Customer Reviews

Waste Land: The Savage Odyssey Of Charles Starkweather And Caril Ann Fugate

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Stephen King is haunted by the story of Charles Starkweather. In this excellent, concise book the dark horror of the killer's 8-day crime spree becomes terrifyingly real--we can understand why King can't forget this example of man's ability to commit pure evil. Starkweather was not merely a homicidal brute--he was essentially amoral, and found/manipulated a willing partner in a 14-year-old girl.

The facts of the case are presented in objective, crisp prose that is compelling and disturbing. Like a particularly well-made horror film, we are terrified but find that we can't stop from finishing to the end. The book provides detailed support information, first-hand accounts, and court records. Some news clippings are reviewed, discussed, and others debunked--but always with a respectful nod to the reporters on the front lines there in the dark days. The author knows that while reporters, under a deadline and writing the day after a murder, may get some facts wrong, they still offer invaluable insight into the tone of the day. In this book, we have the benefit of hindsight 40 years on, from an author who respects the sources, even when they are contradicted by subsequent research.

It is this balanced consideration of resource materials that makes the author's work so credible. This objectivity lends great drama to the book's main focus--the horrible story of Starkweather--because we know that all of the facts may read like a thriller novel, but they are researched and presented in a manner as true as possible to the facts. True crime writing is rarely better than this.

Recommended for those who enjoy true crime, those interested in the dark psychology of serial killers, and anyone interested in the true face of 1950s America.

Michael Newton's WASTELAND is the story of a murder spree by 19 year old Charles Starkweather and his 14 year old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate. The pair terrorized the Lincoln, Nebraska, area for about a week in January 1958, and racked up a body count of 11 innocent people. The book goes into considerable detail about that week as well as the trials and appeals that followed.

The strong points in WASTELAND include Newton's extensive research and his primarily reportorial and non-judgmental style of writing. Newton does not insert his own personality into his narrative. And his characterizations of both Charlie and Caril are in-depth and highly interesting.

Among the negatives is that, in my opinion, the book is probably 75 pages too long. Much time is spent comparing Charlie's and Caril's versions of the events of the murderous week. This becomes tedious, since the versions vary mainly due to both Charlie's and Caril's attempts to avoid blame; because neither of them were much more than emotionally stunted losers; and since ultimately it doesn't matter which version was valid.
Both were totally involved as a team, and Caril's attempts at minimizing her responsibility are clearly bogus as presented in the book. The accounts of their individual trials, totalling over 100 pages, become numbingly repetitive; and they repeat as well the information previously provided regarding Charlie's versus Caril's versions of the murders.

WASTELAND is not a bad book. The portions which present Charlie's and Caril's background information - which in the case of Charlie is extensive - is fascinating, and the accounts of the actual murders and the pair's cross-state odyssey is fast paced and well worth reading. But there is also too much tedious repetition.
This is a good place to learn about this interesting case, which was highly publicized at the time. But it is good, not great, true crime.

Book is as described on the site. A little used but perfectly acceptable. Story is a very interesting take on this famous case. Recommended for all true crime murder fans (if they can be called that!).

This book was exciting and kept me interested. It had in depth synopsis of the trial. Some of the childhood information seemed a bit far-fetched, but as a whole the book was an enjoyable read. If you enjoy true crime you will enjoy this book.