This book was incredibly detailed and interesting. I am from south of Boston originally so this story hits close to home. I think the last part of the book dragged, especially after the author put forth her theory on what happened.

I understand the negative reviews, especially considering the case is still officially unsolved, but felt that the story reads well even without a definite resolution. It’s clear the author is passionate about the subject matter.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Clare Zalind, and Little A for an early copy.

The Waltham Murders grabbed my attention because of the subject it covers. Living locally, the murders in Waltham and the Boston Marathon bombing are both topics of interest. Unfortunately, the interesting subject matter wasn't enough to make the book great. Written in a confusing and very unorganized way, this style of writing made the book unenjoyable for me.

This was a really interesting true crime nonfiction book,it told the story that it needed to and thought the way this was written was respectful and informative. I thought Susan Clare Zalkind wrote this perfectly and can’t wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

Reads more like a memoir and it was hard to get into. I felt like the beginning was a little unfocused.

Once I started reading “The Waltham Murders” on my kindle, I honestly couldn’t put it down. Susan Clare Zelkind has put to rest many questions about the still unsolved murders of the young men in Waltham, Massachusetts and has left me with more questions of my own as to how this tragedy could have been cast off by the various police, state departments, district attorneys, FBI and more? If it weren’t for Susan Clare Zelkind’s personal dedication to trying to provide some sort of justice and closure for the victims families by continuing to raise the questions and put the pieces together the public wouldn’t probably be aware of all these misgivings. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys true crime non fiction or for anyone who may have been affected by the circumstances and tragedy surrounding the Boston Marathon bombings. (Which is everyone, was it not?)

There has been a certain lack of transparency in regards to some of the things mentioned in the book but with her own investigative journalism on the topics this book was everything I could have hoped for and more. I was absolutely riveted from start to finish.
The reporting style here is really great. The author shares all of her primary and secondary sources as she is able to, and is sure to point out that people may or may not be telling the truth and that she can't tell you which it is, but she presents what evidence she has that may either support or refute what others have told her in her interviews. In the end she is able to say,

The organization of the book did throw me a bit at times, but I assumed the author had her reasons for presenting the information in the order she chose, and I was always able to follow along easily.

I was really hoping for more self-reflection about the intersection of impartial journalism and personal stories. There absolutely was SOME of that, don't get me wrong! And it was a good read, with some really good writing, but at the end of the day, it ended up being just another true crime story, and I think that Zalkind is capable of more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little A books for this copy for review. I was interested in reading this book as I was not at all familiar with this case as it was related to the Boston Bombing and EVERYONE heard when that happened. This book is part investigation and part memoir as the author grew up and was friends with one of the victims of the murder that occurred on September 11, 2011, in Waltham, Massachusetts. There is mystery surrounding the murders as $5,000 cash was found in the apartment as well as drugs found. Zalkind digs into the drugs, the Boston bombing, the police investigation, and speaks to survivors to recount their experiences and memories to try to find out what really happened all of those years ago. Are these murders connected to the Boston bombing? Did the police botch the investigation? Were the police possibly dirty and in on the drug scene at the time? Many questions and more arise during Zalkinds investigation and research into this story.

yikes. this is very intense for sure. def not for the faint of heart readers. overall i enjoyed it but very very intense read

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The writing felt very disjointed, and the book felt like it had not been edited at all. The book really lost me from the opening chapter, when all the author wanted to talk about was the great weed her friend that was murdered had gotten her. It was a strange way to start a true crime book, and things went downhill from there. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Could having solved this case in Waltham prevented the Boston bombing? We'll never know, but one thing is certain - The Waltham Murders is well written and definitely makes you think.

Wow, I was hooked from the very beginning. This book kept me intrigued until the very end. Kudos to the author!!