This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. Blood And Money

   The Classic True Story of Murder, Passion, and Power

   

   The book delves into the intricate and sensational true crime story surrounding the murder of Joan Robinson Hill, a wealthy socialite from Houston, Texas, and the subsequent mysterious death of her husband, Dr. John Hill. It explores the complex web of family dynamics, wealth, and power, highlighting the intense legal battles and investigations that ensue. The narrative uncovers the dark underbelly of high society, revealing motives driven by greed and revenge, and paints a vivid picture of the characters involved in this gripping tale of intrigue and betrayal.

2. 2. The Mythic Past

   Biblical Archaeology and the Myth of Israel

   

   A critical reassessment of the Hebrew Bible’s origin stories that argues the archaeological record does not support the patriarchal narratives, the Exodus, or a single Conquest as historical events, and that these accounts are largely later theological and ideological constructions. The author examines archaeological data and comparative ancient Near Eastern evidence to suggest that Israel emerged gradually through social and cultural processes in the Iron Age, and that the biblical texts reflect mythmaking and national identity formation rather than straightforward historical reportage. The work advocates a minimalist approach, urging scholars to distinguish literary-theological layers from what can be reliably recovered by archaeology.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org

3. 3. Serpentine By Thomas Thompson

   

   With compelling style and suspense this true-crime book reconstructs the bizarre, bloody journey of a mesmerizing but sinister young man named Charles Sobhraj. Sweeping back and forth over half the globe -- from the boulevards of Paris to the slopes of Mount Everest to the underbellies of Bangkok and Hong Kong -- Sobhraj left in his wake a trail of baffling mystery and inexplicable horror. He also led the police of a dozen nations on a chase that ended at least twelve and possibly twenty-four corpses later with a mere seven-year prison sentence in Delhi. Besides offering a riveting narrative of serial murder and a years-long manhunt, this singular volume examines the lives not only of the intelligent, charismatic, conscienceless, and thoroughly dangerous Sobhraj but also of the unsuspecting victims that he drugged, robbed, sometimes tortured, and without a qualm often killed. A chilling tale of deadly coincidences set in exotic, glamorous locales, Serpentine offers a reading experience as frightening as it is unforgettable.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org