Press

"[Backcountry is a] thriller that will keep you up night..."

"Clarke uses an efficient and bold style of writing where character’s conversations flow like the Montana rivers that are forded as the adventures and horrors lead deep into the backcountry of Montana’s famed Glacier National Park. The author’s voice creates a dream-like experience—and this dream is a nightmare that follows the twisted mind of a serial killer who views his acts of violence as a natural Darwinian process." -Whitefish Review

Bill James' 6 favorite crime-solving books

The baseball writer has unlocked the game's secrets through detailed statistical analysis — now he surveys the best true-crime stories Last Rampage by James W. Clarke (Univ. of Arizona, $18).

"This book has stayed in print for decades because hiding underneath its crass, blood-splattered original cover is a harrowing and powerful tale."

Politics Affect Behavior, Expert Says

In his long academic career, political scientist and University of Arizona Professor James Clarke has profiled 21 assassins, examining the connection between violent acts and society's attitudes in works that include Defining Danger: American Assassins and the New Domestic Terrorists. His work is particularly relevant in light of the recent shooting rampage in Tucson that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically injured and six people dead. Clarke reflects on the tragedy and asserts that political events absolutely affect behavior, albeit not always in obvious ways.

The Plot to Kill President Nixon

For years, Samuel Byck, an out-of-work tire salesman, led a secret life as a would-be assassin. His target: President Richard M. Nixon. This special reveals the untold story in Byck's own words! Byck left behind a 2-hour audiotape telling of his hatred of Nixon and his elaborate plan to kill him. The FBI and Secret Service now use this remarkable tape to train their agents. In the early 1970s, Samuel Byck devised a plan that involved hijacking a jet airliner and crashing it into the White House in order to kill President Nixon--the first time a commercial plane was intended to be used as a weapon. Using his real voice, this dramatic special recreates the bizarre story from Byck's deranged point of view. In the end, we show what really happened, and what prevented Byck from reaching his target.

Indigo Films/History Channel, K. Hawkins, Producer (San Raphael, CA, 2005), 90 minutes.

Unsolved History: Forensics in the White House

"Unsolved History is history the way it was! Through detailed examination of archeological and forensic evidence, existing photographs, authentic artifacts, and carefully selected interviews from eyewitnesses and experts - events are reconstructed and historical questions are finally answered. They are our founding fathers and our nation's most powerful players. Their lives and legacies have become the subject of countless textbooks - but how much do we really know about their deaths? Join an elite team of Secret Service officers, historians and forensic scientists as they unravel the mysteries behind some of the most high-profile deaths and assassination attempts in the White House. Examine the assassination of James Garfield and see how the father of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, tried to save his life with a revolutionary new invention - the metal detector. Witness the exhumation of the twelfth president, Zachary Taylor - thought to have died from gastroenteritis after consuming ice-chilled cherries and milk on a sweltering July afternoon. Could he have instead been poisoned? And, uncover the little-known assassination attempt on Franklin D. Roosevelt and learn how it helped shape the function of today's Secret Service. Follow the trail of presidential clues - from ballistics reports to period photographs - and solve some of the biggest mysteries of the Oval Office."

Pinball Productions/Discovery Channel, D. Levitt, Producer (Boston, 2002), 60 minutes.

Shadow of the Assassin

The mind of an assassin works in a different way than the mind of an ordinary citizen. For the assassin, killing is not a moral issue, it's a job that needs to be done. Politics, money and attention all serve as prominent motives for these killers that take the lives of great people. "The Shadow of the Assassin" profiles the most notorious assassins and examines the specific motivation and psyche of each of the infamous murderers.

Nineteenth Star/The Learning Channel, M. Husain, B. Strout, and T. Cochrun, Producers (Indianapolis, 1999), 120 minutes.

James Earl Ray: The Man and the Mystery

On April 4, 1968 around 6:01 pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. Allegedly, James Earl Ray fired the shot from the bathroom of the rooming house across the street. Ray initially pled not guilty, but to avoid the death penalty, he admitted to the heinous crime and was ultimately sentenced to 99 years in state prison in March 1969. He spent the last 28 years incarcerated, all requests for parole denied. Although in 1978, a Select Senate Committee determined there was some question of his sole guilt -- that he probably did kill King but may not have acted alone -- Ray will never see his case re-evaluated again. Now that Ray has died at the age of 69, the world will never know for sure who took Dr. Martin Luther King's life. Biography reveals the man supposedly behind the assassination of one of America's most beloved icons. Determine for yourself whether James Earl Ray really was King's murderer.

ABC NEWS Productions/Arts and Entertainment, S. Assen and R. Steinman, Producers (New York, 1998), 60 minutes.

Assassinations That Changed the World: The Loner Meets the President

They are the tragic stories at the heart of some of history’s most defining moments – tales of hatred and obsession, fanaticism and a burning desire for attention. In Assassinations That Changed the World, HISTORY™ examines the famous assassinations and assassination attempts that have left their mark on humanity. Trace the incredible events following the murder of Archduke Ferdinand, which led to the outbreak of World War I. See how in one century India lost three leaders, including Mohandas Gandhi, to religious fanatics who disagreed with the political policies of the nation. Explore the tragic story of Abraham Lincoln, killed by a desperate adherent to a lost cause. And consider how history might have been different had some of these incidents ended differently. Where would the civil rights movement be today if Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive? With extensive interviews, archival footage and expert commentary, Assassinations That Changed the World brings these absorbing stories to life.

Lou Reda Productions/The History Channel , L. Reda, Producer (Easton, PA, 1996), 60 minutes.

American Justice: Assassins

Assassination has long been one of the most intriguing crimes. What drives someone to murder a public figure? AMERICAN JUSTICE; examines the cold- blooded motives of three of the most notorious assassins of the 20th century Sirhan Sirhan, James Earl Ray, and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. In an exclusive interview, James Earl Ray, who gunned down Martin Luther King, tells why he believes he was framed. Manson family member "Squeaky" Fromme recounts what happened during her botched assassination of President Ford, and reveals that she was motivated by the desire to glorify Manson. And the attorneys who tried and defended him review the political motivations of Sirhan Sirhan, Robert Kennedy's killer. Take a chilling look at the dark side of humanity with ASSASSINS.

Bill Kurtis/Towers Productions/Arts and Entertainment, B. Kurtis, Producer (Chicago, 1995), 60 minutes.

More...

“The Plot to Kill President Reagan,” Indigo Films/History Channel, J. Nelson, Producer (San Raphael, CA, forthcoming, 2006), 60 minutes.
“Omnibus: Assassins,” British Broadcasting Corporation, K. Whitaker, Producer (London, 1998), 30 minutes.
“Last Rampage,” PBS/KUAT-TV, P. White, Producer (Tucson, AZ, 1988), 30 minutes.
“Acts of Violence,” Rainbow Broadcasting/HBO, I. Horvath, Producer (New York, 1985), 60 minutes.
“Assassins Among Us,” Metromedia Century III Teleproductions, W. Bundschuh, Producer (Boston, 1983), 60 minutes.