You Fancy Me Mad

A Nerdy Personal Blog

New True Crime Media I’m Excited About

And I hate using the word “excited” but oh well. If you’re someone who’s into true crime, it’s setting up to be an exciting time media wise. There are some new movies in the works and some shows!

My Friend Dahmer

I’m pretty sure I’ve spoken about the graphic novel “My Friend Dahmer” before, but obviously the movie is based on that novel. It follows Jeffrey Dahmer through his High School years. It’s a different angle and a very interesting book! The trailer for the film looks excellent. Ross Lynch plays the role of Jeffrey Dahmer. Anne Heche has a role as well as his mother. While the film has been playing at festivals, I don’t think it hits theaters until later in the Fall. I believe the release date for the U.S. is November 3rd! The reviews I’ve seen have all been positive! To keep up to date on the movie, you can follow the Twitter account here.

Mindhunter: Netflix

I was beyond excited when I heard about this! If you’re someone who reads a lot of true crime you’re probably familiar with the name John E. Douglas. He’s one of the founding members of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. He’s published a lot of books about the cases he’s worked on and this series is based on the book Mind Hunter: Inside FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. Did I mention David Fincher (“Zodiac”) is the Executive Producer? He is, which means this is going to be something to see. Oh and guess who else is an EP? Charlize Theron. The firepower behind this has my exceptions very high. “Mindhunter” debuts on Netflix on October 13th. Yes, that’s a Friday.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

There’s not much out about this film yet but you might have heard of it because Zac Efron has signed on to play Bundy. I know some people might be side eyeing that casting choice but I can see it. Ted Bundy was a charmer and if there’s something Efron is full of, it’s charm. I’m glad someone is giving him the chance to get away from comedy and really sink his teeth into a role. The movie centers around the relationship between Bundy and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, and is seen from her point of view. In the end, she ended up turning him into police after being in denial that something was wrong. Like with “My Friend Dahmer,” I’m looking forward to a movie that focuses on a different angle and doesn’t just give us a repeat of everything we know.

What do you think? Are you going to checking out any of these films or shows? I think once “Mindhunter” starts up, I might do a review here or there. I’m really interested to see what cases the show features.

My Favorite True Crime Books

I’m a true crime nerd. I read the books. I watch the shows. I bitch about the crappy lifetime movies. But it can be hard to find books that have the right…balance. No one wants to read something that’s 100% gruesome details, but at the same time no one wants to be bored with nothing but court drama. Here are a few books I’ve come across that seem to balance everything really well! If you have any suggestions feel free to add them to the comments!

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare

I’ve actually read this book a few times, that’s how interesting I found it. It does a really solid job of telling a story that could easily be hard to swallow. Honestly, after reading it I found myself angry over the fact he got away with his crimes for so long, especially after being caught pretty much twice! The book has 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with most of the issues being the lack of “bloody details.”

Ted and Ann: The Mystery of A Missing Child and Her Neighbor Ted Bundy

Was eight-year-old Ann Marie Burr serial killer Ted Bundy’s first victim? She disappeared from their Tacoma, Washington neighborhood early on a summer morning in 1961. Her body was never found, there were no clues, no ransom demand and no arrest. Was Bundy telling the truth when he told a hypothetical story about killing Ann and dumping her into a muddy pit? With new information about Ted Bundy’s childhood, interviews with those who knew him best, and the memories of the Burr family, “Ted and Ann – The Mystery of a Missing Child and Her Neighbor Ted Bundy,” has been called “fascinating” (Ann Rule).

I stumbled across this book while trying to find something new to add to my Kindle for a flight and I’m glad I found it. There are a ton of Bundy books out there but this one is different. It focuses on his teen years and if he could have possibly been involved with the disappearance of a neighborhood girl. Don’t be fooled though, the book mainly focuses on the missing child case and is a fantastic read just for that reason alone. It does make you wonder how many other murders he was involved with. This book has 4/5 stars on Amazon!

The Night Stalker

Richard Ramirez is the subject of this very well researched book. The author managed to secure almost 100 hours worth of interviews with Ramirez and is able to tell a very compelling story. It touches on everything from his childhood to the court case that ended with him sitting on death row (He died of natural causes in 2013). This is another book that I’ve read a few times, until a friend borrowed it and never gave it back! Unlike some true crime books, there are no photos of the victims. This book has an Amazon rating of 4.5 stars.

Bogeyman: He Was Every Parent’s Nightmare

This is a book I finished earlier in the year. I was hooked right away. I will warn you that the victims in this book are children. It hit a little harder than most books but it mainly focused on the case and investigation into the crimes. You could tell that the officers and detectives that were assigned to the case were not going to give up. These children mattered. They weren’t, as the killer called them, “throw away kids.”

John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster

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.

I finished this book a few months back. The reason it caught my eye was because it was from a different perspective. Anyone can gather facts and throw together a book about a high profile case like this. But only the actual lawyer who worked the case can write this version. It’s a really interesting read on a case that we all know. It was filled with information I wasn’t aware of which is something. I mean, as you can tell I read a lot of true crime, whether it’s books or articles online. Plus it doesn’t focus on the gruesome aspect of things. It’s more about the confession and the case which can be hard to find. I’d actually be interested in more books written by lawyers and those who had personal experiences with cases like this.

Honestly, this look could probably be even longer but I didn’t want to bore anyone. I’ll probably do another post later on with a few more options. I know there are others like me who like reading about this sort of thing and it can really be “hit or miss” with true crime books. I mean, this year alone I probably read 2-3 that didn’t impress me and turned out to be waste of time.

Do you read any true crime? Any suggestions?

Books: Monster By Steven Jackson

Monster: Steve Jackson
Pages: 523
Started: January 8th
Finished: January 10th

I just finished Monster by Steven Jackson and had to share my thoughts on the book. “Monster” is a true crime story that follows mainly the murder case of Cher Elder, and the various crimes committed by Tom Luther.

Writing about murders and crimes isn’t easy. It’s a very fine balance of not being too graphic but not just stating facts that could be found in case documents. You want to keep the readers attention without depending on gore and details to do it. Jackson does a fantastic job of this. There’s only a few times in the book where he’s graphic, and honestly it’s to help you realize what kind of monster Luther is. In order to see the big picture, you need to know just how horrible of a person this man is. The main “character” of the book is the detective who picks up the case, Detective Richardson. He refuses to give up, and even though he has a family of his own, he dedicates all his time to solving the missing person case, turned homicide, of Cher Elder. Once he comes across Tom Luther, he knows he’s found a monster. It’ll take years for the entire puzzle to be solved, including more attacks and murders.

By the time the book reached the trial, I felt I knew the victims. Not only Cher, but the other women who were attacked and thankfully survived. It was because of their will to live and bravery that Luther won’t be able to hurt anyone else. I actually got a little emotional, and even angry, while reading the chapters about the trial. How the defense tried to paint Richardson as a man with a grudge. How one juror kept the conviction from being for 1st Degree murder. And that was another part of the book I found interesting. Seeing what went on, or didn’t go on, behind those doors. Seeing how two years of hard work came together to finally put a real monster behind bars.

Another “character” that I couldn’t wrap my brain around was Deborah Snyder. She was the off again/on again girlfriend of Luther. She had information on the murder of Elder and yet kept it to herself for years. She knew this man was dangerous, and had “two sides” yet she stuck by him. She was some how torn. I just can’t imagine that. I can’t imagine having information on a crime, especially a murder, and not going to the cops right away. And this woman wasn’t stupid. She was a nurse, and even knew that before he was a suspect/person of interest in this case, he was convicted of a rape and assault of another woman prior. This was a bad man. An evil man, yet she still fell for him. And honestly, that’s something that we still see today. In most cases though, these woman “fall” while trials are happening. Or after the criminal has been serving. Just look at Richard Ramirez and most recently, the approved marriage license for Charles Manson. Honestly, with all the studies we do into the minds of the convicted, I’d love to see studies on the women that swoon over them.

