Andy Messersmith of LA, ME I foolishly purchased the book based on the premise that it was about the terrible suicides in Winthrop. It's not: it's the manifestation about an INCREDIBLY petty fight between two high school girls, and one act of anti-Semetic vandalism. Mostly, it's full of un-documentable statements about many, many people in the Hallowell and Winthrop communities who somehow are on the Calcagni's enemies list. Bottom line: it was a lawsuit waiting to happen, and it will surprise me if Ms. Sandler is not victorious.

The Calcagni's and Peter Mars didn't even have the guts to stand behind their own work: they knew what they were printing was libelous. How else can one explain that the author of the book was "Emet Gabar"? In the book, Gabar is listed as a "charter member of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC", as well as "educated in Massachusetts, New York, and Israel". The reality is that there is no Emet Gabar--the Calcagni's and Farr created him, making their non-person Jewish for good measure (as a way to defliect attention from their daughter being convicted of an anti-Semetic crime, perhaps?) Later, Mrs. Calcagni for months denied having anything to do with the book, and toed that party line until the lawsuit and investigation revealed that she and her husband had EVERYTHING to do with its creation.

It's petty spite and vindictiveness (not to mention the most poorly worded book I've ever seen). Anyone wants my copy, let me know...you can have it for free!report abuse

Kevin James of Farmingdale, ME MaineMan of Pittston, ME.....
What a stupid thing to say.report abuse

MaineMan of Pittston, ME Winthrop always seems to be the real life manifestation of the old "Dukes of Hazzard" TV program. It certainly has its share of characters who remind us of Boss Hogg and Roscoe P Coltrain, among others!report abuse

CJ of Randolph, ME I've read the book and am horrified that this kind of behaviour goes on anywhere in our state, but am not at all surprised that it occurred in Winthrop. Look at yourselves and the level of corruption that has been nurtured there for at least the past 30 years people. You want your kids to stop offing themselves? Start acting like parents.report abuse