What do you think?
Rate this book
Vintage True Crime Stories Vol II: An Illustrated Anthology of Forgotten Tales of Murder & Mayhem
The ten stories true crime stories selected for Volume 2 were so forgotten, they are new again, and possibly, unlike any true crime story you have read before.
Let me test my presumption with a preview of four these ‘old’ stories.
If I told you there was once a west coast sex cult with dozens of young girls, single ladies, and married women, who all fornicated with one well-endowed “prophet,” and he occasionally found it necessary to carry-out bondage S&M sessions here and there, you may not be surprised at all. But what if that sex cult began in 1903 and ended in 1906 with a couple of murders and suicides, does that sound like anything you have read about before?
Or, how about a cheater who murders his inconvenient wife, disassembles her over a fifteen hour period, then puts her bones in the same stove he cooks breakfast for his sons before sending them off to school? If that doesn’t surprise you, perhaps the ending will–but you’ll have to find out for yourself.
In ‘The Dandy and the Squire,’ a smooth-talking peacock from Kentucky visits his northern ‘cousins,’ and charms three of the women into his bed. He’s a big time operator who talks fancy, dresses fancy, and tells great stories of his days as an adventurer, riverboat gambler, and sharp-minded deal maker. He’s so smooth, he’s able to murder the patriarch’s son, make him look like the bad guy, and marry the boy’s tender-hearted sister before the Yankees get wise to his lies. Good thing, too, because he had also talked the father into giving him the family farm.
Chapter Five is the stranger-than-fiction story of ‘Shoebox Annie.’ During the early 20th Century, this trollish-looking woman introduced her freakish-looking son to a life of crime. Their decade’s long spree of lyin’, cheatin’, and stealin’ led them to become America’s first mother and son team of serial killers. They were so good at disposing of bodies, none of their four victims have ever been found.
If ‘old’ stories sound boring to readers of contemporary true crime, I hope this book will change minds, and fully reveal just how wicked and decadent our ancestors were.
And deadly.
Volume II in the Vintage True Crime Stories series is a wrecking ball that smashes to pieces that phrase, “The Good Old Days.”
Maybe you will believe me when you get to the last page.
Let me test my presumption with a preview of four these ‘old’ stories.
If I told you there was once a west coast sex cult with dozens of young girls, single ladies, and married women, who all fornicated with one well-endowed “prophet,” and he occasionally found it necessary to carry-out bondage S&M sessions here and there, you may not be surprised at all. But what if that sex cult began in 1903 and ended in 1906 with a couple of murders and suicides, does that sound like anything you have read about before?
Or, how about a cheater who murders his inconvenient wife, disassembles her over a fifteen hour period, then puts her bones in the same stove he cooks breakfast for his sons before sending them off to school? If that doesn’t surprise you, perhaps the ending will–but you’ll have to find out for yourself.
In ‘The Dandy and the Squire,’ a smooth-talking peacock from Kentucky visits his northern ‘cousins,’ and charms three of the women into his bed. He’s a big time operator who talks fancy, dresses fancy, and tells great stories of his days as an adventurer, riverboat gambler, and sharp-minded deal maker. He’s so smooth, he’s able to murder the patriarch’s son, make him look like the bad guy, and marry the boy’s tender-hearted sister before the Yankees get wise to his lies. Good thing, too, because he had also talked the father into giving him the family farm.
Chapter Five is the stranger-than-fiction story of ‘Shoebox Annie.’ During the early 20th Century, this trollish-looking woman introduced her freakish-looking son to a life of crime. Their decade’s long spree of lyin’, cheatin’, and stealin’ led them to become America’s first mother and son team of serial killers. They were so good at disposing of bodies, none of their four victims have ever been found.
If ‘old’ stories sound boring to readers of contemporary true crime, I hope this book will change minds, and fully reveal just how wicked and decadent our ancestors were.
And deadly.
Volume II in the Vintage True Crime Stories series is a wrecking ball that smashes to pieces that phrase, “The Good Old Days.”
Maybe you will believe me when you get to the last page.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2019
About the author
Robert Patterson
19 books[There are multiple Robert Pattersons in the GR database. This is Robert^^^^^^^Patterson, currently a catch-all for indeterminate authors with this name.]
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 13, 2019
Entertaining true crime
If you didn't think true crime could be entertaining, you haven't read this book. The authors of the individual stories relate the facts of the crimes in such a relaxed, friendly manner that the reader gets the complete story without the gory details that are the centerpiece of most true crime books.
The book has a companion website where the reader has access to additional material about each case, such as photos and newspaper articles. I loved all of the stories, but I certainly will not forget the Prophet Joshua II. This is vintage true crime at its best!
12
If you didn't think true crime could be entertaining, you haven't read this book. The authors of the individual stories relate the facts of the crimes in such a relaxed, friendly manner that the reader gets the complete story without the gory details that are the centerpiece of most true crime books.
The book has a companion website where the reader has access to additional material about each case, such as photos and newspaper articles. I loved all of the stories, but I certainly will not forget the Prophet Joshua II. This is vintage true crime at its best!
12
August 21, 2019
A well researched anthology of crimes that took place between 1871 and 1952 written by various writers in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.
Each story was fact checked and provided footnotes. There is also an epilogue of what happened to the main players.
I found some of these tales more interesting than others but all held my attention.
There is a webpage link where more pictures and newspaper articles are provided.
The footnotes on my kindle were pop ups and easy to use.
Each story was fact checked and provided footnotes. There is also an epilogue of what happened to the main players.
I found some of these tales more interesting than others but all held my attention.
There is a webpage link where more pictures and newspaper articles are provided.
The footnotes on my kindle were pop ups and easy to use.
October 13, 2019
Fantastic
I love all of the books in this series. The crimes long forgotten are so interesting, with the writing of the time period, and the extensive folks-up research presented. Along with all of that, to companion web pages are so informative. These are so much more interesting to read than so many books of more recent crimes. I very highly recommended these books for fans of true-crime, history, and language usage. Bravo
I love all of the books in this series. The crimes long forgotten are so interesting, with the writing of the time period, and the extensive folks-up research presented. Along with all of that, to companion web pages are so informative. These are so much more interesting to read than so many books of more recent crimes. I very highly recommended these books for fans of true-crime, history, and language usage. Bravo
January 28, 2024
Really Good Book
The stories in this short book are truly bizarre, especially the bank robbing story. It’s hard to believe they are real. The writing is very attractive and thorough. The companion web page is ideal. You actually get to read some of the sensational news reporting of the day. This is a more interesting way to read true crime when it has the companion web pages to add more info.
The stories in this short book are truly bizarre, especially the bank robbing story. It’s hard to believe they are real. The writing is very attractive and thorough. The companion web page is ideal. You actually get to read some of the sensational news reporting of the day. This is a more interesting way to read true crime when it has the companion web pages to add more info.
August 7, 2019
Crimes
Crimes and criminals have not evolved the crimes and the motives for their commission remain the same.
Although forensic science has evolved successful apprehension of the guilty is still heavily dependent on good basic investigative skills of the police the innate limitations of the criminals and confessions
Crimes and criminals have not evolved the crimes and the motives for their commission remain the same.
Although forensic science has evolved successful apprehension of the guilty is still heavily dependent on good basic investigative skills of the police the innate limitations of the criminals and confessions
November 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of cases. Most were written in the 1950s, the editor has included epilogues for each chapter that include corrections, subsequent events, etc. There is also a corresponding web page for each story that includes additional documents and information. I will definitely find and read the first volume.
January 27, 2020
Interesting
The only complaint I had was I was sorry I came to the end. Really enjoyed it. I have read a tremendous amount of true crime, yet I've never heard of any in this book. It was varied too. And entertaining. If anyone liked true crime as I do I'd recommend this very much.
The only complaint I had was I was sorry I came to the end. Really enjoyed it. I have read a tremendous amount of true crime, yet I've never heard of any in this book. It was varied too. And entertaining. If anyone liked true crime as I do I'd recommend this very much.
March 7, 2020
Well researched and written
Fascinating how the modern world isn't the only place where crime runs rampant. People born 100 years ago were just as devious. The stories in this book are interesting and not over the top with detail, but there is the choice to read additional information on a particular story you may want to delve into more. Very enjoyable book.
Fascinating how the modern world isn't the only place where crime runs rampant. People born 100 years ago were just as devious. The stories in this book are interesting and not over the top with detail, but there is the choice to read additional information on a particular story you may want to delve into more. Very enjoyable book.
May 25, 2019
Entertaining Early 20th Century Criime
Nicely seleted group of stories featuring homme grown crime
with a cast of characters all compelling in their own ways.
Check out the Screwball bank robbery of 1952 for
some good laughs.
Nicely seleted group of stories featuring homme grown crime
with a cast of characters all compelling in their own ways.
Check out the Screwball bank robbery of 1952 for
some good laughs.
June 29, 2019
A enjoyable read
This book is a very enjoyable read about some obscure and incredible cases of true crime that I've never heard of before its always exciting to come across true crime cases for the first time.
This book is a very enjoyable read about some obscure and incredible cases of true crime that I've never heard of before its always exciting to come across true crime cases for the first time.
July 18, 2019
Very Entertaining
And, gives even more credence to the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction. These stories were fascinating and if told today would be considered, fabricated.
And, gives even more credence to the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction. These stories were fascinating and if told today would be considered, fabricated.
April 7, 2019
Fascinating book!
This book was very interesting from start to finish. It contains details of little known crimes. I highly recommend it to other true crime readers.
This book was very interesting from start to finish. It contains details of little known crimes. I highly recommend it to other true crime readers.
April 25, 2019
As bad as the first one. Not even worth 99 cents.
May 6, 2019
Not that interesting
Some of the stories were not remarkable in any way,skipped a couple of chapters. Disappointed, and will b careful what true crime i select.
Some of the stories were not remarkable in any way,skipped a couple of chapters. Disappointed, and will b careful what true crime i select.
May 9, 2019
Good read
I really enjoyed reading about old crimes. It is very interesting how laws are so different. Bet the crimes are pretty much the
I really enjoyed reading about old crimes. It is very interesting how laws are so different. Bet the crimes are pretty much the
October 12, 2019
Very interesting
Definitely interesting cases that I had never heard of. Very well written, and definitely worth reading. It will keep you riveted.
Definitely interesting cases that I had never heard of. Very well written, and definitely worth reading. It will keep you riveted.
August 16, 2020
I love this author! Not just because the stories are so unfamiliar, but because of the links to further reading and pictures. Highly recommend!
February 15, 2024
Another interesting book describing "vintage" murders
This is volume 2 of 2. It is as good as volume 1 and, like the first volume, wonderfully annotated.
This is volume 2 of 2. It is as good as volume 1 and, like the first volume, wonderfully annotated.
May 18, 2020
Good Anthology of stories with lots of variety in the crimes. I hadn't heard or read any of these stories in any other anthology crimes books! Very interesting how the crimes were solved 100 years ago or even a few decades ago. Stories are in different time periods and different locations. I enjoyed it so much that I'm planning to read the previous book since I started with Volume two. Recommended for true crime fans.
June 12, 2020
Great stories.
Enjoyed this book. The stories were interested and different. It is amazing how people actually think they will not be caught.
Enjoyed this book. The stories were interested and different. It is amazing how people actually think they will not be caught.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews