book reviews

Book reviews for true crime junkies; probe the minds of murderers with our collection of novels, memoirs, biographies, criminal psychology and forensic science books.

We Solve Murders
🌟 A Fresh Start: Meet Steve and Amy After the massive success of his Thursday Murder Club series, Richard Osman introduces us to two brand new characters in We Solve Murders:
By Muhammad Hayatabout a year ago in Criminal
Gone Girl
🌟 Meet Nick and Amy Dunne Nick and Amy Dunne are a married couple who, on the surface, seem to have a perfect life. Nick is charming, easy going, and handsome. Amy is beautiful, intelligent, and famous for being the inspiration behind her parents' successful children’s book series, “Amazing Amy.”
By Muhammad Hayatabout a year ago in Criminal
Why the USA Remains the Top Choice for International Students in 2025
In recent years, the global higher education landscape has evolved rapidly. Yet one thing remains unchanged: the strong pull of the United States as a dream destination for students worldwide. In 2025, despite increasing options in Canada, Germany, and Australia, the study in USA trend continues to dominate—and for good reason.
By Ladalisiddiquiabout a year ago in Criminal
Supreme Court temporarily pauses deportations under Alien Enemies Act
The U.S. The recent decision of the Supreme Court to temporarily halt deportations under the Alien Enemies Act has sparked a lot of discussion and legal scrutiny. The current case involves the Trump administration's attempt to expedite the deportation of certain migrants, specifically Venezuelan nationals, by utilizing a wartime law from the 18th century. The administration claimed that these migrants were connected to the violent gang known as the Trende Aragua, which is believed to be linked to terrorism. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an emergency appeal, arguing that the deportation process is being rushed without the detainees receiving due process protections. This led to the temporary halt.
By Al Shahriar Prantoabout a year ago in Criminal
Occupied from Within" – Speaks to the betrayal of a nation by its own protector.
The General's Throne In the heart of a nation once hailed for its resilience, a slow rot had begun to set in. The people whispered, protested, and pleaded, but nothing could silence the steady march of boots that now echoed louder than their cries. General Haidar Malik was once the face of honor—medals gleaming, speeches inspiring, always draped in the flag he claimed to love. For decades, he had served in the shadows of civilian governments, his loyalty unquestioned, his discipline unmatched. But power, as it often does, began to speak louder than patriotism. The first sign came subtly. A controversial election, marred with accusations of fraud, was followed by the mysterious resignation of several key ministers. Haidar stepped into the chaos, offering “stability” in a nation teetering on the edge. The people, exhausted by inflation and disillusionment, welcomed him as a necessary evil. They believed he would clean the house. Instead, he built a new one. Haidar did not wear a crown—he wore camouflage and command. But make no mistake, he ruled. Parliament became a puppet show, televised for the illusion of democracy. The courts issued rulings that mirrored his will. And the president, a soft-spoken academic, was little more than a pen in the General’s pocket. Regime change became his tool. When civilian leaders refused to play along, they were quietly discredited, their scandals surfacing like clockwork. Haidar’s men were always ready with evidence—some true, most manufactured. Then, like clockwork, a new “caretaker” was installed—obedient, corrupt, and eager to serve. Corruption flourished under this new order, not in spite of the General, but because of him. Every regime he installed paid their dues: lucrative military contracts, land deals, foreign kickbacks, and a silencing of dissent. The media, once a noisy watchdog, had been declawed. Those who still dared to bark too loudly found themselves exiled, imprisoned, or worse. International powers watched with discomfort but little action. Haidar was useful—he kept the borders secure, handed over militants, and nodded politely at foreign summits. His soldiers paraded in peacekeeping missions abroad, while back home they guarded oil fields, silenced protests, and watched universities like hawks. For many, the dream of freedom became a fading memory. Young people grew up knowing only one name: Haidar. In schools, textbooks were rewritten. History was polished. The word “dictator” was replaced with “guardian of the republic.” But every throne, no matter how fortified, eventually splinters. In the dusty city of Mahveen, a former military officer named Captain Fareeda Khan began to speak out. Once decorated by Haidar himself, she had seen too much—the torture camps, the rigged trials, the stolen lives. Her voice, clear and unyielding, began to echo through underground networks, spreading like wildfire. “What Haidar has done,” she said in a secretly recorded video, “is not governance—it is betrayal. A soldier does not occupy his own homeland.” The regime branded her a traitor. Her face appeared on state TV as a terrorist conspirator, her home raided, her family arrested. But the people remembered her service. Her words struck a nerve. From students to shopkeepers, the silence began to crack. Mass protests erupted, first in whispers, then in chants. The General responded with curfews, blackouts, and bullets. Yet, the streets did not empty. One night, in a televised address meant to restore control, Haidar’s hands trembled. The same calm face that once inspired fear now showed fatigue. Perhaps he knew, deep down, that control held by force is always borrowed, never owned. In the months that followed, the regime began to crumble. Not with a bang, but with a quiet collapse—alliances breaking, aides defecting, the economy gasping under sanctions. Haidar’s final public appearance was not on a balcony, but in a courtroom, answering for crimes he once covered with flags and speeches. A transitional government rose from the ruins—not perfect, but accountable. Captain Fareeda, though never seeking office, became a symbol of resistance. Schools returned to teaching true history. And the people, finally, reclaimed the anthem they had stopped singing for years. The army returned to the barracks. And the throne, once stolen by a man in uniform, was placed back in the hands of the people. Don't Forget To Give A Like ❤️ 😍 Thank You ☺️ 😀
By Tahirabout a year ago in Criminal
Walk the Plank. AI-Generated.
It had rained all night in the city of Fairview. The streets still shimmered under the morning haze, the scent of wet asphalt hanging in the air. At precisely 6:47 AM, the body of Terrence Hall—a respected community leader and activist—was discovered lying face-down near the old shipyard, a rotting plank from a cargo crate splintered beside him. His skull had been crushed. No signs of a struggle. No weapon in sight. Detective Nathan Boone stood over the yellow tape, sipping lukewarm coffee. He’d known Hall. Everyone had. A loud, fearless man who’d rallied youth programs, taken on corrupt councilmen, and cleaned up the notorious 9th Ward. Hall had made enemies, no doubt—but murder? Boone examined the scene with his usual sharpness. The plank wasn’t from any structure nearby—it was aged, warped, likely driftwood. There were no security cameras in that forgotten part of the city. Whoever did this had planned it well. Hall’s phone was found shattered nearby, but his watch and wallet were untouched. Not a robbery, then. Boone made note of the time and left the scene. His first stop: Hall’s office. It was a modest space filled with protest posters, community flyers, and photos of youth events. His assistant, Carla, was already crying when Boone entered. “Terrence got a threat two nights ago,” she whispered. “Someone slipped a note under the door. It said, ‘Keep pushing, and you’ll fall off the plank.’ He thought it was a joke.” Boone stared at her. “Did he mention any names?” She shook her head. “He just said some people didn’t want him to testify next week.” Boone’s brow furrowed. He remembered reading about a pending court case. Hall was scheduled to testify against Fairview’s largest private contractor, Larkridge Development, accused of fraud and bribery. Hall had proof—documents tying Larkridge to falsified safety reports and kickbacks to city officials. It was supposed to be his biggest stand. Boone drove to City Hall. He knew Councilman Briggs would be there—one of Hall’s loudest critics and a known supporter of Larkridge. The man greeted Boone with a practiced smile. “Terrible news,” Briggs said, voice hollow. “A real loss for the city.” “Tell me about your last interaction with Hall,” Boone asked casually. Briggs leaned back in his leather chair. “We disagreed often, but I respected the man. We had a heated meeting last week, but that’s nothing new.” Boone nodded. “Do you know anything about a threat he received?” Briggs raised an eyebrow. “I don’t traffic in threats, detective.” Boone left with a gnawing feeling. Briggs was lying, but he couldn’t prove it—yet. By evening, Boone met with forensics. The plank had traces of industrial oil and sea barnacles—likely from a shipping container, not the local docks. It had one clue: a faded serial number burned into the wood’s underside. The team traced it back to a closed Larkridge site on the east pier. Boone drove there under the cover of dusk. The pier was silent, rusted, and half-sunk in tidewater. Inside the main warehouse, dust and old tools littered the floor. And then he saw them—planks identical to the one used in the murder, stacked by a wall. The match was perfect. Someone had brought Hall here. Killed him. Dumped him feet away from the riverbank like a warning. As Boone turned to leave, he heard a sound behind him. Footsteps. He drew his weapon. “Fairview PD. Step out!” A man in coveralls emerged from the shadows—thin, pale, trembling. “Don’t shoot! I—I used to work here.” Boone lowered his gun slightly. “Did you see anything?” The man hesitated. “I was here two nights ago, just sleeping. I—I saw a black SUV pull in. Three men dragged someone out. One hit him with something—it sounded like wood. They were yelling about ‘shutting him up.’ Then they left him there. I was too scared to move.” Boone took a statement, recorded the witness’s ID, and rushed back to headquarters. By morning, surveillance logs from nearby traffic lights confirmed the SUV. It was registered to a shell company—one later traced back to Larkridge’s legal department. Boone confronted Larkridge’s lawyer, Jordan Mayes, in his uptown office. “You’re in deep now,” Boone said, dropping a folder of evidence on his desk. Mayes scoffed, but his hands shook. “You don’t have anything solid.” “I’ve got a witness. Forensics. Footage. And a dead man who trusted the law more than fear. You can take the fall, or give me the men who did this.” Mayes crumbled. Within hours, three Larkridge employees—including a security chief—were arrested. The motive: Hall had refused a $500,000 bribe to withdraw his testimony. So they silenced him the only way they knew. A week later, Boone stood silently at Hall’s memorial service. Hundreds gathered. Children, families, even former enemies. The man had moved a city. In his pocket, Boone still carried a copy of the note that started it all: “Keep pushing, and you’ll fall off the plank.” They’d meant it as a threat. But Hall had walked the plank willingly—for justice. And Boone made sure he didn’t fall in vain.
By Abdurrahman Abdurrahmanabout a year ago in Criminal
Germany: Berlin doctor charged with 15 counts of murder
Introduction In one of the most troubling cases of medical crime in Germany in recent years, a doctor from Berlin has been charged with 15 counts of murder. The accused, a 57-year-old anesthesiologist, allegedly administered lethal doses of medication to patients at a hospital in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district between 2019 and 2022. The case has sent shockwaves through Germany’s medical community, raising urgent questions about patient safety, medical ethics, and institutional oversight.
By Binte Mistryabout a year ago in Criminal
Israel says it will expand its offensive across most of Gaza
Israel's defence minister has announced its military will soon "vigorously" expand its offensive throughout most of Gaza. Israel Katz also said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had completed the takeover of a "security zone" in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, separating the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
By MriduL HassaNabout a year ago in Criminal
The Road Back
In the busy streets of a city named Armanpur, there lived a man named Rafiq. People whispered about him, called him names, and avoided his path. He was known as a criminal. He had been to jail twice—for stealing and fighting. People feared him.
By Nihal Khanabout a year ago in Criminal
A Scream in the Midnight
Chapter One: The Dark Beginning The night was pitch black in the village of Glenora, where the villagers gathered around a fire flickering in front of the scattered stone cottages. The cold was biting, the sky heavy with clouds, and the wind howled as if trying to rip the souls from their bodies. Glenora was an ancient, isolated village, surrounded by legends and tales about an abandoned mansion on a high hill, a place no one dared to approach after sunset. It was said that this mansion once belonged to the Finebrook family, known for their wealth and power in past centuries, but their end was rumored to be both catastrophic and bloody.
By mohamed elsayedabout a year ago in Criminal
The Great Escape
Chapter One - The Dark Beginning In the pitch-black darkness that envelops the secret prison, Zaid sat in a cold, damp corner, drowning in his tangled thoughts. This place was just another cage that imprisoned him after serving his country faithfully for many years as a brave fighter. Now, he found himself detained on false charges, surrounded by strangers in this fearsome secret prison. Zaid sighed sadly, remembering how he was forcibly brought here without a fair trial or the chance to defend himself. He felt angry and frustrated at the injustice he suffered, but deep inside, there was a spark of hope and determination to survive.
By mohamed elsayedabout a year ago in Criminal
The Only Witness
Chapter 1: "Crime in the Wrong Time and Place" On a foggy night, when the sky was overcast and the city's streets were nearly empty, Samer Jad sat in a small café near a popular neighborhood. Samer, in his thirties, worked as a freelance journalist and was searching for an exciting story to write. But that night, he had no idea that what would happen would exceed all expectations.
By mohamed elsayedabout a year ago in Criminal