( 7 reviews )
-
Posted: Jan 16 2009
Lynn Chandler Willis is one of the new true crime writers that I have read and she puts a decent entry among the true crime genre series. The case of the Preacher's Sons because both his sons, Ronnie Jr. and Ted were involved in the hideous crime of killing Ted's newlywed wife, Patricia, and burning the house down to cover the crimes. My hearts go out to both families because there was nothing published to indicate that the Preacher and his wife were bad parents. Ronnie Jr. was a marine and thinking about going into the Seminary and Ted was just the favorite son who could do no wrong. Maybe the Kimbles should have treated them equally but they did the best they could under the circumstances. In the Kimble household, Ted was the driven and destructive force. He is slick, manipulative, and a true psychopath. Being a preacher's son meant nothing to him. He was out for money and a business but needed a wife. He first asked Patricia's cousin, Janet, who he was dating at the time. But it was Patricia who loved him and changed herself to be with him. When she realized the mess and trouble in the marriage, she feared for her life and told people. The fact that Ted got his slow younger brother, Ronnie Jr., involved is sickening for his role. Ronnie always aspired to be like his brother and idolized him but he also feared and followed his orders as well. I don't think Ronnie would have done the crimes without Ted's orders. There were people who feared Ted Kimble that were willing to go to jail for other crimes. Patricia's family suffered more because of their great loss. All she wanted was a loving marriage but couldn't see Ted for who he was until it was too late. I have to mention that the late Rev. Jerry Falwell had testified in this trial and I respect him for coming forward to help the prosecution. I still feel sorry both families even the Kimbles who can only see their only two sons in prison in North Carolina.
-
Posted: Jul 3 2008
Any book which I feel compelled to read a second time is definitely worth reading, as was the case with this book. It was a very interesting case of how an older, stronger, more intelligent brother manipulates his less-adept brother into killing his wife. However, I've read dozens of true crime cases and never before have I seen one which includes this rather strange editorializing by the author. She includes paragraphs, oftentimes in italics (but not always)which seem to be her attempt to make this writing more like a fictional story rather than a true crime case. Most of these include things that the author couldn't possibly know, such as thoughts the victim had on her wedding day; casual conversation between detectives that wasn't pertinent to the case; and what the murderer was thinking. I really don't think that she actually had a conversation with murderer regarding how he felt irritated that his mother hadn't put his clothes away after she laundered them, etc.
-
Posted: Feb 22 2007
This is the true account of a man who married an innocent woman--who ends up dead not long afterwards--and the story of her failing marriage and the attempt to bring her killer to justice. One wonders how a woman could be so naive, but then love is blind. The book dwells more on Ted's sociopathic personality and the people he uses. It moves very fast-you wont get bored with a long pyschiatric profile and family history like many crime novels. Instead, it follows the frustrated attempts to bring this man to justice.
