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A Taste for Murder
As seen on Investigation "A true crime murder mystery that will leave you gasping for breath." --Steve Jackson, New York Times-bestselling author of No Stone Unturned
Frank Rodriguez, a much-loved counselor of troubled teens, lies dead on the bedroom floor. His wife and stepdaughter are in shock, and so is the medical examiner when he performs the autopsy. Aside from being dead, Frank is in perfect health.
Demanding to know the cause of her husband's death, Angie Rodriguez badgers the police, insisting that Frank was murdered. The cops attribute her assertions to overwhelming grief, but soon they too believe that Frank didn't die of natural causes.
When the police enlist their number one suspect to help in the investigation, things spiral out of control until law enforcement is dealing with a daring plot to murder Angie's best friend, and allegations of another homicide so evil and perverse that even seasoned LA County Detectives are shocked beyond belief . . .
New York Times-bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author "Burl Barer, with co-author Frank Giradot, has hit yet another home run with this crime story. A smart and well-written who-dunnit tale" (Cathy Scott, Los Angeles Times-bestselling author of The Killing of Tupac Shakur).
"A doozy of a murder." --Suzy Spencer, New York Times-bestselling author of Breaking Point
Frank Rodriguez, a much-loved counselor of troubled teens, lies dead on the bedroom floor. His wife and stepdaughter are in shock, and so is the medical examiner when he performs the autopsy. Aside from being dead, Frank is in perfect health.
Demanding to know the cause of her husband's death, Angie Rodriguez badgers the police, insisting that Frank was murdered. The cops attribute her assertions to overwhelming grief, but soon they too believe that Frank didn't die of natural causes.
When the police enlist their number one suspect to help in the investigation, things spiral out of control until law enforcement is dealing with a daring plot to murder Angie's best friend, and allegations of another homicide so evil and perverse that even seasoned LA County Detectives are shocked beyond belief . . .
New York Times-bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author "Burl Barer, with co-author Frank Giradot, has hit yet another home run with this crime story. A smart and well-written who-dunnit tale" (Cathy Scott, Los Angeles Times-bestselling author of The Killing of Tupac Shakur).
"A doozy of a murder." --Suzy Spencer, New York Times-bestselling author of Breaking Point
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2016
912 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 22, 2016
I co-wrote it. Of course I give it 5 stars. You should read it too.
May 5, 2016
Really good book, very engaging--but what a terrible, loathsome, awful woman it is written about. Incredibly heartbreaking for the victim(s). I picked this book up and just read a few chapters-and got hooked-whenever I got the chance, I had to read more to find out what was going to happen. I am really surprised that I hadn't heard about this true crime before.
March 19, 2016
I've been a fan of Burl Barer for many years and really enjoyed this latest one he co-wrote with Frank C. Girardot, Jr. It takes place in California and sets out the mysterious murder of Frank Rodriguez who is dead on his bedroom floor, yet otherwise in seemingly great health. The newly widowed wife Angie, is soon bugging the detectives for the reason Frank died, and is very insistent that it must be murder. Once they start looking into the case, things get really twisted. She feels he was killed by a coworker she claims her husband outed for being a child molester not long before.
One of the sickest killers I've read about in a while, so heartless and cold. But you'll have to read it yourself to find out why. It has some shocking developments as the story moves along.
One of the sickest killers I've read about in a while, so heartless and cold. But you'll have to read it yourself to find out why. It has some shocking developments as the story moves along.
June 7, 2016
Mr. Barer did an excellent job at fairly depicting two sides of this story. Victim Frank Rodriguez did not have much of his story told. Angelina Rodriguez on the other hand is shown from more than one view. You learn of her life as a child. You get a picture of her as a very sympathetic character to a heartless murderess. I really do wonder how Angelina would score on Hare's sociopathy scale... Something tells me she would score rather high on charming and glibness. Her young life was tragic, but that does not change the fact that she has the basic characteristics of the typical borderline personality disorder.
My apologies, I rarely go into that much speculation in my reviews. So getting to the things that I normally do cover: This book is relatively graphic and is not what would be appropriate for young readers. Furthermore it is not a book I would recommend to individuals who are affected by programs that cover abusive situations.
The style of this writing is more inline with M. William Phelps than Ann Rule. That is to say that it is well researched, but where Ms. Rule always tried to depict the personalities and experiences of the victim, Mr. Phelps focuses a lot more on the perpetrator.
Overall I consider this to be a very good example of true crime writing. I will be looking for more books by this author.
My apologies, I rarely go into that much speculation in my reviews. So getting to the things that I normally do cover: This book is relatively graphic and is not what would be appropriate for young readers. Furthermore it is not a book I would recommend to individuals who are affected by programs that cover abusive situations.
The style of this writing is more inline with M. William Phelps than Ann Rule. That is to say that it is well researched, but where Ms. Rule always tried to depict the personalities and experiences of the victim, Mr. Phelps focuses a lot more on the perpetrator.
Overall I consider this to be a very good example of true crime writing. I will be looking for more books by this author.
June 22, 2017
I find true crime interesting, probably because of me always wanting to be an armchair psychologist, and this was an interesting case about an absolutely loathsome, selfish and greedy woman. Poor Frank!
But the book was poorly written, and the author's smug and trying-to-be-funny-but-this-is-not-something-to-make-jokes-about style kept pulling me out of it. I saw a LOT of punctuation mistakes, it needed more thorough editing. Years ago, I used to read a lot of Ann Rule, and she made the real crime cases fascinating with her writing. This just did not do it.
But the book was poorly written, and the author's smug and trying-to-be-funny-but-this-is-not-something-to-make-jokes-about style kept pulling me out of it. I saw a LOT of punctuation mistakes, it needed more thorough editing. Years ago, I used to read a lot of Ann Rule, and she made the real crime cases fascinating with her writing. This just did not do it.
June 9, 2016
I loved this book! When I read the word "oleander" I knew I was familiar with this case from a television program I had seen. However, this book was so much better than the television program in that Barer and Girardot give all the nitty-gritty details that that made it a real page turner. Angie thought she was smarter than law enforcement and everyone else but she finds out in the end that she wasn't. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a great read.
May 19, 2016
Guess I am too nice ;) because I decided to give Burl Barer another chance. To be fair at first I thought holy heck what awful writing style because he was adding his own thoughts every time but glad I did not quit because that was only mostly done in the first chapter and then I started to really enjoy this book.
To me this was his best work out of the 3 or 4 I have read. A very interesting story and yes it was well written. I recommend this book to true crime readers.
To me this was his best work out of the 3 or 4 I have read. A very interesting story and yes it was well written. I recommend this book to true crime readers.
November 7, 2016
I had just started the book when I encountered a horrible prison rape joke. The author refers to a man who kills his wife as understanding what being a wife was like because he's now someone's wife in prison. Prison rape isn't a punchline, it's a horrible sexual assault that the victim can't escape because they are locked in with their rapist. I was looking forward to reading both books by this author but I won't be reading any books by him due to his blasé attitude towards sexual assault.
September 6, 2022
Engrossing story of a truly evil woman convicted of murdering her husband for the insurance money.. Worse still, she murdered her infant daughter by breaking a pacifier and shoving it down the baby's throat for the insurance money then sued the manufacturer.. Evil, greedy hag.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
Loved it! My second time to read this book.
March 26, 2022
*This book has a few triggers, so consider this your warning*
When a perfectly healthy man drops dead, the police and medical examiner are baffled. What could have caused this man to die? His wife is convinced he was murdered, and she is going to do everything she can to help the police figure out what happened..
Angie Rodriguez is convinced that someone killed her husband. She is no stranger to death, having lost an infant daughter years earlier, been through several marriages (all divorces), and lived a life that would make most cringe. She carefully lays out her story, sobbing at all the right moments, helping police along in their investigation. At first, there is nothing suspicious about it, but the longer the medical examiner takes in determining the cause of death, the longer it takes for the insurance payout to happen.
Carefully, she walks them through what happened, pointing out possible people that might have it out for her husband, and then waits. She makes a point to continually keep in touch with the police, wanting to know what is going on - and it is not long before the suspicion of the crime falls onto her - and the police are determined to bring her to justice.
Thus begins a game of cat and mouse, where the mouse is unaware that they are within the sights of the police, until the very end. It was a complicated and carefully thought out crime. The aftermath was almost as well orchestrated, until Angie overplayed her hand.
This was a book that is going to keep you riveted from the very beginning. The senselessness of the crime, as well as the absolute disdain of the person who committed it - just leaves you speechless at times. I found that I bounced between pity and anger, horror and then just complete amazement at the audacity of a killer. What happens on TV is never what happens in real life - and thankfully Angie was caught before she could hurt too many more people.
For the lovers of true crime, this is one story that will not leave you disappointed!
When a perfectly healthy man drops dead, the police and medical examiner are baffled. What could have caused this man to die? His wife is convinced he was murdered, and she is going to do everything she can to help the police figure out what happened..
Angie Rodriguez is convinced that someone killed her husband. She is no stranger to death, having lost an infant daughter years earlier, been through several marriages (all divorces), and lived a life that would make most cringe. She carefully lays out her story, sobbing at all the right moments, helping police along in their investigation. At first, there is nothing suspicious about it, but the longer the medical examiner takes in determining the cause of death, the longer it takes for the insurance payout to happen.
Carefully, she walks them through what happened, pointing out possible people that might have it out for her husband, and then waits. She makes a point to continually keep in touch with the police, wanting to know what is going on - and it is not long before the suspicion of the crime falls onto her - and the police are determined to bring her to justice.
Thus begins a game of cat and mouse, where the mouse is unaware that they are within the sights of the police, until the very end. It was a complicated and carefully thought out crime. The aftermath was almost as well orchestrated, until Angie overplayed her hand.
This was a book that is going to keep you riveted from the very beginning. The senselessness of the crime, as well as the absolute disdain of the person who committed it - just leaves you speechless at times. I found that I bounced between pity and anger, horror and then just complete amazement at the audacity of a killer. What happens on TV is never what happens in real life - and thankfully Angie was caught before she could hurt too many more people.
For the lovers of true crime, this is one story that will not leave you disappointed!
March 14, 2017
I'll open with the proviso that the publisher of this book, Wild Blue Press, is the same publisher that is printing our next true crime book. They did not solicit this review - I saw their notice for a flash-sale on this book for 99 cents and picked it up. (If you follow them on Facebook, they do these kinds of sales often and obviously you can score some good true crime cheap.) So, this is an unbiased review. Also, I will give no spoilers.
Burl Barer sucked me in early on with this book. Frank Hernandez dies at home, dying a most horrible death…apparently from poisoning. His wife suspected a colleague of the crime. From there, Barer takes you on a joyride into the bizarre. From the opening of this crime this seemed cut-and-dry, but it is like riding the Hulk rollercoaster at Universal Studios. You think you're going one way and bam! You're suddenly spinning the opposite direction.
Mr Barer does an outstanding job of putting the reader in the community where this murder took place, Montebello, CA. Adding to that was the details of what this poisoning did the victim. This is not a clinical read, but one that helps you understand just how horrific this murder really was.
I have never read any of Burl Barer's books but I became a quick fan. He leads you down a dark corridor, lantern in hand, on a journey that I didn’t expect at the start of the book. I devoured chapter after chapter, not ever losing my interest. After the first third of the book, it was as if there was a new twist every chapter or two. Barer masterfully takes you on the long journey from murder to conviction.
To say that this case was full of bizarre behavior is an understatement. The murderer seems to be running con jobs within con jobs at times.
About halfway through the book I realized I actually had heard something about this case. That didn't diminish it in the least for me.
Is this a good solid true crime book? Absolutely. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Well worth your time to consume (pun intended).
Burl Barer sucked me in early on with this book. Frank Hernandez dies at home, dying a most horrible death…apparently from poisoning. His wife suspected a colleague of the crime. From there, Barer takes you on a joyride into the bizarre. From the opening of this crime this seemed cut-and-dry, but it is like riding the Hulk rollercoaster at Universal Studios. You think you're going one way and bam! You're suddenly spinning the opposite direction.
Mr Barer does an outstanding job of putting the reader in the community where this murder took place, Montebello, CA. Adding to that was the details of what this poisoning did the victim. This is not a clinical read, but one that helps you understand just how horrific this murder really was.
I have never read any of Burl Barer's books but I became a quick fan. He leads you down a dark corridor, lantern in hand, on a journey that I didn’t expect at the start of the book. I devoured chapter after chapter, not ever losing my interest. After the first third of the book, it was as if there was a new twist every chapter or two. Barer masterfully takes you on the long journey from murder to conviction.
To say that this case was full of bizarre behavior is an understatement. The murderer seems to be running con jobs within con jobs at times.
About halfway through the book I realized I actually had heard something about this case. That didn't diminish it in the least for me.
Is this a good solid true crime book? Absolutely. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Well worth your time to consume (pun intended).
June 9, 2016
I am an avid reader of True Crime books. This book was not disappointing. I like the writing style of the authors. It is as if you are their friend and they are telling you the story. It never ceases to amaze that greed can be such a catalyst for murder and that the perpetrator always thinks they are smart enough to commit the perfect crime. It appears that Angelina is a very cold individual. All for monetary gain. Criminals are good at fooling some people. Sadly, the husband didn't listen to his friends who saw through her. She is where she belongs.
The information at the end of the book is valuable as resources. I would like to add one item. If you are suffering with PTSD and wish relief, you should research EMDR.
The information at the end of the book is valuable as resources. I would like to add one item. If you are suffering with PTSD and wish relief, you should research EMDR.
May 4, 2017
This book is about one of the coldest murderers you will ever read about. Frank Rodriguez was killed by his wife, Angelina Rodriguez, for money. This book is an in-depth look into the investigation into his death, which landed this black widow and possible baby killer on California's death row, where she belongs. It is interesting to get to understand how the conviction and sentence of death came about. Apparently she did not co-operate with the authors, which is a shame because I would love to have heard her version of things and her thinking. So, I can only guess from the story given. The book is well written and well researched. I highly recommend this book!
March 18, 2016
Excellent Investigative Reporting..brutally honest.
Angie/ Victoria..whoever she is is portrayed convincingly as cold blooded.
The details of her life and crimes are chilling. The sorrow and heartbreak I felt for her during her incestuous relationship with her Grandfather melted quickly away as the details of her life afterwards were recounted.
There are many victims of incest...and the great majority of them do not resort to murder..most especially they do not sacrifice their loved ones.
Frank and Burl have written a well informed and researched book. Give it a read.
Angie/ Victoria..whoever she is is portrayed convincingly as cold blooded.
The details of her life and crimes are chilling. The sorrow and heartbreak I felt for her during her incestuous relationship with her Grandfather melted quickly away as the details of her life afterwards were recounted.
There are many victims of incest...and the great majority of them do not resort to murder..most especially they do not sacrifice their loved ones.
Frank and Burl have written a well informed and researched book. Give it a read.
December 1, 2022
Reads like a cheap 1940's style true detective rag. Author repeatedly injects corny and frankly, totally demeaning phrases relating to the victim (or victims) that he, apparently thinks are real clever but in reality are nothing but a but a bunch of sophomoric clichés.
How anyone can say this is a good, or well written book is beyond me. I read "most" of the sample and got disgusted with this comic book approach and deleted it from my Kindle. Wouldn't recommend this book.........or this author to my worse enemy.
How anyone can say this is a good, or well written book is beyond me. I read "most" of the sample and got disgusted with this comic book approach and deleted it from my Kindle. Wouldn't recommend this book.........or this author to my worse enemy.
July 5, 2016
I hate to say this is a good book due to the fact that it is True Crime and that means there is always a victim or victims. But this book makes you realize how much childhood abuse can affect a person once they are grown up. Very fast read. Left me astonished that a person could be this cold. If you want a quick, fast read, this is the book. It was no boring nor did it drag on with the intricacies of court proceedings.
March 19, 2016
Unable to read: missing pages
Pages and sections of pages, impossible to tell how many, are missing. In the first two chapters, the missing pages are marked by one blank page. I really would like to read this book, but this Kindle edition is not readable.
Pages and sections of pages, impossible to tell how many, are missing. In the first two chapters, the missing pages are marked by one blank page. I really would like to read this book, but this Kindle edition is not readable.
April 6, 2022
Disappointing
First there were technical problems. My download was missing pages. The writing was not the quality and style I expected. Also I expected a full book. I didn't read the short stories at the end.
First there were technical problems. My download was missing pages. The writing was not the quality and style I expected. Also I expected a full book. I didn't read the short stories at the end.
April 27, 2017
Very well-done true-crime read.
June 10, 2022
Poorly written & researched
This book needs serious editing & rewrite. The subject is interesting but its too difficult to read. Much better books out there
This book needs serious editing & rewrite. The subject is interesting but its too difficult to read. Much better books out there
December 26, 2018
September 2000 was a busy month in the L A county homicide business. A total of eighty five residents were shot, stabbed, beaten, or strangled. Officer Stephen Sharpe went to the 927 David- possible dead body. He arrived at a lovely ranch style house and was met by Angie Rodriguez, and her daughter Autumn tearfully clinging to her mother’s side. She said he’s not breathing. Angie’s husband-Frank- was laying facedown on the bedroom floor. Sharpe checked, Frank was dead and already cold to the touch. There was blood coming from his nose and blood began to pool under the skin around his knees too. Frank had died of natural causes. Angela/Angie said: on Tuesday Frank returned from a field trip with H S students. He supervised a school district boot camp tired and groggy. Wednesday he went to work but came home early sick. Wednesday night he started vomiting. By Thursday he couldn’t move. Angie took Frank to the E R, the doctor said it looked like food poisoning or flu. The doctor told Frank to get a lot of rest and drink Gatorade. Te couple was demonstratively religious in attitude and consistent behavior. Franks condition seemed to worsen as the night went on. Angie fell to sleep on the couch watching tv and woke up around three and decided to go to bed and found Frank on the floor. Pastor Joseph Garcia came to offer comfort and condolences. When Frank;s body was rolled over there was a mustard colored fluid on the carpet. Franks sister Rebecca called Angie after Angie had called Rebecca’s mother about Frank It didn’t make sense Frank was never sick. He was always healthy. He took care of himself and had an iron clad constitution. Frank was fanatical about his health. I reality death came in four ways: Accident, suicide, murder, and natural causes. Brenda Shafer was suspicious of Franks death from the moment she arrived. Her job was to interview all witnesses. She labeled the suspected cause of death:Natural/Homicide. Officer Sharpe found Franks death suspicious also. There was no known reason for Frank Rodriguez to die suddenly. The man was one hundred percent healthy except he was dead. Healthy people seldom just drop dead. Angie had a bad childhood including an incentuous relationship with her grandfather. Angie’s greed took her to a whole new level of evil.
I have to say I enjoyed this book but considering the subject I feel enjoyed isn’t the right way to phrase it. Either way this caught my attention and interest and kept it until the end. I didn’t want to put this down. Angie was cold and completely heartless and this wasn’t her first murder of a family member. I was glad to see Angie wasn’t as smart as she thought she was. I felt this was a very good true crime book. It just always surprises/ jolts me what evil is in the world and what people will do for greed. This was a fast read. There was a lot of twists and turns in this book and I recommend it.
I have to say I enjoyed this book but considering the subject I feel enjoyed isn’t the right way to phrase it. Either way this caught my attention and interest and kept it until the end. I didn’t want to put this down. Angie was cold and completely heartless and this wasn’t her first murder of a family member. I was glad to see Angie wasn’t as smart as she thought she was. I felt this was a very good true crime book. It just always surprises/ jolts me what evil is in the world and what people will do for greed. This was a fast read. There was a lot of twists and turns in this book and I recommend it.
August 29, 2017
I'd say this was really a 2.5 but I rounded down.
The story of the murder(s) was interesting, in particular how the police worked the case. The reader was fine, too, and made an effort to distinguish between the voices of the various players in the case.
My problem with this was the tone of the author. It was overly jovial and familiar, with some jokes in poor taste. It is entirely possible to make a true-crime investigative book compelling without relying on stupid jokes at the expense of people who suffered or perpetrated tragedy.
The story of the murder(s) was interesting, in particular how the police worked the case. The reader was fine, too, and made an effort to distinguish between the voices of the various players in the case.
My problem with this was the tone of the author. It was overly jovial and familiar, with some jokes in poor taste. It is entirely possible to make a true-crime investigative book compelling without relying on stupid jokes at the expense of people who suffered or perpetrated tragedy.
August 13, 2017
Chilling true crime story
This book scared me. This woman almost got away with 2 murders and was planning a 3rd when she was caught. I'm glad she got what she deserved in the end. She looks so normal. I like reading these books because I always learn something new about how to avoid evil.
This book scared me. This woman almost got away with 2 murders and was planning a 3rd when she was caught. I'm glad she got what she deserved in the end. She looks so normal. I like reading these books because I always learn something new about how to avoid evil.
November 9, 2021
Very different true crime
This book covers the courtroom in 3 pages. It includes detailing a fictional character that is identified as a made up name that combines info from different people. This character device I have never seen in true crime before, either as a journalist or as a prolific reader. Not a waste of time but close.
This book covers the courtroom in 3 pages. It includes detailing a fictional character that is identified as a made up name that combines info from different people. This character device I have never seen in true crime before, either as a journalist or as a prolific reader. Not a waste of time but close.
April 9, 2022
In depth story of murder for money...
All the facts, no fluff. I had seen an episode of a crime series that covered this murder,but the book had lots more detail. She was really a cold-blooded person. Stories like these are written to help others know what to look for or how to recognize a situation that could be dangerous.
All the facts, no fluff. I had seen an episode of a crime series that covered this murder,but the book had lots more detail. She was really a cold-blooded person. Stories like these are written to help others know what to look for or how to recognize a situation that could be dangerous.
December 27, 2023
An intriguing book about a wife that kills her husband. I think she actually married him so that she could kill him and collect the insurance money. What was most interesting was how the wife tried to help the detectives solve the murder so she could get the death certificate and collect the insurance money.
July 23, 2019
Your typical true crime novel. I found this one to be interesting, albeit tragic for all the victims at the hands of a sociopathic wife and mother.
Seemed to be a lot of superfluous info and in fact the story ended at about 75% (reading on a kindle) and the rest was taken up with victim resources.
Seemed to be a lot of superfluous info and in fact the story ended at about 75% (reading on a kindle) and the rest was taken up with victim resources.
August 15, 2023
Well researched and objective
This book is a story out of a 🆕 nightmare. A soulless, heartless women who did everything possible to get money that didn't belong to her. Finally using the ultimate means to get what she wanted. Loved it.
This book is a story out of a 🆕 nightmare. A soulless, heartless women who did everything possible to get money that didn't belong to her. Finally using the ultimate means to get what she wanted. Loved it.
October 4, 2017
Pretty good book
I enjoyed this book. This woman is the epitome of evil!!!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime.
I enjoyed this book. This woman is the epitome of evil!!!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews