One Deadly Night by John Glatt

On September 28, 2000, former Indiana State Trooper David Camm made a frantic call to 911: he'd just walked into his garage, and found lying on the floor the bodies of his 35-year-old wife, Kim, and their two children, Jill and Brad, ages 7 and 5. This was the kind of crime that could tear the heart out of a community. The Camms lived the American Dream. They had what seemed like a loving marriage, a nice little house with a white picket fence, and two adorable children. To top it all off, David Camm was a pillar of the community who had dedicated his career to the enforcement of the law and the sanctity of human life. Then, this happened. Three days later, it got worse when police arrested David Camm for the triple murder. Soon, new stories started emerging: stories about mistresses and violent bursts of temper. And as the ugly truth about the Camms' marriage got uglier and the evidence against David started piling up, two families- and the community at large - took positions at opposite sides of a yawning and bitter divide. Was David Camm a dedicated, conscientious public servant- the victim of unspeakable tragedy, railroaded by an unfair system?Or was he a cold-hearted murderer who earned his three murder convictions and every one of the 195 years behind bars to which he was sentenced? Investigative journalist John Glatt finds out in this gripping new book.

I am not at all convinced of this man,David Camm's guilt in the murder of his wife,Kim and his two children.There were far too many witnesses that he was somewhere else when these murders took place.I think he was pinned for this murder because of all the extra marital affairs he had whilst married and believe me,there were many.Even the end part where someone else puts forward a "murder for hire" scenario,I failed to be convinced still.

Despite the fact that this man was not likeable and seemed to be on a one man mission to bed every woman in a 200 mile vicinity I cannot with a clear conscience find him guilty with the facts put forward in this true crime case.Like was pointed out,he got away for years with these extra marital "affairs" or brief interludes,why would he kill his entire family to be able to indulge in these activities.He was never "in love" with any of these other women apart from maybe one,but that had ended quite a while before the murders.

Being a John Glatt book,of course,I found the book to be right up my alley with the style of writing,and the decision on how to present the facts(chronological order which makes for an un-confused reader).



Here are some more book details:
One Deadly Night (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Country: United States of America
Format: Mass market paperback
Publisher: Saint Martin's Press Inc.
ISBN: 9780312993092
Publication date: May 2005
Pages: 340
Illustrations: 8 Illustrations

Twisted by John Glatt

From the outside looking in,Karen and Richard Sharpe appeared to be a happy,successful couple.They had been high school sweethearts and had married after the birth of their first child,Shannan.Both had resisted efforts from their parents to put the child up for adoption.After a hard couple of years where Karen worked and supported Richard while he studied for his medical degree,Richard finally qualified.Richard turned out to have a brilliant business mind and built up quite a fortune over the years.
The fortune amassed was very much under Richard's control until he transferred half of it into Karen's account as he was trying to avoid paying tax.Shortly after,coincidentally,Karen filed for divorce.Richard then started stalking Karen which eventually forced Karen to get a restraining order against him as she now feared for her safety.Richard Sharpe calmly walked up to the house she was living in and shot her point blank in front of several witnesses.

As there was no doubt as to who the murderer was due to the number of witnesses to the murder,Richard Sharpe's defence decided to enter into a plea of insanity.The details revealed were an extremely violent childhood at the hands of his father.The one daughter of the family escaped most of this violence and due to that,Richard as a child started dressing up as a girl.This abuse as a child resulted in an adult man who cross dressed regularly,who even stole his own daughter's underwear,who stole his wife's birth control tablets in order to grow breasts of his own,and who was an extreme tyrant with his own family.The years of abuse suffered by Karen and her children were revealed in detail with testimony by Shannan the grown daughter.There was 18 years difference between the first child Shannon and the younger two children.

The book then goes through the legal battle that the oldest daughter and her aunt and uncle went through to secure legal custody of the younger two children.The malingering on the stand by Richard Sharpe so he could prove he was insane was ridiculous and transparent.(I saw the tv program as well).Details from past employees who gave testimony as to their own abuse by Richard Sharpe in the workplace.

Considering all the above anyone could reasonably reach the conclusion that this man was indeed mad.Over and above his actions,years of platic surgery performed on his face also resulted in an extremely strange and scary face which I am sure helped his cause towards proving insanity.

Testimony by psychiatrists and others in the medical field stated that Richard Sharpe only acted strange when he thought he was being observed.They even had video footage of an interview with a psychiatrist,where the psychiatrist leaves the room,and Richard Sharpe who until then had been showing great strain,quickly gets up to look through the doctor's notes.

Based on all this testimony and personal accounts from witnesses, Richard Sharpe is convicted and sent off to jail.This book Twisted by John Glatt provides all this relevant information in an easy to read and follow format(as he usually does).I would recommend reading this book as it even had more information than the hour long program I watched on this true crime case.

To see some more reviews on Twisted by John Glatt please access via link below
Twisted: The secret desires and bizarre double life of Dr. Richard Sharpe (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

Here are some more book details:

Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime (January 20, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312979282
ISBN-13: 978-0312979287
I read this book via Kindle in June 2009.

My Question:
Although Richard Sharpe had murdered his wife,Karen,and there was no doubt about that with the many witnesses to that fact,he still had control over when Karen's body could be released to the family for burial.He was the only who could sign the papers and true to form,used this as a power play to keep her family hanging on for longer than necessary before signing.I understand that he had not yet been convicted and therefore all his original rights remained in place,should there not be a law that says if it is a "slam dunk" case like this,that his rights should fall away.This also pertains to the fact that relatives had to fight for legal custody of the two young children costing money and court time that could have been spent on other cases.So my question,if an alleged murderer pleads "not guilty by reason of insanity" then coupled with that plea should be a signing off of all rights,my point being if you are insane you cannot make any important decisions and the court should appoint someone immediately (not his choice)to take care of his affairs and sign off on all actions?

Deadly American Beauty by John Glatt

Greg DeVillers was a top biotech executive, and Kristen Rossum was embarking on a career in toxicology at the San Diego Medical Examiner's office. They seemed to be happily married, living the American dream. But only months shy of their second anniversary, Kristen found her handsome husband dead from a drug overdose,his corpse sprinkled with rose petals. By his side was their wedding photo. The scene was reminiscent of American Beauty, one of Kristen's favorite movies. Authorities deemed it a suicide.
Until they discovered that the rare poison found in Greg's body was the same poison missing from Kristen's office. Until they discovered the truth about Kristen's lurid affair, about her own long-time drug addiction, and about the personal and professional secrets she would kill to keep hidden-secrets that would ultimately expose the beautiful blonde as the deadly beauty she really was.

Once more John Glatt tells this story in the same easy writing I have grown to expect from him.If you have read one of John Glatt's book and you find that you enjoyed it then I can tell you that you will enjoy any John Glatt story.The same true crime story can sometimes be written by a few true crime writers.I have reached the stage where I will only buy the John Glatt version of a certain crime story.I know that I will not be disappointed.

This book Deadly American Beauty was,if I remember correctly, the first book I read by John Glatt.I have also since then watched a program on this story on the Crime & Investigation network and I would still advise on buying the book as it contains really interesting information that is not covered by the TV program.This is especially true of the background and childhood details of the main characters,Kristin Rossum and Greg de Villers.

I am always astounded as to how certain people get to the point where they decide to kill a spouse,especially when they are no signs of spousal abuse or any other motive whatsoever.In this day and age where divorce seems to be so easy to attain,you still find people willing to commit murder.Kristin Rossum was beautiful and intelligent with the world at her feet.I do have to mention though that due to her many secrets and addictions,her husband had threatened to expose everything if she left him.Perhaps that is motive enough but I also know how criminals can get away with hiding their past just by moving states.Judging by Kristin Rossum's intelligence I am sure she must have known that she could start her life elsewhere if he did indeed reveal her secrets.The mind boggles...

This book covers background and childhood details including the way the couple met and some of their married life up to the day of the crime,the investigation and the court case.There is no graphic details of the crime.It is a book I would recommend to any of my readers.

If you would like to know more about this book than South African readers should go via Kalahari Books and for more reviews then see the Amazon link below
Deadly American Beauty (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

I read this book in October 2007 and it also has 8 pages of photographs relevant to this true crime story.The title "Deadly American Beauty" is so very appropriate as she was indeed a great beauty.I was a bit diapppointed in the fact that there wasn't more information on trying to avoid the same trap Kristin Rossum fell in when she became addicted to drugs but the story is still extremely insightful and I was able to come to a few conclusions of my own,regardless.

Here are some more book details:

Country: United States of America
Format: Mass market paperback
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 9780312984199
Publication date: March 2004
Pages: 304
Illustrations: Illustrated

Secrets In The Cellar by John Glatt

Josef Fritzl was a 73-year-old retired engineer in Austria. He seemed to be living a normal life with his wife, Rosemarie, and their family,although one daughter, Elisabeth, had decades earlier been lost to a religious cult. Throughout the years, three of Elisabeth's children mysteriously appeared on the Fritzls' doorstep; Josef and Rosemarie raised them as their own. But only Josef knew the truth about Elisabeth's disappearance...
For twenty-four years, Josef had imprisoned and molested Elisabeth in his man-made basement dungeon, complete with sound-proof paneling and code-protected electric locks. There, she would eventually give birth to a total of seven of Josef's children. One died in infancy and the other three were raised alongside Elisabeth, never to see the light of day.
Then, in 2008, one of Elisabeth's children became seriously ill, and was taken to the hospital. It was the first time the nineteen-year-old girl had ever gone outside--and soon, the truth about her background, her family's captivity, and Josef's unspeakable crimes would come to light.

If this book had been a fiction book my review would have run along the lines of "unbelievable","unrealistic" and "impossible".Why would this grown up woman not have held this old man captive with the help of her grown son until this monster got so hungry that he would have given them the code to open the door?This would be from me,completely ignorant of how monstrous this old man really was.I am sure that Elizabeth knew that he would never have given in should such action been taken.Besides she believed the poison gas story he made up while I knew it was not true right at the beginning of the book.

This was my first book from the Kindle Store and I waited so long.The amount of times I typed in "Secrets In The Cellar" only to be told over and over again "Your kindle is registered to a third party".But Secrets In The Cellar was well worth waiting for.I love John Glatt books.I love his simplistic style of writing.I have read reviews where people complain about that but true crime stories are complicated and traumatic enough without having to resort to dictionaries and my imagination.I would buy any John Glatt book just because it is written by him.The same applies to books written by Ann Rule,Kathryn Casey,Diane Fanning,Jerry Bledsoe and Aphrodite Jones.But that's just my taste.

This book had background/childhood information,crime and investigation details.I did read another book on this case and it does not compare to this one by John Glatt.My only problem is the Kindle edition did not have pictures and I usually really look forward to the photographs.So I did a "google" search and found quite a few so that turned out well.


If you would like to see some more reviews on this book then access via Amazon link below
Secrets in the Cellar

or for South African readers who want to find out more then Kalahari Books is the link for you.

Here are some more details on this book

Country: United States of America
Format: Mass market paperback
Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime
ISBN: 9780312947866
Publication date: March 2009
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 248
Illustrations: Illustrated

I read this in May 2009 and besides not having photos on the Kindle version I would definitely recommend reading this book.

Never Leave Me by John Glatt

In a quiet community of million dollar homes and shiny SUVs, the Nyce family projected the very image of success. Dr. Jonathan Nyce, an asthma sufferer, had achieved medical breakthroughs that made him rich--and offered hope to countless people. Michelle's beauty made her an object of desire. And adultery was her husband's worst nightmare. Police found Michelle's Land Cruiser floating in a frigid creak near the family home. When forensic investigators examined Michelle's horribly battered body, they knew she had not died in the car. Or by accident. Soon, the truth began to emerge. Of a brilliant man whose beautiful wife had a lover she could not stay away from. Of a family--including three innocent children--pushed to the breaking point. And of one brutal moment, when a man finally ended his torment by horrifically murdering the woman he loved...

I was pleasantly surprised with this John Glatt book where at least half of the book was dedicated to the history of the couple in this story detailing how they met and details on their marriage leading up to the murder.Included was also the childhood of Jonathan Nyce and then his achievements after college.This was really explained well and I definitely felt I had a good insight into this man's character.The next half was on the investigation leading up to the arrest of Jonathan Nyce and finally the subsequent murder trial.I totally agreed with the sentence passed (for a change).

The reader needs to keep track as the story is told by John Glatt with his own perception of what really happened in the first half of the book as he details events that led to the murder.In the next half the reader gets information as detailed in the murder trial.You will notice that the actual murder trial script is slightly different in the trial than in the John Glatt version.The murder trial reflects the events as if they were an accident whereas John Glatt reflects the events as an outburst of rage by Jonathan Nyce.Regardless of this,the sentence that Jonathan Nyce received was,I believe, fair and just.

I,as a reader, felt that I understood what Jonathan Nyce went through before finally losing it.To sit at home every evening looking after the children while the person you love is out being unfaithful is enough to drive anyone over the brink.But obviously that is my opinion and not at all of John Glatt's.The reader can usually tell where the true crime writer's sympathies lie when reading a book but the amazing thing is that if you reach the end of the book and feel that your opinion is different to the true crime writer's opinion then you realise that the book was indeed written objectively despite the subtle bias.

On Jonathan Nyce's history and childhood which is detailed as wonderful,a light bulb moment for me(that offered a great insight into the parents of Jonathan Nyce) was when Jonathan Nyce called his parents to tell them that his wife Michelle had died in a car accident.The mother then told him she had a 4 p.m. hair appointment and would come through to Jonathan's home after the hair appointment.Can you imagine?The grandchildren needed to be comforted and the grandmother goes and has her hair done first?

This book was a really great read and as usual John Glatt did not disappoint me.In fact in my opinion this is the best book of his that I have read so far.I would definitely recommend reading this book Never Leave Me by John Glatt.

For South African readers who want to know more about this book please access via this Kalahari Books link

or if you want to access more readers reviews on this book then you can access via the Amazon link below and check out for "reviews from readers"
Never Leave Me: A True Story of Marriage, Deception, and Brutal Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

I read this book in April 2009 and has 8 pages of pictures.The pictures are very personal with some photographs of the children and the big imposing home where the little family lived.This was a really tragic story and provides deadly consequences of unrequited love.

Forgive Me,Father by John Glatt

Father Gerald Robinson was a pillar of his Toledo, Ohio church-going community. A popular priest, he was especially admired in the city's Polish neighborhoods for delivering powerful sermons in Polish. In later years, Father Robinson ministered to the sick, and eventually ended up serving as chaplain at Mercy Hospital--where met Sister Margaret Ann Pahl. Sister Margaret, age 72, was well-loved at Mercy. When, in the hospital's sacristy, she was found dead with numerous stab wounds to her neck, chest, and head--in the pattern of a cross--no one could believe it: Who at Mercy could have committed such evil? For years, there was no answer...even though questions about the chaplain's dark past continued to arise. Finally, in 2004, cold-case detectives announced that Father Gerald Robinson, who presided at Sister Margaret's own funeral, was convicted with her murder.

This is my personal review on Forgive Me,Father by written by John Glatt.I usually enjoy John Glatt books for the fact that the books are not written in a way that you get emotionally involved with any of the people in the book.It is very much a no frills no fuss style of writing.Don't get me wrong here.I do love getting emotionally involved with my books but sometimes you need to break it up a bit by reading a true crime book written in John Glatt's style of writing otherwise I would go mental.So true to form John Glatt has written another excellent book which focuses primarily on the investigation which leads to the subsequent incarceration of the criminal offender.

Especially with John Glatt books does the reader get the intricate details of an investigation and an idea into the massive workload and hours that are required by law enforcement personnel.Another plus on John Glatt style of writing is the fact that he allows the reader to come to their own conclusions as to whodunnit.This is excellent but a little bit frustrating sometimes as you really have to get all the facts right in your mind in order to convince yourself as to the guilt or innocence of the offender.In no way does John Glatt try to influence you into thinking one way or the other.

This can be seen as good or bad depending on your own views.If you like an interactive book then this is the book for you.I actually made notes and I am getting quite good at this.At one point in the book the potential murder weapon was fit into the actual chin bone of the nun to see if it was the murder weapon and I immediately thought that this should not have been done as it could alter the shape of the victims chin bone and hey,presto later on the defense argued the same thing.I was very impressed with myself.

One thing I was not happy about the part where a few nuns who had told their story of sexual abuse and satanic rituals at the hands of some priests,the investigators related in one chapter that the nuns' stories were believable.The problem for me was that John Glatt did not include the nuns' actual versions of what they had charged and the reader had to instead take the word of the investigators as to whether the story was believable or not.John Glatt as the writer does detail what they said happened to them but the stories are so horrific that I did not find it believable.I would have preferred to have the nuns' actual versions to be able to make up my mind as to the believability of the accusations.

All in all a very entertaining and well written book by John Glatt.He is one of my favorite male true crime writers.

To find out more about this book please access via link below for South African readers
Kalahari Books

or to read some more reviews on this book please go to Amazon link below
Forgive Me, Father: A True Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Brutal Murder

Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime Classics
ISBN: 9780312946463
Publication date: February 2008
Length: 173mm
Width: 106mm
Thickness: 23mm
Weight: 163g
Pages: 302
Illustrations: Illustrated

I read this book in April 2009 and it has 8 pages of photographs.It was very hard for me to reconcile the photograph of the pitiful looking Father Gerald Robinson with the gruesome murder he committed.I had to remind myself that the murder took place when he was in his forties and the investigation was years later in 2004 so keep that in mind if you do decide to read this book.

To Have And To Kill by John Glatt-True Crime Review

One by one, three waterlogged suitcases were pulled from the Chesapeake Bay. In each were body parts of a man. In a forensics room, the truth was discovered: William McGuire had been horribly murdered and dismembered. William and his loving wife, a registered nurse named Melanie, had just closed on their New Jersey dream home. Little did William know about the nightmare that was in store... For Melanie Mcguire had been involved in a long-term affair with a married doctor at the fertility clinic where she worked--and she had plans for the future that didn't include William. Investigators believe that on April 29, 2004, Melanie first drugged her husband, then murdered him in cold blood.This is the true story of a marriage that turned deadly...

I just finished reading this book and wanted to do a review while it was still fresh in my mind.But all I can think of is that I am not sure at all that she did it.This is not at all how the book is written.It is written especially to convince the reader of Melanie McGuire's guilt.Even actions that have still yet to be proven as actually true are written as fact.And yet I am not so sure...

Here are my thoughts on the actual book.It starts off with the discovery of the body parts.Then it goes into the history of the victim Willam McGuire and also of Melanie McGuire the wife until they day they meet and then details their life together.And then William Mcguire disappears and so begins the investigation and the rest is history.

This book is brilliant in many ways but the best part for me is how the investigation and court case details is written.I normally do not like books where the court case is so detailed but with John Glatt it is written so well that I actually enjoyed this part and I might go as far as to say it was the best part of the book.Which makes it a very good book as the investigation and court case covers 50% of the book and yes, I actually went and worked this out.

Given my doubts as to whether this woman actually did this you will understand why my peeve about this book is the way that it not very objectively written.Maybe it is my own personality of always trying to protect the underdog,that I find myself with some doubts as to her guilt.Maybe it is because I cannot imagine doing anything like this.I cannot understand why she would do this instead of just divorcing him.Why take the chance on losing her children?It does not make any sense to me.

Do not get me wrong,there is a lot of evidence pointing her way but it is mainly circumstantial evidence.Not one bit of DNA links to her.I have no idea about this woman's guilt and all I can say is that this book has left me with a very heavy feeling in my heart.

It is well written and is a very easy read in that there were no legal terms that left the reader grabbing for a dictionary.All in all I enjoyed this book just not the ending.



If you would like to find out more about this book please go to links below

To Have And To Kill-Kalahari Books for South African Readers

and below for links to Amazon
To Have and To Kill: Nurse Melanie McGuire, an Illicit Affair, and the Gruesome Murder of Her Husband

If you want to see the You Tube video of when the jury came in with the verdict please go here


I read this book in March 2009 and it has 8 pages of photographs including those of the victim,the wife and the house that they had just bought before William Mcguire was murdered.

Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime
ISBN: 9780312941666
Publication date: December 2008
Length: 172mm
Width: 108mm
Thickness: 26mm
Weight: 191g
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 368
Illustrations: Illustrated