This is the kind of book that you wish was fiction. Sadly, it's the true story of Rich Schelzer, who killed his beloved grandmother in 2014. What compels someone to commit such a horrific act? Written by the extremely well-qualified James W. Marquart, Ph.D., Unthinkable delves into a sordid past, and explains in compelling detail the investigation, building of a case, and trial of Schelzer.

It's hard to say I "enjoyed" this book. Unless you're a psychopath, you can't really enjoy a discussion about a brutal murder. It is, however, well-researched, and well-written. Unthinkable is a compelling read by a qualified author about a horrific crime.

Fans of the true crime genre will "enjoy" this book. Marquart does a good job imparting his background and education in criminal justice, using language that armchair detectives can understand and appreciate.

Recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of this book for no charge. (Thanks, Atmosphere Press, NetGalley and James Marquart!) This review is left voluntarily and without compensation.

Fantastic book! I read it in just 3 days and it kept my interest the entire time. Who murders their 85 year old grandmother for money and doesn't expect to get caught? Rich was certainly full of himself. My heart bleeds for his family. I'm sure his four daughters have no use for him. I'm sure he spends his days telling anyone who will listen how he is innocent. Riiight. Close the jail cell door and let him rot for the next 45 years.

I found this to be a well written page turner that takes you through the crime in a thought-out manner. Lots of detail here. Done by an experienced writer on criminal justice. From the crime to the court case and sentence, this book gets it done quite well.

Who Kills Their Grandmother?
This is a very sad story which took place in East Dundee Illinois in 2014, when a beloved mother, grandmother, and neighbour 85-year-old Mildred Darrington was viciously murdered by someone who crept quietly into her bedroom while she slept and put a pillow over her face and slit her throat and watched her bleed to death in less than a minute.
This was a horrific murder and when Dodie as she was called did not turn up for her hair appointment the hairdresser who was also a friend new this was so out of character, so she popped over to check that Dodie was ok. What she found was shocking and she quickly left the home and rang the police.
Nothing was disturbed or taken in the house, so this was either a stranger or more personal somebody who Dodie new. What unfolds was how the grandson Rich Schelzer who was adored and a trusted family member whose motivation was based on money, prostitutes, and greed decided to murder his grandmother.
Rich was married and had four daughters and to everybody had a great life as they went to top restaurants had good jobs a lovely home and nice cars. But all is not what it seems as Rich lived a double life and lived way beyond his means. Without giving to much away you will read a well-documented story on how this senseless killing to inherit his grandmother’s estate takes you through the violent and vicious crime. How the polices thorough investigation which led to the collection of evidence in Texas and Illinois then led them their prime suspect. Following the arrest of Rich his trial commences followed by a conviction.
Sadly, the hardest part of this book is the family’s of this senseless murder of Mildred Darrington as Rich Schelzer parents, sister, wife, children, and niece read their victim impact stories. It is heart wrenching to hear their story of the ongoing effects that this has had on everyone and how completely senseless this murder was, plus the ongoing struggle the family’s are going through as their lives are completely turned upside down and changed forever.
This is the first book I have read by James W. Marquart and it is well researched and written and I highly recommend to true crime readers. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Unthinkable by James W. Marquart, PhD.
Who Kills Their Grandmother?
It was a warm, still, July summer night in 2014, when an 85-year-old woman, a beloved grandmother and neighbor, was viciously murdered by someone who slipped quietly into her bedroom and slit her throat and watched her bleed to death in less than a minute.
Who committed this awful murder, how, and why? The perpetrator of this horrible crime was the woman’s own grandson, an adored and trusted family member. He was married and also had four children of his own. James W. Marquart walks us through the investigation involving the collection of evidence in Texas and in Illinois, the arrest, trial, conviction, and the punishment of the killer who committed this crime for money and pure lust. Punch your ticket to a front row seat and see how murder cases unfold and murderers are caught and punished.
A really interesting read. I loved the illustrations it made it more real as I could now picture what he looked like in my head. 5*.