{Review} WHO KILLED THE CANDY LADY?: UNWRAPPING THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF HELEN BRACH by James Ylisela, Jr.

ASIN #: B00I2G309C

File Size: 1334 KB

Page Count: 94

Copyright: September 3, 2014

Publisher: Agate Digital

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Thirty-five years ago, Helen Brach walked out of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and vanished without a trace. By all accounts, the 65-year-old heiress to the E.J. Brach & Sons candy fortune was in good heath. But shortly after her leaving the clinic the details of Helen Brach's life—and presumed death—moved from fact to speculation, and they have been shrouded in mystery ever since.

Who Killed the Candy Lady?: Unwrapping the Unsolved Murder of Helen Brach is the true and complete story of Helen Vorhees Brach's mysterious disappearance and unsolved murder, as told by veteran Chicago journalist Jim Ylisela. This book will reveal the sordid facts behind the case and the seedy underbelly of Chicago's notorious crime world. Drawing from never-seen documents, interviews, and insiders' perspectives of prosecutors, horse thieves, and candy heiresses alike, Who Killed the Candy Lady? is a true-to-life whodunnit.

This is a fascinating and entertaining tale, and after finishing it readers will be unable to stop themselves from jumping to their own conclusions. Written with the straightforward precision and sly wit of a longtime Chicago writer immersed in the case's details, Who Killed the Candy Lady? is the ultimate guide to this unsolved murder mystery.

Mandy's Review:

Normally, I do not read non-fiction books. I find real life often boring and/or depressing so I prefer fiction in order to escape from every day life. While Who Killed the Candy Lady? is non-fiction and discusses an unsolved murder, I didn't find it boring or depressing.

What facts are known about Helen's murder are shared in this novella. From the facts presented, there are two possible scenarios concerning Helen's final days. Despite the multiple scenarios, all roads lead back to one man. Was the correct man incarcerated?

This had the feel of an old-fashioned whodunit dime novel from the early 20th century. Facts are presented, a story told, villains portrayed, but no absolute solution determined. Instead, the reader is left to make up their own mind about the murder. If you're interested in getting your Sherlockian skills working, then give this novella a whirl.


*An ecopy of this novella was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.