crime and criminals

In one sense, Red Zone is not an easy book to read: it is, as it ought to be, a gripping but profoundly disturbing story of frightening people engaging in shocking activities. The horrible attack by dogs trained to kill, the attack that caused the death of Diane Whipple, is terrible in its own right, and the reader cannot help but feel compassion for the innocent victim. But as Aphrodite Jones reveals in her book, there many more layers to the story than there seem at first to be.
As she examines the case, Jones quickly takes one into a world that, one suspects, most readers have never imagined and could never imagine: a world in which lawyers seem to lose their bearings and come under the influence of an apparently charismatic convict already in prison yet still engaging in criminal activities. That the criminal activities engaged in by Aryan Brotherhood member Paul Schneider and lawyers Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel are by now fairly well known is due in no small part to Ms. Jones' book.
The story is presented in a clear and unaffected style that draws attention to the contents rather than to the writer. A tale of unfolding and deepening levels of horror, the book is also a readable and well-researched example of what good investigative reporting can uncover and deliver. I recommend this book. I have, in fact, recommended Red Zone in my college-level essay writing classes to students who are interested in researching current/recent events, as I have also recommended Ms. Jones' earlier book, All S/he Wanted.

In one sense, Red Zone is not an easy book to read: it is, as it ought to be, a gripping but profoundly disturbing story of frightening people engaging in shocking activities. The horrible attack by dogs trained to kill, the attack that caused the death of Diane Whipple, is terrible in its own right, and the reader cannot help but feel compassion for the innocent victim. But as Aphrodite Jones reveals in her book, there many more layers to the story than there seem at first to be.
As she examines the case, Jones quickly takes one into a world that, one suspects, most readers have never imagined and could never imagine: a world in which lawyers seem to lose their bearings and come under the influence of an apparently charismatic convict already in prison yet still engaging in criminal activities. That the criminal activities engaged in by Aryan Brotherhood member Paul Schneider and lawyers Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel are by now fairly well known is due in no small part to Ms. Jones' book.
The story is presented in a clear and unaffected style that draws attention to the contents rather than to the writer. A tale of unfolding and deepening levels of horror, the book is also a readable and well-researched example of what good investigative reporting can uncover and deliver. I recommend this book. I have, in fact, recommended Red Zone in my college-level essay writing classes to students who are interested in researching current/recent events, as I have also recommended Ms. Jones' earlier book, All S/he Wanted.

Like Aphrodite Jones' other books, "Della's Web" and "The Embrace", "Red Zone" was a page turner that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go till the last page of the book. It's a tough one for animal-lovers to read, though.

It never ceases to amaze me how the people most convinced that the world should revolve around them are the biggest cyphers imaginable. Knoller and Noel were no exceptions. It really infuriated me how they knew these dogs were vicious but did nothing about it (I do not blame the two dogs - I blame the owners, guardians or whatever Knoller and Noel choose to call themselves. It was their responsibility to discipline Bane and Hera.) Also, I hope that the only way Paul "Cornfed" Schneider will ever leave prison walls behind is in a coffin. He does not belong in society. To call him an "animal" is an insult to the animal kingdom.

Hating to be judgmental, I was really annoyed at how fast the victim's partner replaced her. Indeed, I wonder if Diane's ashes ever did wind on Sharon's mantel piece.

All in all, interesting...fascinating...hard-hitting. I highly recommend this book.