Beyond Reason: The True Story of a Shocking Double Murder

by Ken Englade

She was a beautiful, gifted descendant of Lady Astor. But Elizabeth Haysom was also a spoiled, willful daughter of privilege.

He was the brilliant young son of a German diplomat. But his love for Elizabeth would draw Jens Soering into a web of madness and murder.

When Elizabeth's parents were found savagely butchered in their elegant Virginia country home, she and Jens fled to Europe-igniting an international manhunt that spanned three continents.

The sensational courtroom drama that followed painted a twisted portrait of two golden youths consumed by hatred and perverse fantasies. Elizabeth's startling testimony-and intimations of acts and desires that went beyond mere murder-would reveal a tangled web of dark secrets and deadly obsession.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Biography, Contemporary, Adult

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Kenneth F. Englade is a New Mexico-based author who has published nine books dealing with high profile trials. His latest book, Meltdown in Haditha: The Killing of 24 Iraqi Civilians by U.S. Marines and the Failure of Military Justice, will be published in 2015 by McFarland & Co. He also published five historical novels dealing with the pre-Civil War West. His books have been published in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. He is a veteran journalist who has worked on newspapers and for fourteen years with United Press International, including three years in Asia where he covered the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon. Beyond Reason, his book about a University of Virginia coed and her German boyfriend who conspired to kill the woman’s parents was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. From 2000-2006 he was a public information officer for the Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency. In 2010 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Louisiana State University School of Mass Communications in recognition of his career achievements.

Reviews

[Mike Horton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took one of the most sensational crimes to ever happen in the state of Virginia and managed to turn it into an absolute snoozefest. It escapes me as to how this book won "awards," and the only two excuses with which I can come up are that it must have been the only book nominated or the author clearly knew people on the committee that awarded the prize. The only suspense here is whether or not the next page will finally be the last, and the only horror is the poor organization and writing style.

I'm convinced the author did not have an editor, or his editor backed out upon receipt of the first rambling pages. The story is loosely constructed and flows worse than a clogged toilet.

This story would have been fantastic if it were taut, organized, and succinct; instead, we have a rambling Dickensian-style non-fiction fiasco that never holds one's interest. When it finally seems to be on course and point in moving the story along, albeit with still more pages than necessary, the author randomly throws in a disheveled chapter that completely takes the plot off-course, something that has nothing at all to do with where he is in the flow of the story, like a chapter on the upbringings of the prosecuting attorney thrown into the middle of an extradition storyline, or the vapid description of a prison in London after a chapter on the arraignment of the two suspects. It never works, and it's very sad.

The story should have taken 200 pages, maximum, to tell. I struggled to hold my eyes open at any point to finish. I must congratulate the author, however. As I said, he took one of the most sensational murder stories of the twentieth century, one that involved extradition and involvement of at least three nations, and made it a bedtime story that I forced myself to finish. That's deflation, not suspense or a thrilling read.

Read Wikipedia or google the murderers. You'll find better writing than this rambling wreck of a book.

[Heather Ostendorff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was painfully slow and tedious. I usually love a good true murder novel, but this fell short of good.
The only reason I kept reading was the fact I'm to stubborn to leave a book half read.

[J.H. Moncrieff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from a third to a quarter of this book being about the two trials, this was a decent true crime account of a young woman who admitted to coercing her then-boyfriend to murder her parents.

The author brings up more questions than he answers, and one that he kept coming back to (but not answering) was the question of motive. Why did Elizabeth Haysom want her parents murdered, and in such a horrific, painful, terrifying way?

One thing I found interesting is that the true crime documentary series "Deadly Women" made it quite clear what the motive was. Haysom was happy and excelling at her British boarding school until her parents suddenly changed her major to one she wasn't interested in and had no aptitude for--without consulting her. This led to Haysom's grades dropping and apparently to her falling in with the wrong crowd and destroying her once-bright future. That definitely seems like a motive to me, but in Beyond Reason, Englade barely mentions it and its impact on Haysom is minimized. So did "Deadly Women" make this up? Or exaggerate it? It was odd to me that it was barely a footnote in this book.

Another strange aspect is that I often found myself feeling sorry for Haysom's then-boyfriend Jens Soering. I'm not sure if that's what the author intended, but I had to keep reminding myself of how awful the crimes were. The only people one should feel sorry for are the victims.

The incest question wasn't resolved either. Why on earth would Nancy Haysom have nude photographs of her young daughter? Were they planted? There was so much to this case that made little to no sense.

[Bryanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really great. It’s a little dry for the first few chapters but it’s a real page turner after that. The Netflix documentary left me with a lot of questions and I felt compelled to check out more. I found this book and I was worried it would be boring since I already seen the Netflix documentary but it was fascinating! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a true crime read or who like me had questions after the Netflix special.

[MM Suarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Who did it? Jens? Or Elizabeth?"

Two spoiled, privileged young people and the gruesome murder of Elizabeth's parents, this is a complex murder case that in the end still leaves you with the questions of which one did it and why. I didn't hate it but it was just OK, as it is often the case in books about true crime, this one is repetitive and it goes on too long.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beyond Reason: The True Story of a Shocking Double Murder" by Ken Englade is a riveting exploration of a chilling and complex criminal case, skillfully unraveling the layers of mystery surrounding a shocking double murder. Englade's narrative prowess transforms the true story into a gripping tale of crime, investigation, and the pursuit of justice.

