Book Review: Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother

 

Lovers of true crime stories need to grab a copy of Caitlin Rother's latest, Down to the Bone. 

In February 2010, the McStay family--Joseph, Summer, and their two boys--disappeared without a trace from their San Diego home. With no blood and no signs of a struggle, they left behind no clues to their whereabouts. 

Nearly four years passed before a motorcyclist discovered the family's remains in the Mojave Desert. Authorities focus their investigation on Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph's friend and a subcontractor for his business.  In June 2019, Merritt was convicted and subsequently sentenced to death. Lack of physical evidence and numerous unanswered questions left some wondering if another person got away with murder. 

Rother has been one of my favorite authors for the last ten years. Her writing style, in-depth research, and balanced reporting consistently offer a look into some of our country's most riveting cases. Down to the Bone is the heartbreaking story of the McStay family, who disappeared without a trace. Originally considered a missing person's case, the detectives find their hands tied in the process. Upon discovery of their remains nearly four years later, the passing of time, controversial decisions on the part of investigators, and challenges during the judicial process make it appear possible that the wrong man might have been convicted of murdering the McStays. 

The author spends time in the courtroom. She interviews as many people involved in the case as will agree to take part in her research. She pours over case documents. At the end of Down to the Bone, the reader will come to their own conclusions, which is what I truly appreciate about Rother's work. She provides the facts of a case and leaves the reader to decide. 

I highly recommend Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother to those interested in true crime stories and investigative journalism, those curious about the McStay family case, and anyone interested in an engaging account of how the justice system played out for those involved.

• Publisher: ‎ Citadel
• Publication date: ‎ June 24, 2025
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 0806542624
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0806542621

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Body Parts by Caitlin Rother

 

New York Times bestselling author and award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother returns with an updated version of her book Body Parts, now titled, Body Parts: A Serial Killer's Deadly Compulsions, more than ten years after the publication of the story of Wayne Adam Ford. This upcoming release includes shocking new details about the identity of Ford's first victim.

When Ford contacts his brother Rodney and asks him to meet him at the rustic cabin where he is staying, Rodney has no idea what is about to unfold. Wayne tells him that he "hurt some people," and begs for his brother's help. They walk into the local sheriff's office where Wayne explains to the sergeant that he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. The gruesome contents of his jacket pocket lead to his arrest and an investigation involving four California counties where Ford ends up being tried and convicted for the torture and murder of four women, including his first victim, who would remain unidentified for 25 years.

With Body Parts, Rother has done another impressive job of diving into a chilling true crime story. This deep dive into the mind of serial killer Wayne Adam Ford brings readers up close and personal and lets you get to know Ford's family, his victims, the victims' families and the fallout from Ford's actions, all about the detectives working the case and the attorneys involved, puts you inside the jury deliberation room, and provides new information about how an arrest in an unrelated case opened the doors for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to finally identify Ford's first victim. 

Rother provides an unbiased account of Ford's killing spree and how the investigation unfolded from the moment Rodney and Wayne stepped into the sheriff's office. She investigates the psychology of a killer who might never have been caught if he hadn't turned himself in, and how an earlier head injury and past emotional trauma evolved into dark sexual impulses he seemed unable to control. 

Body Parts is a riveting page turner from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

Purchase from AMAZON!

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Citadel (February 25, 2025)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0806543914
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0806543918

I received a digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: I Will Ruin You by Emilio Corsetti III

 

I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind The Kit Martin Murder Trial by Emilio Corsetti III is a fascinating ripped-from-the-headlines true crime story that dives deep into heart of this controversial case. 

In May 2019, pilot and former army ranger Christian "Kit" Martin, was arrested for the murder of his three neighbors in the small town of Pembroke, Kentucky, right before boarding a passenger flight. Having slowly and painfully rebuilt his life since his ex-wife threatened to ruin him if he divorced her, Kit finds himself facing new charges that chip away at all he fought so hard to rebuild. 

Corsetti brings you through the life of Christian Martin from September 2012, when Kit told his then wife, Joan, he wanted a divorce. Joan's supposed response, "If you divorce me, I will ruin your career. I will ruin your life, and I know how to do it." 

From that moment on, Kit's life spiraled into years of defending himself against a never-ending series of accusations hurled at him by Joan and her children surrounding claims of domestic abuse, child abuse, child molestation, sexual assault and mishandling of classified information that would lead to his court-marital in 2015. When his neighbors Calvin and Pam Phillips, along with another neighbor, Ed Dansereau, are found brutally murdered in the fall of 2015, right before Calvin is due to testify for the prosecution, Kit becomes the prime suspect. 

For the most part, I felt Corsetti provided an even-handed deep dive into the Kit Martin case: the evidence that didn't quite add up, how the military's history of sweeping sexual assault claims under the rug led to a fervent pursuit of Martin, the missteps on both sides during the investigation and trial, and Kit and Joan's histories. 

Some have said that news that broke less than a month after this book's release discredits the idea that Kit was a wrongly accused innocent man, but that is between Martin and his maker. The news does not lessen the compelling narrative, the superb scene setting, and the detailed personal stories that unfold. 

If you love true crime, I Will Ruin You is an excellent choice.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ WildBlue Press (March 21, 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 426 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960332643
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960332646

I purchased a Kindle version of this book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Book Review: Death on Ocean Boulevard by Caitlin Rother

Caitlin Rother has done it again. This Pulitzer-nominated former investigative reporter has written another gripping true crime story that will have you turning page after page.

Death on Ocean Boulevard investigates the shocking and lurid death of Rebecca Zahau, girlfriend of pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai. Two days before Rebecca 's naked body is found with her ankles tied and her wrists bound behind her, Jonah's six-year-old son, Max, took a devastating fall while in Rebecca's care. 

Though the authorities deemed her death a suicide, Rebecca's family believed she was murdered amid speculations of foul play and influence. 

Rother brings the reader through new details and multiple perspectives in a sensational case that shook the Coronado community. 

Wow! Rother has outdone herself this time. Drawn to this case because of its parallels to her own life, as she learned more about Rebecca's murder at the historic Spreckels Mansion, the more it haunted her. The author's attention to detail, her determination to investigate the murder from every angle, and her ability to take all that work and turn it into a fascinating narrative are all reasons I enjoy Rother's books. 

There are no clear cut answers as to what happened to Rebecca Zahau, but Rother provides the reader with a fair and balanced account that allows them to make their own decision. If you like true crime stories, Death on Ocean Boulevard is a must read. 

Highly recommended!

Publisher: Citadel (April 27, 2021)

Paperback: 368 pages

ISBN-10: 0806540893

ISBN-13: 978-0806540894

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.