5 comments about Twisted Triangle: A Famous Crime Writer, a Lesbian Love Affair, and the FBI Husband's Violent Revenge.

1. Following "Poisoned Love," "Twisted Triangle" is more than a portrait, as it peers through the human facade to its very soul. A spell-binding, tortured tale that is unbelievably true, I couldn't put it down. Another great, true, crime story by Caitlin Rother, making her among the best in this genre.
   
   Your reply to Bob Sherin's post:
   Guidelines



2. Unless you have been in an abusive relationship it is truly hard to comprehend what a person must do to survive. "Twisted Triangle" by Caitlin Rother has shown how devastating that type of life can be. I applaud not only Margo Bennett's determination to survive an abusive husband and coming to terms with her sexual orientation but her willingness to share her story in the hopes of giving other the courage to do the same. Caitlin Rother has written a articulate story of Margo Bennett's struggles and given the impartial view point of each and everyone involved in the disturbing situation. With Rother's 20 year tenure as an investigative reporter and her newly developed skill as a thriller author, she has all the talent necessary to research all the facts of any non-fiction story and mold them into an intriguing and very readable novel



3. It is hard to imagine that this story is true, but it is. I am acquainted with Margo Bennett, and have been since this story unfolded, so reading this book was especially personal for me. Caitlin Rother's Twisted Triangle does a wonderful job of illustrating the emotional journey of a woman tormented by a psychotic husband, and her untimely and illicit encounters with a world renowned author. Superficial details of Gene Bennett's plots to defraud the FBI and various insurance agencies, and his attempts on the lives of his wife and her minister were covered in depth by the Washington, DC area press, but this book delves into the emotions Margo felt and the pain she suffered while trying to protect herself from her deranged husband and her daughters from their father. And while her detractors might say that she made a number of poor decisions in her life that ultimately lead to the events depicted in Rother's book, others will certainly counter that poor decisions are never an excuse for abuse, mental or physical. Rother has captured those abusive moments in vivid detail. I applaud Margo for having the courage to tell her side of the story. This book is definitely a page-turner - one you will find hard to put down.



4. Upon receipt of the book when I read the cover that stated the above I thought to myself I don't want to read about a lesbian love affair. When I read on about this being a true crime novel and read that the famous crime writer was Patricia Cornwell who is one of my favorite authors, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did, this book is outstanding. This is an excellent read, very interesting as well.
   
   Caitlin Rother has penned a superbly crafted true crime story, she tells the story through the eyes of Margo Bennett. You will find yourself caught up in the lives of both Margo and her husband Gene. You will also experience a range of emotions while reading this one, I felt agony, despair, and even found myself scared for Margo several times. You will learn the triumphs of Margo, as well as her ability to balance her life as an FBI agent, a mother, a friend, and her troubled marriage. You will learn the effects this troubled marriage and Gene `s psychotic actions have had on their daughters Allison and Lindsey.
   
   If you are looking for a fast paced true crime novel with edge of your seat impact then look no further, this was a thrilling and engaging read. The author has done an excellent job and has done her research, once you start you will not be able to put this one down. An excellent and engaging read from the first page to the last. A must read and an astounding 5 stars!



5. This was a very well paced and detailed account of a true unbelievable crime. The way Rother explains everything and pulls you in as she describes the events makes it a page turner. To think the husband was that crazy and yet actually smart...WOW! What she went through to hide her sexuality and deal with her CRAZY husband...makes you think your life is not that bad! Only thing I did not like was the small part Cornwell played in all this. From the cover you would think more of that part of the story would develop, but it left me flat wondering why Cornwell was even brought up in name. It could have been a faceless woman and the outcome of the husbands rage would probably have been the same. Overall..GREAT BOOK!

5 comments about Witch: The True Story of Las Vegas' Most Notorious Female Killer (Berkley True Crime).

1. All I read is true crime and this is a good book.
   I thought the author did a great job of researching the characters for this book and really brought them to life.
   It is unbelievable how much this women got away with!



2. I'm a self-confessed true-crime junkie. I picked this up because I remember seeing part of the coverage on TRU TV back when Brookey was on trial. This book is wonderfully researched and presented. The photos are gruesome; even for a true-crime novel. You usually see grainy shots of uninteresting aspects of the crime. Here, it's right there in all it's horror. In addition, there are many side stories presented by the author, detailing some of Las Vegas' more notorious crimes. Unsettling and disturbing, "Witch" is a must add to your true-crime library. I hope to see more from this author!



3. I was really quite surprised to find such a strange and deceitful person.a real woman could do such horrifying things to her own family. I never thought that true life could be worse than a fiction murder mystery.



4. Really good book - I got it from some Amazon.com reader's 10 best true crime novels and if this one was any indication of the rest of them - he/she right on the money!! Very graphic - pictures are definitely NOT for the faint of heart. I still can't get them out of my head



5. The book did not explain too much about Brookey herself. I wanted more on the withcraft, more on her Dad etc. Fast easy read, just not enough for me.

5 comments about The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town.

1. John Grisham is a good author. I don't usually read nonfiction but this intreagued me. I bought other publications to read other's accounts of this true story. All were in agreement with what happened.



2. I started reading this book over the weekend while at my sister's house, and it was so amazing, that I started reading it to her and we were instantly hooked! We finished the book in three days! He grabs your attention in the very first chapter.
   I actually lived in Ada, Oklahoma from 1997-2000...three horribly long years. I never really knew what the town was like until after I read this book. I was pretty naive, I guess! Thanks for a great book, John Grisham! I am purchasing the other books mentioned in your story now...so is my sister!



3. Ron Williamson was at one time one of the favorite sons of Ada, Oklahoma. He was a young man with tremendous athletic skills and many locals believed that he just might be the next Micky Mantle, who is still the greatest baseball player to ever come from that state. But largely because of chronic injury problems that started in high school, Ron was not destined to become a great professional ballplayer. He got his shot, and managed to stay in the minors a lot longer than he probably should have, but baseball is not the thing for which Ron Williamson is remembered by citizens of Ada, Oklahoma.
   
   No, when the people of Ada think of Williamson, what they recall is the rape and murder of which he was convicted and the years that he spent on death row. They remember that he came within five days of actually being executed for a crime with which he had absolutely nothing to do. Well that's what most of them remember, anyway. Other Ada locals perhaps still want believe the local prosecutor who refuses to admit that he was wrong to ever charge Williamson with the crime, and who still wants to hold out the possibility that the DNA evidence that exonerated him does not prove that he was not involved in some way.
   
   When it came to pinning the rape and murder on someone, Ron Williamson was certainly an easy target. Ron's drinking problem began in high school and, when his baseball career unraveled, alcohol, drugs, and struggles with depression made it impossible for him to hold a job or to move on with his life. So when the baffled investigators and prosecutors in Ada decided that the crime was so brutal that it had to involve two people, Ron and his running buddy Dennis Fritz were "chosen" as the crime's most logical perpetrators.
   
   Now all they needed was the evidence to convict the two innocent men and cover themselves in glory as great crime fighters. There was no evidence to be found, however, something that did very little to slow down the police investigators or the local prosecutor who had already decided that Fritz and Williamson were guilty. A combination of creatively coerced "confessions," testimony from local lowlifes (one who was later to be convicted of the very crime in question), sloppy testimony from experts, a judge who proved his own incompetence, and lies suggested to, and regurgitated by, jailhouse snitches, managed to convict both the men.
   
   Their story is one that most of us would like to believe never happens in this country. Unfortunately, as Grisham proves in The Innocent Man, it probably happens much more often than we know. All it takes is the right combination of incompetent policemen, investigators, expert witnesses, prosecutors and judges to make it possible. Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz had years stolen from them and their lives were largely ruined by the very people charged with protecting the public welfare. This is one scary story.
   
   Grisham tells the Fritz and Williamson story in a very straightforward way. There is no attempt to "novelize" what happened through the use of extensively recreated dialogue or by speaking from the points-of-view of its main characters. That does make for some rather dry reading at times but the details resulting from Grisham's research makes his straight reporting of the facts a fascinating one. The 10-disc unabridged audio version of The Innocent Man is read by Craig Wasson who does a particularly effective job in giving a voice to Ron Williamson's frustration and outright anger about the situation in which he found himself.
   
   Fans of John Grisham's novels, in which the action seldom seems to stop, might find the pace of this one to be a little slow. But Grisham had an important story to tell and he told it well.



