Author: Ric Osuna
ASIN: 1401046452
Published by: Xlibris Corporation, March 2002
392 pages hardcover

ISBN: 0964648431
Published by: Katco Literary Group, October 2002
202 pages paperback

About the Amityville MURDER story:
If you are looking for a "non-fiction book" that reads like fiction (such as the awesome and incredible Amityville Horror) this is not it. The author, Ric Osuna choose to report and write a difficult book on a story that many have already heard about, read or watched a portion of on TV or at the movies. Sadly, this bias's us all.

This is not some incredibly insane story of a "haunted house," nor is this a multimillion dollar horror movie wrapped in a book jacket.

In fact, when you decide to read the book, you just may be searching for the same old story written by someone else. You won't get it.

What you will get is years of research from a writer, reporter and someone who has always been fascinated with the notorious Amityville MURDERS (not HORROR) and has even been inside the notorious house himself. Could he bore us with facts and information he turned up?

Sure. But instead, he tells us in a storytelling sort of way, where he got his information, how he obtained it and why he is telling it, usually using quotes from a known source.

More than murder, this book tells a scary story of years of police brutality and cover up. It shows a prosecution that doesn't care about truth as long as the case is over and someone is convicted.

Does this book defend the convicted Butch Defeo -- the son who murdered his family? No. He admits his part and describes the freakish situation.

The book does defend JUSTICE, however. It stands for truth -- all of it, no matter how much some of us want to turn the other way.

Osuna does a fine job reporting new and startling information.

The story:
George and Kathy Lutz lived in the house only 28 days, but the horror that gripped them isn't what gave 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, it's first touch of fame.

"...it seemed much larger than a double homicide because of the amount of police and emergency vehicles present at the scene." ~Doug Spero of WNBC commented after he initially received a report of a double homicide.

Ronald "Butch" DeFeo was inducted in 1975, to the New York Department of Corrections, for the murder of his family:
Ronald DeFeo, 43 (father)
Louise DeFeo, 42 (mother)
John DeFeo, 9 (brother)
Marc DeFeo, 12 (brother)
Allison DeFeo, 13 (sister)
Dawn DeFeo, 18 (sister)

"Son charged in slaying of six." New York Daily News headline from November 15, 1974

Rumors originally were that Butch had somehow drugged his family, then shot and killed them in order to collect a small insurance policy. Of course, toxicology reports negate this theory, as the autopsies showed no evidence of drugs, which made the murders appear to be "open and shut," however, as this book explains, this is hardly the case.

Another discrepancy is a curious question (now that we know there are no drugs involved) by any person with a shred of common sense: how could you shoot and kill eight people (with a rifle) and not have at least ONE PERSON wake up and either fight you or flee?

Was there more than one person in the home? Was Butch's confession for real? Was it coerced? Was he covering up for others?

Interestingly, it's been said that Geraldine DeFeo (wife of Butch and mother of his child) did not help much during the initial investigations, however she not only was the most revealing source for this book, but she also wrote the forward.

"...I have had to remain silent and hidden, partly out of fear for my children and partly out of respect for those who went through great lengths to make sure I was not unjustly implicated in the crime." Geraldine DeFeo

Anyway, Geraldine wants to set the record straight. So does Butch. So does Ric Osuna.

It's here that I really have to end my summary, as I cannot give away the entire book. I think you get the point. If you want to learn the story behind the famous movie and perhaps even if the movie's events are true, you will need to read this book.

An observation on the writing (editing?):
As of this moment, January 3, 2003, I have read too many comments about the author's punctuation, spelling and/or grammar. I do not remember the book being so inundated with errors that I could not read or understand it, which would normally lead me to believe there isn't much substance to the remarks. However, I had to find out for myself to either dispel the lies or give you ample warning.

In the very beginning of the book, where Osuna tells of the murder victims and their ages, he does go from spelling the ages to writing them using numbers. This did annoy me, however, I know some writers do this depending on how many syllables are in the number. For instance, if there is one syllable, you write the number using letters. If there is more than one syllable, you write using the actual numerals. After re-reading using this idea, I realize this cannot be the case, as he writes both "nine" and 12.

But that's just one thing and I was searching for mistakes. When you look for something, you tend to find it. Even in the best of the best (Stephen King and Ann Rule have had their share, and we all know there are errors in my ePinions), there will be mistakes. The writers can apologize, their editors can apologize and they can work together to make the next one better. Until then, my opinion is that the book is still interesting, believable and readable.

UPDATE - January 8, 2003
After writing this review, I sent a copy to the author, Ric Osuna, and here is his reply:
"...I adhere to The Chicago Manual of Style. Moreover, Webster's New World grammar book says any number under 10 should be spelled out. Of course, that is excluding a number being the first word in a sentence because it is always spelled out."

An aside:
Wherever I read or write reviews on this particular book, I am constantly bombarded with nasty emails or comments. It seems someone does not like at all that this book was ever published, or that someone has something against the author in a huge way. I would say it is me or my writing, but after reading other reviews (such as Amazon.com), I am sure it is the book or the author. How sad for such juvenile behavior. Almost makes people look somewhat... guilty, don't you think?

Recommended: Yes