True crime is all about the facts and it comes with a lot of research. It has a specific audience, but make no mistake; it is a large swath of readers. The cold case phenomenon dominates our reading and viewing sectors today and it is not unique to the United States. Many long-term, unsolved cases capture worldwide fascination.
There are currently more than 200,000 cold case murders in the U.S. with an average of 6,000 new cases annually. Ohio has over 10,000. True crime author Jane Ann Turzillo unfolds 12 unsolved cases in her latest book, Northern Ohio Cold Cases.
Turzillo credits “Granny” for her appreciation of storytelling and crime. She recalls trips to the local cemetery where she and her sister were treated to a great lunch followed by an historical tour of the hometown using tombstones. The stories connected Turzillo to her ancestors and often contained a mystery or a puzzle with missing pieces. “The missing pieces and the answers to the mysteries fascinated me as a youngster and still do to this day,” Turzillo admitted.
A former crime and police reporter, Turzillo collected interesting true crime stories. In October 1980, a man she had known most of her life was murdered. The murder was never solved. “When I went back through my file and reread about him, I knew it was time to research and write this book,” Turzillo said.
Norman L. Liver Jr. did not come into the office one day. Co-workers requested a welfare check at his Lakewood apartment building. His body was found when the manager opened the door. His murder has never been solved along with that of a Kent State University coed, a mathematical genius at the General Motors Cleveland plant and Patricia Greenwood who washed up on the banks of Lake Erie and several others in Turzillo’s latest true crime paperback.
Turzillo combines her love of history with true crime and enjoys doing presentations in addition to writing. “I have presented in libraries, historical societies, bookstores, book clubs and even on a moving train,” Turzillo laughed.
Jane Ann Turzillo’s first appearance at the Buckeye Book Fair was 2011 with Wicked Women of Northeast Ohio. Her experiences have brought her in touch with readers and authors. “My first visit I was fortunate to sit next to author Cinda Chima and I remember her telling me she always started her day at the computer writing. I wrote whenever I felt like it. Since that conversation, I have followed Cinda’s advice,” admitted Turzillo. Northern Ohio Cold Cases is her tenth book.
Lovers of the true crime genre do not miss the opportunity to connect with Jane Ann Turzillo at the Buckeye Book Fair. It would be a crime…………
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