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Trace: Who Killed Maria James?
The riveting inside story of a journalist’s cold-case investigation of a shocking murder.
Every cop has a case that dug its claws in and would not let go. For veteran detective Ron Iddles, it was his very first homicide case — the 1980 murder of single mother Maria James in the back of her Melbourne bookshop. He never managed to solve it, and it still grates like hell.
Maria’s two sons, Mark and Adam, have lived in a holding pattern longer than Rachael Brown has been alive. When the investigative journalist learned that a crucial witness’s evidence had never seen daylight, the case would start to consume her — just as it had the detective nearly four decades prior — so she asked for his blessing, and that of the James brothers, to review Maria's case.
In her exhaustive and exhausting 16-month investigation for the ABC podcast Trace, Rachael reviewed initial suspects, found one of her own, and uncovered devastating revelations about a forensic bungle and possible conspiracies that have inspired the coroner to consider holding a new inquest.
This is a mesmerising account, as Rachael traces back through her investigation — one that blew the dust off a 38-year-old cold case, gave a voice to the forgotten and the abused, and could have serious implications for two of the state’s most powerful institutions.
Every cop has a case that dug its claws in and would not let go. For veteran detective Ron Iddles, it was his very first homicide case — the 1980 murder of single mother Maria James in the back of her Melbourne bookshop. He never managed to solve it, and it still grates like hell.
Maria’s two sons, Mark and Adam, have lived in a holding pattern longer than Rachael Brown has been alive. When the investigative journalist learned that a crucial witness’s evidence had never seen daylight, the case would start to consume her — just as it had the detective nearly four decades prior — so she asked for his blessing, and that of the James brothers, to review Maria's case.
In her exhaustive and exhausting 16-month investigation for the ABC podcast Trace, Rachael reviewed initial suspects, found one of her own, and uncovered devastating revelations about a forensic bungle and possible conspiracies that have inspired the coroner to consider holding a new inquest.
This is a mesmerising account, as Rachael traces back through her investigation — one that blew the dust off a 38-year-old cold case, gave a voice to the forgotten and the abused, and could have serious implications for two of the state’s most powerful institutions.
289 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2018
14 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 13, 2019
Podcasts are all the rage now; I don’t listen to them as I constantly have an audiobook on the go. This book originated from a hugely successful podcast in conjunction with the ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs...
Written by another successful Australian journalist (this is the second book penned by the same type of author I have read in the same amount of weeks) who invested a huge amount of personal and professional time in re-examining an Australian cold case originating from the 1980’s. Done so with the permission of the deceased two adult sons, Rachel attacks this case with a respectful amount of hard work and sheer determination. Also to be commended for his tireless hard work is former Detective Ron Iddles who worked side by side with Rachael.
I want to rave about her journalistic skills and commitment to getting to the bottom of this senseless murder of a single mother in Melbourne, but unfortunately my passion (or should I say equal measure of revulsion) for this book is the involvement of the Catholic Church. Specifically, the relationships with Priests and young boys. Innocent children. Children who look up to these figures as an authoritative figure who by nature of their position are meant to LEAD BY EXAMPLE by showing compassion and Godly love. I don’t want this issue to turn into a rant, so that is enough about that.
Rachael did not leave any stone unturned in her pursuit in solving this case, she uncovered blatant mistakes and/or cover ups. My opinion is that the Church is involved in this. Viewers became snippy on line when episodes were on a break, and the author states that this is real life non-fiction, she can’t make things up when the case headed into colder waters again.
A compelling read, fabulously narrated by the author, this comes highly recommended by this satisfied reader. True crime fans will love it. As a conclusion to this review, I would like to add the content of this book may trigger emotions among the reader in relation to childhood sexual abuse.
Written by another successful Australian journalist (this is the second book penned by the same type of author I have read in the same amount of weeks) who invested a huge amount of personal and professional time in re-examining an Australian cold case originating from the 1980’s. Done so with the permission of the deceased two adult sons, Rachel attacks this case with a respectful amount of hard work and sheer determination. Also to be commended for his tireless hard work is former Detective Ron Iddles who worked side by side with Rachael.
I want to rave about her journalistic skills and commitment to getting to the bottom of this senseless murder of a single mother in Melbourne, but unfortunately my passion (or should I say equal measure of revulsion) for this book is the involvement of the Catholic Church. Specifically, the relationships with Priests and young boys. Innocent children. Children who look up to these figures as an authoritative figure who by nature of their position are meant to LEAD BY EXAMPLE by showing compassion and Godly love. I don’t want this issue to turn into a rant, so that is enough about that.
Rachael did not leave any stone unturned in her pursuit in solving this case, she uncovered blatant mistakes and/or cover ups. My opinion is that the Church is involved in this. Viewers became snippy on line when episodes were on a break, and the author states that this is real life non-fiction, she can’t make things up when the case headed into colder waters again.
A compelling read, fabulously narrated by the author, this comes highly recommended by this satisfied reader. True crime fans will love it. As a conclusion to this review, I would like to add the content of this book may trigger emotions among the reader in relation to childhood sexual abuse.
July 13, 2019
Normally I get real bored with nonfiction writing and the TMI syndrome that accompanies it. Too much background information told in dry prose, too many names, and too many statistics. But Rachael Brown, maybe because she's a journalist, presented this cold case and all its past leads and suspects without overdoing it and without losing my interest at all.
Maria James, mother of two little boys living above her book store, is brutally stabbed to death shortly after a phone conversation with her ex, who overheard her talking to someone in the store who could have been the murderer. The Melbourne police couldn't or wouldn't charge anyone and now 38 years later Ms. Brown wants to have the case reopened with new evidence and a new suspect she's latched on to. Her investigation for an Australian true-crime podcast reveals her stubbornness and dedication to reaching closure for the two sons, now grown men.
The story telling is really quite good and I would read anything else she writes in a heartbeat. She's good because her smarts and talent haven't gone to her head.
An ARC from LibraryThing.com.
Maria James, mother of two little boys living above her book store, is brutally stabbed to death shortly after a phone conversation with her ex, who overheard her talking to someone in the store who could have been the murderer. The Melbourne police couldn't or wouldn't charge anyone and now 38 years later Ms. Brown wants to have the case reopened with new evidence and a new suspect she's latched on to. Her investigation for an Australian true-crime podcast reveals her stubbornness and dedication to reaching closure for the two sons, now grown men.
