Good evening, dear readers,
As you know, true crime is one of my favorite areas to read, and I have a new book for you! A Murder On Campus by Brian and Cameron Santana bring to light a cold case, and one that haunted a college town for years. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Rating: ⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️/5
Publisher: WildBlue Press
Goodreads Blurb:
The fascinating story of how two brothers—one an English professor, the other a cop, and as different as night and day—tag team as authors to solve North Carolina’s most notorious cold case … A MURDER ON CAMPUS The Professor, The Cop, And North Carolina’s Most Notorious Cold Case by Brian and Cameron Santana is a true crime investigation that unveils the shocking story behind the brutal 1973 murder on campus of 19-year-old Virginia Marie Olson.
On April 15, 1973, two high school students discovered Olson’s body near the campus of the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The cold case that followed would span over 50 years, involving three generations of detectives and the Asheville Police Department and North Carolina SBI as they worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. Olson’s murder was horrifically violent—she had been bound, raped, and stabbed to death, leaving the Asheville community in shock.
The true crime book takes readers through law enforcement’s dramatic efforts to find Olson’s killer, facing numerous obstacles along the way, from the abduction of another UNCA student in 1974 to a rape and murder victim’s body discovered near Olson’s crime scene in 1978. Whispers about the killer’s identity have circulated for decades, with theories ranging from an escaped mental health patient to one of North Carolina’s most notorious serial killers—until now.
A MURDER ON CAMPUS is the first to tell the gripping story of this unsolved crime and the surprising twists that led to the authors’ revelation of the killer’s identity in North Carolina’s most notorious cold cases. Written by two brothers, one a cop and the other an English professor, this book offers a unique and fascinating perspective on a case that has haunted Buncombe County for generations.
My Review:
When this case went cold, it was a tragedy. From the start, it seemed as though the police officers were not sure as where to start, and instead of working to narrow the suspect pool, there were mistakes made – a lot of mistakes.
As techniques have improved over the decades, so to have forensics. While this was not viable in the 70s, evidence collected that was stored properly could be tested today, and the process of elimination, or if someone happened to match who was in the system, answers would have been easier to come by.
This was a very interesting case to read through. I was not familiar with this one, but the Santana brothers have done a great job in working down the list, and forming a very viable conclusion. The honest assessments and the different perspectives given work well together.
For true crime fans, this is one book that you are not going to want to miss. Get your copy today in paperback, kindle, or audiobook.
