American author & journalist
Some especially cautious men and women hedge their bets by seeking out ex-wives and girlfriends, or ex-husbands and boyfriends for private conversations when new relationships begin to show promise of becoming serious. Instead of simply jumping in with both feet and living an illusion of trust with a stranger, others hire private detectives to conduct premarital investigations, or simply snoop into the background of a favorite dating partner. Surprisingly often, the man or woman whose life is being checked out hasn't been totally truthful.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Deadly White Female
To most people, Las Vegas is synonymous with gambling and glitter; a slightly, pleasingly sinful fairyland for adults where they can watch the most entertaining performers and biggest names in show business in between bouts of indulging in games of chance that everyone knows favor the house.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Blood in the Sand
The unwary, unlucky, and sometimes grossly foolish, can become murder victims in myriad ways. Drug deals go bad and turn into violent shootouts; women and children of both sexes are murdered by rapists; serial killers troll for male and female prostitutes, barroom pickups, or hitchhikers; longtime drinking buddies kill each other in drunken brawls; men and women are shot down for a few dollars after making withdrawels at ATM machines; others die in coldly-calculated, carefully-planned executions; and family members are turning on each other with increasing frequency. It is a continual struggle between good and evil that provides plotlines for countless movies, television series, newspapers, and books.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Poisoned Views
Profiles don't catch criminals.... It's careful investigative work, long hours, informants' tips, and a lot of luck -- such as a slip-up on the part of the criminal.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Night Stalker
As an economic entity, greater Los Angeles is world class. If the area were an independent country, it would have a gross national product greater than that of Mexico or Australia.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Night Stalker
If the death penalty is ever to be carried out in order to protect the innocent and send an unmistakable message to criminals that some crimes are so odious and chillingly frightful that execution is society's only responsible answer, special accommodations should be reserved in death chambers and electric chairs for medical serial killers.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Death Angel
Being locked up for the first time in your life is a shattering experience and suicides are a grim fact of life in the nation's jails and prisons.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
The Murder of Laci Peterson
Ethics are more important than law.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Children in Chains
Most serial killers are as territorial as cougars or wildcats. They work a particular area.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Smooth Operator
Usually, although not always, being able to cite a close approximation of the time of death is not so helpful to defense attorneys--especially if their client is guilty.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Poisoned Views
There is a fascination with murder that is unequalled by any other crime. And the obsession with homicide is especially keen when the accused killer is a woman. Women aren't supposed to do such things. They create and nurture life.... When a woman abandons her more traditional function in the deadly game of homicide as victim, survivor, or observer and assumes the role of killer, it's especially disturbing--and sensational.
CLIFFORD L. LINEDECKER
Poisoned Views