Final Payoff: The True Price Of Convicting Clifford Robert Olson

by Ian Mulgrew

Genres: True Crime

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

A veteran Canadian journalist, currently a columnist with the Vancouver Sun.

The author of three books covering topics from true crime to professional football.

Work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Edmonton Sun, Christian Science Monitor and the Toronto Star.

His journalism has been recognized with a B’nai Brith award for coverage of discrimination against Japanese Canadians during the Second World War and the Best Limited Series award for his CBC Vancouver radio show Forum, among others.

Reviews

[Volare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good procedural of the police investigation, arrest, pay-offf deal, and trial of Clifford Olsen.

It avoids gruesome and gory detail and focuses on the police, lawyers, victims, and family members.

It does an excellent job of illustrating how one demented individual affected so many lives forever.

[Isabell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really glossed over the victims. It was mostly about the controversial deal. Very disappointed 😞

[Mareika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist Ian Mulgrew covers the details of the financial exchange that left a stain on our justice system - Canadian serial killer Clifford Olson's wife and child were left with $100,000 in exchange for Olson leading police to the bodies of the 11 children he raped and murdered in the 1980s, clearly bringing into question the criminal code that states a criminal can never be rewarded for his/her crime(s).

This is a good read because it doesn't glorify the serial killer; Mulgrew doesn't go into gruesome detail of the crimes (just enough so you know what happened) - the focus is rather on the political and social aftermath of the murders and trial. This was a nightmare for parents living in the Fraser Valley of BC, and is a disturbing read.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really hard-to-put-down book about a hideous criminal case. Really gives you a flavor of what the killer was like, unlike any other book I've found on the guy, despite the shoot-from-the-hip psychoanalysis and other distracting elements. This also explains the reasoning behind the notorious financial deal -- as well as the complete text of the contract everyone signed -- and gives a good sense of the arguments for and against. This could prove to be my favorite book on the case.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book raises the question: Should criminals be paid for their confessions? Not particularly well-written book but an interesting concept. There was a backlash over decision that was made so it probably isnt going to be a common practice.