Obsessed with True Crime discussion

I am skipping a challenge for May and for June I would like to try a group read. There was much excitement for Kathryn Casey's new book so I thought it would be fun if we all read it in June and discussed it. I sent a message to Kathryn and she is willing to make herself available for questions and general participation.

I'm in. When do we start?

June 1st

Just sent for one.

*glances uneasily at teetering TBR pile*

Koren wrote: "I'm in. When do we start?"

Dang. Dont know if I can wait that long.

Yes!

Koren wrote: "Koren wrote: "I'm in. When do we start?"

Dang. Dont know if I can wait that long."

Are we going to have a reading schedule? For example, we would read the first 3 chapters by June 10 and then discuss in a forum? Or are we just going to read at our own pace and discuss as we go along?

Ashleigh wrote: "Are we going to have a reading schedule? For example, we would read the first 3 chapters by June 10 and then discuss in a forum? Or are we just going to read at our own pace and discuss as we go al..."

Read at your own pace and post comments and questions as they come up. Kathryn will be checking the thread during the month to respond as needed.

It's almost time! I hope everyone that participates enjoys the book. I also want to give a big thanks to Kathryn for participating.

Because I'm a monster I forgot about this group read. So I just ordered the book today and its arriving on June 4th.
Adulting is hard : (

Erin wrote: "Because I'm a monster I forgot about this group read. So I just ordered the book today and its arriving on June 4th.
Adulting is hard : ("

I forgot to order it too. Oops.

I feel better now!

I'm doing the kindle version. I'll download it tonight or tomorrow :)

Is this the thread that we'll be posting questions/comments on? I'm super excited to participate!!!!

Erin wrote: "Because I'm a monster I forgot about this group read. So I just ordered the book today and its arriving on June 4th.
Adulting is hard : ("

If that qualifies you as a monster, I shudder to think what the rest of us are.

*side-eye at Bella*

Haha!

Fishface wrote: "Erin wrote: "Because I'm a monster I forgot about this group read. So I just ordered the book today and its arriving on June 4th.
Adulting is hard : ("

If that qualifies you as a monster, I shudd..."

:::whistles and tries to look innocent:::

I'm here. If this isn't the right place, let me know. I'll check in off and on to answer questions! So excited y'all are doing this!

Mrs. Casey,

I've just began reading and I'm really curious to know why the Williams agreed to talk to you, after declining to speak with even major news outlets. The only reason I could figure is that they would rather have their words on paper than appear on television before hundreds of people. Did you get to meet with either of them personally or were the interviews conducted via phone or letter? This is the first of your novels that I've ever read, so I'm excited to delve into it.

I met with them personally in the prison on multiple occasions over a two-year period, Ashleigh. I'm not sure why they chose me to talk to, except that Kim had read one of my books and liked it. My guess is that Eric just liked the idea of it being a book.

I love that you just said y'all, Kathryn. Up here in the Pacific
Northwest I don't hear a lot of southern flavor.

I bought my book today and read the prologue before I left. I'm looking forward to another great true crime read!

Are all of your books about crimes that took place in Texas?

Kathryn, one of the reasons I love your books is that it is obvious that you do a lot of leg work and research. Most of us in this group agree that our least favorite TC books are ones that are obviously taken from articles and transcripts. I was wondering if you keep track of how many hours of research you put into a book and if so, how many hours were spent on research for this book.

Stacey, we use y'all down here a bunch. I grew up in the Mid-west, and it was you guys! Fun. Yes, all the books are on Texas crimes. This one in particular is a crazy case. Very Texas.

Koren, thanks. Yes, I do a lot of research. I've never kept track of the hours, but this book took about two years to write, and at least a year and a half was spent in the research. I was working on another book part of that time, but this book was my main project.

Kathryn, it seems to me that Texas is notable for its weird legal outcomes, like the known serial killer who had to be classified for technical reasons as a nonviolent offender or the example a prosecutor gave in one book I read, saying that a guy who kills his parents is likely to ask the court for leniecy on account of him being an orphan, "and the thing is, because the case is in Texas, the judge is going to see his point." This is your area...do you see a lot of legal weirdness in TX?

I did a double take when I saw there is actually a town called White Settlement. Curious about how the town got its name I did a google search and found this article from the New York Times if anyone is interested. If you addressed this in the book, Kathryn, my apologies. I'm not very far into the book yet.


https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/13/us...

I didn't, Koren. Thanks for looking into it. Is there a link attached? I don't see it.

Yes, but I believe these things happen all over, actually. People use/argue whatever they can. Texans do seem to do things bigger, brasher, which is why it's such a fascinating place to write true crime.

Hmm, then maybe it's just that Texas authors are more likely to publish the details of the flakier cases. I wonder...

I, personally, am thrilled to be reading about another multiple murderer nicknamed "Opie."

Kathryn wrote: "I didn't, Koren. Thanks for looking into it. Is there a link attached? I don't see it."

