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Red Zone: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the San Francisco Dog Mauling
It was the story that shocked the nation and captured headlines for more than a year. In January 2001, Diane Alexis Whipple bled to death in the hallway of her ritzy Pacific Heights apartment building when she was mauled by two Presa Canarios, a vicious breed of attack dog imported from the Canary Islands. After the lethal attack, animal experts testified that the dogs could not have been stopped, explaining that they had entered a frenzy called the "Red Zone." Now, New York Times bestselling author Aphrodite Jones shows that the mauling was only one part of a frightening story involving obsession, bestiality, and illegal dog rings. The dogs belonged to Whipple's neighbors, lawyers Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, who had been keeping them for a leader of the notorious prison gang the Aryan Brotherhood. Jones takes us deep into the bizarre world of Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, a Hannibal Lechter-type character who actually owned the dogs, Bane and Hera. She explains how Noel and Knoller, after being warned about these killer dogs, brought them to the heart of San Francisco, leading the dogs eventually to murder an innocent next-door neighbor. Jones also reveals the shocking L.A.-area whereabouts of the offspring of Bane, the dog most directly involved in the mauling. Jones is a masterful investigator and writer who has interviewed the complete cast of characters -- including Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller during their imprisonment -- and can now tell the full story of what happened in that apartment hallway. Red Zone is a riveting page-turning account of this news-making story that takes us deep into the relationship between man and animal.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2003
156 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Aphrodite Jones
13 books404 followersAphrodite Jones is an award-winning American reporter and author who writes about murder. Her knack for detail allows her to dissect bizarre murder cases and bring readers into the heart of darkness. Now, the author has taken her career to TV as the executive producer and TV host of the ID series, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, which airs on Investigation Discovery.
Jones is now filming her sixth season, uncovering secrets about riveting cases across America. The series follows Jones, who's written a string of best-selling true crime books, as she unravels new mysteries lurking behind cases that shocked America: O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Phil Spector, and the list goes on.
Jones is now filming her sixth season, uncovering secrets about riveting cases across America. The series follows Jones, who's written a string of best-selling true crime books, as she unravels new mysteries lurking behind cases that shocked America: O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Phil Spector, and the list goes on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 15, 2018
While a bit overlong, RED ZONE is nonetheless a fascinating study of the hideous mauling death of an innocent woman, Diane Whipple, by two Presa Canario dogs. This ugly incident could have taught animal control officers and the public at large about fighting breeds and the type of people most often attracted to them--however, the lessons were largely ignored and the number of people mauled to death by dogs continues to rise in the new millennium.
Much of the behavior of the couple who kept the dogs, Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, will be instantly familiar to anyone who has done research into dog attacks. They denied their dogs were vicious, even when the animals were lunging, growling and snapping, and laughed at anyone who acted afraid of the animals. They participated in numerous "hit and run" incidents in which their dogs, Bane and Hera, attacked or attempted to attack other animals and people. Whether the Presas were mauling an innocent Shetland sheepdog or their own next-door neighbor, the owners were completely unconcerned about the victim, focusing only upon themselves. And of course, there's the ever-present Blame the Victim cop out. (Maybe Whipple was wearing perfume!) These behaviors from owners remain remarkably consistent throughout dangerous dog attack reports.
The Presa Canarios, Bane and Hera, were a coveted breed of enormous fighting dogs originally developed in the Canary Islands. Those cities and towns that have breed-specific laws normally put restrictions on these "Canary dogs" as a pit bull variant--in other words, a "gripping dog" created for the purpose of battling other animals to the death in a fighting pit. When engaged in a struggle, fighting and gripping breeds are notorious for entering a "red zone" in which the animal won't end its attack until it or its opponent is dead. This is obviously a desirable trait in the fighting pit, but it is nonsensical to continue breeding these animals to live in residential areas. Of course, to the violent, racist prisoner to which Bane and Hera belonged, these traits were exactly why he was so attracted to the breed.
Bane and Hera were euthanized after the attack, which caused a great deal of anger and despair among fighting breed aficionados. Jones calls them animal rights activists in her book, but I would say that any true animal activist cares about ALL animals--and these dogs had a known history of killing and severely injuring innocent pets and farm animals. They clearly weren't safe to be around other animals or people--what kind of life would that be? A clearly misguided activist was a legally blind woman, who would show up with her Labrador guide dog at dangerous dog trials and plead for the dog's life--even offering to adopt the female Presa, Hera. I wondered if this woman realized just how many other pets aggressive dogs slaughter every year--and gentle, dutiful guide dogs are among the mauling victims?
While Noel and Knoller went to prison, the dangerous dog aficionados lost the battle, but are seemingly winning the war. Adults, children, and companion animals continue to be mauled and killed by aggressive dogs, at an increasing pace. It remains a rare event for the owners of these dogs to face any meaningful legal repercussions.
Much of the behavior of the couple who kept the dogs, Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, will be instantly familiar to anyone who has done research into dog attacks. They denied their dogs were vicious, even when the animals were lunging, growling and snapping, and laughed at anyone who acted afraid of the animals. They participated in numerous "hit and run" incidents in which their dogs, Bane and Hera, attacked or attempted to attack other animals and people. Whether the Presas were mauling an innocent Shetland sheepdog or their own next-door neighbor, the owners were completely unconcerned about the victim, focusing only upon themselves. And of course, there's the ever-present Blame the Victim cop out. (Maybe Whipple was wearing perfume!) These behaviors from owners remain remarkably consistent throughout dangerous dog attack reports.
The Presa Canarios, Bane and Hera, were a coveted breed of enormous fighting dogs originally developed in the Canary Islands. Those cities and towns that have breed-specific laws normally put restrictions on these "Canary dogs" as a pit bull variant--in other words, a "gripping dog" created for the purpose of battling other animals to the death in a fighting pit. When engaged in a struggle, fighting and gripping breeds are notorious for entering a "red zone" in which the animal won't end its attack until it or its opponent is dead. This is obviously a desirable trait in the fighting pit, but it is nonsensical to continue breeding these animals to live in residential areas. Of course, to the violent, racist prisoner to which Bane and Hera belonged, these traits were exactly why he was so attracted to the breed.
Bane and Hera were euthanized after the attack, which caused a great deal of anger and despair among fighting breed aficionados. Jones calls them animal rights activists in her book, but I would say that any true animal activist cares about ALL animals--and these dogs had a known history of killing and severely injuring innocent pets and farm animals. They clearly weren't safe to be around other animals or people--what kind of life would that be? A clearly misguided activist was a legally blind woman, who would show up with her Labrador guide dog at dangerous dog trials and plead for the dog's life--even offering to adopt the female Presa, Hera. I wondered if this woman realized just how many other pets aggressive dogs slaughter every year--and gentle, dutiful guide dogs are among the mauling victims?
While Noel and Knoller went to prison, the dangerous dog aficionados lost the battle, but are seemingly winning the war. Adults, children, and companion animals continue to be mauled and killed by aggressive dogs, at an increasing pace. It remains a rare event for the owners of these dogs to face any meaningful legal repercussions.
July 8, 2014
This is a troubling book, mostly because it shows just how quickly a situation can go from normal to emergency-level. It also shows how dangerously irresponsible people can be. I know its a worst-case scenario, but I'm not a big fan of dog breeders in the first place. Adopt always--don't be part of the problem.
November 1, 2025
A shocking tale, brimming with bizarre characters. Jones tips her hand here though; her language is judgmental. Perhaps that is just the style of the genre.
Dogs maul people every day. After reading this book, I walk down the street and am especially leery of large dogs. One was looking at me funny, but when I talked to the nice owner, she said the dog was scared of me. He was very timid.
The editing in this book was not very polished. However, that too is probably part of the genre.
Dogs maul people every day. After reading this book, I walk down the street and am especially leery of large dogs. One was looking at me funny, but when I talked to the nice owner, she said the dog was scared of me. He was very timid.
The editing in this book was not very polished. However, that too is probably part of the genre.
April 6, 2022
I have so many comments about this case and this book, I hardly know where to begin. I will start with the fact that this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited, which pleased me very much. I saw this book at the local used bookstore, but they wanted $8 for it, and I could not make myself pay that for a used paperback, when the new price on Amazon is $5. I really prefer a physical book, but lack of shelf space is forcing me to go digital, so this worked out. I have read another book by this author, and it was tolerable. She is not my favorite true crime writer, but I was very interested in this case. I learned quite a lot about the case, and it was a wild story, which is why I gave it a three star. I am generally pretty reserved in my star ratings, and three is what I rate a fairly decent book that I enjoyed a great deal. I would have given it a four, but the writing style is not my most favorite.
THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW
The book starts off going over the attack of Diane Whipple in 2001. Whipple was a college coach, who had gone out to get some groceries and was returning to her Pacific Heights apartment building. As she was going into her apartment, the neighbor's dogs attacked and mauled her. She wound up with at least 77 wounds all over her body, with the only places unharmed being the top of her scalp and the soles of her feet. Her clothes were torn off. I cannot imagine being mauled to death by any kind of animal. What a horrible experience and horrible death that was. While she survived long enough to make it to the hospital and undergo surgery, she eventually died an hour after leaving the operating theatre.
The dogs that attacked her were a breed called Presa Canarios. I have seen these dogs for sale in my area, but I have never seen one in person. As I typed this sentence, I went to check local listings, and there are several for sale. They have very expensive price tag, which may be one reason I have not seen any before. The breed is originally a Spanish breed, bred for herding and guarding livestock. Of course, with any large breed dog, they were often used in dog fighting. I find that completely reprehensible. I cannot stand dog fighting. All dogs have the potential to be aggressive, but to deliberately train them and mistreat them to make them aggressive toward people and other animals is sickening, really. The two dogs that attacked Diane Whipple, Bane and Hera, were huge dogs, who had bad manners, essentially no proper training, and who had certainly caused many problems before this incident.
Bane, (and his first female companion, Isis), were purchased by a man called Paul Schneider. Schneider was an inmate at Pelican Bay, when he got into contact with a woman he coerced into taking care of the dogs and breeding them to sell to buyers he arranged. He was a million percent trying to breed and sell fighting dogs. People really get themselves sucked into some bad schemes, and this particular scheme was one of them. He eventually convinced this woman to add two more female dogs, one of which was Hera, to the group. Eventually, she displeased him by asking for more money to care for the dogs, not raising them exactly how he said, not being able to control them, and complaining that they were killing her sheep and chickens, he sent his lawyers to get the dogs.
Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller had custody of Bane and Hera at the time of the attack, and were neighbors with Diane Whipple. Several other residents had made comments about the dogs aggressive nature and their size. At the time of the incident, Bane weighed about 140 pounds, while Hera weighed about 100 pounds. Noel was not present during the attack, but was convicted of manslaughter, as there was sufficient evidence to show that he knew the dogs were aggressive and had the potential to kill. Knoller was convicted of manslaughter and second degree murder. It blows my mind that Schneider was able to get all of these people to go along with his schemes and deal with these dogs. Bane and Hera were euthanized by Animal Control.
The final comment that I want to make is about the dogs. I said before that all dogs have the potential to be aggressive. I have been around a lot of dogs in my life, and, with the exception of one, the most aggressive ones have been small breeds. People tend to fear large breed dogs because of their size, or cases like this one where someone was attacked. I am a strong believer that breeding and training play a large role in the way dogs respond to people and animals. Just because it is a big dog, or a "scary" breed, doesn't mean that every dog is like that. It is sad that someone had to die in such a horrific way because some miscreant wanted to raise dog fighting dogs.
THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW
The book starts off going over the attack of Diane Whipple in 2001. Whipple was a college coach, who had gone out to get some groceries and was returning to her Pacific Heights apartment building. As she was going into her apartment, the neighbor's dogs attacked and mauled her. She wound up with at least 77 wounds all over her body, with the only places unharmed being the top of her scalp and the soles of her feet. Her clothes were torn off. I cannot imagine being mauled to death by any kind of animal. What a horrible experience and horrible death that was. While she survived long enough to make it to the hospital and undergo surgery, she eventually died an hour after leaving the operating theatre.
The dogs that attacked her were a breed called Presa Canarios. I have seen these dogs for sale in my area, but I have never seen one in person. As I typed this sentence, I went to check local listings, and there are several for sale. They have very expensive price tag, which may be one reason I have not seen any before. The breed is originally a Spanish breed, bred for herding and guarding livestock. Of course, with any large breed dog, they were often used in dog fighting. I find that completely reprehensible. I cannot stand dog fighting. All dogs have the potential to be aggressive, but to deliberately train them and mistreat them to make them aggressive toward people and other animals is sickening, really. The two dogs that attacked Diane Whipple, Bane and Hera, were huge dogs, who had bad manners, essentially no proper training, and who had certainly caused many problems before this incident.
Bane, (and his first female companion, Isis), were purchased by a man called Paul Schneider. Schneider was an inmate at Pelican Bay, when he got into contact with a woman he coerced into taking care of the dogs and breeding them to sell to buyers he arranged. He was a million percent trying to breed and sell fighting dogs. People really get themselves sucked into some bad schemes, and this particular scheme was one of them. He eventually convinced this woman to add two more female dogs, one of which was Hera, to the group. Eventually, she displeased him by asking for more money to care for the dogs, not raising them exactly how he said, not being able to control them, and complaining that they were killing her sheep and chickens, he sent his lawyers to get the dogs.
Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller had custody of Bane and Hera at the time of the attack, and were neighbors with Diane Whipple. Several other residents had made comments about the dogs aggressive nature and their size. At the time of the incident, Bane weighed about 140 pounds, while Hera weighed about 100 pounds. Noel was not present during the attack, but was convicted of manslaughter, as there was sufficient evidence to show that he knew the dogs were aggressive and had the potential to kill. Knoller was convicted of manslaughter and second degree murder. It blows my mind that Schneider was able to get all of these people to go along with his schemes and deal with these dogs. Bane and Hera were euthanized by Animal Control.
The final comment that I want to make is about the dogs. I said before that all dogs have the potential to be aggressive. I have been around a lot of dogs in my life, and, with the exception of one, the most aggressive ones have been small breeds. People tend to fear large breed dogs because of their size, or cases like this one where someone was attacked. I am a strong believer that breeding and training play a large role in the way dogs respond to people and animals. Just because it is a big dog, or a "scary" breed, doesn't mean that every dog is like that. It is sad that someone had to die in such a horrific way because some miscreant wanted to raise dog fighting dogs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this book because I thought of it as a big step for me. I thought of it as a big step because it was kind of hard for me to read at time due to my ptsd from my dog attack. I am very proud of myself for finishing this book because at times I felt like stopping because it was hard for me to read because I felt like I was reliving my dog attack. I feel so bad for poor innocent Dianne Whipple because she doesn’t deserve the death she had received. No one deserves to die such a painful death. I really encourage people to read this book because it can inform you how dangerous dogs can truly be and how much of an influence owners have on dogs.
October 10, 2007
Very troubling account of a dog mauling. Although I love dogs and most animals, I feel society would be much safer if some were eliminated. Sadly, it is not their fault, but ours.
April 18, 2016
I am lucky enough to call San Francisco my hometown. Pacific Heights was where I lived & I remember this case vividly. Time has not lessened the horror of Diane Whipple's death—if anything, I feel less shock & far more anger at the two idiots who thought it was a great idea to have two Presa Canarios living in an apartment in the middle of San Francisco.
Although there are some annoying typos (is there a kindle book out there without at least one?!) the details in the story are so chilling that it never really threw me off.
Why two apparently well educated attorneys believed these dogs were harmless, I'll never understand. Profile: typical a**holes who watch as their dogs maul other dogs, snap & snarl at people without provocation & then claim it was caused by everybody aside from themselves & the two dogs, Bane & Hera. The book describes one incident where Marjorie was walking one, or rather... It was dragging her, as she had zero control over a thing.
The sad thing is that Diane Whipple's death could so easily have been prevented by responsible dog owners who immediately realized they were in over their heads and called animal control themselves. Instead, what follows us the grizzly scene of a mauling so severe, I don't believe I've read about any case quite this horrific before or sense.
The astonishing facts include some bizarre love triangle, beastiality, home made porn... All for a white supremacist who's incarcerated. These two come off as utter sociopaths & psychopaths, and I hate to say, that isn't due to the writing. The facts in this case are laid bare & there's never an ounce of remorse.
This is a good read for true crime fans, yet on a personal level, it feels wrong to even rate it highly unless perhaps it ends up helping someone realize they own a dangerous animal, or help in preventing it from happening again.
Very little shocks the city, but this case most certainly did.
Although there are some annoying typos (is there a kindle book out there without at least one?!) the details in the story are so chilling that it never really threw me off.
Why two apparently well educated attorneys believed these dogs were harmless, I'll never understand. Profile: typical a**holes who watch as their dogs maul other dogs, snap & snarl at people without provocation & then claim it was caused by everybody aside from themselves & the two dogs, Bane & Hera. The book describes one incident where Marjorie was walking one, or rather... It was dragging her, as she had zero control over a thing.
The sad thing is that Diane Whipple's death could so easily have been prevented by responsible dog owners who immediately realized they were in over their heads and called animal control themselves. Instead, what follows us the grizzly scene of a mauling so severe, I don't believe I've read about any case quite this horrific before or sense.
The astonishing facts include some bizarre love triangle, beastiality, home made porn... All for a white supremacist who's incarcerated. These two come off as utter sociopaths & psychopaths, and I hate to say, that isn't due to the writing. The facts in this case are laid bare & there's never an ounce of remorse.
This is a good read for true crime fans, yet on a personal level, it feels wrong to even rate it highly unless perhaps it ends up helping someone realize they own a dangerous animal, or help in preventing it from happening again.
Very little shocks the city, but this case most certainly did.
December 31, 2014
This book has been out of print for some time, so I'm glad to see it's now available for Kindle.
This is a truly horrifying story of a woman's death by dog mauling. The autopsy photos are horrendous. When I see these pictures, all I can think of is how much ONE serious cat bite hurts. She must have been in agony, and completely terrified.
I don't blame these dogs. They did what they were bred and trained to do ---- they acted like predators. When you read about the people responsible, it will make you wonder what is wrong with some human beings.
If you enjoy this book, look up some of the author's other work. I especially liked "Cruel Sacrifice," about a girl brutally killed by three classmates.
This is a truly horrifying story of a woman's death by dog mauling. The autopsy photos are horrendous. When I see these pictures, all I can think of is how much ONE serious cat bite hurts. She must have been in agony, and completely terrified.
I don't blame these dogs. They did what they were bred and trained to do ---- they acted like predators. When you read about the people responsible, it will make you wonder what is wrong with some human beings.
If you enjoy this book, look up some of the author's other work. I especially liked "Cruel Sacrifice," about a girl brutally killed by three classmates.
April 23, 2017
I feel like Aphrodite's books are not nearly as good as her True Crime with Aphrodite Jones TV Show. For me, they never seem to flow very well and jump back and forth between all the different people.
July 3, 2009
investigative reporting by veteran crime writer. Presa Canario ["pit bull on steroids":] San Francisco dog mauling/murder; owners were convicted, animals euthanized.
May 18, 2010
This badly needed to be tightened up and shortened by about 25%.
April 17, 2024
I only read this because it was on Kindle Unlimited but I'm glad I did. It's quite the ride, what with prison gangs, warrior queen fantasies, illicit dog breeding rings and people getting affectionate with their dogs in all the wrong ways. But at the centre there's a horrific true story about a happy young woman killed in the prime of life by a pair of absolute idiots who should never have kept dogs.
The author's style is irritating at times. Italics are flung everywhere and you'll soon get to know how Jones feels about the relative attractiveness of all the women in the story. I don't know how many times we're told how fat Marjorie Knoller was and how unattractive men found her, though at five-five and 150 pounds she was hardly as big as she's painted. I didn't like the jab at Sharon Smith for marrying again either, some people don't do well without partners and she clearly loved Diane.
Still it's free on KU and a good read.
The author's style is irritating at times. Italics are flung everywhere and you'll soon get to know how Jones feels about the relative attractiveness of all the women in the story. I don't know how many times we're told how fat Marjorie Knoller was and how unattractive men found her, though at five-five and 150 pounds she was hardly as big as she's painted. I didn't like the jab at Sharon Smith for marrying again either, some people don't do well without partners and she clearly loved Diane.
Still it's free on KU and a good read.
June 6, 2024
This was a difficult book to read; thinking about Diane Whipple and what she went through, how she might have felt.
It was infuriating to read explanations/lies from the dog owners.
And I couldn't help feeling bad for the dogs; thinking how things could have been different if they had been with kinder people.
The writing wasn't always easy. There were a few times I wanted to stop and was surprised to see the author comment on those same things at the end of the book. There was too much about Pelican Bay and the adopted son and I wanted the book to be more about Ms. Whipple.
There were times when I would have to read a paragraph over again; wondering what it had to do with what I was reading prior to that.
I am glad I finished it and; as is my way, I now have to find something on tv about this.
It was infuriating to read explanations/lies from the dog owners.
And I couldn't help feeling bad for the dogs; thinking how things could have been different if they had been with kinder people.
The writing wasn't always easy. There were a few times I wanted to stop and was surprised to see the author comment on those same things at the end of the book. There was too much about Pelican Bay and the adopted son and I wanted the book to be more about Ms. Whipple.
There were times when I would have to read a paragraph over again; wondering what it had to do with what I was reading prior to that.
I am glad I finished it and; as is my way, I now have to find something on tv about this.
September 30, 2024
This book left a really bad taste in my mouth. I can’t remember the last time I read a book and felt so thoroughly angry and frustrated. Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel should be in jail for the rest of their lives and I don’t say that lightly. I hate that this is a book because none of this should have happened.
Diane Whipple should be alive today. What happened to her was entirely preventable. Knoller and Noel are the true villains but the amount of complacency from others involved just makes me sick.
I didn’t really care for the writing style. I wish Jones had written more about Diane Whipple and those who loved her. There was a really weird line about “beautiful lesbian women” that felt out of place and made me feel weird (like the author was objectifying by these women).
I’m so mad right now.
Diane Whipple should be alive today. What happened to her was entirely preventable. Knoller and Noel are the true villains but the amount of complacency from others involved just makes me sick.
I didn’t really care for the writing style. I wish Jones had written more about Diane Whipple and those who loved her. There was a really weird line about “beautiful lesbian women” that felt out of place and made me feel weird (like the author was objectifying by these women).
I’m so mad right now.
December 22, 2018
The author's name is five stars, and if it weren't for all the bestiality, the book would be at least four, but God, sometimes terrible subjects don't make great books. If you like truly reprehensible lawyers, this will be your jam.
April 15, 2025
Don't get bit
Good fast read...graphic but a good read. The fact no-one is doing life for this crime, besides the gang member, blows my mind! I feel for Ms.Whipple, had to be a horrible frightening way to die.
Good fast read...graphic but a good read. The fact no-one is doing life for this crime, besides the gang member, blows my mind! I feel for Ms.Whipple, had to be a horrible frightening way to die.
June 10, 2021
You literally can’t even make up this amount of crazy. This is heartbreaking and horrifying.
August 12, 2022
The tragic story of the death of Diane Whipple by two huge deaths and the negligence of the owners makes the story more profound because it didn't have to happen and it Never Should Have Happened.
January 11, 2024
Big wow
Never give five stars but this b,ook had everything; dogs, crooked lawyers, drug cartels, prison gangs and social perversion. Highly recommend!
Never give five stars but this b,ook had everything; dogs, crooked lawyers, drug cartels, prison gangs and social perversion. Highly recommend!
February 21, 2024
3.5 stars
February 2, 2025
2.5*
Read for my true crime book club. This was such a wildly bizarre story, and while fairly engaging, the book could have used significant editing.
Read for my true crime book club. This was such a wildly bizarre story, and while fairly engaging, the book could have used significant editing.
Read
May 6, 2025Cocktails and Crimes pick for April 2025.
October 5, 2015
I remembered this horrific tragedy happening so when I came across this book, I was interested in learning not only the way it happened but also about the court proceedings, etc. Well, I should say first, I'm not sure how I thought an incident of a dog mauling, even with the criminal investigation surrounding it, would fill 300 pages but I guess I didn't! The author mainly focuses on the couple who owned the killer dogs but also a man in prison who talked the VERY STRANGE couple into housing them and eventually breeding them.
Admittedly, part of what I didn't like about the book is the content. The couple accused of harboring these dangerous animals were mean, rude and abrasive. Also? They had some sort of sexual relationship with dogs (mercifully, details are spared) and the absurd behaviors are just picked to death.
The other issue I had with this book is that Diane Whipple, the woman who was murdered, was married and her wife refused to give an interview to the author (or anyone else, really). She most likely just wanted to keep PART of Whipple to herself, since the news was so widespread. However, the author didn't much care for that and tells the reader that she tried again and again to interview her to no avail. So, towards the end of the book, during the trial, the author takes some cheap shots at Whipple's wife, saying that she had already moved on and was dating someone very attractive and bringing her to court, etc. OK, I get it, you didn't get the interview but leave this woman alone, that's highly unprofessional.
Admittedly, part of what I didn't like about the book is the content. The couple accused of harboring these dangerous animals were mean, rude and abrasive. Also? They had some sort of sexual relationship with dogs (mercifully, details are spared) and the absurd behaviors are just picked to death.
The other issue I had with this book is that Diane Whipple, the woman who was murdered, was married and her wife refused to give an interview to the author (or anyone else, really). She most likely just wanted to keep PART of Whipple to herself, since the news was so widespread. However, the author didn't much care for that and tells the reader that she tried again and again to interview her to no avail. So, towards the end of the book, during the trial, the author takes some cheap shots at Whipple's wife, saying that she had already moved on and was dating someone very attractive and bringing her to court, etc. OK, I get it, you didn't get the interview but leave this woman alone, that's highly unprofessional.
August 11, 2007
I love true crime, but it can be hard to find true crime that's not horribly written. I read this book after finishing two true crime books in which the writing was so bad that it distracted me from the story. I had heard the name of Aphrodite Jones come up a lot, so I decided to check out one of her books.
While I wasn't enthralled by the story itself (though it was pretty interesting) Jones did a very thorough job of reporting this story, and her writing is very solid. She held my attention the whole way through, though not in a can't-put-it-down sort of way.
The main weakness of the book was that we didn't get a really rounded out picture of the victim, which Jones reveals is because the victim's partner refused to talk with Jones and convinced pretty much everyone who had been close to the victim to do the same. (I'm not sure why, since they had talked with other media.) Anyway, if she could have gotten that access, I think it would have been a more compelling book.
While I wasn't enthralled by the story itself (though it was pretty interesting) Jones did a very thorough job of reporting this story, and her writing is very solid. She held my attention the whole way through, though not in a can't-put-it-down sort of way.
The main weakness of the book was that we didn't get a really rounded out picture of the victim, which Jones reveals is because the victim's partner refused to talk with Jones and convinced pretty much everyone who had been close to the victim to do the same. (I'm not sure why, since they had talked with other media.) Anyway, if she could have gotten that access, I think it would have been a more compelling book.
October 14, 2009
Remember this story very well when it happened and remember being appalled at how anyone could let such a thing happen. This is a story of a motley crue of misfits and the havoc they wreaked on an unsuspecting public. The attorneys, Noel and Knoller, particularly, were two of the most dysfunctional and despicable human beings I can imagine. They both should have gotten life sentences, in my opinion.
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
July 25, 2015
This is a freaking INSANE story, and even though I was in SF when it all happened, I kind of forgot just how nuts it actually was. This book covers all of it, a little too in depth (didn't really need to know THAT much about Paul "Cornfed" Schneider), but is also missing a big chunk--at least the edition I read, since the sentencing that Knoller receives at the end is not how it eventually played out...
February 27, 2011
This book seemed a bit dry to me even though with all honestly I don't think the writing itself was dry. I felt it focused far too much on the inmate who purchased the dogs. I must say the rest of the book was very interesting and the author really did a great job of showing just how uncaring Noel and Knoller were throughout the entire case. It's amazing how despicable people can be.
January 25, 2010
If you are fascinated by truly bizarre people than this book is for you. The first 2/3rds won't allow you to put the book down. The last 1/3rd is a bit dull with and anticlimactic ending, but still worth the read.
March 20, 2013
Details the story behind the story of Diane Whipple's death at the teeth of a pair of Pressa Canario dogs owned by the irresponsible couple Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller, neither of whom got what they deserved.
January 12, 2009
People get away with bad behavior longer than they should when they are not socializd and are isolated from society. How could two lawyers stoop to such depths? This really gave me nightmares.
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