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The Murders That Made Us: How Vigilantes, Hoodlums, Mob Bosses, Serial Killers, and Cult Leaders Built the San Francisco Bay Area
The 170-year history of the San Francisco Bay Area told through its crimes and how they intertwine with the city’s art, music, and politics In The Murders That Made Us, the story of the San Francisco Bay Area unfolds through its most violent and depraved acts. From its earliest days when vigilantes hung perps from downtown buildings to the Zodiac Killer and the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, murder and mayhem have shaped the city into the political and economic force that she is today. The Great 1906 Earthquake shook a city that was already teetering on the brink of a massive prostitution scandal. The Summer of Love ended with a pair of ghastly drug dealer slayings that sent Charles Manson packing for Los Angeles. The 1970s come crashing down with the double tragedy of Jonestown and the assassination of Gay icon Harvey Milk by an ex-cop. And the 21st Century rise of California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump insider Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Vice President Kamala Harris is told through a brutal dog-mauling case and the absurdity called Fajitagate. It’s a 170-year saga of madness, corruption, and death revealed here one crime at a time.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
28 people are currently reading
2517 people want to read
About the author
Bob Calhoun
4 books39 followersBob Calhoun is a San Francisco Bay Area author, journalist, and former wrestler and peepshow emcee. Since 2015, he has recounted his city’s most gruesome and lurid events in his regular SF Weekly column, "Yesterday’s Crimes." His punk wrestling memoir, Beer, Blood & Cornmeal (ECW Press), is a national bestseller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 7, 2021
Calhoun's wry, slightly perverse wit applied to SF's truly spectacular history of homicides has produced an extremely diverting book. A few of the murders detailed lack significance and could have been omitted, but most of them came mixed with dollops of socio-political and urban history. You can't really know a city until you know it's murders! The book ends on the murder of Tom Guido who ran the Purple Onion, a 1990s club wherein an extremely San Francisco-y brand of rock 'n' roll chaos thrived. Calhoun's elegy for Guido becomes an elegy for the kooky San Francisco of old, a civic neverland that was itself foully murdered by dishwater-dull tech bros, corporate zombies, and real estate vultures. Anyway, this is a fun and fascinating tome, albeit one you probably shouldn't read before bedtime.
July 7, 2022
I don't read true crime books, but I loved reading Bob Calhoun's column about the historical crimes in San Francisco. All that is my way of saying: I came for the history but stayed for the true crime. In fact, I was disappointed that he didn't write about the Howth Street murders in my neighborhood, but I suppose in a couple hundred years of history, any place is going to have more murders than you could cram into one volume.
There's a strange tonal shift midway through the book where the reportage takes a turn for the gruesomely detailed and I started to wonder if maybe I shouldn't be reading while I eat. That said, the Hera and Bane dog-mauling case was much less horrific in these pages than it was in the newspapers of the time. I suppose if you know what you're getting into, it will be less a shock when the brain matter starts showing up in the text.
Fascinating, but in a queasy way.
There's a strange tonal shift midway through the book where the reportage takes a turn for the gruesomely detailed and I started to wonder if maybe I shouldn't be reading while I eat. That said, the Hera and Bane dog-mauling case was much less horrific in these pages than it was in the newspapers of the time. I suppose if you know what you're getting into, it will be less a shock when the brain matter starts showing up in the text.
Fascinating, but in a queasy way.
May 2, 2021
Oh man. The last chapter, especially the last few pages got me.
But let’s talk about this book. It goes back to the early days of San Francisco and covers murders that occurred, puts a contextual spin on them, and still manages to add a modern sensibility. I learned so much history - especially in the pre-1950s parts - so many moments that help me understand San Francisco so much more.
Each chapter is super short and easily readable and I found myself want to limit my reading to one to two chapters a night, just to enjoy the storytelling but also to reflect on these horrible crimes. Because in the end, there are a lot of sad stories. A lot of scumbags too, but some of these cases are tragic and awful.
