Casey ShermanRezensionen

A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman is a 2024 Sourcebooks publication.

In 1958, Cheryl Crane, the fourteen-year-old daughter of the glamorous actress Lana Turner, stabbed and killed Johnny Stompanato, one of gangster Mickey Cohen’s favorite associates. Stompanato and Turner were lovers- their relationship- tumultuous to say the least- eventually culminated in a night of utter horror- one that would go down in Hollywood infamy – and is still hotly debated today. Was it Cheryl, who wielded the knife? Or was it really Lana herself?

This book explores the backstory that led up to Stompanato’s death, beginning with the mob’s takeover of Hollywood, Cohen’s rise and the schemes he and Stompanato devised to extort many Hollywood leading ladies.

In alternate chapters, we learn of Lana’s rise to fame, her battles with the studio, her marriages and affairs, and her romance with Johnny, as well as Cheryl’s troubled teenage years.

This is not a new story for me. I think I even read Cheryl’s memoir many years ago. But I had not thought of this wildly scandalous Hollywood tale in many years- and since this book has mostly favorable reviews, I thought it would be interesting to revisit this old case and see if the author offered up any new insights.

This book is a quick read, briefly working through the history that not only tells Lana’s story, but the story of Hollywood in that era, as well. The book is well organized, mostly, though the switch in narratives could be awkward and jarring on occasion.

For those completely unfamiliar with this case, this book will give you a basic overview of all the players, the atmosphere in Hollywood at that time, and walk you through all the legalities that followed the stabbing and what became of everyone involved afterwards.

For those who are even marginally familiar with this saga- I don’t think you’ll find anything new here- basically a refresher course, if you will.

While the title calls Stompanato’s death a murder- and technically- the word 'homicide' is synonmous- but I’m not sure if that word is apt in this situation, per se- despite the debate over who the real doer was, it still might have been self-defense or justifiable homicide- but to this day there has only ever been one version of events presented to law enforcement, the courts, and to the general public.

Naturally, it really could have been murder- a rage killing- in the heat of the moment- but all of this will be up to the reader to decide. Still, at the end of the day, I think most many people have made up their minds about ‘whodunit’ – and I’m willing to bet I know what the consensus is, and I’d have to agree, though we may never know for sure.

Overall, a solid enough summary of one of the most shocking events in Hollywood history- even by today’s standards, this scandal is definitely one for the books!

3.5 stars½

I hate to ask this but was every man back in the day a pedophilic creep? There were so many moments that I audibly gasped in disgust, my heart going out to poor Lana and all of these Hollywood starlets that had to put up with this abhorrent behavior. It truly makes me sick to my stomach.

I didn’t really know much about Lana Turner before reading this book, but I felt so bad for her! Not to say that she was perfect by any means, but it’s obvious why she was a tortured soul as her life is incredibly tragic. I love learning about old Hollywood, though sadly the more that comes to light the dimmer the gold glistens as we see that not all is what it has seemed.

I really liked the shorter chapters and overall flow of this book. The author made this feel more like I was reading a novel and not a nonfiction. Since I did not know much about Lana Turner, I found this subject interesting and the read immersive. With not a lot of fluff, this author gets down to the nitty-gritty, keeping the facts concise and to the point, and skimming through years in just a few paragraphs. I personally love this as it keeps the pace snappy and the progression perfection.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the publisher through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

Great telling of LanaTurner and her involvement with many shady people in Hollywood.

First sentence: Lana Turner paced the pink carpeted floor with a cigarette gripped tightly between her fingers. She took a deep drag into her lungs and blew out a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling of her spacious bedroom. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Cheryl, was in her own bedroom, sobbing hysterically.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction with a gossipy twist--that is how I would describe this one. It gives brief biographies of Lana Turner and her immediate family (her parents, her husbands, her daughter) and brief biographies of a series of crime bosses (mob bosses) including Johnny Stompanato. The stories cross paths when Lana Turner entangles herself with Johnny Stompanato. This is a combustive relationship--for sure--leading to murder and scandal. Casey Sherman argues that it was not Lana's fourteen-year-old daughter but Lana herself who killed Johnny.

