First thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review. Well I will say this, the author Caitlin Rother, did a hell of a lot of research for this book. It is very thorough in that regard. I also liked the way she weaved her own personal story in with this to try to solve, or at the very least, understand this very bizarre case. I do however, agree with other reviewers, that it was difficult at times to follow all the people involved and I did find myself skimming which I rarely ever do. Overall the author did her best writing a very unique case and it is clear she, at least to me, that she will continue to pursue this if possible. I would recommend to any True Crime enthusiast.

A good true crime novel. The story was interesting and the characters were intriguing. My only drawback was I felt the story was disjointed and I found myself going back several times to follow the storyline.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sharing this upcoming true crime investigation. Interesting story that I had not previously heard of, but apparently it has had a fair amount of publicity. Overall, the author/investigator did a fine job following the case. There were many individuals involved in the investigation and trial, and I found it difficult to follow all the players. In the end the story is unsatisfying because the case feels unsatisfying.

This story was was really big news and captured the attention of many. People were fascinated by the case, wondering what happened and was it ever going to really be known. In 2011, when Rebecca Zahau was found dead, hanging from the balcony of the Spreckels mansion, it just seemed such a bizarre thing to happen. Then you read about Max Shacknai’s injury just 2 days earlier, and you’re really intrigued! Rother followed the story from the time Zahau died, writing and researching the story for 9 years all with an eye to doing this book. She was keeping tabs on the story all along, writing as it went, waiting for the right time. I have seen many shows done on TV about this case, but this book is the latest word and likely the deepest dive into the story. I’ve liked previous works I’ve read by Rother like Poisoned Love, Lost Girls, and Then No One Can Have Her. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Caitlin Rother, and the publisher.

I had the expectation before reading this book that the author was a professional experienced in writing about criminal cases. After reading it, I see that I was wrong. The author sets the expectation that her personal life, specifically her husband's suicide, is key to her solving (or having a well-based opinion on) what truly happened on Ocean Boulevard. She tells the story of the principal participants in the events and that seemed like a logical place to start. But there are lots of pages spent on the histories of people peripheral to the story. Rebecca's ex-husband and the tortuous tale of their marriage is not worth the room it takes up. My impression was that he was willing to talk with the author so she included all his material. There are trials and civil cases that are reported chronologically but just become tiresome. The reader almost certainly wants to know: what caused Max's accident, and was Rebecca's death a murder or a suicide. The case is never solved by anyone. No one's opinion gets changed over the period of years, and the author does not have a solid opinion that she can back up credibly. I would have preferred that her personal life and the details of who would meet with her and where, and who showed up, etc. be seriously pruned. Then at the end, she revisits her husband's suicide and how that helped her understand the case in this book. Except no one ever proves that there was a suicide.

Author Caitlin Rother investigates a complicated case involving two deaths occurring within a few days of each other at the same location. While there are still unanswered questions, she explores and offers various possibilities as to what happened on Ocean Boulevard. The reader is given an opportunity to arrive at their own conclusion based on facts given in the book. Thank you to NetGalley.

This is the first book I've read by this author and the style wasn't really to my taste. She covers the details of the story well; she had good access to the key individuals so it's put together well and she's clearly good at the research and understanding she developed but it just didn't flow for me.

It's a very creepy case and I felt very creeped out while I was reading it; definitely not a before bed relaxing read.

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

This is such a bizzare and fascinating case. I enjoyed this book and reading more about it. The formatting of the ARC was a little difficult to read, but didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

I had never heard of this case and I was fascinated.
The author does a great disservice to this case by writing this book.
It was so disorganized, scattered, and full of the authors own bravado that it was hard to read.
For instance, the author kept putting herself into the thick of things, we as READERS don't care when you write...this author was asked, this author found, this author...etc....very distracting and unneeded.
Further the timeline, the organization of the book left MUCH to be desired. I barely got to know any of the characters before they were whisked away.
A more indepth analysis of Max's accident, who was all there, their stories, would have been helpful.
The same sets of data was gone over and over ad nausem.
I gave up on this book when I was 85% finished when the author decided to introduced a psychic who then "recreated" Rebeccas last night.
This book is over 300 pages and over 250 pages of that is UNNEEDED!

I am positive that there will be BETTER books written about this case, DON"T READ THIS ONE!

While reading this book I kept thinking "wow this author did some extensive research" because it was written with so much detail it was amazing. I heard about this story in the news when it first happened but reading the book it was like I was reading a story of a crime I hadn't heard of. I'm a lover of true crime/mystery etc and this book was a perfect 5 Star read. Highly Recommend adding this to your TBR pile.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Death on Ocean Boulevard in exchange for my honest review.
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First let me thank Netgalley,, the publisher, and Ms. Rother for the opportunity to read this book for a review. The opportunity to read a Caitlin Rother book ARC?! You did not have to ask me twice! As always she did not disappoint. Ms. Rother starts the book telling how the story came close to home for her emotionally and end with how the story came close to home for her professionally and personally. When reading true crime I do often think about what the author has to go through to get the book written. In this case, Ms. Rother shares the experience with the reader. The deaths in this book are a decade old, yet still has no definitive ending. How could Rebecca Zahau have committed suicide the way it is suggested? Who wrote the message on the door? Was six year old Max the victim of foul play? Did Rebecca's Millionaire boyfriend's brother have anything do do with her death? There are so many questions about this case that are still unanswered. Yes, there was a trial in civil court, but with the death still listed as a suicide could we see a murder trail in the future. I had not heard about this case previously. This is a book that is 10 years in the making and was well worth the wait Any fan of true crime and/or Ms. Rother's books will be thrilled reading this story. I am giving this book a solid 5 star review. .

I received an advance copy of, Death on Ocean Boulevard, by Caitlin Rother. Such a sad story, but very well written. I do not think either of the deaths were accidents. I do not think we will ever know, what really happened.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Rebecca Zahau w1as found hanging in her boyfriend's Jonah's mansions in July When police arrive they believe they have a murder on their hands. This book kept me interested from the beginning.

Excellent true crime read about a story that I’ve actually never heard about which is always interesting. I was in rapt with the details. I highly recommend this one.