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Without Mercy: Obsession and Murder Under the Influence
ON ANY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE FLORIDA REDLANDS, DEE CASTEEL MIGHT HAVE SERVED YOU PANCAKES AT THE IHOP …
She was a hard-working, cheerful waitress, one of the nicest people you’d ever want to know. She was also a three-bottle-a-day alcoholic, hopelessly in love with the IHOP’s manager, Allen Bryant. Bryant wanted his live-in lover, IHOP owner Art Venecia, dead. And Dee Casteel helped him to arrange it.
After Venecia’s murder, Dee and Bryant moved into his house, forged checks, spent his money, and embezzled from the IHOP to buy gifts for Bryant’s boyfriends. But there was an even more gruesome killing to come …
WITHOUT MERCY is an engrossing, bizarre true story that traces the twisted path to a loathsome crime. But it is also the story of middle-class citizens gone wrong, of an almost-perfect murder, the traumas of alcoholism, and a legal system that can be deadly in itself. Dee Casteel was an ordinary woman—who now stands convicted of one of the most cold-blooded crimes of this century.
She was a hard-working, cheerful waitress, one of the nicest people you’d ever want to know. She was also a three-bottle-a-day alcoholic, hopelessly in love with the IHOP’s manager, Allen Bryant. Bryant wanted his live-in lover, IHOP owner Art Venecia, dead. And Dee Casteel helped him to arrange it.
After Venecia’s murder, Dee and Bryant moved into his house, forged checks, spent his money, and embezzled from the IHOP to buy gifts for Bryant’s boyfriends. But there was an even more gruesome killing to come …
WITHOUT MERCY is an engrossing, bizarre true story that traces the twisted path to a loathsome crime. But it is also the story of middle-class citizens gone wrong, of an almost-perfect murder, the traumas of alcoholism, and a legal system that can be deadly in itself. Dee Casteel was an ordinary woman—who now stands convicted of one of the most cold-blooded crimes of this century.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 1, 2021
So as quickly as I read I was asked the ubiquitous question “what is your favorite book?” I hate that question! But he narrowed the genre to true crime and my favorite hands down is this one! It’s just so hideously stupid that I can’t believe it even happened. I realize a couple of people were lost, and that’s definitely awful but reading this book is just a manual of what not to do ever. Except don’t go to Walmart. They didn’t visit that chain. So there’s a point for them.
True Crime Commemoration # 25
Setting : 1983 Dade County
Amazingly ridiculous
7/13/19 sometimes when I feel really low I just listen to this book and it just makes me laugh because I can't believe people can be this stupid
10/26/19 driving in carpool entertaining my passengers with this audiobook. They are so sucked in they don’t want to get out of the car! This book is way tooooo over the top how NOT plan a murder.
True Crime Commemoration # 25
Setting : 1983 Dade County
Amazingly ridiculous
7/13/19 sometimes when I feel really low I just listen to this book and it just makes me laugh because I can't believe people can be this stupid
10/26/19 driving in carpool entertaining my passengers with this audiobook. They are so sucked in they don’t want to get out of the car! This book is way tooooo over the top how NOT plan a murder.
March 29, 2023
A true crime book of a double murder dating back to 1983. For any true crime book the actual case needs to have a lot substance to it otherwise it should just be a three-pager in one of those true crime magazines. This has just about enough.
The writing is good as you feel you know the main character who is Dee Casteel a 44-year-old alcoholic who gets entangled in her boss’s plan to murder his gay lover so he can be with another and take his money in the process. Her boss is Allen Bryant, 25, whose lover, Arthur ‘Art’ Venecia, bought an IHOP franchise in Naranja, Florida for him to manage.
I really did get into the story and it is tragic as you feel awfully sad for Dee, the victim and the victim’s mother. Ultimately, Dee did go along with it so has to face the consequences of her actions. Her life had been a litany of mistakes and regrets. Picking the wrong man, sticking with the man rather than her daughter, making her two young sons fend for themselves and ultimately assisting in a double murder. I am sure if she had her life over again she would not have made these same mistakes. This is not a case of I’ve lived my life and have no regrets.
