Customer Reviews

A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler

5 star:		(8)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

The author does a great job of summarizing a criminal case of national notoriety and informing the reader that the truth is different than what has previously been communicated. The facts presented indicate that Casey has done an abundant amount of research in order to prove his point.
As a reader of many crime and murder based books, this book does not inundate the reader with unnecessary technical details in order to make a point. Enough technical and medical terms are used to substantiate the facts but not overwhelm the reader. There is also an appropriate amount of balance between the case and the author's life so a perspective of what it is like to be the relative of a victim can be learned. Instead of reading like a typical True Crime novel, there is an underlying theme of family and the pursuit of truth that a lot of murder investigation books lack. This difference might be explained by the closeness the author realizes as part of the investigation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others interested in this case.

I read this book because it was recommended on Ann Rule's website. I had always thought the way the case was handled was bizarre.There was no apparent physical evidence, only a confession, and De Salvo's death in a highly protected infirmary was strange, to say the least. I had never believed half the psycho-babble in Gerold Frank's book, either. This book proves that the 'confessions' were not consistant with the physical evidence at autopsy in several cases, and the obvious feeding of facts by the police to De Salvo and the multiple accounts in newspapers of the day meant that there was very little he could not have gleaned elsewhere, and when he did make statements about facts, such as the floor the flat was on, or the colour of clothes worn by 'his' victims he was wrong. Several of the cases had features that were inconsistant with there being only one possible killer , such as Patricia Bissette,Beverley Samans and Sophie Clark. There are strong alternative suspects in at least these three cases, as well as in Mary Sullivan's. DNA evidence proves that De Salvo did not do what he claimed to have done to Mary and that evidence strongly implicates another police suspect of the day. Casey Sherman has written a wonderful book, which frees his family from knowing that De Salvo had not killed their loved one, instead of feeling that the case had been mishandled (as indeed do several other families) and frees De Salvo's family from being shamed by their family name. All credit to Casey Sherman for taking on this establishment conspiracy, and for finding the real truth of his aunt's death and helping the De Salvo's clear Albert's name.

Re-examining the decades-old strangulation murder of his late Aunt Mary, a 19-year-old career girl widely believed to be the last victim of self-confessed "Boston Strangler" Albert DeSalvo, author Casey Sherman makes a fairly compelling case that the killer was actually someone else and that DeSalvo was simply a convenient fall guy for baffled cops and stymied politicos. Unfortunately for Sherman, writer Susan Kelly presented a far more compelling (and far more professional) case in "The Boston Stranglers" nearly 10 years ago. Perhaps too close to the story for his own good, Sherman whitewashes, sidesteps and simply ignores the more unsavory aspects of the victim's life (all detailed in Kelly's book in a non-judgemental fashion), in the process unwittingly stripping the deeply-troubled young woman of any recognizable humanity and turning her into an unbelievable martyr-like cipher who never comes alive for the reader. Ardent true crime buffs will also be see the non-conclusive nature of this story a mile away; Sherman telegraphs the ending by pointedly assigning a fake name to a key suspect early on, always a tip-off that the cops couldn't make a case. Amateurish as this is (when he isn't pushing for exhumations and DNA tests, Sherman actually communes with his late aunt's ghost!), anyone seriously interested in the Strangler case will find this book intriguing, especially after comparing it to the considerably meatier account in Kelly's book--which actually names the suspect in question.

This book took me down a path I have rarely gone before with True Crime. It not only concerns the serial murders of the century, but also the accounts of the grieving families on both sides of the crime and the heroic account of a relative, not known to the last victim (Mary Sullivan) who's quest for the truth pitts him against the long standing belief that Albert DeSalvo was the killer and the authorities (then and now) who want to keep it that way. It reads like Sam Spade meets CSI except these people are real heros! I would hope that anyone who likes reading period pick up this book. I read it in one sitting and, like the Maltese Falcon, plan on reading it again and again. It's really that good! If you're fascinated with the Strangler case I'd skip the rest and start here. Good job, Mr Sherman!

I was interested in this book because I had read some other books about the Boston Strangler. So hearing from someone who was related to the case might have been interesting. It was not. The book seems to be more about the author -- and not the topic. Sherman seems to have a large ego and is more interested in making up things that might have happened. He also invokes talking ghosts, which is very weird and doesn't ring true for a supposed newsman interested in the truth. Also, if he works in the news business, why does he need a writer? I don't get it. Very disappointing for true crime fans. There are better books - there is one that came out a couple of years ago about the fact that there was more than one strangler and it is very well-researched, called The Boston Stranglers. Sherman's book seems destined for the remainder table.

I'M A HUGE DENNIS LEHANE FAN & PICKED UP THIS BOOK BASED ON LEHANE'S RECOMMENDATION. I LOVED IT! IT WAS A FAST MOVING BOOK THAT READ LIKE A MYSTERY NOVEL. MYSTERY FANS SHOULD GOBBLE THIS ONE UP.

This book was a great read. Casey Sherman certainly knows how to tell a story. I can't believe all his mother has gone thru and all he did to find his answers. I read this book in a 24 hour period. Good job Casey

A Rose for Mary is a thrilling roller coaster ride that left me completely breathless at the end. Sherman uses the Boston Strangler case as a disturbing backdrop for political intrigue. I think this young man is an amazing writer who is keenly able to explore the dark corners of the mind. Run to pick up A Rose for Mary. You will be glad you did.

I loved this book, and could not stop reading. Sherman has changed history forever, with his attempt in finding the real Boston Strangler. This is an amazing story and I am so glad he wrote this book and opened up this case again. If you are interested in true crime and history, this is a must read.

I was a first time user and will continue to use amazon for it good and quality products. there were no problems in purchase or shiping of the products.