Rating: 
Summary: who needs novels?
Review: I had trouble putting the book down, finished reading it last night. I thought it very well written, including descriptions of his family history and cultural backgound that might otherwise have risked being less than interesting. I was particularly taken by his striving to understand all involved and their acts, and not to judge people too simplistically. P.S. Try searching "arax" and "fresno" on the internet... and how can someone who read the book say that the author did not entertain the idea that his father might have been involved in illicit dealings? From the book one can only reasonably say that he did consider this possibility, actively.
Rating:
Summary: Author Connects The Dots For Reader
Review: I'm originally from Fresno, California and at the time of this murder, my grandfather, Ted C. Wills Sr., was Mayor of the city. When I picked up this book, I didn't know what to expect. What I found was validation.For years I struggled with the bits and pieces of recollection I had regarding this period of my youth. Arax's book not only validated my experiences, what I had witnessed, but connected many of the dots regarding other incidences related to my past. The cover ups, illegal activity and silent handshakes were a part of my youth and Arax described this perfectly. The author's well placed words painted one vivid picture after another about a mystery which is reality based. At the end of the book, the pictures come together as one complete "town" portrait. In doing this, he brilliantly exposed the "dark side" of not only my history, but of a town bent on keeping up appearances, at all costs. Secrets were taken out of the closet and placed squarely on to the laps of the public at large. "If we do not expose our secrets, we are bound to repeat them." I strongly suggest this book to anyone interested in seeing how organized crime on a local level works. Along with this, I hope that readers will appreciate how the author was able to weave powerful Armenian history with not only his own family of origin, but with the political and criminal drama of a small town.
Rating: 
Summary: Needed a better editor
Review: I'm originally from the San Joaquin Valley and have spent much time in Fresno (including most of 2004). When I stumbled across this book, I was anxious to read about "Fresburg." The book wasn't as sexy as I'd hoped. Anyone who's been around Fresno knows how incredibly corrupt it is, as well as how little the public cares. A few years ago when city council members were indicted on corruption charges having to do with bribes from developers, I thought that finally the city was doing something about the problem. Nope. The developers all got away unscathed, and the town's rape of the agricultural fields north of Fresno continues.
This book was eye-opening in that I had no idea the depths of Fresno's past corruption. I naively assumed the recent developer-city council bribery scheme was as far as the conniving went. Nope. This book describes in great deal the city's sordid past.
Thus, this book is a good read for Fresnans concerned about the direction of their city. For the general public, it lacks excitment and is down-right boring much of the time. I agree with another commenter that this is a good read for those interested in how organized crime can infiltrate a small city (or large cow-town). If you have a particular interest in Fresno, small-time organized crime, or Armenian history, read it. Otherwise, pass on it.
Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Corruption in California's Central Valley
Review: In My Father's Name : A Family, a Town, a Murder is a captivating, truth-based who-done-it. But also much more. It's a scrutinizing look at the ugly goings-on in a town gone wrong where the mafia-like police force and city governors were key corrupters. It's also one man's loving account of the inexplicable loss of his father through murder and the loss of his mother after a long battle with cancer. I felt a sense of loss myself when I finished reading this highly compelling book.
Rating:
Summary: All You Want to Know about Fresno, and Then Some!
Review: Mark Arax's book is a one of a kind. It is a history of a family, a history of the Armenian people, the history of Fresno. The one thing that stands out the most about this book is the stark honesty of it all, so much so that at times the effect on the reader is unsettling. As I read this book I found myself strongly disliking the author and then liking him very much. Filled with many unusual, colorful, complex and interesting characters, this true story at times reads like a novel. The story of how a young man, a newspaper reporter, goes out to find his own father's killers, is the stuff of movies and I am surprised that this book has not been made into a movie. But upon reflection, perhaps this book is too real for Hollywood. I am sure it is too real for some of the local people in Fresno who may feel he has slighted the town. But above all, after reading this book, I was left impressed with the author's toughness, his doggedness, his camera-like mind, his no holds bared approach and his take no prisoners attitude. I would suggest that this book would make very fine reading for anyone interested in California history, and also for any interested in the dark side of small town politics. A well-done, very unusual book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Mark Arax's personal stride to determine who is the murderer of his father is compelling. This excellent book explains who (in Arax's theory) committed this horrible crime. I applaud Arax on his effort to become one with himself, and to expose Fresno for what it really is!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent and Disappointing
Review: The first chapter of this book was so well written that I was caught. I often had trouble putting the book down. Unfortunately, the brilliant parts of the book were too seldom. I am from Fresno and really enjoyed the parts of the book that dealt with Fresno's history of corruption and I also enjoyed the author's investigations into the murder. However, the family history was largely irrelevant to the murder and generally boring to me (I think that Armenian immigrants or other European immigrants would probably enjoy these parts). The author could have written two seperate books: one about his family and one about the murder. The author has put a lot of time and research into this book and I hope that he will consider writing a more complete history of Fresno's history of police and political corruption.
Rating:
Summary: Great job
Review: This book a captivating truth-based who-done-it and much more. It's a scrutinizing look at the ugly goings-on in a town gone wrong where the mafia-like police force and city governors were key players. It's also one man's loving account of the inexplicable loss of a father to murder and the loss of a mother after her long battle with cancer. I felt a sense of loss myself when I finished reading this highly compelling book.
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Summary: Mafia in California's Central Valley
Review: This book a captivating truth-based who-done-it and much more. It's a scrutinizing look at the ugly goings-on in a town gone wrong where the mafia-like police force and city governors were key players. It's also one man's loving account of the inexplicable loss of a father to murder and the loss of a mother after her long battle with cancer. I felt a sense of loss myself when I finished reading this highly compelling book.
Rating:
Summary: Very compelling
Review: This is a fine exploration that reads like a crime novel. Arax's quest to find out the truth about his father's murder goes further, raising intriguing questions about family secrets and how a father influences a son.
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