Cold Case BC: The Stories Behind the Province’s Most Sensational Murder and Missing Persons Cases

by Eve Lazarus

In her BC bestseller Cold Case Vancouver, crime historian and reporter Eve Lazarus used investigative skills to shine a light on the city's most baffing unsolved murders. In Cold Case BC, Lazarus casts her gaze more widely on long forgotten and unsolved murder cases throughout British Columbia. These include teenager Molly Justice, who was murdered on the outskirts of Victoria after taking the bus home from work, and a follow-up to the tragic 1953 Babes in the Woods story of two children found murdered in Stanley Park, whose names were finally revealed this year in a story broken by Lazarus herself. There's also the tale of four police officers in the 1960s who committed a string of robberies that culminated in the biggest heist in Vancouver's history. Their reign of terror ended with one of the officers murdering his family before killing himself. Or were they all killed by someone else?

Lazarus also looks at some of the province's most intriguing missing person cases, such as three-year-old Casey Bohun, who vanished from her bed in the middle of the night, and the Jack family of four, who left Prince George to work in a logging camp along the infamous Highway of Tears but were never seen again.

Interviews with law enforcement, forensic experts, and family and friends of the victims add new life to these historical cases, some of which date back to World War II. The book also includes some cases that have been solved, revealing the painstaking investigative work and new forensic technology that ultimately brought about closure for victims' families.

Meticulously researched, Cold Case BC is a fascinating true crime book that reveals startling details about the province's criminal past.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2022

About the author

Eve Lazarus is an author, reporter and the host and producer of the Cold Case Canada podcast. Her bestselling books include Cold Case BC, Vancouver Exposed, and Murder by Milkshake which was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Best Non-Fiction Crime Book, the City of Vancouver book award, and Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award (BC Book Prizes). Eve's latest book is Beneath Dark Waters: The Legacy of the Empress of Ireland Shipwreck.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in BC and I grew up here so I was very interested to read COLD CASE BC: The Stories Behind the Province’s Most Sensational Murder and Missing Persons Cases by Eve Lazarus. I love reading local authors and stories and this book was excellent! In this book we travel around BC to Victoria, Stanley Park, and the Highway of Tears. Some of these cases date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Each case was presented with great research and care for everyone involved. It was nice to learn that some of these cases were eventually solved with DNA and genealogy advances. I’m very interested to read her other book Cold Case Vancouver now!

Thank you to Arsenal Pulp Press and ZG Stories for my gifted review copy!

[Book.ishJulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Highway Of Tears last year, I knew I wanted to read more true crime, so I picked up Cold Case BC by Eve Lazarus.

I quickly became obsessed with this book and addicted to the crime stories. I had been reading three or four books at the time, but soon, this was the only one I wanted to read. I talked about this book every chance I got, recounting crime after crime to my husband and parents.

I was outraged at so many of the police investigations and reminded myself time and again that this was a different era (a lot of these cold cases occurred before DNA was accepted as evidence). Thankfully, some of the cases have now been solved, with DNA testing becoming popular with the general public.

As frustrated as I became, I also learned a lot. I discovered about a post-war era in which wartime dimout regulations were in place after WWII, and I wonder if the simple use of street lamps could have prevented one or more murders.

As BC is part of my being and makes up so many of my memories, it was hard to read about the horrific crimes that have occurred in such a beautiful place; I know I will look at the province I love (and the world) a lot differently going forward.

They say you are not truly gone until others stop remembering you; I think about these murders and kidnappings at least once a day. True crime is an itch that now needs to be scratched, and I will be getting Lazarus's Cold Case Vancouver as soon as I can.

Thank you ZG Stories for the complimentary copy to read and review.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting compilation of true crime cold cases in B.C. short chapters cover the basics of each case. Ideal for someone unfamiliar with these cases.

[Paul Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A student in my class was reading this and I was intrigued! Definitely enjoyed this book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first true crime novel I’ve ever read, and I was happily surprised with how engaged I was! I appreciated that Lazarus focused on a different case for each chapter, so the pacing was quick and there was no drawing out of details to make the mystery last longer. A lot of these stories were very heartbreaking, but the difficult topics were handled in a respectful and masterful way so that the full effect could be given without weighing on the reader. My only complaint was that the last half of the book wasn’t organized very nicely, as random headlines with no relation to the chapter were added in to highlight women who went missing or were killed on the Highway of Tears. While I understand Lazarus’s intent in showing what happened to many women in the same area, the execution was flawed. All in all, an engaging read that wasn’t too heavy despite the subject matter.

[Nathan Illsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Liane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling, disturbing and hits close to home! I grew up along the "Highway of Tears" and never heard about these missing and murdered women until years later. Their stories are so important, and I hope this book brings some conclusions and closure.

[Mélanie | melaniereads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLD CASE BC is a must-read for fans of True Crime!

I really wanted to read this, especially given the cases covered are exclusively Canadian.

Cold Case BC covers 16 baffling cases, through detailed and unbiased reporting. Most of these cases have long been forgotten by the public, but the author shines a light on them once again.

A considerate attention is paid to telling the stories of the victims, and not just of their murders or disappearances.

Each case is covered in one chapter, which I found quite easy to read. The book also features pictures from the victims' loved ones and interviews with law enforcement. I'm always interested to learn about the investigative work that went on behind the scenes, especially when it spans for decades!

I also loved learning where the cases stand today, and if they have a chance to be solved one day.

I definitely recommend this book if you are Canadian and/or a fan of True Crime. I'm also definitely going to pick up Ms Lazarus' other book, Cold Case Vancouver. With any hope, she might write a book on the cold cases of my province (Quebec) one day (just putting it out there)!

Thank you to Arsenal Pulp Press and ZG Stories for my gifted copy to review!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone remember the documentary show Exhibit A with Graham Greene?
Cold Case BC immediately reminded me of that from back in the day, in that it dealt with Canadian crime cases and investigations.
Thank you to ZG Stories and Arsenal Pulp Press for my gifted copy of Cold Case BC for review!
Journalist and author Eve Lazarus is a fantastic writer. Right off the bat, that is evident. I've read a lot of true crime in my day and she as an author is a standout. Her narrative style is both professional and approachable and very early into this book, I couldn't put it down.
She states she deliberately covers many lesser-known cases in Cold Case BC, which goes along with her previous books Cold Case Vancouver and Murder By Milkshake.
Some of the cases she writes about have been solved, some not, many with updated information and/or theories. She also dedicates much of the book's content to British Columbia's Highway Of Tears cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Cold Case BC is absolutely recommended for anyone interested in this darker side of Canadian history.
Released on Oct. 11.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a life time lover of true crime books, I am always excited when a book comes out to shine a light on Canadian cases.

Lazurus presents a well researched and thorough accounting of several cases of murder and missing persons in BC. I am not from BC so many of these cases were unfamiliar to me. I loved that while there were some more well know cases, she shone a spotlight on these lesser know cases.

I truly appreciated that the focus was on the person - getting to know them and who their family was. A lot of true crime books focus on the crime, however this book truly brought these people to life. I loved that it included recent updates as well.

For me, the most intriguing case was that of The Jack Family. I had never heard of this one - but how does a whole family go missing?

If you love true crime, Canadian true crime and learning about some lesser known cases in a thoughtful and considerate way you will want to check this book out.

Huge thanks to ZG Stories and Arsenal Pulp Press for provided me with a gifted copy of this one!

[Candice Callaghan-Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had high hopes for this book however none of the cases are current beyond the 1990's. There are so many other cases that could have been brought to light but perhaps we're not included for whatever reason. Having read Cold Case Vancouver I was hoping for more light to be shone on smaller, less publicized investigations but most of these shared here are very well known and in some cases now solved.

[Isabell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author and her writing style. My only problem is that she chooses to write about really old cases a lot of the time. I understand they are important too, but when only a third part of the book is about cases after 1970 it's not that interesting. There are many very good unsolved cases that happened in BC that she could have included like for example Lindsay Buziak. The most recent case she included was from the 90s. Otherwise a good and well researched book.

[Shelley L · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like true crime you will like this book. The stories are fascinating and some of them felt personal to me, as she has written about unsolved crimes in several communities of BC. If your from BC, Vancouver or Vancouver Island you will LOVE this book
I really enjoy reading books by Eve Larazus

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible collection. Centered around the victims of these tragedies and instead of opening old wounds it focuses on their lives and who they were. Absolutely a must-read and a fitting tribute for the loved ones left behind.

[eleanor :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! Read it on the plane today and could not put it down. I had been wanting to read it for some time now and it did not disappoint. My favorite part was after I finished the book, I went up to my mom and asked, “Um, how long did you live in Prince George?” 😅

I was familiar with a couple of the cases but was surprised about how many I didn’t know about, so that kept the book more interesting for sure! Definitely deals with some heavy content, which is pretty obvious from the title, but the author does a good job in her writing and keeps things respectful.

[Sofie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Lazarus has done an in-depth job of documenting violence that has fallen upon young women (and, yes, they were mostly women), at the hands of (mostly) men in British Columbia over the decades. As I was enjoying my young adult years in Victoria and the lower mainland in the late '80s, I was oblivious to the tragedies occurring all around me at that time. Eve has done an amzing service keeping the names of these victims alive, as they, themselves are no longer here to speak for themselves. I highly recommend her podcast that deals with the same subject.

[Sharon Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

There must be nothing worse than having an uncaring or unhelpful police force 'investigating' a disappearance or murder for the victims family and friends. I know things have come a long way with technology etc, but basic policing is a good start, a lot of which didn't happen in some of these cases. Sad.

[Nazareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book is full of interesting historical cases. The newest of which is from 1993. The oldest going back to 1943.
Bringing life to, not just, the victims, but to their families and background into who they were. Hope more tips came from/come from the publishing of this book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing book about unsolved murders in BC. Difficult to read and emotionally disturbing but unfortunately true stories of missing and murdered people, mostly women. Glad I am finished the book, but feel for the families that never can close the book on their missing or murdered loved ones.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read- well written! Couldn't put it down

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book with so many interesting and well researched stories. I recommend this for all fans of true crime

[Nik von Schulmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime on a very local scale. Haunting and chilling stories of mostly unsolved cases in BC.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting cases with quite a diversity, including in age range.
Eve is a wonderful author that takes such great care with this kind of subject matter.

[ChrissyMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am from BC and didn't realize how many unsolved and missing persons cases that have happened for so many years. Hopefully families can get closure one day, sending thoughts to them All ❤️

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and a decent book. Some cases just never get solved.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Maria Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories.

[Melodie Wendel-Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Interesting and sad: destroying evidence that nowadays is beneficial to solving cases.

[Maria Efting · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was sooooo dry, I couldn’t wait for this to be done. The entire thing read like a Wikipedia page but not in a good way.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10
BCs history is so short but has so many profound stories, and Eve Lazarus misses not one detail.