Excerpts

True crime, detective fiction, book reviews, and works by PIs

Excerpt: “Open Bar,” by Dan Schorr

A former sex crimes prosecutor writes a fast-paced university thriller informed by his work investigating sexual misconduct. Open Bar By Dan Schorr. SparkPress. 332 pages. $17.99. In Dan Schorr’s second novel, Open Bar, scandal erupts when a university HR director discovers that a beloved softball coach has been sexually abusing teenagers in the school’s summer

Dan Schorr

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The Persecution Rests

The state of Alabama charged a mother with capital murder of her child. Her family, her church, and her attorney believed she was innocent. So did I. By the time I met Amanda House (all names have been changed), she was eight years into her awful sojourn through the Alabama legal system, with little hope

Susan Lehmann

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A Memo to the File

Recording the details of your investigation forces you to challenge the truth as you present it on the page. This article was excerpted from the second edition of Principles of Investigative Documentation, by Philip Becnel, Scott Krischke, and Alexandra Becnel. Principles of Investigative Documentation By Philip Becnel, Scott J. Krischke, & Alexandra K. Becnel. Once,

Philip Becnel, Scott Krischke & Alexandra Becnel

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downtown_street_in_Fairbanks_1955_Meyer.jpg

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Excerpt: “The Alaskan Blonde: Sex, Secrets, and the Hollywood Story That Shocked America”

A British journalist reexamines a cold-case murder from Fairbanks, Alaska in 1953 and uncovers new evidence about the crime. The Alaskan Blonde: Sex, Secrets, and the Hollywood Story That Shocked America By James T. Bartlett. Territory Books. 250 pages. $19.99. A few years ago, James T. Bartlett, a British journalist and historian living in Los

James T. Bartlett

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The Case of the Nonexistent Inventory

Forensic accountant Leah Wietholter reflects on a fraud case that helped her consider the subjects of her investigations in a new light. This article was excerpted from Data Sleuth: Using Data in Forensic Accounting Engagements and Fraud Investigations, by Leah Wietholter, with permission from the publisher. When I worked with law enforcement, I never met

Leah Wietholter

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14 Client Types Private Investigators Encounter — and How to Handle Them

This article is excerpted from "How to Start a Private Investigation Business," by Edward Panico, with permission of the author.

Edward Panico

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Q&A: A Good Man in a Nest of Evil

In his latest book, journalist Curtis Wilkie reveals the story of a brave man who informed on the Mississippi KKK.

Chapter16.org

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Excerpt: “Two Truths and a Lie,” by Ellen McGarrahan

In Two Truths and a Lie, reporter-turned-PI Ellen McGarrahan recounts her quest for the truth about a decades-old murder and offers profound insights on grief and justice.

Ellen McGarrahan

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Investigating Pink-Collar Crimes: Vigilance Is Everything

Too often, victims of pink-collar crime never see justice done. But vigilance can decrease your chances of falling prey.

Kelly Paxton