Customer Reviews

Citizen Jane: A True Story of Money, Murder, and one Woman's Mission to

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This thoroughly-researched and carefully-planned expose of a heinous crime and one victim's journey from woman-in-denial to crusader is a fascinating and speedy read. Engaging the reader from the outset, Mehnert and Dalessandro magage to weave together all the facts, giving us multiple perspectives, even as we empathize with the protagonist, Jane Alexander. Especially revealing and moving is the revelation of the personal journies of Jane and others like her through a criminal justice system that is not always diligent in its pursuit of offenders.

"Citizen Jane" is as good or better than anything Ann Rule has written. Every woman, widowed or divorced, and even men should read this compelling story of what happened to a woman who loved and trusted a man enough to place her entire welfare in his hands. After years and years of Jane's relentless efforts to find this monster, he was finally caught and justice was served. The love and the deception detailed in this book is absolutely incredible. The author, James Dalessandro, did an excellent job writing this novel which all events were in proper sequence. This book will enlighten everyone to the slickness of con men and hopefully prevent further victims from falling prey to their schemes.

Having read many True Crime novels over the years, I must hail this piece of work by author James Dalessandro and contributor David Mehnert as being one of the finest yet.

The story of Jane Alexander was both awe inspiring and admirable. I am also a family victim of a brutal homicide crime. The convictions of the two murderers in my case came from a trial of circumstantial evidence. Knowing all to well the frustrations of our justice system and lack of victim's rights, I praise and wish to thank Mrs. Alexander for her strength of resolve along with her success in creating an easier and more pro-active path for fellow victims as ourselves.

Unlike so many other True Crime novels, this book was written with the same "mirrored passion" that so obviously drove the dedicated individuals forth for so many years to see that justice was served. The book's author James Dalessandro, truly honored Mrs. Alexander's efforts by his attentive, thought provoking and accurate depiction of her difficult and painful journey.

A wonderful and tenderly written tale... Purely brilliant!

An excellent read! David Mehnert is a masterful writer, I could not put the book down. The story is compelling and filled with suspence. Following Jane's walk on the dark side is amazing, watching her come out of this nightmare tale is even more amazing. Good job guys; more, more!

Bill Baskin

I could not put this book down! Jane Alexander is everyone's hero and the authors did a terrifc job writing her story.

I can't wait to see the Movie of the Week.

Hopefully, this book will inspire focus groups around the country to seek out criminals and see that justice is served.

In a world looking for heroes, they need to look no further than 'Citizen Jane'. When you think you are up against all odds, take a look at what an elderly grandmother can do. James Dalessandro is brilliant in taking a true story and making it read like the best in fiction.

I saw Jane Alexander, the woman this book is about, on television and had to get this book right away because I was so impressed with her as a person. Jane went from being a very dependent woman, who had mostly been a stay-at-home mom to become a heroic and widely-known crusader for crime victims' rights at an age when most women would be settling into retirement. She had intended to settle into active (and financially comfortable) old age with her boyfriend, who had been a friend of the family and member of her social set for decades. The murder of her wealthy aunt changed all her plans. The boyfriend, a charmer whose tales of international intrigue had once entertained their friends, disappeared after embezzling money from those same friends and draining Jane's assets dry. She lost her beautiful home and even her beloved dog. Some of her old friends stood by her, while others blamed her for harboring a criminal in their community. Jane soon learned that the police and prosecutors were not her friends either. The story of how she battled the system as well as her ex-boyfriend is just amazing. In the course of being her own investigator, she found many, many other women who were drained financially and discarded by this man. She got several of them to testify at his trial. The book is very well written, not necessarily a given in the true-crime genre.

