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Unsolved Arizona: A Puzzling History of Murder, Mayhem & Mystery
Are inscriptions on lead crosses found on the banks of the Santa Cruz River remnants of Freemasons or a hoax? How did famous evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson arrive in Douglas weeks after she went missing in Los Angeles and was presumed dead? Did the Lost Dutchman's treasure spell the end for Adolph Ruth, whose skull was found nearly a mile away from his body in the Superstition Mountains? Author Jane Eppinga details thirteen stories of disappearances, murders and unsolved cases from the annals of Arizona history.
- GenresHistory
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 2, 2024
I’m between a 3 and 4 star on this. There are times the stories are engrossing and quite extensive. Others have me scratching my head and wondering why the author bothered to tell the mysteries because they were given two pages, making the pacing very uneven.
Other times, I felt there was unnecessary information, or passages seemed rushed, making the details confusing at times.
One thing that really frustrated me (and is the reason for my lower rating) was that the author puts so much detail into a lot of the earlier stories but then after the McPherson story, some unsolved cases had little to no detail. They were just there, and I feel like there was more to explore and tell, but the author just didn’t seem invested.
Something I liked though that was mentioned in other reviews is that the author does leave the mysteries open ended. She doesn’t give her own theories, but every now and then, it feels like she has a bias—in particular, against Aimee McPherson. That’s not to say I disagree, but I picked up on the author’s sarcasm.
It has fascinating history of Arizona. I’ve lived here on and off since I was 16, so it was a lot of fun to learn. And yikes, I guess every state has their demons but Arizona really and truly had some issues with the justice system.
I do think this is worth a read, though I recommend checking this out through a local library.
Other times, I felt there was unnecessary information, or passages seemed rushed, making the details confusing at times.
One thing that really frustrated me (and is the reason for my lower rating) was that the author puts so much detail into a lot of the earlier stories but then after the McPherson story, some unsolved cases had little to no detail. They were just there, and I feel like there was more to explore and tell, but the author just didn’t seem invested.
Something I liked though that was mentioned in other reviews is that the author does leave the mysteries open ended. She doesn’t give her own theories, but every now and then, it feels like she has a bias—in particular, against Aimee McPherson. That’s not to say I disagree, but I picked up on the author’s sarcasm.
It has fascinating history of Arizona. I’ve lived here on and off since I was 16, so it was a lot of fun to learn. And yikes, I guess every state has their demons but Arizona really and truly had some issues with the justice system.
I do think this is worth a read, though I recommend checking this out through a local library.
May 7, 2021
I live in Tempe, so when I saw this book, I was intrigued.
I would not call it a particularly good book on Arizona mysteries. The coverage is uneven: Aimee McPherson gets about a dozen pages, but Sally Klump gets three. Some of the earlier sections go into depth behind the principles' parents' lives, which I felt was unnecessary.
Of course, the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is here. I recognized one or two other mysteries; the rest were new. What most intrigued me was the Silverbell Artifacts (which were new to me), because I noticed that the translation that Jane Eppinga provides makes more sense when you read the last line first, and proceed upwards. But undoubtedly someone else has noticed this.
I would not call it a particularly good book on Arizona mysteries. The coverage is uneven: Aimee McPherson gets about a dozen pages, but Sally Klump gets three. Some of the earlier sections go into depth behind the principles' parents' lives, which I felt was unnecessary.
Of course, the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is here. I recognized one or two other mysteries; the rest were new. What most intrigued me was the Silverbell Artifacts (which were new to me), because I noticed that the translation that Jane Eppinga provides makes more sense when you read the last line first, and proceed upwards. But undoubtedly someone else has noticed this.
October 19, 2019
Fun read. Poorly written and researched. But fun to read just the same.
November 17, 2015
Jane Eppinga writes these true, Arizona historical mysteries with brevity and a thoroughness that can hook any reader who enjoys a good mystery.
Familiar with many of Arizona's mysteries myself, I enjoyed reading this book because Eppinga shares stories that aren't so well known. I was impressed with the level of detail and the thoroughness with which the stories were presented. All the facts were there, woven into a complete story-- the best part is the author leaves the mysteries open-ended and doesn't attempt to explain away the mystery with her own theories.
To illustrate what I mean about details-- I've also read "The Great Soul Trial", which tells the story of James Kidd. Soul Trial did not include a photo of Kidd, which Eppinga includes in this book-- a real treat! It also didn't include details of how the verdict of the trial had been reversed.
This book is well written, and I'm pleased to add it to my collection of historical mysteries.
If Eppinga writes another book like this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Familiar with many of Arizona's mysteries myself, I enjoyed reading this book because Eppinga shares stories that aren't so well known. I was impressed with the level of detail and the thoroughness with which the stories were presented. All the facts were there, woven into a complete story-- the best part is the author leaves the mysteries open-ended and doesn't attempt to explain away the mystery with her own theories.
To illustrate what I mean about details-- I've also read "The Great Soul Trial", which tells the story of James Kidd. Soul Trial did not include a photo of Kidd, which Eppinga includes in this book-- a real treat! It also didn't include details of how the verdict of the trial had been reversed.
This book is well written, and I'm pleased to add it to my collection of historical mysteries.
If Eppinga writes another book like this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews