Publishers Prefer Such Adjectives as 'Suspenseful', 'Thrilling', 'Heart-Pounding'

Hayes Read Violent Books Prior To Cheshire Murders.    (Hartford Courant, 3/14/2011)

Excerpt: Friday's motion, which deflects much of the blame for the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and daughters Hayley and Michaela onto Hayes, contains this passage in a footnote:

"Not until after his arrest in this case did Mr. Komisarjevsky learn that Hayes, while at the Gates Correctional Institution from December 2006 to March 2007, checked out 24 fictional books, the 'majority' of which, according to the [Department of Correction], 'pertain to very violent murders to include strangulation, rape, arson, serial killing, satanic torture and the burning of victims. Most victims are women.'

"The titles include David Baldacci's 'Split Second,' Dale Brown's 'Battle Born,' Diane Guest's 'Lullaby,' Colin Harrison's 'Manhattan Nocturne,' Craig Holden's 'The River Sorrow,' Greg Iles's 'Mortal Fear,' Jonathan Kellerman's 'Twisted,' Steven Krane's 'Teek,' Rochelle Krich's 'Dead Air,' John Lescroart's 'The First Law,' Barbara Parker's 'Blood Relations,' James Patterson's '1st to Die' and 'Violets are Blue,' Ridley Pearson's 'Beyond Recognition,' Steven Spruill's 'The Genesis Shield,' Whitney Strieber's 'Unholy Fire' and Steven White's 'Harm's Way.'

Related articles:
Connecticut correction commissioner, and occasional book critic, initiates library policy review. (10/7/2010)
Connecticut state senator concerned over prisoners' access to certain books. (10/3/2010)