Review: Dead Reckoning by Caitlin Rother

Title: Dead Reckoning
Author: Caitlin Rother
Published: 2011
Genre: True Crime
Source: For Review, Pump Up Your Book

Summary: This chronicles the horrifying murder of Tom and Jackie Hawks, a happy, retired couple who were selling their yacht, the Well Deserved. Skylar Deleon, a manipulative former child actor, previously jailed for other crimes, concocted a scheme, convincing Tom that he and his wife were purchasing the yacht, when they really threw them overboard...

My Thoughts: Wow, what an intense and fascinating book! I had actually not heard of this case before reading the book, and I'm quite surprised that I don't remember seeing this in the news or anything like that. Skylar was conniving, manipulative, and clearly not right in the head. He committed this crime for his own selfishness and greed, forcing the Hawks to sign everything over to him, all their money, everything, before killing them.

I thought this was a really detailed and well researched true crime book. It's quite long, as was Caitlin Rother's other book I previously read, Poisoned Love, which I think is great because I like to find out as many details and as much information as I can. This book encompasses the entire story from start to finish and it had my attention the entire time. I have already ordered another one of Caitlin's book off of Amazon, Body Parts. I really enjoy true crime because I love psychology and trying to understand these horrific criminals. I am so saddened for the Hawks, who were living a happy life before the crime. As always, I have that lingering question in my mind: WHY? Why did Skylar really do this? How could someone be capable of doing such a thing?

While true crime doesn't appeal to everyone, if you are a fan of the genre, check this book out. It gives you all the information you need and want to know about the case.