Death on Ocean Boulevard

The call came on the morning of July 13, 2011, from the historic Spreckels Mansion, a lavish beachfront property in Coronado, California, owned by pharmaceutical tycoon and multimillionaire Jonah Shacknai. When authorities arrived, they found the naked body of Jonah’s girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, gagged, her ankles tied and her wrists bound behind her. Jonah’s brother, Adam, claimed to have found Rebecca hanging by a rope from the second-floor balcony. On a bedroom door in black paint were the cryptic words: SHE SAVED HIM CAN YOU SAVE HER.

Was this scrawled message a suicide note or a killer’s taunt? Rebecca’s death came two days after Jonah’s six-year-old son, Max, took a devastating fall while in Rebecca’s care. Authorities deemed Rebecca’s death a suicide resulting from her guilt. But who would stage either a suicide or a murder in such a bizarre, elaborate way?

Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother weaves stunning new details into a personal yet objective examination of the sensational case in DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD. She explores its many layers—including the civil suit in which a jury found Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca’s death, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department bombshell decision to reconfirm its original findings. As compelling as it is troubling, this controversial real-life mystery is a classic American tragedy that evokes the same haunting fascination as the JonBenet Ramsey and O.J. Simpson cases.

This recommended reading was shared and sponsored in partnership with Kensington Publishing.

Book club questions for Death on Ocean Boulevard by Caitlin Rother

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Do you think Rebecca Zahau was murdered or died by suicide? To back up your decision, discuss what forensic evidence or other information the author provided that swayed you one way or the other.

If you think Rebecca committed suicide, why do you think she did it in that manner? Conversely, if you think she was murdered, then why do you think the killer chose to do it in that manner?

How do you see Rebecca as a person after reading this book? Do you think she was really kidnapped or did she make that up? Why do you think she told different and conflicting stories to her family and to her then-husband and boyfriends?

If you think Rebecca was murdered, do you agree with the civil jury and the Zahau family that Adam Shacknai is the one responsible? Discuss the reasons behind your assessment.

What, if anything, do you think about the fact that Adam volunteered to police that he took Ambien the night before he called 911 to report finding Rebecca's body, and also that he watched porno on his phone the next morning?

Do you think the San Diego County Sheriff's Department did a thorough enough job before ruling Rebecca's death a suicide, or do you think the criminal case should be re-opened, as the Zahau family and others have repeatedly requested?

If you take the author's position, that there isn't enough evidence to persuade you 100 percent either way that it was suicide or murder, what are the questions you still want answered that would help you decide?

Because of these unanswered questions, do you think Rebecca's death certificate should be changed to read "undetermined" instead of suicide?

Death on Ocean Boulevard Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Death on Ocean Boulevard discussion questions

“In Death on Ocean Boulevard, Caitlin Rother skillfully chronicles one of the most fascinating and controversial cases of the past decade. Big money, sex and a questionable death make for an addictive read.”

—Kathryn Casey, bestselling author of In Plain Sight

“The Rebecca Zahau case is one of the great crime mysteries of modern times. It took an author of Caitlin Rother’s caliber to bring it into sharp focus. A riveting read.”

—Gregg Olsen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Rother’s meticulous journalism shines through in this authoritative account of the Rebecca Zahau death incident. It’s difficult to know what to think of this kaleidoscopic case, but Rother provides the multiple perspectives and theories in a balanced manner, along with some significant surprises. If you think you know this case, think again. And read this book.”

—Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author of The Psychology of Death Investigations

"Was it suicide or was it murder? Investigative journalist extraordinaire Caitlin Rother masterfully examines the controversial death of Rebeca Zahau in Death on Ocean Boulevard. What truths does she uncover? Riveting!"

—Dan Zupansky, host of the "True Murder" podcast

"This book is a deep dive into the muddy waters of a fascinating case. Caitlin Rother is methodical and brilliant in her reporting!"

—Martha Steele, host of the "3 Book Girls" podcast

Praise for Caitlin Rother

"A close look at a killer…Lost Girls by veteran journalist and true-crime writer Caitlin Rother is a deeply reported, dispassionately written attempt to determine what created a monster and predator. It is a cautionary tale and a horror story, done superbly by a writer who knows how to burrow into a complex case without becoming captive to her sources."

—The Los Angeles Times

"A true crime triumph for Caitlin Rother… It's a grim and bloody tale, one that directs our attention to the often-shocking complexities of the human animal and the sordid depths to which he may descend. Rother, who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize during her tenure at the U-T, tells it well, thereby solidifying her star status in the field of true crime."

—The San Diego Union-Tribune on Dead Reckoning

"Riveting... a story that will haunt you... Rother presents a fascinating study of one woman's evil and greed—that ultimately leads to the murder of a kind-hearted millionaire. The compassion the author shows for the victim and the victim's family makes this book an emotional and gripping tale from beginning to end."

—Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author, on Then No One Can Have Her

—Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author of The Psychology of Death Investigations

“Using her innermost understanding of suicide, Caitlin Rother connects you with the heart-wrenching details of the Coronado Mansion Case. Prepare to be deeply immersed in this beautifully written, impeccably researched book right up to the gripping epilogue. The new facts never before exposed about this case will shock you! DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD is a must-read for any true crime fan!”

—Alan R. Warren, author and host of “House of Mystery” podcast