Unfortunately, in itself, Jane Alexander's victimization by Tom O'Donnell is not unusual; unique, however, is Jane's consistent fight to put O'Donnell in jail and to assist other victims of homicide.
Jane, the quintessential bourgouis, stay-at-home mom, knew Tom for decades through her deceased banker husband. With the exception of his allusions to having been a diamond smuggler, Tom seemed exceptional only in his high intellect and social graces. You can almost hear Jane describing Tom, "He seemed so nice." He certainly treated Jane with love and attention, certainly not interested in her because of her money. After all, Tom was financially solvent, backed by a Swiss trust. While cliche, it bears repeating: Tom gave few signs that he was anything but what he appeared, an aging, friendly, handsome bachelor. Responding to his charm, Jane lived with him for years. And, sadly to say, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Disrupting their otherwise mundane, but enjoyable life, Jane's aunt was murdered. A mystery-reading, petite, affable and dangerously wealthy woman of 88 years, she died a violent death. Figuring that the motive was financial, the police pressured Jane and Tom in their search for the killers. Meanwhile, Tom was conducting covert financial thievery with Jane's money. Afraid that the police scrutiny into the murder would illuminate his dirty dealing, Tom fled. Its precisely at this point that the book gets interesting. Please read it yourself to see the end. (One hint: Tom's arrogance and claims to belonging to the underworld of South African diamond dealers is somewhere between nauseating and unbelievable).
Through her ordeal, Jane gained initiation into the one club that no of us wants to be in: victims of major, violent crime. Stubborn and defiant, Jane fights back. For those outside of the this painful club, Jane's experience illuminates problems in gender relations, police research and the judicial process.
For survivors, Jane's battle to regain control over her life is equally, albeit differently, illuminating. Jane's crime was that of trusting another person so deeply that she stopped taking care of herself independently. Tom managed her finances, her heart and, to some degree, her life. She committed the one sin that most of us already traumatized by such violence know to avoid: Never make another person responsible for your livelihood
The crux of this book, however, is that while the story may seem straigtforward, even commonplace, Jane's experience was anything but simple. I desperately want to believe that she caused her own fate. Who wants to live in a world of Toms - outwardly normal and inwardly pathological? Yet, I could not let this book go with just one more "blame the victim" analysis.
The problem is that Jane could be any of us - male or female. She trusted someone who had proven trustworthy, not for a few months, but for decades. Emotionally healthy people trust others. As testament to her sound judgement, Jane trusted Tom. In acting in a psychologically healthy manner, ironically, Jane helped Tom to destroy her life. If only she had been a bit more paranoid, Jane could have spent her money with therapists instead of on Tom.
Ultimately, what makes Jane so special is that rather than feeling sorry for herself, she fights Tom and, ultimately, enjoys satisfaction. I guess, after all, Jane is more survivor than victim. And, Tom, he's just a run-of-the-mill loser.

Most true crime stories have no hero or heroine. This one outdoes all its competitors: Jane Alexander is the most extraordinary crusader. A conservative grandmother living in Marin County, California, she is called to battle when her aunt is murdered and she must fight not only to capture and convict the killer, but to get a lethargic justice system to do its job. An absolutely riveting, unforgettable tale, I discovered the book when 48 Hours did a complete installment just on Jane Alexander. I'm not a true crime fan, but this one I could not put down. Bravo to the subject and writers...Steve, Los Angeles, CA.

Having read many True Crime novels over the years, I must hail this piece of work by author James Dalessandro and contributor David Mehnert as being one of the finest yet. The story of Jane Alexander was both awe inspiring and admirable. I am also a family victim of a brutal homicide crime. The convictions of the two murderers in my case came from a trial of circumstantial evidence. Knowing all to well the frustrations of our justice system and lack of victim's rights, I praise and wish to thank Mrs. Alexander for her strength of resolve along with her success in creating an easier and more pro-active path for fellow victims as ourselves. Unlike so many other True Crime novels, this book was written with the same "mirrored passion" that so obviously drove the dedicated individuals forth for so many years to see that justice was served. The book's author James Dalessandro, truly honored Mrs. Alexander's efforts by his attentive, thought provoking and accurate depiction of her difficult and painful journey. A wonderful and tenderly written tale... Purely brilliant!