Crime Scene USA: A Traveler's Guide to the Locations of Famous and Infamous Murders [Paperback]

Neal S. Yonover (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2000

True crime aficionados of the world unite!

Calling all carsand mobile homes! Get ready to head out on the road for a tour of the nations most infamous crime scenes. Find out who did what to whom and where and when it happened in this unique guide to the major crime-related attractions in the USA.

A regional guide for all those fascinated with outlaws, serial killers, mafia dons, kidnappers, and robbers, Crime Scene USA lists related museums, gift shops, and roadside attractions around the country, and a few APBs along the way for those unsolved crimes that you might want to look into.

Perfect for armchair detectives in search of their own suspects, this one-of-a-kind offbeat guide wont guarantee that youll see a crime taking placebut you will have a lot of fun looking.

* Serial murder sites * Criminal hometowns * Bank robbery sites * Mafia hangouts * Museum and prison tours * Related gift shops, hotels, and restaurants

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-All of the big names in crime are here, from Jesse James to Andrew Cunanan. Most stories are told in a few paragraphs, but sensational events are given more coverage. Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance is allocated three pages, with a listing of places he has been seen alive and a list of possible burial sites. The 1999 burglary of $500,000, which was solved based on a tip by dancers at a strip club who complained about the mildewed smell of their tips, is the most recent account in the book. Listed by state, most of the entries include addresses, phone numbers, Web sites, and maps. A legend identifies the type of infraction at each location. Graves, crime museums, prison tours, and Mafia hangouts are also included. Sidebars highlight unsolved cases in the area. An index to individual cities, serial killers, celebrities, and criminals and their transgressions provides more access points. The author's eye for the quirky is evidenced by the inclusion of the menu condemned prisoners in Pennsylvania may choose from for their last meal. Many of these deeds are truly horrific, so this book has more of an edge than UFO USA (Hyperion, 1999). However, the author doesn't glorify the subject, and teens will be fascinated by these stories.
Jane S. Drabkin, Potomac Community Library, Woodbridge, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Yonover, who is associated with BADGE (Bureau of Amateur Detectives and Gatherers of Evidence), has compiled a list of famous crimes, arranged them by state, and provided a description of each deed with the location of the crime scene, any associated museums, and gravesites. All the big names, from Lizzie Borden to Bonnie and Clyde, from Al Capone to John and Lorena Bobbitt, are included. A major drawback is that the maps show only the general location of the city or town where the crime occurred and would not be helpful in finding the specific location of the crime scene. Recommended for public libraries that would like to add some diversity to their U.S. travel-guide collections.
-John J. McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786883979
• ISBN-13: 978-0786883974
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sites for Inquisitive Eyes, August 4, 2000

By 

John Mcevoy "Ted Stipple" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crime Scene USA: A Traveler's Guide to the Locations of Famous and Infamous Murders (Paperback)

This guide to crime scenes in the United States is a wonderfully usable source book for both road warriors and armchair travelers. It provides detailed descriptions of famous and infamous crime sites, ranging alphabetically from Alcatraz Prison to bankrobber Butch Cassidy's cell in the Wyoming Territorial Prison, geographicallly from New York City (site of John Lennon's murder)to Honolulu(where Hawaii's only serial murder case remains unsolved). Packed with facts, vivid descriptions, useful details, maps and directions, it makes for a very informative and entertaining read--whether you follow one of these "paths of crime" or not.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YES, CRIME DOES INDEED PAY!, December 31, 2002

By 

Alan W. Petrucelli (THE ENTERTAINMENT REPORT (ALAN W. PETRUCELLI)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crime Scene USA: A Traveler's Guide to the Locations of Famous and Infamous Murders (Paperback)

Who says crime doesn't pay? It paid for the members of BADGE (Bureau of Amateur Detectives and Gatherers for Evidence) who compiled this tongue-in-cheek , but quite useful, book that hopefully will make a killing. Why go to sunny Bermuda when you can visit rock-cold Alcatraz? Why hit the slopes of Colorado when you can ski along by the home of JonBenet Ramsey? Why bank on good taste when you can get a taste of real fun and drop by one of the banks robbed by Butch Cassidy and his Sundance kid? This state-by-state guide offers crime buffs (and the mere curious) the chance to trace the steps of murderers, thieves, spies, kidnappers and organized crime bosses. Not loving it would be, well, criminal.

1.0 out of 5 stars I was hoping for more..., April 23, 2002

By 

K. Whitt "astronomommy" (Wiscsonsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crime Scene USA: A Traveler's Guide to the Locations of Famous and Infamous Murders (Paperback)

This book really didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I was expecting some more detail in the maps, and only a couple events in each state were highlighted. There were some really big cases completely ignored that I thought deserved attention more than the ones that he chose. California's Zodiac Killer and Florida's University of Florida Gainesville College Murders were among those that I was surprised to see were overlooked. I can only recommend this if you're looking for scant information on a very limited number of cases. Otherwise, look elsewhere.