Famous Crimes Revisited: From Sacco-Vanzetti to O.J. Simpson [Hardcover]

Henry Lee (Author), Jerry Labriola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2001

In "Famous Crimes Revisited," renowned forensic scientist, Dr. Henry Lee, and Jerry Labriola, M.D. re-examine the O.J.Simpson, Vincent Foster, JonBenet Ramsey, Lindbergh baby, Sam Sheppard, JFK, and Sacco-Vanzetti cases. Surprising questions are raised and rare photographs provided.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

We are proud to release "Famous Crimes Revisited" as an expertly written account of seven extraordinary criminal cases. Possible mishandling of many aspects of each case is examined through the eyes of the world's foremost forensic scientist, Dr. Henry Lee. His coauthor is physician/ novelist Dr. Jerry Labriola. The book is more than an historical presentation; clever literary devices are used to impart drama and immediacy to the page. It is a marvelously balanced book sure to entertain and to inform, and contains 30 pages of photographs and illustrations (Many of the seven dozen photos have never been made available before). In the back matter is a 30-page appendix devoted exclusively to the history of forensic science--its past, present and future--and 28 pages of chapter notes and bibliography.

Brian Jud, Publisher, Strong Books

From the Author

By considering various facets of seven classic crimes of the past century, we document four basic themes: that the same forensic mistakes of the 1920s are still being made today; human error and/or misconduct can tarnish criminal investigations; public opinion can influence the outcome of criminal cases; modern technology might have eliminated questions that we raise and that still remain today. Examples offered include tampering with, suppression of and planting of evidence, not securing and maintaining the integrity of the crime scene, not properly identifying, collecting and preserving physical evidence. Thus, the intent of "Famous Crimes Revisited" was not to present an in-depth discussion of each and every case--from Sacco-Vanzetti to O.J. Simpson (both had long trials and were examined in 97 and 65 pages respectively), including Lindbergh, Sheppard, JFK, Foster and Ramsey (pages devoted to each range from 9 to 19). We selected cases that were high-profile ! and controversial and that spanned different decades of the twentieth century: the 1920s, the 30s, the 50s, the 60s and the 90s.

Dr. Henry Lee and Jerry Labriola, M.D.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 303 pages
• Publisher: Strong Books; Stated First Printing edition (January 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928782140
• ISBN-13: 978-1928782148
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing New, Superficial, And A Ridiculous Format, May 18, 2001

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Famous Crimes Revisited: From Sacco-Vanzetti to O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

If you have read about any of these trials there is no reason to read this book. And if any of the trials are unfamiliar to you the same information this book offers can be found in a variety of places for free. As to the most recent events this book covers, if you have watched, read, or heard any sort of news, you already are familiar with this book's contents.

The strangest part of this book is Dr. Henry Lee's decision to will himself back and forth in time to witness the trials, and even adds a traveling companion in the form of a, now you see him now you don't apparition. This would have remained just a terrible literary device if left in the dreamy time travels of Dr. Lee, however when he asks people in the real world if they have missed him while he was gone on his time travels the reader must wince!

The photographs that are included are the same that have been seen countless times before, and due to the number of trials covered in this short book, there are fewer photos than appear in books that cover their subjects in detail. The Time/interest Dr. Lee had in this book is measurable by his actual comments that appear in bold face type. They cannot account for even half the book, and when you remove his fictional time traveling friend, the percentage is even more insignificant. His Co-Author basically filled in the blanks with testimony from trials and other pieces of documents, again none of which were new or even marginally interesting.

Seven major trials are covered in 251 pages, one trial consumes 85 pages, so two thirds of the book is left for 6 trials including what many would suggest is the most infamous. Most disturbing was Dr. Lee's attitude about, "scientific truth"; combined with absolute professional distance from the trials he is involved in. How can he be an advocate, a paid consultant for one side in a trial and be completely objective about the truth regardless of the effect it has on his client? And while he repeatedly states he is not making a Judgement as to guilt or innocence in a given case, his apparition friend conveniently and frequently supplies his opinion.

Dr. Lee clearly is a greatly respected man in his field, however this book does not justify why we should feel he is the best no matter how many times he is referred to as the finest, greatest, and so on. This is a very lightweight book from a man who one would expect to deliver some very interesting reading.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A tired premise and hokey device., April 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Famous Crimes Revisited: From Sacco-Vanzetti to O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

I felt "ripped off" by the book. I purchased it thinking there would be new insights into these famous cases, not just a rehashing of events. Dr. Lee seems somewhat disinterested in the whole process, tossing in an off-handed thought (in bold type) every now and then. Dr. Labriola does not have the talent to sustain the book. So desperate is the author that he inserts a fictional character into the middle of these cases. This conceit is as ludicrous as it is annoying. The book reads like a Junior High School book report done at the last minute.

The other disquieting aspect of Famous Crimes Revisited is the approximation of Coroner, a far superior book. Whereas Coroner was a taut and riveting book, driven by Dr. Noguchi and Joe DiMona's sense of narrative, Famous Crimes Revisited meanders, the author has no idea of pacing,timing or storytelling. It is a pale imitation of Coroner and Jerry Labriola tries mightily to be Joe DiMona, a gifted author.

The book is a travesty and I'm sorry I bought it.

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars HUGE disappointment, January 31, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Famous Crimes Revisited: From Sacco-Vanzetti to O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

I was very excited to get this book, because I thought it would be a real insider's look at the crimes and crime scenes. I have read extensively about the JonBenet Ramsey murder and was interested to hear what Lee had to say.

I completely agree with the other review here ("disappointment") but would go even further in discouraging people from buying the book. Lee and Labriola use an incredibly puerile, lame concept in sending Lee back in time to the trials and crime scenes themselves, and they make it worse by adding a fictional character that converses with Lee and represents current public opinion. The end result, rather than being enlightening and entertaining, is so annoying that I threw the book down several times during my reading. (I did pick it up and finish it, if only to be thorough in my review.)

Lee's "insider information" is severely edited (at the request of authorities? I don't know but suspect); I expected details and observations that I hadn't seen before, but--at least in the Ramsey case--there was less content AND less opinion than I've read in any other book except the Ramseys' own (and who would expect THEM to tell the truth?). I was more than disappointed in his cursory description of a case which, for Lawrence Schiller, yielded a fascinating unraveling of motive, opportunity, and method.

Save your money! Really. This book was a total waste for me. If you are interested in the Ramsey case, buy "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," or Cyril Wecht's book. If you're interested in the other cases, I'm sure there are better books on them, too. This is a puff piece to inflate Dr. Lee's ego. I'm sure he's earned all the accolades, but it doesn't make for remotely compelling reading. Another suggestion: the Robert Ressler and John Douglas books on profiling. They've got massive egos, too, but the books are great, anyway. This one ISN'T.