My thoughts: This book is troubling and disturbing both in content and narrative style. I'll try to explain. This one goes into great detail--graphic detail--of horrific crimes. Many of these crimes are of the SA of a minor child variety. Of course there are plenty of other crimes as well that do not involve children. But still. This is a HEAVY read that is treated perhaps a little lighter than I would personally like. The book's approach--in my personal opinion--is like gossip, gossip, give me all the gossip, spill all the tea, tell me everything. It doesn't necessarily--to me--seem respectful. The content IS shocking and NOT shocking at the same time. Hollywood is presented as an absolute nightmare. The more power and influence, the more guilty you are of horrendous crimes. Nothing glamorous or glitzy--just very horrific crimes going on and kept hush-hush by the powers that be.

This one is definitely more graphic than I like to read.

First off, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

I have decided to read books this year (2023) that are either true stories, based on true stories, or about real people. This will include reading some books about real serial killers, like this one. Helltown tells the story of Antone "Tony" Costa, who was convicted of murdering 2 women in Provincetown, located at the tip of Cape Cod. He murdered more but there was not enough evidence to support those murders.

Be forewarned - this book is graphic. The author very graphically describes the murders of these two women. I actually had to skip over those parts.

Tony Costa's murder spree took place in 1969 and 1970. He was a drug dealer in Provincetown but also snitched to the local cops as to who else was dealing drugs in town. He was called "Sire" by his followers in town and had even drawn the attention of authors Kurt Vonnegut, Jr and Norman Mailer. The chapters that included these 2 authors was not necessary, in my opinion, but I kind of see why the author included them.

There is a brief mention of the Sharon Tate murders and Chappaquiddick as these events both take place during the timeframe of this book.

I expected to read a story about a tragic event in the life of Lana Turner, but I got more than that from Casey Sherman’s new book. I was absolutely engrossed in the story and learned so much about old Hollywood. Lana Turner was one of my mother’s favorite actresses and I remember discussing the murder of Johnny Stompanato with her years ago when Cheryl Crane wrote a book about it.

Sherman’s story ties in the Hollywood mob world that Johnny Stompanato was a part of and connects it with Lana Turner and other Hollywood stars. There are also some quite spicy tidbits about stars from that era included in the story.

As for Lana, Sherman includes her family background and how she rose to stardom. Unlucky in love and child-bearing, Lana had a long and successful career. Lana and her daughter Cheryl managed to get past Johnny’s murder and go back to their lives as best they could. What was so sad to me is that Cheryl was exposed to so many of her mother’s lovers and not all were decent men.

Sad to say, but Johnny got what was coming to him and his death probably saved many others from a lot of misery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this and give my honest review.

A Murder In Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown's Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman is a true crime novel about screen star Lana Turner, her daughter Cheryl Crane, and the murder of Lana's mobster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato. I give this four stars!

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts, but I don't generally read a lot of non-fiction or true crime books. However, when I saw this, I just had to request an early copy from Sourcebooks. A movie lover, I've always been fascinated by the glory days of Old Hollywood...it also helps that Imitation of Life is my mom's favorite movie, so a biography of its star was definitely a high priority for me.

The first half of the book alternates between the life, loves, and career of Lana Turner and a history of the mob. I personally could have done without the history of Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, or most of the other details about the mob, although it does have a bearing on Lana's story. I just felt that the history could have started with Johnny Stampanato and Mickey Cohen without everything that came before them. Lana's chapters I found much more riveting, with her many marriages and budding career...but that's really the part that interests me.

Well-researched and eloquently written, I did really enjoy this and gave it four stars. Lana's daughter, Cheryl Crane, didn't have a huge part in the overall story, although there were pieces of her life that came to the forefront at different times and the trial and aftermath were explored well.

I do want to note that there are trigger warnings for (of course) murder and stabbing, but also for abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional). If you are also averse to mentions of smoking or drinking, then proceed with caution.

All in all, this was a fascinating read about Old Hollywood, family secrets, and love gone wrong. Casey Sherman tells a great story and I'm definitely going to look up his other books!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Sourcebooks for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Coast Guards are a tough group of not so ordinary people. Bernie Webber and his crew were exceptionally brave and determined in their rescue of the crew or a broken tanker in stormy winter seas. Such men deserve our support and thanks.

This book tells the true story of a 1952 Coast Guard rescue mission off the coast of Cape Cod, where two oil tankers, the Fort Mercer and the Pendleton, each broke into two sections, thirty miles apart, in the same storm. Fighting towering waves, the Coast Guard crews try various methods to get the stranded men off the ships. The story shifts between the two rescue efforts, telling the tale through eye-witness reports and interviews with survivors. The scenes of the rescues are riveting. Toward the end, the narrative shifts to the aftermath, which is not quite as captivating but needed to be told to give a complete account. Unfortunately, they could not save everyone, and the book is dedicated to both the heroic rescuers and those who lost their lives. I read this book in honor of Veteran’s Day. It was turned into a film in 2016.

I found myself wondering if several people wrote this book. There was too much information and many needless conversations imagined by somebody who wrote like a romance writer. But it's a true crime book so... it was just okay.

Well, this wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. I love reading about serial killers, suspense and thriller fiction and nonfiction. Helltown seems to be a cross between them. It reminds me of the way recreations are done on TV, and I did do some web searching to check on some of the facts. It covers more than the murders. It’s about the 1960s, Cape Cod, Provincetown, the drug culture, hippies…

I have been traveling to the Cape for more than twenty years and I love it. You know exactly where you are by your surroundings, a unique and beautiful place. So many familiar places, I couldn’t help but smile as we drove the roads, ate in the restaurants and…

Can definitely see how far we have advanced when it comes to investigating a murder and how many more tools we have at our disposal.

The police, Kudos to them. Once they established a murder had taken place, they worked together tying the knot around Costa’s neck.

Even though there were fictional elements thrown in, I loved the way it was written. Easy to read, flowing smoothly.

I think a lot of people may have trouble with the recreations and suppositions, and that is why I didn’t rate this higher. It is supposed to be true crime, but it was written like a fictional novel. It was more about the times and the Cape than only a serial killer.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Helltown by Casey Sherman.

See more at http://www.fundinmenal.com

Very well researched book about the life and death of the notorious mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.

A fascinating look at a series of sociopathic killings that paralleled and yet was overshadowed by the Charlie Manson Family's Tate/LaBianca murders, which occurred around the same time. While those captured the world's attention, Tony Costa's activities slipped into obscurity. They are now resurrected in an excellent narrative by Casey Sherman. Beware that this is not a truly nonfiction work as broad poetic license is taken with many of the characters, including the very real life Normal Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut. Yet, the story captivates and drags you along into a dark tale of just how evil some killers can be. Tony Costa was every bit as charismatic and manipulative as Manson and had his own bevy of witchy devoted followers. Did he truly have q dual personality or was he running a game on everyone? What were his true motives? The reader will decide. Once you begin this tale you will undoubtedly squirm a bit but putting it down will not be an option.

DP Lyle, Award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

The Finest Hours, by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman is a true story. It is a book about exceptional human bravery and true heroism. It is based on an event, or rather, a series of events, that happened off the eastern seaboard of the United States in 1952.

Picture yourself in a boat. A wooden boat. A wooden boat only thirty-six feet long. A boat designed to hold just twelve people. Then ask yourself: would you venture out in a boat just a little longer than two cars parked end-to-end, into the teeth of a fierce Atlantic nor’easter blowing sixty knots, in a February snowstorm, at night, into waves seven stories high?

Hold that thought. Then picture this. Would you go out into the Atlantic Ocean in a storm with gale-force winds that had churned up the sea to a point where it had already torn not one, but two, five-hundred-foot-long, ocean-going steel ships into two pieces, just forty miles from each other? A storm that left the drifting bow and stern sections of the huge broken ships tossing about like corks in the sixty and seventy foot waves? A storm that left dozens of survivors stranded on the drifting hulks, praying desperately against hope, for a miraculous rescue before those ripped-apart sections sank? If you said yes, I’d say: read this book. Then think again.

That scenario really happened in 1952. And there were four people who did go out into the Atlantic, in a small craft, in such a storm. They were a U.S. Coast Guard crew. One man was ordered to go. Three of them volunteered. They went on a search and rescue mission. Before they even got out into the open ocean, the boat’s windshield was smashed as they plunged through a sixty-foot wave, and the compass was torn from its mount and rendered useless. That was just the beginning of what they went through. Incredibly, they all survived. And they carried out one of the most daring sea rescues of the twentieth century.

