Never Leave Me: A True Story of Marriage, Deception, and Brutal Murder

by John Glatt

In a quiet community of million dollar homes and shiny SUVs, the Nyce family projected the very image of success. Dr. Jonathan Nyce, an asthma sufferer, had achieved medical breakthroughs that made him rich―and offered hope to countless people. Michelle's beauty made her an object of desire. And adultery was her husband's worst nightmare. Police found Michelle's Land Cruiser floating in a frigid creak near the family home. When forensic investigators examined Michelle's horribly battered body, they knew she had not died in the car. Or by accident. Soon, the truth began to emerge. Of a brilliant man whose beautiful wife had a lover she could not stay away from. Of a family―including three innocent children―pushed to the breaking point. And of one brutal moment, when a man finally ended his torment by horrifically murdering the woman he loved...

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook

339 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published May 30, 2006

About the author

English-born John Glatt is the author of Golden Boy Lost and Found, Secrets in the Cellar, Playing with Fire, and many other bestselling books of true crime. He has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. Glatt left school at 16 and worked a variety of jobs—including tea boy and messenger—before joining a small weekly newspaper. He freelanced at several English newspapers, then in 1981 moved to New York, where he joined the staff for News Limited and freelanced for publications including Newsweek and the New York Post. His first book, a biography of Bill Graham, was published in 1981, and he published For I Have Sinned, his first book of true crime, in 1998. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including ABC- 20/20Dateline NBC, Fox News, Current Affair, BBC World, and A&E Biography. He and his wife Gail divide their time between New York City, the Catskill Mountains and London.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/johnglatt

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Nyce family murder...not such a "nice" family after all. Forensic science and intense courtroom drama, Yes please...but the reader must sludge thru redundant, self-serving marriage muck and mire for the first half-book to arrive there. I felt the author took too many speculative liberties in presenting the facts. Difficult to stay with this dull story because the murderer/ husband and his victim/wife offered no qualities to evoke my concern, simply disdain. So I rooted for their three children, basically over-indulged rich young kids with dysfunctional parents. The highlights of interest were during Trial; frequent loud, explosive arguments between the Judge and the Defense Attorney~ sidebars galore!~ plus the forensic evidence evaluations/ rebuttals. The blurb touts "eight pages of chilling photos" ... which consisted mostly of faces and buildings.... yet not one shot depicted any type of violence, all quite P/G ratings -worthy. Did I mention, I also rooted for the Judge, because he had a modicum of humor?

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay true crime book - nothing that I would actually recommend to someone. Most definitely not to a regular t.c. reader.
John Glatt is a good writer but in Never Leave Me he went on and on about the husband's work. How he started a company and this and that and it was just far too much for me.
I'm more interested in the lives of the people before the crime, the crime itself, the court proceedings, and the lives afterwards (if applicable). All the talk of his education and professional accomplishments just bored me.
Besides that the book was fine, minor errors but nothing too big and the story itself is just horrible.
The fact that this man only received 8 years (three of which he served while waiting for his day in court) for smashing his wife's head into a cement floor repeatedly. Not to mention leaving their three children with no mother and no father. 8 years. People get more than that for carrying weed. For a few crack rocks.
The defendents lawyer disgusted me to no end. Making sure someone gets a fair trial is one thing - what she did is a whole other ball game. She should be almost as ashamed as hersef and he should be of himself.
I do wish Glatt had included where the children went but it's possible that wasn't determined. The defendant's brother has custody and the mother's family, from the Philippines, was trying to get the children. I'm sure I don't need to state my opinion for people to know where I'd have put the children.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't overly keen on this book. There was far too much detail about work and not enough about the life of all the people involved. I had to skip pages here and there as I was quite bored. There were references made throughout the book about the wife's instability and that she suffered from bipolar disorder but that was never dealt with or discussed in any detail so I was left wondering "was she".. "did she". There wasn't enough meat on the bones of this story for me. It seemed to skim and skip over everything except the most banal details. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is a TC lover. I also found myself at some points really not liking the victim too much, which I ultimately felt very guilty for. You did not feel you were being told the whole story and did not get a feeling for who these people were and what shaped them. We were told how controlling and jealous the husband was but apart from a few examples this was skimmed over and nothing in depth was talked about. I was quite disappointed with this book.

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read. The author spent way too much time on boring details that didn't help the story. Also, the author's telling of the story felt very biased. I struggled to finish this one.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5.

Like many true crime books, the first half of the book was captivating and detailed, the second half was merely a rehashing of all of the facts in the courtroom. Using almost the same words from the same people, it felt like the author read a transcript of the court proceedings, wrote the first half of the book, and then just turned the transcript into a courtroom narrative and published. As a result, the book is twice as long as it needs to be. A fun bonus is the epilogue where the author admits that the judge strongly objected to Johnathan Nyce being interviewed for this book.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writer Ann Rule was my introduction to true crime books. Happening upon this book reminded me of how much I had been intrigued by and enjoyed such stories.

Though interesting, this book did not have quite the same spellbinding quality.

One point that I found most surprising was the categories of murder offered a jury and the sentences that may accompany them.

Although this is not a part of the book, I found it even more interesting what the defendant has been doing in recent years.

[Heather Luginbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just another disgusting example of the fragile male ego and the justice systems complete failure to serve justice for the violence against women. It is disgusting this man killed his wife and never once showed remorse, instead he chose to destroy her character in front of the world. In case it still needs to be said, it is not ok to brutal murder your wife because she is having an affair!

[Lexi Mag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same format as Glatt's others: basically the story gets told twice. I wish in the retelling of the legal procedures he would get more into...legal procedures... or why the hell the defense thought that any of it would work.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice wasn’t served in this case.

[Amy Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

90 day fiancé meets True Crime

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As often in the case of true crime the story is too drawn out.

[Niki Weston Finkbeiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a sad story :( well written as always though! Love John Glatt

[Mars Gambau · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, the book was really interesting. It was hard to judge, since this is just view and actually the reader would never (might) know the real murder of Michelle. John Glatt did a great job on investigating and show us more about this broken marriage. I wish that I could knew what happen with the custody of the children, if at least they the opportunity to visit their family in the Philippines.
I would say that I like the form of the book, the story unfolds as the events goes. Is well explained, and a lot of details. If I would recommend it? I'm not really sure of it. At least that person is really interesting in true murder cases.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't dislike this book... I just wasn't really sure how to feel about it. It wasn't boring, but it also wasn't interesting. I also sort of felt guilty after reading it because I really didn't like the murder victim at all.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. I felt so invested in these peoples lives. I honestly am surprised this book is not at least 4 stars. Has all the elements in a good true crime book. You better believe I was googling the family afterwards lol.

[justablondemoment · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had a hard time getting through this book. The 1st half was very boring and was all about Nyce's career. The second half was about the trial but was just repetitious and very dry reading.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow.

[Tom Nolan]

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