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Public Enemies: The Host of America's Most Wanted Targets the Nation's Most Notorious Criminals
  
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Public Enemies: The Host of America's Most Wanted Targets the Nation's Most Notorious Criminals [Large Print] [Hardcover]

John Walsh (Author), Philip Lerman (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)


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Book Description

December 2001
The host of "America's Most Wanted, John Walsh has formed a vital partnership with the public, the media, and law enforcement that has led to the capture of hundreds of the worst serial killers, kidnappers, pedophiles, and rapists of our time. In "Public Enemies he reveals the cost -- the blood, sweat, and tears -- behind the relentless pursuit of hard justice, in such infamous cases as:

Kyle Bell: A lifelong sexual predator whose madness culminated in the slaying of an eleven-year-old North Dakota girl. Bell was one of the only fugitives "AMW had to capture twice -- and his case stirred more outrage than any other broadcast in "AMW's history.

Kathleen Soliah: This accused Symbionese Liberation Army terrorist disappeared in 1969 only to resurface twenty-five years later as suburban housewife and soccer mom Sara Jane Olson. Her arrest, following "AMW's profile of Soliah and her former SLA partner James Kilgore, incited a stunning controversy.

Rafael Resendez-Ramirez: aka The Railroad Killer. A sociopathic drifter, he rode the Texas rails, stopping only to rape and kill. His case was first brought to the public eye by "AMW, and it was a secret call to the program's hot line that ultimately led to his surrender.

In those and other gripping true-crime profiles, John Walsh exposes the behind-the-scenes drama of the groundbreaking show, and what actually unfolds between the crimes and the captures -- the vital leads from strangers, the dangerous manhunts, the developments cut from the "AMW broadcasts, and the dogged investigations by authorities. He divulges stunning lapses in the judicial process that release monsters to the streets time and again. He takes readers insidethe hearts and souls of the grieving families, and gives eyewitness accounts of the dramatic final moments when fugitives are finally taken down.

An outspoken and unstoppable crusader, John Walsh ignites "Public Enemies with righteous anger and gut-level emotion. But his heartfelt motto echoes throughout: "I truly believe, with all my heart and soul, that together we can make a difference. It's a conviction Walsh offers as inspiration to the innocents affected by crime, and to all who feel powerless in the face of unfathomable evil.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his third literary foray into the dark territory of violent crime, Walsh (Tears of Rage) once again invites readers behind the scenes of America's Most Wanted. But this is hardly 1998's No Mercy redux. The stories are fresh, and the depictions are not as grisly as those of the earlier book. The crimes and their perpetrators are no less monstrous, however, in chronicles that are as compelling as they are disturbing. From the media-popular "Railroad Killer" to a remorseless member of the Symbionese Liberation Army with 25 years on the lam, to '70s iconoclast Ira Einhorn, who murdered his girlfriend and hid her body for 18 months in a steamer trunk, this title captures the television show's highlights. More importantly, in a genre where the reader is commonly a voyeur, Walsh goes to great lengths to avoid revictimizing survivors of violent crime and relatives of those whose lives have been lost. Over and over, Walsh renders sincere, indelible portraits of victims and their families, both before and in the aftermath of these crimes, exploring the labyrinth of disbelief, bottomless grief, rage and, sometimes, the strength they have mustered to endure the everyday. Their emotional turbulence is both stunning and provocative. At once gallant and crusading, this is Walsh's most tempered and clearly written work. Photos not seen by PW. (Aug. 14)Forecast: Tears of Rage did a stint on PW's bestseller list, and this book's first printing of 75,000 should fly out of stores, given the huge publicity it will receive: bookings on the Today show, Rivera Live, CNN, MSNBC and F ox just for starters, followed by a four-city tour and TV and radio satellite tours.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

America's Most Wanted, the popular Fox television series, has been on the air for 13 years, during which it has assisted in the apprehension of hundreds of criminals. As he has done in earlier books, Walsh, host of Most Wanted, describes some of the show's cases in more detail than television provides. Despite being written in Walsh's customary toughguy style (terse sentences, plenty of onesentence paragraphs), the text can be intensely emotional. Walsh, whose own son was abducted and murdered 20 years ago, clearly cares about the victims of violent crimes and about the survivors. When we read about such criminals as Kyle Bell (who abducted, molested, and killed an 11yearold girl), we feel Walsh's anger and his frustration at being unable to do more than he already has to make people feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods. Only a curmudgeon would consider the book's somewhat overdone prose style a drawback. Highly recommended for fans of America's Most Wanted and for readers of thoughtful, hardedged true crime. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 437 pages
  • Publisher: Thorndike Press (December 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0783897308
  • ISBN-13: 978-0783897301
  • Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,695,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Walsh Book To Date, August 14, 2001
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I have read two previous books by John Walsh that include Tears of Rage and No Mercy. His TV show, America's Most Wanted is now up to 700 captures of wanted criminals. In this book he takes us through several hard hitting cases directly from the TV show. Of course the book allows much more detail of the grisly deeds done by these heartless cold blooded criminals.

The chapter about the Railroad Killer that received so much news coverage was spine chilling.

He also spends time detailing the crime of Ira Einhorn who was recently expelled from France to stand trial (for the second time) here in the U.S.

I highly recommend this book.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Another great read, January 13, 2002
By A Customer
John Walsh is great at fighting crime and has found a new voice in writing about the criminals he helps take off the streets. Pulblic Enemies grabs you at the begining and holds on tight. Every story is chilling and you are glad that John Walsh is out there watching over us like a big brother. The story of the Yosemite murders was particularly chilling. It thoroughly explains how the women where in a very dark and secluded section of the Motel. It actually gave me the creeps. Mr. Walsh does not exploit the victims or their families, he just tells the story like it is and leaves the reader with a real empathy for the people involved.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Bad Guys Watch Out ! You Never Know Where AMW's Fans Are!, October 29, 2001
By 
A. Tesmer (Elizabethtown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have always been an admirer of John Walsh and this book reinforces that belief. The way he refocused his grief and anger after the murder of his son into a crusade for justice for victims of crime and their family is a testament to the his sincerity. I enjoyed reading about the behind the scene stories involving the cases profiled. Especially the funny stories during his ride along with police officers for an episode of COPS.

The book reinforces the importance of keeping your eyes open and reporting any suspicious activities. The police can't be everywhere. They need the eyes and ears of the general public. Time and time again have proven that it's viewer tips which have helped police catch these scumbags. Imagine what would have happened if someone in that apartment building had reported the suspicious odor coming from Ira Eichorn's apartment right away? Holly Maddux's family would not still be waiting for justice. He would not have had over 15 years of freedom in Europe. I did not know that my senator, Arlen Specter was his lawyer. I wonder what he says now about his famous client - his arguements for bail was ludicrous. The judge was insane to grant such a low bail but he had friends in high places and money & fame talks.I don't regularly watch AMW but I think I will now.

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America's Most Wanted, Kyle Bell, Ira Einhorn, Kathleen Soliah, Sue North, New York, Cedar Lodge, Claudia Benton, Los Angeles, San Francisco, North Dakota, Patty Hearst, Holly Maddux, Drew Carter, Marvin Wooten, Sara Jane Olson, Southfield Village, Jim Kilgore, Kathy Soliah, United States, Francis Carrington, Aaron Borrero, Carole Carrington, Jeanna North, Smash Wooten
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