Review: Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka: The Horrific True Story Behind Canada's Ken and Barbie Killers by Ryan Becker and Nancy Veysey

An account of the crimes of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo - the so called Ken and Barbie Killers.  Paul Bernardo was already active as the Scarborough Rapist before he met and married Homolka.    Apparently when the two met, it was a match made in Hell.  Though she claimed to be a victim in court to get what is arguably one of the most sweet plea deals ever, it is evident from the video tapes they made, that she was actively involved in raping, torturing and encouraging Bernardo in his crimes.  As to who committed the murders, both claim the other did - not that it should matter - they both committed horrific crimes - even raping and murdering Karla's younger sister - her virginity being Karla's GIFT to Bernardo.  It is repulsive.  Anyway, this book is very informative and covers more current info than other books on the subject I have read

Review: Young, Queer, and Dead: A Biography of San Francisco's Most Overlooked Serial Killer, The Doodler by Reagan Martin

I had never heard of this killer until it was mentioned on a group.  Active during the same period as Zodiac and Zebra in San Francisco, this killer is thought to have murdered 14 gay men and attacked 3 others.

At the time, the killings appeared to have different victim sets:  the first transvestites, the second gay men involved in BSDM and the third, more well off and professional seeming gay men.  So the police thought they were dealing with three different killers.  After the three men who survived attacks identified a suspect who they say, drew them (hence the nickname The Doodler), had sex with them and then attacked them, the police found out it was likely the one suspect.

Unfortunately, the survivors were all in the closet and would NOT testify in court, so even though he allegedly gave them enough info to be sure it was him, they could not arrest him.

This entire story was fascinating and well told.  Afterwards I went online and there really is very little info about this horrible killer, so I am glad I stumbled across this book.

One can only hope that maybe someday, advances in science or a witness or something can close the case.

Terri

Review: The Rosary Girls

Jess starts her day as a new homicide detective on the day a body of a young teen is found, posed and mutilated.  She and her partner, Kevin Byrne, soon will spearhead a taskforce hunting a serial killer targeting young Catholic schoolgirls.

The killer is smart and his motive complex.  He leaves little evidence and his moves hard to anticipate. Twists abound as the story unfolds and Jess begins to suspect the killer may be someone close to home.

I really liked the layers on complexities of this story and the suspense continues to grow to a powerful ending.  The story is graphic at times though, so not for the faint-of-heart.

I really enjoyed Jessica and her partner Kevin and I look forward to reading more in the series.

• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 15, 2005)
• Publication Date: February 15, 2005
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B000FCJZ5E
• 
  Terri

An Interview with Tess Gerritsen

An Interview with Tess Gerritsen
by Pamela James

MM2: Tess, the first question I have is this...What scares you? What makes you afraid? Because from your bio I can't imagine that you are afraid of anything. 

-- Like any mother, I'm afraid of anything happening to my kids or my grandchild.  That's a universal fear, and really it's about the only thing that really terrifies me.  I'm not too fond of heights either, but somehow that's not as visceral a fear. Which may be why I generally avoid writing stories in which young children get hurt.

MM2: Let's start with your medical and crime thrillers. How much research goes into your medical thrillers? I know you went to medical school. However I am sure there is still a ton of research? 

-- The amount of research varies with the book.  Some stories require minimal research -- only a few weeks or so.  Others (like GRAVITY and BONE GARDEN) required months

of research. If it's out of my sphere of knowledge, then I really have to work harder.  GRAVITY, for instance, required visits to NASA facilities as well as months of reading documents and books on space technology.

MM2: What about your crime thrillers? Tell us about them and some of the challenges that goes with writing in this genre?

-- The biggest challenge is that I'm not in law enforcement, so I'm not always confident about how a cop would do things.  I feel more comfortable writing from Maura Isles's point of view (she's the medical examiner) because I can fall back on my medical training for many of those details.  Another challenge is: how do I surprise the reader?  Mystery readers are a pretty clever group, and fooling them isn't easy.  They're quick to spot the real killer.

MM2: Romance novels is another genre that you have written. Tell us about writing romance?

-- I loved writing romance!  I started off in that genre because I was reading it while I was working as a doctor, and in need of something uplifting and optimistic at the end of a hard day.  But I quickly found out that writing romance has its own difficulties -- primarily, how do you take a story as old as time (boy meets and girl and they fall in love) and make it new and fresh?  I also had a tough time writing sex scenes.  Trying to write both erotically and tastefully was a tricky balance!

MM2: I have saved the core of this interview for last. Rozzoli and Isles books and now a television series. Take us thru the process of how the books and series came about and what comes next in the books?

-- It all started with my book, THE SURGEON.  It was intended as a one-off, about a female surgeon who's haunted by an earlier encounter with a serial killer.  I introduced a secondary character named Jane Rizzoli, a rather unlikeable homicide detective who's the partner of the hero.  She was brassy, aggressive, and bitter, and I had every intention of killing her off near the end of the story.  But during the writing of that book, Jane grew on me.  I began to understand why she was so bitter, and I began to respect her.  When it came time for her death scene, I couldn't kill her.  She fought back against her creator and survived!  That's when I knew Jane deserved her own book.  So I wrote THE APPRENTICE, where I introduced another minor

character named Dr. Maura Isles, the new medical examiner.  By the end of that story, I was intrigued by Maura and had to write a book about her -- THE SINNER.  By now, I realized

I had a series going, featuring two very strong women.  Throughout the writing of the series (I'm now working on #12) I never had anything planned out ahead of time.  Their lives have evolved organically, through the course of the stories.  Somewhere along the way I learned that Maura was adopted and her birth mother is a serial killer in prison.  I got to know Jane's family -- and watched Jane get pregnant and marry Gabriel Dean.  And little by little, Jane and Maura have become close friends.  As for what comes next -- um, I'm figuring it out!

MM2: Tess, you must have so much energy. Do you ever take a vacation? If so where do you like to vacation?

-- I love to travel -- I just wish I had more time to do it as recreation.  My favorite place of all is Italy.  I also love returning again and again to Istanbul.  But somehow deadlines keep me chained to my desk for most of the year.

MM2: Tell us about where you live? A little about your family life and your favorite place to write?

-- I live on the coast of Maine, and my office (over the garage) overlooks the sea.  It's a beautiful spot, and I particularly love the peace and quiet of this state.  My sons are both adults, and I'm extremely proud of them.  One teaches college biology in upstate New York.  The other lives only 5 miles down the road and he's a combination filmmaker and organic farmer.

MM2: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about Jane and Maura? The women who play Jane and Maura? I can't imagine anyone else in these roles. Is there something you would like to share with us about these characters?

-- There's been a big change going to TV with these characters.  In the books, Jane isn't particularly attractive, but on TV, she's played by the lovely Angie Harmon. Personality wise, TV Jane is pretty close to Book Jane -- both of them are brassy and smart and aggressive.  Book Maura is quiet, cerebral, and with a deep, dark streak in her.  TV Maura is cheerful, happy, and fashion forward.  That's where the biggest change has been.  I understand why they made the change for television.  It gives us much more of a contrast between the two characters.

MM2: Your life seems pretty exciting and I can't imagine there is anything you haven't achieved. Still, I have to ask this question. Have you achieved all of your writing goals? What future writing plans do you have?

-- You can never achieve all your goals.  For instance, I'd love to write a YA novel, but don't know when I'd be able to fit it into my deadlines.  I'm very happy to say I did accomplish one goal, and that was to write a novel steeped in history and music.  PLAYING WITH FIRE comes out

October 27 in the US, and I also composed the music that forms the basis for the story.  That music will be recorded by violinist superstar Susanne Hou, and will be available on iTunes. The story is about a mysterious waltz which transforms a violinist's life, and causes her to search for the music's origins -- in wartime Venice.

MM2: They say it takes a village to write a book. Who is in your village? Do you have friends  or a writing group etc...that you trust to read over rough drafts?

-- My village is my agent and my editor.  I don't show my manuscript to anyone until I feel it's ready for them to look at.  Writing is a very solitary job for me, and I'm secretive about my work until it comes time to send it out.

MM2: Okay now for some fun questions. What is your favorite meal, movie/s, dessert, do you ever re-read your favorite books?

-- I'm such a huge foodie, I can't name a favorite meal.  I enjoy just about everything.  Favorite movie?  I'd have to say that rollicking SF comedy "Galaxy Quest."  I don't eat dessert -- just don't have a sweet tooth.  And as for re-reading favorite books, I always fall back on LORD OF THE RINGS.

MM2: Do you actually do lunch with your agent? I am sorry I just had to ask. 

-- Yes, whenever I'm in New York.  She's been my agent for twenty years now and she understands my quirks so well.  It doesn't really feel like business, more like girlfriends getting together.  

MM2: You are an amazing woman and a great role model for young women. What advice do you have young women everywhere?

-- Never undervalue yourself.  Never shy away from a challenge.  Things that seem scary at first will just make you try harder, and in the process you'll gain confidence and competence.  The projects I'm most proud of having accomplished were the projects that terrified me at the start.

MM2: What would your characters want us to know about you?

-- I'm really quite shy and solitary.  I don't think I'd have any problem being stranded alone on a desert island, as long as gourmet food would magically appear every day.

MM2: Lastly, leave us with a quote one of your characters might say?

-- "Just get it done."

Review: The Last Victim by Karen Robards.

Charlie is a Psychiatrist currently studying/interviewing convicted serial killers when the FBI comes in to have her help with capturing the killer who has killed several families and has kidnapped a teenage girl.  this mirrors the crimes of The Boardwalk Killer who she escaped 15 years before.  Whether it is the same killer or a copycat remains to be seen but rescuing the girl is the top priority.

Her past haunts her as does her unique sidekick, the ghost of a convicted serial killer, as she tries to help the FBI and local police.  Not to mention, she sees and interacts with some of the ghosts of the victims while trying to hold it together while agents surround her and would think she was insane if they knew.

This book was quite enjoyable.  It was suspenseful.  I really like Charlie - her struggles with her past and her 'gift' as well as the volatile exchanges with her unwanted sidekick made her fascinating.

As the clues fell together, it raced toward an intense climax. Really enjoyed it and will want to read the next in the series

Terri