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True Crime History
Born to Lose: Stanley B. Hoss and the Crime Spree That Gripped a Nation
GOLD MEDAL WINNER of the 2012 Independent Publisher Awards- Best in True Crime
FINALIST, ForeWord Book of the Year Awards
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is pleased to announce the selection of Born To Lose for nationwide availability as a digital audio book.
Information can be found at carnegielibrary.org/lbph/.
If there is one criminal case used as an argument for returning the
death penalty to Pennsylvania and Maryland, it is that of Stanley Hoss.
The bullet that pierced the heart of Patrolman Joe Zanella in a small Pennsylvania town was the opening moment of a crime story with few parallels.
It wasn't the robberies, rapes, the daring escape or even the cop killing that catapulted Stanley Barton Hoss to the FBI's most wanted man, but it was the broad daylight kidnapping of the lovely young mother and her child. In a nearly unprecedented step, J. Edgar Hoover enlisted the army to assist in a nationwide manhunt. An engaged public followed the drama by hour, day and week - and year to year ... for when all thought the carnage was over, it wasn't. And how Hoss struck again, in virtually impossible circumstances, and who fell, brought a governor to a funeral and provoked racial divide in a county.
Distinguished by exceptional cruelty, heartbreak and landmark trials, this story about a resolute criminal is one of superlatives, thick with intrigue, blunder and surprise. It was a guess which legislature more often referenced Stanley Hoss as the perfect reason for capital punishment.
Beyond researching traditional sources and having been granted access to previously sealed state and federal archives, as well as Hoss's most personal and revealing letters, the author has interviewed scores of individuals who lived the roles depicted on the pages of Born To Lose. Hoss's victims of assault and rape, police and prison personnel, assorted cutthroats, the prosecution and defense, judges, the wife, mistress, all have talked for the first time on record.
Yet, it wasn't precisely what Hoss did in Pennsylvania and Maryland, it was to whom and why and how that his reign of violence has sunk into the psyche of a region. This notable saga is a natural read for any true crime devotee, but will as well captivate an audience drawn to a darkling tale that explores - and explains - how occasional human error and the very systems set in place to protect us can so easily be the cause for tragedy.
FINALIST, ForeWord Book of the Year Awards
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is pleased to announce the selection of Born To Lose for nationwide availability as a digital audio book.
Information can be found at carnegielibrary.org/lbph/.
If there is one criminal case used as an argument for returning the
death penalty to Pennsylvania and Maryland, it is that of Stanley Hoss.
The bullet that pierced the heart of Patrolman Joe Zanella in a small Pennsylvania town was the opening moment of a crime story with few parallels.
It wasn't the robberies, rapes, the daring escape or even the cop killing that catapulted Stanley Barton Hoss to the FBI's most wanted man, but it was the broad daylight kidnapping of the lovely young mother and her child. In a nearly unprecedented step, J. Edgar Hoover enlisted the army to assist in a nationwide manhunt. An engaged public followed the drama by hour, day and week - and year to year ... for when all thought the carnage was over, it wasn't. And how Hoss struck again, in virtually impossible circumstances, and who fell, brought a governor to a funeral and provoked racial divide in a county.
Distinguished by exceptional cruelty, heartbreak and landmark trials, this story about a resolute criminal is one of superlatives, thick with intrigue, blunder and surprise. It was a guess which legislature more often referenced Stanley Hoss as the perfect reason for capital punishment.
Beyond researching traditional sources and having been granted access to previously sealed state and federal archives, as well as Hoss's most personal and revealing letters, the author has interviewed scores of individuals who lived the roles depicted on the pages of Born To Lose. Hoss's victims of assault and rape, police and prison personnel, assorted cutthroats, the prosecution and defense, judges, the wife, mistress, all have talked for the first time on record.
Yet, it wasn't precisely what Hoss did in Pennsylvania and Maryland, it was to whom and why and how that his reign of violence has sunk into the psyche of a region. This notable saga is a natural read for any true crime devotee, but will as well captivate an audience drawn to a darkling tale that explores - and explains - how occasional human error and the very systems set in place to protect us can so easily be the cause for tragedy.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2011
37 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 15, 2017
I love a good true crime book, but I don't read a lot of it anymore because I sometimes get so involved in the story that I am convinced I am about to become a target of a horrific murder that will one day be written about by someone (note: an old friend once did my charts and determined that my death would be "controversial", something that has stuck with me these last 20-something years and I am constantly on alert for my controversial death), or I do questionable things like sleepwalk and possibly attempt to kill my mother in bed.
I also like to read about Pittsburgh history, and this particular local history is bananas. In 1969, a regular criminal, Stanley B. Hoss, who had been known for stealing cars and some other burglary and whatnot graduated to kidnapping, rape, and murder in a very short time.
Hollock's book begins with the abduction of a teenage girl who is, within the first few pages, raped by Hoss. He threatens to kill her, more than once, before dumping her back into her neighborhood - but not without making sure she knew that he knew where she lived. We talk a lot about how difficult it is for people who have been sexually assaulted and raped to come forward today, in 2017 - this happened to this young woman in 1969 when her family, friends, and the judicial system didn't quite know what to do with that information.
If you're able to read past those first few pages and the first crime that Hollock shows us in this book, I would like to say that you'll probably be fine throughout the rest of the read. But that would be a lie. I am not normally a squeamish reader. I can read bloody true crime and barely blink at the gruesome nature of some people. But I fully admit the gruesome nature of Hoss's crimes grew increasingly more difficult to read as I went along, culminating in the bloodiest attack of all while Hoss was still in prison. That, my dear Goodreads friends, was brutal to read. I almost had to put the book down after that.
But Hollock is a compelling writer. He managed to take this series of awful events and turn it into a fascinating study of a fucked up dude who had no real incentive to be the way he was. There was a suggestion by Hoss's parents that he was never the same after an untreated head injury as a child, but I believe it's also possible that Hoss was broken from the beginning, if you will, a true sociopath with no real concept of Right and Wrong and (except for one instance that was documented in the book that I can remember) absolutely no remorse for his actions.
This was another book I read for the Battle of the Books tournament which was held last night. (My group did not win, for those of you keeping track, but we did have a blast.) Hollock was one of the authors who was able to come to the event to cheer us on, or mock us, or whatever, and I took an opportunity to talk with him for a few minutes between rounds. He is the sweetest, kindest, grandfatherly sort of man you will ever meet. It amazes me that he a) had the job he had for so long without becoming broken or disillusioned himself and b) that he chose to write about someone capable of so much vile hatred who got his jollies off of violence and the idea of being the baddest bad man in history.
For the record, according to Hollock, when he writes again, he will not be able to do another book quite like this one. He didn't come right out to say it, but I imagine writing this book had to have taken a toll on him emotionally. It took a bit of a toll on me just reading it, as fascinating and enthralling as I found it.
It's just not an easy read.
Perhaps it's more difficult to read because I know the territory. I recognize the places and neighborhoods that Hoss traveled, I have an idea of where he used to live in Tarentum. I know the courthouse and where he was imprisoned. There are key characters in this book that I am familiar with, such as Edgar Snyder, one of his defense attorneys. (Which I am not ashamed to say makes me question the trustworthiness of Snyder now. I know everyone has a job to do, but holy shit.)
Hollock managed to do so much research and talk to so many people who knew Hoss. I'm not sure how he managed to get as much access to people and information as he did, but his work in the system may have helped, or the fact that he looks like someone with whom you would want to sit and have a long talk over coffee at Waffle House. Not only was he able to provide as much research as he could, but he presented it in a very readable, almost addictive way. It reads, at times, like a novel, which makes me worry about supposition (who said what and when if the parties involved are now dead), but in this case I hardly cared.
