Discover Madman True Crime Book That Recounts a Florida Manhunt

This August, I’m thrilled to be part of the Book Amplifier Tour for Madman by M.F. Gross. If you love true crime that reads like a thriller, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. Discover Madman True Crime Book That Recounts a Florida Manhunt

If you enjoy true crime that doesn’t just recount facts but immerses you in a place, time, and mood—you’ll want to add Madman by M.F. Gross to your list.

Set against the sweltering backdrop of postwar Florida, Madman unearths a chilling true story that once made headlines—and then disappeared from public memory. In the summer of 1949, the coastal town of Crystal Beach was shattered by a savage home invasion and murder.

The crime launched a sprawling, month-long manhunt for the elusive and dangerous John Calvin “Rastus” Russell—an escaped convict and former asylum patient with a trail of violence behind him. As panic spread through the Gulf Coast, lawmen and citizens alike found themselves drawn into a desperate pursuit through orange groves, swamps, and pine scrub. But this is more than a manhunt story. It’s a gripping narrative of community-wide fear, fragile justice, and the quiet, lasting impact of violence.

With richly rendered scenes and a deep respect for his sources, Gross revives not just the facts, but the human stories behind them—those who suffered, those who hunted, and those who were never quite the same afterward.

M.F. Gross is a writer and historical researcher with a deep interest in the stories that history forgets—especially those rooted in local tragedy, buried records, and unresolved fear. Before turning to longform nonfiction, he worked as a financial writer, a role that sharpened his ability to sift fact from fiction and follow complex investigative threads. His debut book, Madman, is the result of more than a year of research, including court transcripts, newspaper archives, and firsthand accounts that had been all but lost to time. Gross writes with both discipline and empathy, capturing not just the crime itself, but the emotional fallout and cultural undercurrents that shaped it. A longtime resident of Florida’s Gulf Coast, he brings an insider’s eye and a vivid, cinematic style to a story that once haunted a region—and still echoes today. Visit him at his website and on Instagram.

Amazon: bit.ly/47jCHui

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235731573-madman

About the Book

Madman tells the incredible true story of John Calvin “Rastus” Russel, a man whose crimes and desperate flight from justice in 1949 terrified Central Florida. This chilling account weaves together heinous crime, an unforgettable manhunt, and a community left shaken in its wake.

With a style that brings history vividly to life, Gross reconstructs the crime and manhunt, layering in detail that makes you feel like you’re walking the streets, combing the woods, and chasing the shadows right alongside the investigators.

📖 Madman: The Incredible True Story of John Calvin “Rastus” Russel, the Heinous Crime, and Sensational Manhunt That Terrified Central Florida in 1949
👉 Get your copy on Amazon

Guest Post by M.F. Gross: Exploring the Real Places Behind Madman

Author M.F. Gross didn’t just research the events of 1949 from behind a desk. He visited the very locations that defined Rastus Russell’s crimes and desperate escape, many of which remain almost unchanged.

“Being ‘on site’ while reviewing a 75-year-old article, police report or memory can really put things in perspective, and give one an enlightened view of events.”

Some highlights from his explorations include:

• The Dunedin Flats – where Russell was captured. Though dredged in the 1950s, the bayou still feels eerily similar to 1949.
• The Little Church in Oldsmar, FL – still standing, complete with its tiny outhouse, once believed to hide Russell.
• Lake Thonotosassa – where Russell grew up and met his end. The Southern Gothic landscape of moss-draped oaks and old houses remains frozen in time.

Gross even recreated parts of the story himself, retracing victim Thelma Crum’s desperate run through the Florida heat—carrying his own dog to simulate the weight of her baby. That physical act gave him a visceral connection to her ordeal, and it translates into his vivid retelling on the page.

For more behind-the-scenes details, Gross has shared videos and photos on his site: MFGross.com

Why You Should Read Madman

If you’re fascinated by true crime, history, or stories that uncover the haunting legacy of a community, Madman is one you can’t miss. It blends meticulous research with gripping storytelling, transporting you to a Florida both familiar and foreign, where small towns, swamps, and Spanish moss hold dark secrets.