4. I thuroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a huge Grisham fan, as well as a huge Anne Rule fan. I don't know if it's good or bad that I kept forgetting it was a Grisham book and not a Rule book. I felt the detail and the realism were right on. I didn't read anything about the book (summary or any reviews), I just picked it up and bought it and I'm glad I did. It's a big step from his usual lawyer dramas and I loved it!



5. I hope that this is the last non-fiction book that John Grisham writes. I have not read a book of his that I didn't like until this one.
   
   It reads like a bad episode of Dateline NBC. It's hard to keep up with all of the people involved. AND I don't know if I can emphasize this point enough, IT IS EXTREMELY DEPRESSING. Stories like this about fictional characters can be enjoyable at times b/c they are seperated from reality, but when it happens to real people it just makes you sick.
   
   Brief synopsis:
   A woman is murdered.
   A man's life begins to fall apart.
   A man's life continues to fall apart.
   Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it does.
   
   There's no nice neat bow on the end of this one. There are no answers. There is no final resolution.
   
   Pass.

No comments about House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

5 comments about A Family Cursed: The Kissell Dynasty, a Gilded Fortune, and Two Brutal Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. A Family Cursed: The Kissell Dynasty, a Gilded Fortune, and Two Brutal Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
   
   Kevin McMurry strikes again! This story of real life power, wealth, greed, desperation and yes murder, will captivate you. You do not need to be a lover of true crime stories to get hooked on this compelling story by Kevin. The author's vivid descriptions of desperate people doing the unthinkable in order to retain & gain wealth will capture your imagination. Two perfect American Families that any of us would love to be a part of or maybe not. Kevin's investigative reporting & analysis mixed with a true Irishman's uncanny ability to tell a story makes this read a real winner!



2. The poor Kissell family who had it all but was cursed by it's own success. The poor brothers, Robert and Andrew Kissell, were murdered. Robert was murdered by his wife, Nancy, in Hong Kong. She was sentenced to life in prison there. Their three children would face a custody battle among in-laws. Andrew had lots of legal problems because he acted illegally and immorally in most business and finance transactions not like his brother Robert who graduated college, married, and rose up the financial ladder as being one of the hardest working financiers even in Hong Kong. Regardless, Robert and Andrew did not deserve their fate. Robert's wife, Nancy, was lonely and was having an affair with a blue collar television repairman in Vermont where they had a second winter home. Sadly, Robert and Andrew were laid beside their mother Elaine Kissell at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Robert's children are being raised by the only surviving Kissell child, Jane Kissell Clayton, in Seattle, Washington with her two children. The Kissell patriarch is still alive and living in Florida. It's still a sad story but I think the writer's inexperience at writing true crime stories surfaces here and will get better in the future.



3. I have been reading Kevin's works as they come out and this is his best effort to date. A must read !! Kevin puts you right into the lives of this family and shows all the scars.



4. Kevin F. McMurray missed his calling. This investigative reporter should have been a detective. With him it just the facts. His research is SUPERB! Not a rehash. He doesn't embellish the case with his own speculation. He leaves that up to you. McMurray lifts the dark veil of the Kissel Dynasty, and what he reveals is the dark side of their high society, Wall Street, power, fame, wealth, fraud, sex and murders. McMurray extensive interviews paint a portrait of the Jekyll and Hyde within each personality. His work is thorough and yet he treats each suspect and victim with respect. This style makes his books page turners. It would make one hell of a movie. A real life who-dun-it?
   
   I also read his fascinating book, "Deep Decent" about his dives on the infamous Andrea Doria sunk in 1955. His hair raising adventures of deaths and near death experiences makes great reading. This guy seems like the real deal.



5. Wife with too much money kills husbund. Brother who wants more money is killed. Was it worth it? She now sits in a jail in China.No money,kids,or boyfriend.

5 comments about Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders.

