Customer Reviews

Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have never read a book before that made me so furious. Not the quality of the writing, but rather the story itself. Corey Mitchell does an incredible job of pulling you right into the story as we find ourselves right alongside the father of Jennifer Ertman, a young girl, who was brutally murdered in 1993 in a park in Houston, Texas. We have no idea how she is killed or why or by who, but eventually we learn all that and so much more.

It take nearly 200 pages before we even get to the crime and by the time we are there I was completely entranced and mortified. In addition to learning about Jennifer, we also learn about her best friend, Elizabeth pena. I enjoyed how the athor did not try to make both girls out to be the perfect angels like so many other true crime authors do with their subjects. We learn that Elizabeth is a flawed individual and not the perfect daughter. This only serves to make her even more human and more sympathetic.

We also learn about the six main culprits behind this incredibly gruesome and horrifying crime. Instaed of creating sympathy for the killers, this also makes them more human as well. It is fascinating to know that they all came from relatively stable, happy home lives. Definitely breaking the mold of the typical killer, or at least how the media attempts to portray them.

Getting to know the two girls, as well as all six of their killers, made reading the murder scene almost unbearable. I never have experienced sheer terror when reading a true crime book, until now. After it was finally over, I wanted to put down the book and take a shower. There was no way though that I could stop reading this story.

I could not imagine this story getting any better (or worse as the case would be for the families) but it did. The insane ordeal that Jennifer and Elizabeth's families had to endure is completely maddening. Trials, delayed executions, Supreme Court rulings, and even meddling by the president of the United States are just a few of the obstacles they have to endure.

This book is intense, very well-written, and truly terrifying. I was not familiar with the case and know I cannot believe I did not know about it before. A truly staggering book that I highly recommend to readers of true crime, but also to parents, as well as people tired of criminals receiving more rights than the victims.

A genius work of literature.

For many years now, I've been a fan of the true crime genre; reading nothing but these nonfiction tales of the worst side of mankind. After a while, while still interested in the crimes, the forensics, and the inner workings of the justice system, a reader can easily reach a point where the crime in and of itself has no shock value.

That was not the case in my most recently read book: Pure Murder by Corey Mitchell.

In Pure Murder, Mitchell tells the gut-wrenching, absolutely sickening tale surrounding the deaths of two Houston, Texas teenager girls: Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena.

On what should have been a short walk home through on of Houston's city parks, these young girls had the bad fortune of meeting up with six of Texas' teenage lowlifes: Efrain Perez, Raul Villarreal, Peter Cantu, Joe Medellin, Venancio "Yuni" Medellin, Jr., and Sean O'Brien.

Simply because the young, innocent girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time when these scumbags were "feeling their oats," they were tortured, raped, and murdered.

For the first time in a while, this true crime piece managed to enrage me as I could not hardly fantom that in a group of six people there was not one decent individual that could have, in some way, helped these young victims.

And, as an added bonus, especially in a time where illegal immigration is such a hot topic, the attempts by Joe Medellin to use his illegal immigrant status as a means to absolve the indictment against him was, to say the least, infuriating. He participates in the raping, mutilating and murder of two young girls and he expects that this country will allow him freedom on a technicality?! I could not even begin to understand the audacity of this pathetic, spineless child killer.

If you're up for a good read that evokes so many emotions you feel as though you are on an emotional rollercoaster, look no further than this newest release from Corey Mitchell.

I read this book in one day. I am a big fan of Corey Mitchell because he gives the reader the opportunity to get to know all those involved. He doesn't stay focused on the gore, and he gives the reader just enough information to realize how the poor victim(s) suffered at the hands of the killer(s). Some writers focus more on the killer(s) and less on the victim(s) and who they were.

In "Pure", Elizabeth and Jennifer are young and beautiful teenagers who set out for a night of fun with some friends. When the girls realize their curfew is minutes away, they decide to take a shortcut home. That shortcut would prove to be fatal. The young teens meet up with a pack of monsters. What followed was truly disturbing. What was even more disturbing are the two young men who could have perhaps saved the girls from their deaths, yet did nothing. The rest of the book follows the families outrage, the arrest and the trials of these losers. This story is one you will not soon forget. Have a box of tissues on hand.

I have been an avid reader of true crime for a number of years, but have only been compelled to review the work of one author: Corey Mitchell. There is something about the way Mitchell writes that not only pulls me directly into each story he tells, but also inspires me as a citizen. No other true crime author is able to compile so much research, yet make it interesting, gripping, and terrifyng. In addition, a reader of his books learns about all the key players involved, not just the victims or just the killers. He is truly a gifted author who stands head and shoulders above all modern day true crime authors and easily ranks among the greats like McGinniss, Capote, Rule, and Bugliosi.

