Customer Reviews

Head Shot

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

 

 

I thought Barer's MURDER IN THE FAMILY was one of the best true crime books I ever read, but HEAD SHOT in many ways is even better. If you can put this book down, I'll be amazed. It grabs you from the prologue, drags you breathless through part one, and makes it almost impossible to not keep reading. A double homicide in Tacoma, Washington, and the several trials resulting from it, is what this book covers -- but under the covers is a lot more going on, from incest in Arizona to brain damage in Washington. Readers who thought MURDER IN THE FAMILY was too heavy on legal procedings may wrestle with HEAD SHOT -- but in HEAD SHOT, the legal battles are as twisted and bizarre as the killers lives. This book won't shake your faith in American Justice the way Jack Olsen's LAST MAN STANDING did, but in its own way, it is even more unnerving because it ISN'T about the FBI misbehaving,and the detectives are all good guys. It is the story of the trials, and the "dirty tricks" that made me nervous.
My God, what kind of country is this anyway? This bizarre story not only gives us first class homicidal nut-cases, but gives us a peek behind the curtain of our beloved legal system -- and that peek, gleaned directly from court documents, is almost as shocking as the "disturbing photos." Burl Barer is one brilliant storyteller. Oh, don't confuse HEAD SHOT with Barer's HEADLOCK. Both are excellent, but they are NOT the same book or the same style.

This book begins with good descriptions of the crimes and the offenders, then spends a tedious several chapters in legal wrangling. Not the actual trial or any testimony, just tons of lawyer arguments with each other and the judge. This book would have been better if only the relevant details were included. The book ends well with follow ups on the lives of the offenders and a well written afterword. I do recommend the book, but only if you can stand the legal minutae.

I like true crime books,and I like legal thrillers. This one is both. HEAD SHOT was, for me, a book I couldn't put down. The author kept me wondering what would happen next, and the story is gripping and scary. Barer did a good job giving the background of the main characters (killers) and the commentary by one of the killer's ex-wife,and his former sister-in-law is sometimes hysterically funny and sad at the same time. The ending,bringing us up to date on what has happened to these people since the crime in the 1980's was excellent. I am certainly going to buy this authors other books now that I have read HEAD SHOT.

Head shot By Burl Barer

A murder Mystery and good fiction are often parallel to a true crime of some nature. Burl Barer writes with accuracy, a settled grace, and imagery that gave this reader several nightmares! Sarah Weinman wrote, "Crime fiction spends a great deal of time sorting through the chaos to find some order, a sense of resolution for the often inexplicable madness of murder. Real crimes, however, don't work that way. Evidence is misfiled, suspects evade arrest on technicalities, and investigations stretch out for years before an end comes in sight -- if at all. True crime is a messier affair, but in the hands of these writers, the true specter of violence and mayhem, science and psychology is elevated to literary art." Mr. Barer's genius writing skills is not only evident in Head Shot but his ability to captivate a reader with the truth of crime shocks and leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of criminal nature and the dogma of the crime itself.

As the book is described Paul St. Pierre was an alcoholic, psychopath, and has an urge to kill. His younger brother, Chris, committed unspeakable acts to "fit in" with the group. This includes the holding of a young girl hostage. Paul's childhood friend, Andrew K. Webb, took drugs, talked to skulls, and yearned to eat human flesh. With a menu of alcohol and Drugs the world of crime cover-ups and friend against friend and brother against brother begins. Andrew was attacked by a friend of Damon Wells and two men were murdered by the St. Pierre brothers. Andrew K. Webb was the third party involved and was the motive force behind the first of the murders. Victim John Achord, age 22, was killed by the trio and had his head cut-off and placed it in a bucket of cement and placed in the Puyallup River. Chris St. Pierre stated that Paul St. Pierre killed John Achord by shooting him in the head with a .45 automatic. Damon Wells body was stuffed in a mummy-style sleeping bag. During the trial, Dr. Lacsina found that Achord was stabbed to death. Paul's confinement and isolation in prison is quoted as to have driven Paul mad. Yet, the circumstance of Paul's death in prison is highly questionable. Paul died from supposedly shoving feces filled toilet paper down his own throat while under guard in supervised holding.

I found the story very accurate with the courtroom legalistic talk. It is important for the reader to know that in the courtroom it is not all that exciting and full of drama. It was difficult to completely understand the legal jargon at times for me. However, Burl does a great job explaining several important justice and injustice of the courtroom. Nevertheless, I tend to wonder if this book has any connection to Burl's book Headlock. For example, there is a character named Travis Webb ...if I remember correctly. Moreover, as stated before all fiction has a hint of truth in it. HEAD SHOT is recommended for some if you would like to understand a bit of the justice system in action and true crime with all the gore and ugliness. I do warn the readers that the pictures in the book are very graphic and should not be view by children or adults that may not be able to handle the images. The most frightening aspect to this reader is that Andrew Webb has been paroled since 2007. John Mills was correct in his statement, "As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other."

I never knew how bad Tacoma used to be. This was a well written story-even though the story itself was disturbing and interesting,Mr.Barer did a wonderful job.
I will be reading more of his work soon.

This book really freaked me out. One because I am from Tacoma and am familiar with the locations and 2nd because, although I didn't realize it at the time, I recently met one of the killers. The book says he is still in prison but HE IS NOT. A freind read the book and mentioned the name. When I looked at the picture of him in the book, there was no question. The book is writen well and the first 4 or 5 chapters are really great. After that the details of the courtroom procedings get kind of repetative. I reccomend it for anyone that is into true crime novels however.

This book was excellent, It was very hard to read because I'm related to one of the victoms but with all the news paper articles I still have there is so much more I never knew about, The one thing that bothers me the most is that both the murderers are out of prison , even went to their 30 year reunion for their high school , If you havn't read the book DO SO and you will see for yourself JUSTICE WAS NOT given to John Achord or Damon Wells , Their murderers are walking free and It makes me sick . I hope they rot in hell.
lorna

Would buy again from this seller. Item arrived quickly, and in condition described.
Thanks so much!