Ann McElhinney

This is an “okay” account of Gosnell’s abhorrent medical malpractices and countless illegal abortions done on desperate woman. But I wouldn’t call this a great example of true crime writing. For one it lacks important detail, then it is unnecessarily emotional, and perhaps most unfortunately, the writer uses misplaced comparisons between abortion clients and death camp inmates. It should go without saying how fallacious and ignorant it is to make such an analogy. After all, I have not heard of a single case where the victims of Nazi brutality went to the concentration camps willingly. Talking about slippery analogies falling on their backside, painfully.
Even, part of the very long title of book could be viewed as slightly problematic “most prolific serial killer”. Some may, and rightfully so, question the accuracy of that nomenclature as it is applied to Dr. Gosnell by the author. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree that Dr. Gosnell was a killer and a quite prolific at that, but the word serial killer strikes me as technically erroneous.
In the end, the book is certainly readable but I’m convinced if Greg Ohlsen had written on Gosnell, he would have managed a much more detailed and objective account while remaining technically correct.… (altro)

This book is not for everyone. The authors are very honest about what Kermit Gosnell, and what Gosnell did went far beyond abortion. He murdered and decimated. If you are uncomfortable with Ed Gein’s story, do not read this book, for Gosnell was the same type of hoarder.

This book was finely investigated, so I only deduct one star for these reasons:
* the unnecessary, in my opinion, long chapter lecturing the reader on proper journalistic practices. It’s near the end of the book, so by the time it is reached, I as the reader have the full picture of the bizarre news dodge of this story. I don’t need a mini journalism class to drive it home.
* the occasional use of “pro-abortion” in place of “pro-choice” in general (the only person I have run across who is truly pro-abortion is Dr. Gosnell, for pro- implies enthusiasm, gusto); and, in companion with this, the introduction written by a member of the Duck Dynasty family. This case is so vile, it didn’t need to be politicized at all, in any way. Just tell the reader what Gosnell, his wife, and his staff did. You’ll probably change a lot of minds on abortion. I think these leans of bias make the annoyance of the lesson of the unbiased Fourth Estate stronger. To truly make this point, the book should have carried absolutely no agenda—including no biased language (a no-no in basic journalism) and no biased celebrity endorsement.

I can’t say this enough: this is an important case, and, despite its above flaws, an important book. But I am going to type a phrase below that was in the crime scene report about Ed Gein, and please let it be your litmus test for whether or not you should read this book.

That phrase is: cup of noses… (altro)