Mitchell's excellent writing reaches an even higher level with the story of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, murdered by six teenage boys in Houston in 1993. Most true crime books throw the murder in your face within the first ten pages. Not Mitchell. He draws out the tension by forcing you to get to know both of the girls, what they are like, their character and their flaws; and the boys, all six of them, and how they got to the point of being capable of murder. It takes almost 200 pages to actually get to the murder, and by the time you are there it is almost unbearable. Mitchell's ability to make you feel for the victims and fret for the killers has not been replicated in other recent true crime works. The tension is palpable, and, as always, Mitchell thrusts you right into the horrible scene on that hot Houston day.

The crime itself is almost too frightening to believe and Mitchell paints a most vivid depiction. I'm glad he does because it made me realize how truly despicable these young men were and how horribly they assaulted, raped, mutilated, and finally killed these two sweet teenage girls.

The second half of the book is a heart-wrenching look at how insensitive the legal system is for the family members of crime victims. The ordeals that the Ertmans and Penas had to endure were outrageous, yet somehow, the families come off as dedicated, yet humorous individuals. Both families are to be commended for how they have dealt with the continuous legal manuevering by the defendants for fifteen years and counting.

Not much of a death penalty advocate, I had no problem whatsoever in feeling relieved that one of the killers, Jose Medellin, was executed in Texas recently. The fact that he was allowed to live 15 years after these murders is pathetic, as were the attempts by President George Bush and Condoleeza Rice to stall his execution.

"Pure Murder" is a heart-wrenching classic that is truly destined to become one of the most memorable and greatest true crime books ever penned. An instant classic.

Once again Corey Mitchell provides. As with all of Mr Mitchells books he should be rated #1 True Crime author. I wish he could write a new book as fast as I can read. He brings out and gets you familiar with all the people in his writings both good and bad. I can never set one of his books down once I open the cover. Please never stop writing.

I recall first learning of the tragic murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena after reading about the account in "Newsweek" in 1993 while I was finishing my first year in Seminary. I will always remember the cold and nearly heartless stare at the camera by Sean O'Brien, one of the young men accused of their brutal murder. Corey Mitchell writes a powerful account of the entire tragedy, giving a face to all of the players in the tragic story of kids who have been lost in this insane society, and in turn become its major cause of fear. While we may point fingers at the accusers and the supposed ones who allowed them to run rampant and do what they did, we are reminded of two beautiful young women, the best of friends who were taken away from their friends, loved ones, and the society that may have benefited by their presence. Mr. Mitchell tells a powerful story that does not hide us from the gruesome reality of what happened, yet doesn't seem to revel in the details. May the journey of the families of these young ladies and others who have lost loved ones in such a terrible way never be forgotten by us who are blessed with the gift of life and relative safety.

After learning a 31 year old man had FINALLY been excecuted for the murder he (and others) committed at 18 years old. I purchased the book Saturday afternoon and I finished Tuesday evening. I am a mother of 3 children under 5.
I just couldn't put it down and when I did, I said a prayer for those beautiful girls and their families. I felt emotions, anger, scared, helplessness and cried.
The Author just captivated me. The story was there he just put the information in order and shared the VICTIMS injustice. Corey Mitchell put the victims first, NOT the criminals. There was no making excuses for their actions.
Even not wanting to know the animals lives and up bringing, it gave a sense of how the did not value or respect life. I realize not just Adult men are true animals but it can happen in Young men, I am now a changed woman and mother for reading this book! I will always pray that they are ALL executed and burn in hell. Good JOB TEXAS! Better late then NEVER!"

One of THE best true crime books I've ever read! Mr. Mitchell's detailed descriptions and graphic accounts of the crime and those involved, made me feel as though I had been transported back to 1993 and were watching the unfortunate events unfold. Events that ultimately resulted in the death and destruction of two innocent teenagers. I was "there" alongside the Ertman and Pena families, not only during their frantic and futile search for their daughters, but in their quest to seek justice for them as well. Unfortunately though, I also got a glimpse of the terror and agony that the girls encountered and endured that fateful night. This is truly a testament to the author's writing style. It is a book that I will read again and again, and one that I highly recommend!

I did some reaserch on this awhile back when I was in law enforcment. I just recently found out that one of them was executed. That is when I bought this book. If you want to walk through hell, this is as close as it gets. I was infuriated when reading the chapter that explained what happend those last hours. Those girls who actually were making something of themselves were cut short of life by six wastes of human DNA! Be warned.....one pic in the book(Jennifer) is really disturbing. If you ever wanted to help families that go through this kind of thing, this would be the tool to get you started! Great book!

I read this in one day... I was so into the story that I couldn't put the book down! Corey Mitchell did a wonderful job describing what took place back in 1993. He gives great detail describing the character of each individual in the story and makes you feel like you are right there when the murder takes place. This was an awesome book and I look forward to reading more stories by Corey Mitchell.