September Sacrifice

by Mark Horner

Book Overview

Describes the disappearance of Malaysian-born bank teller Girly Chew and the race against time of dedicated law enforcement investigators to bring to justice her estranged husband, Diazien... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786019417
• ISBN13: 9780786019410
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Pinnacle Books
• Length: 414 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Another Texbook Narcissist

In his engrossing true-crime thriller, September Sacrifice, Mark Horner reconstructs the extraordinary details of Girly Chew's murder case in Albuquerque, New Mexico, beginning with her disappearance on September 9, 1999, through the murder trials of her estranged husband and his girlfriend, Linda Henning, portions of which were rebroadcast on Court TV recently. Doubtless, such a bizarre and fiendish plot could only have originated from the bowels of some hellish, inhuman creature. The devil in this case is Diazien Hossencofft: a cartoon name for a counterfeit caricature born Armand Chavez, who alternately represents himself as a geneticist, a doctor, and an inventor, among other concocted claims, shifting his shape and affecting his accent to suit his victims. How ironic, therefore, that his cohort in horror was a woman obsessed with reptilians: mythical alien beings who morph from human to reptile form. Hossencofft proves to be yet another cookie-cutter malignant narcissist, but with a decidedly more macabre twist. I will hereafter refer to him by his birth name out of expedience, and because I know that would annoy him. In Horner's well-researched work, we discover a number of textbook narcissist traits in Chavez's modus operandi. Chavez, like Peterson, conducts a marathon academic tour that includes familiar locations like The College of Notre Dame in San Francisco and the University of Utah, where he was subsequently ejected from its medical school for stealing laboratory supplies. Before fraudulently entering the program at UU, Chavez abandoned his first wife, Rosemary, and his child in northern California. Horner presents anecdotal evidence that Chavez at least once attempted murder by poisoning a "client" with arsenic, and that he had warned his wife that if he ever killed anyone, the body would never be found. Chavez sought his marks and sources with the preferred narcissit's method: through personal ads posted on the Internet and in magazines. He was a serial "romantic" predator, with concurrent cyber relationships, many of which developed into financial scams. One of the lovers he met on the Internet later relayed that Chavez abused and neglected his and Girly's "adopted" son, Demetri, who was actually his biological child with a Japanese woman from Canada he had seduced, and whom he duped into giving him the baby with a fantastic yarn about an incurable genetic abnormality his son possessed that only he could treat. Yes, the hits just keep on coming. Besides being a pathological liar and incurable egomaniac, Chavez was smitten by the love of money that was the root of his evil. His motive for murdering Girly was a combination of wounded pride and greed. He demonstrated the ultimate selfishness by laying claim on a child he didn't want or love (and, in fact, terrorized), but would rather have seen dead than grant Girly custody. Fortunately, Demetri was only a toddler at the time, and was adopted before his father

Best true crime book I've ever read!

Being a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, I have followed this case and Mark Horner's distinquished career for years. This book showed me what a truly talented writer Mark is. I couldn't put it down. The detail and the insight he showed was incredible. I highly recommend this book for everyone. May you write many more Mark! Maybe next shall be 'Where's The Baby?'

Freaky people do exist....

If you are interested in a captivating story, a "can't put it down read", this one is for you. Dazien Hossencroft claims he hails from from a wealthy breed in Switzerland (yeah, right..). Let's call him Armando Chavez, his real name. Armando is a really sadistic liar. He's a "world renowned doctor" who doesn't even know the importance of "spell check" on his Curriculum Vitae! Whatever you want to call him, the guy gives a new name to FREAK. A twisted man, a real psychological study indeed. For instance, to any willing listener he claims he is dying of leukemia, deceitfully takes any volunteer's blood for "testing" (even his own baby son's) and predicts the end of the world, among other strange, creepy events. You are acquainted with Girly Chew, Dazien's Malaysian mail-order bride at the beginning of the novel. If the reader isn't alreadly morbidly fascinated with Hossencroft's personality then author Mark Horner's detailed chronicle of Girly's sudden disappearance is sure to keep the detective-reader's attention. Enjoy!

Excellent Book -- BEST Crime Story EVER

Mark Horner does a terrific job with a complicated tale -- probably one of the best true crime stories ever. I remember reading about this case and watching it on Court TV. Every once in awhile, I see a case and wish that I'd been the one to write the book. Sometimes I think I could do better, but that's not the case here. Mark has really distinguished himself as a wonderful new writer with a gift for storytelling -- something that frequently gets lost in the ripped-from-the-headlines approach of today's true crime writing. -- Gregg Olsen, author of "Abandoned Prayers" and "Cruel Deception"

"The Truth is Stranger than Fiction!"

"September Sacrifice" by Mark Horner comprehensively deciphers a labyrinth of horror, intrigue, and dedication; while exhibiting clarity of presentation. I was thoroughly impressed with the manner in which scrupulous attention to detail was the propelling force; highlighting examination of the sheer magnitude of diverse, obtuse, and disjunctive elements collated with precision.....ultimately yielding lucidity for reader analysis. Mark Horner has exemplified a compelling example of expertise in investigative reporting, with skills honed from years of experience as a TV journalist. He transitioned this ability to the written word, with equal flair and aplomb. Only someone with the unique vantage point of having lived this case from day #1, could generate so encompassing a scope of research, as is categorically evidenced in this book. From a personal standpoint, the other "shoe is yet to drop." I am committed to Linda Henning having an appeal, this time with a PROFESSIONAL, FULLY PREPARED (with Forensic Experts), DEDICATED LEGAL TEAM. I will not rest until that happens, and continue to maintain a full spectrum campaign to this end (political, judicial, organizational foundations, all media). The "Z-Team" (Norm Rein, Vic Rosati, Steve Trusnovec) acknowledges Mark Horner's "even-handed" inclusion of them (in the book), noting the significance of their professional law enforcement experience, as well as, concerns about questionable individuals who may have involvement in this case, yet to date, have eluded being brought to justice. Business isn't finished for them, as Linda knows about me, I never let anything go, especially defending someone I love....."Mark, please keep your pen handy, there will be more to this story"!! -Steve Zachary