Hollywood, CA—Trying to envision the snags and complications of writing a detailed historical biography are, well, totally and completely impossible. After Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. wrote her first book, Without Remorse, about her time dealing with over a dozen serial killers, she set her sights on creating a historical biography about one of her charges, the Freeway Killer William 'Bill' Bonin.
Why: Her motives for writing the second book, Without Redemption, were based on being given, by a former public official, over 40 boxes of official investigative documents covering Bonin's entire life, from before birth till execution. Within those docs was a compelling and game-changing surprise: photocopies of Bonin's handwritten jailhouse diaries and murder confession stories. Written shortly after his final arrest and ending shortly before his first trial, in November 1981, they unveiled reams of data previously unknown to detectives, prosecutors, journalists, researchers and writers.
Process Begins: Having such a massive amount of material, in combination with her personal dealings with Bonin and two of his accomplices, gave Pelto all that was necessary to create a serial killer bio unlike any other. After more than a year of work, in early 2019 author Michael B. Butler was hired to organize and help create the necessary sections to finalize the project. After a few months, Butler told Pelto they had to break the manuscript into small workable sections and begin from square one. She agreed and four years of demanding work began.
Starting Over Again: After the manuscript was broken down into penny packets, the process of organizing all the available documents began. Organized chronologically and by subject matter, this alone took months and in fact continued throughout the whole process. Just getting all the photocopies of Bonin's diaries and murder stories organized proved a mind numbingly tedious endeavor. Over 400 newspaper articles were mined, printed and organized for easy access when the need arose.
Years of Grinding Away Reading, Writing & Editing: Collating all the stories together required a keen eye for detail and the ability to decode government speak and shorthand from a variety of reports: i.e., court docs, probation reports, mental health records, prison documents, etc. Surprises popped up at every turn as the authors hashed out details in a usually harmonious but sometimes less than collegial manner. Vonda's husband, accomplished lawyer Jim Lia, provided invaluable advice on court procedures, legal questions and the manner in which prosecutors and defense attorney's conduct their business.
Style Points: During this process, Butler continued to read intense historical biographies by British historians such as Andrew Roberts and Paul Johnson, a task which helped him create a quick paced, fact-based narrative that was long on truth and short on wild speculation. When opinions were necessary, they were put forth in logic-based arguments with strong points and shortfalls front and center. Speculating on matters of a serial killer's mind can be highly subjective and fraught with trap doors.
Last Minute Discovery: But just when the book was all but finished, a lightning bolt of realization struck Michael B. Butler in the middle of the night: March 24, 1980 was the day, in the middle of Bonin's ten-month murder spree, which changed everything to follow dramatically. He realized it all came down to that day—just a like white board in a detective movie with strings running through the middle, Butler knew that four key players coincidentally crossing paths altered the future forever. And so, he had to reach back into the book and make those final and most vital changes.
Polishing and adjustments were a never ending process which eventually yielded Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice.
Here is UK True Crime reporter and author Paul Cheston's review of Without Redemption by Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. and Michael B. Butler.
Unique & Amazing Serial Killer Biography
I would unreservedly recommend Without Redemption as the most profound analysis of a serial killer I have read.
It is based on unprecedented access to probation, medical, psychiatric reports, police statements and court documents, and, as an author and journalist, I know how difficult, nay impossible, it is to gain access to such a treasure trove of detail and insight.
But most importantly it has the unique perspective of Vonda Pelto's own interviews with Bonin and his accomplices and the mass killer's own handwritten diaries.
The authors spare no one in exposing how Bonin was allowed to game the system and names of those professionals and institutions which put their own vested interests ahead of their duty to have him locked up long before he even started his killing spree.
Michael Butler has a light writing style which keeps the pace moving briskly and never loses the balance between explaining why Bonin killed and the devastating impact of this need to kill on the victims and their families.
Without Redemption is currently available on Amazon, Kobo and Google Play and has found interested readers in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Below is the book trailer and eight Kindle E-Gift Links.
Without Redemption Book Trailer
Here are Eight FREE E-Gift Kindle Links for Without Redemption:
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Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. on Gary Nolan Show
Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Escaped Justice, Paperback ISBN: 979-8841931249, Hard Cover ISBN: 979-8844477775. For more info go to www.WithoutRedemption.com and purchase copies at Amazon, Google Play or Kobo.
Media Contact: For interviews or to request review copies contact Flotsam PR at 319-504-3788 or flotsampr@pm.me.