I’ve read a lot of true crime books, and over the years my “tastes” in them have changed. No longer am I looking for a book that’s graphic and trying to shock you. Instead I want a book that lays out the facts, still manages to get the point across at how horrible the crimes are, and connects you to those affected by these crimes. “Monster” does all of that. You can tell Steven Jackson did his homework, and it helps that many of those involved helped him put this book together. You can’t fairly tell some of these stories without actual input from those affected. I’m looking forward to checking out some of the other true crime books that he’s written.

Book Review: The Green River Killer By Jeff Jensen & Jonathan Case

15762If you know me then you know I’m a True Crime buff. I love reading and watching everything I can about it. I honestly believe I’m on some sort of FBI Watchlist because of it. So, when I was at the comic book shop on Saturday and came across Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen I had to pick it up. The book was on my radar when it came out but I never got around to buying it. This book is different than most because well, it’s in comic book form and it’s written by the son of one of the Green River detectives. Here’s a little more information from Amazon:

Throughout the 1980s, the highest priority of Seattle-area police was the apprehension of the Green River Killer, the man responsible for the murders of dozens of women. But in 1990, with the body count numbering at least forty-eight, the case was put in the hands of a single detective, Tom Jensen. After twenty years, when the killer was finally captured with the help of DNA technology, Jensen and fellow detectives spent 188 days interviewing Gary Leon Ridgway in an effort to learn his most closely held secrets-an epic confrontation with evil that proved as disturbing and surreal as can be imagined. Written by Jensen’s own son, acclaimed entertainment journalist Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Story presents the ultimate insider’s account of America’s most prolific serial killer. Green River Killer is bound to become a well-recognized member of the crime-genre graphic novel family, including titles like Darwyn Cooke’s The Hunter and Alan Moore’s From Hell.

If you’re someone who enjoys TC but maybe not some of the more graphic books out there, this one is perfect for you. They touch on the crimes a little but the main focus is on trying to catch him and what the police force went through to do it. The book goes back and forth between the past and the present but it wasn’t confusing at all. I’ve read books in the past that had issues on that front but this one nailed it. I can only imagine what it’s like to work on a case like this. How you can’t really talk about it with anyone. How it eats you up inside, especially a case that went on for so long. I think we’re all naive if we think these cases don’t take a toll on the health of those involved. These detectives worked day in and day out to try and solve this and had families to worry about as well. The fact that the Jensen family was able to stay strong throughout really shows how loving a family they are. I know it sounds weird to hear the word “loving” in a review about a serial killer book but like I said, this focuses more on Tom Jensen and his team than on Ridgway.

green-river-killer-page-26The art in the book is fantastic as well. I can’t talk about a graphic novel without talking about the graphics. The fact that everything was kept black and white really added to the mood and style of the book. I can’t imagine it being in color. Jonathan Case did an excellent job of portraying the different years and handled the aging of the characters well. Nothing was over done, just an added wrinkle here and less hair there. The way he handled the victims was done with care in my opinion. I think the choice of going black and white played a large role in that. It can be easy to cross a line when using color and comic books are no strangers to violence. You can tell he really put some thought into how he wanted everyone to be perceived, including those who lost their lives.

In the end, if you’re looking for a true crime book that’s a little different, from more of a first hand account, this is for you. I know it seems that more and more these books have become more graphic in their nature. I feel that you can tell a story about murder without being overly disturbing and this book does that. If you’re looking for another book that’s similiar to this, I recommend checking out My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. It’s another first hand account that focuses more on the people and less on the crimes.

Have you checked this book out? If so, what did you think?