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

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I love true crime books, but this was just awful.

Honestly, I could have read the online article and would have been satisfied. Jul 21, Carol rated it it was amazing. An excellent, well researched, true story. I couldn't put the book down. Nov 02, Brian Carrigan rated it it was amazing. May 10, gaby rated it liked it Shelves: In the notes at the end of this book, Stillman mentions many of the other novels, works of nonfiction, essays, and films that informed her development of Twentynine Palms: Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore Gary's brother , Baudrillard's weird blatherings about the American desert, and the diminutive progenitor of the whole true crime genre, eclipsed many times over and since by later efforts -- In Cold Blood.

Certainly Stillman aspires to these ranks, and her effort is at times lyrical, prophet In the notes at the end of this book, Stillman mentions many of the other novels, works of nonfiction, essays, and films that informed her development of Twentynine Palms: Certainly Stillman aspires to these ranks, and her effort is at times lyrical, prophetic, earnest. She nails the ticks-in-the-floorboard disappearance of the Mojave's underclass; the desert's ruthless heartbeat, the liquor and grim sun.

The crime scene sequences are measured, a good cadence, a bad brotherhood with the Marine whodunit. But the book aims higher, and misses each mark, sometimes by a hair, and other times by a bit more. Three points stay with me: Stillman casts the two dead women at the center of this story as heroes. She actually uses the word, at least once, to describe them both. This is cheap, and beyond that, it is ideologically unnecessary and perhaps even counterproductive to her second aim see below.

The truth is, these women were not heroes. They were not special. They were, perhaps, not even average. In the way we now speak of Black Lives Mattering, no matter which type of life the person chose in life, we must also recognize that Poor Women Matter. It doesn't matter whether Mandi and Rosie were sluts or goddesses. It doesn't matter if they were "good people," in singular vernacular or plural. It does not matter if they were trash or class. They were women, who died violently, who died brutally, who died unlawfully. By belaboring their rebirth into heroes, Stillman loses sight of the universality of their death.

They did not deserve to die, no matter how good or bad they were. Stillman makes this a theme of the narrative. It is even in her subtitle.

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And I am very sympathetic to the suggestion that the American military has waged a systematic campaign of violence against women - at home and abroad. However, Stillman provides just that -- a suggestion. Rhetoric, off-hand comments, conclusory statements, unsupported. It again does a disservice to this important issue to leave this thread hanging. It is, at best, sloppy journalism to devise a theme of your story that you do not develop, but rather assume as a premise. Stillman takes valuable pains to discuss the shadow of racism that follows black Marines, particularly in the poor white desert, where they literally and figuratively "cannot hide.

Not about the black killer -- there, she does a good, professional job of sorting out the racial issues. But rather about the two dead women -- the Filipino Rosie, and the white Mandi. The book is about Mandi. She is the star, the real hero. Rosie is the sidekick who dies too. The uneven time devoted to each victim does, over the course of the book, feel problematic. There could be completely innocent reasons for this journalistic decision. Perhaps Rosie's family was less available than Mandi's; perhaps there was a language barrier that made getting close to them more difficult.

Perhaps the records were somehow better or more complete in Mandi's legal case than Rosie's. But Stillman does not explain why this is Mandi's book, and not Rosie's. Without an explanation, it just feels strange. In the end, I did enjoy this book. Stillman's language and voice are often clear, imaginative, and unusual.

I see she has written more books about the desert, and I would gladly read them. Aug 22, Cat rated it liked it Shelves: As a fan of both the high desert and true crime, this book was a can't miss. Just as an aside about the genre of "true crime": Really, true crime is a bit of a misnomer.

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

Parts of any true crime story are fictionalized due to the inevitable problems of sourcing a recent crime. Additionally, I don't see how you can write a true crime story without shifting focus between the perpretator, the victim and the setting. All three help reveal whatever "truth" that can be learned from the description of a As a fan of both the high desert and true crime, this book was a can't miss. All three help reveal whatever "truth" that can be learned from the description of a murder or whatnot.

That being said, Stillman, a writer from Los Angeles, does an at times workman-like and at times inspired job of revealing the murderer and victim. Where she really shines is her treatment of the desert of California as a character. Her descrptions of the world of the high desert are evocative and resonate with other, similar descriptions contained inside and outside the genre of true crime.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I thought Stillman gave short shrift to the legal machinations surrounding the trial, but I can't blame her for it, since the tone of the book is apparent from the blurb on the back. I'd recommend this to fans of true crime and post modern philosophy, but I urge the old and easily horrified away. If this book freaks you out, you probably won't get much from the book aside from the facts of the case.

Aug 23, Ken rated it really liked it. This is a superior book of the 'true crime' genre, and closer to the approach of Truman Capote or James Ellroy rather than Ann Rule. Rule's books recount an enthralling murder case, and basically it's, 'just the facts', and the other two authors try to capture a bit more of the 'emotional fall-out'of the atrocity.

And, this is what Deanne Stillman has beautifully accomplished. Much has been made about how the author presents the Mojave desert as a major ingredient in this bloody and senseless do This is a superior book of the 'true crime' genre, and closer to the approach of Truman Capote or James Ellroy rather than Ann Rule.

Book Review: Readings

Much has been made about how the author presents the Mojave desert as a major ingredient in this bloody and senseless double murder. But, I think what really sets this novel apart is how she showcases the 'less than sterling' characters of the victims and their families. Mandi Scott and Rosalie Ortega were promiscuous drug takers who hung around with the 'wrong crowd', yet Stillman really evokes empathy for them. They really come across as loving and caring individuals wise beyond their years, and this makes the tragedy even more devestating.

This is a great read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves 'true crime' books that aspire for just a bit more. Oct 25, Casey Kelsen rated it did not like it. This book started out slow but I kept with it. It was nice to read about places that I know. At one point it just lost me.

I missed the part about the murder and I diddnt skip any pages. I could not follow the story line any more. Had to move on to something else. Feb 18, James rated it it was amazing. A haunting and evocative journey to strange and recognizable terrain, 29 Palms is a fascinating and chilling read.

This was another book where I was completely engrossed by the characters - the conscientious research makes this book stand above other true-crime reads. Jul 21, Janice Barlow rated it liked it.

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Started out strong but jumped around way too much. Glamorized the drugged life of people down and out in the desert and the promiscuous lifestyle of the teenagers trapped in bad situations. 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. This book is unforgettable. A fascinating, if chilling read.

Stillman has written a terrific book, and an important one, painting a picture of American life, post-Desert Storm, that is just shy of apocalyptic. The place, a desert of wind howling with twelve packs of loneliness. This the Great American Desert where the sun has yet to shine.

Deanne Stillman

The Notes from Underground. Stillman writes a dust-devil tale of murder, madness and the military soaked in white-hot passion and razor-sharp insights. Not since Raymond Carver weaved down his strip of motels and trailer parks has anyone dared the high-wire act of writing the low-life and carried it off with such ease. Even trickier, she makes you care.

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