Don't Kill Him: The Story of My Life with Bhagwan Rajneesh by Sheela Birnstiel, Ma Anand Sheela

 

Ma Anand Sheela has had a very colourful life, to say the least. A name I did not know of until watching the documentary ‘Wild Wild Country’ on Netflix. The documentary series about the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), and his one-time personal assistant Ma Anand Sheela, is spellbinding, and as an avid true crime/cult fan, their community of followers ‘sannyasins’ in the Rajneeshpuram community located in Wasco County, Oregon is a must-see! The true story ends with both Sheela and Bhagwan being jailed, but not before the community overtake Oregon, battle local politicians, an alleged mass food poisoning, and rumours of a ‘sex cult’ drug-taking, in this multi-million dollar commune.

 

This story written by Sheela Birnsteil, (Ma Anand Sheela being her spiritual name given by Bhagwan) is as fascinating as the documentary itself, but unfortunately leaves out a lot of the salacious details, focusing more on the personal relationship between Bhagwan and Sheela, and the commute itself. With a litany of inside information, the book begins on the day Sheela resigns as Bhagwan’s secretary and the operating head of the commune in Oregon. The first few chapters deal with the period immediately following her departure from Rajneeshpuram and the beginning of the legal nightmare manufactured by false accusations and trumped-up charges levelled against her by Bhagwan and His followers. 

In part two, the thread picks up from the beginning of 1972 when Sheela joined Bhagwan’s movement, until her departure in 1985. The narrative is relatively easy to read and, undoubtedly, Sheela was devoted to this spiritual leader, even after his assumed character assassination and Sheela quotes several pages from Bhagwan's books throughout. Sheela talks about her numerous sexual relationships within the commune, her guru’s materialistic megalomaniac tendencies, but also about herself - a lot! It's as though she was the guru, but never got to take charge which is why she left?

Learning more about these two characters gives you a great insight into how mindless indoctrination, in religion, or perceived cults, can be life-changing, but not necessarily in a good way. The documentary is a lot better than this book, but I would recommend it to fans of cult True Crime stories such as David Koresh and the Waco tragedy or Jim Jones’ mass suicide cult at Jonestown. 

Buy the book HERE

@rybazoxo writing for vivalabooks.com 

Remember Me?: Discovering My Mother as She Lost Her Memory by Shobna Gulati

A memoir about dementia. A memoir that’s about a fractured family. A memoir about immigration. A memoir about memories fought for, won, reimagined, remembered, and sometimes forgotten. A memoir about ‘being honest with yourself, in the face of adversity, your culture, your upbringing, your siblings, and even your own parents. 

Shobna Gulati’s memoir about her Mother’s dementia is a multilayered memoir, at times a dual narrative. One story is of a talented artistic daughter stuck in a patriarchal culture that's of equal disparity to 1970s working-class Britain. The other story is of Shobna’s Mum, Asha, a woman born as a second-generation immigrant, one of the empire's children, who raises a family of four children, after her husband dies tragically young, and slowly succumbs to Dementia. 

Shobna’s prose is as honest as it is beautiful, describing her Fathers sudden death; ‘I can only describe life at this stage as watching the colour seep from the walls. As though we had all been living in Technicolour and suddenly it faded and bleached out to monochrome’ Upon finding out about her mothers illness ‘A rain cloud that had been dodging us and that we hoped would be blown away seemed now to be getting closer and darker each day. The contents of it would change the course of our lives' 

A memoir of a compassionate carer who just happens to be an actress, star of the stage, Doctor Who, Dinnerladies and of course Coronation Street ‘Remember Me’ is on its own in terms of what we can usually expect from the usual fare of fodder packed celebratory memoirs. You usually get the story of rags to riches interspersed with ambition, striving against the odds, and ultimately success. This book has a bit of that, but only a bit, and is, in essence, a lament, a eulogy, to Shobna Gulati’s Mum, Asha, and a real-life account of how dementia not only takes from the victim, it can rob a family of so much as well. It’s what makes this memoir so brilliantly different from any memoir I've ever read. For me, a memoir is an open and honest account, a book that opens up, literally, into another person's life or world, and this memoir delivers in droves. Highly recommended.  

@rybazoxo 

The Murders That Made Us: How Vigilantes, Hoodlums, Mob Bosses, Serial Killers and Cult Leaders Built the San Francisco Bay Area by Bob Calhoun

In The Murders That Made Us, Bob Calhoun tells the story of the San Francisco Bay Area through its most violent and depraved acts. The ‘golden gate city’ has been more infamous in recent years for OJ Simpson and mass school shootings, but it seems the city has been infamous from its earliest incarnations, where vigilantes hung perps from buildings and newspaper publishers shot it out on Market Street, to the kidnapping of Patty Hearst and the Zodiac Killer. Murder and mayhem are intertwined with the city's art, music, and politics. 

The Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

The Great 1906 Earthquake that burned down the old Barbary Coast shook a city that was already teetering on the brink of a massive prostitution scandal. 

The Summer of Love ended with a pair of ghastly acid dealer slayings that made the Haight too violent for even Charles Manson. 

The '70s ground to a halt with San Francisco pastor Jim Jones forcing his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch in Guyana, and the assassination of gay icon Harvey Milk. 

With each tale of true crime, The Murders That Made Us is compelling, gruesome, and historically entertaining in equilibrium. Each chapter tells a true crime story, and this chronological account by author Bob Calhoun (himself a San Francisco native) is a must for any true crime aficionado. Bob's narrative is a newspaper report format with some local knowledge and insight thrown in, so you know this is the real deal. Fascinating stuff. Thanks to NetGalley for the read! 

Bob Calhoun is a San Francisco Bay Area author, journalist, and former wrestler and peepshow emcee. Since 2015, he has recounted his city’s most gruesome and lurid events in his regular SF Weekly column, "Yesterday’s Crimes." His punk wrestling memoir, Beer, Blood & Cornmeal (ECW Press), is a national bestseller

The Murders That Made Us is published by ECW PRESS 

SIGNS OF MURDER by DAVID WILSON

Miscarriages of justice are ripe for crime literature, biographies, memoirs and case studies. We are all familiar with high-profile cases, such as Barry George’s conviction for the murder of Jill Dando, the infamous ‘Guildford four’ whose sentences were quashed, and then there’s Timothy Evans, the latter being a case we have studied via two books reviewed on this very website. 

So what is a miscarriage of justice? 

The term 'miscarriage of justice' generally applies when a person is convicted of a crime but later their case is re-opened and their conviction is found to be 'unsafe'. But some cases are never reopened and a conviction stays, regardless of however long a prison term is served. 

Margaret Mclaughlin was killed in a frenzied knife attack in 1973

What happens if a case is deemed ‘unsafe’ though, but it’s never reopened? None of us would wish for crime to happen on our doorsteps but for Professor David Wilson, a historic case in his hometown of Carluke in Scotland, meant returning to his old haunts to investigate the 1973 murder of Margaret Mclaughlin and one in which an innocent man was jailed? 

Visiting this case for the very first time, I was fascinated to read about George Beattie and his wrongful murder conviction which sparked the writing of this book. Was it a miscarriage due to an incompetent policeman William Muncie – one of Carluke’s most famous sons – secretly capitalising on his reputation as ‘Scotland’s top detective’? The case for George Beattie’s innocence is compelling and in this book, David Wilson investigates all angles. Rather than being a vigilante, engaged in a witch hunt, or interested in listening to idle gossip, David Wilson reviews this unofficial cold case review as you would expect. If you've seen any of his true-crime TV shows or documentaries, you will know what I mean. Based in England, we had no idea of this case and having read the book, we feel duly informed.

Professor David Wilson - Author / TV Crime Expert

The investigation itself is incredibly good, the only slight I would say is that you David Wilson could be biased in his assumption that George Beattie is innocent, having been immersed in the case since childhood. He does investigate another possible local suspect though, and I think if he's correct - this book may have a sequel. I won't spoil it, but it still makes for a fascinating read 

@rybazoxo for @VivaLaBooksHq

John Christie of Rillington Place by Dr Jonathan Oates

 

Continuing our theme of criminal biographies, ‘John Christie of Rillington Place’ by DR Jonathan Oates is a fascinating insight into the mind and life of the 1950s London based serial killer, and one that is entertaining, macabre, and eerily familiar. This account of John Christie’s life is unlike any other book of the killer that we have read. 

A policeman stands guard outside 10 Rillington Place

Previous true crime books, films, and podcasts tend to concentrate on murders that Christie was never actually charged for and tend to focus largely on his murderous modus operandi. This book differs from others in giving an unbiased historical fact-based account of his life, before the murders. The book gives a factual insight into John 'Reg' Christie’s childhood, sporadic career choices, relationships with the opposite sex, and even his raging hypochondria, which I’d never read about before. 

Having previously read Inside 10 Rillington Place which is a familial account of Beryl Evan’s murder, I was convinced that John Christie had killed Beryl and her daughter, Geraldine. However, having read this book, I doubt this is the case now, and that is what makes a good true crime book. 

We all read, listen, and watch true crime content that is subjective or objective, dependent on the creator’s intention. It is rare then (bizarrely) to find content that gives biographical, or even autobiographical (The History Of A Drowning Boy by Dennis Nilsen ) insight into the mind of a serial killer, and this is a fine example of that rare true crime commodity. 

For those unfamiliar with the case of John Christie, I would avoid any other films, or books involved with the case and start with this one. It will give any true crime enthusiast good grounding to delve into the case further. Dr Jonathan Oates is a London historian and is academic, however, his narrative is accessible and easy to read. The writer presents the facts, timelines, relating characters, and case notes without sounding pretentious, and on that basis, we read it in a matter of days!

John Christie of Rillington Place by Dr Jonathan Oates is published by PEN & SWORD books who we thank for letting us review this book! 

BUY THE BOOK here 

@rybazoxo for @VivalabooksHQ

www.vivalabooks.com the home of true crime book reviews

Serpentine - The True Story of a Serial Killer's Reign of Terror by Thomas Thompson

True Crime seems to be captivating TV audiences these days, and like never before. The latest offering from the UK has been the BBC crime drama The Serpent. I binged it in one week and was captivated by this exotic far-flung tale of a 1970’s serial killer, his murder spree, drugging, gem trafficking and poisonous reign of terror. 

As always, I immediately downloaded the most popular book on amazon about the case and reviewed it for Vivalabooks!

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Serpentine by Thomas Thompson tells the story of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, the notorious ‘Serpent’ or ‘bikini killer’ who preyed on Western tourists throughout the hippie trail of Southeast Asia during the 1970s. Joined by his band of ‘followers’ you could almost say that this murderer had a cult following, however, unlike Charles Manson, Charles Sobhraj was hands-on when it came to killing.  

The book is a biography of Charles’ life from birth in 1944 up to his eventual capture and jailing in 1976. Over several months in late 1975 and early 1976, the French serial killer (although of Asian and Indian descent) murdered tourists on the ‘hippie trail’. During this period, bodies have been found slain, their corpses strangled and stabbed and burned and drowned, from the paradise beaches of Thailand, through to slopes of the Himalayas and besides the river Ganges. Sobhraj used a variety of aliases, usually from stolen passports, posing as a gem dealer to first extract money, but which (for reasons unknown) quickly escalated into murder. Maybe to cover his tracks or to keep the police from his trail, Charles had a femme fatale in tow (one of many) in French / Canadian Marie-Andree Leclerc, who acted as his wife, and an eventual accomplice (although she feigned innocence through trial). The book is a fascinating delve into The Serpent crimes, his heady band of followers, and analytically deconstructs his subsequent trial.

This book is the perfect accompaniment to the smash-hit BBC true crime drama and paints a portrait of a master manipulator psychopath who still resides in jail to this day. 

About the Author; Thomas Thompson was an American journalist and author. He worked for Life magazine from 1961 and died in 1982.

Watch The Serpent on BBCiPlayer

Serpentine by Thomas Thompson is published by Open Road and is available on Amazon Kindle

@rybazoxo writing for Vivalabooks.com

Titanic: 'Iceberg Ahead' by James W Bancroft

 

The historical facts of the RMS Titanic's infamous sinking have been a morbid maritime currency, in non-fiction books, film's, television documentaries, for well over 100 years. With countless articles written and books published, so many stories have been told and retold about the 'unsinkable' ship and have been historically re-written on countless occasions.  

The most famous that spring to mind would be; 'A night to remember by Walter Lord, and James Cameron's 1997 cinematic masterpiece 'Titanic', are probably the best of both cinematic and non-fiction retellings. Assuming you've read plenty of Titanic's history (like I have) then surely 'TITANIC - ICEBERG AHEAD' by James W Bancroft is superfluous in this well-stocked subject matter? Well, yes and no.

The beginning of the book recounts all of the usual Titanic information; when she was launched, where from, how big, unsinkable, maiden voyage, etc etc. However, by the second half of the book, the author delves deep into the passenger's lives, and unlike those well-versed accounts of the ships first-class millionaires on board, this book tells the life stories of passengers, survivors and victims, of the Titanic, from second and third class.  

The social history is fascinating and tragic in equilibrium and is told with impressively researched detail.  Foreboding narrative aside, it's a very good book for those who aren't familiar with the tragedy of the Titanic or the lives of those who sailed in her. 

A very recommended read for history buffs and true crime fans, alike! 

words by @rybazoxo for @VivaLaBooksHQ

The Pembrokeshire Murders by Steve Wilkins, Jonathan Hill

 

True Crime seems to be captivating TV audiences these days, and like never before. A good barometer of UK TV Drama, ITV has given us about a year worth of true crime dramas in as many months. This blog has been utterly inspired by DES, White House Farm, and now The Pembrokeshire Murders. These books, based on true life UK murders, have galvanised UK audiences, but I wonder how many have read all the books as we have? 

Serial Killer John Cooper (R) on TV show Bullseye

Our latest true-crime TV favourite meant devouring The Pembrokeshire Murders (original book published 2013) in about a week, and as good as the TV drama was, I think the book is better! It took Steve Wilkins and his team 6 years to nail serial killer John Cooper and bizarrely classic 1980s TV show 'Bullseye' helped identify him, but that is the tip of the iceberg, in this fascinating and compelling true crime story. Steve Wilkins lead the team to a successful conviction and dives deep into the case, which gives the book a personal edge and a compassionate narrative. 

main images - TV show cast / Small Images - Real Life 

The police procedural has you on the edge of your seat, and the intricate DNA and evidence details shared, really give this book an individual edge. By the end of the book, you are cheering on the time as John Cooper is sent down on a 'life means life' sentence. 

Very highly recommended. As Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen would've said 'super, smashing, great!

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co 2020

(First published in 2013 by Seren Books)

ISBN: 9781841884509 

Number of pages: 352 

We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption in an American City

Author - Justin Fenton 

Publisher - Faber & Faber

Publishing - February 25th 2021

Baltimore, Maryland, USA. To my knowledge, this is synonamous with crime TV classic The Wire, the series that broke the mould as a predecessor to Netflix crime dramas we all binge every week. With some interest, but little knowledge, I began this book in trepidation. Seemingly Baltimore has had race riot issues over the past decade the black lives matter movement could have been born there. Racial segregation,  high unemployment, drugs, and a police force hell-bent on reducing gun crime.

So when you think of crime, corruption, drug dealing, and money laundering, you don't expect this to be coming from inside the police force, but that is what happened in Baltimore Police department. Justin Fenton's book delves deep into the Gun Trace Task Force set-up to tackle Baltimore's gun crime. Fronted by Sgt Wayne Jenkins and his team of plain-clothed officers, the task force was the city's crime-tackling heroes.  

However, they were all been skimming from the drug busts they made, pocketing thousands in cash found in private homes and planting fake evidence to throw Internal Affairs off their scent. 

This high octane hard-hitting true story ends with a litany of jail terms and a death shrouded in mystery that journalist Justin Fenton takes us through the crimes, the investigations, and fall-out with real gusto. Whilst The Wire may seem like a distant memory, I think this latest Baltimore crime story would make a good Netflix documentary or mini-series. 

A recommended read from Faber & Faber. 

Words by @rybazoxo for @vivalabkshq

With thanks to NetGalley 

STALKERS:True Stories Of Deadly Obsessions by Eileen Ormsby

Published August 3rd 2020

ASIN B08BWL9F6F

Dark Webs True Crime #3

Book 3 of 4 in the highly moreish Dark Web series and this time the true-crime stories centre on stalking, stalkers, and the serious repercussions of such action. Whether online or off-line, stalking is insidious, difficult to define and even harder to prove. Stalking can cause fear, stress, confusion and anger and can be difficult to police in extremity. Stalking as a crime is a relatively new construct and the stories selected for this e-book are from the last decade or so. Keeping in style with the previous two books, Stalkers: True stories of deadly obsessions is four separate stories from around the globe. 

The first story is of young Hollywood actress Rebecca Schaeffer who was murdered by an obsessive fan, with stark parallels to the murder of musician, John Lennon. A stark reminder of the perils of fame, and a story we were not aware of!  

The second is from the UK and concerns a bookish highly-intelligent stalker that, although did not commit murder, he stalked hard and committed a litany of crimes before being caught. Countdown, crossing the country, and ASDA. Bizarre, entertaining, and a case of you can never really know what goes on in somebody’s head! Frightening. 

Sandwiched in the middle is a story from the beginning of the internet which includes; MSN chatrooms, a teenage temptress, bromance, MI6, and a stabbing in broad daylight. Once in court, this case was groundbreaking for UK litigation and must be read to be believed. 

The fourth, and final story from the USA, is common of many a true crime story; infidelity and jealously in marriage. It is also a story that involves Craiglist, a  deserted garage, mind-blowing deception, and a surprise twist in the end. Justice served but my word we did not see that coming! 

Overall, this is another brilliant book in Eileen Ormsby’ online book series, and this week we delve into the fourth book of this dark web series. 

Words by @rybazoxo for @VivaLaBooksHq 

Buy The Book

Murder on the Dark Web: True tales from the dark side of the internet by Eileen Ormsby

Format - Kindle Edition

Published - June 22nd 2020

ASIN - B08BFL9FH2

Series - Dark Webs True Crime #2

This is our second e-book True Crime review (courtesy of Kindle Unlimited) and we are pleased to report that; 

A) we read it in one sitting and B) there are more books in the series!!

The term 'dark web' needs little introduction in the internet ear of 2021 yet still poses many questions; is it all encrypted? It is as sinister as we imagine, and what will we find there? I've never ventured into the dark web myself, but I'm not new to TOR nor TAILS which are both needed to access this 'unseen' and criminal enclave of the internet. Imagine a heinous insidious version of eBay where you can buy or sell drugs, guns, and gangsters, even murder-for-hire. Often exaggerated with folklore, the prime real example would be the website SILK ROAD, which we heard about on a True Crime podcast.  

This second book in Eileen Ormsby' dark web series, Murder on the Dark Web tells two true crime stories, both which intrinsically linked by this very modern phenomena. One from the USA and one from the UK. The three-part format remains, however, a great introduction describing what the dark web is. This sets the tone for the reader giving insight, should it be needed. Both stories are intriguing, well known, and wonderfully told. The narrative remains objective, and the facts are dished out, with newspaper reports, interviews, phone call transcripts and masses of research in the storytelling. An absolute joy to read we can't wait to delve into the next book in this series. 

Buy The Book

 

By @rybazoxo for @VivaLaBooksHq 

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