This title is probably mis-categorized. It would probably fit better in a Personal Memoirs or Christian Fellowship section, for families coping with tragedy. But even then, it’s not particularly well done.
First of all, since there is no mystery, one might expect an orderly presentation of facts for objective consideration. However, the writing is so cloyingly slanted toward the victim’s family, that it becomes hard to distinguish what is fact and what is clever fabrication. I was left with little doubt that the family must have controlled the content with it’s over-the-top family solidarity and spiritual fortitude. The listener is meant to believe they were the real victims of the crime, with all they had to overcome. Even with descriptions of Elizabeth, there is a saccharine unbelievability as a “princess”, “unique”, “pristine”. Anyone with children and grandchildren can understand that sentiment, but it is woefully overdone in this book, which is tragic because she was the only true victim. Yet the family seems to revel in their misery.
The strident hypocrisy of the victim’s family is the most striking part of the story. They are portrayed as spiritual fighters and seekers of justice. Yet they quite unabashedly engage in deception, perjury and intimidation of jurors to achieve their ends. The bloodthirsty calls for the death penalty belie their kind hearts, as well. I kept waiting for a swerve to justify my investment of time, but it never came.
It’s not a question about whether the guilty party was in fact guilty; there is little doubt of that. But it’s the slanted view the author gives, that is so willfully prejudicial (as undoubtedly it was meant), that insults the intelligence of the reader/listener to assess the evidence on their own. All the defense attorneys are portrayed with derogatory language (save for the begrudging admiration of the slickness of one, which is also negative), and minimizes their effect. Meanwhile, the prosecutors are effective and persuasive. The author often reads the prosecutor’s words verbatim for long stretches, allowing the listener to believe it fact, only to tag the quote at the end as merely prosecutor’s speculation. It just can’t be believed that the whole, honest story is being told.