Customer Reviews

Whispers of Romance, Threats of Death

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4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While no reader could possibly doubt the strength and courage of Carol Cook, this book seemed to go into more detail about the history of the city of Dallas then about either Cook or the crimes. I was excited to read this because Cook herself had a hand in writing it and I thought it only served to show what an indomitable woman Cook is that she had the strength to write of her ordeal, but there is really very little about it at all in the entire book. My heart goes out to Cook and all of the other victims but this is the book to read if there's anything you ever wanted to know about the city of Dallas. Except of course the crimes and criminal who terrorized it for so long.

I wanted to read this as I am interested in the way Dallas residents thinks of themselves as somehow special and a bit above others, especially the wealthy...but this book is just terrible. How many times does the author tell the reader how beautiful, blond, intelligent, slim and cultured she is? And could she possible refer to Dallas as the Big D less than a dozen times per page? I am sorry she was attacked, but she is not at all a sympathetic person in this book and her sheer lack of "getting it" when the police were telling her over and over that the rapist was her "dear" friend and sometimes lover was just too much...she insisted she suspected him yet continued to see him, meet with him, forgive him again and again for her suspicions? Come on! I applaud her for trying to help other victims but this book does not help her cause at all. She comes off as no less shallow than the material girls of "Big D" she claims to be so unlike...and when her apartment is later robbed, she mentioned her jewels and furs and her items of exquisite taste were taken...give me a break! Not much to sympathize with here...move on to the next book on the true crime shelf...

The premise of this true-crime book is so interesting, I find it hard to believe what an unreadable book it turned out to be. The writing was very stiff. Carol came across as a vain and unsympathetic character. The reader only needs to be told one time what a successful, beautiful, talented, slender blonde she is. Reading over and over and over about her tasteful and expensive knick-nacks was also extremely tiresome. There was also way too much information on Dallas history. I can't help but compare this book (and its heroine) with the book "Citizen Jane", also about a woman who had to deal with being the victim of a horrible crime. Jane Alexander, the hero of "Citizen Jane" comes across as being a great person, an intelligent woman, and a real hero and fighter. Her book is really well written and engaging. Too bad she didn't help Carol Cook write this book.

Collaboratively written by Carol Bryan Cook (artist, poet, and spokesperson for Victims Outreach, an organization providing grief and trauma counseling to crime victims) and true crime expert and author Ted Schwarz, Whispers Of Romance, Threats Of Death is the true and personal story of Carol Cook who moved to Dallas, Texas in order to be near her three daughters when she was attacked and raped and threatened with being killed by a stranger in a ski mask who broke into her luxury condominium. Not long after this horrific event, Carol met Gilbert Escobedo, who befriended her, helped her regain control of her life, and then went on to become her business partner and lover. Self-made business success, generous with his money, giving thanks to God every week in church, friendly with members of the Dallas Police Force, Gilbert Escobedo even rode along with law enforcement personnel in pursuit of Dallas' most dangerous serial rapist. No one knew that loyal, friendly, gallant, religious, helpful, kind, and tender Gilbert Escobedo was also the wily, elusive, brutal Ski Mask rapist. Whispers Of Romance, Threats Of Death is a compelling story and highly recommended reading.

My wife chose this book and I read it aloud to her. This would be considered true crime, however, any suspense is non-existant as the author only talks about one suspect and no others so you know from page 5 who the culprit is. If others were mentioned as to rape suspects and a little bit of history given to others, then it might have been more interesting.

The interesting part of the whole story is how the culprit leads two different and distinct lives for a period of time and then how his personality begins disintegrating toward the end and the ruse used to get a confession out. The major victim is given a roller coaster ride that is heartbreaking.