Those Who Trespass : A Novel of Murder and Television [Hardcover]

Bill O'Reilly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 1998

A speed-read thriller that unmasks the cutthroat world of television news.--Vincent Bugliosi, author of Outrage and Helter Skelter

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What goes on behind the news is the news in Bill O'Reilly's first novel, Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Murder and Television. The engaging thriller centers around a string of murders being carried out in almost ritualistic fashion against the major players of Global News Network (GNN) and miscellaneous others involved in the television news industry. First it's a loutish White House correspondent who gets it with a silver spoon in Martha's Vineyard. Next comes a vice president of the network. As the list grows, so does the pressure on police to stop the killer before he strikes again. Enter Tommy O'Malley, a touch New York detective who has his own ideas about how to keep the streets clean. His work--and life--is complicated by the persistence of a charming young reporter named Ashley Van Buren. In her "Crimetime" column, she dishes a full serving of innuendo and speculation to an audience hungry for just such fare. O'Malley looks like a terrific source to her, and he has to admit she looks pretty good herself.

The real story in Those Who Trespass, however, is that "the way it is," as Walter Cronkite would have said, is not a very nice way at all. O'Reilly, a veteran of Fox and an Emmy winner himself, reveals the skullduggery that goes on under the anchor desk and on the other side of the camera: correspondents "bigfooting" others' stories, young climbers doing anything to secure the anchor seat, and ratings outfits fixing the game to suit themselves. Once you've read this, you will understand the part of the news that's not fit to print.

From Booklist

O'Reilly's first novel tells a story of revenge and murder set against the backdrop of television news. The opening chapters detail the corrupt, often despicable world of the networks, where pretty faces from New York conspire to appropriate the work of those on the front lines. When two of the smarmiest conspirators wind up dead, the list of suspects is as long as the number of people the networks have screwed along the way--hundreds. On the case is Detective Tommy O'Malley, along with aggressive journalist Ashley Van Buren. Against his better judgment, Tommy falls for Ashley and becomes the spunky young writer's informant. But Ashley's feelings are mixed, for she is also smitten with charming Shannon Michaels, who happens to be at the top of Tommy's list of suspects. Although stereotypical secondary characters are a drawback, the novel is nicely paced, and the network milieu works well as a setting for murder. Mary Frances Wilkens

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Bancroft Press (April 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963124684
• ISBN-13: 978-0963124685
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For more than 13 years Bill O'Reilly has presided over The O'Reilly Factor on the FOX News Channel, the highest rated cable news program frequently topping news shows offered by broadcast networks. Often referred to as the most talked about, most controversial TV journalist today, he is a three-time Emmy Award winner as well as the recipient of a Governor's Award from the Boston/New England chapter of the prestigious National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Before becoming executive producer and anchor of The Factor, as his fans sometimes call it, he served as national correspondent for ABC News and as anchor of the nationally syndicated news magazine program Inside Edition. He is the author of numerous mega-bestsellers, the most recent of which was Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, a deeply personal and revealing memoir that has sold more than 1 million copies and comfortably rested high up on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 52 weeks, as well as four previous non-fiction works, all of which went to #1 on that same list. In addition, The O'Reilly Factor for Kids outsold all other children's non-fiction titles in 2005. All in all, more than 5 million copies of Bill's books are in circulation. He holds master's degrees from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and Boston University. Asked about his proudest professional achievement Bill has said, "The millions of dollars we are able to give to charity."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For Diehard Fans Only, October 18, 2004

By 

M. Mallio (Winchester, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder (Paperback)

Believe it or not (and far too many people will not) this review has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with my love of the mystery form. O'Reilly, known primarily for his television and radio shows, decided to branch out into the world of genre fiction and has crafted a functional, but not very interesting, mystery in which TV network execs are getting clipped. It includes some fairly typical characters such as the ubiquitous tough-but-tender Irish cop, a hard-drinking veteran journalist, and an ambitious tabloid reporter.

The interesting part of the novel was Mr. O'Reilly's description of how ruthless TV politics can be. Because of this, I thought it would be far more interesting as a work of nonfiction. O'Reilly, apparently, is not crazy enough to bite the hands that feed him just yet.

My guess is that if you're a fan of Bill O'Reilly, you will enjoy the book. However, if it's a good mystery you're after you've so many other choices. Give this one a pass.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I don't believe it !!!, May 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Bill O'Reilly and, although I don't agree with him all the time, admire him very much and think he's a very intelligent person. THAT is why I can't believe he actually wrote this embarrassingly poorly written novel. But, even more than that, why his editors let it slip through without rewriting the amateurish dialogue. When I was about two thirds into it I just gave up and read the last few pages just to "get it over with". I simply don't believe that Mr. O doesn't know how bad it was/is/whatever. It has to be a 'tongue-in-cheek' thing!

41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Well...........I still like "The O'Reilly Factor", April 15, 2004

By 

Stevie Lou (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder (Paperback)

Nothing against Bill O'Reilly personally, he seems like a nice guy. It's just that reading this book is like walking up a flight of stairs holding an empty cardboard box the size of a Kenmore refrigerator. I wanted to finish as soon as I could and go play Super Nintendo. The dialogue between the poorly developed characters was especially awkward. And that other ex-GNN correspondent flat-out vanished! Maybe he found a better plot...