Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: List of 10
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Swinney, Chris
BIRTHDATE: 2/4/1976
WEBSITE: http://www.clswinney.wordpress.com
CITY: San Francisco
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born February 4, 1976.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and novelist; also works as deputy sheriff and detective. Formerly served as corrections officer.
AVOCATIONS:Fly fishing.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals and media outlets, including Alaskan Peninsula Newspaper, California Game & Fish, Fly Fisherman, and PointsBeyond.com. Author of a blog.
SIDELIGHTS
C.L. Swinney is a law enforcement official and a writer and novelist whose works include detective fiction (the “Bill Dix Detective” series) and true-crime narrative nonfiction.
Gray Ghost
Gray Ghost, first of the “Bill Dix Detective” series, is a detective thriller that pits two law enforcement colleagues on vacation against a syndicate of cocaine-runners. Dix and Peterson have gone to the Bahamas to enjoy their leisure time fishing. Their plans are interrupted, however, when their fishing guides and their boat, the Gray Ghost, disappear. On further investigation, the guides appear to have been involved in drug-smuggling, and their rivals have sunk the Ghost and its load of cocaine. Soon Dix and Peterson are caught up in a struggle to get to the Ghost’s still-intact cargo of drugs—a stuggle that pits them against locals and drug lords alike.
“An action filled read and keep an eye on the characters,” declared Sandra Murphy in Kings River Life. “Dix and Peterson have their hands full to solve this case–fishing will have to wait.
List of 10
Swinney’s narrative nonfiction takes the form of true-crime stories. His “Homicide True Crime Cases” series focuses on lesser-known serial killers. List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso, for instance, examined the life and career of a murderer who preyed on women in California for decades before being caught and sentenced. “Naso,” wrote an I Heart Reading reviewer, was “a deranged serial killer with narcisstic tendencies. Joseph Naso was married once and even had two sons (one of which suffered from schizophrenia, and who Naso apparently took good care of), worked as a freelance photographer and in his spare time… he killed prostitutes. Well, mostly prostitutes. He had a pretty normal childhood, nothing that would indicate he was capable of doing this, and his wife of several years never suspected anything. Yet DNA doesn’t lie, and he now awaits the death sentence in death row.” “I did not like writing the portions of this book pertaining to Naso courting his victims and killing his victims,” the author said in his Two Gals and a Book interview. “Ultimately, I deleted many scenes because I couldn’t finish writing them.”
Swinney points out that the clues to Naso’s activities were in sight throughout most of his career. “Naso had warning signs thirty years prior to his first kill that no one recognized or addressed. He was left out of custody,” Swinney told a Two Gals and a Book website interviewer. “True crime books, especially involving serial killers are full of unsavory facts. In List of 10, I left some details out because I felt Naso, if he ever got his hands on the book, would revel in the chaos and drama he created.” “The most incredible part is that Mr. Naso had literally been living, for decades, on probation–as if he liked the thrill of not getting caught for the heinous crimes,” wrote a contributor to the Two Gals and a Book website. “As soon as he was to get off probation for a petty crime, he would (it seems) get in trouble on purpose again and be back on probation.” “With great diligence,” concluded a Kirkus Reviews contributor, “the author illuminates the murderer’s darkest thoughts without romanticizing them–and gives the victims the written equivalent of a proper burial.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2017, review of List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso.
ONLINE
Ghastly Grimoire, http://theghastlygrimoire.com/ (August 28, 2017), Acanthea Grimscythe, review of List of 10.
I Heart Reading, http://www.iheartreading.net/ (May 25, 2017), review of List of 10.
Kings River Life, http://kingsriverlife.com/ (October 5, 2013), Sandra Murphy, review of Gray Ghost.
Two Gals and a Book, https://twogalsandabook.com/ (May 9, 2018), author interview; review of List of 10.
C. L. Swinney is the author of ten international #1 best-selling true crime books in five countries. He's also the author of a best-selling crime-fiction series, The Bill Dix Detective Series.
Several of his books are being considered for film and tv rights by two agencies and he's consulted for a mini-series in Hollywood based on a serial killer cold case being re-opened. Chris has contributed to PoliceOne.com and regularly gives exciting radio/podcast interviews.
Chris has published three projects. An anthology entitled, **Justice Shall Be Served**, and two chap books, **Crushing Tin** and **Jaded Potholes.**
He donates proceeds from book sales to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Cancer research, PTSD/Military support groups, StopHungerNow.Org, and victims of violent crimes.
Lastly, Chris is the owner of 6 Apparel Company, a law enforcement owned and operated clothing company designing products for men and women in law enforcement (and retired) and first responders. @6apparelcompany on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Chris is on the following social media sites:
Email: theclswinney@yahoo.com
TWITTER: @clswinney
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/clswinney
I’m a Deputy Sheriff who’s proud of what it took to get where I’m at, and what it means to wear a badge to serve and protect.
Mistakes are being made by law enforcement around our country. Like you, it bothers me and I ADMIT change is needed. However, hundreds of thousands of cops, men and women, of all ethnic groups, do a tremendous job serving and protecting people every single day. Before you threaten us, beat us, and kill us I ask that you do what it takes to earn a badge and consider whether or not you could give your life for a complete stranger. If you wear my shoes, I’ll listen to you. If you want to have an adult discussion about my profession, without labeling and finger pointing, I’ll be more than glad to hear what you have to say.
The above star logo (upper right) embodies much of what I’m about. Do you see the writer’s quills, fly rod, shield, and other interesting points? The complexity of the design is meant for those willing to expend energy to learn.
I support the following groups because I believe in them and they’ve earned my trust and respect: Teachers, Parents, Law Enforcement, Doctors, Nurses, Firemen, American Troops, Juvenile Diabetes Research, Single Parents, and ANYONE who strives to leave Earth better than when they visited it. I also spend time volunteering for my church, schools, try to coach, and I still very much love to fly fish. Mostly though, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
My Writing:
One of my first writing gigs appeared in Fly Fisherman Magazine http://www.flyfisherman.com/?s=chris+swinney. After that, I was published more regularly in PointsBeyond.com, Alaskan Peninsula Newspaper, California Game & Fish, and once again in Fly Fisherman Magazine.
Fourteen years ago, I got a job as a Correctional Officer. I quickly promoted to Deputy Sheriff and made the rank of Detective working in the Narcotics Task Force. I did a five year tour during this time with a Department of Justice Task Force. Much of what I did or saw during my career goes into my plots and characters. I try to write as real as fiction as I can.
I continued to write during these years and eventually saw my first novel, Gray Ghost (first of the Bill Dix Detective series), get published in July of 2013. The book has over 115 reviews on Amazon and is a best-seller.
After a few bumpy Publisher issues, I finally landed with RJ Parker Publishing and launched The Cartel Enforcers, which also made the best-sellers lists on Amazon. In the early part of December in 2014, the third book in the series, Sin City Assassin, was launched and quickly climbed as a best-seller.
After these projects (fourth in the series almost complete), I took a stab at true crime writing. I did a novella called, Robert Pickton: The Pig Farmer Killer, which became a #1 best-seller in several categories and countries. The novella is part of a series called, True Canada Serial Killers, published by an imprint of RJ Parker Publications called, Vronsky Parker Publications.
In honor of POLICE WEEK, I took part in a project that I’m very proud of. It’s a collection of short stories, non-fiction and fiction, written by men and women in law enforcement (military and correctional officers) providing a behind the scenes look into our professions. My intent was to bring a strong and positive vibe back to law enforcement. The collection immediately landed on best-seller lists on amazon. THE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN HEROES. Please check it out. A great cause, done by cops, correctional officers, and military folks, for the families of our fallen brothers and sisters. The anthology is called, Justice Shall Be Served.
Future writing projects:
On June 22, 2015, I’ll be publishing my first chap book entitled, Crushing Tin. This is a collection of poems and prose I wrote to help me cope with the stresses and unbelievable things I see or participate in while serving the community. As usual, the proceeds from this project will go to the families of fallen heroes.
In October 2015, the second true-crime novel I’ve written will be released as part of the True Crime Canada Series. The person I wrote about is certainly one of Canada’s worse serial killers in the history of the country.
Sometime before the end of 2015, the fourth (and possibly final) novel in the Bill Dix Series will be published. The running title is, Full Circle, and fans will certainly be shocked, and likely upset with me. But an author must do what he has to do…
Chris
Facts about Chris:
I wear interesting costumes when I work undercover.
I’m allergic to bee stings.
I secretly have a thing for poetry, but I’m too chicken to write more of it.
I use a pen name of C. L. Swinney.
I created a social media group on Goodreads that seems to be helping a lot of people with promoting their work through social media. “Social Media 101” is the name of the group https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/104837-social-media-101.
Don’t dare me to do something unless you really want to see it done.
**PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO DROP A LINE AT: theclswinney@yahoo.com or at Google+ or facebook at www.facebook.com/clswinney
Chris Swinney, is currently writing fiction based on what he experiences as a homicide and narcotics investigator in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an avid reader, he began to see his passion for writing coming out in other authors' words and it motivated him to write novels.
His work has been featured in Fly Fisherman Magazine, PointsBeyond.com, Alaskan Peninsula Newspaper, and California Game & Fish Magazine. He's now a contributor to www.PoliceOne.com, the nation's premier law enforcement online magazine.
His debut novel, Gray Ghost, made the bestseller's list on Amazon in paperback, kindle, and hardcover in Crime Fiction, Mystery, and Police Procedural. He donates proceeds from his sales to groups like Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Cancer research, and PTSD/Military support groups.
The second novel in the Bill Dix series, The Cartel Enforcers, is contracted and scheduled for an August 2014 release. The project hits close to home for Chris because it features his mentor, Koti Fakava, who passed away leaving behind his lovely wife and five wonderful children. Proceeds from this novel will go directly to Koti's family.
Chris is a big time supporter of Teachers, Parents, Law Enforcement, Doctors, Nurses, Firefighters, American Troops, Juvenile Diabetes Research, and children. He spends time volunteering for his church, at schools, he coaches, and every once in awhile he gets to go fly fishing.
Review of List of 10, Interview With Author C. L. Swinney, and Enter to Win 1 of 2 Copies of List of 10!
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Blurb: A narcissistic professional photographer lived a dangerous double life as a serial killer. He’d focus his rage on prostitutes mostly. It wasn’t uncommon for him to bring them home then try to explain why they were there to his wife.
Sexual urges met, either via rape or after paying for kinky sex, the killer would strangle his victims and dump their bodies in places he knew the police would eventually find them. The evil murderer needed the world to know that he was smarter than the police and women meant nothing to him but a necessary sexual inconvenience.
Then, by a stroke of chance and aggressive police work, the wheels of justice stumbled upon a lead. It was nothing more than a lined sheet of paper that read, “List of 10,” but shortly after its discovery, a task force was created and a serial killer was nabbed.
This book is about the victims he left behind, not the person who took their lives. I will never condone such actions, nor will I try to rationalize his behavior. He will go to the grave, hopefully sooner rather than later, knowing the identity of four women from his fabled List of 10. It’s his sick way of showing people he’s still in charge.
His name is Joseph Naso, and this book will grip you from the beginning and won’t let you go until the final word.
My Review: ****stars!
Astounding, truly astounding! That a monster like Joseph Naso could get by with what he did for so long! Wow, to think that there are monsters like that, running around in the world, doing the most horrific things for decades!
Joseph Naso had a serious problem– he thought women were beneath him and had no problem assaulting and raping them, hundreds of them, and even kept a “journal” documenting each one and making notes about the particular victim, i.e. “she ripped me off”, etc. That started in the 1950’s. He went to court twice for it (1955 and 1962? i think), but both women never showed up for court, so the judge let him go with a misdemeanor charge and a warning. By the 1970’s, the assaulting and raping had become blase` to him and escalated to murder. It is known for a fact he definitely killed 10 women, but is suspected of more, since his appetite and confidence seemed to increase. The most incredible part is that Mr. Naso had literally been living, for decades, on probation– as if he liked the thrill of not getting caught for the heinous crimes. As soon as he was to get off probation for a petty crime, he would (it seems) get in trouble on purpose again, and be back on probation, but it ended up his undoing (thank God). If not for that, he might never have been caught. This guy was literally like a modern day Jack-the-Ripper,– not as gory, but much more prolific. He definitely was a very disturbed individual, not only for his crimes, but his fetishes as well– his obsession with taking pictures of women in seductive poses, that were obviously frightened or dead. Scary. I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of true crime, or like reading about real serial killers. I applaud the author C. L. Swinney for writing the book– not to add any notoriety to Mr. Naso, but to try to give some recognition to his forgotten victims.
My thanks to C. L. Swinney for the honor of reading this book.
Interview with C. L. Swinney
twogalsandabook: Did you always want to be an author?
C. L. Swinney: I started writing magazine articles for fly fishing while in college. I caught the bug to write Crime Fiction a few years later. I started writing Crime Fiction about four years ago.
twogalsandabook: At what age did you start writing?
C. L. Swinney: 21
twogalsandabook: Do you read a lot? Do you have any favorite books, authors, poets, or genres?
C. L. Swinney: I read a ton. I’m a huge fan of Tony Hillerman, Daniel Silva, Gregg Olsen, Ann Rule, Ernest Hemingway, Socrates, John Brantingham, Tolstoy, Tolkein, George RR Martin. I read all sorts of genres. Almost everything written is something I might read.
twogalsandabook: What ambitions do you have for your writing career?
C. L. Swinney: I’d like to be a household name, at least in some circles, someday. But for now, I’m super happy where I’m at.
twogalsandabook: Is there anything you are working on now?
C. L. Swinney: I’m working on a True Crime book, a second book of poetry, and a Crime Fiction/Thriller book.
twogalsandabook: Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have any favorite writing rituals or atmosphere?
C. L. Swinney: I like to write at my desk at my home, but sometimes I’ll write when ideas come or a scene comes to mind while I’m out and about.
twogalsandabook: How do you deal with writer’s block?
C. L. Swinney: I don’t experience this.
twogalsandabook: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
C. L. Swinney: NEVER GIVE UP. From the time I wrote my first book and when it was actually published, 14 years had passed. Also, be careful with your work and who you entrust it with.
twogalsandabook: How do you deal with negative reviews or criticism?
C. L. Swinney: I used to get super upset by these reviews and I made the mistake of commenting back to people in the beginning of my writing career. Now, I don’t let them bother me. If a valid review has some good points about my work, I actually consider the content of the review and I will tweak my work from time to time. But to all the haters, many of whom use fake names or are authors who can’t get published or simply cannot write well, I have no love for you.
twogalsandabook: Did you have to do a lot of research for the List of 10?
C. L. Swinney: Yes. Two years of research went into List of 10. I spoke to the original detectives from the case that began in 1977 as well as the detectives involved in the case until it was adjudicated. I had access to all court records, testimony, statements, family members and friends of the victims, police reports, and the serial killer himself. I corresponded with Naso for several months via letters. I intended to interview him personally, but things didn’t work out. I also used internet sources, media sources, confidential informants, and other sources for this book.
twogalsandabook: Is the List of 10 part of a series about serial killers?
C. L. Swinney: Yes. This book is part of a series of serial killer books that I have written over the last four years. The series is called the “Homicide True Crime Cases Book Series.” There are seven books in this series. I also wrote 2 true crime books about serial killers in a series called “Crimes Canada.”
twogalsandabook: Who would you recommend read List of 10?
C. L. Swinney: Anyone who’s into true crime, serial killers, complex investigations, or interested in learning about a creepy and sadistic murderer should read this book. I write in such a manner as to give victims of these horrific crimes a voice. Some people don’t care for this style or allege that I put too much into the books about the victims. Many of the victims of serial killers, particularly in this case, are prostitutes. Society tends to dismiss them as victims simply because of the lives they lived. I don’t think that is appropriate or acceptable. If you are a reader who doesn’t care for my style, I’m completely supportive of your opinion. There are tons of great books out there in the true crime genre that you can read.
twogalsandabook: Has a trailer been made for the book?
C. L. Swinney: There hasn’t been a trailer made for this book. But, two different agencies have reached out to me regarding the tv/movie rights to List of 10.
twogalsandabook: Was there anything you had to delete or alter when writing List of 10?
C. L. Swinney: I did tweak the book a bit trying to take into account what certain victims told their family members about a man scaring them and stalking them…The same man who ended up killing them and being a serial killer. The style is known at narrative non-fiction. It’s a common format in the true crime world. Apparently, when other authors use narrative non-fiction it’s acceptable, but when I used it for this book, some people thought I shouldn’t have. No biggie.
twogalsandabook: What was the hardest part of writing this book?
C. L. Swinney: I did not like writing the portions of this book pertaining to Naso courting his victims and killing his victims. Ultimately, I deleted many scenes because I couldn’t finish writing them. True crime books, especially involving serial killers are full of unsavory facts. In List of 10, I left some details out because I felt Naso, if he ever got his hands on the book, would revel in the chaos and drama he created.
twogalsandabook: Was it difficult to put yourself in the mind of a man like Joseph Naso?
C. L. Swinney: I wish I could say no, but I’ve become fairly verse in serial killers. Naso had warning signs 30 years prior to his first kill that no one recognized or addressed. He was left out of custody and killed to satisfy his need for dominance over women and sexual desires. I chose not to spend too much time in what I thought went on in his head.
twogalsandabook: With 5 of the victims, their deaths seemed to have occurred either in January or August/September. Do you think that this was a pattern and something at those particular times of year “triggered” Mr. Naso’s urge to kill, or do you think that that is purely coincidental?
C. L. Swinney: I didn’t see any true connection to the months and Naso would not answer the question as to whether there was a connection.
twogalsandabook: Has any more progress been made in identifying the remaining 4 victims?
C. L. Swinney: Sadly, no. It bothers me that he knows exactly where the bodies are for the four remaining victims and refuses to divulge the information. He believes he has some sort of control in this story by withholding the information.
twogalsandabook: Did Joseph Naso share many common “traits” with other known serial killers? If so, what was similar and what wasn’t?
C. L. Swinney: Naso killed over an almost 30 year period, sometimes with long breaks in between murders. This behavior is not that common with serial killers. Many serial killers go on a killing spree then get caught, turn themselves in, or are killed. Many serial killers believe themselves to be superior to others, they are narcissistic and sadistic, and they focus on prostitutes or women as targets. Naso did all of these. Many serial killers gloat and brag about their kills, Naso still has not confessed to any of the murders. Many serial killers will work in small areas, Naso worked throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley which is a large area.
twogalsandabook: If the List of 10 were adapted into a movie or t.v. series, who would you like to see play the main characters?
C. L. Swinney: I could see Naso played by Jack Nicholson and Det. Petersen played by Liam Neeson.
Jack Nicholson 02
neeson
twogalsandabook: Is there anything you would like to add that we have not discussed?
C. L. Swinney: I hope the readers get a strong sense of what the victims in this case went through because that was my goal. I wanted to give them a voice. The Kirkus Review for List of 10 nailed what I was trying to accomplish with this project. I hope readers appreciate that all human life is precious and they don’t place people like Naso on some sort of pedestal and follow him in a cult-like manner. For the record, I have zero respect, admiration, care, or appreciation for Joe Naso or what he’s done. I thank God that good old fashion police work cracked this case wide open and Naso was sent to death row.
*Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cl-swinney/list-10/
The haunting stories of 10 slain women (4 of whom were never found) constitute this analysis of the hunt for serial killer Joseph Naso.
For decades, Naso photographed, raped, and murdered women, leaving no clues until 2010, when a probation officer searched his home and discovered a list of 10 unnamed “girls” whose locations in Northern California matched the crime scenes of several unsolved homicides. Swinney (Monster,2016, etc.) uses court documents and police reports, letters from the murderer, and interviews with law enforcement and survivors to retrace Naso’s steps, creating a chilling profile of a serial killer and the unfortunate women who crossed his path. The author pegs Naso, a photographer with a wife and children, as a narcissistic misogynist whose sexual urges became increasingly difficult to satisfy until “the massive urge to kill, stemming from an inner perspective to take complete control over a woman, finally overcame him.” Swinney, a police detective, offers sharp insights about the cops who failed to tie Naso to his crimes. When Pamela Parsons was reported missing, asserts Swinney, “the fact the police didn’t look for Pamela is not an indicator of negligence on their behalf…unless a person reported missing is considered endangered or at-risk, police will not search for them.” Since many of Naso’s victims were prostitutes whose deaths provoked little public outrage, Swinney’s compassionate portrayal of their struggles, relationships, and displays of courage tugs at the heartstrings: “As her mind tried to process the John’s home, she again looked at the photographs on the coffee table. Her heart jumped when she recognized one of the girls in the photos.” A collection of photos and a myth-busting chapter on the connection between Naso and the Alphabet Killer in Rochester, New York, round out this thorough, humanizing dissection of the case.
With great diligence, the author illuminates the murderer’s darkest thoughts without romanticizing them—and gives the victims the written equivalent of a proper burial.
twogalsandabook: Are there any social media websites or platforms readers could connect with you on?
C. L. Swinney: You can find me on Amazon under C. L. Swinney. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Instagram, and Goodreads under C. L. Swinney.
https://clswinney.wordpress.com/about/
https://www.facebook.com/clswinneysnovels/
@CLSWINNEY
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7166400.C_L_Swinney
Radio Interview:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dan-zupansky1/2017/05/25/list-of-10-cl-swinney
About C. L. Swinney
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C. L. Swinney is the author of nine international best-selling true crime books. As a narcotic detective, homicide detective, and sheriff’s sergeant for the last 16 years, he brings his tenacious investigative techniques to the stories he writes. His overall goal in his books it to give the victims of violent crimes a voice- regardless of the victims’ past or choices they made.
Chris consulted for a mini-series in Hollywood based on a serial killer cold case being re-opened. He’s contributed to PoliceOne.com and regularly gives exciting radio interviews for various radio programs throughout the country.
C. L. Swinney also writes a best selling crime fiction series- The Bill Dix Detective Series- featuring his lead character, Bill Dix. With four novels in the series, and glimpses into the wild world of narcotics and homicide, the series has been a best seller for years. Characters in the novels are based on people Chris worked with, investigated, arrested, or placed in prison while working wiretaps or in an undercover capacity.
He’s also published two projects. An anthology entitled, **Justice Shall Be Served**, and a chap book entitled, **Crushing Tin**. Both are best sellers in their perspective categories.
Some Other Books by C. L. Swinney
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26257869 32560698
Twogalsandabook would like to thank C. L. Swinney for allowing us to interview him, and generously offer books for giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Swinney, C.L.: LIST OF 10
Kirkus Reviews. (July 15, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Swinney, C.L. LIST OF 10 RJ Parker (Indie Nonfiction) $14.96 5, 3 ISBN: 978-1-987902-32-7
The haunting stories of 10 slain women (4 of whom were never found) constitute this analysis of the hunt for serial killer Joseph Naso. For decades, Naso photographed, raped, and murdered women, leaving no clues until 2010, when a probation officer searched his home and discovered a list of 10 unnamed "girls" whose locations in Northern California matched the crime scenes of several unsolved homicides. Swinney (Monster, 2016, etc.) uses court documents and police reports, letters from the murderer, and interviews with law enforcement and survivors to retrace Naso's steps, creating a chilling profile of a serial killer and the unfortunate women who crossed his path. The author pegs Naso, a photographer with a wife and children, as a narcissistic misogynist whose sexual urges became increasingly difficult to satisfy until "the massive urge to kill, stemming from an inner perspective to take complete control over a woman, finally overcame him." Swinney, a police detective, offers sharp insights about the cops who failed to tie Naso to his crimes. When Pamela Parsons was reported missing, asserts Swinney, "the fact the police didn't look for Pamela is not an indicator of negligence on their behalf...unless a person reported missing is considered endangered or at-risk, police will not search for them." Since many of Naso's victims were prostitutes whose deaths provoked little public outrage, Swinney's compassionate portrayal of their struggles, relationships, and displays of courage tugs at the heartstrings: "As her mind tried to process the John's home, she again looked at the photographs on the coffee table. Her heart jumped when she recognized one of the girls in the photos." A collection of photos and a myth-busting chapter on the connection between Naso and the Alphabet Killer in Rochester, New York, round out this thorough, humanizing dissection of the case. With great diligence, the author illuminates the murderer's darkest thoughts without romanticizing them--and gives the victims the written equivalent of a proper burial.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Swinney, C.L.: LIST OF 10." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498344854/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=01d5f3b2. Accessed 12 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A498344854
Book Review: List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso by C.L. Swinney
MAY 25, 2017 LEAVE A COMMENT
Title: List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso
Author: C.L. Swinney
Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime
Age Group: Adult (18+)
Rating: 2,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Gritty. True. Compulsively readable. This is his best book.”— Gregg Olsen, NY Times Best Selling Author
A narcissistic professional photographer lived a dangerous double life as a serial killer. He’d focus his rage on prostitutes mostly. It wasn’t uncommon for him to bring them home then try to explain why they were there to his wife.
Sexual urges met, either via rape or after paying for kinky sex, the killer would strangle his victims and dump their bodies in places he knew the police would eventually find them. The evil murderer needed the world to know that he was smarter than the police and women meant nothing to him but a necessary sexual inconvenience.
Then, by a stroke of chance and aggressive police work, the wheels of justice stumbled upon a lead. It was nothing more than a lined sheet of paper that read, “List of 10,” but shortly after its discovery, a task force was created and a serial killer was nabbed.
This book is about the victims he left behind, not the person who took their lives. I will never condone such actions, nor will I try to rationalize his behavior. He will go to the grave, hopefully sooner rather than later, knowing the identity of four women from his fabled List of 10. It’s his sick way of showing people he’s still in charge.
His name is Joseph Naso, and this book will grip you from the beginning and won’t let you go until the final word.
List of 10 is narrative nonfiction about Joseph Naso, a deranged serial killer with narcisstic tendencies. Joseph Naso was married once and even had two sons (one of which suffered from schizophrenia, and who Naso apparently took good care of), worked as a freelance photographer and in his spare time… he killed prostitutes. Well, mostly prostitutes. He had a pretty normal childhood, nothing that would indicate he was capable of doing this, and his wife of several years never suspected anything. Yet, DNA doesn’t lie, and he now awaits the death sentence in death row.
The book is narrative nonfiction, and while I’m sometimes a fan of that (rather than in just general nonfiction, in narrative nonfiction the author sometimes crawls in the mind of the people who play a role in the book, imagining what they must’ve been thinking at the moment) it doesn’t work quite as well here. I found that the author often jumped to conclusions and even made contradictory remarks while pretending to be in the mind of the victims or the perpetrator himself, Joseph Naso. This threw me off a little and made me not enjoy the book as much. The thoughts of the victims didn’t always seem plausible either, and sometimes took wild turns with a victim thinking something one moment then something else the next. It also comes across to me as slightly disrespectful to assume to know what they were thinking. Do that for the murderer, sure, I have no respect for murderers anyway. But the victims deserve more.
The author is also condescending at times, both toward the readers and the victims. For example, he likes to mention often how a victim couldn’t have known the man they were talking to was a serial murderer. Duh. It’s not like he had the words written on his forehead. I don’t think any reader anywhere would assume the victim could just guess this.
I also felt evidence was lacking. Sure, we get a run down of what happened to the victims, how they first met Naso, how he killed them and what is then from the police investigation. We get a little background info on both the victims and Naso, and in the end, we do get a look into the trial and the supposed “list of 10” the book is based upon, of which six have been identified as people murdered by Naso (four he was convicted of, two they didn’t have sufficient evidence of).
For a short case book on the murderer that’s not too bad, but it still feels lacking. You can easily decipher this from police reports and the trial. I wanted to see additional research: the author talking to the victim’s families, talking to Naso’s family members, or at least trying to if they didn’t want to. Talking to officers who worked on the case, the D.A., and so on. And then, I also wanted to know more about the list of 10. I was hoping the author would at least have suggestions as to who the remaining four victims were, and a lead on at least one of them.
What also bothered me is that for about a decade, if the years are correct, Naso lived in Sacramento and supposedly didn’t kill anyone. Now I know serial killers can be dormant, but this usually has a reason – they’ve found a wife or steady girlfriend, they have young children they need to take care of, and so on. For Naso, he just didn’t do anything in Sacramento despite no life-changing circumstances, and then picked right up when he moved again. Right. Something doesn’t strike right.
About the list of 10, rather than do a search for missing people in the area, and running it through the missing persons database… why not look for the location itself? The list obviously states the dumping grounds of these victims. Naso, being a narcisstic bastard, didn’t even bother to write down their names. But he did write: “girl on mt. tam” and “girl near heldsburg mendocino co.” and so on. So how about, rather than to find missing people in the area, just go look for the bodies? Or better yet, look for bodies that have not yet been identified in the area or murders yet unsolved, and see if it matches Naso’s modus operandi.
Maybe that’s been done. I don’t know – the author never mentions it. The way he mentions it, police hardly did anything with this evidence despite working on the case for a year before it going to court, which I find highly unlikely. He apparently did some investigating too, but never found any of the girls mentioned on the list, or their possible dumping ground, or even a missing person who could match one of the girls on the list.
Six of the locations on the list match up with Naso’s victims, so it’s probably safe to assume the other four do too. It breaks my heart to think those victims may never be found, or if they’re found, their remains may never be matched and their identity may remain unknown. Naso himself isn’t talking either – he agreed to talked to the author, then refused to, so there’s not even an interview with Naso himself included in the book which I thought was another show of lack of research. I had at least expected an interview with Naso.
The author mentions the book is about the victims, not the murderer. I agree – I detest men like Naso as much as anyone else does. However, if we wish to understand what compells people to do these despicable things, if we wish to take a look under the veil and discover what brings people to kill another human being, then it’s necessary to talk to people like Naso, at least interview them once and get it over with. If you’re writing a book about his horrible killings, at least try to interview him and see if he’s willing to open up about anything. That would make the book’s research look far more complete, in my opinion.
So, while I picked up the book because I wanted to know more baout Naso and his victims and the book definitely accomplished that, I disliked the speculation on behalf of Naso and especially his victims, the lack of research, and also how repetitive the book was. The author mentioned five times (that I counted) that Naso’s son had schizophrenia. I can remember that after two mentions, thank you. The inconsistencies annoyed me too, especially the ones present when the author crawls into the victim’s minds.
Anyway, if you want to know more about Naso and his victims, the book does give more insight, not much more than what you can find online but if you wan’t to go look for it, it’s all nicely bundled up in this book. Not that bad, but not that great either.
Gray Ghost By C. L. Swinney: Review/Guest Post/Giveaway
IN THE OCTOBER 5 ISSUE
FROM THE 2013 ARTICLES,
ANDMYSTERYRAT'S MAZE,
ANDSANDRA MURPHY SECTIONS
by Sandra Murphy
& C.L. Swinney
This week we have a review of Oak Tree mystery author C.L. Swinney’s book Gray Ghost. We also have a guest post from Swinney about his background as a narcotics agent, and there are details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book.
Gray Ghost By C. L. Swinney
Review by Sandra Murphy
Two guys on a fishing trip to the Bahamas sounds like a nice, relaxing holiday. Once Detectives Dix and Peterson find out their guides are missing, presumed dead, things are not so relaxing any more. It seems the guides may have had a little sideline business–running cocaine. Gunshots blew their boat, the Gray Ghost, out of the water and it’s now sitting on the ocean’s bottom with a hundred million dollar’s worth of cocaine still hidden in the hull. Who will get to it first and will they live to tell about it?
The detectives offer their expertise to the Bahaman police department and soon find out this is no ordinary drug operation; the man behind it is only known as The Caller. The Coast Guard is called in, a combined investigation from Miami PD and the Bahaman police launched, and fishing is forgotten. Who can be trusted? Pretty much no one–at least not enough to bet your life on it.
Jim Calhoun is brought in as the Coast Guard’s expert. He’s got an uncanny record for finding drug runners and commands respect from not only his crew but law enforcement from the Bahamas to Florida. With a few trusted locals, Calhoun and backup in Miami, Dix and Peterson are confident the murders will be solved, the drugs recovered and the drug ring broken, at least for now. But as the book cover warns, be careful who you ask for help….it may turn out to haunt you. Can the locals really be trusted? Most are poor people who use the drug trade to supplement tourist based income. The police department has its share of corrupt officers. Even old friends begin to look iffy as the case goes on.
An action filled read and keep an eye on the characters. There are a lot of them when the Coast Guard, Miami and Bahaman police, locals and guests at the hotel are all involved. Dix and Peterson have their hands full to solve this case–fishing will have to wait.
DNF: List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso by C. L. Swinney
By Acanthea Grimscythe
August 28, 2017, 10:00 am books, c l swinney, dnf, joseph naso, kindle unlimited, list of 10, list of 10: the true story of serial killer joseph naso, netgalley, non-fiction, one skull, reviews, rj parker publishing, true crime
cover to list of 10
© RJ Parker Publishing, 2016.
Synopsis:
“A narcissistic professional photographer lived a dangerous double life as a serial killer. He’d focus his rage on prostitutes mostly. It wasn’t uncommon for him to bring them home then try to explain why they were there to his wife.
Sexual urges met, either via rape or after paying for kinky sex, the killer would strangle his victims and dump their bodies in places he knew the police would eventually find them. The evil murderer needed the world to know that he was smarter than the police and women meant nothing to him but a necessary sexual inconvenience.
Then, by a stroke of chance and aggressive police work, the wheels of justice stumbled upon a lead. It was nothing more than a lined sheet of paper that read, “List of 10,” but shortly after its discovery, a task force was created and a serial killer was nabbed.
This book is about the victims he left behind, not the person who took their lives. I will never condone such actions, nor will I try to rationalize his behavior. He will go to the grave, hopefully sooner rather than later, knowing the identity of four women from his fabled List of 10. It’s his sick way of showing people he’s still in charge.
His name is Joseph Naso, and this book will grip you from the beginning and won’t let you go until the final word.” (Source: Goodreads)
Review:
List of 10: The True Story of Serial Killer Joseph Naso may sound like an exciting book for true crime fans like myself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to the high expectations I had for it – some of these inspired by the tag of “Bestselling Author.” What this book needs most is a heavier dose of editing and for that reason, I cannot finish reading it. This marks the fourth novel I’ve had to drop so far this year and, hopefully, it will be the last. (I am simply too sick and have too much to read to waste my time with books that I have to force myself to read.)
The one thing List of 10 accomplishes in what I read is a desire to learn more about Joseph Naso, a serial killer I actually have not encountered prior to this book. Where it fails is in its grossly repetitive wording. As I state in one of my updates on Goodreads, there are several ways to write “dead body.” In addition to this, there are several sentences where words appear tacked onto the end for whatever reason.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy free of charged for unbiased review.