Death of a Dream

by Paul LaRosa, Erin Moriarty

A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH AMBITIOUS DREAMS -- DID FOLLOWING HER HEART COST HER LIFE? Award-winning journalists from TV's 48 Hours Mystery go inside the case that shocked even jaded New the murder of aspiring dancer Catherine Woods. She was a gifted midwestern beauty, the daughter of Ohio State University's marching band to dance on Broadway. Soon after high school graduation, Catherine left Columbus for New York City, determined to be a star. Three years later, she was dead -- murdered in cold blood in her East Side apartment. The shocking revelations that emerged from the police investigation made tabloid few knew that the struggling artist paid her bills by dancing in a topless club. But there was another hidden facet to Catherine's life -- a shattering love triangle with two men, one of whom would ultimately be convicted of her brutal stabbing death. It's a chilling account of obsession, violence, and the surprising, minute evidence on which the entire case hinged. For a talented young woman reaching for the top, and the heartbroken family she left behind, it is truly the death of a dream.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2008

About the author

I'm so happy with the reviews of my memoir "Leaving Story Avenue, my journey from the projects to the front page." Here are just a few:

The NY Times: "A captivating and vivid memoir..."

Ken Auletta of The New Yorker magazine: "A poignant and funny memoir...."

The Newark Star Ledger: "Paul LaRosa nails the twilight era of American newspapers with the aplomb of the award-winning journalist he became."

Tom Robbins, investigative journalist: "LaRosa has a great ear, a great eye and a great sense of self-effacing humor...a marvelous tale of a fast-disappearing part of New York."

Of the 17 reader reviews on Amazon, 16 of them are 5-star and the other is a 4-star review.

Thanks everyone.

Paul

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone,

My latest book "Death of a Dream" -- co-writter with CBS News Correspondent Erin Moriarty -- will be published on Tuesday March 25th and of course I'd encourage you all to pick up a copy and read it. I'll be happy to answer your questions.

It's the story of a young woman who came to NYC to become a Broadway dancer and instead only found tragedy. To this day, it's still hard to believe that the person convicted of murdering her really did it. He was much too intelligent and accomplished.

This is fascinating story that we tell from soup to nuts and I know you'll find it a compelling read.

Here's a couple of reviews:

“La Rosa and Moriarty deliver a compelling account of [Catherine’s] horrifying murder and the subsequent investigation and trial. Their version of events allows readers to draw their own conclusions as to whether justice was served.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Dreams often do die hard—but few as brutally as those of Catherine Woods.
DEATH OF A DREAM is a haunting tale of murder, obsessive love, and betrayal—
and a chilling good read.”
—Linda Fairstein, former prosecutor and best-selling author of Killer Heat

Read the first chapter free at:
my link text

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is based on a true story. i was drawn to this book, obviously, because it is about a dancer who moves to nyc to "make it" in the big apple. she lives there for about 3 years or so before she is brutally murdered in her apartment. very intertesting story. some parts of the trial are word-for-word in the book. one of the men (she had 2) in her life was eventually convicted of her murder, but he still says he is innocent. according to the evidence in the case, it is hard to say....sometimes, you think that he didn't do it and other times, you are almost positive that he did do it.

this book is from one of hte stories run on 48 hours mystery. i know that there are 2 other episodes of the series that have been turned into books and i am looking for them so i can read them as well.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death of a Dream, a real life story about Catherine Woods, was interesting on several levels. Even though the writers jumped around a lot from one time to another and one character to another, I felt the pain of Catherine's family and the tragedy of having dreams die--literally. The investigation and procedures left me with many questions about why certain procedures that should have been necessary were not performed, like not getting Paul's fingerprints. The investigators came across as mucking up. The court scenes portrayed the defense team as inept and the prosecution as over-the-top. At the end of the book I still had reasonable doubt. I think I will remember this book as much for what it didn't do as for what it did.

