"The Berman Murders" is a wild ride through a fascinating true crime story. Kari tells the story of "a colossal assembly of lapses, mistakes, miscues, and derelictions, at multiple levels of officialdom", that prevents this crime from being solved. He masterfully takes the reader from Saline Valley's "aura of unfettered freedom" to the wilds of Cambodia to tell the story of the murder of Barry and Louise Berman.

Kari does a great job of researching this true crime story by interviewing many involved across many years. It is clear that this book took a lot of work to complete and has personal meaning due to Kari's appreciation of the valley's "adventure, inspiration, and solace."

I would recommend this book to all fans of true crime and adventure stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for this ARC!

Compelling true story of the mysterious disappearance of a unique married couple with the husband who is the son from a wealthy family. In the search for answers to their disappearance the book turns into a murder mystery which is pretty much solved by the author’s piecing together the details of the topography and layout of the specific area of the Mojave Desert, witnesses’ facts and the presumed killer’s weird, kinky, sadistic life compiled with his lifestyle in Cambodia.
The writer’s style flowed without being overly flowery or trying too hard. The book goes a lot of places I wouldn’t have anticipated from the start and I enjoyed that!
I always looked forward to picking the book back up and I read this book quickly as I do every good book.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy. Highly recommend!

The Berman Murders is an interesting book about Barry and Louise Berman, who go on a 'make up' trip, and are never heard from again. Doug Kari is great at research as well as very familiar with the Mojave Desert, and really adds details that help one to picture the natural landscape and terrain that brings this area to life. In the investigations and digging, a suspect is uncovered, and then the story really shows that individual and his background in a different event, and how that event really ties to the Bermans story. I have not heard of this, the suspect, the other event...this was really bringing to light justice for the Bermans. Very well done!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I apparently skipped over the line in the description that said these crimes would somehow be tied to trafficking in Cambodia. That felt like the most in depth part of this whole book and I was not expecting it.

It actually feels misleading to call it The Berman Murders when really we learn very little about them, and instead are given really explicit information about the prime suspect's other unrelated, heinous crimes. Regarding the titular crime we're only given some broad info on when they went missing, when they were found, and some speculation in between.

This was a true-crime pageturner that was nearly impossible to put down!

At the beginning were a factual geological description of how the topology of the regions were formed, and a true description of how sexual rules apply in a clothing-optional environment, along with an advisory that it contained graphic descriptions which some people might find disturbing.

Descriptions of the geography and geology of areas were delightful. There were vivid descriptions of what happened to the murder victims, and when it happened and was discovered. There were also vivid description of how the suspect – who was eventually convicted for other crimes – lived his life. He seems like an all-around bad guy. There were details about the court case and its appeals, which in itself was a novel application of law.

Although these were well-to-do murder victims, and a father with a famous fortune, I don’t recall hearing about this as it happened – with the disappearance having occurred nearly 40 years ago.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Doug Kaie brings to life the rich history of his characters in this true crime novel. The first time I heard of the incident it was well-written. How two lives come together as one and their abrupt end and the search to find them as it spans over time. A nonfiction that is scarier than fiction and reads with great detail into an unsolved case. Interesting how an investigation can go cold and be solved years later. A magnificent recount of a cold case eventually solved.

Interesting true crime.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Barry and Louis Berman go on a camping trip in the desert of California. When their vehicle is found abandoned they're declared missing and the search is on.

Surprisingly I had not heard of this case prior to picking up this book. Barry's background made it a bit interesting as did his family's reaction to him being missing. Things didn't get intriguing until the marine entered the story.

This was well written and well documented but it lacked on readability and intrigue.

Doug Kari's "The Berman Murders" is a gripping rollercoaster through California's Mojave Desert. Imagine a counterculture couple, bathed in the mystique of a hot springs' oasis, disappearing without a trace. Kari unravels this chilling mystery with the precision of a seasoned detective, taking readers from the arid landscapes of Death Valley to the dark underbelly of Cambodia. The twists and turns will have you hooked, and Kari's storytelling prowess keeps the pages turning. The real genius lies in how he weaves a tale of deviant motivations and a quest for justice. If you're a true crime aficionado or just love a captivating mystery, "The Berman Murders" is must-read. Kari's relentless pursuit of truth transforms this cold case into a compelling narrative that leaves an indelible mark. Get ready for a true crime journey that transcends boundaries.

Doug Kari has written an interesting, methodical account of the mysterious disappearance of Barry and Louise Berman from a camping trip in California in 1986. Barry Berman was the only child of Jules Berman, the so called 'Kahlua King.' Decades go by with leads and suspects being investigated by lots of law enforcement officers and agencies. Remains of the couple are found a distance from the camping area, but resolution of the case is never achieved.