CALs book was OK.
She wasted the first third of the book on Jeremy's and Sheila's lives before the massacre. (I skipped this part). She left little room for the appeals or reviews.
She did not press Vanezis or Fletcher hard enough in her interviews either. She was too passive and didn't bring up the thorny issues. Which is probably a good thing anyway. Had I done the interviews I would probably be soon thrown out and have nothing to report back 
Yes, this is exactly what I mean about this book-writing lark. None of them get down to the nitty gritty of the crime in hand. Investigative areas are abysmal and as you say, too many " flowery " bits at the start just to fill a few pages.
I too would be the worlds worst at both interviews and also at believing some people's versions of events.
I wouldn't take anyone's word for anything, I'd have done things my way and not off the backs of others just because they thought they were right.