Customer Reviews

Perfect Beauty: A glamorous Socialite, her handsome lover, and Brutal Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although one of the lead detectives co-wrote this book, it's still very heavy on police details and short on story. I saw the case on TV many times and read about it; the photos in this book are clearly lacking. If you like your crime books to be more about the 'inside' of the case, this is for you. There is a lot of detail on the animosity of the the key players at the police station and I sometimes felt this was the main objective of the book. As someone that reads a lot of True Crime, I didn't find this a very compelling read.

Cynthia Rohr George better known as Cindy George to the Akron community and the patrons of her husband's business, Tangier, had a long-term extramarital affair with businessman Jeff Zack. In fact, they had a daughter together. In 2001, Jeff Zack goes to BJ's Wholesale Club Gas Station to fill up his vehicle when a mysterious character (male or female) completely dressed up in June before Father's day shoots him in the head. His murder begins to unravel deep, dark secrets from the Georges and the Zacks as well. While there was no question that his wife, BOnnie, who suffered at his cruelty could have had a motive but she wouldn't kill her husband and the father of their son, Brian, the day before Father's Day. In fact, it was Cindy and her new lover who planned his death. While he rots away in prison, Cindy is allowed to live in her mansion on the hill with her husband, Ed, and their seven children. He believes in her innocence despite the fact that she flaunted her affairs in front of him. This book is adequate but the M. William Phelps book goes deeper and is full of information about Akron, Ohio and society. This book only scrapes the surface but one of the authors is also one of the lead investigators in the case.

For most of us, this book and Marc Phelps' book fails to answer the one burning question. What makes Cindy George tick? No one has been able to successfully get to this. I suppose because those who know her are not talking. But, Farber's book does give you a inside view of our police department. And locals will really enjoy hearing some of the details about Tangier. But for the record, Cindy George was not a "socialite." And Tangier may have been "hot" place at one time but that was in the 70's. Today, it's used as a charity/ club meeting place because of it's banquet rooms and size. No one says, "Gee, Let's go to Tangiers tonight."

Of the two books on the Cindy George case, this is far superior. Because one of the co-authors is the lead investigator, you learn the real inside story on how a homicide investigation is conducted. Not only is this a fascinating case, but the book raises questions about the justice system and offers in-depth perspective not often found in a true crime book. I found every single page of this book compelling, and really could not put it down!

This is a solid entry into the True Crime genre paperback division. The story of Jeff Zack and Cindy George is a true crime writers dream, full of cheating wives, amateur hitman, hard-drinking-hard-living-halter-wearing police informants, a restaurant that sounds too tacky to believe and police department infighting. This could pretty much tell itself and Keith Greenberg wisely doesn't get in the way. He tells the story from the vantage point of the police who are investigating the murder, not my favorite device, in fact it verges on my least favorite but Greenberg usually avoids overdoing it. (I could have done without the details of the department in fighting but if Greenberg's co-author wants to settle a few scores I guess there's a price to pay for inside info.)

As a guilty pleasure companion on your daily commute you could do much, much worse. For true crime fans and perhaps Akron locals.

This will not win any literary prizes. Mostly enjoyable because of it's local connection.

Perfect Beauty is a book that's only interesting to people who live in the Akron, Ohio area, and even then it leaves you wanting more. There are to many unanswered questions, that can only be answered by the George family, and they are not talking.

First of all if you read the back cover of the book you know what happened and who the killer was. That was a bummer!
I really enjoy true crime stories but this one was really hard to read because it was so boring. The first 100 pages were a real snore.
If you want to read a good true crime book try Murder in Napa. This book was interesting from start to finish.

Keeps your interest at all times, very well documented. The main character is beyond contempt and yet....I won't spoil it!! Must read.

Received in good condition but wasn't impressed with the story itself. No problems with seller.