebrated American progress, highlighting the new technology of electricity. Over 100,000 light bulbs outlined the Exposition's building-on display inside were the latest inventions utilizing the new power source. This new treatment of the McKinley assassination is the first to focus on the compelling story of the Exposition: its labor and construction challenges; the garish Midway; the fight for inclusion of an accurate African-American display to offset racist elements of the Midway; and the impressive displays in the exhibit halls.
A tour de force of investigative journalism, Killing Pablo tells the story of the violent rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, the head of the Colombian Medellin cocaine cartel. Escobar's criminal empire held a nation of thirty million hostage in a reign of terror that would only end with his death. In an intense, up-close account, award-winning journalist Mark Bowden exposes details never before revealed about the covert sixteen-month manhunt that was led by US Special Forces and intelligence services. With unprecedented access to important players - including Colombian president Cisar Gaviria and the incorruptible head of the special police unit that pursued Escobar, Colonel Hugo Martinez - as well as top-secret documents and transcripts of Escobar's intercepted phone conversations, Bowden has produced a gripping narrative that is a stark portrayal of rough justice in the real world.
"A riveting account of what it was like to defend one of the most notorious serial killers in history"-Seattle Post Intelligencer "Sam, could you do me a favor?" Thus begins a story that has now become part of America's true crime hall of fame. It is a gory, grotesque tale befitting a Stephen King novel. It is also a David and Goliath saga-the story of a young lawyer fresh from the Public Defender's Office whose first client in private practice turns out to be the worst serial killer in our nation's history. Sam Amirante had just opened his first law practice when he got a phone call from his friend John Wayne Gacy, a well-known and well-liked community figure. Gacy was upset about what he called "police harassment" and asked Amirante for help. With the police following his every move in connection with the disappearance of a local teenager, Gacy eventually gave a drunken, dramatic, early morning confession-to his new lawyer. Gacy was eventually charged with murder and Amirante suddenly became the defense attorney for one of American's most disturbing serial killers. It was his first case. This new edition of John Wayne Gacy, which contains updated material about the case that has come to light since the book's original publication, recounts the gruesome killings and the famous trial that shocked a nation.
The inspiration for the five-part Amazon Original docuseries Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer Now in paperback, this updated, expanded edition of The Phantom Prince, Elizabeth Kendall's 1981 memoir detailing her six-year relationship with serial killer Ted Bundy, includes a new introduction and a new afterword by the author, never-before-seen photos, and a startling new chapter from the author's daughter, Molly, who has not previously shared her story. Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history and one of the most publicized to this day. However, very rarely do we hear from the women he left behind-the ones forgotten as mere footnotes in this tragedy. The Phantom Prince chronicles Elizabeth Kendall's intimate relationship with Ted Bundy and its eventual unraveling. As much as has been written about Bundy, it's remarkable to hear the perspective of people who shared their daily lives with him for years. This gripping account presents a remarkable examination of a charismatic personality that masked unimaginable darkness.
In the late 1950s the reputation of Brighton as a popular seaside resort took a sinister and notorious turn. After a series of drunken disturbances, suspicions were raised that the owner of the Astor Club, which became known globally as The Bucket of Blood', was bribing members of the town's CID to ignore licencing hours. The situation escalated to the point where Scotland Yard's Flying Squad was called in. Their investigation soon revealed that these bribes were the tip of a police corruption iceberg. Criminality among crooked cops had been going on for years. Provided money was paid, charges were dropped, previous convictions overlooked and evidence disappeared. Others were fitted up' unless they paid up. Police were party to burglaries, assisting in the fencing' of stolen property and protection payments from bookmakers, clubs and bars. During the scandal filled trial of the Chief Constable and CID ringleaders there was perjury, violent witness intimidation with one having his premises burnt to the ground. All this and more is described in this meticulously researched account of one of Britain's most publicised police corruption scandals written with insider knowledge.
This collection of historical profiles chronicles the most mysterious, bizarre and often overlooked homicides in Louisiana history. Drawing on contemporary records and, where available, the recollections of those who provide a coherent version of the facts, these mesmerizing tales detail some of the more gruesome episodes in Louisiana history: the rise of the first Mafia ""godfather"" in the United States; the murder of two New Orleans police chiefs; the brutal murder of a famous New Orleans madam; the story of a respectable young woman who ""accidentally"" poisoned her younger sister and is a suspect in other family deaths; the ritual killing of blacks in southwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas; the mysterious death of a young housewife which still generates debate; and the demise of a local celebrity who believed in his own invincibility.
Crime does pay. At least for a while. You'll see that quickly in these the ten compelling and true stories of brilliant plans, guile, and nerves of steel. The thieves awaiting you seem to have it all. They are clever, cool, and set at their goals with icy resolve. It takes a lot of guts and nerves of steel to do what they did and not fold under the pressure. After all, if those hard-wrought plans fail, they'll have plenty of time to think about what went wrong in prison. Break into the poshest hotel in New York City and roust guests and security guards for the jewels and cash hidden in front-office deposit boxes under the tightest security? Hijack an airplane, demand a ransom and two parachutes, then disappear? Invent a device that allows you to record the combination of any bank vault, then break into bank vaults twice? Steal from a secret mob depository run by a boss known for his brutality? Why not? The Greatest Heists Stories Ever Told will allow readers to appreciate the efforts that go into a truly magnificent heist. It is a celebration of stunning, well-planned and audacious capers that left police and armies of investigators looking for answers and scratching their heads. Maybe that's what assures us that there will always be more heists. There is always that golden chance of getting away with it. Among the stories included are: The Lufthansa Heist The Oddball Crew and the $17 Million Heist The Last Good Heist The Pierre Hotel Heist Hijack! DB Cooper's Great Escape
Jackie Malton was a no-nonsense girl from Leicestershire who joined the police force in the 1970s when women were kept apart from the men. Feisty and determined, Jackie worked in CID and the famous flying squad before rising to become one of only three female detective chief inspectors in the Metropolitan Police. In The Real Prime Suspect, Malton describes the struggles she faced as a gay woman in the Metropolitan Police, where sexism and homophobia were rife. Jackie dealt with rapists, wife beaters, murderers, blackmailers and armed robbers but it was tackling the corruption in her own station that proved the most challenging. Ostracised and harassed by fellow officers furious that she reported the illegality of some colleagues, Malton used alcohol to curb her anxiety. A chance meeting with writer Lynda La Plante five years later changed the course of her life. Together they worked on shaping Jane Tennison, one of TV's most famous police characters, in the ground-breaking series Prime Suspect. Not long after, Malton recovered from alcoholism and now works as an AA volunteer in prison and as a TV consultant. Jackie has spent her life working in crime. Now she's ready to share her story.
Documents from the late FBI director's secret files reveal for the first time the shocking extent of FBI activities in spying on prominent Americans and political groups. A grimly fascinating--and profoundly disturbing--self-exposure by one of the false American deities of the 20th century. --Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
A Thorough, Comprehensive Guide to Serial Killers for True-Crime Fans Equal parts fascinating and horrifying, the stories of serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have taken on a new cultural prominence with the rise of the true-crime genre. Now, The Wikipedia Encyclopedia of Serial Killers offers murder fans and curious readers a new opportunity to learn about the lives and histories of these infamous criminals in greater depth and detail than ever before. Featuring extensive information about the backgrounds, crimes and aftermaths, victims, arrests and trials, and current lives of serial killers across the globe, as well as a variety of supplemental information--mug shots and crime-scene photos, letters from murderers, and information on victims and survivors--this book is an essential guide for all true-crime fans or any reader who wants an insight into the dark minds of the most notorious criminals in the world. Included in The Wikipedia Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, among many others, are: Ted Bundy The Zodiac Killer John Wayne Gacy Aileen Wuornos Son of Sam Jeffrey Dahmer The BTK Killer Gary Ridgway Samuel Little Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo With nearly six million English-language articles covering essentially any topic imaginable, Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites on the internet and an important resource for anyone curious to learn about the world. This curated selection of content has been carefully selected and compiled by our editors to be the definitive book on the subject.
Dr Crippen's murder of his wife Cora has stuck in the public imagination for many reasons: the harmless demeanour of this cold-blooded poisoner; the flamboyant victim; and, the dismembered body in the cellar at the infamous 39 Hilldrop Crescent - and not forgetting a dramatic police chase which caught Crippen and his mistress Ethel le Neve halfway across the Atlantic. The story has all the best ingredients: sex and love, secrets and lies, but it is the detail from the documents that fascinates, such as Crippen's account of marital bickering that preceded his wife's disappearance, and the daily media accounts of the police net closing on the fleeing couple. This 'bloody history' combines a gripping narrative with facts from witness statements, police reports, and the chilling words of a killer claiming 'So far as I know she is still alive'.
The unremitting horror of the consequences of violent crime has never been depicted with such relentless honesty and anger as in "The Victim's Song". Eric Kaminsky, a twenty-two-year-old music student was robbed, stabbed in the back, and then thrown on the tracks of a New York City subway, where he died. In this book, Professor Alice R. Kaminsky, Eric's mother, gives a powerful account of this senseless tragedy. She describes the continuing pain she suffers from the loss of her only child and exposes the inadequacies of our flawed criminal justice system in her discussion of the trial of his murderers. This is a shocking book because the author expresses her anger honestly and without offering any of the palliatives of the bereavement books. No one who reads "The Victim's Song" will ever forget the torment experienced by the victims of crime in our increasingly violent society. Nor will anyone who reads "The Victim's Song" ever forget Eric Kaminsky.
