Welcome to The Official Websleuths Investigative Book Club !

[Insightful1]

Today I thought I’d share some photos. Most of you have probably seen Shanda’s but I’ll start with her. One is Shanda with her mom

 

[Insightful1]

Here are photos of Amanda, one from November

 

[Insightful1]

Melinda, one is with Melinda and her mom

 

[watergirl62]

It is actually a pretty fast read.

It is! but I have had to take breaks. The chaos of the murder chapter made my head spin, and because Melanie's father infuriated me to no end.

I just got to the part where Laurie enters the story. I am off all next week off so should have no problem finishing.

 

[Insightful1]

Current picture of Hope

 

[Insightful1]

Toni

 

[Insightful1]

Laurie

 

[Insightful1]

Top left Melinda, top right Laurie, bottom left Hope, bottom right Toni.

 

[Jo_sews]

Thank you for the photos, Insightful1.

 

[Luna Blue]

If Melinda and Laurie were not together that night, would this crime have happened?

 

[Luna Blue]

All four murderers are already out of prison!!!!! Laurie and Melinda should have received life, IMO.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I read this book many years ago. It’s the book that introduced me to Aphrodite’s writing. I find her books completely immersive. You just fall right into the story. In regard to this case. I’m really enjoying reading the book again. I find it completely shocking. For me that says a lot. I think it has to do with Shanda’s age and that 4 girls went along with this. Mob mentality but still.

There was something "mature" about Shanda though....
I think I read an article about the case that made reference to her 'being more like she was 16"
but don't remember where I saw this so must say moo.

To have so much jealousy over a 12 year old girl is still just so 'crazy' though.

And I just cannot get over the fact that these 4 didn't even know each other before this horrible get-together. --Laurie Tackett being the only link.

 

[Penguin-338]

I do not like this book.

 

[Insightful1]

If Melinda and Laurie were not together that night, would this crime have happened?

Great question!

 

[watergirl62]

I do not like this book.

Welcome to Websleuths!

 

[watergirl62]

I am almost done with the book. I'm surprised they didn't get into more trouble in prison or after they were released. If you had to live next door to Melinda or Laurie which would you choose? Why?

Melinda, because Laurie needs so much attention and lies alot. I just can't with people like that.

 

[Penguin-338]

In writing, they always say "show, don't tell." This book is all tell, no show. Beyond their names and ages, the characters aren't described much, making it hard to differentiate them at first.
I found the writing to be very flat and simple. I'm tempted to count the adjectives, as I feel it will be a very small number.
For instance, she TELLS us it's a cold night, but nobody shivers or pulls their coats closer. We're told the girls are scared, but we don't "see" them acting scared. The author doesn't describe body language, or facial expressions, or sounds, or textures, or smells or feelings. It feels distant.
In the last section, where the legal procedings are described, this flat accounting of facts works, but the rest of the book ... doesn't.

 

[watergirl62]

Thank you for saying this, it was a struggle for me too.

 

[NeilC]

In writing, they always say "show, don't tell." This book is all tell, no show. Beyond their names and ages, the characters aren't described much, making it hard to differentiate them at first.
I found the writing to be very flat and simple. I'm tempted to count the adjectives, as I feel it will be a very small number.
For instance, she TELLS us it's a cold night, but nobody shivers or pulls their coats closer. We're told the girls are scared, but we don't "see" them acting scared. The author doesn't describe body language, or facial expressions, or sounds, or textures, or smells or feelings. It feels distant.
In the last section, where the legal procedings are described, this flat accounting of facts works, but the rest of the book ... doesn't.

I found the legal proceedings so tedious! This section did not work for me at all. Repetition of the charges and a description of the horrible facts for each of the 4 defendants was unnecessary and felt, to me, that it was just taking up space. I skipped most of this section and was confused by which girl was charged with what and why. Could have been done in more of a narrative, timeline focused way.

I really like your “show, don’t tell” strategy description to storytelling and find that the most compelling nonfiction tells a story that gives a strong “sense of place” along with well-rounded, deeply-studied characters. While I don’t think this book did much of that, I still couldn’t stop reading it…probably because “just the facts” were so doggone unbelievable.

 

[cujenn81]

The evidence and legal proceedings will always be dense reading in most cases because there’s not a lot room for creativity when it comes to facts that can’t really be embellished.

Show don’t tell is certainly the best practice for fiction, but it doesn’t always work well for non-fiction. I think it’s a matter of personal preference. It actually annoys me when a true crime author editorializes the narrative. In my experience, it doesn’t happen a lot (but I occasionally see it when an author is well known for writing fiction or it was co-authored by a popular fiction writer).