Lucifer's Child

by Elliott L. Epstein

On a chilly, gray autumn afternoon in 1984, a patrolman was dispatched to an inner-city tenement in Auburn, Maine to investigate the report of a possible fire. What he found inside the building's smoke-filled, second-story apartment was not a fire but something far more horrifying -- the charred body of a 4-year-old girl, Angela Palmer, who had been stuffed into the oven of a kitchen stove and cooked to death. The discovery traumatized the community and shocked the country. The ensuing murder prosecution of the youngster's mother, Cynthia Palmer, and her boyfriend, John Lane, cast a searching light into the shadows of a secret world in which children and women suffer violence and sexual predation at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them.

Genres: True Crime

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the subject matter the book is well written and delves into the minds of John Lane & Cynthia Palmer. I lived in Portland and was pregnant with my son when this happened. It was a horrific crime that should never have happened if people in Angela's life had only intervened before that afternoon.

[Kimberly Verrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was raised a 5 minute walk from where this horrific crime occurred, so, I was naturally interested in learning more. I am a mother and I could never imagine anything like this happen to my child. I am so sorry for the victims in this book and truly hope that Sarrah has been able to move past this as best as she can.

[Danny N · Rating 4 out of 5]

true crime

Nice true crime book. The only problem is it had. A lot of typos and errors. Not a big deal just a little pet peeve. Also very interesting since I live close to this building and have delivered food to the apartment building before and never knew.

[Cassandra Hartford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of all over the place, but factual and graphic in some aspects. For an event such as this one it was to the point and informed but basic and hard to actually finish.

[Lauren Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt more like reading a podcast than an actual accounting of the tragic events...

[Stephanie Longchamps · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is weird to rate. Information overload but that’s kinda the point of the book so….3 star

[Amanda Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was good but damn can you spell? The typos were crazy!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this based on the fact it was a crime committed 45 minutes from where I live and grew up. Very very difficult, but I feel it was over all well written. I am intrigued by all things crime, crime novels and Investigation Discovery, I could watch it endlessly. Based on that alone it gives a pretty intimate and difficult glimpse into the darker side of a news headline.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful look into a horrific murder

Overall I thought the book was well written and provided more insight into the horrific murder of an innocent little girl. I was however hoping for a bit more information about John and Cynthia as well as community reaction.

[Bethanie]

Horrific, hard to read more than a chapter or two at a time

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult subject matter, but I remember when this horrific crime occurred when I was in high school. I now live quite local and frequently drive by the building and think of that poor little girl.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the few books I've actually abandoned....

[Robin Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten...

Very well written. A lot to digest but riveting. I started reading this book in an office waiting area and immediately purchased it. It will be read again.

[MaRissa Dobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of bouncy and gives backgrounds that are off topic. and is vague.