." . . for people unfamiliar with the case and those who want a well-researched look at the crime and its aftermath, "Cricket in the Web" delivers the goods."

." . . a meticulously researched book that gets as close to the truth as we are likely to get. Moore's narrative is more than just a rehash of an old case; it is a graphic snapshot of life in Las Cruces after World War II."

""Cricket in the Web" provides a fascinating glimpse into life in a small, politically corrupt New Mexico town in the late 1940s. It also shows that however tragic the murder of young Ovida 'Cricket' Coogler was, her death had a remarkable impact on the life of many people, and who murdered her and why is one of the most enduring mysteries in New Mexico history."

"In the early morning of March 31, 1949, Cricket [Coogler] had the worst date of her life. She got into somebody's car alive and left it dead. She was just 18. . . . Because the mystery remains unresolved, we don't find out who committed the crime. But [Paula] Moore does provide a well-documented timeline of events on Cricket's last night, and she tells what happened to all the players in the story."