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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I used to live in San Diego so this story felt extra interesting to me. I am familiar with Hotel Del and the Spreckles Mansion. I did not hear about these deaths- are they murder??? Rother does a great job presenting evidence for both sides and really leaves you wondering what actually happened?! I am biased obviously so I feel like I know what happened
I really wanted to like this book. It felt very disorganized and was a struggle to get through.
I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
So I heard about this case, eons ago it seems. Ann Rule talked about it in one of her anthologies, and I always thought it was weird she didn't finish it or come back to it. I found out via this book though, she got threatened via a lawsuit so that explains that. But the case of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hung in 2011, with her arms bound behind her back, her ankles tied, her mouth gagged, all while naked, has fascinated true crime followers for a decade. The author follows all of the main people in Rebecca's life at the time of her death and provides context and details that the police had never released to the public. This book really does ask though, was Rebecca murdered, or did she commit suicide because she thought her relationship with her live in boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai was about to end.
For readers who don't know, "Inside the Coronado Mansion Case" starts at the "beginning" of the story and we get details about Jonah Shacknai's son, Max, who was hurt a few days before Rebecca's murder or suicide. Jonah's son Max was 6 and while playing or sliding down a bannister, somehow went over the banister at his father's mansion, tried to grab onto the chandelier and then was found on the ground covered with glass and unresponsive. Rebecca and her sister were the only ones at home at the time and Rebecca apparently tried to give Max CPR while her sister was on the phone trying to give directions to the 9-1-1 operator that they called for help. Police and ambulance converge on the mansion and take him to the hospital. Rebecca is asked to not go to the hospital by Jonah because she and Max's mother (his second wife) don't get along. For a time many people thought that Max would recover, but when all signs point to him not, Rebecca is found dead by Jonah's brother Adam. From there Rother follows whether Rebecca would have committed suicide over the accident or was she murdered.
I think that Rother does a great job of giving a lot of development to Rebecca. You get to see how she was a contradictory woman throughout her life. She had a long time husband who she was separated off and on from for years while they both perused relationships with other people. You find out that relationship was abusive, but she still seemed reluctant to leave it. She seemed to fall in love with men and they fell in love with her, but she seemed to want to be independent from them at times too. We get backstories on her parents, her sisters, her ex-husband, and ex-boyfriends. All of that I think was to try to give us details about why Rebecca may have been hiding something or been scared to say what happened to Jonah's son Max. I also felt really sorry for her at times because I think all signs were pointing to her relationship with Jonah ending. He seemed like a cold fish and at times made it seem like she was getting overly emotional about things and I was all, ehh well your second wife has pretty much called her a gold digger, your daughter doesn't sound much better, I don't blame her for being emotional.
Rother also provides us backstories on Jonah, his first two wives, his children, and his brother Adam.
You have Rother following up with private investigators and providing us information from medical reports on both Max and Rebecca.
I think that Rother did a great job of staying neutral with this book. She provides us facts and contexts around things many readers may not have known. Heck, I don't know if most of the participants had any idea. But from my point of view it seems like the San Diego County Sheriff Department bungled this whole case from beginning to end. I do think that Rebecca was murdered. My only question is though, was only 1 person involved, or more.
So I heard about this case, eons ago it seems. Ann Rule talked about it in one of her anthologies, and I always thought it was weird she didn't finish it or come back to it. I found out via this book though, she got threatened via a lawsuit so that explains that. But the case of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hung in 2011, with her arms bound behind her back, her ankles tied, her mouth gagged, all while naked, has fascinated true crime followers for a decade. The author follows all of the main people in Rebecca's life at the time of her death and provides context and details that the police had never released to the public. This book really does ask though, was Rebecca murdered, or did she commit suicide because she thought her relationship with her live in boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai was about to end.
For readers who don't know, "Inside the Coronado Mansion Case" starts at the "beginning" of the story and we get details about Jonah Shacknai's son, Max, who was hurt a few days before Rebecca's murder or suicide. Jonah's son Max was 6 and while playing or sliding down a bannister, somehow went over the banister at his father's mansion, tried to grab onto the chandelier and then was found on the ground covered with glass and unresponsive. Rebecca and her sister were the only ones at home at the time and Rebecca apparently tried to give Max CPR while her sister was on the phone trying to give directions to the 9-1-1 operator that they called for help. Police and ambulance converge on the mansion and take him to the hospital. Rebecca is asked to not go to the hospital by Jonah because she and Max's mother (his second wife) don't get along. For a time many people thought that Max would recover, but when all signs point to him not, Rebecca is found dead by Jonah's brother Adam. From there Rother follows whether Rebecca would have committed suicide over the accident or was she murdered.
I think that Rother does a great job of giving a lot of development to Rebecca. You get to see how she was a contradictory woman throughout her life. She had a long time husband who she was separated off and on from for years while they both perused relationships with other people. You find out that relationship was abusive, but she still seemed reluctant to leave it. She seemed to fall in love with men and they fell in love with her, but she seemed to want to be independent from them at times too. We get backstories on her parents, her sisters, her ex-husband, and ex-boyfriends. All of that I think was to try to give us details about why Rebecca may have been hiding something or been scared to say what happened to Jonah's son Max. I also felt really sorry for her at times because I think all signs were pointing to her relationship with Jonah ending. He seemed like a cold fish and at times made it seem like she was getting overly emotional about things and I was all, ehh well your second wife has pretty much called her a gold digger, your daughter doesn't sound much better, I don't blame her for being emotional.
Rother also provides us backstories on Jonah, his first two wives, his children, and his brother Adam.
You have Rother following up with private investigators and providing us information from medical reports on both Max and Rebecca.
I think that Rother did a great job of staying neutral with this book. She provides us facts and contexts around things many readers may not have known. Heck, I don't know if most of the participants had any idea. But from my point of view it seems like the San Diego County Sheriff Department bungled this whole case from beginning to end. I do think that Rebecca was murdered. My only question is though, was only 1 person involved, or more.
A fascinating mystery that I'm surprised I'd never heard of before. I think this book does a good job of presenting all the different angles, possible suspects, scenarios, and holes in the evidence. But I didn't like how the author frequently inserted herself into the story--it came across as amateurish and like she was overcompensating, even though she is a seasoned crime journalist.
I think Max's death was a bizarre accident that Max's mother and aunt and Adam (Jonah's brother) blamed Rebecca for, and I think all 3 of them were involved in Rebecca's murder and body staging. The sensationalist way her body was staged was shocking and humiliating, a final FU to a woman whom Max's mom had always hated. Given Max's mother's history of violent public outbursts, the manner in which Rebecca was killed does not seem so surprising to me. The message on the door ("she saved max can you save her") being addressed to Jonah and placing ultimate responsibility for Rebecca's death on him also makes sense as coming from Dinah. Though it was portrayed as a childish vandalism in the book (and maybe the trial?), I think the message is quite psychologically sophisticated when you consider it coming frim Dinah to Jonah: can you save her from public humiliation, is your money enough to save her reputation, you actually cannot save her, I lost someone I love and so you will lose someone you love, etc. What I am surprised about is why Adam hasn't publicly put the blame on her, unless they both truly were involved in the murder and cover-up, and he knows that she would retalliate with that information.
I am confused about the blood on the steak knife handle: it is alleged that the handle was stuck into Rebecca's vagina and she was menstuating, so that means that the person was holding it by the blade? That doesn't make any sense?
I think Max's death was a bizarre accident that Max's mother and aunt and Adam (Jonah's brother) blamed Rebecca for, and I think all 3 of them were involved in Rebecca's murder and body staging. The sensationalist way her body was staged was shocking and humiliating, a final FU to a woman whom Max's mom had always hated. Given Max's mother's history of violent public outbursts, the manner in which Rebecca was killed does not seem so surprising to me. The message on the door ("she saved max can you save her") being addressed to Jonah and placing ultimate responsibility for Rebecca's death on him also makes sense as coming from Dinah. Though it was portrayed as a childish vandalism in the book (and maybe the trial?), I think the message is quite psychologically sophisticated when you consider it coming frim Dinah to Jonah: can you save her from public humiliation, is your money enough to save her reputation, you actually cannot save her, I lost someone I love and so you will lose someone you love, etc. What I am surprised about is why Adam hasn't publicly put the blame on her, unless they both truly were involved in the murder and cover-up, and he knows that she would retalliate with that information.
I am confused about the blood on the steak knife handle: it is alleged that the handle was stuck into Rebecca's vagina and she was menstuating, so that means that the person was holding it by the blade? That doesn't make any sense?
Rebecca Zahau lived with her boyfriend, Jonah, and his three children. Jonah had shared custody with both his ex wives. Rebecca experienced some hostility from both wives and Cindy, Jonah's daughter.
Rebecca was very loving, especially with Jonah's youngest son, Max. His mother, Dina, had issues with their relationship- feeling Rebecca was encroaching on her mothering role.
In July 2011, Max suffered severe injuries from a fall, though no one is able to determine how it happened. Two days later, Rebecca is found at the mansion, rope around her ankles and hands, nude, hanging from a balcony.
Ruled a suicide, Rebecca's family fight for the truth knowing their daughter would never kill herself.
Harrowing story. Why did the police rule suicide and fail to investigate other possibilities? Such as homicide?
Rebecca was very loving, especially with Jonah's youngest son, Max. His mother, Dina, had issues with their relationship- feeling Rebecca was encroaching on her mothering role.
In July 2011, Max suffered severe injuries from a fall, though no one is able to determine how it happened. Two days later, Rebecca is found at the mansion, rope around her ankles and hands, nude, hanging from a balcony.
Ruled a suicide, Rebecca's family fight for the truth knowing their daughter would never kill herself.
Harrowing story. Why did the police rule suicide and fail to investigate other possibilities? Such as homicide?
"Death on Ocean Boulevard" is a thorough study of the bizarre murder or suicide of Rebecca Zahau. Something is not right about the ruling in this case, and Rother presents all the problems and opinions about it well. It's sad the families may never find out what really happened to Max and Rebecca.
At times, the book felt repetitive, but I understand Rother was trying to be thorough when she restated evidence and testimony. Otherwise, the book is easy to follow and well-researched. I would read more from this writer.
At times, the book felt repetitive, but I understand Rother was trying to be thorough when she restated evidence and testimony. Otherwise, the book is easy to follow and well-researched. I would read more from this writer.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
mysterious
fast-paced
Thank you Kensington Publishing Corp.. for the gifted copy..
Death on Ocean Boulevard is about the strange case of Rebecca Zahau who was found bound and hanged two days after her boyfriend Jonah's child seemingly fell to his death while under her care and her death was ruled a suicide.
I knew about this case before reading this book so I was familiar with what happened. While the book did give some additional information, it was a but repetitive and it was sort of dry. I wish the author had delved more into the lives of Rebecca and Max too, but part of the reason for not doing that could be that Rebecca hid her real life from her family and several people didn't want to cooperate for this book.
Much of the book focused on the civil trial of Adam Schaknai who Rebecca's family believe to have murdered her. While the book presents a couple theories other than suicide, I didn't feel like any of them were actually explored. While the author put a lot of time into investigating this case, I just don't feel like age found enough information to make this a fully fleshed out book.
I would recommend this book to those who don't already know about Rebecca Zahau's death.
Death on Ocean Boulevard is about the strange case of Rebecca Zahau who was found bound and hanged two days after her boyfriend Jonah's child seemingly fell to his death while under her care and her death was ruled a suicide.
I knew about this case before reading this book so I was familiar with what happened. While the book did give some additional information, it was a but repetitive and it was sort of dry. I wish the author had delved more into the lives of Rebecca and Max too, but part of the reason for not doing that could be that Rebecca hid her real life from her family and several people didn't want to cooperate for this book.
Much of the book focused on the civil trial of Adam Schaknai who Rebecca's family believe to have murdered her. While the book presents a couple theories other than suicide, I didn't feel like any of them were actually explored. While the author put a lot of time into investigating this case, I just don't feel like age found enough information to make this a fully fleshed out book.
I would recommend this book to those who don't already know about Rebecca Zahau's death.