1. Author William Drennan, professor of English (and it shows), wastes little time and few words in summarizing the events leading up to a horrific crime: the murder of his lover, Mamah Borthwick Cheney, her two young children (visiting the estate), and (eventually) four workers, who were killed by an ax-wielding arsonist servant at the home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for life with his mistress, Ms. Cheney. Theories on the motive, never firmly established because the killer died before trial, include the perpetrator's mental instability or possibly revenge for verbal insults by one or more of the victims. Although the subtitle, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders, indicates murder as the central theme, at least half of the (pre-reference section) pages leading up to the chapter entitled "A Summer Day That Changed the World" Murder at Taliesin, are filled with background, primarily of Wright: his ancestry, (pre-marriage) family life, career, married life, relationship with Cheney, and negative treatment by the press and people of Oak Park, Illinois. Drennan shares his views in several places, notably: in modifying the accepted version of the murderous rampage to better fit the evidence and that Wright was skilled at structural design of buildings. His examples, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, which performed well during earthquakes in the 1920s, and Midway Gardens in Chicago, which because of its stout construction, was difficult to demolish, confirm the latter point, others, notably Fallingwater in Pennsylvania and the Freeman House in California, which have not fared as well structurally, do not. The issue of Wright's structural design skills and the sensationalist title and cover photo (ax prominently displayed) aside, Drennan has done an excellent job of putting together a short, reader friendly book about the circumstances surrounding the Taliesin murders. It would have been even better about fifty percent longer, with more information on some of Wright's many architectural masterpieces. Hands down better than Loving Frank by Nancy Horan.



2. Having been a Frank Lloyd Wright "fan" for many years, and having taught a short course on his architecture at the college where I was a professor, before retirement, I appreciated the in depth research on this "scandalous" period of FLW's life. A daughter lives in Oak Park and I toured many of FLW's Prairie houses there, as well as visiting "Falling Water" from a later period of his career. Book arrived in good time, in excellent condition. I will lead a discussion next month on this book for my book club. After all, I recommended this book for discussion.



3. While Drennan wrote about his amount of research done for this book, he came to incomplete conclusions; completely misinterpreted his research; or lost his references in (I am sure) his piles of notes. It's apparent to those who have studied Wright, or have an interest in him, that, while Drennan refers to books in the bibliography, he didn't study them, particularly in his misunderstanding of a proper floor plan for Taliesin I.
   
   There are things that he just gets plain wrong (page numbers refer to the hardcover version of the book).
   
   Page 6, he writes that Taliesin is on the "banks of the Wisconsin River." It's not. It's just down from the top of a hill (on the brow of the hill, leading to the name "Taliesin", "shining brow" in Welsh) and also separated from the river by a road.
   
   Page 16, he states that Wright spend "five summers" working on his family's farm. Wright spent summers there from the ages of 11-18.
   
   Page 19, He writes that Wright went to Chicago and spent 2 dollars on a concert. Wright wrote in his autobiography that he spent $1.
   
   Page 31, he states that Wright met CR Ashbee in 1896. They met in 1900, which Drennan would have known if he had read one of the books he cites in his bibliography, _Frank Lloyd Wright: The Lost Years, 1910-1922: A Study of Influence_, by Anthony Alofsin.
   
   Page 67, A statue shown in a photograph on this page is referred to as "an [Alfonso] Ianelli sprite" (from Wright's Midway Gardens project in Chicago, IL) when it's actually _Flower in the Crannied Wall_, designed by Richard Bock for Wright's Susan Lawrence Dana House in Springfield, IL (which he would have known had he read Narciso Menocal's article about the statue in _Taliesin 1911-1914: Wright Studies, v. 1_, which Drennan cited in his bibliography).
   
   Page 161 he writes that, "When Miriam Noel learned of Olgivanna, she lay siege to the place and dragged out divorce proceedings for five turbulent years." Wright and Noel were married in 1923, and divorced in 1927.
   
   Page 168, he states that Wright had been buried "next to" Mamah. Their graves are about 20 feet apart. Drennan refers several times to the valley that the Lloyd Joneses lived in as "Bear Creek," but it's never been called that (Helena Valley is acceptable).
   
   He also writes that Wright's family had come across the United States directly to Spring Green, Wisconsin, when in truth they'd actually settled in Ixonia, Wisconsin (on the eastern side of the state) for about a decade before coming to Spring Green.
   
   There are various statements he made that have no citation in the endnotes:
   Page 14, Wright's father's turn as a Unitarian minister is described on page 14 as "a 'sop,' it has been called" - no citation
   
   Page 15, he states that Wright's half-sister Lizzie charged that his mother was "spoiling Frank rotten..." - no citation
   
   Page 15, he states that Wright's father "pointedly" called Wright and his two sisters, "Anna's children" - no citation
   
   Page 137, he refers to "One online source" with no citation
   
   Et cetera.
   
   All the while, he writes that all of these other writers have gotten things wrong or misinterpreted things. He is the one who misinterpreted the area, misunderstood Taliesin, Wright's family, and Wright's background.
   
   If you want to know about Wright, read Meryle Secrest's biography. If you want to know about Taliesin I, get _Taliesin 1911-1914: Wright Studies, volume I_, ed. Narciso Menocal (this will also provide you with a Taliesin I floor plan). If you want to read about Wright's relationship with Mamah Borthwick, read Nancy Horan's book, _Loving Frank_. It's historical fiction that is better researched than _Death in a Prairie House_.



4. The book was in excellent condition and shipped in good time. I believe it arrived even before the forecasted delivery date.



5. This books gives an account of the tragic event and the circumstances surrounding it -- the murder of Mamah Borthwick Cheney, her two children and other members of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright's household at Taliesin, his sprawling hillside home near Spring Green, Wisconsin.
   
   The book is a work of non-fiction; it gives the reader as detailed a portrait of the tragedy as possible, now, nearly a century later.
   
   William Drennan's account of the events takes a closer and more scientific approach to the fire and murders than heretofore. Mrs. Cheney and her son and daughter, along with members of the Taliesin household, were having lunch when the disaster occurred. A servant set fire to the house, and as the frightened residents attempted to flee, he killed many and wounded others using an axe. Word reached both Mr. Wright and Mr. Cheney in Chicago, at about the same time; they took the same train up to Wisconsin, still unsure of who had lived, who had died, and what might have precipitated the disaster.
   
   In earlier biographies of Wright, none of the authors analyzed Taliesin's features--floor plans, doors, windows and courtyards--with an eye toward reconciling the sequence of events as witnessed by the survivors. Drennan remedies their oversight and in so doing, shows Wright scholars and aficionados, as well as the general reader, what probably occurred on that sad day. If you enjoy history, true-crime, or are simply a fan of Wright, you will not want to miss reading this book.

5 comments about The Stranger Beside Me (Revised and Updated): 20th Anniversary.

1. The Stranger Beside Me is the best true crime book I have ever read. However, it is also the most disturbing, so much so that more than once, I vowed not to finish it. Of course, I did finish it, and the story will probably stick with me for a while.
   
   The book is, for the most part, a chronological account of Ted Bundy's life. It's fascinating that the author was actually friends with Bundy before she knew he was a killer. The book is filled with devastating accounts of the crimes that he was accused and later convicted of. Rule also explores possibilities of how and when he became obsessed with murder. Interesting reading, but keep the lights on and the doors locked.



2. Ann Rule has masterfully written about Ted Bundy, her friend who also lays claim to being one of the worst serial killers in history.
   
   She elaborates on her background in law enforcement as a former police officer with family in law enforcement. Another aspect that sets her apart from most true crime authors is her training in crime scene investigations and her participation in crime expert seminars.
   
   In a strange twist of irony the author had signed a contract to write a book about the murders with no hint that the killer was someone that she knew.
   
   "The Stranger Beside Me" shows the contrasts in Ted Bundy- a very intelligent, politically connected seemingly charming man with a bright future and caring personality. Beneath all of that was a master conman and brutal murder fixated on a still unknown number of victims that fit a specific physical appearance. He was manipulative, thrived on media attention, and ultimately seemed to fear the end result that he meted out to his victims: death. He sure tried everything he could to avoid or postpone the death sentence he earned.
   
   What makes this book a true crime classic is the personal connection and insight that Ann Rule had with Ted Bundy. She tells the story not just as a writer, but an author that knew members of both sides of the investigation; the killer and many of the law enforcement members that worked the cases. An excellent book!



3. Not being an aficionado of the true crime genre, I picked this book up because I had read that Rule's version of the Bundy story was the best. There was the additional factor of her personal friendship with him. While Ms Rule claims to have known Ted Bundy well, those claims are based upon having shared a volunteer assignment with him for a short time, and I doubt that their sporadic contact when they went their separate ways truly deepened her familiarity with him and his personality. Nevertheless, there is something to be said for learning about a criminal from someone who was acquainted with him in happier times.
   
   Ms Rule has taken a broad and difficult topic, and in spite of her own emotional ties to Bundy and disinclination to believe in his guilt, has presented an objective, factual account of his killing spree and subsequent processing through the legal system. I was particularly struck by her ability to describe so tellingly the characteristics of an antisocial personality. Her recounting of the murders is clear but avoids becoming gruesomely graphic. What is lacking here, although she tries, is a cogent explanation of how Bundy became that vicious murderer, as his early life was no worse than those of countless other children. In fairness, it must be said that no one has ever been able to truly explain the hows and whys of the development of a serial killer. But I think some of the creepy fascination these guys hold over the public has to do with the hows and whys. I'm not sure we'll ever have the answers, but can recommend The Stranger Beside Me as a fair account of the life of Ted Bundy and the vicious acts, those that we know about, that he committed.
   
   Lock your doors and windows.



4. Being friends with and trusting a man who is actually a serial killer is very creepy. It is also sad to know that Ted Bundy took the lives of so many young woman who were just starting live on their own. I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.



5. I am 28 and so was only a young girl when Bundy was executed. I had heard of him, but was not familiar with the extent of his crimes. Working in the forensic field, I am fascinated with the stories of true crime and serial killers. I am an avid reader but sometimes it is hard for me to find non-fiction books that really hold my attention. Not the case with this book. I received this book for my birthday and started it as soon as I finished the book I was reading at the time. I couldn't put it down!
   
   The original book ended before Bundy was executed but there are several follow-ups at the end that really carry the story through to today. Because Rule knew Bundy, she is able to provide much insight and goes above and beyond just the facts.
   
   I highly recommend this book if you are at all interesting in knowing more about one of the most notorious serial killers of all time.

5 comments about Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. I love these kind of books and corey mitchell does an awesome job at this one. He makes reading it seem as if you are standing there watching it happen. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to get to the next corey mitchell book. If your looking for a true depictions of a crime, well you have come to the right place, he doesn't sugar coat anything, he tells it like it was and that's what makes it a true crime book. Thanks corey for an awesome book. Write On !



2. I recall first learning of the tragic murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena after reading about the account in "Newsweek" in 1993 while I was finishing my first year in Seminary. I will always remember the cold and nearly heartless stare at the camera by Sean O'Brien, one of the young men accused of their brutal murder. Corey Mitchell writes a powerful account of the entire tragedy, giving a face to all of the players in the tragic story of kids who have been lost in this insane society, and in turn become its major cause of fear. While we may point fingers at the accusers and the supposed ones who allowed them to run rampant and do what they did, we are reminded of two beautiful young women, the best of friends who were taken away from their friends, loved ones, and the society that may have benefited by their presence. Mr. Mitchell tells a powerful story that does not hide us from the gruesome reality of what happened, yet doesn't seem to revel in the details. May the journey of the families of these young ladies and others who have lost loved ones in such a terrible way never be forgotten by us who are blessed with the gift of life and relative safety.



3. Once again Corey Mitchell provides. As with all of Mr Mitchells books he should be rated #1 True Crime author. I wish he could write a new book as fast as I can read. He brings out and gets you familiar with all the people in his writings both good and bad. I can never set one of his books down once I open the cover. Please never stop writing.



4. This is one of the sickest murders I ever heard of. I read a bit about it on the internet then heard about this book last month. It's a lot more detailed then stuff I previously read on the internet. Corey Mitchell details all of the people who were directly involved with this crime and how they came to meet on that fateful night in the park. It's my first from Corey Mitchell and after reading it in less then a day it won't be my last. A truly powerful written story in such a tragic circumstance.



5. I read this in one day... I was so into the story that I couldn't put the book down! Corey Mitchell did a wonderful job describing what took place back in 1993. He gives great detail describing the character of each individual in the story and makes you feel like you are right there when the murder takes place. This was an awesome book and I look forward to reading more stories by Corey Mitchell.

5 comments about Deadly Dose: The Untold Story of a Homicide Investigator's Crusade for Truth and Justice.

1. Deadly Dose is the revealing and sometimes-shocking account of longtime homicide detective Chris Morgan's relentless effort to keep alive a seemingly unsolvable high-profile arsenic poisoning death that captivated the Triangle area of North Carolina for years. It's a page-turning tale of intrigue and mystery and is a must-read for any fan of true crime and anyone touched by the heartbreaking and untimely death of Eric Miller -- a young father with a promising future -- or angered by his killer-wife's ability to evade arrest for too many years.
   