It also helps to know that sometimes multiple short stories are presented in a single chapter and you can see the thread that links them. These chapters are roughly chronological starting with Chapter 2 in 1849.
Chapter 1 gives you a sense of the author’s own motivation for writing the book while the introduction gives you some guidance about his philosophy.
Can’t wait to buy this for several people because this was a good combo of history, true crime, and humor.
Great work Bob!!
But let’s talk about this book. It goes back to the early days of San Francisco and covers murders that occurred, puts a contextual spin on them, and still manages to add a modern sensibility. I learned so much history - especially in the pre-1950s parts - so many moments that help me understand San Francisco so much more.
Each chapter is super short and easily readable and I found myself want to limit my reading to one to two chapters a night, just to enjoy the storytelling but also to reflect on these horrible crimes. Because in the end, there are a lot of sad stories. A lot of scumbags too, but some of these cases are tragic and awful.
It also helps to know that sometimes multiple short stories are presented in a single chapter and you can see the thread that links them. These chapters are roughly chronological starting with Chapter 2 in 1849.
Chapter 1 gives you a sense of the author’s own motivation for writing the book while the introduction gives you some guidance about his philosophy.
Can’t wait to buy this for several people because this was a good combo of history, true crime, and humor.
Great work Bob!!
May 12, 2024
I found "The Murders That Made Us: How Vigilantes, Hoodlums, Mob Bosses, Serial Killers, and Cult Leaders Built the San Francisco Bay Area" to be an intriguing exploration of the darker side of San Francisco's history. Bob Calhoun's narrative skillfully weaves together tales of notorious figures and events that have shaped the city's identity.
While the subject matter is undeniably fascinating, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven at times, with certain sections feeling overly detailed while others could have been expanded upon further. Additionally, while the author provides ample historical context, there were moments where I wished for more in-depth analysis and reflection on the societal implications of these crimes.
Overall, "The Murders That Made Us" offers a compelling glimpse into the underbelly of San Francisco's past, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in true crime and local history. However, its execution falls short of achieving a truly exceptional experience, earning it a solid three out of five stars.
While the subject matter is undeniably fascinating, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven at times, with certain sections feeling overly detailed while others could have been expanded upon further. Additionally, while the author provides ample historical context, there were moments where I wished for more in-depth analysis and reflection on the societal implications of these crimes.
Overall, "The Murders That Made Us" offers a compelling glimpse into the underbelly of San Francisco's past, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in true crime and local history. However, its execution falls short of achieving a truly exceptional experience, earning it a solid three out of five stars.
May 4, 2021
I’ve visited San Francisco once and absolutely loved it, so it was fascinating to read about all the years of history. Each chapter is short but packed full with multiple cases in a roughly chronological order (aside from the very beginning). I liked that this book discussed some of the lesser known cases of murder that aren’t usually covered as well. Each case has varying levels of depth/information on a wide range of crimes, even though I wished that some had been expanded upon more. The author is witty and even funny at times, which is weird to say about a book that has such a dark subject but I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much to ECW Press for my gifted copy!
January 5, 2021
This book should not, perhaps be as entertaining as it is, I mean who wants to admit they laughed out loud at a book about murders? I did. I couldn't help it. The author has a natural way with tongue-in-cheek humour and deadpan delivery.
Aside from the humorous aspects of this book, it was entertaining because it discussed some of the lesser known cases of murder that aren't commonly rehashed in other books of this sort. It was detailed enough to keep me interested, but never boring.
If you are looking for something that will infom you but also give you a giggle or two, however morally inappopriate, this is a book that you should read. I really had a lot of fun with it, and am still surprised, considering the subject matter.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Aside from the humorous aspects of this book, it was entertaining because it discussed some of the lesser known cases of murder that aren't commonly rehashed in other books of this sort. It was detailed enough to keep me interested, but never boring.
