Customer reviews of The Case of the Drowning Men
INVESTIGATING THE SMILEY FACE SERIAL MURDERS, by Eponymous Rox
INVESTIGATING THE SMILEY FACE SERIAL MURDERS, by Eponymous Rox
Five-star review by Lauren Ward, sister of Smiley Face Killer victim, Matt Ward, who disappeared from Indianapolis in the winter of 2012 and was found drowned in the White River: “Highly Recommended - I highly recommend this book. It is extremely well researched and well written. It is very unsettling, and even downright shocking, which makes it hard to stop reading. You will likely pick it up with the intention of reading a few chapters and finish it in one night. The mind blowing similarities between the deaths of hundreds of young college men in the Midwest and North are discussed, followed by the arguments supporting and opposing the possibility that these men are being murdered and that their murders are related. The reader is encouraged to look at the facts and form their own opinions.
“I came across this book after my own brother, Walton Matthew Ward, was murdered in October 2012 and his body dumped in the White River in Indianapolis, IN. It quickly became apparent that law enforcement had no plans of investigating, and essentially planned to sweep his case under the rug as I now know they have done to so many others. My family and I began trying to compile as much information as possible so that someday we might get answers [and] identify the discrepancies on many different levels between a true drowning death and a death that has been made to look like one. I then bought this book and am glad I did, there was a lot of information in it that I had not found while doing research of my own. I especially recommend this book if you are a college age man or a relative of a college age man, the knowledge is invaluable and potentially lifesaving.”
Five-star review by S. Ward, sibling of Smiley Face Murder victim Matt Ward: “RIP Walton Matthew Ward. I wish the book could bring my little brother back. RIP, Walton 10/12/12 - RIP little brother. I hope this book helps us bring your killers and murderers to justice. Walton Matthew Ward was last seen alive with a bouncer at Landsharks Bar in Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis, IN approximately at 1:20-1:30am on October 12, 2012 while attending the Broad Ripple Music Festival. Walton's last attempt to save his own life was at 1:30 am where he dialed 911 from his iPhone for help. His killers interrupted his 911 call and murdered him...Walton knew he was going to be killed. His desperate call lasted for 1-second which was just enough to register to the nearest Broad Ripple cell phone tower...but not long enough to save his life. That was the last time we know Walton to be alive until the Construction workers discovered his floating body in the White River a few blocks from Landsharks bar on October 22, 2012...10 days after his desperate call to 911 on that fateful night. His iPhone that called 911 was found on the bank of the canal/White River behind Applebee's Restaurant....and the IMPD officially told my grieving Dad that my brother must have been 'drunk', 'fallen in' or 'gone swimming' in the dead of Indianapolis winter. The IMPD let the killers go and ruled my brother's death an 'accidental drowning' with 'No Foul Play". RIP Walton Matthew Ward...we will bring your killers to justice. I love you.”
Five-star review by Robert Rodgerson: “Great Introduction and Analysis to Smiley Face Killers Theory - The author does a good job detailing many of the unusual and baffling circumstances around these deaths. It is shocking that there's not more of an uproar across the country to get to the bottom of some of these cases. The fact that the victims are all so similar in appearance makes you believe there is something more than accidental drownings occurring. Several other facts also lead you to question how anyone, much less law enforcement, could believe it was just an accident: witnesses reporting a victim being followed shortly before his disappearance, another victim crying out for help before his phone went dead… Overall the book was very interesting for anyone interested in unsolved mysteries…”
Five-star review by ‘Aliza’: “Fascinating and Chilling - As a mother of a smart and handsome son, I'm glad I read it. This is a must read for young men and those that care about them. It is also great for anyone who enjoys true crime.”
Five-star review by L. Holtz: “Excellent and well researched - I read this book in just a few days and was very impressed. It is well-written and makes a terrific case for suspicion regarding the many college aged students who have drowned … a compelling case for involvement and yet law enforcement continues to discount the … Kudos to the author for this excellent work on the subject.”
Five-star review by ‘Robert’: “Well-Crafted and Thought-Provoking Investigation – I have just finished this book and Rox's follow-up "Hunting Smiley" and found both to be interesting, with almost a literary flair to them. The statistics, logistics and science of drowning described in detail by Rox were new to me (and probably all but a few professionals); it reflects substantial research by the author presented in a clear, informative manner. Coverage of one particular case in the book (in Albany, NY) took things out of the hypothetical for me -- I remember the brouhaha in the local press when the case was unfolding. So when's the movie coming out?”
“I came across this book after my own brother, Walton Matthew Ward, was murdered in October 2012 and his body dumped in the White River in Indianapolis, IN. It quickly became apparent that law enforcement had no plans of investigating, and essentially planned to sweep his case under the rug as I now know they have done to so many others. My family and I began trying to compile as much information as possible so that someday we might get answers [and] identify the discrepancies on many different levels between a true drowning death and a death that has been made to look like one. I then bought this book and am glad I did, there was a lot of information in it that I had not found while doing research of my own. I especially recommend this book if you are a college age man or a relative of a college age man, the knowledge is invaluable and potentially lifesaving.”
Five-star review by S. Ward, sibling of Smiley Face Murder victim Matt Ward: “RIP Walton Matthew Ward. I wish the book could bring my little brother back. RIP, Walton 10/12/12 - RIP little brother. I hope this book helps us bring your killers and murderers to justice. Walton Matthew Ward was last seen alive with a bouncer at Landsharks Bar in Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis, IN approximately at 1:20-1:30am on October 12, 2012 while attending the Broad Ripple Music Festival. Walton's last attempt to save his own life was at 1:30 am where he dialed 911 from his iPhone for help. His killers interrupted his 911 call and murdered him...Walton knew he was going to be killed. His desperate call lasted for 1-second which was just enough to register to the nearest Broad Ripple cell phone tower...but not long enough to save his life. That was the last time we know Walton to be alive until the Construction workers discovered his floating body in the White River a few blocks from Landsharks bar on October 22, 2012...10 days after his desperate call to 911 on that fateful night. His iPhone that called 911 was found on the bank of the canal/White River behind Applebee's Restaurant....and the IMPD officially told my grieving Dad that my brother must have been 'drunk', 'fallen in' or 'gone swimming' in the dead of Indianapolis winter. The IMPD let the killers go and ruled my brother's death an 'accidental drowning' with 'No Foul Play". RIP Walton Matthew Ward...we will bring your killers to justice. I love you.”
Five-star review by Robert Rodgerson: “Great Introduction and Analysis to Smiley Face Killers Theory - The author does a good job detailing many of the unusual and baffling circumstances around these deaths. It is shocking that there's not more of an uproar across the country to get to the bottom of some of these cases. The fact that the victims are all so similar in appearance makes you believe there is something more than accidental drownings occurring. Several other facts also lead you to question how anyone, much less law enforcement, could believe it was just an accident: witnesses reporting a victim being followed shortly before his disappearance, another victim crying out for help before his phone went dead… Overall the book was very interesting for anyone interested in unsolved mysteries…”
Five-star review by ‘Aliza’: “Fascinating and Chilling - As a mother of a smart and handsome son, I'm glad I read it. This is a must read for young men and those that care about them. It is also great for anyone who enjoys true crime.”
Five-star review by L. Holtz: “Excellent and well researched - I read this book in just a few days and was very impressed. It is well-written and makes a terrific case for suspicion regarding the many college aged students who have drowned … a compelling case for involvement and yet law enforcement continues to discount the … Kudos to the author for this excellent work on the subject.”
Five-star review by ‘Robert’: “Well-Crafted and Thought-Provoking Investigation – I have just finished this book and Rox's follow-up "Hunting Smiley" and found both to be interesting, with almost a literary flair to them. The statistics, logistics and science of drowning described in detail by Rox were new to me (and probably all but a few professionals); it reflects substantial research by the author presented in a clear, informative manner. Coverage of one particular case in the book (in Albany, NY) took things out of the hypothetical for me -- I remember the brouhaha in the local press when the case was unfolding. So when's the movie coming out?”
"As a law and criminology graduate and a former court reporter, I am fascinated with crimes and investigations like this. I have read many books, from Mary Bell, to the Suffolk serial killer...your book is incredibly well researched...your attention to detail is superb.” Lianne La Borde
"Highly disturbing, thoroughly researched and extremely well-written, I read with fascination and horror. Chapter 2, Anatomy of a Drowning, so stark and clinical in style, is definitely not for the squeamish. I read it with one eye squeezed tightly shut. " Annette Russell
"It's very well researched and eloquently written. Though it's sickening, it's fascinating at the same time. It proves beyond a doubt that no matter how wholly innocent you think the world is, there is always a speck of darkness. A dark, compelling read." NightSky Fantasy
"Well written. It reads with a combination of a good thriller and a research paper. It is obvious that you have done your homework on both the details of the cases and the forensics of the cases. Your medical findings are right on as is the autopsy findings. This is not just a book of conjecture and theories but of true investigation and findings." Lena Pate
"I live in Southern California so wasn’t even aware there were many young men disappearing and drowning up by the Canadian border. I found the argument that these can’t all be simple drownings compelling. I’ve never read anything before like the second chapter which describes what a body looks like after drowning (the hands grasping pieces of grass; water in the stomach, and Diatoms (which I didn’t even know existed) in other body organs. Aside from the interesting possibility there really is a serial killer out there is your writing style: crisp and clear and easy to follow." Jo Lynn
"This is a fantastic piece, bleak as the subject may actually be. There has always been a quite morbid and macaber fascination with murder and conspiracy that will doubtless lend rather a large readership to this beautifully written and well documented work. True crime always finds a niche that fiction can never sate and needless to say, (I have to admit) I too will today, as a result of this reading, be forced to search the web for the smiley face murders. It is just too blatantly luscious and mouthwatering an abominable issue to simply let go without delving some more into it. This is highly addictive, and the artist takes time to paint in the skies and surrounds before showing the ugliness that is perpetrated by man...I'm hooked--What a ride! Trevor Murchu
"Well-written and a fascinating read, but not for the faint of heart. Some of the illustrations are available from Amazon through their inside-the-book option if you are not quite ready to buy the book." Richard Allen
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