Spousal murder stories, when done well, can make for the most insightful psychological reading around. Very rarely can I pick one up without finishing it. But actually on reflection I can’t remember coming across all that many really great books in this theme.
Here are some that come to mind. This is a rough draft list as I’m hoping for some reading suggestions from other kind-hearted true crime fans who might recall a well-written and insightful story of a marriage that went to hell. There must be some interesting stories from the UK that I've missed. And maybe there are a few very bizarre spousal murder cases out there waiting for books.
1. A Crime of Passion
by Stanley Loomis
The murder of the Duchesse De Praslin by the Duc De Praslin. The epitome of uxorcide (see the CLEWS review).
2. Until the Twelfth of Never
by Bella Stumbo
The murder of Dan and Linda Broderick by Betty Broderick. It’s impossible to finish this without having a strong opinion on the case.
3. Dead by Sunset
by Ann Rule
The murder of Cheryl Cunningham by Brad Cunningham. Said Kirkus: “This book is better plotted than the murder itself.”
4. She Wanted It All
by Kathryn Casey
The murder of Steve Beard by Celeste Beard and Tracey Tarlton. An even better title might have been She Couldn’t Wait.
5. Gone Forever
by Diane Fanning
The murder of Susan McFarland by Richard McFarland told in chilling detail through the victim's diary and the murderer's confession.
If you have a favorite, please share it!
No books (AFAIK), but T. Cullen Davis (attempted), Fred Tokars, Allen Blackthorne and James Sullivan come to mind - wife murderers all; and of course, Robert Durst, never charged but always suspected, and more than one book for him IIRC.
Posted by: A Voice of Sanity | March 25, 2009 at 11:54 AM
How about Deadly Greed by Joe Sharkey? The Boston case of the lawyer who killed his pregnant wife on the way home from Lamaze class, blamed it on an anonymous black man, and then jumped off the Tobin bridge when he was about to be found out. That's a juicy one.
Posted by: Mardi Link | March 25, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Without a doubt, Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss. A true crime classic about "The Green Beret Murder Mystery" (Jeffrey MacDonald) at Fort Bragg, NC in 1970.
A Voice of Sanity: Ann Rule wrote about the Sheila Bellush murder (Alan Blackthorne) in her book "Every Breath You Take".
Posted by: Lori | March 27, 2009 at 02:43 PM
You are right about the Loomis book.
Thanks to you I've just read it.
Fabulous!
Posted by: James | March 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Il suffit de dire merci ne sera pas seulement suffisante, pour que la clarté exceptionnelle à l'intérieur de votre écriture. Je pense que j'ai enregistrer votre site pour les mises à jour futures. Un grand merci.
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