Edgar Award Finalist: The terrifying true story of savage murders, a terrorized midwestern town, and the serial killer who could have lived next door In 1967, during the time of peace, free love, and hitchhiking, nineteen-year-old Mary Terese Fleszar was last seen alive walking home to her apartment in Ypsilanti, Michigan. One month later, her naked body–stabbed over thirty times and missing … thirty times and missing both feet and a forearm–was discovered, partially buried, on an abandoned farm. A year later, the body of twenty-year-old Joan Schell was found, similarly violated. Southeastern Michigan was terrorized by something it had never experienced before: a serial killer. Over the next two years, five more bodies were uncovered around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. All the victims were tortured and mutilated. All were female students.
After multiple failed investigations, a chance sighting finally led to a suspect. On the surface, John Norman Collins was an all-American boy–a fraternity member studying elementary education at Eastern Michigan University. But Collins wasn’t all that he seemed. His female friends described him as aggressive and short tempered. And in August 1970, Collins, the “Ypsilanti Ripper,” was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole.
Written by the coauthor of The French Connection, The Michigan Murders delivers a harrowing depiction of the savage murders that tormented a small midwestern town.
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I love true crime books and the author did a great job of telling the story
An in-depth, detailed account of a piece of history.
Insightful read without a lot of unnecessary theories. Just the facts, ma’am!
Enjoyed the read..
Informative. Once you start the book it is something you just have to finish. It was well written.
This was very well researched and written and held my interest throughout. I would recommend this book.
Good story based on true facts. However, I don’t see why the names of the murderer or the victims had to be changed. It is part of public records. A lot of research went into the writing of this book. The author did a great job of keeping my interest.
A thoroughly researched recounting of a series of gruesome murders and the careful killer who almost got away with murder!
I think this book was good It seemed like they had a hard time figuring out who had done the murders
The Michigan Murders
Wow. As horrible as the mass-murders and spree killings we see on the news and in the papers in this day and age,I cannot even begin to fathom what it must have been like to have serial killers running around. I guess that’s do to our advancements in forensic science, though it is incredible how back then they were able to do all that analysis with tiny pieces of hair.
I found this to be an interesting true crime novel, but I’m glad I hadn’t read it before moving to Jackson, Michigan a few years ago, (I probably wouldn’t have) I really like it here. 🙂
If You like True Crime, this is a fantastic read! The Author writes like a news journalist, and keeps you enmeshed in the journey of a Serial Killer of the worst kind! Handsome, Charismatic, SCARY! Enjoy!
A real life glimpse of a tragic time in Michigan.
I am partial to “True Mysteries”, and I found this one to be well written and interesting.
Loaded with scientific evidence presented in trial–that got a bit drawn out for me.
Hated the main characters so it was hard to like the book, even though I love True Crime.
I lived in this area when this took place. Great job.
Good writing for a true crime story. Very interesting and thoroughly researched.
Good to the end, and interesting to read because it was apparent that it was written in the 70’s. These days, it’s obvious that something is “dated” by the way the (male) author described every female in the book in ways that are no longer appropriate. Fascinating account coming from an era before DNA or contemporary blood analysis techniques.
This was a well written true crime book! The characters came alive. It is always interesting reading a place that you are familiar with. I recommend this book as it is very informative and makes you second guess what one’s true motives are.
Only recommended for true crime buffs. Not much background on killer given.