According to Rudd, the prosecutors and police are even worse than him.  Many of his interactions with them bear this out.  No one in the book is really a good guy. 

The story is told in the first person.  The book often feels like a braggadocio telling war stories at a bar.  At times the book feels more like a collection of short stories with the same main character rather than a novel. 

​Rudd lives and works in a fictional, unnamed City and its surrounding towns.  It seems to be somewhere in the Midwest.

​The death penalty case Rudd is trying at the beginning of the book is resolved rather quickly, and then is never mentioned again.  Some of his other cases and clients come and go throughout the rest of the book.  One of the main stories involves a Mixed Martial Arts fighter that he finances.   

There are few women characters in the book.  And those few are bitchy, one-dimensional stereotypes (including the main bitch, his lesbian ex-wife).  I guess that’s the reality of Rudd’s world.  It would’ve been easy to make one or a few of the more tangential characters female, like a detective or FBI agent, but Grisham didn’t bother. 

​At the end of the day, the book was entertaining.  It would make a good summer read.  But, thankfully, it doesn’t remotely resemble the criminal justice system that I know.

​Click the image to check it out.  (And if you haven't read "A Time to Kill," what are you waiting for?

The book, "Silence of the Lambs," by Thomas Harris, was published in 1989.  The movie was released in 1991.  Both the book and movie hold up well over time.  They are just as engaging and creepy today as when they were released.

Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster in the movie) is an FBI trainee who is sent to meet with convicted serial killer and cannibal, the brilliant psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins).  The FBI is hunting a new serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, and they hope Dr. Lecter will open up to Starling and provide some insight.

Dr. Lecter does have information on Buffalo Bill, but he will not give it up before forcing Starling into a quid pro quo to get personal information from her.  Much of the story's force comes from the relationship between Starling and Dr. Lecter.  The desire to save Buffalo Bill's latest victim (who happens to be a powerful Senator's daughter) makes the situation urgent for the FBI.  But Dr. Lecter has all the time in the world.

Both the book and movie are smart and scary.  The book provides a little more detail and background.  But the parts changed or left out of the movie mostly made it better.

The movie won several Academy Awards, including all of the top five categories:  Best Picture, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Actress for Jodie Foster, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

This is one of my top favorite movies of all time.  Check out the movie and book here:

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Although it is an older movie, "Presumed Innocent," starring Harrison Ford, is educational and can be used to teach many legal lessons.  It can be effectively used as part of a legal ethics or criminal law and procedure class. 

The basic premise of the movie is that Harrison Ford's character, Rusty Sabich, is an assistant district attorney who is accused of murdering his colleague and lover.  His boss, the elected district attorney, played by Brian Dennehy, assigns Rusty to handle the investigation into Carolyn Polhemus' death (played by Greta Scacchi).  Along the way, he hides his relationship with her, destroys evidence, learns that the boss was also sleeping with her, and winds up accused of murder. 

Right away, there is a conflict of interest.  Probably the District Attorney's Office handling the investigation at all would be a conflict, especially in a smaller office like the one depicted in the movie.  Normally, such a case would be handled by the state Attorney General's Office.  Rusty has an even greater conflict than Carolyn's other colleagues because he had an illicit affair with her.  Rusty does not disclose his affair to his boss (even when the boss confides his own affair to Rusty), which creates a greater appearance of impropriety.

The movie does a good job of showing the different roles and obligations of prosecutors and defense attorneys.  The main character is a prosecutor who is charged with a crime.  The movie shows his interactions with his hired defense attorney, played by Raul Julia.  It shows advice given by the defense attorney to his client, like pleading the Fifth in the grand jury, even though his client may not want to take it.  It also explains why he should do so even though it will make him look guilty - you don't want to give the prosecution pre-trial statements to use against you.  The movie also shows strategic decisions made by the defense attorney along the way.

There is a part in the movie where the prosecutor wants to put in evidence statements that Rusty made to him.  The judge correctly rules that the the prosecutor will not be permitted to testify in the case unless he steps down as prosecutor and lets someone else take over the case.  This points to a key mistake that many books, TV shows, and movies make, which is having the attorney investigate crimes and question witnesses alone.  That's what investigators are for.  (Learn more about this in my free ebook revealing the Top 7 Mistakes Made by Writers of Crime, Mystery and Legal Drama.)

"Presumed Innocent" also shows the practical reality that sometimes things outside the courtroom can make all the difference in the outcome of a case.  (SPOILER ALERT)  In that case it was the defense attorney's knowledge of the trial judge's past unethical behavior that gave the defense an edge. 

The movie can be used as a good example of how to show probable cause to get a search warrant.  In the movie, the police had Rusty's fingerprints on a glass in Carolyn's apartment, phone records showed many calls between Rusty and Carolyn, including one call the night of the murder, Rusty's blood type matched semen found inside the victim (the book and movie were pre-DNA), and unknown carpet fibers were found in the victim's apartment. 