Looks like I forgot to post the link. It is from the New York Times and talks about how the town knows the name is controversial but dont want to change it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/13/us...

I'm up to page 100 and dont want to put the book down. This guy is doing something every minute. I have some observations but I'm thinking it might be too soon to comment and will wait to see if it is addressed in the book. Interesting that so far this guy is flying under the radar as far as anyone thinking he has a mental illness but I'm sure that is all going to come to a head pretty soon.

I thought the quote from Ann Rule on the cover was nice, although obviously not a quote pertaining to this book as she has been gone almost 3 years. Kathryn, did you know Ann personally? She is the one that got me interested in TC as a genre. The members here that were in the TC group on Shelfari from the beginning know that that group started as an Ann Rule fan site but evolved to encompass all TC. I miss her books. They always came out right before Christmas so they were always a gift from my husband.

The book just arrived, I'll be starting it tonight or tomorrow.

Interesting article on White Settlement, Koren. Thanks for posting!

It's hard to believe the beautiful, happy woman in the photos inside the book is the same person as the shagged-out creature with the bloodhound face in the mugshot on the back cover.

Fishface wrote: "It's hard to believe the beautiful, happy woman in the photos inside the book is the same person as the shagged-out creature with the bloodhound face in the mugshot on the back cover."

Shhhh. I have not read the back cover to avoid any spoilers. I haven't even read any reviews. I really like how the pictures are interspersed throughout the book as so many times when you page through the pictures in the center they contain spoilers. This way the pics go along with where the story is at when you see them, if that makes sense.

I agree completely. The best photos I have ever seen in a book were the ones in The Laughing Gorilla: A True Story of Police Corruption and Murder. They gave NOTHING away and neither did the jacket blurb.

Ashleigh wrote: "Is this the thread that we'll be posting questions/comments on? I'm super excited to participate!!!!"

This is the right place and I am super excited to have you participate!

Kathryn wrote: "I'm here. If this isn't the right place, let me know. I'll check in off and on to answer questions! So excited y'all are doing this!"

This is the right place and I think I speak for all or most of us when I say we are super excited to have you join us!

Please forgive me for getting stuck on the word super.

:::runs off to find a thesaurus:::

Fishface wrote: "Kathryn, it seems to me that Texas is notable for its weird legal outcomes, like the known serial killer who had to be classified for technical reasons as a nonviolent offender or the example a pro..."

This reminds of the son who attempted to murder his family and his father survived. At sentencing the father pleaded for his son to not get the death penalty because "he's the only family I have left." The judge said, "You do realize he's the only family you have left because he had your wife and other son murdered."

Sadly, it's pretty much the same position Kip Kinkel's sister took after he killed their parents. What a lousy position to find yourself in!

Koren wrote: "I thought the quote from Ann Rule on the cover was nice, although obviously not a quote pertaining to this book as she has been gone almost 3 years. Kathryn, did you know Ann personally? She is the..."

Reading it, I can see why the quote is confusing. Ann wasn't referring to any particular book, but to me. The full quote was "Kathryn Casey is one of the best in the true crime genre." It was really wonderful of her. Yes, Ann and I were friends. I miss her. She was a terribly kind woman.

Lady♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I'm here. If this isn't the right place, let me know. I'll check in off and on to answer questions! So excited y'all are doing this!"

This is the right place and I think I speak fo..."

Thank you! Happy to be here.

Lady♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Kathryn, it seems to me that Texas is notable for its weird legal outcomes, like the known serial killer who had to be classified for technical reasons as a nonviolent offender or ..."

Koren wrote: "Fishface wrote: "It's hard to believe the beautiful, happy woman in the photos inside the book is the same person as the shagged-out creature with the bloodhound face in the mugshot on the back cover.

That's the Whitaker case. So tragic.

Koren wrote: "Fishface wrote: "It's hard to believe the beautiful, happy woman in the photos inside the book is the same person as the shagged-out creature with the bloodhound face in the mugshot on the back cov..."

Thanks, Koren. I've been putting the photos inside the chapters for the last three books. I did it to keep from having the spoiler situation. Glad it's working.

Koren wrote: "I'm up to page 100 and dont want to put the book down. This guy is doing something every minute. I have some observations but I'm thinking it might be too soon to comment and will wait to see if it..."

Good to hear, Koren. Eric is a strange one, for sure.

I'm also 100 pages in, I started reading it last night. Eric is a ticking time bomb. I knew nothing about this case going and only one victim is named on the back of the book, so every time someone new is introduced I'm worried about them.

That's also good to hear, Erin!

Kathryn wrote: "Koren wrote: "Fishface wrote: "It's hard to believe the beautiful, happy woman in the photos inside the book is the same person as the shagged-out creature with the bloodhound face in the mugshot o..."

Kathryn, I have read all of your TC books but its been a while so I dont remember the photos being throughout the book, but I do like it. I dont have to keep turning to the middle of the book to see what someone looks like.

Does anyone else read a description of someone and then have to check the pictures to see if you agree?