The story telling is really quite good and I would read anything else she writes in a heartbeat. She's good because her smarts and talent haven't gone to her head.
An ARC from LibraryThing.com.
January 30, 2019
‘He doesn’t know it yet, but this one will bury its hooks into him.’
On 17 June 1980, Maria James, 38, was found murdered in her bookshop at 736 High Street in Thornbury, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. Her murder was brutal, and it remains unsolved. This was Ron Iddles's first investigation as a 25-year-old recruit to the homicide squad.
On 25 November 1982, a coronial inquest found that Ms James’s murder was committed by a person unknown.
On 30 November 2018, the coronial inquest was reopened, with the earlier finding set aside.
I picked up this book having not listened to Rachael Brown’s podcast of the same name, after hearing that the coronial inquest was to be reopened. I found the book difficult to put down. Ms Brown has undertaken her investigation with a mix of determination and sensitivity. Sensitivity for Ms James’s two sons, Mark and Adam, who were aged 13 and 11 when she was murdered, and determination to try to get some answers. Ms Brown found that that a pillow, mistakenly included in Ms James’s evidence bag, had resulted in the police not having the killer’s DNA. Suspects were ruled out based on this faulty DNA analysis. A quilt, which should have been in the evidence bag and may have contained useful DNA, was missing. But there are other elements of concern as well, leads that may not have been followed up or seem to have been ignored.
The narrative shifts between the time of the murder, significant events in the years following, and the present. The picture I had when I finished the book was of a devoted, dedicated mother who was trying to protect her son from abuse by a priest. This story is not yet complete.
I hope that the reopened inquest can provide Mark and Adam James with some answers about their mother’s brutal murder. I understand that the Victoria Police are also undertaking their own official investigation of this cold case.
‘Sometimes the truth can never be fully told, because it breaks your heart forever.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
On 17 June 1980, Maria James, 38, was found murdered in her bookshop at 736 High Street in Thornbury, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. Her murder was brutal, and it remains unsolved. This was Ron Iddles's first investigation as a 25-year-old recruit to the homicide squad.
On 25 November 1982, a coronial inquest found that Ms James’s murder was committed by a person unknown.
On 30 November 2018, the coronial inquest was reopened, with the earlier finding set aside.
I picked up this book having not listened to Rachael Brown’s podcast of the same name, after hearing that the coronial inquest was to be reopened. I found the book difficult to put down. Ms Brown has undertaken her investigation with a mix of determination and sensitivity. Sensitivity for Ms James’s two sons, Mark and Adam, who were aged 13 and 11 when she was murdered, and determination to try to get some answers. Ms Brown found that that a pillow, mistakenly included in Ms James’s evidence bag, had resulted in the police not having the killer’s DNA. Suspects were ruled out based on this faulty DNA analysis. A quilt, which should have been in the evidence bag and may have contained useful DNA, was missing. But there are other elements of concern as well, leads that may not have been followed up or seem to have been ignored.
The narrative shifts between the time of the murder, significant events in the years following, and the present. The picture I had when I finished the book was of a devoted, dedicated mother who was trying to protect her son from abuse by a priest. This story is not yet complete.
I hope that the reopened inquest can provide Mark and Adam James with some answers about their mother’s brutal murder. I understand that the Victoria Police are also undertaking their own official investigation of this cold case.
‘Sometimes the truth can never be fully told, because it breaks your heart forever.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Read
September 4, 2018Most people will come to Trace having heard about Brown's podcast of the same name, but the book is meritorious in its own right. (The subject matter is the brutal but unsolved murder of Maria James in Melbourne in 1980.) I am particularly sensitive to poorly-handled true crime; a whiff of exploited stories or anything verging on entertainment and I switch off immediately. Brown's journalistic integrity shines through this gripping story with both dogged hunger and gentle sensitivity to the subject matter. It is also a lesson in both the necessity of patience and the admirability of impatience - a cold case decades-old juxtaposed with an at-times rapid unravelling of detail. Beautifully written. Loved it.
August 7, 2023
I loved reading Trace as much as I loved listening to the podcast initially. Sure, it broke my heart and turned my stomach at times, but that's what happens with real life and true stories like this one. I live in hope that Brown’s investigation, which is ongoing, brings some answers and closure for the James boys, and everyone else impacted by this horrific crime(s).
My full review of Trace appeared first on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Trace appeared first on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
December 14, 2018
An excellent and compelling true-crime investigation into the 1980 stabbing murder of Melbourne book seller Maria James. The book is based on the original investigation which formed an ABC Podcast series titled ‘Trace.’ It is a thorough, eye-opening and revealing case involving interviews with her two sons, the original detective Ron Iddles -(R.Iddles - just had to add that!) as his one unsolved case. Her brutal stabbing, the eye witness testimonies and the significant role of the Catholic Church plays out in an incredibly unbiased manner. Cover-ups, bungled evidence, leads that were not followed or quashed all leave you begging for an answer. Award winning journalist Rachel Brown has hit the mark on this true-crime investigation.
Read
June 12, 2019There is an irresistible formula to Trace. The bright-eyed investigative journalist teamed with the dogged homicide detective enjoined in the dark art of enquiry — discerning the outline of evidence then calculating the in-between.The experience of Trace reaches beyond a murder mystery to the interior of the craft — ten parts exhaustion and exasperation to one part excitement and enlightenment.And there is more. Rachael Brown engages a time-honoured hard dig with a fresh form that welcomes and involves the reader.This is a special work, a cold case brought to life via the energy of enquiry and, extraordinarily, given its starting point, the redemptive warmth of humanity.
Chris Masters
Trace Trace the book is the story behind the story. Compelling listening turned into compulsory reading.
Andrew Rule
An outstanding work of long-form audio journalism which crossed platforms, revealing an innate understanding of how audiences would wish to interact with the story
Judges’ comments from the 2017 Walkley Awards
The podcast was a hit, and this behind-the-scenes account of her investigation is a detailed, personal and sobering encapsulation of where the case, and those tied to it, currently stand. Trace is both forensic in its investigation and compassionate towards those forever connected to it … Her propulsive narrative and the many unsettling aspects of this still-open case make Trace a standout among true-crime titles.
Books+Publishing
You may know her from the ‘Trace’ podcast but the book is meritorious on its own - excellently written. Gripping but not exploitative or gratuitous like poorly-handled true crime can be. I find myself taking notes of lines and expressions, and I definitely resent having to put it down!
Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull
Bearing the traces of its origins as a podcast, Trace is a polyphonic narrative about revisiting the cold-case murder of Melbourne bookshop owner Maria James. The consequences of opening old wounds – for James’ sons, for the original detective on the case and for Rachael Brown as she uncovers new evidence and testimony – are central to the slowly mounting tension and urgency of Trace.
Sydney Morning Herald
It is absorbing, and elicits immense respect for the author. Outstanding investigative journalism is not dead.
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate
Brown’s excellent podcast has been transformed into an addictive true-crime book that traces the clues, suspects, and devastation left in the wake of Maria James’s 1980 death in the Thornbury bookstore where she worked and lived. With revelations that upend the 1982 inquiry, this is, nearly forty years later, still a nail-biting case.
Readings ‘Best Crime of 2018’
Trace’s narrative style mimics the podcast form itself – it allows Brown to tell Maria’s story (as well as her own) in multiple voices and from multiple perspectives.
Ellen Cregan, Kill Your Darlings
Rachael Brown achieved an Australian first: turning a number one true-crime podcast into a Walkley-shortlisted book. Trace: Who killed Maria James? is a gripping read.
Astrid Edwards, ABR’s ‘Books of the Year 2018’
The power of this investigation lies in how Brown shines a light on injustices.
Stephanie Van Schilt, Weekend Australian
Brown skillfully balances an impartial, investigative tone with a more personal perspective, notably addressing her own fears of reopening old wounds and becoming overly consumed by the case ... Those seeking concrete answers may not be satisfied—but as true crime enthusiasts know, the thrill is in the investigation.
Publishers Weekly
Where did a DNA-saturated quilt go? Could a priest be to blame for the horrific homicide, or not? In real life, even the best investigators in law enforcement and in journalism can’t always neatly tie up cases with a bow. But it sure is hard to put down this cold-case story.
Booklist
Trace is a brilliant and compelling look into a horrific crime that affected countless lives … Brown’s work enthralls while never forgetting the burden of care.
Lauren O’Brien, Shelf Awareness
Chris Masters
Trace Trace the book is the story behind the story. Compelling listening turned into compulsory reading.
Andrew Rule
An outstanding work of long-form audio journalism which crossed platforms, revealing an innate understanding of how audiences would wish to interact with the story
Judges’ comments from the 2017 Walkley Awards
The podcast was a hit, and this behind-the-scenes account of her investigation is a detailed, personal and sobering encapsulation of where the case, and those tied to it, currently stand. Trace is both forensic in its investigation and compassionate towards those forever connected to it … Her propulsive narrative and the many unsettling aspects of this still-open case make Trace a standout among true-crime titles.
Books+Publishing
You may know her from the ‘Trace’ podcast but the book is meritorious on its own - excellently written. Gripping but not exploitative or gratuitous like poorly-handled true crime can be. I find myself taking notes of lines and expressions, and I definitely resent having to put it down!
Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull
Bearing the traces of its origins as a podcast, Trace is a polyphonic narrative about revisiting the cold-case murder of Melbourne bookshop owner Maria James. The consequences of opening old wounds – for James’ sons, for the original detective on the case and for Rachael Brown as she uncovers new evidence and testimony – are central to the slowly mounting tension and urgency of Trace.
Sydney Morning Herald
It is absorbing, and elicits immense respect for the author. Outstanding investigative journalism is not dead.
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate
Brown’s excellent podcast has been transformed into an addictive true-crime book that traces the clues, suspects, and devastation left in the wake of Maria James’s 1980 death in the Thornbury bookstore where she worked and lived. With revelations that upend the 1982 inquiry, this is, nearly forty years later, still a nail-biting case.
Readings ‘Best Crime of 2018’
Trace’s narrative style mimics the podcast form itself – it allows Brown to tell Maria’s story (as well as her own) in multiple voices and from multiple perspectives.
Ellen Cregan, Kill Your Darlings
Rachael Brown achieved an Australian first: turning a number one true-crime podcast into a Walkley-shortlisted book. Trace: Who killed Maria James? is a gripping read.
Astrid Edwards, ABR’s ‘Books of the Year 2018’
The power of this investigation lies in how Brown shines a light on injustices.
Stephanie Van Schilt, Weekend Australian
Brown skillfully balances an impartial, investigative tone with a more personal perspective, notably addressing her own fears of reopening old wounds and becoming overly consumed by the case ... Those seeking concrete answers may not be satisfied—but as true crime enthusiasts know, the thrill is in the investigation.
Publishers Weekly
Where did a DNA-saturated quilt go? Could a priest be to blame for the horrific homicide, or not? In real life, even the best investigators in law enforcement and in journalism can’t always neatly tie up cases with a bow. But it sure is hard to put down this cold-case story.
Booklist
Trace is a brilliant and compelling look into a horrific crime that affected countless lives … Brown’s work enthralls while never forgetting the burden of care.
Lauren O’Brien, Shelf Awareness
July 20, 2021
I was searching for a real-life crime book and came across Trace on the BorrowBox app. Love these types of stories that delve into unsolved murders and even better if the crime is solved at the end of the book, but alas, that is not always the case. I’m not familiar with Maria James’ murder or the podcast Trace even so, listening to Rachael Brown’s account of her comprehensive and inspiring investigation into the death of Maria James was fascinating to listen to.
May 31, 2021
A compelling journal of the creation of James’s hit podcast Trace and the unsolved murder of Maria James.
Let me just say this books took turns I was NOT expecting. I was hooked from beginning to end and felt every emotion possible.
Also shout out to the author for narrating her own work and actually knocking it out the park.
Let me just say this books took turns I was NOT expecting. I was hooked from beginning to end and felt every emotion possible.
Also shout out to the author for narrating her own work and actually knocking it out the park.
January 5, 2019
Finished: 05.01.2019
Genre: non-fiction
Rating: C
#AWW2019 both R. Brown and L. Milligan are Australian authors
Conclusion:
Well, this book was a wild ride on a Saturday afternoon!
If you enjoy investigative journalism I would rather recommend
by Louise Milligan
It just is a bit more 'polished'.
#Trivia: Did you know Cardinal Pell
(convicted 12 Dec 2018 sexual abuse)
was good friends with Father Bongiorno in the seminary?
Hmmmm.....
Review: Cardinal
Genre: non-fiction
Rating: C
#AWW2019 both R. Brown and L. Milligan are Australian authors
Conclusion:
Well, this book was a wild ride on a Saturday afternoon!
If you enjoy investigative journalism I would rather recommend
by Louise MilliganIt just is a bit more 'polished'.
#Trivia: Did you know Cardinal Pell
(convicted 12 Dec 2018 sexual abuse)
was good friends with Father Bongiorno in the seminary?
Hmmmm.....
Review: Cardinal
August 2, 2018
What is this about?: Trace is based on a podcast of the same name and is an investigation into the death of Maria James, a mother and bookstore owner who was murdered in her store in 1980 in Melbourne.
What else is this about?: Rachael Brown is a journalist, and in this book she takes us into her investigation while maintaining a fine line between a journalist's objective POV and that of an investigator who desperately wants to solve this and give Maria's sons some closure.
True crime is a new genre for me, or rather for the first time it's a genre I am actively growing more interested in. I've talked about listening to the podcast last week and a little bit about Trace but I never quite expected the book.
Who was Maria James?
She was a mother to two boys, and a bookstore owner. She loved them dearly, and they her, and she did her best to make sure they grew up to be good men, who looked after one another. She and their father had divorced, but they had remained on good terms.
And then she was murdered, and her case was never solved.
In 2016, Rachael Brown took up her case, with an idea for Trace, a podcast of the investigation into Maria's death. I listened to it before reading the book, but there was a certain level of distance between the revelations in there and me listening to them when compared to reading the book. The book though draws readers in, gives them the details and the time to become emotionally wrapped up in Maria and her sons, and want some justice for them.
True Crime and Trace
I don't quite know exactly how to review a true crime book of this nature, because Rachael takes us right into her investigation, into her interviews with the cop who headed up the investigation, and never forgot Maria. Like Ron, the cop, Rachael has her fair share of red herrings and searching for information that goes nowhere. She shares how frustrating it is, how bad she feels for the clues that don't work out and the hope that she still harbours -- and Maria's sons, Mark and Adam, still harbour -- to find their mother's killer.
These boys -- now these men, goodness. As the book progresses, it's Adam that offers the biggest and newest revelations about Maria's death, and a priest in their parish, who turns out to be the most viable suspect.
Maria trusted Father Bongiorno and the Church, but both betrayed her and Adam -- and I am sure you can figure out where this is going. Adam's revelation about his abuse, leads to more revelations about the Church and priests in Melbourne and the various boys and families who trusted both.
And in terms of Maria's death, gave the Trace team their most viable suspect -- Father Bongiorno
It's hard to read, and yes, it's even compelling too because these men who come forward and speak their truth for the podcast and the book are so so brave. They have been shouting it for years, through depression and PTSD and now through the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse .
I digressed a wee bit didn't I?
Readers will follow Rachael and her team as they investigate the Father, and his colleague and chase down DNA that they are sure will prove their case, and hit roadblock after roadblock. The book takes you through the most important parts of their 16 month investigation and their highs and lows, and Rachael lets readers see the toll it begins to take on the team and the boys.
There are two timelines here -- that of the present one as the team investigates, and the past, letting readers in to what must have happened back then. It offers a more complex picture of the case and the investigation.
There are uncomfortable questions to be asked of the police of revelations in the book of how evidence was treated, but as much as you may wonder about the cops who messed up, there's Ron who has never let this case go, and still stays in contact with Maria's sons.
When the book began, I felt like Rachael Brown and her team had some distance between the case she and they were investigating, but slowly and surely their emotional investment begins to shine through. It's there, but it never overtakes their investigation and their desire for the truth, which makes this all the more powerful a story. I think perhaps that's how I might like to describe this genre: true crime will take you into the investigation, it will break your heart and doesn't pretend the investigators aren't affected, but it always maintains the line between personal and investigative.
Trace left me astonished at what happened to Maria and her sons, and the way the case was messed up all those years ago. I cheered Rachael and her team as the sought out the truth, and was frustrated for them when they hit wall after wall. I got so wrapped up in it, moreso than I thought I would and it feels ridiculous to say, because this is a family's life, but I am a fan of Trace.
What else is this about?: Rachael Brown is a journalist, and in this book she takes us into her investigation while maintaining a fine line between a journalist's objective POV and that of an investigator who desperately wants to solve this and give Maria's sons some closure.
True crime is a new genre for me, or rather for the first time it's a genre I am actively growing more interested in. I've talked about listening to the podcast last week and a little bit about Trace but I never quite expected the book.
Who was Maria James?
She was a mother to two boys, and a bookstore owner. She loved them dearly, and they her, and she did her best to make sure they grew up to be good men, who looked after one another. She and their father had divorced, but they had remained on good terms.
And then she was murdered, and her case was never solved.
In 2016, Rachael Brown took up her case, with an idea for Trace, a podcast of the investigation into Maria's death. I listened to it before reading the book, but there was a certain level of distance between the revelations in there and me listening to them when compared to reading the book. The book though draws readers in, gives them the details and the time to become emotionally wrapped up in Maria and her sons, and want some justice for them.
True Crime and Trace
I don't quite know exactly how to review a true crime book of this nature, because Rachael takes us right into her investigation, into her interviews with the cop who headed up the investigation, and never forgot Maria. Like Ron, the cop, Rachael has her fair share of red herrings and searching for information that goes nowhere. She shares how frustrating it is, how bad she feels for the clues that don't work out and the hope that she still harbours -- and Maria's sons, Mark and Adam, still harbour -- to find their mother's killer.
These boys -- now these men, goodness. As the book progresses, it's Adam that offers the biggest and newest revelations about Maria's death, and a priest in their parish, who turns out to be the most viable suspect.
Maria trusted Father Bongiorno and the Church, but both betrayed her and Adam -- and I am sure you can figure out where this is going. Adam's revelation about his abuse, leads to more revelations about the Church and priests in Melbourne and the various boys and families who trusted both.
And in terms of Maria's death, gave the Trace team their most viable suspect -- Father Bongiorno
It's hard to read, and yes, it's even compelling too because these men who come forward and speak their truth for the podcast and the book are so so brave. They have been shouting it for years, through depression and PTSD and now through the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse .
I digressed a wee bit didn't I?
Readers will follow Rachael and her team as they investigate the Father, and his colleague and chase down DNA that they are sure will prove their case, and hit roadblock after roadblock. The book takes you through the most important parts of their 16 month investigation and their highs and lows, and Rachael lets readers see the toll it begins to take on the team and the boys.
There are two timelines here -- that of the present one as the team investigates, and the past, letting readers in to what must have happened back then. It offers a more complex picture of the case and the investigation.
There are uncomfortable questions to be asked of the police of revelations in the book of how evidence was treated, but as much as you may wonder about the cops who messed up, there's Ron who has never let this case go, and still stays in contact with Maria's sons.
When the book began, I felt like Rachael Brown and her team had some distance between the case she and they were investigating, but slowly and surely their emotional investment begins to shine through. It's there, but it never overtakes their investigation and their desire for the truth, which makes this all the more powerful a story. I think perhaps that's how I might like to describe this genre: true crime will take you into the investigation, it will break your heart and doesn't pretend the investigators aren't affected, but it always maintains the line between personal and investigative.
Trace left me astonished at what happened to Maria and her sons, and the way the case was messed up all those years ago. I cheered Rachael and her team as the sought out the truth, and was frustrated for them when they hit wall after wall. I got so wrapped up in it, moreso than I thought I would and it feels ridiculous to say, because this is a family's life, but I am a fan of Trace.
August 31, 2018
This book was good but it’s essentially just a rehash of the podcast. If you’ve listened to the podcast, like half of Australia has, then don’t expect anything new from this book. Not to say it’s not good, it is very good, but just don’t be disappointed to not find new nuggets of info.
Rachael Brown and her Trace Team have done some fantastic work on this case, the work they’ve done with the podcast and this book is very admirable.
It’s one of those cases that’s bound to get you riled up, there’s so much injustice and tomfoolery going on that it makes me angry. I don’t trust the church for a second and reading stuff like this just instilled my distrust even more. What gets me very angry though is the ineptitude of the police force, there’s some really shady stuff going down in regards to the death of Maria James and the police have a lot to answer for, of course when asked to provide answers VicPol are tight lipped as ever.
A great book about very sad part of Australian history, Aussie true-crime buffs should consider this a must read!!
Rachael Brown and her Trace Team have done some fantastic work on this case, the work they’ve done with the podcast and this book is very admirable.
It’s one of those cases that’s bound to get you riled up, there’s so much injustice and tomfoolery going on that it makes me angry. I don’t trust the church for a second and reading stuff like this just instilled my distrust even more. What gets me very angry though is the ineptitude of the police force, there’s some really shady stuff going down in regards to the death of Maria James and the police have a lot to answer for, of course when asked to provide answers VicPol are tight lipped as ever.
A great book about very sad part of Australian history, Aussie true-crime buffs should consider this a must read!!
September 15, 2018
I don’t listen to true crime podcasts but I do read true crime books so here we are. Read this ahead of the @wheelercentre event and the @kyd_magazine book club and really wasn’t prepared for what I was getting myself into. And that was not a bad thing. Murder, satanic cults, forensic bungles, this book has it all and it will captivate you completely. Brown’s journalistic integrity and focus on the victim’s grieving sons shines through. Her determination against the odds has impressive results and while the conclusion isn’t totally satisfying, Brown’s certainly able to advance the cold case of the murder of Maria James. My only criticism is that the three or four sections where Brown indulges in direct thought while running do not serve the narrative at all and really should have been deleted.
January 4, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
What is especially intriguing about this book is that it is both about the case the podcast Trace investigated, and the story behind all it took to put the podcast together.
Brown, host and reporter, takes readers back to the very beginning, when she was first drawn into the cold case of the murder of Maria James. Readers become emotionally invested along with Brown, as we and she learn more about the sons whose lives were irrevocably shattered by the brutal loss of their mother, and about the slip ups (and possible cover ups) during the original police investigation.
This is a dark, at times difficult, read. It went to a place I hadn't expected and wasn't prepared for. Brown pulls no punches as she shares with readers the terrible truths she learned and the possible conspiracies she uncovered. She is open with the way the investigative process on her side works, and how not everything can be tied up in a neat little bow.
This book makes me want to listen to the podcast and keep updated on the case, so while it is not the best true crime book I've ever read, it definitely is an interesting and compelling read.
What is especially intriguing about this book is that it is both about the case the podcast Trace investigated, and the story behind all it took to put the podcast together.
Brown, host and reporter, takes readers back to the very beginning, when she was first drawn into the cold case of the murder of Maria James. Readers become emotionally invested along with Brown, as we and she learn more about the sons whose lives were irrevocably shattered by the brutal loss of their mother, and about the slip ups (and possible cover ups) during the original police investigation.
This is a dark, at times difficult, read. It went to a place I hadn't expected and wasn't prepared for. Brown pulls no punches as she shares with readers the terrible truths she learned and the possible conspiracies she uncovered. She is open with the way the investigative process on her side works, and how not everything can be tied up in a neat little bow.
This book makes me want to listen to the podcast and keep updated on the case, so while it is not the best true crime book I've ever read, it definitely is an interesting and compelling read.
July 13, 2020
This book delves into the cold case of the unsolved murder of Maria James in Melbourne. A fascinating case and an indepth investigation by the author. Not just an investigation, this book also speaks with the empathy and compassion towards her surviving family members, so often missing from some other true crime books I have read. Whilst Maria's murder remains unsolved to date, its not due to any lack of tenacity from the author, the Police Investigators or her 2 sons. This book also gives an insight into the Catholic Church and the child sexual abuse that may have been a mitigating factor in Maria's murder. A disturbing and haunting read, I hope one day this case is solved for Maria's boys. #trace #rachaelbrown #tea_sipping_bookworm #truecrime #litsy #goodreads #bookstagram #bookqueen #amazon#kindle
December 4, 2019
Audiobook.
I feel it’s important to note that I listened to this audiobook (narrated by the author) having never listened to the podcast. I’d actually never even heard of the podcast before I spotted this on the BorrowBox app; the mere fact that it was classed as True Crime was enough for me to reserve it.
And I liked it, mostly. It’s clear a lot of time and effort has gone into the investigation but I often found it tricky to follow the dialogues as the author was reading everything herself and there wasn’t much differentiation between the “voices”. For this reason, I believe reading the physical copy would have been better.
I feel it’s important to note that I listened to this audiobook (narrated by the author) having never listened to the podcast. I’d actually never even heard of the podcast before I spotted this on the BorrowBox app; the mere fact that it was classed as True Crime was enough for me to reserve it.
And I liked it, mostly. It’s clear a lot of time and effort has gone into the investigation but I often found it tricky to follow the dialogues as the author was reading everything herself and there wasn’t much differentiation between the “voices”. For this reason, I believe reading the physical copy would have been better.
November 18, 2018
It was my 16 year old who first got me on to the podcast Trace. I found the whole story fascinating, so I had to get a copy of the book when it came out.
While much of the information in the book is the same as in the podcast, there is also a lot of behind the scenes information.
This is also a thoroughly readable book and I enjoyed the story. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in the hunt for Maria James' killer.
While much of the information in the book is the same as in the podcast, there is also a lot of behind the scenes information.
This is also a thoroughly readable book and I enjoyed the story. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in the hunt for Maria James' killer.
June 21, 2020
DNF at 10%. The writing is so bad, I thought I was going to cringe to death if I read any further. Cliche after corny cliche. Maria deserves better than this self-serving crap.
January 23, 2019
I had caught snippets of the Trace podcast on Radio National, which were enough to spark my interest in this book. It's a compelling account that moves smoothly between the original murder investigation, the author's new investigation for the podcast and key events in the intervening years. It goes beyond the content of the podcast, capturing the emotional reactions of the author and the challenges she faced in her painstaking investigation of old and new leads.
What the investigation uncovered is shocking and at times deeply disturbing. It was hard to read at times, particularly as it's clear that the author has withheld some of the more horrific details. Equally shocking is the mishandling of evidence that hampered the police investigation.
The book concludes with the question of whether a new inquest will be held still hanging. Perhaps a future edition will include the announcement from late 2018 that a new inquest will be held into Maria James's murder. The Trace investigation was clearly a major contributor to this decision. After meeting Maria's sons Mark and Adam in the pages of this book, I just hope that the findings of the inquest bring, if not justice (given so many of the suspects have died), then at least some kind of closure.
What the investigation uncovered is shocking and at times deeply disturbing. It was hard to read at times, particularly as it's clear that the author has withheld some of the more horrific details. Equally shocking is the mishandling of evidence that hampered the police investigation.
The book concludes with the question of whether a new inquest will be held still hanging. Perhaps a future edition will include the announcement from late 2018 that a new inquest will be held into Maria James's murder. The Trace investigation was clearly a major contributor to this decision. After meeting Maria's sons Mark and Adam in the pages of this book, I just hope that the findings of the inquest bring, if not justice (given so many of the suspects have died), then at least some kind of closure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2018
Riveting.
July 20, 2019
Trace: Who Killed Maria James? by Rachael Brown is an intriguing mix of true crime, crime investigation, and podcast creation.
I was attracted to this book because I find true crime to be an interesting topic. I don't read as wide in the genre as many but it is still an area of interest. In addition, this is one of those true crime books that doesn't just tell about the crime and the police investigation but the additional investigation as a cold case by a journalist. This has become somewhat more common in recent decades as investigative journalists have looked into cold cases. Finally, this also weaves the story of the podcast, from pitching the idea to doing the research to the actual production. I didn't expect that final aspect of the book but found it quite interesting. What made this appealing, especially for someone like me who might have shied away if it had been too focused on the podcast aspect itself, was that all three parts are woven together into a whole. Each one has a section where it is front and center, but the other two parts are not neglected during these sections.
In addition to the elements of the crime and the investigation that are common to many such books, I was particularly touched by Brown's acknowledgement of how difficult it is for everyone involved when such an investigation is reopened. Family and close friends of course feel pain but also want some kind of resolution. But some others who might be peripherally involved often don't want to revisit it, they feel they did their part at the time. While most do come around and live those moments again, they would also have likely preferred to leave it alone and "move on." Brown shows not only the emotional toll on all of these people, central and peripheral, but also the toll on her and her team in being the ones reopening old wounds and concerns.
I would recommend this to readers of true crime but also to anyone interested in the production and presentation of a podcast. Because of how the threads are woven together, I think most readers with just an interest in one or two of the areas will still enjoy the book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I was attracted to this book because I find true crime to be an interesting topic. I don't read as wide in the genre as many but it is still an area of interest. In addition, this is one of those true crime books that doesn't just tell about the crime and the police investigation but the additional investigation as a cold case by a journalist. This has become somewhat more common in recent decades as investigative journalists have looked into cold cases. Finally, this also weaves the story of the podcast, from pitching the idea to doing the research to the actual production. I didn't expect that final aspect of the book but found it quite interesting. What made this appealing, especially for someone like me who might have shied away if it had been too focused on the podcast aspect itself, was that all three parts are woven together into a whole. Each one has a section where it is front and center, but the other two parts are not neglected during these sections.
In addition to the elements of the crime and the investigation that are common to many such books, I was particularly touched by Brown's acknowledgement of how difficult it is for everyone involved when such an investigation is reopened. Family and close friends of course feel pain but also want some kind of resolution. But some others who might be peripherally involved often don't want to revisit it, they feel they did their part at the time. While most do come around and live those moments again, they would also have likely preferred to leave it alone and "move on." Brown shows not only the emotional toll on all of these people, central and peripheral, but also the toll on her and her team in being the ones reopening old wounds and concerns.
I would recommend this to readers of true crime but also to anyone interested in the production and presentation of a podcast. Because of how the threads are woven together, I think most readers with just an interest in one or two of the areas will still enjoy the book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
June 8, 2019
Trace: who killed Maria James? by Rachael Brown is the highly recommended investigation of a cold case that was featured on the ABC podcast Trace.
This is the compilation of investigative journalist Rachel Brown's sixteen month investigation about a cold case for the Trace ABC podcast. In 1980 single mother Maria James was brutally stabbed to death in the back/living area of her Melbourne bookshop. The killer was never found, leaving her two sons, Mark and Adam, who were 13 and 11 when their mother was murdered, living in a holding pattern with no closure. This is the unsolved case that has always bothered veteran detective Ron Iddles.
Once Brown heard about this case, she asked permission to start looking into it. When she began reviewing the case, she found evidence and leads that were overlooked, information that was never brought to light before, a mistake in the forensic evidence, and suspects that were never seriously considered. Her investigation is heart-breaking and reveals cover-ups and mistakes. It also clearly documents abuse by Catholic priests that was covered up or ignored by the church and evidence may indicate collusion between the church and officials.
I have not listened to the pod casts, but this book clearly presents the case and early information, and then follows Browns examination and exploration of the original cold case before disclosing the new information she finds as she undertakes a review of the evidence. Over the intervening years, there is some new information and evidence that has come to light, as well as officials that are less likely to ignore the evidence that a priest was abusing children and may have been involved. Although the investigation does not lead to a resolution, the Victoria Police have reopened an official investigation of this cold case.
This is a well presented, well written, informative review of the original case and Brown's investigation into the cold case.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Scribe Publications PTY Ltd.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
This is the compilation of investigative journalist Rachel Brown's sixteen month investigation about a cold case for the Trace ABC podcast. In 1980 single mother Maria James was brutally stabbed to death in the back/living area of her Melbourne bookshop. The killer was never found, leaving her two sons, Mark and Adam, who were 13 and 11 when their mother was murdered, living in a holding pattern with no closure. This is the unsolved case that has always bothered veteran detective Ron Iddles.
Once Brown heard about this case, she asked permission to start looking into it. When she began reviewing the case, she found evidence and leads that were overlooked, information that was never brought to light before, a mistake in the forensic evidence, and suspects that were never seriously considered. Her investigation is heart-breaking and reveals cover-ups and mistakes. It also clearly documents abuse by Catholic priests that was covered up or ignored by the church and evidence may indicate collusion between the church and officials.
I have not listened to the pod casts, but this book clearly presents the case and early information, and then follows Browns examination and exploration of the original cold case before disclosing the new information she finds as she undertakes a review of the evidence. Over the intervening years, there is some new information and evidence that has come to light, as well as officials that are less likely to ignore the evidence that a priest was abusing children and may have been involved. Although the investigation does not lead to a resolution, the Victoria Police have reopened an official investigation of this cold case.
This is a well presented, well written, informative review of the original case and Brown's investigation into the cold case.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Scribe Publications PTY Ltd.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
December 12, 2018
In Trace: who killed Maria James?, Rachael Brown covers Maria James' brutal, unsolved murder in 1980; Rachel’s inspiration to do a podcast to find answers for Maria's two sons, Mark and Adam; the months of harrowing investigation; the podcasts themselves; the impact and aftereffects of startling new discoveries. The narrative see-saws between the time of the murder, different significant events in the following years, and to the present.
Trace brings to life the times, the personalities and the settings, and uncovers unsavoury undercurrents in society, especially the Catholic Church and police force, and especially with respect to misdemeanours and sustained paedophilia and other crimes by certain priests. It gives voice to those abused in the hopes that answers might be found for the James brothers. In the process of the investigation, Rachel and her team follow new leads, uncover significant bungling of evidence by the police, and gives good cause to reopen the case and re-examine the suspects, in particular two priests.
It is at times a harrowing narrative, but one that should be told.
Whatever the facts, as Adam James says,
"[What the priest did] It was wrong. I was a kid and he was an adult; and he was my priest. His job was to talk about Jesus and not to do those things to me.' p90
It is good to see that, as a result of the findings and new evidence from the podcast, as of end of 2018, the Victorian corner has reopened the case – and long-awaited answers may now be found.
Trace brings to life the times, the personalities and the settings, and uncovers unsavoury undercurrents in society, especially the Catholic Church and police force, and especially with respect to misdemeanours and sustained paedophilia and other crimes by certain priests. It gives voice to those abused in the hopes that answers might be found for the James brothers. In the process of the investigation, Rachel and her team follow new leads, uncover significant bungling of evidence by the police, and gives good cause to reopen the case and re-examine the suspects, in particular two priests.
It is at times a harrowing narrative, but one that should be told.
Whatever the facts, as Adam James says,
"[What the priest did] It was wrong. I was a kid and he was an adult; and he was my priest. His job was to talk about Jesus and not to do those things to me.' p90
It is good to see that, as a result of the findings and new evidence from the podcast, as of end of 2018, the Victorian corner has reopened the case – and long-awaited answers may now be found.
September 25, 2018
4 ☆
Finished reading ... Trace: who killed Maria James? / Rachael Brown ... 15 September 2018
ISBN: 9781925713091 … 289 pp.
I remember that a long time ago a woman was murdered at the back of her bookshop. That's all. It turns out it was 17 June, 1980. Daughter No.4 was five months old and being busy with four little girls didn't leave me with a lot of brain cells for what was not immediate to me.
In the last year or so I heard something of the murder, a cold case had been looked at again. The new search, by a journalist, had made it to a series of podcasts, not that I took in that last bit of information. http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/...
When I saw a book about the murder, that is when I noticed it properly and ordered it from my local library. It's a frustrating book in that, unlike a whodunit, this mystery remains unsolved. It is a fascinating read though, seeing how the journalist managed to track down, 25+ years later, witnesses that the police couldn't find at the time; how the police bungled and now wondering if some of those bungles weren't deliberate. What wasn't taken seriously then was that two priests from Maria's parish church might be involved - because priests were virtually untouchable. Now, with what has been learned about paedophilia in the Catholic church, and that Maria's younger son was abused by these priests, they are back in the frame, even though now long dead. But they're not in the frame alone.
One well-known police officer, Ron Iddles, supported Brown's investigations but that didn't stop her investigations coming to a halt at police brick walls. She had to take Iddles' word for it that the way things happened in 1980 wouldn't happen now. I hope I'm never in the position to find out because I wasn't convinced by that assurance. Meanwhile, Brown continues to support Maria's sons in their search to know what happened.
A good read.
Borrowed from my local library.
Finished reading ... Trace: who killed Maria James? / Rachael Brown ... 15 September 2018
ISBN: 9781925713091 … 289 pp.
I remember that a long time ago a woman was murdered at the back of her bookshop. That's all. It turns out it was 17 June, 1980. Daughter No.4 was five months old and being busy with four little girls didn't leave me with a lot of brain cells for what was not immediate to me.
In the last year or so I heard something of the murder, a cold case had been looked at again. The new search, by a journalist, had made it to a series of podcasts, not that I took in that last bit of information. http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/...
When I saw a book about the murder, that is when I noticed it properly and ordered it from my local library. It's a frustrating book in that, unlike a whodunit, this mystery remains unsolved. It is a fascinating read though, seeing how the journalist managed to track down, 25+ years later, witnesses that the police couldn't find at the time; how the police bungled and now wondering if some of those bungles weren't deliberate. What wasn't taken seriously then was that two priests from Maria's parish church might be involved - because priests were virtually untouchable. Now, with what has been learned about paedophilia in the Catholic church, and that Maria's younger son was abused by these priests, they are back in the frame, even though now long dead. But they're not in the frame alone.
One well-known police officer, Ron Iddles, supported Brown's investigations but that didn't stop her investigations coming to a halt at police brick walls. She had to take Iddles' word for it that the way things happened in 1980 wouldn't happen now. I hope I'm never in the position to find out because I wasn't convinced by that assurance. Meanwhile, Brown continues to support Maria's sons in their search to know what happened.
A good read.
Borrowed from my local library.
December 2, 2020
Good book about a 38-year-old cold case in Australia. The author originally told this story via a podcast hoping that with each episode she would be able to gather enough clues to solve the murder. Rachel Brown does an excellent job of helping the reader get to know the victim's two sons and all that they endured over the years. She actually does acquire lots of evidence and shows that the police department was extremely sloppy if not complicit in their handling of evidence that would have helped solve the murder years ago. Were the police working with the Catholic church to protect one of their priests? Brown shows how this could have been one of the problems over the years.During that era the priesthood was allowed to get by with numerous sins and Brown brings a lot to the forefront such as one of the victim's sons being sexually abused by two different priests on two different occasions on the same day. The personality of the author shines through and she appears to be someone you would trust to investigate a story. Good read.
June 27, 2025
It’s worthwhile listening to the podcast and reading this audiobook afterward for two different experiences.
The podcast is a VERY detailed look at this case, while this audiobook is an abridged view of the case and instead shows the human toll that the investigation took on Rachael Brown.
In the podcast she’s very sensitive to the family and interviewees and never makes it about herself, or comments too much on working at the ABC.
In this book we get to see how this lengthy investigation of brutality affected her mental and physical health, sleep, social life, and ability to be there for important life milestones. It sounds fucking awful. And we also get to see behind the scenes at the ABC - some of the red tape involved in getting the podcast commissioned and keeping it running, and some of her colleagues passing away during production. We also get to see some moments where she stuffed up or things went awry.
CW: Although this is a shorter look at the investigation itself, the discussion of child SA by the church was more brutal and difficult to listen to compared to the pod. It’s rough 😭
The podcast is a VERY detailed look at this case, while this audiobook is an abridged view of the case and instead shows the human toll that the investigation took on Rachael Brown.
In the podcast she’s very sensitive to the family and interviewees and never makes it about herself, or comments too much on working at the ABC.
In this book we get to see how this lengthy investigation of brutality affected her mental and physical health, sleep, social life, and ability to be there for important life milestones. It sounds fucking awful. And we also get to see behind the scenes at the ABC - some of the red tape involved in getting the podcast commissioned and keeping it running, and some of her colleagues passing away during production. We also get to see some moments where she stuffed up or things went awry.
CW: Although this is a shorter look at the investigation itself, the discussion of child SA by the church was more brutal and difficult to listen to compared to the pod. It’s rough 😭
July 12, 2019
June 1980 Maria James, Melbourne Australia Bookstore owner, is murdered. It was Ron Iddles 1st murder case. 38 years later the case is still open. Rachael Brown, journalist, finds out that a crucial witness' evidence has not been heard. She wants to review the case. Rachel finds after a 16 mos. investigation, a new suspect, bungled forensics and possible conspiracies with Catholic Church and Victoria police. They need the coroner to hold a new inquest. Trace is also a podcast and has brought this cold case to life. It has given a voice to the forgotten and abused. Serious implication for 2 of the state's most powerful institutions. It is a riveting story of a shocking murder which is about to blow open with another inquest. Hopefully the murderer will be determined soon with the new evidence brought before the coroner. Read this book in order to find out all the details. Recommended.
April 4, 2021
A well documented and researched true crime that takes some surprising turns. It follows a cold case investigation that dates back to 1980's suburban Australia. The story itself was engaging, but I felt that the author's self-recriminating musings (put to the beat of her running) were less film noir and more an exercise in self-indulgence. There is enough colour in the people involved in this case without the author inserting herself into the mix. Not to say that Brown didn't have a difficult or confronting job, and certainly not invalidating what a fantastic job she did to bring this case back into focus, but there is certainly enough real-life tragedy that her own story only served to distract from the case.
November 14, 2019
I listened to and very much enjoyed the Trace podcast, so was hoping for slightly more supplementary material in the book. I highly recommend the podcast OR the book. I hate to say the Maria James' cold murder case is fascinating, as I realise it is actually someone's life, but it is like an onion with endless layers to peel back and Rachael Brown obviously cares about more than the scoop. There is hope that shedding light on this tragedy could bring closure to her family and I still check for podcast updates for any progress reports. The book and podcast are truly well done investigative journalism.
January 26, 2019
Listened to in audio format.
DNF -I live in the UK so I had never heard of Maria James. This was meticulously researched book and the possible links to the Catholic church was explosive.
However I did not enjoy how the information was presented. I would of preferred a straight account of the case without mention of the author or the Trace podcast.
I intended finishing the book but the recording had come off my kindle. I would of downloaded it again but I had already returned the book to Audible.
DNF -I live in the UK so I had never heard of Maria James. This was meticulously researched book and the possible links to the Catholic church was explosive.
However I did not enjoy how the information was presented. I would of preferred a straight account of the case without mention of the author or the Trace podcast.
I intended finishing the book but the recording had come off my kindle. I would of downloaded it again but I had already returned the book to Audible.
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