Serial Killer's Apprentice: And Other True Stories of Cleveland's Most Intriguing Unsolved Crimes: And 12 Other True Stories of Cleveland's Most Intriguing Unsolved Crimes - Softcover

James Renner is genuine. He cares about these victims. They have become a part of him. He's not writing from a distance with apathetic cynicism. He's right in the heart of the cases, digging and searching for answers. When it comes to true crime, this is the kind of writer we need.-- (12/15/2008)

Renner's book is chilling because it reminds us that the bad guys often get away. Instead of the neat closure that we find at the end of every "CSI" and "Monk" episode, we have nothing but a pile of frustrating questions . . . This book is for the true-crime aficionado that understands the frustration of a cold case . . . It is for those of us that find the ice-cold splash of reality intellectually more refreshing than the perfect neatness of fiction.-- (01/08/2009)

This is a great book for true crime aficionados who don't necessarily require a tidy ending . . . Renner has a great, documentary-like feel to his storytelling--you experience the cases firsthand as he sorts through the clues, theories, conjecture and intrigue.-- (02/16/2009)

Takes the imagination to a dark and chilling place. This, Renner's second book, shows off his talents in the [crime reporting] genre: an investigator's persistence, a strong sense of mystery-suspense storytelling and a direct and restrained style that can both pull back to describe a crime scene and turn sympathetic to illuminate victims' vibrant but lost lives . . . Renner's writing is gripping, well researched and hard to put down.-- (03/01/2009)

Not for the faint of heart. This well-written book delves into 13 true and as yet unsolved Northeast Ohio cases--many involving grisly murders . . . Renner tracks down leads as he reviews the cases and confronts suspects. Although new techniques, such as analyzing DNA may someday be used to discover what really happened, Renner's book makes clear that today the truth stubbornly remains elusive.-- (12/14/2008)

Most of [Renner's] mysteries are as enticing as any you are likely to see on any network crime show. The only difference is that in these real crime stories, the guilty remain at large.-- (01/25/2009)

A most fascinating book. I know journalists are constantly told to stay objective, but it's obvious that these cases have touched Mr. Renner on a personal level . . . I highly recommend this book to any true crime fan. It is one of the best I have read in a long time.-- (03/18/2009)

"James Renner is genuine. He cares about these victims . . . When it comes to true crime, this is the kind of writer we need." — Crime Shadow News An investigative journalist confronts 13 of Northeast Ohio’s most intriguing unsolved crimes and attempts to crack open dark secrets that have baffled Clevelanders for years, including: · Abduction—In 2003, sixteen-year-old Georgina DeJesus disappeared on a West Side street corner, almost exactly one year after teenager Amanda Berry vanished just blocks away. · Stolen Identity—Joseph Newton Chandler of Eastlake was not who he claimed to be. Some think he was the Zodiac killer; others say he was D.B. Cooper, or even Jim Morrison. · Suicide or murder?—Joseph Kupchik hid gambling problems from friends and family until he was found at the bottom of a nine-story parking deck in downtown Cleveland—with multiple stab wounds. · Heist—In 1969, Lakewood bank employee Ted Conrad nabbed $215,000 from the vault one day after his twentieth birthday. The FBI still shows up at his high school reunions. · Controversy—Jeffrey Krotine was thrice tried for the grisly 2003 murder of his wife and ultimately acquitted, to the frustration of Cuyahoga County prosecutors, detectives, and even jurors. These stories venture into dark alleys and seedy strip clubs, as well as comfortable suburbs and cozy small towns, where some of the region’s most horrendous crimes have occurred. Renner’s unblinking eye for detail and unwavering search for the truth make this book a gripping read.