Death's Shadow: True Tales of Homicide

by Jon Wells

Victims and survivors, angels and demons, intersect along winding roads to imperfect justice.“Bare light bulbs shone against walls painted with graffiti and dried blood, the rooms reeking of a sweet pungent odour like burnt plastic …” So writes award-winning Hamilton Spectator journalist and author Jon Wells in one of four harrowing murder stories in Death’s Shadow. Wells take readers up close into multiple homicide investigations, the agony of victims and their loved ones, and the chilling dance of death between cold-blooded killers and the hard-boiled investigators hunting them. His research draws upon jailhouse interviews with three of the killers as well as with homicide and forensic detectives, and the stories are augmented by crime-scene photographs and portrait photography of all the players.Wells writes of victims and survivors, angels and demons, travelling winding roads to imperfect justice in intimate glimpses of horrific crimes.

Genres: True Crime, Crime

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Nanci McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being for Hamilton, Ontario, I found this book riveting. It is collection of true stories about homicides in the Hamilton area. Jon Wells is an excellent writer. My only criticism is that the book was not long enough!I reached the end and was left wanting more.

[Aubrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've had this book on my TBR for so long, I flat out forgot what it was about. I was quite pleasantly surprised to discover four Canadian true crime stories, wrapped up in one book. 

Each case comes from Hamilton, Ontario, a city I only know from years of listening to quintessential Canadian band Arkells. The book goes through each case with a fine-tooth comb, but often describes places, streets, and areas that require a little extra googling unless you're intimately familiar with the city. 

Each case was fascinating in its own way - and often a little frustrating. I felt frustration for the families and loved ones who couldn't, or didn't, find closure. But I also felt frustration for just being expected to know the areas, street names, and local hangouts. 

While the cases in this book are interesting, and I'd love to hear more about them in a different context, this book is not at all helpful for non-Hamilton locals. 

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are interested in murders around the Hamilton area this is the book for you.jon wells is a writer for the Hamilton spec.i just hope he does more.i have enjoyed all his books he is a good writer on crimes in the area..a must read......murders of charlisa lee clark and pasquale pat sordo 781 king st e Hamilton Ontario Jackie mclean above the sandbar tavern king st e Hamilton Audrey gleaves near lynden Ontario trisha roach 944 Montclair ave Hamilton art rozendal ogradeys roadhouse upper james st Hamilton....

[Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always follow the articles that Jon Wells writes for The Spectator and have purchased or read all of his books. I found this book just echoed what I read about these cases in The Spec.

[Erika Nerdypants · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small collection of unsolved Hamilton murders. Not as good as some of the book length cases he wrote previously, but still good for local interest.