The author does do that odd thing though that many true crime writers do and write out scenarios / thoughts of the victims that you could not possibly know took place. That is very odd to me and I feel it is not needed. It just seems silly rather than enhancing the narrative. Make the book flow like a story, of course, that works better but adding these is worthless.
A decent true crime book.
The writing is good as you feel you know the main character who is Dee Casteel a 44-year-old alcoholic who gets entangled in her boss’s plan to murder his gay lover so he can be with another and take his money in the process. Her boss is Allen Bryant, 25, whose lover, Arthur ‘Art’ Venecia, bought an IHOP franchise in Naranja, Florida for him to manage.
I really did get into the story and it is tragic as you feel awfully sad for Dee, the victim and the victim’s mother. Ultimately, Dee did go along with it so has to face the consequences of her actions. Her life had been a litany of mistakes and regrets. Picking the wrong man, sticking with the man rather than her daughter, making her two young sons fend for themselves and ultimately assisting in a double murder. I am sure if she had her life over again she would not have made these same mistakes. This is not a case of I’ve lived my life and have no regrets.
The author does do that odd thing though that many true crime writers do and write out scenarios / thoughts of the victims that you could not possibly know took place. That is very odd to me and I feel it is not needed. It just seems silly rather than enhancing the narrative. Make the book flow like a story, of course, that works better but adding these is worthless.
A decent true crime book.
February 10, 2020
Another successful true crime story that shows one bad decision can (and will) lead to another. It will also make you never look at your IHOP waitress the same way ever again.
January 31, 2017
Most of this book is devoted to describing the characters and events that took place. It's well organized and reads like a novel. In fact, my major criticism is the use of second person POV in a few of the chapters. There's no courtroom scenes.
Kevin Pierce delivers his customary outstanding performance. He really knows how to read true crime.
This book was originally published in 1989, just a few years after the crime and trial. The audiobook was published much more recently, however, and I think a forward should have been added updating this case. Fortunately, some info is available on the Net. Dee Casteel's death sentence was vacated in 1990 and she was re-sentenced to life. She died in prison in 2002.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
Kevin Pierce delivers his customary outstanding performance. He really knows how to read true crime.
This book was originally published in 1989, just a few years after the crime and trial. The audiobook was published much more recently, however, and I think a forward should have been added updating this case. Fortunately, some info is available on the Net. Dee Casteel's death sentence was vacated in 1990 and she was re-sentenced to life. She died in prison in 2002.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
September 16, 2016
I was hooked after reading the preface and from that point on the story just kept getting weirder and more interesting.
April 5, 2017
This book is one that I have read a couple of times before. It always stayed with me. It is about the murders of Art Valencia and his mother Bessie. It follows Dee Casteel, a waitress at the IHOP in the Florida Redlands. She was in love with the gay manager, James Allen Bryant, who was the boyfriend of the owner, Art Valencia. Bryant wanted Valencia killed so he could be with his other boyfriend, and have Art's money, too. He got Dee to arrange the both murders by plying her with alcohol (she was an alcoholic). This book was well-written and well researched. The author really humanizes Dee, and gives the face of a woman who made some very bad decisions, but does stand up and takes responsibility for her actions. I really enjoyed the book and will probably read it yet again!
November 13, 2018
Why Do People Do What They Do
This is the story of an interesting case. A cold-blooded murder by a band of people who did not think the details through but almost got away with two murders and grand larceny. It is detailed enough to keep one’s interests. It could probably be longer with more details from the co-defendants but I think there is enough here to understand the people involved.
This is the story of an interesting case. A cold-blooded murder by a band of people who did not think the details through but almost got away with two murders and grand larceny. It is detailed enough to keep one’s interests. It could probably be longer with more details from the co-defendants but I think there is enough here to understand the people involved.
February 20, 2018
Without Mercy is one of those books where you don't want to give away too much in a review. So, I'll start by saying that this book involves murder, deceit, and a cast of morally corrupt characters.
At the top of the list of morally corrupt characters is a man by the name of James Allen Bryant. Allen is a narcissist. He is a pathological liar. He is also a psychopath. Take him out of the equation and there is no murder. There are no death sentences. There are no families torn apart. Everything that is evil in this story starts with James Allen Bryant.
