Gerold Frank's biography is probably the single most comprehensive book written concerning Judy Garland: meticulously researched, debunking many myths, and richly detailed, it is certainly a standard for any one seriously interested in Garland. Even so, I have several issues with the book.

My single greatest complaint about the book is that Frank often seems to include detail for the sake of detail, and at times these details don't seem to make any cohesive statement. That aside, while Frank places Garland under a microscope, he never really quite delivers any sense of the world in which she moved; consequently, we never really have any background against which we may judge her. There is no context.

These are serious flaws, and while the book is certainly readable and enjoyable, I do not think it is one to which the average reader would return, nor would I particularly recommend it to any but the toughest of hard-core Garland fans.

Gerold Frank has taken a subject of innumerable facets, a larger-than-life personality, and an almost indescribable talent and has put the history of her life to words as no writer before or since has been able to accomplish. Judy Garland, one of the silver screen's most beloved stars, is accurately and honestly conveyed in this biography. Frank's style is unique: when he tells of the tradgedies or failures of the star, he is not incriminating against the subject. Frank's book is one as written by an observer, sometimes voyueristically so. His thorough research bring Garland through in all her glory: as the vaudeville headliner, the little girl on the rise to stardom, the MGM superstar, loving wife and mother, and the sometimes self-destructive woman, taken from this earth too soon by the disease brought on by a lifetime of pills, but most of all, the woman trying to find her place in the world and the love she always craved and needed. Judy Garland is a human being, not a media figure, in this book. Gerold Frank is to be well commended for his excellent portrayal of Judy Garland, and readers will also be delighted or surprised by the informative tidbits along this Yellow Brick Road into the life of the great Judy Garland.

This is a very well written book. There is a lot of interesting and detailed information that I have not heard about before. This book sets the facts straight through primary sources. Gerold Frank spoke to Judy's children, husbands, friends, fellow cast members, and even to her doctors. He is the only author that Judy's family and friends completely cooperated with. This was very informative; and it is a real page-turner, unlike so many biographies that merely present fact after fact, or promote fictitious legends. This book sorts through all of this. It is, I believe, one of the best biographies yet written about Judy Garland. A definite must have:)

DeSalvo was a victim schizophrenia. He was allegedly coerst by Bailey,George Nassar's solicitor, to confess to the murders. He thought he could provide support to his family with movie and book deals, and he was also a braggart. Additionally, some evidence points to Nassar, the convicted murderer who was DeSalvo's cellmate, as being the Boston Strangler. Nassar called Bailey to speak with DeSalvo. DeSalvo also allegedly maintained a photographic momory and information that he confessed could be found in local newspapers, including some fraudulent facts. DeSalvo's body, as well as the eleventh victim's, Mary Sullivan, were exhumed in 2000. DNA evidence, including 68 samples pulled from Sullivan's corpse, has not been connected to DeSalvo. Boston authorities were withholding information to the families, and lawsuits have been filled. Are the Boston authorities attempting to cover up past mistakes? A more comprehensive book to read is the Boston Stranglers or Casey Sherman's upcoming book, A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler.

I have read many true crime novels. This is among the best written ones which is particularly note-worthy since the copyright is 1966.

The book tells the chronology of the investigation into the strangling murder that took place in the Boston in the early 1960's. After going through the investigation of each murder as it happens, the author discusses the interviews and suspects. The investigators even go so far as to discuss their use of a man with ESP powers in the investigation. However, this only serves as a side track from the real killer. The book concludes with the interviews of the real Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo. The Strangler describes his childhood and marriage which are the main factors which caused the rampage. Desalvo also describes each of the killings as he went through them.

One of the most interesting facets of the book is the question of DeSalvo's sanity. He did show remorse and gave hints as to why he did it. But the fact that he willingly confessed in itself raised the question of his sanity again. In cases of well publicized crime sprees like this, numerous people will often try to confess. Usually all of these confessions are false. Based on the acuracy of some of the false suspects' confessions, the book raises some doubts about DeSalvo's confession. However, the author ultimately assures the reader that DeSalvo is the man.

I always wanted to know more about the Boston Strangler, having read about him in other true crime accounts, but never getting the full picture. This book gives a frightening and touching account of Boston in the 60s and the Strangler's unwitting victims. Frank handles brilliantly the chaotic investigation and numerous (but mesmerizing) deadend leads; his reporting of the case and its frustrations is near perfect. By the time I got to DeSalvo's confessions (and the fact that the case has never been brought to trial!) I wanted to roll up my sleeves and spend an all-nighter going through the files to check facts. Not since reading about Jack the Ripper have I been so engaged by an unsolved crime.