Rating: 
Summary: I am thankful that I didn't pay for this book.
Review: I checked out this book from the library. I would not encourage you to shell out 26 bucks for it, or even 7 bucks when the paperback is available.I hope that the author is not profiting from this book. I know that he put a lot of research into it, but why should he be able to buy a new speedboat, or whatever, with the profits, while JonBenet Ramsey lost out on her life? After the book's costs are covered, I hope any profit goes to a children's charity or something. I had to read this book in small doses for two reasons: (1) the very subject matter is difficult to comprehend, although unfortunately, the death of defenseless children is becoming more and more common, and (2) the writing style is tedious; it's hard to follow the way events are portrayed (the writing jumps back and forth, back and forth). If you read the book, photocopy the list of characters from the back, to have it at ready reference. I have read books of this length in a few days, but it took me almost three weeks to plod through this one. Another person with a review posted here mentioned all the typos in the book. This neglect for detail in simple spelling (i.e., "Graphics" is on one occasion spelled "Grphics") might really be no big deal, but it decreases the book's credibility. Maybe the publisher's spellchecker was down, and the book was rushed through to publication despite it. In that rush, who knows what FACTUAL errors were published? According to the other reviews I have read here, there was a lot of misinformation, as well as several omissions (equally dangerous?).
Rating: 
Summary: LONG slow painfully dull
Review: Large chunks of this book can be skipped. 621 pages with a huge cast of characters that are difficult at times to follow, and when you think you've got the players figured out you realize you don't care. I saw the audiobook is "abridged" and for the first time in my life I wished I could hear, if for nothing else, to get the book over with
Rating: 
Summary: A page turner packed with rich detail
Review: Mr. Schiller paints a picture of Boulder as a parallel to the story of the particularly brutal murder of JonBenet. The book is full of fascinating facts, many incredible, some sickening. What does one make, for instance, of the attorney who turned up at a Boulder Halloween party dressed as JonBenet in a cowgirl outfit with masking tape over his mouth? And what can one think of this planet's unusual "friends" such as the Fernies, Stines and Walkers in this case, Mildred and Helen Ix (the Martha Moxley murder) and Cathy Randa (O.J. Simpson) who for personal or financial reasons cleave to people whose behavior, if not actually proved murderous, have at the very least behaved reprehensibly. How many of us can imagine maintaining a friendship with the Ramseys who, when their child is slaughtered, have two immediate priorities, to flee and to hire defense attorneys? How do these "friends" sleep at night? "We have the best criminal justice system in the world." Unfortunately it is only the defense lawyer and the criminal who say that, for they have prospered mightily under it. The victim gets the back of the law's hand. He knows our system is aromatically challenged. This case proves it once again. Mr. Schiller, in masterly fashion, shows us the town, the detached incompetence of its police chief and the scared need of the DA's office under Alex Hunter not to have this case prosecuted. Hofstram, one leading light lawyer in the DA's office is quoted as saying "I used to serve meals to guys on death row at San Quentin. I really respected those guys." In Boulder the DA holds the hen house door open and ushers in the fox with a flashlight. Reading this book, you'll be astounded that the governor of Colorado did not kick Hunter out of office long ago. If you are going to commit a crime, Boulder is the place to do it. The DA's office offers settlements before a miscreant is charged and in advance of a plea bargain! Mr. Schiller leads us skillfully through developments and evidence, early on establishing a time line and weaving the whole into a cohesive narrative. We meet all the main characters, hear what they think of themselves and what other people think of them. Keep a bookmark in the last pages and you can refer easily enough to the players. We get great insights into the characters and motives of Alex Hunter and Police Chief Koby, the incriminating behavior of the Ramseys and the strange events of Christmas Day at the Ramsey house. Assorted low lifes from the tabloids move through the story; here and there decent detectives do their best for the little girl whose death they feel keenly. Enter, stage left, two characters who show up wherever there is meat to be gnawed off a bone, expert Henry Lee of the O.J. trial, who saw footprints in concrete which turned out to be trowel marks, and expert Barry Shemp who saw conspiracy in nonexistent staple holes at the same trial. Expert Barry Shemp, astute readers will recall, is the DNA expert who, in my opinion, set DNA evidence back twenty years at the O.J. trial, lost the Nanny case when he chose to have her tried for murder and whose Project "Innocence" free a convicted rapist who was charged shortly after his release with - surprise - a particularly brutal rape. Their input seems to have been minimal nd useless and I suppose we can be thankful that we didn't have chat show lawyer Alan Dershowitz slinking at their heels. Caveats are minor. It would have been nice to have photographs, a surprising oversight as Mr. Schiller is a professional photographer. Mr. Schiller is circumspect: he writes books looking over both shoulders. One feels that over one he is aware of possible lawsuits. Over the other is the possibility, however remote, that some of the people he is talking about may one day consent to an interview and produce another book. His objectivity is impeccable, sometimes irritatingly so, but that may be a personal feeling after watching so many defense lawyers strain at grains of bird seed to arrange them to suggest any explanation, however outlandish, that will serve their clients. Defense lawyers know well the gullibility of juries. As chat show lawyer Alan Dershowitz has said, "I don't listen to what the police or my clients say. I like to make up my own mind what happened." Given this inventiveness, it is small wonder European countries are beginning to abandon the ineffectual jury system and replacing it with three citizens who work with three judges to examine the evidence, cross examine the police, the witnesses and the accused and work from there to determine the truth. Mr. Schiller writes that he has heard every theory of the case and that none of them makes sense. In fact, given that all murders are senseless, there is one theory that explains every action of the Ramseys and the evidence that lay in their house, but Mr. Schiller makes no mention of it. One that provides motive, opportunity and a raison d'être for the management of the cover-up. No matter what the outcome of this case, it does point up the need for a federal law that mandates that all parties to a crime are prounounced equally guilty and should be punished equally. DA's, in the event that there are more like Hunter out there, won't be able to make the excuse that they don't know who to charge. All in all, this is a wonderful book. Buy it. I can't wait for Mr. Schiller's next book. Meantime, let us hope that the killer(s) is brought to trial and receives the sentence of life without parole that Colorado provides instead of a death penalty. Given what this child suffered, it is richly deserved.
