True crime writers seem to be afflicted by what I am dubbing the Groucho Marx Fallacy, from Groucho's famous line, "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member." True crime TV shows do this all the time, and I've seen it in more than one true crime book, the assumption that anyone with an interest in true crime must be ... a criminal! So I'm reading Rule describing Debora Green's interest in true crime as if it must correlate with what she did in 1995, as if she could on...

The subject of this book is very tragic: Dr. Debora Green,in a bizarre attempt to win back the attention and affection of her estranged husband, first tries to poison him, then burns down their home, killing two of the couple's three children.The book carefully documents the story of the couple's early years of marriage and parenthood, their disintegrating relationship, Dr. Green's horrific crimes, the trial, and the aftermath.Since I live just a few miles from the site of the burned house, and

I am a huge Ann Rule fan. I love true crime books and she nails the story every time. This tale is fascinating in every way. Both parents are Dr's and the mother descends into an unimaginable madness. Chilling, devistating and a great read.

Debora Green has it all. Her own medical practice, a handsome physician husband, three perfect children, and an opulent home in an exclusive Kansas City suburb. Until, one day, her "perfect" life starts coming apart. In the mist of a nasty divorce, her house is set ablaze, killing two of her children. As detectives dig, they start to uncover the fire might have been arson. What would drive a mother to kill her kids in an inferno. I have some issues with placing all the blame on Debora. Dr. Farra...

I read this book in the airport, on a layover in Jacksonville, Florida. If my flight would have been canceled again, I would not have cared or minded. More time to read!! Times just seems to fly when you're sucked into this book.It's a really sad ending, why didn't people see danger coming? Where were the neighbors? The police? The teachers? The own father? Why didn't anyone do anything? Yet another example why if you see something wrong, you should do something...

So it's weird. I have owned this book for a while, but never got around to reading it. I think it's because I watched this on a couple of television shows (Forensic Files and Murderous Affairs). So to read Ann Rule's insight into a couple that ended up in a toxic marriage that resulted in a fire that killed two of their children will have you reading each page while holding your breath.The incident takes place in 1995, but we go back to see the beginning of the married couple (Doctor Debora Gree...

Murder in any form is unimaginable but the murder of one's own children is beyond comprehension. In this true crime novel, the author delves into the lives of a couple who seem to have it all...both are physicians, have a seemingly happy marriage and three bright and beautiful children. But there are tell-tale signs that all is not what it appears and then a series of events occur which eventually lead to the unthinkable. This is a chilling book that reveals how jealousy and possessive behavior

This true crime book is about a horrific incident that occurred in Kansas in 1995, when a house-fire resulted in the death of two children and a dog. Some people seem to be so blinkered and obtuse that you'd expect them to wander into traffic or fall off a balcony. That's how Dr. Michael Farrar struck me when I read this book.The major events in the story begin when Farrar and his wife, Dr. Debora Green - who wed in 1979 - have been married for nearly 15 years and have three children: Tim (12),

Rule is well-known for her true crime writing and justifiably so. Ever since Truman Capote popularized the form in In Cold Blood, true crime has become a popular genre.This harrowing book tells the story of Dr. Debora Green, a very bright Kansas physician whose life unraveled into a nightmare of murder and virtual insanity. After her trial for the murder of two of her children and the attempted murder of her husband, Michael Farrar, psychiatrists attempted to answer why something like this could...

One of Rule' s better works from when she had murder-to page-mojo. Fascinating and thorough in presenting the details without dumbing down the information. The arson investigation techniques were especially interesting. Presents the facts without sensationalism.

Dr. Debra Green has everything. A genius IQ, three children, a huge upscale house in a upper-class neighborhood, a handsome husband, Mike Farrar, who is also a doctor, and no worries about money. However, beneath the surface is a very unhappy family. Debra is full of unexpected rages and vituperous viciousness when thwarted. She cannot keep a job for very long. While she can be witty and bitingly funny, she also has times of blank vacancy when she is emotionally disconnected and uncaring. Her dr...

Missing the "rest of the story"I like Ann Rule. I usually like her books. However, I did not find this one to be a satisfying read. It seemed to leave out a good bit of the most pertinent part of the story -- making it one-sided/unbalanced/incomplete. The facts of this case, like in most of Ann's true crime stories, are beyond sad and horrifying; But it also provides an opportunity for a riveting study of a brilliant mind gone bad-- begging the question WHY! However, this retelling of the case w...

I remember watching a Forensic Files episode about this case and it is deeply disturbing. This was a thorough and interesting account of such a tragedy. Fascinating as usual!

If this wasn't true, documented crime, I would have a hard time believing this story.Murder by arson, poisoning, an affair, emotional abuse, dysfunctional family- it's all there.A few random thoughts: the children should have been taken out of the mothers care way before things came to a head. All the signs were there that something terrible was building up to happen.Do people really get to know each other before they marry? Before they have children together?The psychiatrist's evaluation of the...