That story is the essence of the The Finest Hours. The bare facts about the events on their own are astonishing enough—two 10,000-ton ships, the SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton, were snapped in two like matchsticks. The sea-battered hulks of one of them went undiscovered for eight hours because the crew was unable to get off a distress signal before the catastrophe—but the authors have put human faces on the story. That is this book’s most compelling feature. Sadly, not everyone on those two wrecks made it back to shore alive. But the reader is pulled inexorably through this well-written book page after page, by a sense of hope for both the shipwrecked sailors, and the rescue crews.

I say crews, because The Finest Hours focuses essentially on telling the story of the one small Coast Guard motor lifeboat, CG36500. But it also covers the greater scope of the overall rescue operation. Four other larger Coast Guard ships, cutters Achushnet, Eastwind, McCulloch, Unimak and Yakutat also raced to the search and rescue effort, as did other vessels and several aircraft. The accounts of rescues by the other ships, some almost as harrowing as that of CG36500 are also woven into the story. But the four-man crew of the small motor lifeboat; Bernard C. Webber and the three volunteers, Andrew J. Fitzgerald, Richard P. Livesey and Ervin E. Maske are the book’s focal point. Their accomplishment was, quite simply, extraordinary.

Seventy of the eighty-four crew from the two huge ships that were torn apart that night were rescued. But there were men on board who were never found. One of the surviving seamen off the Pendleton, Oliver Gendron, believed that some of the crew, including the ship’s captain, would have perished instantly in the midship house on the Pendleton’s bow, when it broke up.

The book is drawn from a deep well of research as the 1952 rescue operation was front-page news worldwide the next day. The authors were able to glean from more than fifty newspaper, wire service and magazine articles, fifteen government agency reports and a number of earlier books. They also interviewed more than two dozen rescue-crew members and shipwreck survivors still living. Their memories, still stark and vivid many years, later go to the very heart of the story.

The Finest Hours is a book with a story that speaks to a reader at the elemental level. Heroism; raw courage in the face of overwhelming odds; the possibility of a miracle in the face of a maelstrom. It was made into a movie in 2016.

Having a weakness for nautical stories, I found "The Finest Hours" thoroughly engaging. It reminded me of the year 2000 George Clooney movie "The Perfect Storm". Both involved harrowing New England maritime rescues and the heroism demonstrated by the Coast Guard rescuers. You certainly get a feel for the bravery displayed by those faced with attempting rescues at sea. In 1952, these men took their 36 foot wooden lifeboat out into a storm with icy 60-foot waves and 75 mph winds to rescue men stranded on a tanker split in half during the storm. Each man knew, as he left the safety of the harbor, that he HAD to go out to attempt the rescue, but he didn't necessarily have to come back. True heroism. If I get back to Cape Cod, I'll be interested in seeing the resuce life boat in Orleans, or making a visit to the Nantucket Life Saving Museum to better appreciate what these men did and do for stranded sailors.

well written. Easy to follow the life and eventual capture of Whitey Bulger.

A HISTÓRIA VERÍDICA DO PORTUGUÊS QUE SE TORNOU NO ASSASSINO MAIS TEMIDO DA MÁFIA Joe Barboza sabia que havia duas maneiras de entrar no mundo da Máfia: ser siciliano ou cometer um assassinato por encomenda. Ambicioso e determinado, apesar das suas origens portuguesas o jovem não olhou a meios (ou mortes) para ascender na hierarquia da Cosa Nostra e se tornar numa lenda… nas ruas e nos tribunais. Vivendo na época mais mortífera da história da Máfia nos Estados Unidos, Barboza tinha uma satisfação doentia nos seus crimes e rapidamente se tornou difícil para a Máfia controlar o seu “Animal”.

Traído e obrigado a fugir, negociou um acordo com dois agentes corruptos do FBI que transformaria o sistema de justiça criminal americano para sempre. De falsos testemunhos e manipulação de provas para enviar mafiosos para o corredor da morte à criação do Programa de Proteção de Testemunhas, especialmente para o proteger, Joe “Animal” Barboza será sempre um dos maiores nomes da história americana do crime. E esse legado de brutalidade é narrado neste livro por Casey Sherman, o mais respeitado autor de crime real da América.

Reading this book in a snow storm gave it a heightened drama and made me more appreciative of what the men in this real-life situation went through. On Feb. 18, 1952, not one but two tanker ships broke in half in the stormy seas off Cape Cod. These enormous vessels (500 feet in length, weighing thousands of tons) became the victims of 50 ft. swells and 70 mph winds, as well as blinding snow and freezing temperatures. When the tankers split, the crew was also divided on each half and the parts began to both drift and sink. Only the front part of each ship had the ship-to-shore radio and resources for survival were also divided. To make the whole event even more remarkable was the Coast Guard rescue of each ship, using only 38-foot lifeboats that had to travel from shore out to the sinking ships in the formidable seas. The story focused more on the Pendleton and its 42 man crew. most of whom were rescued by the CG35600 captained by Bernie Webber and four other "coasties" who were all in their early 20s. The extreme wet and cold of the event was the least of their worries but the thing that seemed most relate-able to me. Imagining how literally almost frozen not only the shipwrecked but also the rescuers must have been showed their daring, toughness and determination to see through the mission and bring men back alive. The Fort Mercer, the other tanker was rescued by a different crew, but they were equally brave and undaunted by the elements. Once the rescue boats reached the wrecks, the challenges of getting close enough to actually save the men became evident. Many drowned in their attempt to jump from the ship to the smaller boats below and all were scarred by that process. Then returning to shore with double the intended capacity on board also put lives at risk. Though the rescue rate was not 100%, it was enough to deem it a huge success. I think these men fall into the Greatest Generation category -- an impressive tale of heroics that were downplayed and denied by those involved who insisted they were "just doing their job."

I took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge because I wanted to support something that affects so many in our world. This book provided new insight into the story and the fight. I do wish I had received it closer to when I had done the Ice Bucket Challenge, but I did enjoy it.

What an amazing story. Two tankers break in half off the coast of Cape Cod during a horrible storm in 1952, and a bunch of Coast Guard lifeboats and cutters make daring rescue attempts to save as many people as possible. Soon to be a movie, but I decided to read the book instead. Usually, this type of subject is not my cup of tea, but I liked the way the story was filled in with nautical and regional history. I'm not sure I had a clear picture of some of the events (I cannot tell aft from port from whatever), but the intensity and enormity of the situation came through in the writing. These are brave men whose valiant actions should not be forgotten.

Heroism and responsibility to job. They had no choice once found except to bring all home.

The Finest Hours, Young readers edition( Michael J. Tougias and Casey SHerman) New York: Square Fish: 2014

Genre: Choice Middle 146 pages

Summary:
In one of the worst storms in history 2 ships split in half. The Coast Guard sends out rescue boats as those aboard the ships hope for rescue. Beating the odds, most aboard are saved and return to shore. One of the rescue boats is restored decades after their crew receive The Gold Lifesaving Medal, and still sails to this day.

Critique:
The fear of the rescuers and ships crew keeps the story alive while readers cling to the hope that all will be saved in time. As the rescuers reach the ships it seems as they may fail. This story keeps readers engage, unwilling to put the book down until the end.

Activity: (after)
If you were Bernie how would you feel with all the praise? Would you feel like a hero? Would you make sure your crew got the same award? Would you have continued the journey facing all the odds they faced?

This is at once a story of heartbreak and a story of triumph over adversity. Anyone who was on Facebook during the summer of 2014 heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge. It was a powerful example of the use of social media to garner support, and a community of sorts, around a tragic situation. In this case the tragedy involved a handsome and popular young man who was handed a death sentence when he was diagnosed with ALS at age 27. The book includes an account of how he and his family found ways to move forward under these overwhelming circumstances.

Sherman and Wedge had extensive access to the family, which allowed them to share lots of anecdotes about this family’s backstory. The close access to their subjects may have come with some loss of objectivity, though. For example, the authors provide little nuance in describing the family members, and the narrative of how Pete Frates and his family adapted to the situation in which they found themselves.

Much of the story the authors relate is inspirational. But they gloss over some important aspects of this narrative: the apparent appropriation of the ice bucket fundraising idea from another charity, and the blurry lines between allocation of donated funds to support the Frates family in meeting astronomical expenses, or to support ALS research as was suggested by much of the social media buzz.

While it’s a good thing that a portion of the proceeds of sales of this book benefit the Frates family, this type of “authorized biography” can be somewhat disappointing to a reader who would like more than a glossy no-warts description of its subjects.

It’s a good read, but not a great book.½

Smooth, clean narrative. Sherman tackles the possibly sticky subject of his own aunt's murder, and does so with aplomb.