Cold-Blooded: The Charles Howard Schmid Jr. Murders

"Cold-Blooded" is about Charles Schmid (Smitty) Jr.'s killing three young women in Tuscon, Arizona in 1964 and 1965. The saga gained nationwide notoriety during the trial in 1966.Most true crime stories tell themselves, they just need an author to put them to paper. This story was written a bit different than most. Instead of the author gathering information and then spinning into one cohesive story he decided to make it a story replete with direct quotes from the various parties involved. It does add credibility and a sense of truthfulness as the words are straight from the horses mouths but it makes it less interesting. I'm more used to and impressed with the story that is written with all of the facts in a chronological order with quotes being reserved for conversation.Still, Charles Schmid was a peculiar figure and the book isn't that long at 245 pages with the epilogue. It isn't a real page turner and I'd only recommend it if you are heavily into true crime books, you're from Tuscon, Arizona, or you have a connection to the actual crime.

The first 3/4 of this book was a 5 star read. Charles Schmid is definitely a character worth reading about. However about half way through the trial I started to lose interest. It seems like after that the stuff I cared about only got a paragrph or 2 and left me wanting more details to where the stuff I didn't care about seemed to drag on.There wasn't enough pictures of Schmids associates or victims, none of the most innocent victum, Wendy. There was only 2 pictures of Mary French and 1 of John Saunders and none were clear face shots even though you know tons of trial pictures and their mug shots had to have been available.The most disappointing thing about this "New" edition is there aren't any updates since the mid 1970's. Where are Mary French, John Saunders, Richie Bruns and Diane Lynch now? Are some still alive or in prison? I have no idea but it could of been covered in at least one page....the last page, where it belonged.

Another great one from Mr. Gilmore of SEVERED (reprint it please !) fame. It's amazing how this case, and this book (in its earlier incarnations) haven't been better known, as Schmid is one of the weirdest early-juvenile delinquent, pseudo-rock-n-roller murderers we've ever had ! Gilmore in his usual somewhat poker-faced style lays it all out, the maddening psychopathy of young Schmid (thus the title) and his seemingly random slipping into murder as a "thrilling" tonic against boredom, as well as his all-too-familiarly-idiotic teenaged accomplices, all slack-jawed idiots every one. Descriptions of the '60s Arizona landscape of suburban boredom are frightening in themselves ! Great photos, and the cover is worth the price alone. Hopefully this true crime classic gets its due this time around !