If you are looking for something that will infom you but also give you a giggle or two, however morally inappopriate, this is a book that you should read. I really had a lot of fun with it, and am still surprised, considering the subject matter.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2021
This was an interesting look into notable murders that shaped the San Francisco Bay area. The variety of cases were engaging and helped to show how the community itself was affected by the crime detailed. While the beginning went a bit out of chronological order, the rest of the book tended to flow well. I liked the personal connections of the author to one notable case and also enjoyed seeing these old cases come to life with more history. The only downside to me was that the case explorations were a bit uneven, so some of the stories weren't as in depth as I would have liked. Overall, though, it's an interesting read for those who love true crime and history.
February 24, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for the arc of The Murders That Made Us by Bob Calhoun.
5 Stars- This follow the 170 year history of San Francisco and their crimes and how it actually likes to their art, music and even their politics too... it was such an interesting read to read about the crimes and murders in San Francisco. I loved reading this, i highly recommend for all who like reading true crime
Highly recommend
5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 Stars- This follow the 170 year history of San Francisco and their crimes and how it actually likes to their art, music and even their politics too... it was such an interesting read to read about the crimes and murders in San Francisco. I loved reading this, i highly recommend for all who like reading true crime
Highly recommend
5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 14, 2021
if greil marcus decided to turn his attention to true crime, i feel like it would read like this.
March 22, 2022
Not a Bay Native and very into crime these days so I picked this up on a whim. Had no idea how current it was and was gripped through the whole thing! I learned so much - I love the intro personal story and also how far back it goes historically. Enjoyable read (though not great for before bed)!
July 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️: I loved learning about true crime, especially with the Bay Area. The audiobook was GREAT
February 16, 2021
This is going to sound a bit odd, especially talking about a murder book, however, the author was witty, charming, and sometimes downright laugh out loud.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author did a great job moving the timeline along for the San Fransisco area and which murders stood out.
A couple of small criticisms....some of the stories ended abruptly and I wanted some closure...like what happened to the street urchin "little dick"?
Secondly, some of the stories were not about murders but sensational con men. I felt that the book did not need about 3 of these sections.
Thirdly, the hoarding house...what happened there? We heard about the walk through but WHAT HAPPENED?!
And finally, the last murder drug on and on. This was the one where I was like...I think this is a bigger deal to the author then to any San Franciscans.
OVerall a good book about murders that shaped an American city.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author did a great job moving the timeline along for the San Fransisco area and which murders stood out.
A couple of small criticisms....some of the stories ended abruptly and I wanted some closure...like what happened to the street urchin "little dick"?
Secondly, some of the stories were not about murders but sensational con men. I felt that the book did not need about 3 of these sections.
Thirdly, the hoarding house...what happened there? We heard about the walk through but WHAT HAPPENED?!
And finally, the last murder drug on and on. This was the one where I was like...I think this is a bigger deal to the author then to any San Franciscans.
OVerall a good book about murders that shaped an American city.
May 2, 2021
San Francisco is home to some of the most notorious crimes in American history. This book is a definitive guide and includes serial killers such as Charles Manson, and 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez through to lesser-known crimes of the 19th and 20th centuries. Who knew of San Francisco's newspaper wars, or the city's incredible place in music history? You can also expect to read about Al Capone, triads, Apple Computers, and the murder of a famous gay activist, which I never knew about.
Each chapter tells a true crime story, and this chronological account by author Bob Calhoun (himself a San Francisco native) is a must for any true crime aficionado. Bob's narrative is is a newspaper report format with some local knowledge and insight thrown in, so you know this is the real deal. Fascinating stuff. Thanks to NetGalley for the read!
Each chapter tells a true crime story, and this chronological account by author Bob Calhoun (himself a San Francisco native) is a must for any true crime aficionado. Bob's narrative is is a newspaper report format with some local knowledge and insight thrown in, so you know this is the real deal. Fascinating stuff. Thanks to NetGalley for the read!
December 12, 2020
An interesting read about the crime and murders in San Francisco. The author provides many stories to tell the tale of the city. The only regret for me was some stories seemed too short and could have been expanded on in greater detail. However, overall, a great book for the true crime enthusiast.
May 23, 2021
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
I lived in San Francisco and the surrounding area for 20 or so years. So when I saw this book on NetGalley I wanted to pick it up. And I am glad I did.
I have heard of some of these murders but not all of them. But even the ones I heard of I was happy to read about to get more details or even correct info. We all know how stories get blown out of proportion as years go by. Some information gets changed or some omitted, so I was thrilled to read this.
And I am so glad I did. We have all heard about “drinking the kool-aid”. And who hasn’t heard of Charles Manson? And the assassination of Harvey Milk was heartbreaking for the gay community when it happened. And each story I was fascinated with. I did learn things I didn’t know, which I had really hoped I would.
This is a great read for anyone from the area or any fan of true crime. Maybe Miami will be next… hint hint!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I lived in San Francisco and the surrounding area for 20 or so years. So when I saw this book on NetGalley I wanted to pick it up. And I am glad I did.
I have heard of some of these murders but not all of them. But even the ones I heard of I was happy to read about to get more details or even correct info. We all know how stories get blown out of proportion as years go by. Some information gets changed or some omitted, so I was thrilled to read this.
And I am so glad I did. We have all heard about “drinking the kool-aid”. And who hasn’t heard of Charles Manson? And the assassination of Harvey Milk was heartbreaking for the gay community when it happened. And each story I was fascinated with. I did learn things I didn’t know, which I had really hoped I would.
This is a great read for anyone from the area or any fan of true crime. Maybe Miami will be next… hint hint!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2021
Over the years, I've accumulated quite a collection of books focused on Bay Area crimes. And Mr. Calhoun's book is one of the best. The chapters on the "obvious" cases like the vigilantes, the Zodiac, Jim Jones, and Dan White are all well done, accurate, entertaining, and enlightening. Even the most jaded crime fan "who's read the book" will find them worthwhile thanks to Mr. Calhoun's eye for ironic detail. But what makes this book essential are cases that have rarely, if ever, found their way into books. The chapter on the Penny Bjorkland murder (for which Mr. Calhoun's mother was briefly suspected!!!) alone is worth the price. Toss in chapters on the never-captured Doodler, the "River's Edge" murder, the last TWO California lynchings, and shorter pieces on local hucksters, mobsters, suicide spots, and that enigmatic severed penis found on the train tracks in West Oakland and you have a book no true crime aficionado can live without. If Sam Spade was still around, you would find this next to Duke's CELEBRATED CRIMES on his nightstand.
March 15, 2021
The Murders That Made Us is chalk full of a variety of murders, victims and sociopaths. Author Bob Calhoun has certainly done his due diligence in creating a web of weird, unusual, well publicized and otherwise uncovered murders throughout the San Francisco and bay area. From the 1800s to present day Calhoun works his way through in chronological order after first sucking you in with a personal story of murder, his own mother’s encounter with a murder investigation.
Beginning with the vigilantes gone wrong to San Francisco’s jazz scene, the Haight Ashbury district, the famous Sharon Tate Manson family murder and finally the death of a music scene legend of the Purple Onion, no killing is off limits. Any “couch detective” will instantly enjoy this book as some of the cases were well publicized and others were barely touched upon in the press, Calhoun brings each atrocity to life.
Well written, well described and each scene uniquely set, The Murders That Made Us takes readers on a rollercoaster of death, mystery and intrigue.
*Disclaimer: a review copy was provided by the publisher; all opinions are my own.
Beginning with the vigilantes gone wrong to San Francisco’s jazz scene, the Haight Ashbury district, the famous Sharon Tate Manson family murder and finally the death of a music scene legend of the Purple Onion, no killing is off limits. Any “couch detective” will instantly enjoy this book as some of the cases were well publicized and others were barely touched upon in the press, Calhoun brings each atrocity to life.
Well written, well described and each scene uniquely set, The Murders That Made Us takes readers on a rollercoaster of death, mystery and intrigue.
*Disclaimer: a review copy was provided by the publisher; all opinions are my own.
November 15, 2021
Based on the subtitle and description I thought this would be more of a cohesive narrative than a series of short synopses of a variety of crimes that occurred in San Francisco over approximately 200 years. It was still super interesting, and I appreciated the inclusion of pictures, even though I felt like calling some of the crimes "SF Bay Area" was a bit of a stretch (e.g. I'm pretty sure the murder of Elizabeth Short in LA is not a Bay Area crime, regardless of where she is buried).
April 19, 2021
Absolutely fascinating history of San Francisco thru its crime history. Some stores most true crime readers will know, but others would only be known by the locals of the time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learned some new history.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
July 29, 2021
Why nothing about the Zebra Murders??
April 11, 2021
An interesting and informative book regarding the criminal history of San Francisco and its surrounding areas. From crimes to capture and sentencing even death row.
An illuminating read I found it fascinating.
An illuminating read I found it fascinating.
July 24, 2021
This is a fascinating book that connects the unique continuing development of San Francisco and the darker aspects of human nature. The emotional twists and turns, unique stories, and historical context on this piece of America made me unable to put this book down. But do be warned; the author does not pull punches with the graphic and tragic nature of the subject.
March 11, 2022
San Francisco...trippy, dippy, hippy with a side of mysterious and in the case of this book a truly gruesome past of murder and mayhem. There's always been something about the west coast with its temperate climate, natural beauty and mystery that attracts a mix of nomads, searchers, dreamers, and escapees. Author Bob Calhoun explores the blood thirsty early days to modern times in his book. Forget about the gentler, kinder 'good old days' this collection of short reports shares the seedy side of life.
No spoilers here, but the author also unveils the connections between some prominent political figures of today and historic murders of the past.
It's an unsettling read but also entertaining with a sprinkle of history. If you are fascinated by true crime and the randomness of life then this book is for you.
No spoilers here, but the author also unveils the connections between some prominent political figures of today and historic murders of the past.
It's an unsettling read but also entertaining with a sprinkle of history. If you are fascinated by true crime and the randomness of life then this book is for you.
May 8, 2021
Fantastic take on the history of true crime in San Francisco. Bob Calhoun has a grasp on the Bay Area and the many stories of murder and crime.
April 5, 2021
Calling all my True Crime Fans out there, this ones perfect for you! I just flew right through this book. It’s quick chapters with Interesting content, makes you not want to put this book down. There are a wide range of violent and depraved acts that are told; both popular and some unknown that makes it soo fascinating that you just keep reading.
I just enjoyed learning how 170-years of murder and mayhem have shaped the people, the culture and politics of San Francisco. There is a wide array of different aspects told within this book. My personal favourites were on Mob Boses, Serial Killers and Cult Leaders, hello Charles Manson! We even see how natural disasters such as the great earthquake of 1906, shaped the San Francisco Bay Area. There is not one aspect that isn’t touched upon in this book to make you see how influential our past is with who and what we have become as a society. & common, San Francisco is a great place to tell these stories. They don’t have Alcatraz for no reason 🤔- I will get there one day and visit these must see sites!
I’d like to thank @ecwpress for the advance readers copy of this book and I recommend this one! You will not be disappointed!
I just enjoyed learning how 170-years of murder and mayhem have shaped the people, the culture and politics of San Francisco. There is a wide array of different aspects told within this book. My personal favourites were on Mob Boses, Serial Killers and Cult Leaders, hello Charles Manson! We even see how natural disasters such as the great earthquake of 1906, shaped the San Francisco Bay Area. There is not one aspect that isn’t touched upon in this book to make you see how influential our past is with who and what we have become as a society. & common, San Francisco is a great place to tell these stories. They don’t have Alcatraz for no reason 🤔- I will get there one day and visit these must see sites!
I’d like to thank @ecwpress for the advance readers copy of this book and I recommend this one! You will not be disappointed!
May 10, 2021
I thought this book was interesting. It was very interesting about the history.
February 11, 2021
The author uses humor throughout with gruesome details on some pretty vicious killings in San Francisco’s history. Being a retrospective of both notorious and not-so-notorious killings, the reader will likely be familiar with some cases but find out about others for the first time. Also, because it’s a retrospective, some cases weren’t too deeply discussed, so I definitely will be looking to read some of the resources the author notes in this book. Great book, especially if you’re familiar with the city.
April 3, 2021
This was a well researched read into the history of San Francisco & some of the murders that defined the city. From corruption & vigilantism to serial killers, the author has a tongue-in-cheek way of delivering the information so that it is never boring. He also has the best description of Charles Manson that I've ever read - a failed folk singer and inept pimp who smelled like hot garbage. This is a good read for true crime fans.
Thanks to ECW Press & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to ECW Press & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2023
Bob Calhoun starts off with a story about his mother. A blonde woman was seen leaving the scene of a murder near where his mom lived with his father. She was blonde and although questioned by the police a young lady named Penny Bjorkland was later convicted of the murder.
The Gold Rush of 1849 brought in a mixture of immigrants and vigilante justice along with a good amount of racism. Josefa Segovia was gang raped and after stabbing a white man, the Mexican woman was hanged. "Adios senores" were her last words.
In 1921, Father Patrick Heslin vanished and a ransom note was received by an archbishop demanding cash. Eventually, a nut case named William Hightower led the police to the body of the dead priest. Willy claimed that he was raised by an Irish family who beat him on a regular basis.
Dorothy Ellingson is one of the more colorful characters here and I need a full length book on her. At twelve she was partying with jazz musicians and when her mother attempted some paternal discipline, the girl responded by shooting mommy in the back of the head. Yikes!
Alcatraz and Al Capone combine for a chapter on the notorious island prison and Scarface. During a work stoppage after the death of a prisoner, Al was labeled a scab for refusing to join his fellow inmates in protest.
The Black Dahlia case remains unsolved and the murder of Elizabeth Short has been an unsolved mystery since 1947.
Huey Newton founded the Black Panther party in San Francisco in the 1960s and was gunned down in a drug deal gone wrong twenty years later.
Abigail Folger grew up in the famous coffee family and was one of the victims of the Manson Family murders. She had a fine RC sendoff and is planted at Holy Cross Cemetery. Sharon Tate was also a good Catholic girl.
Altamont is next with the Hells Angels murder during a a Rolling Sones concert. The author marks the event as the end of the "Summer of Love."
Zodiac is briefly covered and the shootings from 1968-1969 are an open case.
The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Killer murdered eight young women in the 1970s and Ted Bundy was briefly a suspect. Credit card records cleared Mr. Bundy.
Herbert Mullin heard voices and killed a priest as he left a confessional booth on All Saint's Day. John Linley Frazier murdered a doctor and his family in order to save the planet. Big Ed(6-9) Kemper removed the heads of a pair of co-eds and used their heads for sexual pleasure. All three were residents of Santa Cruz.
Patty Hearst lived a life of luxury and she was abducted by the SLA at nineteen. After 57 days in a closet, a photo of her carrying a weapon during a bank robbery went viral.
Jim Jones started his "church" in San Francisco and had meetings with important politicians. The rev led followers to Guyana and we all know the outcome.
Dan White, in a Twinkie fueled high, gunned down Harvey Milk and George Moscone. The diminished capacity defense led to a manslaughter conviction. A riot ensued with the police beating the predominantly gay crowd. Danny Boy was one of them, an Irish-Catholic former cop. Paroled after five years in prison, Dan committed suicide.
Golden Gate Park is the frequent dumping place for murder victims. The most amusing case is that of barrels discovered with the bodies of a couple of hookers. A former cop turned killer, Anthony Scully, was convicted and sent to death row.
The Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez toured both northern and southern California and left a bloody trail of carnage. The vampire died in prison.
Marcy Conrad was only fourteen when she was murdered by one of her boyfriends. The boy confessed to acquaintances and they threw rocks at her corpse. The case inspired the film The River's Edge.
Juan Corona butchered 25 of his field workers and died after serving 42 years in prison.
Club owner Tom Guido ends the book. His locally famous club, the Purple Onion was a hangout for artistic types and Calhoun was one of them. Tom was sliced and diced with a Samurai sword and his killer then jumped out the window. A fitting finish for a fine book.
The Gold Rush of 1849 brought in a mixture of immigrants and vigilante justice along with a good amount of racism. Josefa Segovia was gang raped and after stabbing a white man, the Mexican woman was hanged. "Adios senores" were her last words.
In 1921, Father Patrick Heslin vanished and a ransom note was received by an archbishop demanding cash. Eventually, a nut case named William Hightower led the police to the body of the dead priest. Willy claimed that he was raised by an Irish family who beat him on a regular basis.
Dorothy Ellingson is one of the more colorful characters here and I need a full length book on her. At twelve she was partying with jazz musicians and when her mother attempted some paternal discipline, the girl responded by shooting mommy in the back of the head. Yikes!
Alcatraz and Al Capone combine for a chapter on the notorious island prison and Scarface. During a work stoppage after the death of a prisoner, Al was labeled a scab for refusing to join his fellow inmates in protest.
The Black Dahlia case remains unsolved and the murder of Elizabeth Short has been an unsolved mystery since 1947.
Huey Newton founded the Black Panther party in San Francisco in the 1960s and was gunned down in a drug deal gone wrong twenty years later.
Abigail Folger grew up in the famous coffee family and was one of the victims of the Manson Family murders. She had a fine RC sendoff and is planted at Holy Cross Cemetery. Sharon Tate was also a good Catholic girl.
Altamont is next with the Hells Angels murder during a a Rolling Sones concert. The author marks the event as the end of the "Summer of Love."
Zodiac is briefly covered and the shootings from 1968-1969 are an open case.
The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Killer murdered eight young women in the 1970s and Ted Bundy was briefly a suspect. Credit card records cleared Mr. Bundy.
Herbert Mullin heard voices and killed a priest as he left a confessional booth on All Saint's Day. John Linley Frazier murdered a doctor and his family in order to save the planet. Big Ed(6-9) Kemper removed the heads of a pair of co-eds and used their heads for sexual pleasure. All three were residents of Santa Cruz.
Patty Hearst lived a life of luxury and she was abducted by the SLA at nineteen. After 57 days in a closet, a photo of her carrying a weapon during a bank robbery went viral.
Jim Jones started his "church" in San Francisco and had meetings with important politicians. The rev led followers to Guyana and we all know the outcome.
Dan White, in a Twinkie fueled high, gunned down Harvey Milk and George Moscone. The diminished capacity defense led to a manslaughter conviction. A riot ensued with the police beating the predominantly gay crowd. Danny Boy was one of them, an Irish-Catholic former cop. Paroled after five years in prison, Dan committed suicide.
Golden Gate Park is the frequent dumping place for murder victims. The most amusing case is that of barrels discovered with the bodies of a couple of hookers. A former cop turned killer, Anthony Scully, was convicted and sent to death row.
The Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez toured both northern and southern California and left a bloody trail of carnage. The vampire died in prison.
Marcy Conrad was only fourteen when she was murdered by one of her boyfriends. The boy confessed to acquaintances and they threw rocks at her corpse. The case inspired the film The River's Edge.
Juan Corona butchered 25 of his field workers and died after serving 42 years in prison.
