In 1850, following a divorce and a number of encounters with the law, Boone Helm headed ‘Out West’ to chase the Californian Gold Rush with his cousin. When his cousin pulled out at the last minute, Helm was incensed, and brutally stabbed him to death. Helm was detained in an asylum for the mentally disturbed but managed to escape. Helm continued his journey west with renewed vigour, where he … where he opportunistically killed and consumed the flesh of adversaries and travelling companions, earning him the nickname ‘The Kentucky Cannibal’. After several brutal months in the wilderness, he finally made it California. At a time where violence was the law of the land, Helm’s savage set of skills could finally be recognised and rewarded.
The Kentucky Cannibal is a riveting account of Boone Helm and his bloody exploits across the Wild West. Ryan Green’s entrancing narrative draws the reader into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.
CAUTION: This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read any further
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Disturbingly-fantastic and shockingly-twisted! If you like dark, absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can’t go wrong with this book!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
The wild west at its worst…
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has contributed such legendary historical figures as Judge Roy Bean, Jim Bowie, Kit Carson, and Abraham Lincoln. Less venerable figures include contemporary serial killers Donald Harvey and Charles Manson but also a truly contemptible frontiersman, the subject of this book, Boone Helm. The heinous acts of this man earned him an absolutely grisly but tragically appropriate moniker, the Kentucky Cannibal.
The harsh reality of the American frontier, in truth, had little in common with the highly glamorized depictions favored by Hollywood. Hardships and misfortune plagued the settlers who had to be made of grit and sheer determination to survive. The lawless, the vicious, and the greedy were only part of the peril that confronted the intrepid frontiersmen. (Think less Little House on the Prairie and more Bone Tomahawk). It is against this rugged backdrop that a boy grew into a man of extreme violence and perverse proclivities. The life and misdeeds of Boone Helm are thoroughly explored in this book and the author, Ryan Green, provides his customary blend of meticulously researched background with his astute psychological insight to provide an exceptional and riveting account of one of America’s most reprehensible contributions to history. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in true crime, historically accurate westerns, and students of criminology and behavioral sciences.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book by the author but I also chose to purchase a copy and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
Another great true crime tale written by Ryan Green. Boone Helm was born in Kentucky, but carried out a crime spree across the American frontier in the late 1800’s. In the days before instant news and media, it is hard to know how many serial killers might have been active in those times.
Mr. Green has a knack of writing about true crime that is different than a lot of books in this genre. He takes the facts and writes them in a way that makes the story come alive instead of just writing dry facts. As you read this book, you can almost hear, feel and smell the story in your mind.
If you are squeamish, this might not be the book for you. But, since it IS titled with the word “Cannibal”, you have been warned! Some of the images from this story will stick with me for a long time.
The narrator, Steve White, does a great job and adds a lot to the listener’s enjoyment. I hope that Mr. Green continues to write true crime books for a long time for those of us who can’t get our fill of them!
A good basic relating of the life of Boone Helm. However the author falls short in his background information, ofter having glaring mistakes crop up.