   Amanda Lamb's portrayal of Morgan and his quest to seek justice for the murder victims he works for and their families will make you appreciate him -- and even more, the thousands other law enforcement officers and criminal justice employees like him across our country who dedicate their lives to helping put murderers like Ann Miller Kontz in prison and keeping our streets a little safer.
   
   I highly recommend Deadly Dose -- you MUST read it -- and I eagerly await Amanda's next true-crime book.



2. Crime reporter and author Amanda Lamb has done an excellent job sharing the gripping story of incomprehensible murder. You will be moved by her intelligent, well-thought out re-telling of retired detective Chris Morgan's epic quest to solve the mystery of Eric Miller's tragic murder, murder at the hand of his own wife. You will grieve for Eric's family. And, you will indeed, as another reviewer points out, be deeply, profoundly grateful for the champions of truth and justice like Morgan and others who fight daily to solve and prosecute crime. Lamb and Morgan are a perfect pairing for an unforgettable true tale. You won't be disappointed by this provocative, first-rate account.



3. This is a sad, fascinating story with unexpected twists written by a TV reporter--but the substandard writing style is a distraction to readers of "true crime" classics like Fatal Vision. The first paragraph alone has three overwrought metaphors about the investigator's leather chair that may cause a reader to start laughing. Slog through pages of repetition and you will wish that Ann Rule had written it instead. My recommendation is to skip the fluff and read the free online coverage from the Raleigh newspaper.



4. To this day, it's hard to believe that this happened. I had a class with Eric in high school. He was one of those guys that was nice to EVERYONE...not just to certain kids. He enjoyed life to the fullest and he enjoyed teasing and making people laugh. I know I laughed a few times with him.
   
   It makes this book even more interesting for me to read. They do a terrific job of detailing every aspect of the case. It makes you want to read the entire book without putting it down.
   
   I hope this book can bring some insight for other investigators who need to solve the most difficult crimes. I'm sure Eric would want that as well. May he rest in Heavenly peace.



5. I couldn't wait to read this 'behind the scenes' account of the Eric Miller case. What a disappointment. The writing is atrocious: from the opening paragraphs to the last. In addition, one learns virtually nothing that was not already told in the local newspaper.
   I was disappointed that Ann Miller only got a 25 yr sentence. Perhaps she should be forced to read this book as a further punishment.

5 comments about By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre.

1. I've read a lot of true crimes over the years, but this one gave me chills. The story on Wesson and his family put the "d" in dysfunctional. His mixing of both religion and vampirism is fascinating to say the least.
   
   I unlike, the rest of the country hadn't heard of the Wesson case, with the Scott Peterson trial so much in the forefront, so the components of this case were totally new to me. I really feel for the family members that are left behind suffering now because of this tragedy.
   
   Marcus Wesson, is a master manipulator of the most dangerous kind. The story is as well written as "Helter Skelter" and just as chilling. By all means, read. Because there are people like Marcus among us and we need to know who they are.



2. Being someone who knew little or nothing of the wesson case, i was completely drawn in by the unimaginable circumstances that were involved. Marcus Wesson is the prime example of the human mind completely gone mad. He himself justified everything he did, from sexual escapades with his daughters and nieces, to brutal beatings that sometimes lasted days, by saying it followed his ultimate plan to do as the lord asked. The truth is he controlled everyone in his family by manipulating them and brainwashing all from a young age. Monte Francis does a spectacular job of following the case from day one and also going into early years of the family to show what, and how things went so drastically wrong. He speaks of only fact an the entire book, and somehow leaves his opinion almost completely out of the picture (which other seasoned authors find hard to do on such disturbing topics).If you are a fan of true crime this books is a must. A page turner that will have you thanking god your mind is not as twisted as some(ex:Marcus Wesson)people in this world.



3. This man should be hung and put out of his misery... He is definately a perverted sicko that tortured his family and to think that some of them stood up for him is so sad. I couldn't put this book down.



4. By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre
   
   This is a good book. It is very disturbing and sad.



5. This book was a fasinating and interesting read.
   I know the author, so I know just how hard he worked on this piece. A lot of work and effort went into this book, and it shows.
   Monte writes with skill, knowlage, and perspective.
   This is the only book written on this massacre, so it must have been a big task to take on.
   I reccomend it to anyone who has not read it.
   Great job Monte!