Allen is gay. He has no particular skills or talent except perhaps an ability to turn on the charm when needed. Allen uses that charm to attract another gay man by the name of Art Venecia. Art is older and a successful businessman. Art purchases an IHOP restaurant for the sole purpose of giving his young lover the position of manager.
When Allen finds someone new, Art becomes expendable. Allen can't leave Art because Art is his meal ticket. So, Allen decides that the solution to his problem is to kill Art and make off with all of Art's assets. For this he enlists the help of Dee Casteel, a waitress at the IHOP.
Dee is an alcoholic. Allen uses alcohol to lure Dee into his murder plot. This is where the story takes on a whole new level of evil. Dee is not an evil person. She has nothing to gain from Art's murder, except a promise by Allen for a job for life and the ability to continue drinking on the job. But Dee does not believe that her actions of finding a hit man and acting as the go-between makes her a murderer. She doesn't blink an eye when she knows that her actions may lead to someone's death.
Dee's and Allen's co-conspirators are Michael Irvine and Bill Rhodes. These two lowlifes don't have any issues with killing someone for a few thousand dollars. The details of how these four come together, commit multiple crimes, then try to cover their tracks, is an interesting case study in the minds of psychopaths. All four co-conspirators lack a moral compass, a conscience, and an ability to empathize. Their greed and narcissism leave a trail of tragedy and heartbreak.
Without Mercy was first published in 1989. The book has found new life thanks to ebooks and digital audio. The four co-conspirators each got the death sentence. Dee Casteel died in prison in 2002. The other three had their sentences changed to life without parole.
At the top of the list of morally corrupt characters is a man by the name of James Allen Bryant. Allen is a narcissist. He is a pathological liar. He is also a psychopath. Take him out of the equation and there is no murder. There are no death sentences. There are no families torn apart. Everything that is evil in this story starts with James Allen Bryant.
Allen is gay. He has no particular skills or talent except perhaps an ability to turn on the charm when needed. Allen uses that charm to attract another gay man by the name of Art Venecia. Art is older and a successful businessman. Art purchases an IHOP restaurant for the sole purpose of giving his young lover the position of manager.
When Allen finds someone new, Art becomes expendable. Allen can't leave Art because Art is his meal ticket. So, Allen decides that the solution to his problem is to kill Art and make off with all of Art's assets. For this he enlists the help of Dee Casteel, a waitress at the IHOP.
Dee is an alcoholic. Allen uses alcohol to lure Dee into his murder plot. This is where the story takes on a whole new level of evil. Dee is not an evil person. She has nothing to gain from Art's murder, except a promise by Allen for a job for life and the ability to continue drinking on the job. But Dee does not believe that her actions of finding a hit man and acting as the go-between makes her a murderer. She doesn't blink an eye when she knows that her actions may lead to someone's death.
Dee's and Allen's co-conspirators are Michael Irvine and Bill Rhodes. These two lowlifes don't have any issues with killing someone for a few thousand dollars. The details of how these four come together, commit multiple crimes, then try to cover their tracks, is an interesting case study in the minds of psychopaths. All four co-conspirators lack a moral compass, a conscience, and an ability to empathize. Their greed and narcissism leave a trail of tragedy and heartbreak.
Without Mercy was first published in 1989. The book has found new life thanks to ebooks and digital audio. The four co-conspirators each got the death sentence. Dee Casteel died in prison in 2002. The other three had their sentences changed to life without parole.
August 2, 2017
4.5 stars // another gripping non-fiction story that reads like a thriller.
The timing for me was also perfect and uncanny. I started it (coincidentally) after listening to Hidden Brain (podcast) episode 66 "liar liar" AND after I'd started re-reading AA/al-anon literature a few weeks ago... 😱 talk about putting it all in spectacular perspective.
This book really shows how the disease of alcoholism rots the mind but also how it's not one big turn or missed exit, but a million little steps (that we overlook or rationalize at the time) that lead us to the wrong destination.
The timing for me was also perfect and uncanny. I started it (coincidentally) after listening to Hidden Brain (podcast) episode 66 "liar liar" AND after I'd started re-reading AA/al-anon literature a few weeks ago... 😱 talk about putting it all in spectacular perspective.
