Blood and Money

by Thomas Thompson

Book Overview

The Edgar Award-winning true-crime story follows a Texas socialite's mysterious death and her unfaithful husband's murder. From the exclusive haunts of Houston's super-rich to the seamy underworld of prostitutes, pimps, and punks, Thompson tracks down all the leads and clues.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385096852
• ISBN13: 9780385096850
• Release Date: January 1976
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 450 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

EVEN FOR HOUSTON THIS WAS SHOCKING

When i was a little boy, I snagged this book off my mother's bed stand and could not but it down, obviously it was not exactly what my mother would want me to read at ten, but it was just a fantastic read, and it happened in Houston, which for me made it totally fascinating. The story is so amazing you really cannot believe this really happened, but shockingly it did, the Hill mansion in River Oaks still sits on its corner, astride to Kirby Drive. This is a well written barn burner on a story that pleaded for this kind of treatment. Really, one of the best true crime books every written, highly recommended.

A True Crime Book That is True to the Crime

The depiction in this interesting book is accurate, according to events reported in the Houston newspapers that covered these events. I was fortunate to actually see Ash Robinson one morning in 1978, in the driveway of his River Oaks home, wearing pajamas and putting something in the trunk of his car. It was awesome.

If you love true crime books, this is one you can't put down

I saw the mini-series starring Farrah Fawcett before I read the book. I was intrigued by the movie. I had never heard of Joan Olive Robinson Hill before and after seeing the movie I wondered about her and her life and if it were possible that her husband did in fact kill her. There were a lot of questions that needed answering. I read the book and was amazed at the attention Thomas Thompson gave to even the smallest detail and how he was able to draw you into the story, you almost felt like you were there when these events happened. The book did not absolutely say that John Hill had killed Joan Hill, but it certainly provided ample motive and opportunity. And the scenario that describes the way he might have done it seems plausible. Who knows? This does not take away at all from the drama of this story and as John Hill himself is dead as well, there are some things we will never know. Thomas Thompson makes you feel empathy for Joan and her situation. He also makes you feel sympathy, compassion and scorn; why didn't she just leave the bum and find someone who really wanted her. I loved this story.

A true life tale of Texan greed, love and murder.

"Blood and Money" first published in 1976 is a true page turner and a major piece of non-fiction journalism. Set thiry years ago in the moneyed mansions of Houstons River Oaks it is a spellbinding tale of an oil millionares(Ash Robinson) obsessive love for his daughter(Joan Robinson) and her ill fated third marraige to a rising star plastic surgeon(John Hill). Events take tragic and unexpected turns carrying along the readers emotions. Then the author brings us through a series of court trials deepeening the characters and shading their motives. Abruptly the story leaves behind the privileged rich lives and burrows into the sleazy underbelly of Texan prostitution and petty crime culminating in a final pursuit and spectacular murder trial. No fiction is a match for the awful truth here and the writer Thomas Thompson meticulously unravels this bizarre saga of greed, power, lust, love and murder. All the characters are deeply shaded and by force of sheer detail their lives are brought into vivid focus. It is a sprawling narrative similar to Norman Mailers "The Executioners Song" although largely confined to the somewhat strange state of Texas. Thompson must have utilized every possible material(court transcrits, autopsy reports, police files, photographs) and person avialable to him. Conversations are carefully reconstructed, events are colorfully described and the author seamlessly insinuates himself into the mind of each of the characters. Readers enjoy a fly- on-the-wall perspective of the characters doings and actions. Ultimately "Blood and Money" can fairly take its place alongside other New Journalism classics like "In Cold Blood". It would have been nice however if the author had included a preface, (some notes about his research techniques) photographs and character epilogues. The hard cover Doubleday publication does not contain any supplementry information perhaps other versions do. This calibre of jornalism is damned impressive and it's a pity we don't have its originator Thomas Thompson with us any longer.

A fantastic read! Fantastic research and writing.

Thomas Thompson does a fantastic job of re-telling the events surrounding the mysterious death of a Houston socialite, the investigation into the death, the trial of her prominent surgeon husband, and the circumstances surrounding his murder a few years after hers. This is without a doubt the most gripping story I have ever read. Thompson's research on this project was extensive, and I would imagine exhaustive. It is written as if he were a witness to all the events which took place in this story. It is a story so bizarre, it would have to be fiction, but sadly was a very true story of adultery, greed, and vengeance. If you can find the book I highly recommend you buy it. You will have a hard time putting it down.