Park Predators
Book Recommendations

Park Predators

Explore the dark side of the world’s most beautiful places with investigative journalist and park enthusiast Delia D’Ambra. Each week, Delia guides you deep into national parks and forests across the globe, uncovering stories where nature’s breathtaking beauty has masked sinister secrets. From infam...

Episodes 166
Books 41
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Secrets of a Marine's Wife: A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder cover

Secrets of a Marine's Wife

Shanna Hogan

Mentioned 3 months ago

The Unspeakable

The host described it as an essential research source that moved her to tears and recommended it strongly for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the case.

There's even a book about it by author Shanna Hogan titled Secrets of a Marine's Wife, A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder, which I highly recommend you read if you want to dive into this case even further.

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If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood cover

If You Tell

Gregg Olsen

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Boat Ramp

A local author published a book about the crime in 2025.

In 2025, a local author published a book about the crime but to this day, no one knows who committed the murders and maybe just as important, why?

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The Gunman (Movie Tie-In Edition) (City Lights Noir) cover

The Gunman (Movie Tie-In Edition) (City Lights Noir)

Jean-Patrick Manchette

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Boat Ramp

A convicted mobster named Donald Frankos published a book detailing various murder-for-hire jobs he had knowledge of, one of which mirrored the circumstances of the Boat Ramp murders.

Several years later, an investigator with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office learned that a convicted mobster named Donald Frankos had published a book about contract killings. The novel was presented as a tell-all account of various murder for hire jobs that Frankos had knowledge of.

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The Animals Are Innocent: "The Search for Julie's Killers" by John Ward (26-Sep-1991) Hardcover cover

The Animals Are Innocent

John Ward

Mentioned 5 months ago

REVISITED: The Reserve

John Ward's book was referenced as expressing his determination to fight the state and seek justice for his daughter, emphasizing the solitary struggle against powerful institutions.

He wrote in his book, The Animals Are Innocent, The Search for Julie's Killers, quote, You say to yourself, no matter what it is going to take, these people are not going to get away with it. But in the end, you are one individual against a state, and it is not easy.

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GENTLE NATURE. cover

GENTLE NATURE.

Julie. Ward

Mentioned 5 months ago

REVISITED: The Reserve

The host noted that Nick Buckley detailed the book, describing Julie Ward's shared love of wildlife with her mother and the impact of her disappearance. Later the host also mentioned that Julie's mother, Jan Ward, wrote a book with the same title recounting the ordeal.

Author Nick Buckley detailed in Julie Ward, Gentle Nature, that it was mother and daughter's shared love of wildlife that got Julie interested in wildlife photography.

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A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour: Kenya, Britain and the Julie Ward Murder (African Articulations, 2) cover

A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour

Dr Grace A Musila

Mentioned 5 months ago

REVISITED: The Reserve

The host cited Grace Masilla's book, noting that it examined the racial and cultural discourses surrounding Julie Ward's case and the media attention it received.

Author Grace Massilla wrote in her book, A Death Retold in Truth and Rumor, that no one could deny the racial and cultural discourses swirling around Julie's case as it went through multiple criminal trials and continued to stay in the media limelight.

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Murder on the White Sands: The Disappearance of Albert and Henry Fountain (A.C. Greene Series) cover

Murder on the White Sands

Corey Recko

Mentioned 6 months ago

The Attorney

The host described the book as expanding on the era's frontier lawlessness and providing a wealth of information about the Albert and Henry Fountain case, recommending listeners order a copy to learn more.

A great book I read which expands even more about this characterization of the time period is Murder on the White Sands, The Disappearance of Albert and Henry Fountain, which was written by author Corey Recco. His novel provided a wealth of information about this case, so I highly recommend ordering a copy for yourself.

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The Starved Rock Murders cover

The Starved Rock Murders

Steve Stout

Mentioned 7 months ago

UPDATED: The Housewives

The host noted that Steve Stout had written a book on the case, suggesting it covered details such as the limited forensic technology of the era.

I have to assume, and so did author Steve Stout, who wrote a book on this case called The Starved Rock Murders, that sexual assault kit collection and technology at the time just wasn't advanced enough to make that determination for certain in 1960.

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Little House on the Prairie: Full Color Edition (Little House, 3) cover

Little House on the Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mentioned 8 months ago

INTRODUCING... Chameleon: The Weekly

The hosts referenced the classic children's book as an example of perseverance, comparing the con artist's relentless comeback to the determined characters in the story.

I see that a lot with like children's literature, like Laura Ingalls. The author of Little House on the Prairie. They keep like locusts, you know, scarlet fever. Nothing stops them. They're kind of like Raphael of Fuliere. They just keep getting up and getting on that wagon and like driving further west.

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The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, Vol. 1) (Princess Diaries, 1) cover

The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, Vol. 1) (Princess Diaries, 1)

Meg Cabot

Mentioned 8 months ago

INTRODUCING... Chameleon: The Weekly

The series was mentioned to illustrate the con artist's mythic status, likening his persona to a boyfriend from the popular teen novel series.

And yeah, he's created a myth and was boyfriend to the princess of Princess Diaries we all grew up with.

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Statements of Fact in Traditional Chinese Medicine (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) cover

Statements of Fact in Traditional Chinese Medicine (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition)

Bob Flaws

Mentioned 10 months ago

The Ride

The host referenced the book as a source that detailed the investigation, trials, and the author's personal perspective on the Signal Mountain murders.

According to police records cited in a book about this case titled Statement of Facts, State v. Castile, an officer arrived at the Masons' home to take the missing persons report at 6.45 p.m. on Sunday night.

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The Accidents (Kindle Single) cover

The Accidents (Kindle Single)

Caleb Hannan

Mentioned 11 months ago

REVISITED: The Husband

The host noted that, according to Caleb Hannon's book, Toni's mother Yvonne was able to speak with Toni alone before her death and recalled a disturbing incident at a cabin that hinted the accident might not have been accidental.

According to Caleb Hannon's book, The Accidents, Toni's mother Yvonne got a chance to speak with Toni alone before her death, and this was a very rare occasion that she visited Mississippi without Harold. Yvonne remembered that on that trip, Toni had mentioned a few months prior her and Harold and their daughter had been visiting Yvonne and Bob's mountain cabin near Denver. She said while they were there, the couple had started working outside at night to clear the debris around the cabin. It had been Harold's idea to have both he and Toni work together and leave Haley inside. Toni told her mother that while working and standing below a raised porch with her back turned, she suddenly felt a large weight hit her in the neck and upper back. After that impact, she just collapsed.

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Most Recommended

Secrets of a Marine's Wife: A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder Cover

Shanna Hogan

Secrets of a Marine's Wife

A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder

The host described it as an essential research source that moved her to tears and recommended it strongly for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the case.

"

There's even a book about it by author Shanna Hogan titled Secrets of a Marine's Wife, A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder, which I highly recommend you read if you want t...

— Episode: The Unspeakable

Get on Amazon
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Unspeakable

The host described it as an essential research source that moved her to tears and recommended it strongly for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the case.

"

There's even a book about it by author Shanna Hogan titled Secrets of a Marine's Wife, A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder, which I highly recommend you read if you want to dive into this case even further.

That book was an invaluable piece of research material for me and was a resource that Lore Heavlin, the mother of the victim in this story, asked me to read before covering the case. And when I tell you guys it brought me to tears, I'm not exaggerating. By the end of it, I was unwell.

Shanna Hogan explained in her book that it wasn't uncommon for young couples like the Corwins who were living on base to quickly find community with other Marine families.

Author Shanna Hogan wrote in her book that despite having been cleared as a suspect, some people still sideeyed John as possibly being involved.

Shanna Hogan explained in her book that by Chris stating Aaron had caused him to snap, it opened the door for jurors to possibly find him guilty of seconddegree murder instead of firstdegree murder, thus lessening his potential sentence.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.