True Crime Classic edition With an update by the author
Paperback, 244 Pages & 8 pages of photographs $6.99, ISBN 0-312-98525-8 St. Martin's Press, True Crime Classic
The true story of the cross country trail of murder committed by serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells. This new True Crime Classic edition updates the unfolding events in this story since its original publication in 2003 including the pivotal role this book played in obtaining justice for wrongfully convicted Julie Rea Harper.
Ten-year-old Krystal Surles watched in horror as her best friend was murdered at the hands of an intruder. Then with cold-blooded precision he brought a twelve-inch boning knife to Krystal's throat. With a single, violent slash, he severed her windpipe and left her for dead. Miraculously, she survived and would lead authorities to the arrest of 35-year-old Tommy Lynn Sells, a former truck driver, carnival worker, and cross-country drifter.
THROUGH THE WINDOW is more than an investigation into a crime spree that stunned a nation. It's an utterly terrifying plunge into the unfathomable dark mind of a serial killer, and the heart-wrenching story of the brave child who finally brought him to justice. Read the first chapter of this book.
women in crime ink blog post Best Woman in the World?
I got a very unusual email last week from someone who was quite mad at me—I assume he was angry because of the careful and frequent use of capital letters in his message.Writing True Crime books opens an author up to a lot of unwarranted criticism from two divergent groups of people with dissimilar world views. Read more...
Women in Crime Ink blog post Criminal Conspiracy Fails
Last week, the West Virginia Supreme Court denied the appeal of Dana December Smith. He'd been convicted in 1992 of two counts of felony murder. The jury did not recommend mercy which in the state of West Virginia was the equivalent of life without parole. He was accused of a brutal homicide. Read More...
Women in Crime Ink blog post Out of the Closet
Just when I thought law enforcement had forgotten Tommy Lynn Sells, along comes a former deputy with Missouri's Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Departmentasking about a long forgotten body. And once again, Sells' name was dropped as a possible suspect. Read More...
Women in Crime Ink blog post Victoria's Secret
“There are two people in there and one of them is kind. But once a person commits a crime, the world doesn’t want to give them a chance.” That’s what Victoria Zubcic, a bail bondswomanfrom Missouri, told an Associated Press reporter about the serial killers she has known. Read more...
"I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. I'm amazed at how much research you had to have done, and for the parts I actually knew about, the accuracy was more than I could have expected. I have to tell my friends that if they read this book, they will be able to experience everything that I did, just as if they had experienced it themselves. I'm a reader and have read many books and still do, but I'm still surprised at how well you wove everything into a story that's enjoyable to read and accurate to detail."
"I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Diane Fanning's book to all of you who are fascinated with the bizarre minds of serial killers like I am. I couldn't put it down and will admit to extra vigilance now in checking to make sure that my doors and windows are secure. She did an excellent job in chronicling Tommy Lynn Sells life in chilling detail. As I read these accounts, I could not imagine what it must have taken to sit across the table from this man to interview him. Great job and a scary read! "
