Read Between The Lines

Since I’m sitting here today shivering with fever and a sore throat from some unknown virus, I thought I’d catch up on some blogging.

I’ve been on a reading kick lately. I always read, usually it’s blogs and tabloid magazines. I still read those, of course, but now I’ve been kicking back a few books, too.

As promised, I did read “Chasing The Devil” by Dave Reichert, who was the lead investigator in the 20+ year hunt for The Green River Killer. His account was very detailed if you are interested in serial criminals and it gave another perspective to the story that I read in Ann Rule’s book about the same subject “Green River, Running Red”.

What I do find amusing is “reading between the lines” of non-fiction books. Fortunately, few people are so sociopathic that they are emotionless and even though it wasn’t said outright, I got the impression that while Ann Rule may have the highest praises for Dave Reichert’s detective work, she might not have been all that crazy about him personally. I don’t know if that’s true, it’s just my perception, but if it is accurate, I can understand why. He’s a weeeeee bit on the arrogant side. Still, the book was great and I learned quite a bit.

When I was done with that one, I went back to Ann Rule and read “Worth More Dead”. This book tells the stories of several true cases involving murder for money.

Greed. It always does people in.

I watch Deal or No Deal and I wonder if those contestants are insane. I don’t think anyone has hit the proverbial jackpot on that show. Take The Deal, Dummy!! If you’re thinking of hiring a hitman to collect life insurance money...forgetaboutit. They will either screw it up, not do it at all and/or go to the police. Even if it appears to go off without a hitch, you will still be the number one suspect and when they arrest the hitman for leaving trace at the scene, he will take the deal offered to him. You won't win.

And finally, I read Ann Rule’s “Lust Killer”. The lust killer in this story, Jerry Broudos, is really a serial killer, but they didn’t use that terminology in the late 60’s when he was out there trolling the streets. The book, as hers always are, is well written with quite a detailed biography of the subject. These lust killers rarely start out killing. Their perversions, fantasies and emotional/mental disorders accelerate through the years until the time comes that they do start killing. Once that happens, they don’t stop until they are captured or dead. The Green River Killer appears to have been able to maybe put a halt to his behaviors for a while, but once a stressor occurs in their lives, back to killing they go.

I know, I know, it’s a depressing subject to read about, but I find it fascinating. I used to believe that these serial killers were merely born that way, but I really no longer believe that. I do believe that mentally there is something wrong with them, but reading bio after bio of serial killers, there are some definite similarities in upbringing, too. It’s nature and nurtured, in my opinion and fortunately, these types are far from the norm.

The next book I’m reading is actually fiction! I found it on a side display at the bookstore and thought I would check it out.

It’s “Cross Bones” by Kathy Reichs and it’s claimed to be “a spirited rival to the Da Vinci Code”, which by the way, was one of my favorite books ever. I still don't get all the controversy considering it's clearly marked fiction on the cover.

Hopefully, this one will be just as good! I'll be sure to let you know.