Dead Reckoning

March 7, 2011
Rother (Body Parts) returns with a new twisted true crime account about the brutal 2004 murders of Tom and Jackie Hawks, killed and hurled off their yacht near Newport Beach, CA. Skylar and Jennifer DeLeon were eventually convicted of the crime, and their tale reveals the unfortunate missteps and brutal upbringings that can lead a person to commit murder. Skylar, raised by two drug addicts in "an absolutely screwed up family," was brutally sexually assaulted by his father. Jennifer was a "good girl" on the other hand, a fine student who had never known trouble. Together, Skylar and Jennifer ran a con to purchase the Hawkses' yacht, telling friends that they were "coming into money." But the twists and turns of this case seem to implicate almost everyone. Skyler has troubling sexual appetites and blames his estranged father; once incarcerated, he even attempts sexual mutilation. Gruesome episodes abound in the book and demand a strong stomach. Even a police officer involved with the case became "physically ill" by certain salacious details. While Rother creates a vivid story, the book could easily be half as long and still retain its edge-of-the-seat quality.

Starred review from February 15, 2011

Former reporter Rother has produced a gripping account of Skylar Deleon's criminal life. A compulsive liar, he inflated his military record (he was dishonorably discharged after going AWOL) and bragged of being a child television star (he had a few minor parts). After marrying and starting a family, he and his wife fell into a spiral of mounting debt, greed, and deception. His schemes to make money escalated after a stint in prison for armed burglary, and he killed his next victim after robbing him. Deleon's final scheme involved pirating a boat and attempting to hijack the bank accounts of Tom and Jackie Hawks. After being kept alive long enough to be forced to sign relevant documents, the couple were tethered to the anchor and tossed off the back of their boat--still alive. Rother takes the reader through the police investigation into the Hawks' disappearance and the sensational trials of Skylar, his wife, and their accomplice. VERDICT Well researched and a quick, engrossing read, this should be popular with true crime readers, especially the Ann Rule crowd.--Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

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