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Cold Case Chronicles: Mysteries, Murders & The Missing
COLD CASE CHRONICLES tells the stories of victims –– some missing, some murdered and some with changed identities. All are true, and each are mysterious in their own ways. The cases in this nonfiction narrative date from 1910 through the 1950s and include evolutions in forensics, as well as historical context in order to view the men, women and children through the lens of time.
Included are recent theories on the cases of Judge Joseph Crater (missing from New York City in 1930) and film director William Desmond Taylor (shot in Hollywood in 1922). Other chapters help to unravel the mystique of individuals with changed identities. Included, too, is a case of aerial sabotage, the "Boy in the Box," and unusual disappearances of young women, along with child abductions and four missing adventurers –– Everett Ruess, Joseph Halpern, and Glen and Bessie Hyde. Readers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions, consider how detectives would handle these and other cases today, and learn how genetic genealogy brings new hope for the future.
Included are recent theories on the cases of Judge Joseph Crater (missing from New York City in 1930) and film director William Desmond Taylor (shot in Hollywood in 1922). Other chapters help to unravel the mystique of individuals with changed identities. Included, too, is a case of aerial sabotage, the "Boy in the Box," and unusual disappearances of young women, along with child abductions and four missing adventurers –– Everett Ruess, Joseph Halpern, and Glen and Bessie Hyde. Readers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions, consider how detectives would handle these and other cases today, and learn how genetic genealogy brings new hope for the future.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2021
68 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Silvia Pettem
34 books6 followersSilvia Pettem (www.silviapettem.com) is a longtime historical researcher, newspaper columnist, and author of more than twenty books. Just released is IN SEARCH OF THE BLONDE TIGRESS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ELEANOR JARMAN.
After decades of work for individuals and governments, her life took a new turn in 1996, when she stumbled upon the gravestone of a Jane Doe –– a murder victim from 1954. Pettem then applied her research skills to both old-fashioned detective work and the power of the internet by entering into a partnership with her local sheriff and with forensic experts of the Vidocq Society to successfully determine the young woman's identity. Pettem chronicled their work in "Someone's Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe," recently republished as an "Updated Edition."
After decades of work for individuals and governments, her life took a new turn in 1996, when she stumbled upon the gravestone of a Jane Doe –– a murder victim from 1954. Pettem then applied her research skills to both old-fashioned detective work and the power of the internet by entering into a partnership with her local sheriff and with forensic experts of the Vidocq Society to successfully determine the young woman's identity. Pettem chronicled their work in "Someone's Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe," recently republished as an "Updated Edition."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 2, 2022
This was not the sort of cold case chronicles I had in mind. I did not finish the book. The stories I read were somewhat interesting, but they were long and drawn out and definitely not what I was in the mood to read.
February 13, 2022
This book was an interesting compilation of unsolved crimes that span over several years and include a variety of crimes. These are real cold cases that have never been solved. The purpose of this book is to give the reader all the available information and let them decide what they think happened. I would have to say though this book was very interesting and informative, it is not for those who need conclusion when reading or watching films, stuff like that. If not knowing what happened is going to bother you then you probably aren’t going to like this book.
However, if you don’t mind the absence of conclusion and you enjoy true crime then you would most likely find this book intriguing to read, just as I did.
The author has gone to great lengths to present all the facts of each case in a well-written narrative format, telling the reader a story as they learn all about the case. Just like with anything heavy with details and loads of information there are just a few small dry moments where the book gets just a tiny bit boring but they don’t last but a few paragraphs here and there.
Overall, I liked this book. It was very captivating learning about all these new cases that remain unsolved. We mostly just hear about the cases that get closed and the people that get arrested. To me, this book was a nice mix between the flow of fiction and the truth of a textbook, melded together to make for one entrancing read.
RATINGS
4/5 Stars
However, if you don’t mind the absence of conclusion and you enjoy true crime then you would most likely find this book intriguing to read, just as I did.
The author has gone to great lengths to present all the facts of each case in a well-written narrative format, telling the reader a story as they learn all about the case. Just like with anything heavy with details and loads of information there are just a few small dry moments where the book gets just a tiny bit boring but they don’t last but a few paragraphs here and there.
Overall, I liked this book. It was very captivating learning about all these new cases that remain unsolved. We mostly just hear about the cases that get closed and the people that get arrested. To me, this book was a nice mix between the flow of fiction and the truth of a textbook, melded together to make for one entrancing read.
RATINGS
4/5 Stars
July 26, 2022
Fascinating book!
This book enlightened me about murders and disappearances of which I was not aware. It covers crimes and missing people from the early 1900s to the mid-1900s which took place in many different locales. I highly recommend this book to other true crime readers.
This book enlightened me about murders and disappearances of which I was not aware. It covers crimes and missing people from the early 1900s to the mid-1900s which took place in many different locales. I highly recommend this book to other true crime readers.
January 18, 2022
In Cold Case Chronicles, Silvia Pettem offers a collection of cold cases, some famous and some not so famous, for true crime aficionados to add to their shelves. Some of the cases involve murders, some involve missing persons who were never found, and some of the cases draw attention to people who disappeared deliberately for reasons of their own. While the cases are meticulously researched, the author does not draw any conclusions. Instead, she encourages the reader to play detective and make their own determinations.
The author's style is compulsively readable. She presents the victims as real people, fleshed out and treated with respect. Their families and the grief experienced by their loved ones is presented with sensitivity and grace. The crimes, while explained in detail, are not gratuitous or sensationalized. I got a feel for the people involved in the case and the time period in which the case occured as well as how the crime or disappearance could have happened.
While I enjoyed this book, it is not without faults. The author often refers to cases covered in later chapters. While a link is provided to these chapters, it is confusing to sift through information you don't have and jump back and forth in reading. I found it throws off the rhythm of reading and makes a less seamless flow from chapter to chapter. She also poses questions throughout the book, then answers them. To me, this seemed amateurish and felt like I was reading a draft of the book instead of a finished product.
Some of the cases, with which I am familiar from other books and sources, have chunks of missing information. I don't know if this is from the results of the author's research, or from her discretion when deciding what to include and leave out. It is possible some of the information I am familiar with could not be verified through the author's research or was left out due to length or space. This did make it difficult to draw any new conclusions on these cases, particularly the cases of William Desmond Taylor and Bessie and Glen Hyde.
If you like true crime books that deal with historical cases this is a good addition to your collection. There is a wealth of information on the selected cases and the book is sure to send you running to find out all you can about the ones less familiar to the public.
The author's style is compulsively readable. She presents the victims as real people, fleshed out and treated with respect. Their families and the grief experienced by their loved ones is presented with sensitivity and grace. The crimes, while explained in detail, are not gratuitous or sensationalized. I got a feel for the people involved in the case and the time period in which the case occured as well as how the crime or disappearance could have happened.
While I enjoyed this book, it is not without faults. The author often refers to cases covered in later chapters. While a link is provided to these chapters, it is confusing to sift through information you don't have and jump back and forth in reading. I found it throws off the rhythm of reading and makes a less seamless flow from chapter to chapter. She also poses questions throughout the book, then answers them. To me, this seemed amateurish and felt like I was reading a draft of the book instead of a finished product.
Some of the cases, with which I am familiar from other books and sources, have chunks of missing information. I don't know if this is from the results of the author's research, or from her discretion when deciding what to include and leave out. It is possible some of the information I am familiar with could not be verified through the author's research or was left out due to length or space. This did make it difficult to draw any new conclusions on these cases, particularly the cases of William Desmond Taylor and Bessie and Glen Hyde.
If you like true crime books that deal with historical cases this is a good addition to your collection. There is a wealth of information on the selected cases and the book is sure to send you running to find out all you can about the ones less familiar to the public.
August 5, 2022
interesting
Cold cases, this author re-examined the case of people who disappeared leaving no trace, found dead, or killed and no suspects.
Cold cases, this author re-examined the case of people who disappeared leaving no trace, found dead, or killed and no suspects.
October 2, 2022
This book contained information on many interesting historical cases, but was very choppy, so was difficult to follow.
November 28, 2024
Didn't go into much detail about the cases - just a brief review of old and some newer cold cases. No real depth to this book
May 19, 2021
I was so excited to see a new book from Silvia Pettem!!! I can’t wait to read it. I love her bike so much.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews