Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave

Shockingly to me, at least , the murder victims aren't even mentioned by name anywhere on the cover, outside or inside. Instead, the author and the Morrow marketing team chose to focus on the desert around Twentynine Palms, Calif.

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I wanted Twentynine Palms to be a tale of murder, with a powerful backstory of the Marines and the Mojave. Instead, it's a history textbook of the Marines and the Mojave, and the murder gets lost in the desert. The history textbook portion, though, is often beautifully written. For example, Stillman describes the Mojave as a place where "personal demons aren't demons at all but some other creatures who need a drink.

And her fascination with the Mojave is obvious, perhaps too obvious, like the creatures desperate for that drink which, at least in this book, is not water. When Stilman finally does focus on the murders, she blows readers away no pun intended with the blood and guts and heart of the murder, skillfully intertwining the crime, the trial, and the emotions of the victims, friends, and families.

I wept during the funeral. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Twentynine Palms by Deanne Stillman. August 2, , Twentynine Palms, California: One girl was about to turn sixteen, the other twenty-one.

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Exquisitely and inexorably, Deanne Stillman uses this tragedy as a prism through which she explores not only the murders and the families involved but a rootless culture of fat August 2, , Twentynine Palms, California: Exquisitely and inexorably, Deanne Stillman uses this tragedy as a prism through which she explores not only the murders and the families involved but a rootless culture of fatherless families, shattered dreams, and relentless violence.

In haunting, vivid prose, she creates a farreaching story of America itself, carrying us into the empty white heart of the Mojave, as we meet and come to know the modern nomads who turn to the West for salvation only to be devoured by its false promise. Paperback , pages. Published March 26th by Harper Paperbacks first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Twentynine Palms , please sign up.

Lists with This Book. Dec 02, Geoffrey Gelb rated it it was ok. I think it might have given me a small stroke just from reading it past page It took me three times longer than a normal book its size simply because it is written in such a confusing manner. Skipping around without any need, and done clumsily!

The whole point of the story is lost in a tale, or tales of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, etc. It seems as though the author's mind has suffered and succumbed to her own drug abuse! Sorry but where was the publisher on this one?

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Aren't they supposed to guide the writer and help them stay on track? This book is mental abuse upon the reader.

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I stuck it out only because I'm a masochist! The story might have been worth the telling at some point but the author turned it into a confusing, garbled, unintelligent recap of multiple womens history of abuse at their husbands or boyfriends hands while living in the steamy desert outside of Los Angeles. I know the area and it's beautiful, but now, I'm afraid, the author has made it seem like it's completely overrun with nothing but trailer trash and meth heads.

I read these reviews a little too late. I only read this book because some lady I know told me I should. I found out later, when I had finished, and went to ask her why in heavens she thought this book was worth reading, that she told me she herself had put it down shortly after telling me to read it, and simply forgot that she had recommended it to me.

Deanne Stillman - Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines and the Mojave

Jan 23, Fishface rated it really liked it Shelves: Terrible murder set in an out-of-the-way corner of America. It's as much about the weird, alienated culture of the Mojave desert as it is about the lives and deaths of Rosie, Mandi and their killer. The author zigzags all over this story, taking you back two generations for the deep underpinnings, then fast-forwarding to now, then weebling to ten years ago and wobbling to last week.

She also uses a lot of out-of-control run-on sentences. But it's a memorable story that ultimately all comes toget Terrible murder set in an out-of-the-way corner of America. But it's a memorable story that ultimately all comes together in a nightmarish way. Apr 18, Tracy rated it did not like it. The author paints an unattractive portrait of people who call the Morongo Basin home. She fails to recognize the beauty of the desert and the quality of good people who live there.

Oh, and then there is the fact that this story is full of half truths and victim blaming. Kind of annoying when you actually lived through the events sort of described in this book. Feb 27, Elizabeth Hesseltine rated it did not like it Shelves: I read parts One and Two, but couldn't go on. It felt like every man beat his wife, every woman was a victim, and there was way too much description about the natural beauty of the area.

I also though the story jumped around too much. Nov 23, Lenny rated it really liked it. Gritty, down in the dumps realism by Deanne Stillman in her depiction of life of these two families who were involved in this crime. Jul 20, Joanne rated it it was amazing. I had been visiting Twentynine Palms for many years before I read this book. It made a big impression on me, I think Stillman loves the desert.

Sep 18, Jim rated it really liked it. I have to say I love true crime, a dirty vice, and the descriptions ofthe mojave were good. I like the idea of the desesrt as a grim oven --and that out there history doesn't matter, space does.

Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave

Jun 25, Rachal Chadwell rated it did not like it. This book was terrible. It drug on and on and on I love true crime books, but this was just awful. In the shadow of this military outpost and against a panorama of spectacular desert scenery camps a roiling brew of latter-day tribes: In , it all collided: One was about to turn 16, the other How did these girls come to find themselves in a certain apartment on a certain night in Twentynine Palms?

What family and cultural legacies dogged them and ultimately sealed their doom? Exquisitely and inexorably, Deanne Stillman uses this tragedy as a prism through which she explores not only the murders and the families involved, but a rootless culture of fatherless families, shattered dreams, and relentless violence. In haunting, vivid prose, she creates a far-reaching story of America itself, carrying us into the empty white heart of the Mojave, as we meet and come to know the modern nomads who turn to the West for salvation only to be devoured by its false promise.