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Murder by Increments #2
Killing Cousins
One after another, they appear by the sides of suburban roads and freeways – the naked, strangled bodies of women who have been raped, tortured and left for dead.
Police begin to suspect that their target is a rogue operator who has emerged from their own ranks. And then, all hell breaks loose in Los Angeles…
An arrest in the strangling murders of two co-eds across state lines finally leads to a break in the case, but the mild-mannered suspect remembers nothing about the crime of which he is accused. His attorney and a team of psychiatrists are convinced this is no lust murderer, but a mentally ill man tormented by an evil alter personality, the terrifyingly malevolent sexual sadist “Steve”. But what if Steve is the final triumphant act in a psychopath’s lifelong career in deception?
None are prepared for the dark journey through the mazes of the human mind it will take to unlock the door to justice.
From the author of the aviation disaster ebook bestseller “Gone: Catastrophe in Paradise”, “Killing Cousins” is the second installment of the two-part series “Murder by Increments”, the true story of the worst case of serial sex homicide in American history.
Police begin to suspect that their target is a rogue operator who has emerged from their own ranks. And then, all hell breaks loose in Los Angeles…
An arrest in the strangling murders of two co-eds across state lines finally leads to a break in the case, but the mild-mannered suspect remembers nothing about the crime of which he is accused. His attorney and a team of psychiatrists are convinced this is no lust murderer, but a mentally ill man tormented by an evil alter personality, the terrifyingly malevolent sexual sadist “Steve”. But what if Steve is the final triumphant act in a psychopath’s lifelong career in deception?
None are prepared for the dark journey through the mazes of the human mind it will take to unlock the door to justice.
From the author of the aviation disaster ebook bestseller “Gone: Catastrophe in Paradise”, “Killing Cousins” is the second installment of the two-part series “Murder by Increments”, the true story of the worst case of serial sex homicide in American history.
- GenresTrue Crime
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2018
219 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
O.J. Modjeska
13 books10 followers"Truth is stranger than fiction ... and this author offers horrifying insight..."
I am a true crime author who wears many other hats, including erstwhile historian and criminologist and avid consumer of books and TV series ... find out what I've been bingeing on in the ScreamingForStreaming blog at http://www.estoire.co/
More about:
OJ Modjeska is a criminologist, historian and author. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a PhD in Modern American History in 2004, and received her Graduate Diploma in Criminology from Sydney Law School in 2015. In 2015 she was awarded the JH McClemens Memorial Prize by Sydney Law School for her scholarship in criminology. Before pursuing a writing career she worked for many years as a legal writer and editor. She writes books of narrative non-fiction true crime and disaster analysis. Her books are suspenseful narratives which draw on her insights and expertise into history, criminal behavior and psychology.
OJ signed with Next Chapter Publishing in 2018. She continues to publish minor works under her own imprint, Estoire, named after the French for "a narrative of past events, presented as true, whose authenticity is attested by an authority".
I am a true crime author who wears many other hats, including erstwhile historian and criminologist and avid consumer of books and TV series ... find out what I've been bingeing on in the ScreamingForStreaming blog at http://www.estoire.co/
More about:
OJ Modjeska is a criminologist, historian and author. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a PhD in Modern American History in 2004, and received her Graduate Diploma in Criminology from Sydney Law School in 2015. In 2015 she was awarded the JH McClemens Memorial Prize by Sydney Law School for her scholarship in criminology. Before pursuing a writing career she worked for many years as a legal writer and editor. She writes books of narrative non-fiction true crime and disaster analysis. Her books are suspenseful narratives which draw on her insights and expertise into history, criminal behavior and psychology.
OJ signed with Next Chapter Publishing in 2018. She continues to publish minor works under her own imprint, Estoire, named after the French for "a narrative of past events, presented as true, whose authenticity is attested by an authority".
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 10, 2020
This book along with book one is probably the best True Crime book I’ve read.
Thoroughly engaging, researched, and put together!
Thoroughly engaging, researched, and put together!
August 28, 2019
Extremely thought provoking
Read both books but this one was very in-depth and thought provoking. I think the most interesting case I have ever read. Nothing resembling the newspaper articles at the time. I am very glad I read it and that justice was served.
Read both books but this one was very in-depth and thought provoking. I think the most interesting case I have ever read. Nothing resembling the newspaper articles at the time. I am very glad I read it and that justice was served.
September 25, 2018
A City Owned was submitted to Rosie's Review Team list, but after I'd read it I had to read the second book, too; thus, I am reviewing them as one.
This two part series, Murder by Increments, is about the crimes of the Hillside Stranglers, Kennth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, who made LA a frightening place to be in the late 1970s. The first book, A City Owned, starts with a picture of what LA was like back then. Such a clever way to start; to understand the lives of the victims and why Bianchi and Buono went undiscovered for so long, we have first to be aware of the culture of the time. LA was a seedy place indeed, peopled by many who'd arrived seeking the Hollywood dream, only to be sucked into the underworld of prostitution, porn, drugs and crime. The cops were overworked and jaded, with few resources; these were the days before the internet, before reliable criminal profiling, and before DNA databases. Reading how carelessly they bungled the investigations, over and over again, made me think that crime solving had moved on very little in the hundred years since the London police tried in vain to identify Jack the Ripper.
O J Modjeska writes about the victims with great respect for each girl's short life, drawing a heartbreaking picture each time. These are not just names, and the book is far from being just a list of heinous crimes. Only towards the end of the book do Bianchi and Buono themselves appear, and by then I had to know the whole story; I went back to Amazon and bought Killing Cousins as soon as I'd finished A City Owned.
I found Killing Cousins the most absorbing of the two books, as I am more interested in the psychological background of killers than the solving of crimes. The drawn out trial was at times farcical, not only because of Bianchi's attempts to convince psychiatrists that he suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder, but because of the self-interest and prejudice of many involved.
'There were the cops who thought the lives of prostitutes were worthless, the officials who wanted to look good in front of the media, the shrinks seeking professional recognition, the prosecutors who assumed middle-aged women were crazy, and the politicians seeking office. There was stupidity, there was self-aggrandizement, there was sexism and the tyranny of the herd.'
This two-book series is everything that true crime should be, without being in any way sensationalised. O J Modjeska has not only written a riveting account of the victims, perpetrators and law enforcement bodies, but also shown how very different attitudes in general were, only forty years ago; if just a few incidents had not taken place, a few people not spoken up, if a few jurors been swayed by the individuals who defended these two monsters, the outcome might have been very different.
This two part series, Murder by Increments, is about the crimes of the Hillside Stranglers, Kennth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, who made LA a frightening place to be in the late 1970s. The first book, A City Owned, starts with a picture of what LA was like back then. Such a clever way to start; to understand the lives of the victims and why Bianchi and Buono went undiscovered for so long, we have first to be aware of the culture of the time. LA was a seedy place indeed, peopled by many who'd arrived seeking the Hollywood dream, only to be sucked into the underworld of prostitution, porn, drugs and crime. The cops were overworked and jaded, with few resources; these were the days before the internet, before reliable criminal profiling, and before DNA databases. Reading how carelessly they bungled the investigations, over and over again, made me think that crime solving had moved on very little in the hundred years since the London police tried in vain to identify Jack the Ripper.
O J Modjeska writes about the victims with great respect for each girl's short life, drawing a heartbreaking picture each time. These are not just names, and the book is far from being just a list of heinous crimes. Only towards the end of the book do Bianchi and Buono themselves appear, and by then I had to know the whole story; I went back to Amazon and bought Killing Cousins as soon as I'd finished A City Owned.
I found Killing Cousins the most absorbing of the two books, as I am more interested in the psychological background of killers than the solving of crimes. The drawn out trial was at times farcical, not only because of Bianchi's attempts to convince psychiatrists that he suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder, but because of the self-interest and prejudice of many involved.
'There were the cops who thought the lives of prostitutes were worthless, the officials who wanted to look good in front of the media, the shrinks seeking professional recognition, the prosecutors who assumed middle-aged women were crazy, and the politicians seeking office. There was stupidity, there was self-aggrandizement, there was sexism and the tyranny of the herd.'
This two-book series is everything that true crime should be, without being in any way sensationalised. O J Modjeska has not only written a riveting account of the victims, perpetrators and law enforcement bodies, but also shown how very different attitudes in general were, only forty years ago; if just a few incidents had not taken place, a few people not spoken up, if a few jurors been swayed by the individuals who defended these two monsters, the outcome might have been very different.
November 21, 2021
A True Crime Story That Tells the Truth
I'm a fan of true crime novels but the majority of them read like a court transcript. This novel showed an unbiased book that takes into account the convicted killers' childhood as well as showing they're are two sides to them. On one hand, they are the normal family man who seems to be dedicated to their wives and children. Then as details emerge from investigations and often the words by the killers, the family man is not who they are. In this case, insanity wasn't used as a defense and showed sides of the killers that were horrific. It's hard to fathom what makes some people turn into rapist and murderers. This is a well researched novel that doesn't forget the innocent lives taken. I appreciate the dedication that writing this book took. For any true crime reader, this is by far one of the superb novels that delves into the minds of the murderers and the justice system.
I'm a fan of true crime novels but the majority of them read like a court transcript. This novel showed an unbiased book that takes into account the convicted killers' childhood as well as showing they're are two sides to them. On one hand, they are the normal family man who seems to be dedicated to their wives and children. Then as details emerge from investigations and often the words by the killers, the family man is not who they are. In this case, insanity wasn't used as a defense and showed sides of the killers that were horrific. It's hard to fathom what makes some people turn into rapist and murderers. This is a well researched novel that doesn't forget the innocent lives taken. I appreciate the dedication that writing this book took. For any true crime reader, this is by far one of the superb novels that delves into the minds of the murderers and the justice system.
April 8, 2019
Uncommonly Good
I'm getting the impression that this author is just getting her sea legs in the writing business. Whether she has lots of experience or not, she is an excellent writer. This true crime account of the Hillside Stranglers is first rate. I haven't said that about any writing in forever. The facts are accurate and clear, the momentum is gripping. I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
I am kind of surprised that she decided on this content because it is so old at this point and it has been covered elsewhere. However, it is the best telling of this tale I've read.
I'm getting the impression that this author is just getting her sea legs in the writing business. Whether she has lots of experience or not, she is an excellent writer. This true crime account of the Hillside Stranglers is first rate. I haven't said that about any writing in forever. The facts are accurate and clear, the momentum is gripping. I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
I am kind of surprised that she decided on this content because it is so old at this point and it has been covered elsewhere. However, it is the best telling of this tale I've read.
December 15, 2019
Very frightening that what Ken became was so hinged on his formative years and the dysfunctional relationship he had with his so called Mother. The trial was so drawn out and complicated but great respect for the cops and prosecutors who carried out their research into these terrible crimes against women and children. The mind can be a powerful thing when used for right but this book shows that the reverse can also happen.
November 18, 2018
Excellent
I have followed this since it happened. I lived in Riverside, CA and Bellingham, WA. The Author did an excellent job of putting it all together. Would recommend this for anyone who loves a great thriller.
I have followed this since it happened. I lived in Riverside, CA and Bellingham, WA. The Author did an excellent job of putting it all together. Would recommend this for anyone who loves a great thriller.
Read
February 18, 2022A fascinating insight into the life of Bianchi . A book that’s hard to put down . The exemption of any wrong doing by his adoptive mother is questionable. I wonder where she is and if she holds any responsibility. Buono and Bianchi will never be missed .
Well worth reading .
Well worth reading .
November 16, 2019
Life history of the cousins.
February 19, 2020
Killing cousins
I did enjoy the book. It was well researched, and well written. I look forward to more books from this author.
I did enjoy the book. It was well researched, and well written. I look forward to more books from this author.
May 2, 2020
Good details
I have read some true facts about both of these men, but this book went into more details that I really enjoyed.
I have read some true facts about both of these men, but this book went into more details that I really enjoyed.
August 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this terrifying read. I had read about this story before but never on such detail. It was so scary how Buano almost walked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2024
Well-written true crime. This was the second part of "A City Owned."
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews