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Dangerous Attraction
When tattooed skinhead Justin Merriman raped and murdered his girlfriend in 1992, that act sparked a six-year spree of rape and terrorism of his victims. Captured and convicted in 1998, Merriman was sentenced to die by lethal injection in California. photos. Original.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
255 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
72 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Robert Scott
46 books52 followersRobert Scott was an investigative journalist and crime expert.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 17, 2019
This book begins with the crime--the terrible, senseless, graphic crime--before we've been properly introduced to the victim or even understand what's really going on. We never really get a sense of who Katrina Montgomery was, or why she was drawn to the Skin Head Dogs and the man who ultimately killed her. He'd been cruel and dismissive of her all night--why did she insist on following him to his house, over the objections of a friend who told her it wouldn't be safe? And this was after the same man had sexually assaulted her. Perhaps there is no explanation, but it's hard to make sense of this crime without one.
From the killer and his bizarre relationship with his mother and habit of violently raping the same women over and over again, to the woman who just sat by while another female was horribly murdered, there are a lot of aspects of this book that could make for an interesting, if highly disturbing, story. But ultimately, Dangerous Attraction was too disjointed and there were too many unanswered questions.
(In the official description of the book on Goodreads, it calls Montgomery Merriman's girlfriend, but she wasn't. She rebuffed his advances once he got out of prison, which I guess is supposed to be his pathetic motive.)
From the killer and his bizarre relationship with his mother and habit of violently raping the same women over and over again, to the woman who just sat by while another female was horribly murdered, there are a lot of aspects of this book that could make for an interesting, if highly disturbing, story. But ultimately, Dangerous Attraction was too disjointed and there were too many unanswered questions.
(In the official description of the book on Goodreads, it calls Montgomery Merriman's girlfriend, but she wasn't. She rebuffed his advances once he got out of prison, which I guess is supposed to be his pathetic motive.)
May 16, 2022
This is a true crime book of 2003 set in Ventura, California focusing on murders by a teen gang called the Skin Head Dogs.
Read it as a reminder of evil. Read it as a warning about people that you allow into your life. It’s a well done book and I wanted to give it only three stars, less stars than it deserved, because of the distasteful content. But I didn’t.
Read it as a reminder of evil. Read it as a warning about people that you allow into your life. It’s a well done book and I wanted to give it only three stars, less stars than it deserved, because of the distasteful content. But I didn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
A walk on the wild side would end in rape and murder for an all- American Girl... This is a true story. After I read this book I looked up this case online. And still to this date they have not found her body. It is a good read if you all enjoy true crime books. You will enjoy this one.
March 17, 2019
Being one of the people who he held hostage on kellogg that night and knowing everyone involved personally reading it just brings back floods of memories i thought were gone. I hadnt spoke his name in 20 yrs and after reading this book im terrified of him all over again...
March 20, 2010
I read this when I was pregnant with my son. I was hooked on true crime at the time. It's been almost 8 years since I read this, but I remember it being a really good true crime book.
April 10, 2024
Beverlee Sue Merriman should be a lead candidate for mother of the year. The twice divorced woman gave birth to a boy named Justin who would grow up to be a skinhead, rapist and murderer. Mommy dearest believed that her son could do know wrong. She became a sort of den mother to his fellow gang members and frequently bailed them out of jail. She later attempted to arrange for the murders of witnesses during Justin's incarceration while awaiting trial for the murder of an on again off again girlfriend named Katrina Montgomery.
Katy had befriended Justin and the lovebirds exchanged letters while he was in prison. The couple enjoyed partying and the twenty-year-old woman met her maker at a shindig in 1992. After a violent sexual encounter, the meth fueled man stabbed his lover to death. A pair of fellow skinheads helped in removing Katy's body and burying it.
Her body has never been found.
The cast of misfits is astounding as Ventura County. California is described as a hotbed of Nazi inspired gang activity. Somehow, Katrina, the daughter of a lawyer, hooked up with this motley crew as a teenager. Her father explained that she made some poor choices in life. No s***, Sherlock. I am glad that I have no children.
Dangerous Attraction is a good read.
Katy had befriended Justin and the lovebirds exchanged letters while he was in prison. The couple enjoyed partying and the twenty-year-old woman met her maker at a shindig in 1992. After a violent sexual encounter, the meth fueled man stabbed his lover to death. A pair of fellow skinheads helped in removing Katy's body and burying it.
Her body has never been found.
The cast of misfits is astounding as Ventura County. California is described as a hotbed of Nazi inspired gang activity. Somehow, Katrina, the daughter of a lawyer, hooked up with this motley crew as a teenager. Her father explained that she made some poor choices in life. No s***, Sherlock. I am glad that I have no children.
Dangerous Attraction is a good read.
August 9, 2019
Fairly
good story, the beginning was riveting but after about 3\4 of the way through it slowed simply due to details in court. Justin's mother Beverlee Sue Merriman, wow, no wonder he was an idiot. After all, with a mother like that raising a son not to take any responsibility, no consequences for his actions, what can society hope for? A gentleman? Nope.
Skin Head Dogs should be instead stand for: Stupid Halfwitted Dumbasses!
good story, the beginning was riveting but after about 3\4 of the way through it slowed simply due to details in court. Justin's mother Beverlee Sue Merriman, wow, no wonder he was an idiot. After all, with a mother like that raising a son not to take any responsibility, no consequences for his actions, what can society hope for? A gentleman? Nope.
Skin Head Dogs should be instead stand for: Stupid Halfwitted Dumbasses!
June 13, 2018
Scary Stuff!
I didn't know what to expect from this book. It was not only riveting but also incredibly frightening. It horrified me to think about all of these young lives wasted and ruined by the teachings of a maniac the likes of Hitler and his warped followers. My heart went out to the Montgomery/Hendrix families who lost their beloved daughters.
I didn't know what to expect from this book. It was not only riveting but also incredibly frightening. It horrified me to think about all of these young lives wasted and ruined by the teachings of a maniac the likes of Hitler and his warped followers. My heart went out to the Montgomery/Hendrix families who lost their beloved daughters.
March 30, 2018
True Crime
This a horrifying book, which describes the rapes of several women and the murders of several people. The violence of this skin head gang is unimaginable. The book is very detailed and describes the many crimes well. U
This a horrifying book, which describes the rapes of several women and the murders of several people. The violence of this skin head gang is unimaginable. The book is very detailed and describes the many crimes well. U
April 13, 2018
Scary to know this happens in our neighborhoods. Sure this girl is pretty but not smart. If she was smart she wouldn't hang out with such a hateful and violent crowd. If you are like me and like to read true crime this is a good one to read.
April 21, 2018
Liars, murderers, sociopaths
What a despicable bunch of skin heads. I can't find words to describe the pain and suffering caused by Merriman, his baddies and his mother. Women were treated like dogs, two murdered. These are dangerous people, sociopaths.
What a despicable bunch of skin heads. I can't find words to describe the pain and suffering caused by Merriman, his baddies and his mother. Women were treated like dogs, two murdered. These are dangerous people, sociopaths.
September 24, 2019
Scary when hatred is held for no reason
Good book about a murder that may have stayed on the cold case list without the hard work of a Deputy DA and his investigators in Ventura County, CA. Scary to think about gangs and young people who hate and sometimes kill others for “ideals” that are pure evil.
Good book about a murder that may have stayed on the cold case list without the hard work of a Deputy DA and his investigators in Ventura County, CA. Scary to think about gangs and young people who hate and sometimes kill others for “ideals” that are pure evil.
April 13, 2018
Boring
Too drawn out and repetitive. It needed to be more put together to be enjoyable. One needs patience to continue to the end.
Too drawn out and repetitive. It needed to be more put together to be enjoyable. One needs patience to continue to the end.
January 25, 2021
What a complete piece of garbage Justin Merriman is. What a shame it took so long for justice to be served. Interesting read if you are into true crime stories.
August 11, 2014
Good book, but the topic really irked me...
April 14, 2015
In many ways an average book, but a good example of how criminals remain a danger to society even after they've been locked up in prison.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews