Ice and Bone

Tracking an Alaskan Serial Killer

By: Monte Francis

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

On a clear, brisk night in September 2000, 33-year-old Della Brown was found sexually assaulted and beaten to death inside a filthy, abandoned shed in a seedy part of Anchorage, Alaska. She was one of six women, mostly Native Alaskan, slain that year, stoking fears a serial killer was on the loose. A tanned and thuggish 20-year-old would eventually implicate himself in three of the women's deaths and confess in detail to Della's murder.

Yet after a three-month trial, Joshua Wade would walk free. In 2007, when Wade kidnapped a well-loved nurse psychologist from her home and then executed her in the remote wilderness of Wasilla, two astute female detectives joined forces to finally bring him to justice.

Ice and Bone is the chilling true account of how a demented murderer initially evaded police and avoided conviction only to slip back into the shadows and kill again. Journalist and writer Monte Francis tells the harrowing story of what eventually led to Wade's capture and reveals why the true scope of his murderous rampage is only now, more than a decade later, coming into view.

©2016 Monte Francis (P)2016 WildBlue Press

Sad Commentary

On how Alaska natives are viewed by people in their own country. The investigation and subsequent trial of Joshua Wade in the murder of Della Brown was a travesty of justice. The defense attorney's should not have taken the case as I am willing to bet their client told them he committed the murder as he told a multitude of people even as he was murdering Della. The jury in Della Brown's trial SHOULD feel a horrendous burden for coming back with a not guilty verdict regardless of the physical evidence because he CONFESSED to the murder. It leaves me angry and wondering what is wrong with people. I feel the author was too kind to these self-righteous, self-absorbed bozo's. It's a true case of groupthink and what peer pressure can do to otherwise intelligent people. The idiot foreman talked NINE jurors out of their initial reactions of guilty to let Wade walk away from murder. Many will think me too harsh, but when Joshua Wade confessed to murdering Della Brown, each and every juror in that trial should have been convicted of a miscarriage of justice.

Thank heavens for Detective Purno and the advances in forensic medicine by 2007. Otherwise, Wade might still be out there murdering people. I wish Daisy Brown and her family peace and joy for the rest of her life.

Kevin Pierce is wonderful as always and narrates with a finesse not many can duplicate. His voice and narration style are perfect for this material. He is one of my favorite narrators and I always look forward to an audiobook when I realize he is telling the story.

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

AWESOME

I love the narrator. the story was captuvating. you felt the pain of others. killers fascinate me

Journalistic Style Book

This book is a bit different than most of the other True Crime genre books that I've listened to or read.

The author didn't step into the shoes of the perpetrator nor his victims, or the investigators for that matter. He told the story in chronological order, without assuming anything. I should think it would be excellent reference material. I enjoyed listening.

The one thing I would have liked was if the author would have included more about the depression and alcoholism that is abundant in Alaska and why. What it feels like to live there, to be in those very long days and very long nights and still have to carry on. It was addressed, but so lightly that I couldn't get into the situation as much as I would have liked.

Kevin Pierce is one of my three all-time favorite narrators. He never stumbles, never ruins anything, he adds to the book each and every time.



“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ice and Bone

Loved it! Best ever about the criminal mind is devious! Great Read and Recommend for All!

Great story but sad topic.

So glad to hear he’s never going to be released but it’s tragic he won’t be tried for all his actual crimes. Families always pay a higher price than those convicted ever will.

Chilling!

Monte Francis and Kevin Pierce deserve 5 starts for their efforts in bringing this story to the readers. I'm new to this genera, but really enjoyed this book...I recommend it.
The story of Joshua Wade (and his victoms) is a bizarre one, but Francis wrote it well.


*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com.

hooked!

I really enjoyed this book. I like the narrator and the storyline. I like that the concentration of the book is on the victims not the serial killer.

Interesting Read

This is a tragic story about a series of murders in Alaska during 2000. Francis did a wonderful job explaining the unfortunate events that took place during this time.

This book includes:

The descriptions of the terrible deaths
The hunt for the killer
How the deaths impacted the families
A look into the life of Joshua Wade
The comparison between Joshua Wade’s actions and those of a serial killer


This is a great book for anyone that enjoys true crime books. The description of the deaths were difficult to get through but it was a very short part – I just wanted to give warning.

I’m not sure if I completely agree with saying that Joshua Wade was a serial killer, but it was interesting in listening to the comparison.

How was the audiobook?

Kevin Pierce did a fantastic job narrating. It was very enjoyable to listen to, keeping me fully engaged. Even though I like reading true crime books, I have to be honest that they sometimes can get a little boring towards the middle. Pierce kept this part going for me leaving me wanting to listen to a few more minutes.

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Important True Crime Book

Francis shows in this book an angle not always highlighted in other true crimes works: the apathy of police to pursue killings of impoverished or marginalized people. One reason serial killers are so successful is that they prey on vulnerable, socially disadvantaged people, for the most part, and these are the type of cases that are the least likely to be pursued.

Well laid out ,easy to follow

The author has collected and laid out the the evidence and facts in this case very well. Easy to follow. I especially appreciated that the author talked to all involved: prosecutors, jurors, police, victims’ families and friends. Unfortunate for these poor native women in Alaska. Reminds me book that intrigued me “The Vampire Next Door” another true story which also seems to project that there are many victims that haven’t been linked to their blood drinking serial killer.