There are no answers here. If you're working on a project about sociopaths and you hope for some insight into the minds of some fucked up creatures, you won't find any answers here. Locally this is known as one of the worst events to happen in Western Pennsylvania and you will still find locals who remember when all of these things happened in the late 60s and early 70s.
I highly recommend this if you appreciate true crime and can handle disturbing material (some of which is included in the black and white photographic inserts). But if you get squeamish about specific details of a variety of felonies (including murder), then you might want to sit this one out.
I would also like to point out that I was able to answer all of the Battle of the Books tournament questions about this book correctly, which is good considering out of my tiny group, I was the only one to have read all of it. Yes, I quite literally took one for the team.
I also like to read about Pittsburgh history, and this particular local history is bananas. In 1969, a regular criminal, Stanley B. Hoss, who had been known for stealing cars and some other burglary and whatnot graduated to kidnapping, rape, and murder in a very short time.
Hollock's book begins with the abduction of a teenage girl who is, within the first few pages, raped by Hoss. He threatens to kill her, more than once, before dumping her back into her neighborhood - but not without making sure she knew that he knew where she lived. We talk a lot about how difficult it is for people who have been sexually assaulted and raped to come forward today, in 2017 - this happened to this young woman in 1969 when her family, friends, and the judicial system didn't quite know what to do with that information.
If you're able to read past those first few pages and the first crime that Hollock shows us in this book, I would like to say that you'll probably be fine throughout the rest of the read. But that would be a lie. I am not normally a squeamish reader. I can read bloody true crime and barely blink at the gruesome nature of some people. But I fully admit the gruesome nature of Hoss's crimes grew increasingly more difficult to read as I went along, culminating in the bloodiest attack of all while Hoss was still in prison. That, my dear Goodreads friends, was brutal to read. I almost had to put the book down after that.
But Hollock is a compelling writer. He managed to take this series of awful events and turn it into a fascinating study of a fucked up dude who had no real incentive to be the way he was. There was a suggestion by Hoss's parents that he was never the same after an untreated head injury as a child, but I believe it's also possible that Hoss was broken from the beginning, if you will, a true sociopath with no real concept of Right and Wrong and (except for one instance that was documented in the book that I can remember) absolutely no remorse for his actions.
This was another book I read for the Battle of the Books tournament which was held last night. (My group did not win, for those of you keeping track, but we did have a blast.) Hollock was one of the authors who was able to come to the event to cheer us on, or mock us, or whatever, and I took an opportunity to talk with him for a few minutes between rounds. He is the sweetest, kindest, grandfatherly sort of man you will ever meet. It amazes me that he a) had the job he had for so long without becoming broken or disillusioned himself and b) that he chose to write about someone capable of so much vile hatred who got his jollies off of violence and the idea of being the baddest bad man in history.
For the record, according to Hollock, when he writes again, he will not be able to do another book quite like this one. He didn't come right out to say it, but I imagine writing this book had to have taken a toll on him emotionally. It took a bit of a toll on me just reading it, as fascinating and enthralling as I found it.
It's just not an easy read.
Perhaps it's more difficult to read because I know the territory. I recognize the places and neighborhoods that Hoss traveled, I have an idea of where he used to live in Tarentum. I know the courthouse and where he was imprisoned. There are key characters in this book that I am familiar with, such as Edgar Snyder, one of his defense attorneys. (Which I am not ashamed to say makes me question the trustworthiness of Snyder now. I know everyone has a job to do, but holy shit.)
Hollock managed to do so much research and talk to so many people who knew Hoss. I'm not sure how he managed to get as much access to people and information as he did, but his work in the system may have helped, or the fact that he looks like someone with whom you would want to sit and have a long talk over coffee at Waffle House. Not only was he able to provide as much research as he could, but he presented it in a very readable, almost addictive way. It reads, at times, like a novel, which makes me worry about supposition (who said what and when if the parties involved are now dead), but in this case I hardly cared.
There are no answers here. If you're working on a project about sociopaths and you hope for some insight into the minds of some fucked up creatures, you won't find any answers here. Locally this is known as one of the worst events to happen in Western Pennsylvania and you will still find locals who remember when all of these things happened in the late 60s and early 70s.
I highly recommend this if you appreciate true crime and can handle disturbing material (some of which is included in the black and white photographic inserts). But if you get squeamish about specific details of a variety of felonies (including murder), then you might want to sit this one out.
I would also like to point out that I was able to answer all of the Battle of the Books tournament questions about this book correctly, which is good considering out of my tiny group, I was the only one to have read all of it. Yes, I quite literally took one for the team.
January 27, 2026
This book tells the riveting story of a vicious criminal, Stanley Hoss. Hailing from a small town on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, he caused the area to become gripped by terror after his escape from the local workhouse where he was doing time after brutally raping a teenager in 1969. He then began a horrifying crime spree by murdering a beloved local cop, followed by another kidnap and rape. Moving into Maryland, he then kidnapped a young mother and toddler, eventually murdering each of them in separate states. Their bodies have never been located. After being placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, he was captured in Iowa.
In two egregious miscarriages of justice, his sentence of death for the slaying of Officer Zanella was overturned and changed to life imprisonment and a legal technicality prevented him from being tried in the case of the young mother. Now in the penitentiary, his crime wave continued unabated due to the governor's stance on increasing rights of the prisoners. Despite terrorizing and assaulting other prisoners, more and more privileges were given to Hoss. After the governor banned the use of the "hole" for any prisoners, regardless of the risk involved, Hoss and two cohorts were able to overpower and murder a highly-respected guard in a savage and premeditated attack. Once again he did not get the sentence that was sought by the prosecutor. Hoss finally cracked after being transferred to a new prison and spending several years of solitary confinement that was likely to continue for many years. He hung himself rather than stick it out in solitary.
The author, James G Hollock, did extensive research and it shows. The book is very detailed, yet it is very readable. I sought out this book because I'm from the area where Hoss is from and spent much of his imprisonment. Although a very small child at the time of his rampage, I was aware of Stanley Hoss and the fear associated with his name. In fact, he was the boogeyman of my childhood, as we would be cautioned not to talk to strangers or to go anywhere we couldn't be found because Stanley Hoss might get us like he got that lady and her little girl. Hollock does an excellent job of capturing the essence of those times. It was a fascinating book and I recommend it highly to any true crime aficionados and especially to anybody from Pittsburgh and the tri-state area.
In two egregious miscarriages of justice, his sentence of death for the slaying of Officer Zanella was overturned and changed to life imprisonment and a legal technicality prevented him from being tried in the case of the young mother. Now in the penitentiary, his crime wave continued unabated due to the governor's stance on increasing rights of the prisoners. Despite terrorizing and assaulting other prisoners, more and more privileges were given to Hoss. After the governor banned the use of the "hole" for any prisoners, regardless of the risk involved, Hoss and two cohorts were able to overpower and murder a highly-respected guard in a savage and premeditated attack. Once again he did not get the sentence that was sought by the prosecutor. Hoss finally cracked after being transferred to a new prison and spending several years of solitary confinement that was likely to continue for many years. He hung himself rather than stick it out in solitary.
The author, James G Hollock, did extensive research and it shows. The book is very detailed, yet it is very readable. I sought out this book because I'm from the area where Hoss is from and spent much of his imprisonment. Although a very small child at the time of his rampage, I was aware of Stanley Hoss and the fear associated with his name. In fact, he was the boogeyman of my childhood, as we would be cautioned not to talk to strangers or to go anywhere we couldn't be found because Stanley Hoss might get us like he got that lady and her little girl. Hollock does an excellent job of capturing the essence of those times. It was a fascinating book and I recommend it highly to any true crime aficionados and especially to anybody from Pittsburgh and the tri-state area.
January 14, 2014
I saw this book at the bookstore with the author who wrote it. I talked to him for a good while. I like to read true crime books.
January 26, 2017
Wow, this book was long and very thoroughly researched, but so interesting and good. The author did an intense job of covering points of view from victims' families, police, prison guards, etc. I hated thinking that this book was non-fiction, because Stanley Hoss was so violent and vicious, I can't even imagine people like him existing and the pain he caused. But it was interesting to read about my hometown and areas that I know and have traveled through many times. Definitely worth reading.
August 25, 2013
I could not put this book down. It's a fascinating piece of history that is definitely worth a read by anyone from Pittsburgh. I had no idea any of this had taken place (long before I lived here) but recognized so many of the names, places, etc.
March 8, 2018
Absolutely fascinating.
I had never heard of Stanley Hoss before and I am surprised after reading the book.
He seems to be one of the worst monsters of the twentieth century, and I have read about many.
I had never heard of Stanley Hoss before and I am surprised after reading the book.
He seems to be one of the worst monsters of the twentieth century, and I have read about many.
November 19, 2012
Author visit at Woods Run Library.
Read
May 8, 2012In the IPPY awards, won a gold award in the True Crime category and tied for a silver award in the Biography category
August 2, 2015
Excellent details, writing.
September 14, 2017
This book was interesting at first. The entire second half though, in addition to being tediously detailed and far too long, is mostly about how the biggest problem facing the blameless men and women of the criminal justice system is that sometimes a liberal governor orders them to cease cruel and inhuman practices. The author repeatedly scoffs at the entire concept of criminal defense, implying that public defenders are disingenuous scoundrels whose only goal is to stymie the heroic efforts of "barrel-chested" prosecutors using "gumption" to protect innocent citizens from irredeemable criminals. He similarly disdains the appellate process and any other procedure that stands in the way of swift execution of the accused, and speaks favorably of the practice of holding men in solitary confinement for decades. The author is entitled to this opinion of course, but this reader found it repulsive, and, as a result, found the book a total slog to get through.
January 18, 2025
Do monsters really exist? Well, if you mean werewolves and vampires then no, or at lest I hope not. But when it comes to humans like Hoss, the answer is a chilling YES.
I got this book last Christmas and it took me almost a year to get to it. I was vaguely aware of Hoss from conversations with people who remembered it as it unfolded and being from Pittsburgh, I knew I had to read it. While I won’t go into the grisly details of his crimes, know that yes, he is a monster and one that I am glad had been removed from our planet.
I gave this three stars because it’s probably the best book out there about him and really there is no need for another. The reason it doesn’t get 4 or 5 is that it gets bogged down in so much detail that I feel the middle drags on with details that would be best summarized. I’m not sure I’d ever read it again as I have no interest in revisiting the crimes of Hoss.
I got this book last Christmas and it took me almost a year to get to it. I was vaguely aware of Hoss from conversations with people who remembered it as it unfolded and being from Pittsburgh, I knew I had to read it. While I won’t go into the grisly details of his crimes, know that yes, he is a monster and one that I am glad had been removed from our planet.
I gave this three stars because it’s probably the best book out there about him and really there is no need for another. The reason it doesn’t get 4 or 5 is that it gets bogged down in so much detail that I feel the middle drags on with details that would be best summarized. I’m not sure I’d ever read it again as I have no interest in revisiting the crimes of Hoss.
August 18, 2017
I have to give props to Mr. Hollock for writing out the narrative to a truly horrific series of crimes and doing so in a way that conveys the severity of the crimes while also managing to respect the victims (and victims' families) of Stanley Hoss. I feel slightly ashamed that I've lived in Pittsburgh for over 10 years and had no prior knowledge of these events, some of which happened mere miles from my home. The only reason this gets a "liked it" rating for me is because it's fairly hard to really enjoy a book that turns your stomach into knots without warning (i.e. the descriptions of graphic rapes and murders).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
I really fascinating story that kept me intrigued by his endless horrific crimes that he committed. Hoss was a real dirt bag, and being from this region and knowing the communities he terrorized makes it all that more riveting for me, especially the connection to LaVale (Cumberland) and Western Maryland. This confirms for me why the death penalty is important- some are just beyond redemption and too dangerous even to other inmates and correctional officers. But this is an important story that needs to be told to remember the too many innocent lives he cut short.
June 7, 2018
Awful man, wonderful book
This is a great read for true crime fans, and anyone interested in what makes people tick. Hoss was a psychopath. His tattoo said "Born to Lose," but he was actually Born to Kill. He enjoyed it. What's so spooky is that he had a charming demeanor.
The book is so well written. It's worth the read. Good book for a rainy weekend on the couch. As long as the doors are locked and other people are around!
This is a great read for true crime fans, and anyone interested in what makes people tick. Hoss was a psychopath. His tattoo said "Born to Lose," but he was actually Born to Kill. He enjoyed it. What's so spooky is that he had a charming demeanor.
The book is so well written. It's worth the read. Good book for a rainy weekend on the couch. As long as the doors are locked and other people are around!
January 13, 2025
this might be some of the best true crime writing i’ve ever read, and i’m not just saying that because im obsessed with how Pittsburghy this is.
not enough true crime books talk about Blawnox, Isaly’s chipped-chopped ham, Edgar Snyder, and the Eat’n Park on Route 8 where i had a disastrous first date in high school
not enough true crime books talk about Blawnox, Isaly’s chipped-chopped ham, Edgar Snyder, and the Eat’n Park on Route 8 where i had a disastrous first date in high school
September 26, 2017
While the incidents that take place in the book are interesting this book was too wordy for my liking. I'd had enough after the first hundred pages or so but soldiered on to the end.
March 7, 2018
I bought this book because my father who was a PA State Police was on the case; therefore, the book held interest for me; however, I have read much better true crime novels.
September 30, 2018
Poorly edited and written.
Although the content was interesting the book dragged in places. I think the book was written in a hurried manner.
Although the content was interesting the book dragged in places. I think the book was written in a hurried manner.
January 13, 2021
A non-stop read about a crime spree. Locally to me, a woman and her young daughter were kidnapped and never seen again during this spree.
May 28, 2022
the well written saga of the violent life of Sta
melt Hoss. He is notoriously one of the worst criminals that ever walked the streets of western Pennsylvania. A must read.
melt Hoss. He is notoriously one of the worst criminals that ever walked the streets of western Pennsylvania. A must read.
October 17, 2025
Such a horrific story and at times hard to read, but very well written! Live near Pittsburgh and never knew about this criminal!!
October 29, 2025
Excellent writing
Excellent writing, but leaves one so sad for the state of “justice”. There is no true justice in this world. The victims families suffered and suffered to never find justice. How do public defenders do it and wake up every day? Sickening
Excellent writing, but leaves one so sad for the state of “justice”. There is no true justice in this world. The victims families suffered and suffered to never find justice. How do public defenders do it and wake up every day? Sickening
August 7, 2022
Independent Publishers True Crime Award 2011. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly researched. Not a true crime reader. The author is a friend of a friend. Last 'true crime' I read was 'In Cold Blood' when it first came out. Read this approximately one chapter a day, which is all the time I could stand to be in the 'company' of Stanley Hoss. If you are a 'true crime' reader, highly recommend.
Read
April 9, 2012I read this book ,both because the author is going to give a talk in this area and because one of the crimes happened locally.The criminals in this book are beyond the pale with no redeeming features. I still do not support the death penalty my conclusion is that the law is an ass.
May 28, 2016
Excellent true crime book. I did not know this case until I read this book. Thank you James Hollock.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews