True Stories of Law & Order

November 1, 2006
"Ripped from the headlines" is the tagline for the hit show "Law & Order", now in its 17th season. Freelance writers Dwyer and Fiorillo give us synopses of 25 of the most compelling episodes, then write about the real crimes that inspired the stories. Those who follow the news will be familiar with most of the real criminals (e.g., subway vigilante Bernie Goetz, convict/writer Jack Henry Abbott) and their crimes. While the book is well researched and an easy read, the authors fail to make clear which specific "Law & Order" episode they use (e.g., "Law & Order: A gangster is the number one suspect in the murder of a businessman, but the FBI stymies the cops' investigation. True Story: Whitey Bulger, head of Boston's Winter Hill Gang.") The pieces about the true crimes do show where/how the TV show tends to overdramatize, but readers will have a hard time figuring out which show, or season, is referenced. Still, this will be essential reading for loyal fans of "Law & Order", and true crime readers will also want it. Highly recommended for public libraries.Michael Sawyer, Rangeview Lib. Dist., Thornton, CO

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