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BOOK REVIEWS

DJ takes up issue with NY Times:

Why not review our electronic book?

Satan’s Den Exposed

gets three reviews in NM

By Bill Johnson of the Desert Journal

Desert Journal Online has questioned the New York Times’ policy NOT to review books only in an electronic book format. In particular, we are talking about Satan’s Den Exposed – The David Parker Ray Story authored and published by the Desert Journal.

“Why?” I have asked the NY Times book review editor, Mick Sussman, twice now since his rejection letter was received a month ago.  Why not review e-books that carry a load of merit and a lot of “cutting edge” technology?

I asked this question of Sussman but he dare not reveal his or the NY Times’ reasons.

Whether for political or monetary gain, the NY Times’ policy must be one that embraces money or upholds a business concern first, the truth second and environmental concerns definitely come in last.

I had sent a news release and an attachment of our e-book in an e-mail to the New York Times hoping it would get a review.  I had already been told that the Los Angeles Times won’t run press releases announcing a new book release unless the actual product is included in the package for their review.

No problem with the LA Times, they seem to be quite okay with e-books and I sent them a CD in the mail.

I made the same request of the NY Times.  Their response: “Thanks. I'm sorry, but at the moment The Times is not reviewing books only in e-book format. Regards, Mick Sussman”

That was it. No explanation whatsoever. Cut and dry.

So, I sent the following letter to Mr. Sussman:

“Why is the NY Times discriminating against E-Books?  I would like to know so that I can understand the logic.  The nation's purportedly ‘progressive’ newspaper pooh-poohing progressive technology?  I don't get it!  Maybe someone has got to waste a bunch of trees before they get recognized for great work?  Please help me to understand your position because I personally believe E-Books are a great thing to cut down on waste.  But I bet the NY Times takes a whole forest for each and every issue it prints, huh?”

So, maybe the Desert Journal won’t be marrying the New York Times anytime soon, but at least we got our point across. Or those boneheads are so mummified and stuck mud deep in their graveyard they won’t ever be able to rise from the dead.

But here in New Mexico the Desert Journal’s e-book has managed to drum up three reviews so far in its quest for fair and truthful critiques.  If all goes well, the LA Times will at least look at Satan’s Den Exposed and then realize its worth and commit themselves to a review. We’re still waiting for the NY Times’ answer why they won’t review our book, but we won’t be holding our breath very long.

Reviews are crucial in the publishing world as they set the stage for potential sales.  Without a review, books stay on the shelf.  It’s the same game for e-books.

So, not harping anymore about our failure to introduce the NY Times to the 21^st century and its advancements, here is our success story with the three reviews we got, all from New Mexicans:

Review by Steve Klinger

Satan's Den Exposed - The David Parker Ray Story presents a powerful chronology in a cutting-edge e-book format.

The investigative reporting team of Bill Johnson, Fred Mramor and David Pierre provides a chilling perspective on one of New Mexico's most bizarre crime sprees, from dogged court and criminal coverage to sociological and psychological ramifications, and with dozens of effective color photos of David Parker Ray, his victims and his partners in crime.

The e-book is not only an expose but a cautionary tale for law enforcement agencies and potential victims:  Is this den of evil in Truth or Consequences an aberration or the tip of a very dangerous iceberg?

-- Steve Klinger

Editor, Grassroots Press

Former editor and publisher, Las Cruces Bulletin

Review by Ron Brim

513 Bass Road, K8, Elephant Butte, New Mexico.  It sounds like the address of an idyllic vacation hideaway for folks that love to fish.  It was a hideaway - but for a dangerously demented sexual predator, one that worked as a maintenance mechanic for the state of New Mexico, one who definitely had more tucked away in the dark recesses of his mind than a fondness for fresh fish and desert scenery!

In this compilation of articles and photographs gleaned from the pages of the Desert Journal newspaper, an award-winning team of journalists - Bill Johnson, Fred Mramor and David Pierre - have provided us with the bizarre, dark, but true tale of David Parker Ray and his minions, a twisted monster of a man that would have given Mary Shelley nightmares.

In presenting the details as reported at the time of their occurrence, and by interviewing those with inside knowledge of the players, the reader is given the local flavor of the tragic and horrifying events as they were revealed to the light of day.

This book is not for children, nor for the weak-hearted.  It is for adult aficionados of true crime writing, crime researchers, and those, who for whatever reason, wish to gaze into the very deepest chasm of the human soul.  It tells what happened, without pulling any punches.

At $12.95 a copy (and check for further discounts on the website), it is definitely recommended for those that wish to take a closer look at what occurred in this normally tranquil corner of our world through the eyes of those that lived there.

-- Ron Brim

Albuquerque, NM

Books In Review By Don Bullis*

It is no surprise that a number of books would be written about David Parker Ray of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and the myriad of crimes he is alleged to have committed, from kidnapping to rape to murder.

One such book, Consequences, by Jan Girand of Roswell was reviewed in this space back in July.  Cries in The Desert by John Glatt and Slow Death by Jim Fielder are also available.

A unique publication called a Compact Disc E-Book entitled Satan's Den Exposed - The David Parker Ray Story is now available.  To read the "book" it is necessary that you have a computer that will accommodate compact discs and is equipped with Acrobat Reader.

Satan's Den is a compilation of news stories written in the Desert Journal by Bill Johnson, Fred Mramor and David Peirre at the time of the investigation into the David Parker Ray atrocities.

Johnson was editor and publisher of the now defunct newspaper, which was based in Truth or Consequences.  It also includes a "Guest Editorial" by Glenda "Jessy" Ray, daughter of the rapist and herself an accomplice in many of the crimes.

Some of the stories, those written from the time the story broke in early 1999 to June of the same year, won first place in the Investigative Reporting category of the New Mexico Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.  The Oklahoma Press Association judged the contest.

In submitting stories for consideration, Johnson wrote: "The horrifying story of a young woman who escaped an Elephant Butte residence wearing only a padlocked collar and chain around her neck after being kidnapped from Albuquerque and sexually tortured three days in March 1999 opened perhaps one of New Mexico's largest criminal investigation in years." David Parker Ray died in prison on May 28, 2002.

The real value of Satan's Den is that it is a source for further research into these horrible crimes.  It adds a dimension to police reports and personal anecdotes. The news stories provide information regarding what went on from week to week as the investigation continued.  There are also 45 color photographs of the people and places involved.

Johnson surrenders any pretext of objectivity in his dedication when he writes, "…if truth and justice are blind to these evil acts and evil people here on earth, there is the Judgment Day.  May all of them burn in Hell!"** He also says this in conclusion: "I will probably escape Truth or Consequences and go into seclusion, hoping my book sell by the millions because my weekly newspaper of nearly eight years failed in May [2003], and my online news service has failed to raise an income since then.  My only recourse to financial recovery is this book, which no one can take away.  This book is my catharsis, my healing from victimization somewhere deep inside Satan's Den."

-- Don Bullis

Book Review for the Rio Rancho Observer November 2003

Rio Rancho, NM

* NOTE - Don Bullis is a columnist for The Observer, an accomplished author of crime books, a New Mexico crime historian and a former law enforcement officer.

** EDITOR'S NOTE - This sentence was changed in the 2nd edition to "May all of them freeze in Heaven!" since Hell is considered a reward for their satanic like deeds.

<<<   >>>

(posted 11-14-03)

READERS’ COMMENTS

Took some time to look over your book today -- you did a great job. Everyone here was checking it out today. Neatly done, nicely organized.

Congratulations on the book.

Steve Gentry

Bigfoot Corporation
Elephant Butte, NM

Thank you for the e-book, we took some time this afternoon to start reading it. It is EXCELLENT.

Alan & Sharon Jones

Truth or Consequences, NM

EDITOR'S NOTES & COMMENTS BY BILL JOHNSON:

One reader in a blog elsewhere on the internet commented how disappointed he was that the book does NOT contain graphics of David Ray's diary or how-to torture book - things he thought would be there as the result of one of the book reviews.  The review's irrelevant information about a security site key to prevent Satan's Den from reaching the eyes of children has been deleted as the key no longer exists.  I don't believe there are any offensive graphics besides what one might consider the book's controversial cover of a bondage-tortured doll.  The court complaints and testimony are descriptive enough of the torture techniques and devices for the purposes of this book, which primarily focuses on the unfolding of a huge police investigation.  The 40 plus photos in the book are of the suspects, numerous players, crime scenes and points of interest.

The reader also wanted to "get inside of Ray's head" but I am neither a  psychologist  nor a psychiatrist, and such information would be speculative anyway, although our book clearly brings out Ray's mental sickness as told by court documents and FBI profilers. 

Also, the reader said Roy Yancy's murder case is loosely connected to the rest of the story and that a four-part series on the topic of Satanism is irrelevant, but I disagree - I believe that both Yancy's case and the series are very integral parts of the story line.  And the progression to a new probe by police in another case of criminal sexual deviancy - possession of child pornography and the disclosure of associated behavior in which adults role play babies during sexual acts - may also be interpreted as being loosely connected or irrelevant; however, this is what happened in a community in which I bore witness to the unfolding of these events over a time span of more than 17 years.  That is why I chose "Satan's Den Exposed" for the title of the book, besides the fact that Ray had a sign inside his toy box that said "Satan's Den" to scare his victims.

All of this brings me to another point.  The book cover's art titled "Got Torture," which was produced by artist Josh Bond and photographed by David Pierre in 1999, indeed was prophetic.  It depicts the progression of various sexually deviant acts that evolved over time in a rural community with the wrath of God looming over it. 

(posted 9-15-06)

Send comments via e-mail to:

  desertjournal@hotmail.com    

or write to:  

Bill Johnson

7805 Puerco Ridge Road NW

Albuquerque, NM  87114

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Albuquerque, NM  87123