Customer Reviews

Murder on the Rails

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I couldn't put this book down, I read it in two days...and want to learn more! This book kept me interested on every page. The way the book unfolds, and the amount of information that is in there, keeps the reader entertained! Highly recommended!!

There are some good insights on FTRA buried in here. It is written by the detective (Palmini) who worked the case. But the book doesn't "flow" like a good true crime book should. And Palmini is not a good writer either. The thing that is REALLY annoying is the way Palmini likes to blow his own horn and talk about his being Elvis impersonator.
The subject of the book is a violent railroad hobo named Silveria who goes around bludgeoning people. There are points in this book where Palmini has a fondness for Silveria and gets to liking the guy. That is kind of creepy if not unprofessional.
A few of the chapters are good. It makes me wonder what a really good true crime writer like Gregg Olsen or John Glatt could have done with it.

I am an avid reader, but never before read any "true crime". The story seemed unreal, but I know it is true. I have to admit that the writing was riddled with errors, but the story itself kept the pages turning very fast. I, too, thought it should be made into a movie -- with the characters too odd to be made up. I would recommend it to anyone NOT faint of heart.

This book is so interesting I could't put it down. I have recomended it to many people and have given it out as gifts to friends!

Bob Staval, President of Bay Area Dirtball

This book had me turning pages all day, way past the point when I should have been breaking for dinner. The writing is crisp and the narrative moves along briskly, so it makes for a very satisfying read. The portraits of the characters are colorful and thought-provoking, and they give a real feel for a world I am not familiar with. An unusually entertaining book, and it makes me want to read more books in the true crime genre.

This is a really great true story about the untold horrors of what happens on our nation's trains. If anyone likes true crimes stories or wants to read a great book this is it. I loved it and have already recommended it to all my friends. Give it a chance and you will be satisfied.

The book's topic and general information is interesting. The style is awful. It's full of rambling and disorganized writing that is completely saturated with the author's narcissistic musings. It would be much better if he wrote less about himself and more about the subject. As I read it, I frequently cringed, not in response to the murders, but in reaction to the writing.

Prior to this book, I had only given up on one other book in my entire reading life.
I made it all the way to page 33 and just couldn't deal with it. I had seen a special on TV about this subject, which piqued my interest. I went looking for more info, and found this. I guess I didn't look hard enough.
The reviewers before me have said most of what I would say. All I can add is that my particular disappointment was that the story was too "one-track minded," forgive the choice of words. I was already aware there was much more to both the riding scene and the criminal element. I guess I expected a deeper treatment of the topic.
Sorry if this isn't the greatest written review. I don't do it often. But, this one I coudn't leave alone. I felt a sort of responsibility to the reading public! Thanks for reading.

I was browsing online for a true crime book and I came along this one and I am very happy I did. I read this book and was blown away by the details, story and the writing. This is a great, easy to read book for any true crime fans, and really for anyone who wants a great read that will keep you involved from beginning to end. I couldn't put this one down, I highly recommend it.

I read this book in December of 2004 and it got the absolute prize for the worst book I had read last year. It was horribly written with uncountable errors in syntax and grammar. I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction and it was truly a struggle to get through this.
The underlying story may have some interest but it was largely dispelled by the way in which it was handled.
The author comes across as a self-aggrandizing bobo and his pontifications are so excessive to be funny - actually the tortured sentences are funny in themselves.

p. 23 - "I was also a spokesperson for a nationally acclaimed program, Chief Operator, funded by a grant, in which I was the only cop in the world paid by the government to do Elvis impersonations to promote traffic safety among California teens and their families."

This must be non-fiction. No person would make that up. No professional ghost writer would put their names on this kind of work and no real publishing house should kill trees to put this out.