NOTE, however, that the police in the movie choose not to search for a murder weapon.  In reality, the police will always search for a murder weapon at the home of their primary suspect.  (The reason this is done in the movie is because a twist at the end revolves around discovery of the murder weapon.)

Finally, there are two incidents in the movie where Rusty destroys evidence.  That is obviously a big no-no -- for an attorney or anyone else. 

This is one of the few examples of a movie that gets most of the legal stuff right.  (It would probably be my second choice of an accurate legal film after My Cousin Vinny.)  It is also a compelling story that stands up to the test of time.  The book upon which the movie is based, also called "Presumed Innocent" by Scott Turrow, is excellent as well.  (Click below to check out the movies or book.)

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Gillian Flynn is the author of the popular novel "Gone Girl," which I previously reviewed.  As much as I liked Gone Girl, Dark Places was even better.

The main character, Libby Day, is a woman who was just a little girl when her entire family was slaughtered in the middle of the night at home.  Her teenage brother, Ben Day, was tried and convicted of their murders, and she has not seen him since.  Her testimony helped put him away, and she believed he was guilty.

Libby is approached by someone in a murder club, a group of people who discuss and sometimes try to solve infamous crimes.  The club believes Ben is innocent and blames Libby for unjustly putting him behind bars.  Based on her interactions with the club, Libby goes on a kind of quest to learn the truth about her family's murders.

This was a fascinating look at a unique and sympathetic situation.  Libby Day is nothing like I would have imagined a mass murder survivor to be.  Gillian Flynn has a way of making even the most insane situations absolutely realistic and shocking.  She is also great at making an unlikeable person into a character that you can't stop reading about. 

She also has a taste for the disgusting.  What might have been a sentence about someone throwing up is instead a two-paragraph description of the color, smell, consistency, and more of the puke.  Her details and phrasing are memorable and impressive, if sometimes off-putting.  But that is life.

I have now read all three of Gillian Flynn's novels, including Gone Girl and Sharp Objects.  "Dark Places" is by far my favorite.  A dark and witty read that you won't want to put down.

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Gone Girl was an exciting and fast read. 

The basic premise of the book is that a woman goes missing, and her husband is suspected of murdering her. 

There are twists - big and small - throughout the book.  It keeps you guessing to the end.  I really can't say too much about the story because I don't want to give anything away.  It's best to read this book without knowing too much because part of the enjoyment in reading it came from the unexpected turns the story and characters take.

The narrator alternates every chapter, back and forth from the point-of-view of the husband and the wife.  The book is like watching a good Dateline episode.  But it's even better because you get insight into the psyche of both the suspect and the victim.

Although none of the characters are very likeable, the writing is crisp and clever.  It was hard to put down. 

I would highly recommend Gone Girl to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries.  (Get the book by clicking the photo or link above or below.)

Update: I read and reviewed one of Gillian Flynn's other novels, Dark Places, which I liked even better than Gone Girl.  I have also read her first novel, Sharp Objects, which I will review soon.

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The American Bar Association released a list of what its panel of judges has determined to be the 25 Greatest Law Novels Ever.  Here are a few of my favorites that also made their list:

To Kill A Mockingbrid by Harper Lee is one of my favorite all-time books - law or not.  And I'm certainly not alone.  Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel, and Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his protrayal of Atticus Finch in the movie version.  Atticus defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in depression-era Alabama.  This story has themes of race, class, and justice, but it is told through the eyes of a child.  If you haven't read it since high school (or maybe never did), it's worth another look. 

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is an fascinating psychological study in guilt.  The main character's increasing paranoia after committing murder is something that has stayed with me for years.

A Time to Kill by John Grisham is my favorite Grisham book.  This was his first book.  It is based on a real-life case.  The book is a story of race and revenge in the south with great characters.  The movie (starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson is also excellent.

The Firm by John Grisham is not my favorite Grisham book (that award goes to A Time to Kill), but it's an exciting read.  A top graduate from Harvard Law School, Mitch McDeere is recruited to a high-paying job with great benefits.  He soon discovers that his new firm is a cover-up for serious criminal activity, and that his life and career are on the line.  The movie starring Tom Cruise is a faithful rendition of the book.

Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow is about a prosecutor accused of murdering his colleague/mistress.  This was Turow's first novel, and it's filled with political intrigue and legal maneuvering.  The movie starring Harrison Ford is a great rendition of the book.

The Stranger by Albert Camus revolves around the murder trial of Meursault. Meursault's lack of emotion is interpreted as a lack of remorse, and he is condemned to the guillotine.  But facing death, he finds himself oddly comforted by the simple fact of his own life.

And here are a few on my To-Read List:

Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver is based on a real life case.  A man kills his wife's rapist and claims the insanity defense at trial.  Robert Traver was the pen name of a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, John D. Voelker.  I've used the movie (starring James Stewart and directed by Otto Preminger) in my criminal law and procedure classes as a tool to teach the insanity defense.

Native Son by Richard Wright is also based on a true story.  It follows the life of Bigger Thomas, a young Chicago black man whose discomfort with whites drives him deeper and deeper into trouble for reasons he cannot seem to explain, and results in him being condemned to death for two murders.

And Honorable Mention goes to:

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a nonfiction true crime book written in the style of a novel.  It was one of the first to be written this way, and it remains one of the best.  For a great behid-the-scenes look at both this book and To Kill a Mockingbird (above), check out the movie Capote.   Philip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his prtrayal of the author.

Do you agree or disagree with these choices?  Let me know!

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The full name of the book is a mouthful:  "Wanted:  Gentleman Bank Robber:  The True Story of Leslie Ibsen Rogge, One of the FBI's Most Elusive Criminals."   The author is Dane Batty.  In the Introduction, you learn that Batty is the subject's nephew.   As you read further, it quickly becomes apparent that Leslie Rogge is the true author.

This is not your typical true crime book.  The stories are told largely in the first person by the Gentleman Bank Robber himself.  Most of the book is a compilation of Rogge's letters from prison.  This makes for an intimate and unique read.  There were times I wished other perspectives or more background information was included, but overall this was an interesting read.

The book reads like a how-to for robbing banks, stealing cars, and living on the run.  Rogge seems to take pride and glee in his robberies.  There are lessons on starting a car with no key, creating realistic car papers, false IDs, and, of course, bank robbery.  

Rogge was methodical in his preparation, which likely helped him elude capture for so long.  Rogge treated his bank robberies like a job.  He explains that it was a job he had to do well because of the grave consequences of a mistake.

One example of what Rogge looked for in a target bank was an all-female staff.  His theory was that women were less inclined to resist or play the hero.  Another key aspect was a good getaway - whether by stolen car, plane, or boat.

Rogge also had a rule that he did not want to commit a robbery when he was desperate for money because desperation would lead to rushing and mistakes.  His careful planning seems to have worked most of the time. 

It appears Rogge was extremely successful.  His robberies netted tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars each.  Rogge and his wife traveled the country and large parts of the world for many years while he was on the FBI's top ten most wanted list and regularly featured on the television show "America's Most Wanted."  (It's unclear exactly how long he was on the run because there is not much sense of time provided.) 

The book sometimes skips over interesting parts of Rogge's story.  For example, two attempted prison escapes were disposed of in two sentences.  (Although a later successful escape is detailed and is almost unbelievable in its ease.)

This book is a good look into the mind of a criminal.  Rogge was not a violent criminal, but he had no regard for the law or the people and businesses he victimized. 

There is a distinct tone of admiration and pride that comes through from both author and subject.  Rogge seems to have no regard for the people whose IDs he stole or the bank tellers he frightened. Not to mention the banks and car dealerships he robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars.   He almost seems to delight in his acts.  Rogge shows no remorse.  He even expresses confusion over why law enforcement authorities were so interested in him when he had never hurt anyone.

The book could have been better edited for ease of reading.  It comes across a little amateurish.  At times that is annoying and other times it is endearing.  

Overall, a worthwhile read.  Click below to check it out:

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I downloaded this book for free on Kindle, and was pleasantly surprised.  (As of this writing, it's still available for free on Kindle - click the picture or link below:)

This mystery-thriller was fast-paced, if predictible.  Although I could see many of the plot twists coming, there were a lot of turns that kept the story moving at a good pace and kept me interested. 

The main protagonist is a Twin Cities cop named Mac McRyan.  (Even after reading the book, I'm not sure where the Twin Cities are, other than somewhere in the midwest bordering multiple states.)  McRyan is pretty much perfect.  Young, rugged, Hollywood good-looking, and law-school smart.  His perfection is his downfall as a protagonist.  It's hard to relate to him.  He never gives up on a case, which is what makes him such a great detective, of course.

The case begins when a famous and well-off lawyer's daughter is kidnapped in broad daylight.  From the start, the kidnapping looks like a professional job, with little evidence left behind.  When the Police Chief's daughter is also kidnapped, McRyan and "the boys" know they are dealing with a personal vendetta. 

The FBI is called in to run the investigation, but the local cops stay on the case.  Each possible clue turns into a dead end or an intentional red herring.  The kidnappers have planned well and considered every scenario.  They bury the kidnapped girls in a grave with limited air, setting a short deadline for McRyan to solve the crime and save the girls.  

Despite their meticulous planning, it appears the kidnappers have underestimated McRyan, who sees potential connections and evidence where others do not.  Will McRyan get to the girls before they die?  Will he catch the kidnappers before they escape?