Club owner Tom Guido ends the book. His locally famous club, the Purple Onion was a hangout for artistic types and Calhoun was one of them. Tom was sliced and diced with a Samurai sword and his killer then jumped out the window. A fitting finish for a fine book.
June 20, 2021
I wanted to like this book. The premise is great, but the author engages in an eye rolling amount of selective narrative picking. Calhoun loves to build versions of the truth that are far less interesting than… the truth. In the end, Calhoun’s book is a low resolution version of complex histories.
For example, his chapter on the pursuit and execution of “English” Jim Stuart is more about the wrongful almost-conviction of some Australians by an angry mob as opposed to the far more interesting story of English Jim. English Jim and his gang were a murderous, thieving band of arsonists who burned San Francisco to the ground NINE TIMES. The story of how English Jim was brought to justice is far more interesting and nuanced than Calhoun wants us to think. He paints a portrait of 1850’s San Franciscans as an angry, racist mob desperate to kill whoever fit their racist stereotype. This is a mischaracterization of how English Jim was pursued and executed, and a shortsighted view of early San Francisco. Calhoun would have us believe that early San Francisco was just full of bands of roving racists, desperate for blood. One only needs to read a handful more books on the period to see that cooperation was the dominant state of affairs in 1850s SF as opposed to murderous, racist chaos. The success of the San Francisco early gold trade and its establishment as a successful port city was largely built through cooperative commerce. And when that commerce was disrupted by the likes of people like English Jim, the city rallied to find, catch, and kill those who actually made the city worse. The weirdest thing about this chapter is that Calhoun leads us to believe that San Franciscans just blindly hated Australians and pursued them out of pure racial animus. Calhoun never tells us that English Jim was in fact from Australia, and that people of the time were asked to be on the lookout for an Australian gang of arsonists… which Jim and his gang were… so people were responding to the description of known arsonists, not acting out of some pure, original sin type racial hatred.
To wrap, Calhoun applies this formula repeatedly throughout the book. He gives us a unidimensional look at complex, nuanced, and brutal acts of violence throughout San Francisco history. All of this makes the book dull and lopsided. Buried under this annoying book is a great set of stories. I wish we could hear them from someone interested in nuance, not ideologically driven narrative.
For example, his chapter on the pursuit and execution of “English” Jim Stuart is more about the wrongful almost-conviction of some Australians by an angry mob as opposed to the far more interesting story of English Jim. English Jim and his gang were a murderous, thieving band of arsonists who burned San Francisco to the ground NINE TIMES. The story of how English Jim was brought to justice is far more interesting and nuanced than Calhoun wants us to think. He paints a portrait of 1850’s San Franciscans as an angry, racist mob desperate to kill whoever fit their racist stereotype. This is a mischaracterization of how English Jim was pursued and executed, and a shortsighted view of early San Francisco. Calhoun would have us believe that early San Francisco was just full of bands of roving racists, desperate for blood. One only needs to read a handful more books on the period to see that cooperation was the dominant state of affairs in 1850s SF as opposed to murderous, racist chaos. The success of the San Francisco early gold trade and its establishment as a successful port city was largely built through cooperative commerce. And when that commerce was disrupted by the likes of people like English Jim, the city rallied to find, catch, and kill those who actually made the city worse. The weirdest thing about this chapter is that Calhoun leads us to believe that San Franciscans just blindly hated Australians and pursued them out of pure racial animus. Calhoun never tells us that English Jim was in fact from Australia, and that people of the time were asked to be on the lookout for an Australian gang of arsonists… which Jim and his gang were… so people were responding to the description of known arsonists, not acting out of some pure, original sin type racial hatred.
To wrap, Calhoun applies this formula repeatedly throughout the book. He gives us a unidimensional look at complex, nuanced, and brutal acts of violence throughout San Francisco history. All of this makes the book dull and lopsided. Buried under this annoying book is a great set of stories. I wish we could hear them from someone interested in nuance, not ideologically driven narrative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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