Neighbors had described Dykes as an unstable menace who beat a dog to death and threatened to shoot trespassers while patrolling his property armed.

NPR: FBI: Ala. Captor Rigged Bunker, Waged 'Firefight'

Another neighbor, Ronda Wilbur, said Dykes beat her dog to death with a lead pipe and then bragged to her husband about it.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

In contrast, Tawada's short stories in The Bridegroom Was A Dog don't beat you down as much as mess with your head.

CNN: VIEWS FROM THE FRINGE