[Laren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An aspiring dancer moves from Ohio to New York City to pursue her dream. Unfortunately she is brutally murdered. This book explores the investigation in more detail that we got from the TV report done on the case (also done by the authors). The authors did a terrific job of not descending into sensationalistic smut as many would have done when the fact that the victim was earning money as an exotic dancer was revealed. Then just when I had a vague feeling that the authors must believe the convicted man was in fact guilty, they reviewed the many questions left unanswered after the trial and left me with a tiny sliver of what we know as reasonable doubt. Well played.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now, I like a little true crime here and there. In fact "Tru TV" (formerly Court TV) is favorite of mine on Saturday night. However, while this one was written fairly well, had I known how much sexual stuff was intertwined with this murder mystery, I wouldn't have read it. I was particulary disturbed by the testimony of the man eventually convicted for this crime. I know that you have to report it as it happened, but if I hadn't been almost done with the book, I would have probably stopped reading it. Too much for my sensibilities.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story interesting because it was written by a "hometown" news reporter, Erin Moriarity, about a "hometown" girl - the daughter of the very talented Jon Woods, director of the OSU marching band. Beautiful, talented in her own right, yet savagely murdered in the Big Apple - the place she made home in her quest to "make it." A very sad story. Some very strange characters. Did Paul Cortez do it? Only Paul Cortez really knows. Compelling evidence, compelling questions never really answered.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is yet another of the many true crime books I've devoured. This one is particularly interesting because the victim, to me, is puzzling and fascinating at the same time. Catherine Woods was a beautiful young woman who wanted to be a dancer in New York City. She ended up working as a stripper to make ends meet and eventually was brutally stabbed to death. This is the story of her murder and the subsequent investigation. I've found myself really wondering about this victim as I am reading the book, because she's a true mystery in and of herself.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read and a real whodunit. Sad story about two very promising young people with much to offer and the events that lead up to one's tragic death. Even the most unlikely people can snap and do things they and others who know them could never believe possible.
Well written and researched.

[Angel Garlinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good when it first started but it started to drag on and got kind of boring. The only reason I kept reading was because I wanted to find out what happened and if the suspect was found guilty or not. I feel for this young woman and the families of everyone that was involved.

[Debra D Weigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book got my attention to read for Ohio State summer reading bingo. As an Ohio State grad I was very familiar with who John Woods was but had never heard tragic story of his daughters short life.
The book really keep me Interested and Led to discussions with others on the story and outcome.

[Katrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but could do without the vulgarity and swearing.

[Logan Penrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Couldn't put it down. Had the urge to flip to the last chapter to see whodunnit

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got redundant at times. Good at explaining all parts of the case. Paul Cortez killed Catherine Woods and you cannot change my mind goodnight.

[Mary Kamrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting true crime story. I enjoy the trial and verdict parts, not just the committing of the murder.

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I just like fictional crime better than true crime.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had seen every 48 Hours Mystery episode out there. I'm kind of addicted to that show. Guess I was wrong. Death of a Dream was one I have not seen. And I guess that's a good thing because I was able to read this book without knowing the ending, and having preconceived notions. The book was so well written that, at times, I forgot I was actually reading non-fiction instead of a novel. The events just seemed to flow naturally. It was like an episode of Law & Order almost.

My problem with the book was it did not convince me that Paul was actually the murderer. Who knows what pieces, if any, are missing from the story. However, I thought the evidence was sloppy and important things were overlooked. Why was the hair never tested for DNA? Huge question!!! Any lay person that watches CSI knows you should test everything for DNA! Especially when a murder happens in a relatively murder free area like the Upper East Side. Seriously. That was my biggest peeve. But like I said, there may be facts missing that weren't disclosed in the book. And the video "proving" he was wearing boots. How can you tell from a grainy video?!?! And how can you really tell they were boots when he was wearing jeans?!? I'm curious to see, in the years to come, if Paul is, in fact, granted another trial.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true crime. Not a part was missed. It had it all...background on the people involved, the murder, the investigation, trial, verdict, and sentencing. Very well rounded.

[Janis Gilbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A typical true mystery about a beautiful girl that traveled to New York to be a dancer on Broadway. A boyfriend was convicted of killing her. Just ok.

BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH AMBITIOUS DREAMS -- DID FOLLOWING HER HEART COST HER LIFE?

Award-winning journalists from TV's 48 Hours Mystery go inside the case that shocked even jaded New Yorkers: the murder of aspiring dancer Catherine Woods.



She was a gifted midwestern beauty, the daughter of Ohio State University's marching band director: to dance on Broadway. Soon after high school graduation, Catherine left Columbus for New York City, determined to be a star. Three years later, she was dead -- murdered in cold blood in her East Side apartment. The shocking revelations that emerged from the police investigation made tabloid headlines: few knew that the struggling artist paid her bills by dancing in a topless club. But there was another hidden facet to Catherine's life -- a shattering love triangle with two men, one of whom would ultimately be convicted of her brutal stabbing death. It's a chilling account of obsession, violence, and the surprising, minute evidence on which the entire case hinged. For a talented young woman reaching for the top, and the heartbroken family she left behind, it is truly the death of a dream.(less)
Pa

[Sarah Kester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after watching the 48 Hours Mystery, because after watching the show, I was left with so many unanswered questions about what happened to Catherine Woods.

The case was haunting, because this young, beautiful girl was murdered so violently by someone who claimed to be her boyfriend and seemed to have everything going for him. After reading the book, I still felt unsure about the conviction of her boyfriend, Paul Cortez, for her murder.

He seemed so unlikely a killer in his interview on the program. The book points out some damning evidence against him, such as the fact that he called her an obsessive number of times and the way he talked strangely about sex on the witness stand, but the most damning initially - the girl that came forward and accused him of rape and his fingerprint at the crime scene proved to not be as convincing as the show led you to believe.

The fingerprint was never analyzed to see when it was left in Catherine's apartment and the rape case was dropped by the girl who said the sex started out as consensual and she didn't really want to bring charges against Paul Cortez in the first place.

I thought the book did a much better job going into what might have happened to Catherine than the program, but there are still so many unanswered questions.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Death of a Dream" is a well-written, unbiased account of the murder of a beautiful young dancer in New York City that took place just a few years ago. Catherine Woods was bright and determined to make it on her own when she left her hometown in Ohio to study dance in NYC. Three years later, she was brutally murdered in her small apartment. The investigation focused on two main persons of interest, two guys Catherine had been simultaneously dating. One of them was eventually convicted of her murder, despite scant evidence and shoddy work on the part of his defense attorneys. Read for yourself and see if you believe they got the right guy. There is also a 48 Hours Mystery episode about this that I was able to find on youtube and watch after I read the book.

I really liked the way this book was written and the way the case was presented. I've read a couple of Ann Rule's books in the past, and they were a little dry IMO, bogged down with minute details. "Death of a Dream", however, gets all of the details across while still remaining interesting, suspenseful, and engaging. I definitely plan to read one or two others by Paul LaRosa and/or other books put out by 48 Hours Mystery.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the murder of Catherine Woods -- a young girl from Ohio who goes to New York City to make it big as a Broadway dancer. It is one of the few true crime books where I am unsure about whether the convicted killer is actually guilty.

[Natasha Mandel (The Art of a Happy Heart) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Not much more trial information than I have found after watching the reports/reading books on this case, however, it did give much more in depth background of the characters and their relationship and how they intertwined. Good read.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a very intersting book and i am going to looking into it

[LRF · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really interesting. It was written just like the tv show, so you actually feel like you are watching it as you read! That does mean, though, that it gets a little repetitive.

[Robyn Dones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2008

[Shelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

just started it.

[Chamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my gripes about true crime books is that they always tell you who the killer is in the first chapter...This book kept me guessing.Great work by Mr. LaRosa.

[Micky Parise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book based on a true story from 48 Hours Mystery. Did they get the right one for Catherine Woods murder? I think so. Insightful book. Recommend.

[Ericka Oviedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book .i find my self believing Paul Cortez is innocent their was no substantial evidence !

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book I highly recommend.

[Carrie Billig · Rating 3 out of 5]

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