Previously published as I've Been Watching You(January 2006).

A serial killer roamed the streets and highways of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and it’s outlyig suburbs.

He hung in the shadows, watching the dark-haired, fair-skinned beauties, waiting for the perfect time that he could make them his own.

And like a ghost, he entered their homes, raped, and brutually murdered them.

Five victims linked to him by DNA.

Only two of his victims’ families received justice through the Courts.

As many as 17 victims fit his M.O.

But the reign of terror is over Baton Rouge women, as Derrick Todd Lee sits on death row in Louisiana’s famous Angola Prison.

Blood Bath details the hunt for an elusive serial killer in bayou country.

The authors of this book profile each of the victims, their families’ struggles to find justice, and the political bickering going on behind the scenes.

Readers of this book will find it to be extremely detailed; even gruesome at times.

In all of my years of reading true crime, for the first time I really thought about making sure my doors were locked.

And suddenly knocks on the door during the day, a time that seems so begnign, became heart-stopping moments.

On the downside, however, I found there to be much use of creative licensing as the authors wrote the victims’ thoughts just days or minutes prior to their murder.

Secondly, something about which I am not too keen is when it is outright stated that a book is written based on how one (or more) of the authors wanted it to be.

In this case specifically, Tony Clayton, author and also prosecutor in Lee’s first trial, wanted this book written as he deemed – which, according to a statement on page 343, was to include heavy emphasis on the victims and their families.

So often that results in a story being very skewed and ones-sided; and a means to boost one’s ego as they were portrayed as a hero.

In this book, Tony Clayton was profiled as almost perfect.

As for his views on the victims and their families - I thought it did them great justice; however, it seems that they might disagree with that as several have promoted other books on this crime.

One victims’s mother’s review at Amazon.com outright discourages readers from purchasing Blood Bath.

Had I know these things beforehand would it have affected my choices?

No.

Blood Bath is a 345 page pulse accelerating read that engages readers and gripped even the most jaded of crime readers with fear.

Definitely put it on your read list.


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