11.18
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers’ Favorite
In an absolutely great entry in the genre of true crime, In the Company of Evil: Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980 by Michael Thomas Barry is a fantastic composite of some of the most notorious and interesting cases in California in the time period. In truly chilling detail, the book provides readers with a glimpse into the lives and crimes of those ranging from serial killers to Satan worshippers, to brutal rapists and more. Some of the more fascinating cases include ‘The Real House on Haunted Hill,’ ‘The Sex Club Slaying’ and ‘The Lonely Hearts Killer,’ and their recounting may bring back the sense of terror that the communities they victimized felt at the time that these vicious criminals were active.
I found In the Company of Evil to be a simply fascinating read. Author Michael Thomas Barry has done a fantastic job in interweaving true facts from cases, personal histories of both victims and perpetrators, as well as photographs to make the stories come alive on the page. I also appreciated the fact that while some of the stories I knew or remembered, others were less publicized and known, making for new discoveries in the world of crime. Any reader who enjoys true crime, history, and especially history from the state of California will love In the Company of Evil: Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980. I highly recommend this book. I certainly hope that author Michael Thomas Barry is already working on his next book in this same vein. I, for one, will certainly be keeping an eye out for his next work!
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/in-the-company-of-evil
