Review of A Kitchen Painted in Blood

[Priya Murugesan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Kitchen Painted in Blood" by Stephen Ahern.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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A Kitchen Painted in Blood - The Unsolved Disappearance of Joan Risch by Stephen H. Ahern

This is a True Crime book based on the disappearance of Joan Carolyn Risch, a mother of two, on October 24, 1961 from her home in Lincoln, Massachusetts. It gives a comprehensive account of the whole incident, also encompassing what happened before and after the mysterious vanishing of Joan. How could a devoted mother and a kind-hearted person abandon her entire family and just disappear leaving behind a ghastly bloody kitchen? The whole circumstance is very unsettling and confusing. I have to asseverate that the author did meticulous research about this dreadful tragedy and his effort is apparent throughout the book.

The main intention of the book is to solve the conundrum behind Joan's disappearance. The author urges the readers to adorn the shoes of detectives and unearth the truth. I was indifferent to this and had many questions regarding the need to solve such an old case. But the author's preface convinced me. He has rightly said justice must prevail even though it is delayed.

When I first saw the book, the title "A Kitchen Painted in Blood" is the first thing that captured me. As a lover of mystery books, the name grabbed my attention and made me pick up the book.

The cover of the book is gripping. The photograph of Risch house with a cinematic effect adds an element of interest and mystery.

As a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I loved his quote in the beginning.

The book starts with the foreword by Cliff Shepard, who served as a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department. He was part of the LAPD cold case unit and he was involved in the investigation of many infamous killers like Rodney Acala, Chester Turner and Lonnie Franklin. He puts forth the Risch case before us in the foreword and implores us to inspect and resolve the case.

The author starts his preface with an interesting flashback from his childhood. He recollects about how he came across about the Risch case when he was a child and how it got imprinted in his heart. That compelled him to look into the unresolved case after thirty nine years. He gives a brief account of the case, that starts with the discovery of the disappearance of Joan Risch by her four year old daughter Lillian. He presents us the entire history of the Risch family and their immediate relations. He scrutinizes each and every person related to the case. He ponders over all the possibilities of what might have happened that day. He had made an incredible study about the case and incorporated all the facts in his book. The old photos, various maps and drawings aided him to put forth his findings. It also helps us to conjure a mental image of what had happened in 1961 and took me back to the scene of crime. The detailing level in the book is awesome and rigorous. I was ensnared by the book so much that I felt like I was part of the team trying to solve the crime.

This book will be adored by fans of history as there are many historical facts like American Revolution, Bloody angle which are important to build the foundation for the history behind the Risch home.

The writing is simple, like in a documentary style, yet very elegant. The author had made a detailed analysis of Joan right from her childhood. I highly commend him for such a diligent work. The way the author narrated the case made me sympathize with Joan and her family and made me desperate to uncover the truth.

I noted some grammatical mistakes here and there. But despite the errors, my rating is 4 out of 4. I firmly believe the author deserves this ratings.

I sincerely hope that Joan's mystery would be unraveled and the Risch family would get some sort of closure.

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A Kitchen Painted in Blood
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The mystery surrounding Joan Risch’s disappearance is chilling, especially with the eerie image of her blood-stained kitchen. Love how the author brings the crime scene to life with her research and use of old photos. Did you find any of his theories particularly compelling? It’s fascinating how he urges readers to take on the role of detectives, making this book more than just a recounting of events.

The book was really fascinating. As I like reading true crime, this book got me interested right away!

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

It's an incredible story, and you presented it in a way that makes it appealing. It's a good thing you like mystery. Regardless of the length of time, I fervently hope that justice triumphs in this case. Kudos

[Priya Murugesan]

It's an incredible story, and you presented it in a way that makes it appealing. It's a good thing you like mystery. Regardless of the length of time, I fervently hope that justice triumphs in this case. Kudos

Thanks for reading my review! I, too, hope justice triumphs!