The story follows both the kidnappers and the cops set on catching them.  The book was written well enough to keep those two storylines separate yet intertwined.

There are hints throughout the book of McRyan's personal and professional past, which worked to get me interested in reading the prior books in the series - "First Case" and "The St. Paul Conspiracy" (or get all three in the box set for a low price - see below). 

I would recommend this book as a decent, well-paced mytery.  It was a quick and easy read for fans of crime and mystery books.

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The true crime book, "Helter Skelter," was written by Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor who charged and convicted Charles Manson and four of his followers for the murders of Sharon Tate and her friends, as well as Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.  These crimes happened on two consecutive nights and were known as the Tate-LaBianca murders.

For someone born after the Manson murders occurred, and living in a time where it seems nothing is shocking anymore, reading about the sheer depravity and viciousness of these crimes is still horrifying.  The youth and susceptibility of the murderers, Manson's followers, was chilling.  Their willingness to believe in and follow Manson, someone we think of today as so obviously mad, was disturbing.  There were many times throughout the book where I shook my head and said, "These people were crazy!"

This is also a story that continues to raise its head from time to time, even more than 40 years later. Because their death sentences were reduced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, every couple years, one of the Manson Family comes up for parole, even Charles Manson himself is eligible.

Bruce Davis was recently recommended for parole by the California Parole Board. Davis was not one of the murderers at the Tate-Labianca crime scenes, but he did participate in related murders during the same timeframe. The final decision of parole rests with the California governor. 

The trial of Charles Manson and three of his followers for the Tate-LaBianca murders was filled with unusual occurrences and mysteries. 

One of the defense attorneys went missing in the middle of trial, and his body was later found wedged between two boulders in a place he often camped.  Although never proven, it was rumored that the Manson Family killed him for disobeying Manson when it came to trial strategy.

Several prosecution witnesses were threatened, and at least two had family members attempt to kill them.

Manson charged the judge at one point in the proceedings, prompting the judge to begin carrying a gun under his robe.  The three female defendants on trial with Manson often mimicked him and moved and spoke in unison. 

The defense rested without calling any witnesses, to which the three female defendants objected, stating they wanted to testify and absolve Manson of any participation in planning the murders.

Manson carved an "X" on his forehead, and the next day, his three co-defendants had done the same.

These acts by Manson's three co-defendants served to support the prosecution's theory that Manson was the puppeteer behind all their crimes.  Although he did not wield the deadly knives that took the lives of seven innocent people, Manson was responsible as the one who planned and ordered the killings.

There was at least one notable difference between the 1970-1971 trial described in Helter Skelter and the typical murder trial today.  Author Bugliosi describes the discovery of a knife on a Manson Family member in the courtroom.  Shortly afterward, metal detectors were erected outside the courtroom, through which anyone wanting to enter had to pass.  Of course, today I don't know if there's a courthouse left in the country without permanent metal detectors at the front doors.  There certainly are not any in L.A.  Indeed, the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles has extra metal detectors and security through which any spectator has to pass on the ninth floor - where particularly notable or dangerous cases are tried.

The title of the book, Helter Skelter, was taken from the motive for the murders.  Manson believed that a race war was imminent, and he told his followers that Blacks would win that war.  However, they would not know how to lead, and would turn to him to lead the post-war world.  (Manson and his Family would hide out during the war in a secret city beneath Death Valley.) 

Manson believed The Beatles "White Album," which had recently been released in 1968, contained hidden messages telling people to begin the race war.  The White Album contains a song titled "Helter Skelter." 

When the war did not begin, Manson became impatient and told his followers they would have to show Black people how to do it.  The prosecution's theory was that the Tate-LaBiance murders were intended to look like Black people had committed the crimes, which would start the race war.

The author/prosecutor Bugliosi exposes many fumbles by LAPD, particularly by the old guard within LAPD who were not open to new methods of police investigation and detection.  The author's tone throughout the book is a little too self-important for my taste, but not enough to ruin the book.

The bottom line is that the Manson murders are to this day known as some of the most horrific and shocking in history, and with good reason.  I highly recommend this book to any lover of true crime.  (Click below to get your own copy.)

Also check out the documentary "Manson," that was released shortly after the book, Helter Skelter, and has interviews with author Bugliosi, several Manson Family members, as well as Charles Manson himself.

Be sure to get your free eBook revealing the Top 7 Mistakes Made by Writers of Crime, Mystery, and Legal Drama.

I am developing recommendation lists of the best all-time legal movies (drama and comedy), best crime movies, best legal and crime TV, best legal and crime novels, and best true crime books. 

This is a work in progress, but I wanted to post the movies I have listed so far.  Check it out:  Best Legal and Crime Movies

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on my lists, and let me know what your favorites are!

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