Interesting and engaging novella about Veronica Compton, the "ace in the hole" of Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi. Her habits, her goals and the manipulation that happened at the hands of Bianchi make up the first 3/4 of the book, with the last 1/4 devoted to her activities in jail, the various trials she took part in, and her parole.

Overall, an interesting look at a real woman who let her fascination with a killer morph into something dangerous. Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.

This was a really interesting take on a woman's madness when she falls in love with a killer. It was short enough to keep me interest and an easy read. I really like the character of Veronica and her journey and felt bad for her by the end of the book as she was a victim of manipulation but I also believed what happened should have happened. It's fascinating to see through this book how a killer case can impact someone who wasn't even a victim and how it can derail their life.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me E-ARC of this novella for an honest review.

This novella was very quick to read but for me it was kind of hard because of the dark and awful things that happened after knowing this is a true story. I think the author did a great job into researching about this case, and for me the writing style was good. If you love true crime I guess you would like this book and you will fly through it. I really didn't want to rate the book since this is based on a true story but I have to according to netgalley. Overall, I really liked the writing style and will look forward to the author's books.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This was a strange read in my opinion. It tells the story of a woman who falls under the spell of a serial killers charms. It was a quick easy read.

This book didn't do it for me. I truly think that I read this book in the wrong season because in another time, I would've enjoyed it but I just couldnt, for the life of me, get interested.

True Crime
OJ Modjeska - Ace In The Hole:
The Bad Romance Between a Legendary Killer and a Hollywood Playwright
Rating: 3.5⭐

A glamorous and talented Hollywood actress and playwright approaches one of America's most notorious incarcerated serial killers, seeking insight into the mind of a murderer.

Hoping to leverage his fame to her own advantage, she interviews him as part of research for her new play. She dreams of creating the next Hollywood horror hit, but her plans go awry when she underestimates the charisma and manipulative charms of the subject behind bars.

When it comes to true crimes, im a huge true fan. I've watched lots of movies and documentary but ive read only a few books. So when i realised this book was one, i quickly requested for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Ace in the Hole in exchange for an honest review!

This novella was really good. It was fast-paced and I finished within few hours taking breaks to read more about the story online which made this book more interesting and understandable.
It was all new to me as i had never heard of Ken Bianchi (Hillside Stranglers) or Veronica Compton prior to this book so it was very interesting to read.

The author did a good job given us the detailed account of the relationship between the two and it’s eventual untangling.

I still think she had habristophilia, even though she denies it, she's a classic case of being in love with the serial killer. Period!!
Though I felt a bit sorry for her, in entirety im still not sure how I feel about her.

The introduction of other people from other crimes into the story was a bonus.

It was okay, kind of boring. But that just may be my desensitation to true crime. Probably wouldn't read it again

I find it intriguing how women can fall head over heals for those the rest find only disgust. How can someone love, follow and sometimes marry another that has done such horrific acts against others. If you like true crime stories then this is one to read.

I am a huge true crime fan and this novella was perfect for me. I had never heard of this romance prior to this book so it was very fascinating to read. I tore through this very quickly. I would definitely like to read more true crime books from this author.
I just reviewed Ace In The Hole by OJ Modjeska. #AceInTheHole #NetGalley
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Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As a lover of true crime I found this chapter to be incredibly fascinating. I learnt a lot more about one of the Hillside Stranglers than I initially knew. It was interesting to read about the relationship between Veronica and Ken, they both had their own agendas entering into their relationship but where Ken was only using Veronica to try to get himself out of prison, Veronica who started out communicating with Ken for research purposes ended up falling in love with him. To the point where she ended up in prison herself.

This definitely brought a new layer to the already widely known Hillside Stranglers case and I really enjoyed learning more about it.

A Classic Case Of Habristophilia
This book is based on real events that took place in Los Angeles, California and Washington state in the late seventies and early eighties. At the centre of the story are two very strange individuals who fell into a romance.
The book is an interesting read about Hollywood actress Veronica Compton. Heather gets involved with Ken Bianchi the Hillside Strangle. who raped, tortured, and strangled to death ten women in Los Angeles between October 1977 and February 1978.
The Author OJ Modjeska has done an excellent job depicting each character's personality and values. Without giving too much away Heather writes to Bianchi saying that she is researching a play and would like to interview him. Very quickly after meeting him she ends up being tied up in a plot to commit a copycat murder to try and clear Bianchi of the murders he has committed. They both believe by tricking the authorities that the real killer is still out in the community on the loose and Bianchi will be let loose.
I found it was a fascinating read as I have read a few books on the Hillside stranglers, but I did not know much about Veronica Compton . Who sends a photograph after swimming in her nightgown to a known serial killer. I find Heather to clearly have habristophilia and she has a classic case of being in love with a serial killer.
Compton is a very dangerous woman who has no remorse and draws people into her madness. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes True Crime. 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.

A novella that gives a quick overview of the "relationship" between herself and Kenneth Bianchi (one half of the Hillside Stranglers). It's not a bad story but for me it got a bit bogged down at times in the analysis. I would have rather known more from her own words from her own diary/book and from court transcripts. Still an interesting fast read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Ace in the Hole in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve always been a big fan of true crime, whether it be through podcasts, films or books. I was unfamiliar with the story of the Hillside Stranglers, so the description of this book caught my eye while looking for my next read on NetGalley. This novella follows Veronica Compton, a Hollywood actress and playwright, who dreams of creating a horror play and finds interest in Ken Bianchi, one of two men who formed the Hillside Stranglers. Veronica reaches out to Bianchi on numerous occasions while he is in prison, writing him letters and sending him her manuscript, which is inflicted by the Hillside Strangler murders. One key difference is that she chooses a woman as the killer, who strangles and murders her victims. By attempting contact with Bianchi, Veronica’s goal it to gain access to prison visits and gather additional information about the murders, to help further her play and get it into production. We follow Veronica as she falls in love with Bianchi and claims that she is essentially brainwashed into doing his bidding, nearly committing a murder in order to prove that Bianchi did not commit any of the crimes he was accused of.

This novella provides great insight into Veronica’s life and the decisions she made during her relationship with Bianchi and the aftermath of her time in prison. While drugs did play a large role in her mental state during these years, I did find myself feeling bad for Veronica and all that she went through. I think that fans of True Crime will enjoy this read.

When Veronica Compton wrote Anthony Bianchi a letter she claimed she wanted to write a screenplay about a female serial killer but it seems she may have had ulterior motives because soon after she claimed to be in love with the serial killer and would go above and beyond to prove her devotion. The model/screen writer was at the very least a mover in the shaker and at the most the desire of the men who knew her but eventually she would only have eyes for Bianchi Author OJ Modjeska has written a detailed account of the relationship and it’s eventual untangling. I thought he did a superb job and read this all in one sitting. It’s definitely a book any True Crime fan should have in the library especially those who found the Hillside stranglers interesting. Just an FYI the author also wrote a detailed book about the two serial killers Anthony Bianchi and his cousin who he worship also. I found the details about Veronica‘s life very interesting I also found it interesting that she didn’t want to call what she had habristophilia, even though she had a classic case of being in love with the serial killer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes True Crime or at the very least the things that lead to it. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A very insightful and interesting read about a case I knew nothing about! Perfect for fans of true crime, Dateline, and any murder podcasts!

A huge thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.

In order to gain insight into the mind of a murderer, a glitzy and brilliant Hollywood actress and screenwriter reaches one of America's most infamously imprisoned serial killers. She conducted an interview him as part of her study for her new play, hoping to shine a spotlight on his celebrity. She aspires to write the next Cinematic horror hit, but her schemes go haywire when she underestimates the individual's persuasion and conniving charms behind bars. As he puts her reverence to the ultimate test, love shifts to madness... and entices her to perform the map of her theatre in real life

The fact that this is a true crime story makes the overall readings even more chilling and traumatising. Wicked, disturbing and horrifying. Author did a marvellous job depicting each character's values and personality, while messing with the readers' mind whether to trust them or not. In truth, we can never know the true intention of a person. Despite rooting for the innocent, there is no innocent for those who commit crime in the eyes of the law. In my opinion, there is more that meets the eye regarding this Veronica person. I was actually sympathies with her, as she was being manipulated by Ken, but sometimes one must be held responsible to the wrongs they did especially under the influence of unregistered medication. There is no remorse when it comes to serial killers. They don't really have a heart i guess.

I want to applaud the author for her splendid writings as it successfully gripped me from beginning to the end. I wasn't a fan of true crime before, but OJ Modjeska changes that for me.

While I've learned a lot about Ken Bianchi and the Hillside Stranglers over the years from TV, movies and books, I had never heard anything about this chapter before. And it was a very interesting chapter about a woman who fell for Bianchi, and apparently eventually another serial killer. At times there seems to be a few too many superfluous details to lengthen the book, but overall it was a fascinating read.

This was a fascinating expansion on a mention of a woman in a book about the Hillside murders. Her name is Veronica Compton and her story is quite bizarre. I knew of the incident, but never knew the details before. So I found this novella very enlightening.

I have read many true crime books but I am not familiar with The Hillside Strangler or any part of their crimes. For me this story was more about the mental illness hybristophilia, an attraction to someone who has committed an outrageous crime, well outside society’s norm.

Being mentally ill while also an addict and heavy drinker leads to poor choices. On one hand as a mother this combination is dangerous for the child, yet she plays the victim of the ex husband. God bless him for getting the child out of this situation. Being a aspiring writer and wanting to research serial killers is a far cry from “gazing dreamily, longingly at the perfection of the elegant white hands that had tightened so many nooses.”

You are not caught in a web if you are the one seeking out the danger. She enjoyed it, she thrived on it, she was in control. “He didn’t strike her as a bad guy”. She did the crime, she deserved the time.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for a review.