Justice Delayed: The Catherine Janet Walsh Story

by Steve Hallock

An estranged husband who was a former high-school sweetheart. A suitor spurned after a night of boozing and dancing. A secret early-morning lover. These were three of the five viable suspects police were investigating after 23-year-old Catherine Janet Walsh’s parents discovered her half-nude body in her bed that Saturday morning of a sultry Labor Day weekend in 1979. But there was not enough evidence to convict any of them. Thirty-two years later, thanks to the emerging science of DNA forensics, Detective Andrew Gall, who was the initial responding officer to the murder scene, had a prime suspect in this cold case. Sperm left on the stored evidence -- a nightgown, a robe tie to bind the young secretary’s hands, and a bandana used to strangle her -- pointed to one of the five men who had motive and/or opportunity to kill her. But this true saga of liquor- and sex-tinged murder that disrupted a small riverside blue-collar town where crime was rare and everybody was related or friends, was only beginning. Now came the trial – no prosecutorial slam dunk, despite the scientific and forensic evidence – as the story of the murder was told in a courtroom drama involving internationally renowned forensics and DNA experts, conflicting character testimony, questionable alibis, and compromised memories of one long night and early morning of dancing, drinking, partying, and death.

Genres: True Crime, Audiobook, Nonfiction

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2015

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good true crime book. You get the facts but that is all. I did not mind the chapters on dna as other amazon reviewers did because I like learning and to be honest I know quite a lot about dna reading so many true crime but there is no information about the killer or the victim and that is a shame. Once people get to know a victim they sympathise and they start caring so if you let your readers not get to know the people in the book you do not involve the readers.


It did not take me 18 days to read but i took a break (which says it all really because if a true crime book is good i do not take breaks from it)

[LB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up in Monaca, and one thing that I could not stop tripping over was the fact that the author kept referring to "upper" and "lower" Monaca. No one there calls it that. You're either "up on the heights" or "downtown". This wasn't the only stumbling block, as the book lacked any real flow. Much of it came in the form of direct quotations from testimony and could have benefitted from being condensed and paraphrased. Truly, the most riveting writing came at the end, but again - mostly direct quotes from other sources. I am glad that this book exists as it gave me insight into a sad part of my hometown's history, but I would have appreciated a little more effort from the author.

[Kathleen Kirchner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really drags

[Shoshana Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The events of this True Crime book are related carefully, and the reader is guided through this complicated case. In addition, the author provides the background context that make the people interesting, believable and multi-dimensional.

The book is beautifully documented, too, with extensive transcripts from testimony, police interviews and forensic reports. This documentation adds to the interest, and deepens the understanding of what happened over a very long period of time.

However, this book is more than the story of a crime. It presents significant information on the science behind the use of DNA evidence in criminal investigation, and also presents some of the issues surrounding this relatively new forensic tool, including political, ethical and moral issues that are being considered, and the potential effects the use of DNA information could have on criminal investigation and prosecution, both positive and negative.

Although reading some of this material required concentration, which removes this from escape reading, I found this book both interesting and thought provoking, and I was impressed with its meticulous attention to detail.

Kevin Pierce provided his always superb narration. He reads nonfiction in a low key style, but he is never bland, monotone or lacking in expression. He never dramatizes, but doing so would be inappropriate and distracting in this kind of book, and he always finds, and stays in, just the right “key”.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting and thought-provoking book. It's very well researched. Not only is the case itself and the fact that it took more than 3 decades
to solve interesting, the discussion of the use of DNA and its pros and cons are extremely thought-provoking. And Kevin Pierce reads this book with his
usual competence. I'm very glad I listened to this one.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.

[Michelle MItchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of cold case files as a result of DNA is highlighted

Very intriguing to follow the development and investigative techniques used through DNA to solve a 34 year old case. The family received closure and peace.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cold case from the 1970s finally gets solved with DNA evidence. Only 180 pages but it seemed MUCH longer. This two-star rating might be too generous.