A Warrant to Kill: A True Story of Obsession, Lies and a Killer Cop (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Shots fired, one down" a thin voice crackled over the police-band radio at 12:30 on a muggy Houston night..." (more)
Key Phrases: contract deputy, courtesy officer, criminal courthouse, Susan White, Mike Shaffer, Amber Forest (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A true crime classic! A chilling study where both the victim and the stalker are bizarre and inscrutable..." -- Ann Rule

"Kathryn Casey has crafted a gripping psychological study--a real-life nightmare...A book as fascinating as it is troubling." -- Carlton Stowers, Edgar Award-winning author of Careless Whispers

Product Description

She tried to tell her friends. She even went to the police. No one would believe her--and now she was dead.

Problems had always followed Susan White, but when she remarried and moved to Houston's posh suburbs, she thought the past was behind her--until she met a deputy sheriff named Kent McGowen who would soon become her worst nightmare.

McGowen was an aggressive cop with a spotty record. When Susan rebuffed his advances, she claimed he stalked and harassed her, using her troubled teenage son as bait. And then, in an act of arrogance and revenge, he made good on his threats, setting her up for the kill.

In A Warrant to Kill, Kathryn Casey meticulously pieces together the tragic shards of the case to create a riveting story of vengeance, fear, and justice--of the terrifying power a badge can have in the wrong hands.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380780410
• ISBN-13: 978-0380780419
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #291,552 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I bought a copy for my best friend, October 4, 2000

By A Customer

I have this friend who loves true crime books and after reading this I've decided to stick a copy of "A Warrant to Kill" in his Christmas present this year. It's a super book, so engaging. I got in trouble at work because I couldn't put it down. I wish there were more books like this. I love Ann Rule's books and I can see why she recommended this one. You have the same feeling you know the people and the places at the end that you do when you read one of her books. I'm from Houston and this book really has a sense of place.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping, chilling tale, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

Casey has done an excellent job of putting the reader smack in the center of the action - clearly the result of exhaustive research and an understanding of the people involved. She's sympathetic toward her victim while at the same time acknowledging Susan's mistakes and misguided efforts, and she takes the reader step-by-step through the process that allowed Kent McGowan to retain his badge and plot his awful schemes. It's terrifying to think that such things happen in America today - cops can stalk and target the innocent and get away with it - but this book serves as both an eye-opener and a cautionary message: Power in the wrong hands can be lethal.

A must-read for true-crime fans - or just fans of good writing.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing True Crime, April 25, 2002

By	Mcgivern Owen L (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I feel a short review of books like "Warrant to Kill" are best because no one, however unintentionally, should give away the ending of a true crime story. Set in Houston, WK is a first rate tale of murder of an innocent woman by a police officer. It is obvious early on that this cop never should have been issued a badge. I found WK personally disturbing because I believe there are more bad apples on most big city police forces than we care to admit. The resolution of the crime will definitely leave many readers dissatisfied. This is no fault of author Casey. Was justice done in this instance? One will just have to read WK to find out for themself. What I've always termed the "Ann Rule rule" is in effect! Do not read the centerfold pictures until the end! As in many true crime tales, they give away the ending. Why do editors permit this? WK is an absolutely safe choice for true crime fans, especially those that live in Texas. Recommended!