This book really shows how the disease of alcoholism rots the mind but also how it's not one big turn or missed exit, but a million little steps (that we overlook or rationalize at the time) that lead us to the wrong destination.
January 15, 2018
Fascinating!! I couldn't stop reading.
This book is such an insightful look into the twisted life of a woman ravaged by alcoholism and low self esteem. It was frightening to me how her life spiraled even farther downward when her path crossed with Bryant and he involved her in his greedy plot. Great book!!
This book is such an insightful look into the twisted life of a woman ravaged by alcoholism and low self esteem. It was frightening to me how her life spiraled even farther downward when her path crossed with Bryant and he involved her in his greedy plot. Great book!!
July 5, 2018
Well written but I'll have to Google the people to see what ultimately happened.
July 4, 2018
My First Book From This Author
I’m a massive true crime fan, I’ll read anything as long as it’s well put together and an interesting story. This is the first book from this author I’ve tried and I found it very readable, the story flowed well and the list of characters wasn’t hard to keep track of, nor was there so much written about minor characters that you feel like you know what they had for breakfast !
I abhor authors that feel the need to ‘fill out’ a book with mundane information & I’m very pleased to say this isn’t the case at all with this author, there’s just enough to ‘flesh them out’ in your minds eye, However, and it’s a big however as this really irked me, the author did feel the need to say, only just over a 1/3rd of the way through, what happens at the end !
Now I realize this case may be well known by some people, or they’ve looked it up, but I knew nothing about the book and the people accused of the crime, so I went into reading along and gaining knowledge as I went and waiting to hear what happened in the end, who was arrested, what happened in their trials, well ALL of that was ruined by the author telling you 1/3 way through, and it still peeves me off now, which is why I’ve only given the book 2 stars. I don’t care if it’s true or make believe crimes, the readers still want to have a story flow along gathering information and making guesses in their heads.
I’m a massive true crime fan, I’ll read anything as long as it’s well put together and an interesting story. This is the first book from this author I’ve tried and I found it very readable, the story flowed well and the list of characters wasn’t hard to keep track of, nor was there so much written about minor characters that you feel like you know what they had for breakfast !
I abhor authors that feel the need to ‘fill out’ a book with mundane information & I’m very pleased to say this isn’t the case at all with this author, there’s just enough to ‘flesh them out’ in your minds eye, However, and it’s a big however as this really irked me, the author did feel the need to say, only just over a 1/3rd of the way through, what happens at the end !
Now I realize this case may be well known by some people, or they’ve looked it up, but I knew nothing about the book and the people accused of the crime, so I went into reading along and gaining knowledge as I went and waiting to hear what happened in the end, who was arrested, what happened in their trials, well ALL of that was ruined by the author telling you 1/3 way through, and it still peeves me off now, which is why I’ve only given the book 2 stars. I don’t care if it’s true or make believe crimes, the readers still want to have a story flow along gathering information and making guesses in their heads.
January 21, 2019
My intent was to rate this 2 stars until I came to the end and found that there were no pictures. Most true crime books show pictures of the criminals and the cops so you can get an idea of what these people that you’ve been reading about look like. Not this one...so I took away a star. There was no mystery to this story of a woman who helped plot the murder of two people that she barely knew. I was really turned off by the author’s telling of the story. He came off as smarmy and belittling to most of his subjects, except for Dee Casteel. Maybe a few less editing and proofreading errors in the book would have allowed him to be as arrogant as he wrote. He was always ready to say how attractive Dee had been and how anyone that ever met her would say she was the nicest woman. The writer seemed to be promoting that her alcoholism was to blame and all of the bad things she did were just because of the booze.
July 18, 2021
3.75
This book is a bit of a departure from the type of book I normally read. I found it well written; very “matter-of-fact” but very interesting. I think it might have been more interesting if there were some in-depth interviews with Allen just to see what his version of events looked like. While I probably would not have finished the book if I were reading it from the less likable perspective of Allen, Dee’s perspective felt mildly disingenuous because (of course) her version held her in the best possible light. I think the gist of this saga is that people can justify all sorts of unconscionable acts in their minds and will fall deeper down the path of the dammed as long as they or others close to them do not get caught.
This book is a bit of a departure from the type of book I normally read. I found it well written; very “matter-of-fact” but very interesting. I think it might have been more interesting if there were some in-depth interviews with Allen just to see what his version of events looked like. While I probably would not have finished the book if I were reading it from the less likable perspective of Allen, Dee’s perspective felt mildly disingenuous because (of course) her version held her in the best possible light. I think the gist of this saga is that people can justify all sorts of unconscionable acts in their minds and will fall deeper down the path of the dammed as long as they or others close to them do not get caught.
April 19, 2018
This book was a really good true crime story. I agree with the other reviewers that it read like a novel. I kept wanting to yell at Dee, telling her not to make all of those bad choices. While the focus was on Dee, the author did a good job bringing the other players in this saga to life. I felt like it was thoroughly researched and well told.
July 16, 2018
Who does that?
Well written true story about dumb people doing dumb things ( to include murder) and thinking they would get away with it all. Alcoholism as well as greed played a big part in the unfolding of the crimes. Good read.
Well written true story about dumb people doing dumb things ( to include murder) and thinking they would get away with it all. Alcoholism as well as greed played a big part in the unfolding of the crimes. Good read.
September 8, 2018
Intriguing
Very good book and read it in a day ....it would of enhanced the book to have pictures also agree with other reviews that would of been better not to have spoiled the outcome half way .
Very good book and read it in a day ....it would of enhanced the book to have pictures also agree with other reviews that would of been better not to have spoiled the outcome half way .
September 11, 2018
Real True Crime
I must say this was one of the best true crime books I have read. I liked the way the author let the main character express her feelings about the crimes she committed. Would recommend to anyone who likes true crime stories.
I must say this was one of the best true crime books I have read. I liked the way the author let the main character express her feelings about the crimes she committed. Would recommend to anyone who likes true crime stories.
June 20, 2020
Absolutely loved this True Crime story on audiobook.
Five stars no question.
Gary Provost is an excellent writer.
Kevin Pierce does an amazing job at narrating here.
One of the best audiobooks I've listened to, actually.
Highly recommended.
Five stars no question.
Gary Provost is an excellent writer.
Kevin Pierce does an amazing job at narrating here.
One of the best audiobooks I've listened to, actually.
Highly recommended.
October 10, 2023
What’s amazing is the fact they got away with the murders for so long! The story is farcical, bumbling murderers, alcoholics, gay men, Cuban criminals, pancakes and a vengeful cat! Makes for an interesting story. It’s well written and well narrated. P.s I think she knew exactly what she was doing.
November 4, 2024
This was a great crime true story read. I did think that it was a little drawn out, but it was interesting to see how the state of Florida charged certain crimes, versus the changes today. I would say to not google anything regarding the case while reading because it could provide some spoilers.
December 29, 2016
A Really Fast Read
First time I have read a book by this particular author. It was well written and very easy to follow the story line. Will check out more of his books..
First time I have read a book by this particular author. It was well written and very easy to follow the story line. Will check out more of his books..
July 15, 2017
decent true crime. never heard of this case, despite being from FL. really examines the psychology and motivation of Dee Casteel, which i found fascinating.
July 30, 2017
True Crime
Gary Prevost writes about thffecte. evolution of a murder case a and the effect of alcohol on one of the murderers.
Gary Prevost writes about thffecte. evolution of a murder case a and the effect of alcohol on one of the murderers.
October 2, 2017
Balanced crime writing and great narration.
November 21, 2017
Excellent book.
February 5, 2018
Very interesting full of suspense
July 25, 2018
Really interesting and well written
This was one of the few true crime novels I have read and I ho early enjoyed it very much. Will look into other titles by this author.
This was one of the few true crime novels I have read and I ho early enjoyed it very much. Will look into other titles by this author.
August 4, 2018
Typos
The story was very thorough and interesting enough, but there were so many errors throughout the book that were distracting.
The story was very thorough and interesting enough, but there were so many errors throughout the book that were distracting.
August 11, 2018
EXCELLENT!!
This is a fascinating book - albeit very disturbing. I just don't understand how one person can convince another to do such horrible things...
This is a fascinating book - albeit very disturbing. I just don't understand how one person can convince another to do such horrible things...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews