On a hot night in July 1995, Janet Downing, a 42-year-old mother of four, was brutally stabbed 98 times in her home in Somerville, a city two miles northwest of Boston. Within hours, a suspect was identified: 15-year-old Eddie O’Brien, the best friend of one of Janet’s sons. But why Eddie? He had no prior history of criminal behavior. He was not mentally ill. He had neither motive nor opportunity to commit the crime. … [Read more...]
THE POLITICS OF MURDER Receives Great Review By The Somerville News Weekly
WildBlue's new true crime book, THE POLITICS OF MURDER: The Power And Ambition Behind "The Altar Boy Murder Case" by Margo Nash, just received an excellent review by Victoria Hewlett in The Somerville News Weekly. Read the full review here: https://thesomervillenewsweekly.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/the-politics-of-murder-was-the-convicted-teenager-eddie-obrien-and-in-one-of-bostons-most-infamous-murder-trials-actually-innocent/ This book is the … [Read more...]
True Crime Author Margo Nash On Her Writing Process For THE POLITICS OF MURDER
Once I’d committed to writing the story of Eddie O’Brien’s arrest, legal journey and trial, I sat down at the computer and wondered exactly how one organizes a book. Should I start with an outline? I realized I had no idea how to organize a book. I didn’t know anyone who had written a book who I could ask. Finally I decided that perhaps I should just start writing and see where that took me. I knew I wanted to start with the day of Janet … [Read more...]
Bestselling True Crime Author M. William Phelps: There Are Always More Bodies
I am convinced that part of the “high” a serial killer gets from his murderous path of violence after he is arrested and facing the iron fist of justice is taking pleasure in the fact that he alone knows there are additional bodies (his victims) somewhere out in the world. What’s more, there is no doubt he will use those bodies as a bartering chip in dealing with law enforcement and/or the legal system when the time comes. Or, maybe the … [Read more...]
Author Burl Barer on the Origin of the Cocaine Cops Featured In BETRAYAL IN BLUE
In the 1980s, there were two ways to make big bucks in the Big Apple: sell drugs or rob drug dealers. The main characters in this story did both, and they weren’t worried about the cops, because they were the cops. Drug dealers with a badge, criminals in a squad car, the Cocaine Cops of the NYPD were the most powerful drug gang in Brooklyn. CRACK! Some say that what happened in the 1980s was, when studied in retrospect, a … [Read more...]
Attorney and True Crime Author Margo Nash
Writing has always been an essential part of my life, but I never aspired to become a published author. Nor did I ever dream that I would write a book that could impact the life of a man who was falsely accused and convicted of a heinous murder. My early writing was personal and private, but when I got my first job as an editorial and teaching assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I started to … [Read more...]
MURDERERS’ ROW, Volume One, Photo Gallery Of Letters
Get a closer look at the photos included in New York Times bestselling author M. William Phelps's new true crime book, MURDERERS' ROW: A Collection Of Shocking True Crime Stories-Volume One. … [Read more...]
M. William Phelps: ON MURDERERS’ ROW SITS A PATHETIC, DESPERATE LIAR
There’s a certain familiarity with the sociopath one encounters after writing 30-plus books about one-off murderers and serial killers. Interviewing scores of these people, one tends to develop an almost inherent, instinctive sense for how they go about manufacturing and inventing lies, carefully orchestrating each one, and then inserting those lies into public discourse. Patricia “Pat” Olsen—the subject of “Murder in Massachusetts,” the … [Read more...]
The SketchCop Michael W. Streed Is Featured On Crime Beat With Host Ron Chepesiuk
Forensic facial imaging expert and true crime author Michael W. Streed was recently featured on Crime Beat with host Ron Chepesiuk to discuss his new book, SketchCop: Drawing A Line Against Crime. This book is a collection of true crime stories from Michael's own portfolio. For over three decades, Michael has provided signature images for some of the country’s most notorious murder, rape, and kidnapping cases. Check out the interview … [Read more...]
Frank C. Girardot Jr. on Co-Writing BETRAYAL IN BLUE With Burl Barer and Ken Eurell
Working on the true crime book “Betrayal in Blue” reminded me of Charlie Brown from the comics. A classic Charlie Brown gag involves his nemesis Lucy and a football. She promises to hold it. He attempts to kick it. Inevitably Lucy pulls the ball away and poor Charlie lands flat on his back. There are those who say Charlie’s failed effort defines insanity. He does the same thing over and over and expects a different result. It could also … [Read more...]
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