Crime Stories

How many sociopaths do you know?

Aug 20, 2005 - Catten Ely

A discussion of forensic sciences would not be complete without mentioning forensic entomology—the study of insects and arthropods that inhabit decomposing remains. We’re talking maggots and flies, mites and beetles...

Jul 30, 2005 - Catten Ely

An economist takes on the world's not-so-boring questions and delivers his theories in an easy-to-digest format.

Jun 25, 2005 - Catten Ely

Cops, courts, science, and the battle against misidentification—depending on what you're looking for, this might be a good read. Or not.

May 20, 2005 - Catten Ely

It's TV, and it's good.

Apr 25, 2005 - Catten Ely

It's 2004's best true crime reporting - all in one softcover book. Fabulous!

Mar 20, 2005 - Catten Ely

Thoughts on what it means to be a victim

Feb 2, 2005 - Catten Ely

The true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor

Jan 20, 2005 - Catten Ely

What's going on in the world of cybercrime?

Dec 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

"The real story of the Green River Killer—America's deadliest serial murderer"

Nov 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

How did we come to use fingerprints for identification?

Oct 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

What do you get when three teenagers are accused of murdering three young boys? Devil's Knot

Sep 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

Animal rights—and wrongs

Aug 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

Lots of twists and turns, but no depth. Skip this one.

Jul 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

This book presents a great story about a Phoenix police officer, but it's not very well written...

Jun 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

While criminal trials may drag on for months or even years, a criminal act may take but only a moment... Here are the winners of the May 2004 Crime 55 contest.

May 22, 2004 - Catten Ely

Lisa Jackson builds a nice plot but the character fall flat in "The Morning After."

May 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

This is a great anthology of works, all well-written and all remarkable stories.

Apr 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

The author advises: After a couple pages, you won’t want to be here. So forget it. Go away. Get out while you’re still in one piece. Save yourself.

I disagree.

Mar 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

A quick-and-dirty guide to how a detective works a crime scene. It's not really the way you see on TV...

Feb 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

What really happened to Flight 800?

Jan 20, 2004 - Catten Ely

How can we track a bomb after the fact?

Dec 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

What if you could do away with someone just by thinking about it?

Nov 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

This is a twisted movie about the death penalty.

Oct 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

Tempe Brennan is at it again, this time uncovering graves in Guatemala.

Sep 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

Margaret Atwood's 38th novel is dark but not chilling.

Aug 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

This isn’t a crime story. But many people who devour true crime and mysteries think, “What if I was a cop? What would I do?” I put that thought into action and discovered that just getting to the point of putting the blue (or brown) uniform on is a journey.

Jul 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

More winners in the Crime 55 contest!

Jun 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

Sometimes a book's title catches your eye. Sometimes the cover does. In this case, they both promise an interesting ride — and deliver.

May 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

Why are some convicted criminals being exonorated?

Apr 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

“The story of a town that wanted to forget. And of those who wouldn’t let them…”

Mar 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

Grossman weaves a thoughtful look at soldiers, cops, and human, and what makes them kill.

Feb 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

More winners in the Crime 55 contest!

Jan 20, 2003 - Catten Ely

"The following takes place between midnight and 1:00 AM on the day of the California Presidential Primary. Events occur in real time..." It's TV, but it's good.

Dec 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

More winners in the Crime 55 contest!

Nov 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

“The last thing they ever saw was the face of a . . . MONSTER”

Oct 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Forensic artist Jeanne Boylan tells her stories.

Sep 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

"A Story of Race, Murder, and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemption"

Aug 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Crime 55 is a super-short story contest. Check out the latest winners!

Jul 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

The title says it all: forensic cases about bones

Jun 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

The judges had a tough time choosing from the excellent entries in this contest of terse crime storytelling.

May 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Patricia Cornwell creates a dog of a story.

Apr 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Olsen's at it again, this time with an almost-too-cool-to-be-true heroine.

Mar 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

We have a winner in the February Crime 55 contest!

Feb 20, 2002 - Catten Ely

Wambaugh had Los Angeles. McBain has New York. Charlie Schafer takes on Chicago in his first cop novel.

Feb 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death — a great book for forensics fiends

Jan 15, 2002 - Catten Ely

Let's talk about bugs and the Body Farm...

Dec 26, 2001 - Catten Ely

We have a winner in the November/December Crime 55 contest...

Dec 19, 2001 - Catten Ely

Mark Fuhrman, "America’s foremost detective," criticizes local cops and solves serial murders!

Dec 12, 2001 - Catten Ely

A heartfelt — but poorly written — book about a child murder

Dec 5, 2001 - Catten Ely

Pass this one up

Nov 28, 2001 - Catten Ely

A follow-up to the previous article on racial profiling

Nov 21, 2001 - Catten Ely

A discussion of racial profiling

Nov 14, 2001 - Catten Ely

Another serial novel is out, this time written by female mystery authors.

Nov 7, 2001 - Catten Ely

Pulp Fiction meets Generation X.

Oct 31, 2001 - Catten Ely

One of the best resources for understanding forensics

Oct 24, 2001 - Catten Ely

Kathy Reichs has a new book called Fatal Voyage. And it’s darn good.

Oct 17, 2001 - Catten Ely

Forensics made easy

Oct 10, 2001 - Catten Ely

For a change from detectives and cops, try Michael Molloy’s book, Dogsbody.

Oct 3, 2001 - Catten Ely

Everything you always wanted to know about the FBI — and some things you didn't!

Sep 26, 2001 - Catten Ely

"We have justice and humanity on our side..."

Sep 19, 2001 - Catten Ely

Pitts: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're about. You don't know what you just started.

Sep 14, 2001 - Catten Ely

Outraged Americans, listen up!

Sep 13, 2001 - Catten Ely

My reaction to yesterday's attack on Washington and New York.

Sep 12, 2001 - Catten Ely

I never knew how great the Freedom of Information Act was until I got this book.

Sep 5, 2001 - Catten Ely

Get Ready to Say Goodbye: A Mother's Story of Senseless Violence, Tragedy, and Triumph is part true crime, part true grit, and part true hell.

Aug 29, 2001 - Catten Ely

"As Robert Parker is to Boston, Lindsey is to Houston."

Aug 22, 2001 - Catten Ely

"Part of you thinks it's in poor taste... Part of you wants an XL."

Aug 8, 2001 - Catten Ely

She's not your typical Black Widow...

Aug 1, 2001 - Catten Ely

We have a winner in the July Crime 55 contest...

Jul 25, 2001 - Catten Ely

Crime legends and ways to prevent them from spreading...

Jul 18, 2001 - Catten Ely

Urban legends straddle the line between truth and fiction.

Jul 11, 2001 - Catten Ely

We have a winner in the Crime 55 contest...

Jun 27, 2001 - Catten Ely

While DNA has convicted many criminals, it has also been used to exonerate innocents.

Jun 20, 2001 - Catten Ely

Eyewitnesses — juries love 'em!

Jun 13, 2001 - Catten Ely

Dennis Griffin writes a mean novel, weaves a tight plot, and creates brilliant characters

Jun 6, 2001 - Catten Ely

If you like Elmore Leonard, you'll dig Garry Disher

May 30, 2001 - Catten Ely

This book is NOT "a highly recommended page-turner, a real psychological suspense-thriller."

May 23, 2001 - Catten Ely

There's so much out there on the Web. What's worth clicking on?

May 9, 2001 - Catten Ely

The first page hooked me for its literary quality....

May 2, 2001 - Catten Ely

Our new heroines are busting those manly bad boys and doing a fine job without the help of a virile, hairy chested partner, thank you very much

Apr 25, 2001 - Catten Ely

"...our morals are questionable and our attitude always needs adjustment..."

Apr 18, 2001 - Catten Ely

"Some memories are best forgotten."

Apr 11, 2001 - Catten Ely

"No One Gets Away Clean"

Mar 7, 2001 - Catten Ely

Great Mystery and Crime Writers Share Their First Published Stories

Feb 21, 2001 - Catten Ely

Another fine movie from director Guy Ritchie

Feb 14, 2001 - Catten Ely

Looking for something to read?

Feb 7, 2001 - Catten Ely

Anyone who is interested in criminal profiling knows who John Douglas is. And Mark Olshaker is the author who pulls Douglas’s stories together. But did you know they collaborated on a novel in 1999?

Jan 31, 2001 - Catten Ely

The Dying Scenes contest received some good entries - it was tough to pick one winner.

Jan 24, 2001 - Catten Ely

Rosenberg delivers this plot-filled sequel with punch.

Jan 10, 2001 - Catten Ely

Like a twisty ending? You'll dig this book...

Jan 3, 2001 - Catten Ely

What does a medical examiner do?

Dec 27, 2000 - Catten Ely

Everything you always wanted to know about gunshot wounds

Dec 20, 2000 - Catten Ely

Imagine not being able to trust the very people you were always told were safe...

Dec 6, 2000 - Catten Ely

Leonard’s crafty, pointed, and fun.

Nov 29, 2000 - Catten Ely

“A shocking true story of erotic dependence, obsessive love and murder-for-hire.”

Nov 22, 2000 - Catten Ely

Vic Fortezza's first novel is a good start.

Nov 15, 2000 - Catten Ely

"And as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention" -- Talking Heads

Nov 8, 2000 - Catten Ely

With the spooks and goblins on the loose this month, it seems an appropriate time to talk about those crimes that take place after dark. This contest asked for the best-told Halloween crime story.

Oct 31, 2000 - Catten Ely

Poltroon Press's golden boy is Mark Coggins. This is one to watch!

Oct 18, 2000 - Catten Ely

The votes are in on the entries for the Crime 55 contest.

Oct 4, 2000 - Catten Ely

Tempe Brennan is back.

Sep 27, 2000 - Catten Ely

Jeffery Deaver calls it "downtown noir."

Sep 20, 2000 - Catten Ely

A brief discussion of other profiling methods and reading suggestions.

Sep 13, 2000 - Catten Ely

A look at the FBI's profiling methods.

Sep 6, 2000 - Catten Ely

The votes are in on the entries for the Crime 55 contest.

Aug 30, 2000 - Catten Ely

How profilers identify signatures.

Aug 23, 2000 - Catten Ely

What do the victim and crime scene tell the profiler?

Aug 16, 2000 - Catten Ely

Starting the profile: What do we have here?

Aug 9, 2000 - Catten Ely

An introduction to criminal profiling.

Aug 2, 2000 - Catten Ely

Now you can take it with you.

Jul 26, 2000 - Catten Ely

A Report from the Abyss by Robert Ressler

Jul 12, 2000 - Catten Ely

The movie without logic.

Jul 5, 2000 - Catten Ely

Are we ready for e-books?

Jun 28, 2000 - Catten Ely

Review of Christine Duncan's e-mystery, Safe Beginnings.

Jun 21, 2000 - Catten Ely

An explanation of the forensic practice of blood spatter interpretation.

Jun 14, 2000 - Catten Ely

Verónica Dahl's untitled 55-word crime story is a winner.

May 17, 2000 - Catten Ely

The Mystery Writers of America announce the best of 1999.

May 5, 2000 - Catten Ely

Read the top five stories submitted for the Crime 55 contest.

Apr 25, 2000 - Catten Ely

These are the nominees in all of the Edgar Award categories.

Apr 12, 2000 - Catten Ely

Funny fiction, in a dark way

Apr 5, 2000 - Catten Ely

New releases for April, plus some other new books worth checking out.

Mar 29, 2000 - Catten Ely

America's first serial killer?

Mar 22, 2000 - Catten Ely

A criminalist explains all.

Mar 8, 2000 - Catten Ely

New books in the crime/suspense/mystery category.

Mar 1, 2000 - Catten Ely

This short novel is not as good as it could be.

Feb 16, 2000 - Catten Ely

True crime in Biloxi

Feb 9, 2000 - Catten Ely

What is DNA and how does it help catch criminals?

Jan 19, 2000 - Catten Ely

Sexual offenders have rights like anyone else. Right? 'Scuse me while I climb up on this here soapbox...

Jan 12, 2000 - Catten Ely

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says Douglas Kennedy's novel, The Big Picture, is "a novel you wish Hitchcock were alive to film."

Jan 5, 2000 - Catten Ely

Thorp gives his fictionalized — but believeable — version of the Green River Killer.

Dec 29, 1999 - Catten Ely

Review of John Walsh's book, No Mercy.

Dec 22, 1999 - Catten Ely

Review of the true story of a murdering physician.

Dec 15, 1999 - Catten Ely

Sharp, sometimes scary, and very well done.

Dec 8, 1999 - Catten Ely

Don't let the title throw you.

Dec 1, 1999 - Catten Ely

Good suspense by talented author.

Nov 24, 1999 - Catten Ely

I went to the IABPA confernece instead of reading another book. Here's what went on.

Nov 17, 1999 - Catten Ely

Parker lets us down.

Nov 10, 1999 - Catten Ely

Reichs's second book is as good, if not better than her first. Step aside, Patricia Cornwell.

Nov 3, 1999 - Catten Ely

Thirteen writers collaborate on a novel - and pull it off.

Oct 27, 1999 - Catten Ely

Check out this guide for writers (and any other curious readers) on criminal homicide.

Oct 20, 1999 - Catten Ely

I review two movies instead of a book this week; I liked them THAT much.

Oct 13, 1999 - Catten Ely

More of a rant than a review, I grudgingly admit that Ann Rule is a great writer.

Oct 6, 1999 - Catten Ely

This won't make your blood run cold.

Sep 29, 1999 - Catten Ely

How detectives inside the FBI's sci-crime lab have helped solve America's toughest cases

Sep 22, 1999 - Catten Ely

Stuart Woods's Orchid Beach is reviewed.

Sep 15, 1999 - Catten Ely