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jennitheghost's review
4.0
I liked the setting and I liked most of the characters and I liked the mystery and development of the story. I liked the slang, but I found the ending to be weak, and a lot of loose ends. I guess life doesn't really wrap itself up in a neat little package but some more closure on Sam would be cool.
pqlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this audio book. I think Dick Hill did an excellent job as reader - his voice just fit the story.
pelevolcana's review
4.0
Devil's Garden is a well done historical fiction novel about the Fatty Arbuckle case. In historical fiction, I like the best books that take few liberties, and mostly just fill in gaps in some story from our past with their fictionalization of one of the prevailing theories of how things went down. I knew nothing about the murder and rape that Fatty Arbuckle was accused of when I read the book, but I found it riveting.
I won't recount the case here because I think it's bad form to give a synopsis of something more expertly written about elsewhere on the internet. I'll just report that he was the victim of a con, which implicated him in the death of a woman who was in on the con. This was the kind of case where the media's coverage helped damn someone who was actually innocent. Whether or not this was intentional is a matter of dispute, but in the book it certainly was.
Fatty's true crimes were being a hollywood actor, famous, popular, large, and loose. He liked drink and he liked sex. His career was ruined, and with it his life, by those who thought these attributes were enough to consider him guilty.
I won't recount the case here because I think it's bad form to give a synopsis of something more expertly written about elsewhere on the internet. I'll just report that he was the victim of a con, which implicated him in the death of a woman who was in on the con. This was the kind of case where the media's coverage helped damn someone who was actually innocent. Whether or not this was intentional is a matter of dispute, but in the book it certainly was.
Fatty's true crimes were being a hollywood actor, famous, popular, large, and loose. He liked drink and he liked sex. His career was ruined, and with it his life, by those who thought these attributes were enough to consider him guilty.
tristanrobinblakeman's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction - I love it. This is no 'In Cold Blood' - but it's a thoroughly researched and well-written book, chronicling the infamous Fatty Arbuckle rape/murder case of Virginia Rappe.
I knew of the story, of course - but had no idea that Dashielle Hammett was one of the Pinkerton detectives on the case. Made for some interesting tidbits.
The fact that the writer could keep me thoroughly engaged in a book which I already knew the outcome was going to be is to be commended.
I dont' know how much is historical fact and how much is novelization - and, frankly, I don't care. LOL It was a lot of fun to read - and the recreation of the Hollywood Babylon of the roaring 20's was spot on!
I knew of the story, of course - but had no idea that Dashielle Hammett was one of the Pinkerton detectives on the case. Made for some interesting tidbits.
The fact that the writer could keep me thoroughly engaged in a book which I already knew the outcome was going to be is to be commended.
I dont' know how much is historical fact and how much is novelization - and, frankly, I don't care. LOL It was a lot of fun to read - and the recreation of the Hollywood Babylon of the roaring 20's was spot on!
alanfederman's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good take on the infamous Fatty Arbuckle case and a good description of 1920s San Francisco.
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