Rating: 
Summary: Prior Sheriff's Dept. employee comments...
Review: I'm not finished with the book but so far I have mixed feelings. As a previous employee of Boulder County Sheriff's Department, I have been reading it with great interest. Many of the key law enforcement and D.A. figures are people I knew well. While I think Schiller was fairly thorough in his research, there have already been a few glaring inaccuracies that tend to cast a shadow of doubt on the rest of his facts. Specifically, in the Peter Fisher case during the 70's, Schiller says the girls were shot in Boulder Canyon and the surviving girl stumbled into Gold Hill Inn. He also says the arrestee, Peter Fisher, was convicted and is still in prison. The girls were actually shot in Sunshine Canyon and the survivor flagged down a passing car. Peter Fisher was found floating face down in an irrigation ditch on the prison property after only a couple of years. These facts were too easy to get right so I'm a little leary about the rest of his research. Although the various agencies always worked well enough together, there's always been a bit of a "turf war." I only wish that this had been a Sheriff's Office case from the beginning; I think it would have been handled in an immensely more professional manner. I did have to smile though at the tee shirts that some of the Sheriff's Officers had made up: "Boulder County Sheriff's Department - We're The Other Guys!"
Rating:
Summary: Well-researched, but, dull, dull, dull
Review: I read a lot of true-crime stories. Perfect Murder Perfect Town was a great disappointment. The author's research was impressive, but his storyline, and style need a lot of help. The book is a jumble of characters that continually pop in and out without a proper lead-in. I also found this book provided no new facts about the JonBenet murder. The story is very slow, very difficult to follow, and will test even the most avid reader's concentration. Sorry Lawrence Schiller, take some time off and try again!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant and unbiased Work
Review: Only Lawrence Shiller could write about a case we know has yet to be solved and still make it utterly impossible to put down. With a writing style as smoooth as a Dizzy Gillespie riff, Mr Shiller manages the almost impossible: Presenting the Jonbenet Murder case in an objective manner. He never once tried to force one opinion on the reader and presents all sides of the issue with equal respect. I was particular interested in Lou Smit, the elderly detective, so ingrained in his belief that the Ramseys are innocent. Many writers may have portrayed him as out of touch because his view conflicted with popular opinion, yet Shiller portrayed him as a dignified, caring individual whose experience and heart told him a miscarriage of justice was taking place. Never have I read a 600+ page book so quickly. It is a tribute to the genius of Shiller. For those who found this book boring, I say, learn to appreciate deep works and if not stick to comic books. When I finished reading this book, I was both enlightend on the case and even more confused by it. The evidence is so inconsistent that no one theory suffices. In my heart I do not believe the parents are guilty. But I cannot say that with total certainty. And because he was more interested in presenting the facts in an unbiased way, Shiller did not try making one single case for did they or didn't they do it. And hence is the main point of the book. The case has not been solved yet because the evidence, when looked at in it's entirety is incredibly inconclusive. But there is one thing very conclusive, Lawrence Shiller has penned an incredible portrait of a seemingly unsolvable crime.
Rating:
Summary: Choppy declarative style fails without a narrator-vehicle.
Review: A tightly-controlled seamless layout of the story would have made this difficult read (due to enormous numbers of characters, incidents, separate investigations, and opinions) more rewarding. This incredible subject suffers from the absolute lack of one, or two clearly defined and established narrators to weave the multiple scenarios together. This is a big failing in a story which deals with such a fragmented set of circumstances and oppositional mind-sets. The author's research has apparently been meticulous but the presentation is as erratic in feeling as the reported circumstances of the investigation and affects the reading enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Dull-Same old known facts and theories
Review: I purchased this book as soon as it came out, hardcover, what a waste of money - I usually buy paperbacks. Perfect Town, Perfect Murder is a slow, boring, painful read. The reader can find more interesting information by simply surfing the net. An author of his caliber should not have wasted his time or mine.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, informative and well-researched book
Review: Lawrence Schiller has written a book that will become the LAST WORD in how to write a book on an investigation. Not only do we meet the characters in this ongoing very sad saga, we feel we know them with his excellent descriptions of their feelings. One really gets a sense that the police and the prosecutors are people who care deeply about bringing Jon Benet's murderer to Justice. It is also painfully honest about the rift between the prosecutors and the police and the wrecked careers that the investigation has caused. Thank you, Mr. Schiller.
Rating: 
Summary: I found this book both haunting and fascinating.
Review: The best parts of the book are the sections where Boulder citizens remember JonBenet. These parts are almost unbearably sad because as friends describe their interaction with her, you know this child is doomed. There was a little girl behind the lurid headlines and political wrangling. This lovely lost girl endured much and died in terror is what the book reminded me. From the opening portrait of JonBenet playing in the leaves, I was hooked.
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