Welcome to The Official Websleuths Investigative Book Club !

[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).

 

[CatsCradle8]

Great question!

I don't believe it would have happened as it did. They might have picked up Shanda and tried to intimidate her, but I do not believe the level of violence would have escalated like it did. I think Melinda was angry and hurt and instead of lashing out at Amanda, who she most likely did not see as a safe target, she then directed her anger at a younger, weaker, victim. Laurie was the gasoline that fueled and continued to drive the violence to higher and higher levels. The crime would not have happened if it was only Laurie or only Melinda, it took the two of them. CatsCradle8 (aka RaineyDaze)

 

[CatsCradle8]

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).

I agree the trial section of the book was awkward. It did provide some insight to each of the perpetrators' perspective and added to their overall history and the family dynamics when they were incarcerated.

 

[DeathbyBoobie]

I think all the girls are monsters except for maybe Toni and i don't want to spoil anything so i am just going to say that i am disappointed. Not in the book but the justice that was not served adequately in this case.