Customer Reviews

Death of a Dream (48 Hours Mystery)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a decades-long true crime aficionado, I appreciate both the style and content of this book. The authors resist sensationalism, thereby allowing us to see all characters on both sides as human beings. Though readers of this genre don't expect authors to be totally impartial, we don't want their personal biases jumping off the pages either. We prefer balance and objectiveness, especially at the outset. LaRosa's ability to provide that is the hallmark of classic whodunits. Death of a Dream engages us from beginning to end. Five stars!
Rose Hercher Wright

If you know little or nothing about the Catherine Woods' murder case, you might find this book marginally more interesting than I did. But if you were informed about the case, of a beautiful Ohio girl who moved to New York and was killed by a guy she had dated, then you'll be bored and even annoyed by "Death of a Dream." There's basically no new information here, and the writing goes from mediocre to terrible. Don't bother.

Catherine Woods comes to New York with a dream to make it as a dancer on Broadway. While studying dance she takes a job as a stripper to help make ends meet. She lives with an ex-boyfriend while dating another. One November night she is brutally murdered. Is it the ex-boyfriend that says he just left to get the car, or is it her new boyfriend that isn't too happy with her current job, and who happens to be in the neighborhood when she's murdered? I remember the story of Catherine but didn't pay too much attention, because it read like tabloid fodder. Mr. LaRosa takes the reader down a path that allows you to get to know Ms. Woods and those involved without all the "in your face" drama that the media hits you with. The book also leaves you wondering if they have the right man. I look forward to the next true crime book by Mr. LaRosa.

Have been fascinated with this case since the first time I saw it air on 48 Hours Mystery and decided to read it for more information related to the crime and trial that followed.
This book is very informative and paints a bigger picture surrounding Catherine Woods, Paul Cortez, David Haughn and the other major players in this case. It reads objectively and leads a lot open to be for or against Paul Cortez as there are so many directions the evidence flows. The only thing I found biased was Erin Moriarty's fawning all over the Woods family and inviting them to watch the Super Bowl with her, etc. Aren't journalists and reporters supposed to be objective? Especially in the case they are investigating and reporting on? Mrs. Moriarty does not come across that way in the pages that describe her relationship to this case and to the Woods family. Other than that, this book will leave the reader with many questions and doubt on whether or not the right man was convicted of this heinous murder.
Did the police ever check David and Paul's bank statements with regards to any boots? That is never mentioned in the book.
One thing that is truly fascinating about this murder is that the killer did not leave any shoe prints leaving or going into the apartment and walked away from the crime scene seemingly like a ghost, with nobody noticing anything amiss or with any blood. Nobody saw Paul or David walk out of there. And neither David nor Paul has any cuts or blood or bruises on their bodies when they were investigated by the police. Another interesting thing is when David Haughn made the 911 call he very clearly stated he saw "bootprints" all over the apartment. How did he know they were bootprints and not shoe prints? On the flipside, Paul's incessant phone calls to Catherine that stopped before the time of the murder and once during it is no doubt suspicious. You can't help but wonder what their last short conversation was about.
In all honesty, the first few times I watched the show air this case I was convinced Paul Cortez was the murderer. But as of the last time I saw it, something was off, especially related to the hairs found in her hand that were neither Paul's nor Catherine's.
It's incomprehensible how the hairs found in Catherine's bloodied hands were never tested for DNA. And no matter what, it's pretty obvious that Paul Cortez did not have good counsel--his lawyers did an awful job representing him.
If he did commit this crime, then he deserves to spend every last day of his sentence locked up in prison in cell.
But if he didn't, well that's a scary thought to think that a jury convicted him of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Because after reading this book, there is no way you can come away without some kind of doubt about Cortez' role in this murder-- there's so much evidence that's not there, which means it's possible they have the wrong man. And that is frightening as hell.

Before purchasing this book, I saw the 48 Hours episode on the murder of Catherine Woods. There was so much left unanswered from the show that I hoped would be answered in this book.

While the authors filled in much, as only a book can do, I didn't feel it answered my question at all as to how such an investigation could have left out such an important factor - the hair clutched in Wood's hand that was not DNA tested. I understand that the authors had no success at answering that question themselves, but I wish they had tried harder - if they could have.

Maybe it was beyond the scope of this book, but I hope another one is written that clarifies some very mystifying things about this case, including the fact that there were no more bloody bootprints leaving the apartment past the ones left in the bedroom.

While there is compelling evidence against Paul Cortez, I am still left wondering if they really have the right guy
and I'm just beyond frustrated about the clutched hair in her bloody hand. How can that just get swept under the rug in 2005? Reading about this case cannot possibly instill much advanced faith in the justice system.

In spite of my frustrations, I enjoyed the book. It's an easy read and rather enthralling. It presents a balanced and fair view of the case in the style of a typical 48 Hours show in that they ask the hard questions from conflicting angles. I gave it a four because they didn't really answer enough of my questions and that's probably not their fault. Still, I don't think I have ever felt so frustrated reading a true crime novel. I am sure half of it is due to some of the stupid facts of this case all around.

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While this has nothing to do with the book, I am also wondering why Cortez has not gotten his appeal yet. According to the web site, [...], he has a new attorney lined up for his appeal (as soon as the money can be raised) instead of the brother of a famous defense lawyer, whom the authors said was taking his appeal. Couldn't he have had a public defender take it on by now (and be possibly better off for it?)

Like so many girls, Catherine Woods left home after high school and moved to New York, with dreams of making it on Broadway. A few years later, she made news -- as a murder victim. The case was shamelessly exploited by the tabloids, and I thought this book might provide more tasteful coverage.

Unfortunately, it reads like some sloppily put together manuscript, with horrible prose, ugly and blurry photos, and little in the way of new reporting. Poor Catherine. After what happened to her, she deserved to be the subject of a much better book than Death of a Dream.

I've seen a few 48 Hours Mystery episodes and in general I think it's quite a good show. They take interesting cases, and seem to treat them with respect and little sensationalism. Unfortunately, the quality of the TV show doesn't translate to this book.
The writing is full of clichés and dumb mistakes. In one sentence, a woman is referred to as someone's fiancée; in the next, as his girlfriend. Well, which one is it? And if journalists can't get such a simple detail right, how can I believe anything else they write? Even Catherine's surname is misspelled once, as "Wood," which is inexcusable. Moriarty and LaRosa should stick to television. Books are not their thing.

I enjoyed this book, very well written, great story. The players all have good and bad aspects to their character and the authors do not try to sugar coat some or "evilize" others. This was not really a slam-dunk criminal case, and the authors are successful in presenting the facts without trying to sway the reader one way or another. This book was well worth the money.

It's insight to the death of Catherine Woods and the trial that follows. A tragedy. A very well written book.

Death of a Dream (48 Hours Mystery)
True crime books are somewhat difficult to find, and we must drive about 40 miles each way to a well stocked book store.
Saw this one mentioned on TV, so bought it.
A very good read.