Featured New Book: The Crime of the Century by JoAnne Myers

2014 must be the year of the three-peat because author JoAnne Myers is back with a third book to let shine in the Featured New Book spotlight.

This time, she’s written a very personal, true crime book. But before we tell you about the book, let’s get to the important stuff: the music!

JoAnne, what song reminds you of your book?

Here is the reason I associate Ghost Walking by the band Lamb of God, with The Crime of the Century. The lyrics to Ghost Walking, is filled with hate and dispair. So much like a killer stalking his prey. The lyrics speak of death and destruction, which is what murder is. The lyrics are both creepy and ominous.

Lamb of God! Randy Blythe! One of the classiest men EVER. Okay, the music’s a bit… ugly. Like JoAnne says, it’s filled with hate and despair. But you gotta admit: there are days when it hits you in that sweet spot and man, you feel better FAST.

Back to the book. What’s its description?

The residents of Rolling Hills, a hamlet in southeastern Ohio, were horrified when the dismembered bodies of two missing teens were pulled from the local river. Multiply suspects surfaced, but only one was railroaded, Richard Allan Lloyd, a known nudist and hothead.

What began as an evening stroll turned into what found only in horror films, and dubbed ‘the crime of the century’. 18 year old Babette, a voluptuous beauty contestant and horsewoman, and her 19 year old boyfriend Shane Shoemaker, a jealous and possessive unemployed printer, were last seen crossing a trestle bridge. Within fourteen days, their mutilated torsos and severed heads and limbs were unearthed, suggesting satanic cult activity.

With an investigation smeared with contradicting statements, and a botched crime scene, investigators built a flimsy case against Richard Lloyd. The three-week trial was based on police corruption and ineptitude, fairytale theories, and forensic mishandling.

This heinous crime shattered the sense of security for Rolling Hills, destroyed two families, and forever scarred the town. This story is a detailed account of finding justice for Babette and Shane, and of one man’s perseverance to gain his freedom from death row.

Order your copy here.