Born to Die: A Cop Killer's Final Message

Linda M. McClure is an administrator in Edmonton, Alberta.

Born to Die is a poignant examination of the events surrounding the 1955
murder of a Vancouver police officer, who was shot beside his car when
he arrived to investigate a reported break-in at a warehouse. Each
chapter opens with an excerpt from the final statement of Joe Gordon,
who was found guilty of the murder and executed in 1957.

The product of a broken home, Gordon was a small-time criminal who had
been in and out of jail for much of his life. When he wasn’t behind
bars, he was spending his time planning his next crime with other
lifelong criminals in the seedy environs of Vancouver’s east side.
Both handsome and a snappy dresser, Gordon was widely liked by those who
knew him.

Alongside their account of the investigation and trial, the authors
provide a glimpse into the political and social climate of Vancouver in
the mid-1950s. Gordon’s full statement is reproduced at the back of
the book and black-and-white pictures are scattered throughout. There is
also a comprehensive index and a page of insightful end-notes. Born to
Die is recommended for anyone who is interested in true crime.