The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories

by Mark Bowden

From Mark Bowden, a "master of narrative journalism" (New York Times), comes a true-crime collection both deeply chilling and impossible to put down.

Six captivating true-crime stories, spanning Mark Bowden's long and illustrious career, cover a variety of crimes complicated by extraordinary circumstances. Winner of a lifetime achievement award from International Thriller Writers, Bowden revisits in The Case of the Vanishing Blonde some of his most riveting stories and examines the effects of modern technology on the journalistic process.



From a story of a campus rape at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 that unleashed a moral debate over the nature of consent when drinking and drugs are involved to three cold cases featuring the inimitable Long Island private detective Ken Brennan and a startling investigation that reveals a murderer within the LAPD's ranks, shielded for twenty six years by officers keen to protect one of their own, these stories are the work of a masterful narrative journalist at work. Gripping true crime from a writer the Washington Post calls "an old pro."

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Mystery, History, Short Stories, Journalism

232 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2020

About the author

Mark Bowden is an American journalist and writer. He is a former national correspondent and longtime contributor to The Atlantic. Bowden is best known for his book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War (1999) about the 1993 U.S. military raid in Mogadishu, which was later adapted into a motion picture of the same name that received two Academy Awards.
Bowden is also known for the books Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw (2001), about the efforts to take down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, and Hue 1968, an account of the Battle of Huế.

Reviews

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories is a collection of six fascinating true-crime stories, spanning Mark Bowden’s long and illustrious career as a crime journalist. It covers a variety of complicated crimes; both thought-provoking and fascinating.

From a story of a rape at the University of Pennsylvania that sparked a debate over the nature of consent to a case of entrapment in a pedophile case. Followed by three cold cases featuring the genius of private detective Ken Brennan and a startling investigation into a cold case that reveals an unexpected murderer. Each of these stories is masterfully narrated and often the interpretation; relating to ethics involved in the case is left to the reader.

The first two cases Incident at Alpha Tau Omega and why don't u tell me wht ur into delve into the fundamental questions involving the nature of the crime but leaving the judgment to the readers open-ended. The Case of the Vanishing Blonde, The Body in Room 348, Who Killed Euhommie Bond? all Sherlock type unsolvable mysteries involving Mr. Brennann. Ken Brennan, a Private Detective, with a magic touch, who seemingly can solve even the most unsolvable cases. Bowden spins the narrative in such a manner that it keeps the readers hooked till the end and the best example of it is A Million Years Ago another cold case but narrated it such a unique way that it will shock the readers as it gradually reveals the entire story.

There have been several crime books in recent times like Mindhunter. The key difference being most books narrate a crime from the perspective of either the criminal or the investigator. This book is unique because as a crime journalist, Bowden could cover the perspective of every party involved including key eyewitnesses. Also, the book covers a variety of cases which different kinds of mystery. Bowden gives you enough background info about the case and explains the implication of every possible missing piece to make it interesting.

Each of these stories is fascinating and intriguing. This book is a fairly quick read and I found it to be a page-turner; mainly due to some excellent narration and some thought-provoking cases. If you are a fan of the True Crime genre, this book is categorically a must-read. 4.5 stars out of 5


Many thanks to the publishers Atlantic Monthly Press and Edelweiss for the ARC.  

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Bowden, a prolific author and writer, kicks off The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories with a statement that newspaper reporting hones an appetite for crime. As a reporter, having a good crime yarn was a way to ensure coverage on the front page of the newspaper.

This book covers six cases that Bowden wrote about for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Vanity Fair, and Air Mail. Each case is very unique and was incredibly challenging to solve.

This is my fourth Bowden book and it is fast-paced and action packed. Other Bowden books that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading include: Huế 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam, The Last Stone, and Life Sentence The Brief and Tragic Career of Baltimore’s Deadliest Gang Leader.

[Wera · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
**Many thanks to Mark Bowden, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date: 7 July 2020**

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories is a short story collection covering six true crime narratives. Every short story examines a different and interesting topic from manslaughter to corruption in justice systems. From the highly enticing introduction, we understand that Mark Bowden will do his best to deliver these stories in a faithful, approachable, and fun manner. He definitely doesn't disappoint.

Incident at Alpha Tau Omega: 4 stars
This first short story was a really solid start. I thought it was a great case to begin with because it showcased the best side of Bowden's writing and made you understand the format of the upcoming short stories very well. I loved how Bowden doesn't glamorise the crime, in this case rape, because I know that that is a pit-fall for many authors. The strongest aspect of this short story for me was that Bowden shows us that he expects his readers to really think for themselves in the cases. He does this through clearly showing us two distinct perspectives. In the end, he doesn't force his opinion on us, but rather leaves it very open ended for interpretation. This sets a great tone for everything moving forward.

why don't u tell me wht ur into: 3 stars
This story had a lot of potential but just ended up being average. I was hooked in the beginning but as things progressed, we started seeing the same things over and over to the point it became kind of boring. Don't get me wrong, I was still intrigued, but not at that level above 3 stars. The question posed by Bowden in this story is 'should we convict people if they have a high probability of committing a crime even if they haven't committed it yet?' Again I like that this is left open ended and the reader has to make a decision for themselves.

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: 5 stars
The titular short story, although it was the shortest, was also the best one. We are introduced to Mr. Brennan, a PI who the reader will get well acquainted with later on in the book. This is the first short story that purely looks at the case chronologically alongside the detectives. Bowden spins the narrative in such a way that the readers can try and figure out the mystery for themselves. I was a huge fan of this one.

... A Million Years Ago: 3.5 stars
A solid beginning. Not so solid middle. The case itself I found to be very interesting and thought provoking. Also, you can find the interviews online! I was enthralled watching them, knowing what was going to happen. After a certain point, Bowden does start going in circles, like he did in "why don't u tell me wht ur into". I think that if we cut the 'going in circles' part and focused on how the murderer 'got away with it' and the general aftermath of the realisation of who did it, the story would have been much better.

The Body in Room 348": 3.75 stars
This one marks the second encounter of Mr. Brennan. I liked this one a lot. I thought the case was very mysterious and different than the others. I liked how questions about manslaughter and involuntarily hurting others are presented. Again we went in circles a tiny bit and my attention wasn't able to hold. Here we focused a lot on the medical side of things which is something that I find people don't really portray or pay attention to, and it is the aspect that I find very engrossing. I also liked how Bowden talks about fear and how that is a driving force in what we do and how we run our lives. Very thought provoking!

Who Killed Euhommie Bond?: 3 stars
This was a case that had a lot of potential but again just ended up being average. I feel like Bowden at this point just started focusing so much on Brennan, that he kind of left the story of the case behind at points. We get THREE descriptions of Brennan as this superhero-like detective type and by the end I was like "Ok. I get it, Brennan 4life but can we move onto the mystery?". I did like that Bowden really did put a human face to the tragedy. I think that overall this was a good case to end on because after so much tragedy that is depicted in the novel, it is good to remember that we shouldn't glamorise violence because behind all the newspaper headlines are real people with real emotions.

All in all, I do recommend this book! I think that true-crime aficionados will gobble it up!

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting group of true crime stories that was entertaining to read. I think only one of them I had read before. There is a PI that is just astounding at solving tough cold cases that I think most will enjoy. He’s rather like a magician. I’ll be looking for more to read about him, I know, this Mr. Brennan. This was certainly worth the read if you enjoy true crime and are looking for separate stories. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Mark Bowden, and Atlantic Monthly Press.

[Vonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six stories written in the true crimeg genre by Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down). I found these stories light and fluffy on the true crime side but on teaching about criminal investigation it was spot on. A quick read of a book and very well written.

[Ankit Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories by journalist Mark Bowden is a collection of six true crime articles that he had published in various publications in his career. Me being a sucker for the genre, combined with the fast-paced writing style which kept the reader in me hooked throughout, makes this book a must read in my opinion.

One character that stands out is Ken Brennan, the private investigator who is featured in half the stories published in this book. His style of working is impressive, and the way he tackles the almost impossible-looking cases is applause worthy. I'd love to read his biography. Come on Mark, do your thing and make this happen.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: Must read if you are into true crime genre.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much more a hodgepodge mixture than I had anticipated. I took it without any pre-knowledge at all.

Two of the stories/cases I had read about or heard documentary info in full or in partial inclusions to other media or print works. So I had too much "knowledge" taking this form, IMHO. And so noticed the choppy writing and hard to follow dialogues far more than if I would not have had any outcome or context background. And one, the first story about child porn fishing, I thought was at the very most a 2 star. Something in the tone and the onus and the people themselves? Stomach-turning. As bad as that despicable servicing has gotten- I still feel that entrapment is vile too.

Regardless, the Blonde case and the case of the very cold case Lady Police Officer set up, I knew about in detail already. They were 2.5 or 3 star level but not anywhere as good as the visuals for these I've seen elsewhere. They got wordy instead of particular.

The last Brennan cases were better. Over all I think this is 2.5 stars rounded up for the "eyes" of the people who worked so hard to determine outcomes from the perceived ambiguities of evidence. Very difficult to be such a dog holding on to that bone, but this gave a decent look at that tenacity.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bowden's introduction, he talks emphatically about the difference between writing compelling fiction and compelling non-fiction. The key difference is that with non-fiction, one can only report the facts without adding a gloss to them. As a reporter, one can only with confidence tell a factual story with the details given by the eyewitnesses. One cannot utilize a non-fiction piece to fill in gaps in testimony, to add details that you think are true, but have not been proven. Following the introduction, Bowden, a reporter by trade, offers us readers six news articles about crimes.

The first couple of stories are difficult ones to read about, including a fraternity gang rape of a vulnerable girl, too drugged out to consent and an on-line predator caught in a sting operation. In particular, with these two stories, Bowden not only gives us the details in a compelling manner, often giving us both points of view, but offers an understanding of the policy difficulties. With the gang rape, which took place in 1983, we get a chilling story of what happens when society's unspoken rules are put aside, when there is no one in the building with the maturity to say stop, and how little understanding the fraternity brothers had of what they had done. With the online predator story, Bowden goes step by step through the on-line chats between the man who was caught and the actor pretending to be a woman with two young children and shows us how difficult it is to sometimes understand where the line is between entrapment and actively taking these people off the web.

The remaining stories are not so chilling. They are more along the lines of Sherlock Holmes mystery puzzles. Each is an unsolvable crime that lay dormant for years in the cold case bins till someone took a different perspective in looking at them. One is where a woman's body is found in the Florida Everglades, but there is no camera angle at the major hotel she was staying in which ever shows her leaving the hotel on the night in question. One is a man found in a motel room in the midwest with no explanation for how he got so beaten, no signs of the struggle in the motel room.

Each of these mini-stories is well-written, easy to read, and quite intriguing. This fairly short volume is a fascinating quick read.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy recieved from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Ok now, hear me out! Mark Bowden is as skilled writer as they come. I've been a fan for a while, so I may be a little prejudiced in saying this, but hey I think anyone who likes true crime should at least give this guy a try, just once and you probably won't regret it.

So, this is a compendium of six stories from Bowden's time at Vanity Fair. They all span from the eighties to almost the present days, somewhat, so there might be some googling to be done just to fall in line with the context of the times. They're all skillfully written, in my opinion of course, and engaging enough to keep you scheming in your mind as you turn the pages while commuting from work or downing your daily americano at your local coffee shop. What I loved most about the way in which they're written is how in each account he creates enough buildup which practically forces you to wonder and start putting pieces together on our own accord because, honey no, Bowden does not give you all of the facts at once, he takes his precious time explaining even the smallest of nuisances while at the same time giving us enough background of each and every one of the individuals leaving us readers with enough cloth to cut, as my mama would say, thus resulting in an avalanche of intrigue.

If you're looking for well written and fascinating true crime accounts look no further. This is it.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of The Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories by Mark Bowden is a collection of six long-form true crime pieces of journalism previously covered during his long career. Five of these pieces were previously published in other forms elsewhere and Bowden has included short updates on those when applicable. Several of these stories have received wide media attention, with one of them turned into a movie.

With these pieces, as with his other non-fiction works, Bowden is consistent in his ability to craft compelling accounts of almost any topic he comes across. These tales include experiences with a tireless private detective with an uncanny ability to solve the unsolvable and other law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

Recommended to those that enjoy true-crime tales.

An ARC was provided by Netgalley for the return of an honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 rounded up
Six true crime cases, learned a lot about procedures.
Interesting stories.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

content warning: book describes rape, murder, attempted murder, home invasion, descriptions related to child molestation, gunplay, and manslaughter

I think Mark Bowden is the best crime reporter working today. It was Edna Buchanan, but she is writing mystery novels now, and I say God bless her. The thing I love about Bowden is that he gets out of the way of the people he writes about. He puts their words and stories and emotions first rather than talking about himself and his efforts and emotions. In this book, you will read about . . .

* people who say things like, "Yes, we had sex, but it wasn't rape" (reader, it was rape)
* detectives who say things like, "A crime victim can't just disappear" (reader, she did just disappear, but in a way that was impossible to figure out without an investigation that took hundreds of hours)
* suspects who say things like, "Sure, we talked about how I would have sex with her children, but just sending messages about child molestation isn't a crime" (reader, it is if the person sending messages agrees to meet the children's mother at a location and brings condoms—fortunately, the mother was a detective and the children were imaginary)
* detectives who say things like, "Women just don't do breaking and entering jobs" (reader, this shows not only sexism but also a lack of imagination)
* drunk people who say things like, "Bring me my gun, I know what I'm doing" (reader, this one ends very badly for an innocent man)
* prosecutors who say things like, "You can't listen to rumors about an unsolved shooting" (reader, you can if you reexamine the forensic evidence and reinterview witnesses and figure out who is telling some or all of the truth)
* people who say, "Even if you get to the bottom of it all and figure out what really happened, you're never going to leave everyone satisfied with the outcome of the case" (actually, this last one is true)

[Kim Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no doubt that Mark Bowden is a giant in crime writing today. There is good reason for this- all six of the stories within this collection are interesting and well written. It is likely that the three stories featuring real-life PI Ken Brennan are the most conventionally interesting. However, it was the first story, The Incident at Alpha Tau Omega, which fascinated me the most- it wasn't that the crime was compelling but rather the portrayal of our society and its values and how that impacted the outcome which I found interesting. For me, the story is a time capsule as it was written around the time that I was born.
If you find certain subjects within true-crime hard to process, I would advise doing some research prior to starting this collection. Other reviewers have listed content warnings. In my opinion, nothing here is too graphic or disturbing so I suspect that the average reader will be fine.
Thank you to GoodReads for facilitating the Giveaway and to Atlantic Monthly Press for the uncorrected proof.

[where the pages bleed · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started with me being intrigued with the title, to me learning about a prominent PI Ken Brennan (I mean if he brings a book out I will so get it).

While the title focuses on the vanishing blond, that story was incredible and kudos for Brenna for figuring it out. The last story really got to me, ‘Who killed Euhommie Bond’ this was a hard read. Knowing who killed the man but he can never be prosecuted… it doesn’t sit right with me.

This compilation of of Mark Bowden’s most prominent cases he covered as a reporter is a must read for true crime buffs. I can’t imagine covering these were great for the mentals, but we have to keep sharing. This is the least we can do for victims ❤️

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of true crime stories as seen through the eyes of the police department.
I didn't find one story in this collection that was boring.
One story, in particular, was very interesting. I had read the story of this murder written by an investigative author.
He interviewed the family, especially the parents of the murdered woman, and retold their frustration with the local police department. It added much to the original story I had read.
If you enjoy true crime you might add this book to your, to read, list.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime is normally a genre I avoid because it's too lurid or gruesome. But Mark Bowden is a gifted writer who turns true crime stories into opportunities to rethink guiding principles. He doesn't "spin the facts" to make the story more interesting but rather selects the order he shares facts to help you experience the shifting experience most detective work follows, which in turn prepares you to consider shifting your thinking about what and how justice works (or doesn't). The introduction has some particularly good insights into records, story-telling, and truth-seeking.

[Brenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written collection of true crime vignettes from an experienced journalist. As a warning, several of the cases do involve sex crimes. They are dealt with in a respectful and appropriate fashion, but still may be best avoided by readers understandably triggered by that content.

[Kady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mark Bowden and this book didn't disappoint. I did skip two of the stories that I had seen on true crime tv. Really enjoyed the anthology and felt it was well written.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journalist Mark Bowden pulls articles he has written over the years for newspapers and magazines to create The Case of the Vanishing Blonde and Other True Crime Stories. Most of the stories are from the last fifteen years; one was originally published in 1983. I inhaled these stories on Sunday afternoon, pleased by Bowden’s humanizing touches to a series of complicated cases that involve murder, rape, and some very puzzling deaths that are only solved by the careful work of private investigator Ken Brennan...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.

[Jason Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short collection of good true crime stories told with meticulous faithfulness to the facts.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of six long-form journalistic pieces Mark Bowden wrote for Vanity Fair. Six true crime cases, each of them different in their own ways, not so much for their shock value but for the fact that they caused seismic shifts in the way certain types of crimes are examined.

Incident at Alpha Tau Omega tells the story of a girl who got drunk and/or high, and was raped by a number of brothers at a frat house at Penn State. The incident and its aftermath definitely changed the way consent in such cases are discussed. Bowman tries to present the facts of the case without bias, but his implicit distaste for the failure of the fraternity brothers to not only take responsibility, but even comprehend the wrongness of their actions does come over somewhat.

why don’t u tell me wht ur into raises some intriguing questions about entrapment. A cyber detective phishes for paedophiles by posing as a mother with two young girls. The fish she hooks seems more interested in her than the girls, but she insists they are a package deal. Arranging to meet her, planning to have sex with her before the girls get home from school, the man is arrested. Having never seen the girls, in possession of no child pornography, is he guilty? And of what?

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde is the first of three stories centring on the investigative skills of PI Ken Brennan. Leading to the capture of a serial rapist, it’s really a commentary on the police failing to do the investigative work to close the case.

… A Million Years Ago is told as an interview between two detectives looking into a cold-case homicide and a fellow police officer, the highly decorated and respected Stephanie Lazarus, who turns out to have killed her ex-boyfriend’s new wife. It seems apparent that Lazarus conspired to destroy evidence in the case which could have pointed in her direction and that other police officers aided and abetted her, although an investigation cleared them. Bowden makes no comment about this, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.

The Body in Room 348 is a case which only came about because the medical examiner performing an autopsy missed a bullet wound which was the actual cause of death. It turns out to be an accidental shooting - a drunken fool messing around with a gun - but it takes super PI Ken Brennan to figure it out and bring closure to his family.

Who Killed Euhommie Bond? once again features Ken Brennan, this time investigating the shooting of a police officer outside the bar he and his wife owned during a scuffle. It’s probably particularly relevant at the present time due to Bowman’s rather pointed observations about the failures of the Jackson police to properly investigate the killing of a fellow police officer… because Euhommie Bond was Black.

The articles are a little bit of a mixed bag in terms of quality; in the first one I was annoyed by Bowman’s constant switching between present and past tense, and I’d also have very much liked to see that particular one followed up to see what the principal players are doing in the modern day, even if their names are still kept anonymous. Because the articles are reproduced in full from their original format, Ken Brennan gets introduced three times, which definitely seems overblown by the third time.

These are interesting, groundbreaking cases; I’d honestly never heard of any of them before reading this book. However, to reproduce them without revisiting any of them, following up with any of the major players in the present day, feels like something of a lazy cash grab, which is a little disappointing. Definitely worth a read if you’re not familiar with these cases because of their thought-provoking nature, though. I’ll give it four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.

[Dachokie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Collection of Condensed Crime Stories …

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free copy of the book.

I’m a big true crime fan, but many books in this genre tend to become so mired in minutiae that they become boring. Rather than enjoying a particular book, I find myself simply wanting to get the end and be done with it. Mark Bowden’s The Case of the Vanishing Blonde is a step in the right direction as the book is comprised of six diverse, succinctly written crime stories that are fulfilling in terms of detail and resolution.

Having read Black Hawk Down almost 20 years ago, I was not aware of Bowden’s prowess as a crime writer. He has a prolific track record of contributing stories to many publications like The Atlantic, Philadelphia Enquirer, Vanity Fair, Men’s Journal, etc. and knows how to weave a story that keeps readers interested. The Case of the Vanishing Blonde showcases six crime stories published in various publications over the last three decades … a small, but interesting sample of crimes that range from an on-campus gang rape, on-line child predator sting and several confounding, but interesting murder and attempted murder mysteries.

All six of the stories are extremely well-written and interesting. Unfortunately, I was already quite familiar with three (half) of the stories simply because I watch Investigation Discovery and subscribe to several true-crime YouTube channels. With that being said, I still found myself absorbed in soaking-up additional details that added a degree of fascination to those familiar stories. Bowden does an excellent job of pulling readers into each story with a writing style that provides a lot of detail without unnecessary verbosity. The book starts with an interesting case about a reported gang-rape at an Ivy League fraternity (originally written in 1984) and while Bowden takes you back to that college campus 30 years ago, it feels like a more recent event. The other stories offer the same vibe: old stories that feel current. My favorite of all six stories is one I was already familiar (“A Million Years Ago”), but Bowden’s presentation offered a renewed interest in that more details generated a better understanding of the crime. Some of the stories are connected in that Bowden shows a fondness for a veteran private investigator whose tireless and uncanny approach proves to be critical in solving the crimes being showcased.

I found the best aspect of this book is that it combines page-turning storytelling without adding unnecessary pages. In fact, each of the six crimes detailed in this book could probably be presented as individual books themselves (and maybe some are). Bowden exhibits a flair for taking us through each crime, the investigation and conclusion without leaving us asking questions or wanting more. The result is six books presented as one.

If you are interested in true-crime book that offers a wide-range of different stories, The Case of the Vanishing Blonde is a worthy read. Hopefully, this book is just an initial offering of more similar-styled books to come.

[Bill reilly]

A series of various crimes are covered here and the first one involves Alpha Tau Omega, a fraternity at the University of Pennsylvania. A young student attended a frat party on campus after ingesting four hits of LSD and then downed a few beers. Days after the party, the girl claimed that she was raped by a group of fellow students. The boys said that she was a willing participant in the activities. It is a "he said she said" story.
Cybercrime is next when a female police officer posts offers online for sexual encounters. A man called "J" responded and the cop suggested a session involving her two young daughters. The transcripts show a clear pattern of entrapment. The man had no child pornography on his computer and the guy pled out and went to prison.
Inna Budnytska is the title subject and her rape and assault case was solved by a tenacious NY ex-cop. Ken Brennan is a real life Sherlock Holmes and his intensity is incredible. The man is a genius at finding clues and he needs a book of his own.
Stephanie Lazarus worked her way up to the rank of LAPD detective and twenty-six years after murdering the wife of an old college boyfriend, she was caught. DNA was the main evidence against the jealous woman.
Private detective Ken Brennan reappears in the death of a man with no enemies in a motel room in Beaumont, Texas. The coroner reported the cause of death as being the result of a vicious beating. Brennan was hired by the dead man's widow. He is an internet super sleuth, described as a guy with a thick New York accent wearing Celtic rings. The final outcome is beyond description.
Euhommie Ollie Bond was a rarity in Tennessee, that is, a Black sheriff. At night, he worked with his wife at a bar that they owned. On many occasions, the big man broke up fights. One night when acting as a peacemaker, Bond was killed by gunfire. Witnesses gave divergent accounts of the shooting. Once again, Ken Brennan was contacted to solve a cold case. He did just that and a local cop called what he did, "magic."
Mark Bowden is a very good writer and in addition to this book, I recommend "The Last Stone."

[Nica Libres at Dusk ☁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4 stars!

A first read from Mark Bowden.

And will definitely read more.

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: And Other True Crime Stories is a compilation of six short stories about fascinating crimes that has previously been published in some of the publications Mark Bowden works for. Each of these crimes has a mystery to them that is told in the most interesting and compelling way that lets you — dear readers — to somewhat arrive in your on conclusions and judgements. The author prefaced this book with a disclaimer that these stories can only be derived from the information, evidences and statements gathered during the investigation and other developments relating to the case.

The Incident at Alpha Tau Omega: ★★★★ 4 stars
The Incident at Alpha Tau Omega is a story of a gang rape that happened at a party in the ATO fraternity house in 1983. It is told in a manner that's a teeny tiny bit playful (because, duh, college?) and thus not boring at all. Rape is always a dangerous topic, here, the author didn't try to trivialize the crime nor did it indirectly place the burden of guilt to any party. It is told from many perspective, from the victim to every single frat-boys, also including the university authorities that were involved. I got a sense that I could also be deriving my own conclusions based on the information that I was learning which only goes to show how remarkable Mark Bowden writing is.

why don't u tell me wht ur into: ★★★ 3 stars
I'm kind of on the fence on this one. This started out strong. I was hooked and really getting into the thick of the bait situation, but then the exchanges became repetitive and soon, boring. I know where these kind of baiting leads. I had read about wrongful arrests and convictions before, and I've decided that I'm not a fan. Not that I know anything about how the law works but I had a bad feeling about that police officer so the rest of it didn't feel good to me.

The Case of the Vanishing Blonde: ★★★★★ 5 stars
Okay, so this one hit it — strong start, mystery, pacing, unexpected twists, complete with the due ending. There's a playful undertone to this storytelling that escalates the anticipation for the revelations that is to come. It totally made sense to me now why this is the banner story for the title.

. . . A Million Years Ago: ★★★★★ 5 stars
Oh my fucking god ... what a twist! The storytelling is just *chef's kiss*. I really went bitch, what?! — the jaw dropped, the head spun and I was just … stunned. The only thing I hate more than printers acting up when you're in a hurry are crooked cops and this one hit a jackpot. Just imagine, a case buried twenty-five years and only revisited after a file reorganization in the police department. What are the odds. I know this is a true crime, nothing that's not already out there but I am allowed to be fascinated by the way this one is told. Amazeballs.

The Body in Room 348: ★★★★ 4 stars
This one is just awful. And bizarre too. The strong start was let down by a good mystery cut short. The storytelling in this one was rather patchy though it still has that goofy flair to it. It's such a shame what happened to the man, even more shameful or stupid, rather, the man responsible for doing it. Plain human stupidity.

Who Killed Euhommie Bond?: ★★★ 3 stars
Well, this one is just sad. Killed by an accidental gun shot by a close friend who never says a word. Some of the close family and friend have guessed who, a few of those knew for sure, but none of them spoke up. The killer wasn't apprehended and never really did admit to doing it. What a waste. I was hooked with the strong start — a bar fight, a shooting and a man dead, who fired the killing shot? Our king mystery-solver, Ken Brennan to the rescue once more.

There is something about the true crime genre that is so appealing to me but I never really entertain the idea because I have a tendency to be absorbed in things in the unhealthiest of ways. But my curiosity won over my self-control, so here I am.

Final rating based on average: 4 stars

🎧: Patrick Garrett

[Bridgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an avid consumer of anything true crime, and this collection of articles was definitely up my alley! Each article was unique and fast-paced, and made me want to do more research into the cases. The most interesting case by far was the mysterious death of Greg Fleniken, a man who died alone in his hotel room, seemingly of natural causes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for my free e-copy.

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I was reading these stories, I realized that I had read them before when they were published in magazines. Bowden is a good writer who explores the facts behind true crimes and presents them accordingly. I had totally forgotten the name of the private detective who appears in a few of the stories: Ken Brennan. Good read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 6 true crime stories. I liked some better than others and it was a quick read. The detective work by PI Brennan was quite fascinating after the local police had been stymied and the case was cold.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific collection of true crime essays from 1983, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2019. My only complaint is that it's too short.

[Susanna Gervasoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nicely and descriptive collection of true crime cases. I really liked the introduction of the author that explained his history and why he collected this stories.

[Nona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am afraid the preface and early episodes of this book were not to my liking.
I found the dialogue rather like a bad documentary style which did not appeal. Therefore, only managed a few pages in.
Not really recommended.