The Two Lost Girls

Hell Hath No Fury

by Troy Taylor

THE TWO LOST GIRLS THE MYSTERY OF THE GRIMES SISTERS A "DEAD MEN DO TELL TALES" BOOK BY TROY TAYLOR On a cold night in December 1956, two young girls mysteriously vanished after a night at the movies on the Southwest Side of Chicago, beginning one of the greatest searches to ever take place in the history of the city. Three weeks later, the bodies of the two lost girls, Barbara and Patricia Grimes, were found on the side of a secluded, snow-covered road, miles from where they disappeared. The discovery of their battered corpses created one of the greatest unsolved mysteries to ever baffle post-war America. Where had the girls been for the past three weeks? Who had killed them? Why could no one determine their actual cause of death? The discovery of the two lost girls began a criminal investigation of epic proportions, involving hundreds of police officers and detectives, embattled coroners, thousands of potential suspects, eerie confessions, psychics, and puzzling questions that no one seemed able to answer. The authorities believed that the girls had died on the night they went missing, but how could they account for the scores of sightings of them that occurred days and even weeks later? What of the reliable witnesses that saw them or spoke to them in person, or during late-night phone calls? And the biggest question of all - why could no one find their killer? In this chilling entry in the "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" Series, author Troy Taylor explores this horrifying case and takes readers step-by-step through the case, pursuing the suspects, and exploring the links between other crimes that may have been committed by the same unknown killer who murdered the Grimes sisters and was never caught. This may be the most unsettling book from Troy Taylor that you've ever read!

Genres: True Crime

158 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2012

Reviews

[Angela Hedworth]

I had heard about this murder on a history thread that I below to on Facebook and I was intrigued by the 'cold' case. I found it difficult at times to distinguish between fact and author's opinion at times. Certainly a puzzling case with so many different stories. In days before DNA evidence and more modern detective and evidence collection practices, the reliability on eye witnesses is surprising -- especially given what studies have shown about eye witnesses and their reliability. Doesn't seem as if the case will ever be solved.

[Debbie De steno]

Very interesting and sad book

[Gretchen]

Fascinating story about the politics and pressure of police work and coroners reports. The cruelty to the family by strangers. Horrible crimes that went unsolved.

[Bettye McKee]

Who murdered the Grimes sisters?

The author has provided a well-written account of the known facts regarding the murders of Barbara and Patricia Grimes in December 1956. These murders are still unsolved, due in large part, in my opinion, to the bungling of law enforcement, a clash of egos, and the dogged pursuit of Bennie Bedwell who clearly was not involved.

An account of the Peterson-Schuessler murders is included. The previous year, three boys were murdered and their bodies dumped in a similar manner. Police decided there was no connection to the Grimes murders.

Several other crimes in the same time frame are mentioned. The book is rather interesting with the exception of the last three chapter in which the author trashes the girls and reveals a number of unconvincing and unlikely theories, then talks about strange happenings occurring at the dump site.

As usual, I have deducted one star for the 25 to 30 typographic errors in the book.

[Sarah]

This book is about the unsolved murders of sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes.

I had never heard of this case before and it's sad that it has been buried for so long.

The book is very well researched and includes quite a lot of photos.

It goes into the details of what happened and follows every step of the investigation.

I am really saddened that nobody was brought to justice over this crime.

It was interesting to read about different theories that people had.

I enjoyed reading the book, but it's a tragedy that these two young women were murdered and that the killer got away with it.

[Paula Mitchell]

This book was of particular interest to me because it takes place in Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs where I grew up, so I was familiar with the places Troy was talking about. I heard about this unsolved case a long time ago. It's the story of 2 girls that go to see an Elvis movie back in the 50's and disappear only to turn up naked on the side of the German Church Road in the SW suburbs. This book contains a lot more information about this and a few other cases around the same time.

[Angela Brann]

First book that I have read by Troy Taylor; definitely won't be the last!

I highly recommend this book! Even if I didn't work in Burr Ridge, Illinois, which is very near where the Grimes girls' bodies were found, and even if I hadn't driven on German Church Road countless times over the years, I would have still thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Jessica]

Interesting Reas

Informative for as much as can be gathered on what has been considered a bungled case. Author drew some interesting connections with other similar cases. This case is really haunting.

[Samira]

An interesting read about the still unsolved murder in 1957 of the Grimes sisters. Good read for crime buffs but hardly any paranormal stories.

[Connie Becerra]

Good read. Interesting how back in the day the death of two young girls created such an outcry, but now, in the 21st century, it is barely a whisper in peoples conciousnesses. Sad story.

[Miss Cat]

Pretty good

This book was surprisingly well written for its genre and form. Not a lot of new information as the case remains unsolved. Lots of good theories, though.

[Terri Oconnell]

This was the sad retelling of the still unsolved murder of the Grimes sisters. No one really knows what happened to them after they left their house on a cold December 1956 evening to go to the movies only to have their nude bodies turn up three weeks later miles from where they were last seen. It is also an example of the horrible police work that occurred back there with police from different locations and cities and on lookers trampling through the unsecured crime scene. This book details, with photos, witnesses reports that only added to the confusion, reports of possible changes to police reports, to the firing of key people that started work on the case. It also talks about the similarities to three other child murders that happened within a time frame of 8 years. A good book with a good amount of information.