The Best New True Crime Stories: Crimes of Passion, Obsession & Revenge

by Mitzi Szereto Narrated by Christina Delaine

Overview

Crimes of passion are both eerie and strangely tantalizing. This riveting anthology explores the question through some of the most compelling true crime accounts and stories of obsession and vengeance.



Crimes fueled by emotions. When it comes to the emotions, people can react in strange and unexpected ways. Whether it's a heart hurt by unrequited love, or a lover so passionate they'll stop at nothing to get their way-even the most mild-mannered soul can suddenly flip, becoming a vengeful spirit with dark intentions. From the ancient Greek myth of Jason and Medea to Shakespeare's Othello, themes dealing with deeply felt emotions have persisted. But unlike mythology or fiction, The Best New True Crime Stories contains stories from real life.



A special selection of stories written exclusively for this book. The Best New True Crime Stories includes stories from around the world and from different times. As with all titles in the popular The Best New True Crime Stories series, this volume contains original nonfiction accounts penned by writers from across the literary spectrum. Dive into these twisted true tales of passion and unrequited love turned violent. Examine why some have fully embraced their dark side, resorting to crime to achieve their own special brand of satisfaction and retribution.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176144642
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

What was meant to be a single tryst on the afternoon of April 23 turned into an extended sex spree that led the two lovers to three different tea houses over the next sixteen days. They spent copious amounts of money, engaged geisha for entertainment, and had food and alcohol brought into their rooms. But most of all, they had sex—two, three, or more times a night, and often during the day as well. When the money Kichizō had taken from his restaurant ran out at the end of April, Sada went to Nagoya to ask Gorō Ōmiya for spending money, all the while pining for Kichizō and worrying about what he might do in her absence. Sada and Gorō met again in Tokyo on May 5, when he gave her more cash, unaware that she would turn around and immediately spend it with another man. Once that money was gone as well, Kichizō returned to his restaurant on May 7 and the lovers parted, promising to meet again in a few days.

While Kichizō went home to make amends with his wife and get an infusion of new cash, Sada went out on her own, going about her business. By now, she had developed deep feelings for Kichizō. She had finally found someone who treated her exactly as she desired. Not that she could put into words what exactly was so special about him, but it was as if she had found a soulmate, a perfect partner for life. Because of this, Sada was also jealous for the first time in her life. She couldn’t bear the thought that he might be at home sleeping with his wife, and the prospect of having to share him with someone else in the future enraged her. Fleeting thoughts of killing Kichizō to make him hers forever entered her mind. They solidified into vague plans when she saw a play in which a geisha attacked her lover with a knife. Sada was resolved to never let Kichizō leave her. And before they saw each other again, she bought a large kitchen knife.

Polly W. and Wesley C. spent several weeks planning Winsie’s murder. Polly initially wanted Winsie to be killed before Christmas so that she would no longer be bothered by her once school was back in session after the new year. Wesley, who was by all accounts crazy in love with Polly, was clearly willing to do anything to make her happy as well as defend her tarnished honor—even if that anything included the revenge killing of her former best friend. Whether Polly returned the intensity of her boyfriend’s feelings is open to question; some who knew her claimed she did not.

What the couple needed now was a hit man to do the job. Wesley recruited Jinhua, a young hanger-on who looked up to the older teen and desperately wanted to be a part of his group. Jinhua was allegedly offered a sum that started out high, then dropped to twenty euros a month, and then to a flat fee of one-hundred fifty euros. Free drinks were also included in the deal. Considering the paltry financial reward on offer, one can only conclude that Jinhua agreed to murder Winsie for the glory and acceptance it would bring.

Communication between the parties took place via Facebook, Skype, and text message. The teenage hit man was provided with Winsie’s address as well as the times she was most likely to be at home. A detailed description of the Hau residence was also provided, all the way down to the Snow White, Little Mermaid, and other cartoon stickers on the glass panel by the front door. Jinhua was given the bus number he’d need to take from the train station in order to reach her house. Everything seemed to have been meticulously planned. All that remained was the date in which to carry out the hit.

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