THE SHOCKING FOLLOW-UP TO MINDHUNTER, NOW A SMASH-HIT NETFLIX DRAMA John Douglas is the world's top pioneer and expert on criminal profiling. His lifelong work to understand and combat serial killers is legendary among law enforcement circles. Now, following up on his first book, Mindhunter, Journey Into Darkness delves further into the criminal mind in a range of chilling new cases. Profiling suspects from OJ Simpson to the Unabomber, and investigating the assassination of John Lennon and the Waco tragedy, Journey Into Darkness explores the crimes of the century – as well as cases you've never heard of – with the peerless eye of one of the FBI's finest. Douglas, famously the inspiration for Special Agent Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, reveals the fascinating circumstance of each crime in detail as he explores the larger issues, from crime prevention and rehabilitation to the reasons behind escalating violence in society. A must read for all true crime fans.
GUILTY ADMISSIONS weaves together the story of an unscrupulous college counselor named Rick Singer, and how he preyed on the desperation of some of the country's wealthiest families living in a world defined by fierce competition, who function under constant pressure to get into the "right" schools, starting with pre-school; non-stop fundraising and donation demands in the form of multi-million-dollar galas and private parties; and a community of deeply insecure parents who will do anything to get their kids into name-brand colleges in order to maintain their own A-list status. Investigative reporter Nicole LaPorte lays bare the source of this insecurity -- that in 2019, no special "hook" in the form of legacy status, athletic talent, or financial giving can guarantee a child's entrance into an elite school. The result is paranoia, deception, and true crimes at the peak of the American social pyramid. With a glittering cast of Hollywood actors -- including Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin -- private equity titans, white-shoe attorneys, and Hollywood socialites, GUILTY ADMISSIONS is a soap-opera-slash-sneak-peek-behind-the-curtains at America's richest social circles; an examination of the cutthroat world of college admissions; and a parable of American society at a time when the country is run by a crass tycoon and all totems of status and achievement have become transactional and removed from traditions of ethical restraint. A world where the rich get whatever they want, however they want it.
Being a game warden in Maine is not just a job, it's a way of life. This honest and entertaining book by a twenty-two-year veteran of the service tells the story of America's oldest game warden service. The stories told cover the risks wardens face dealing with poachers, rogue wildlife, and the elements, as well as the drama that surrounds every search and rescue operation.
A single moment can change a life forever… A van full of men armed with AK47s is stopped by two policemen while driving through Bethlehem in the Free State. They open fire on the policemen and, from that moment, their lives are irrevocably changed. So to for Fusi Mofokeng, resident of Bethlehem, who was not at the scene of the crime but was the brother-in-law of one of the perpetrators. He is accused of being an accomplice and tried, sentenced and jailed. Nineteen years later, in 2011, Fusi is released into a world that has changed beyond recognition, a world in which his mother, father and brother have all died. Throughout his incarceration he fought for his release, appearing before the TRC, and schooling himself in law. Even today, he seeks a presidential pardon. It is to this life that award-winning author Jonny Steinberg turns his attention in One Day in Bethlehem. In examining the life and struggle of Fusi Mofokeng, Steinberg shines a searing light on the burden of the 'everyman' in his quest for justice. In doing so, he also captures a country as it violently sheds the skin of the past to emerge, blinking, into the modern era.
11 Oak Street is the true story of how the Queen's bankers, Coutts & Co, sent two cashier's cheques to the law firm of Urie Walsh in San Francisco with the wrong address on the envelope (11 Oak Street instead of 1111 Oak Street), setting off a chain of events that led to the abduction of a three-year-old child from Bristol, England, to San Francisco, California. It is a horrifying story of greed, ineptness, corruption, stupidity and wasted years as the father tries to seek justice and access to his son in the midst of a thirteen-year nightmare that even Kafka could not have thought up. If you want to read about the seven California lawyers involved in this story who either went to jail, were disbarred, or resigned with charges pending, and inept judges who broke all the rules or were disciplined, this is the book for you. This is a story that would never have happened if those concerned had fulfilled their duties correctly and not broken the law. If Graham Cook, the author, had known then what he knows now, there would have been no story and he would not have gone bankrupt, become homeless or, through the corruptness of his own brother, ended up in a California jail. This is the book the California Judges Association refused to let me promote to its members lest it offend some of them, which of course it will do as the book exposes improper and on occasions corrupt conduct by some of its past and present members. The best way to describe this book is that everything that could go wrong went and if the internet was around at the start of the nightmare most of what went on in this book would not have happened.This is a book where certain people have gone to extraordinary lengths to stop people buying and have dismally failed in their objective.
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