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Michael Thomas Barry is the critically acclaimed author of seven nonfiction books that include Murder & Mayhem 52 Crimes that Shocked Early California 1849-1949 (2012) and the soon to be released In the Company of Evil Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980 (2016). He has made numerous TV and radio appearances that include Investigation Discovery Channel’s “Deadly Women” TV series and PBS SoCal’s “Real Orange.”
Michael’s many literary awards include the 2011& 2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards (silver & gold medal), 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Awards (finalist), 2012 & 2013 International Book Awards (winner), 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival (finalist), 2013, 2014 & 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (finalist), and London Book Festival (runner-up finalist).
He is a columnist for CrimeMagazine.com, where he pens the weekly column “This Week in Crime History.” Michael is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton with degrees in history and criminal justice. He resides in Orange, California with his wife, Christyn and their two golden retrievers, Jake and Madison (in spirit).
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
In an absolutely great entry in the genre of true crime, In the Company of Evil: Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980 by Michael Thomas Barry is a fantastic composite of some of the most notorious and interesting cases in California in the time period. In truly chilling detail, the book provides readers with a glimpse into the lives and crimes of those ranging from serial killers to Satan worshippers, to brutal rapists and more. Some of the more fascinating cases include 'The Real House on Haunted Hill,' 'The Sex Club Slaying' and 'The Lonely Hearts Killer,' and their recounting may bring back the sense of terror that the communities they victimized felt at the time that these vicious criminals were active.
I found In the Company of Evil to be a simply fascinating read. Author Michael Thomas Barry has done a fantastic job in interweaving true facts from cases, personal histories of both victims and perpetrators, as well as photographs to make the stories come alive on the page. I also appreciated the fact that while some of the stories I knew or remembered, others were less publicized and known, making for new discoveries in the world of crime. Any reader who enjoys true crime, history, and especially history from the state of California will love In the Company of Evil: Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980. I highly recommend this book. I certainly hope that author Michael Thomas Barry is already working on his next book in this same vein. I, for one, will certainly be keeping an eye out for his next work!
