Murder and mayhem on the Prairies - 2 books chronicle true crime in Alberta and Saskatchewan
REGINA, Oct. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - As veteran crime reporters, the trials and tragedy of murder, rape, and robbery are what consume Barb Pacholik and Ryan Cormier. They have come to learn what motivates criminals as well as all the grisly details that most people experience second hand on TV.
"I love the morgue," deadpans Pacholik, author of Boiling Point and Cold Cases: More Saskatchewan Crime Stories, the third installment of her best-selling true crime series. "The newspaper morgue," she hastens to clarify. "It's like a crypt for all those long-forgotten tales in the land of the deadly lies."
"People need to realize that they do not have to look to New York City or Moscow for horrific crime stories," says Ryan Cormier, author of Thugs, Thieves, and Outlaws: Alberta Crime Stories, "sadly, Alberta's history is full of crimes that have made international headlines."
"Alberta's past provides more than enough blood and mystery for those who are interested in criminal activities," says Cormier. "We all followed the Mayerthorpe killings, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when you consider the grand sweep of Alberta history." Same goes for Saskatchewan, with its stories of cadaver dogs, killing rooms, shysters and so much more.
Both books chronicle some of the prairie's most notorious killers and crimes spanning the last century. From back alleys to bedrooms to the gallows, these accounts cover everything from Alberta's largest mass execution to chilling cold cases that have dominated recent headlines.
SOURCE: University of Regina Press
To arrange interviews, or to receive a review copy of the books, contact
Jackie Lay, University of Regina Press
(306) 337-3325, [email protected]
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