Rough Trade details the case against Robert Riggan, a man who picked up prostitutes, drugged then raped them. He gets caught when he is attempting to get rid of the body of a prostitute he's murdered and is spotted by a couple who are on their way to work along a narrow road near Black Hawk, Colorado.
Riggan comes across as a typical narcissistic sociopath who will not take any responsibility, lies about everything, makes up additional lies when confronted with the inconsistencies, and believes he is better than everyone else. He had a horrific upbringing, but that is no excuse for his behavior. The book discusses at length the trial and how Riggan ended up with only a life sentence instead of the death penalty. It's a good read for those who enjoy true crime books.

i'm sorry i really could not get into this story for what ever reason. I went back to it a few times i'm sorry i put in for this book . Thank you for your time.

Thank you to NetGalley, WildBlue Press, and author Steve Jackson for giving me a Kindle copy of this book Rough Trade for review purposes.

This one I found hard to write a short review about. It's an updated edition of an older story. I felt like I was rewriting the book and had to start over a few times. It's just so involved and layered and almost stranger-than-fiction like. There's a wicked bad killer, a former cop turned call girl/hooker and her friend, a new hooker. You just have to read it for yourself basically, and if you are a true crime fan, you'll probably enjoy it and see what I mean. It does go back and forth some, but many books do that to tell different parts of the story and blend things in. That didn't bother me, it's a way some storytellers like to do it. I've come to like the writing of Steve Jackson through WildBlue Press and before.

Hmmm. Where to start? I’ve often thought that, contrary to traditional theories, you frequently CAN tell a book by its cover – not so for Rough Trade by Steve Jackson. A close-up of the face of the creepy perv – I mean bad guy – in this one dominates the cover along with the lurid subtitle: “ A shocking true story of prostitution, murder and redemption.” Frankly, its appearance is that of a trashy story that was rushed into print for maximum shock value. And that was totally not the case with the copy of this title that I received from Wild Blue Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jackson includes an extensive foreword that provides insight into what makes him a different true-crime author. He tells us “It’s not the blood and gore, or sexual titillation, I’m looking for…I’m interested in the psychology and “ripple effect” of violent crime, and the back stories of the human beings involved: killers, victims, law enforcement, those involved in the justice system, and the community.” He establishes that the story of the murder of Anita Jones by itself was not enough to build a story around: “her short sad life could not carry a book.” But a fellow prostitute named Joanne Cordova, who had known Anita briefly, was “the flawed heroine seeking redemption.” Joann Cordova was a former police officer whose life went to hell as she became a crack addict in Denver. She encountered Robert Riggan, the murderer, and made the difficult choice to do the right thing and work with the police in search of justice for Anita, even though it meant she would be labeled a snitch, thereby putting her own life in danger. (After all, she knew from personal experience as a police officer that “snitches end up in ditches.”)

Then there is the creepy perv – I mean murderer. Robert Riggan “was no Ted Bundy, whose good looks, charming ways and evil cunning has enthralled true crime readers through multiple books.” He was just a “scared, psychologically stunted” man whose horrific crime seemed all too common. It wasn’t until the story of his childhood emerged that the reason for him becoming the person he was. As Jackson notes, “sometimes the monsters in our real-life nightmares are created in the homes and by the people who are supposed to represent safety to a child.” Riggan endured rape, incest and horrific abuse growing up. As a former foster parent who has seen and heard the horrors that are all too common for many children, this was heartbreaking. Jackson presents the details in a straightforward way, never sensationalizing them, yet painting a complete picture of the treatment that contributed to Riggan becoming a monster.

The discovery of the crime that took Anita’s life was serendipitous. It was only because a young couple on their way to work in the mountains of Colorado just happened to see what looked at first glance like a man dragging a body up a secluded trail as they drove past. At first, they had a hard time believing what they were seeing, which was Riggan who was leaving behind a bloody, dying Anita Jones as he fled the scene when they stopped. 

The story of the crime and its aftermath includes the details of how Joanne Cordova’s choices took her from her life as an outstanding police officer to a crack-addicted streetwalker. As part of her life on the streets of Denver, she had herself submitted to violent sex with Riggan in exchange for drugs. When she became aware that friend Anita had been murdered by that same guy, she had a terrible choice to make. Rather than opt to look the other way, keeping herself safe (which would result in Anita’s killer being free to continue his violent attacks on women), she realized that despite all her mistakes in life, “it is never too late to do the right thing.” As she endured the humiliating, detailed exploration of her life during Riggan’s trial, she coped as she had learned to do, by putting on a virtual mask. Rather than crack, her mask was now held in place partly by “the pot and alcohol,” and she went on to find her own personal redemption.

This isn’t great literature, nor is it intended to be. But it is well-written and researched, and includes a message about the possible results of childhood abuse, and the redemption that can occur when someone does the right thing. Five stars (again, it isn’t 5-star literature, but it is definitely 5-star true crime).

A sad story, but also, as the author says, a story of redemption. Well written, held my interest all the way through. Steve Jackson does not disappoint. I have read quite a few of his books and always look forward to a new one by this author.

True account of a monster serial killer and the cop, turned prostitute who helped catch him. Utterly compelling reportage that reads like fiction. Does contain some graphic content but highly recommended for true crime fans.

While the idea behind the novel is justified and something that needs to be told, the narrative style was disappointing since I kept losing my focus with the varied tone of narrations and perspectives.

(Lengthened review to come shortly... Stay tuned...)