This is a collection of seven tales from
Ann Rule's
domestic true crime files. Most are fairly short. THE DEPUTY'S WIFE could
perhaps have been a book on its own. This is about a former sheriff's deputy who, when his wife was divorcing him and he was in jail on
domestic abuse charges, arranged with a hitman for the deaths of his wife, sister-in-law, and two children (an 18-year-old girl and a 15-year-old
boy). THE ANTIQUES DEALER'S WIFE is an unsolved mystery (or uncharged at any rate) disappearance of a con man's wife and daughter. THE TRUCK DRIVER'S WIFE is a mystery where a woman atypically burned to death without apparent cause. THE CONVICT'S WIFE is an unhappy story of brothers at war, and a woman and kids caught in the middle. THE CHEMIST'S WIFE is a story of obsessive love and destructive jealousy ending in tragedy. THE PAINTER'S WIFE is the story of a home invasion, and a woman (and later a man) hostage's desperate attempts to live and save the family. THE MINISTER'S WIFE is one of the most publicized murder cases in recent memorty. A bright, up and coming young minister of the Church of Christ was shot and killed (apparently by his mousey and very intimidated little wife). The story and a following postscript gives her story.
This is an excellent book, that makes one shake one's head over humanity and domestic and family life. It is an absorbing and excellent read.