From the opening pages, Englade immerses readers in the harrowing details of the double murder, setting the stage for a narrative that is as captivating as it is unsettling. The author adeptly navigates through the twists and turns of the investigation, presenting a meticulous account of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.

One of the strengths of "Beyond Reason" lies in Englade's ability to balance the suspenseful storytelling with a comprehensive exploration of the legal complexities surrounding the case. The book becomes not only a true crime thriller but also a courtroom drama, offering readers a front-row seat to the intricacies of the justice system and the challenges faced by investigators.

Englade's writing style is crisp and engaging, ensuring that the pacing of the narrative remains dynamic. The book keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they follow the investigators' journey, piecing together the puzzle of motives, alibis, and forensic evidence. The author's attention to detail and his ability to convey the emotions and perspectives of those involved in the case enhance the overall impact of the narrative.

Moreover, "Beyond Reason" is more than just a crime story; it is an exploration of the human psyche and the motivations that drive individuals to commit heinous acts. Englade delves into the backgrounds of the characters involved, providing readers with insights into the complexities of the human condition and the factors that can lead to a tragic and senseless crime.

In conclusion, "Beyond Reason" is a compelling true crime narrative that stands out for its meticulous research, engaging storytelling, and the depth with which it explores the legal and psychological dimensions of a shocking double murder. Ken Englade's skillful handling of the material ensures that the book is not only a captivating read for true crime enthusiasts but also a thought-provoking exploration of the darker facets of human behavior.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious recounting of a true crime in Virginia where the perps nearly got away with murder, and did escape full and just punishment for their crime. Elizabeth Haysom was a rich spoiled brat who invented grievances against the parents who doted on her, their youngest child. Elizabeth paired up with neurotic misfit Jens Soering while away at college and manipulated him into killing her parents. According to Elizabeth, she and Jens loved each other "Beyond Reason". The couple fled to England to escape apprehension by Virginia officials. Once in England they continued to break the law, and got caught. Elizabeth was a consummate liar, who manipulated law enforcement officials in England and the US to avoid her just punishment. Jens also manipulated the extradition system to escape capital punishment for premeditated murder. The story starts with the murder, continues through the investigations and eventual trials, including detail such as furnishings of law enforcement buildings and clothes worn by officers.

I read this for a mystery book club, and hated Elizabeth by the end. Maybe Ken Englade will be able to inform us, when he visits our book club, what transpired with her sentence and/or transfer. What a waste of Virginia's tax dollars, feeding and housing her in prison.

[Tooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting telling of a true crime that I was unfamiliar with. I listened to the audiobook, and didn’t realize the date of publish, 1990, until I was about halfway through, and was really bothered by some of the commentary about events and details that was rather sexist and homophobic. As in, did he just say that Elizabeth was acting too “dyke-ish???” I couldn’t believe my ears!
I was annoyed by some of the narrator’s accents when he was reading dialogue, and not just the fake imitation of Elizabeth’s fake English accent, but got over it at some point, I guess.
I imagine this would be a tedious read, and it took a bit of time for me to get into the audiobook. Something that Englade did quite effectively, though, was convey how frustrating a person Elizabeth Haysom is. It was easy to see that she’s a total pill. I could easily imagine how exhausting it must have been to interrogate her, represent her as a lawyerI, to be her friend or partner, her sibling, or her parent. I give it 2.5 stars for that reason.

[Katelyn Childs]

I heard about this during one of my book clubs since it occurred in the county I live in. Reading about murder doesn’t excite me, but learning more about human nature does. The duo in this [real] story were quite the pair and had quite the personalities. However, the story dragged on far too long in my opinion.

{currently free on audible!}

[Helen Carolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love true crime but this was a bit of a slog. Rambling and all over the place. The story of an elderly couple found dead in their home and police attempts to arrest their daughter and her boyfriend. Disappointing.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the paperback version of this book when it came out in 1990, and when I recently came across an eBook version I decided it was time to give it another go. I'm glad I did because it's really quite good, and frankly I'm surprised by the number of bad reviews it has received here.

[Toni Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mediocre

I had higher hope for this book, I found it slightly confusing and not so easy to read, maybe it was the subject matter I’m not sure but I didn’t enjoy it very much

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes a deep dive into the case of Elizabeth Haysom. Elizabeth's father was a steel executive, and her mother was Nancy (Astor) Haysom, an artist. She attended boarding schools overseas, but returned to Virginia for college. While attending college, she met Jens Soring, the son of a German diplomat. Her parents bodies were discovered in their Virginia home, nearly decapitated. As it turns out, Elizabeth had rented a car and drove to Washington D.C. with Jens to establish an alibi, even though they were not initially suspected in the murders. I do not want to give away any details on their motives or how they were discovered, but it was a wild case.

Ken Englade is one of the more enjoyable true crime writers that I frequently read. He always manages to tell the facts of cases in a way that is interesting and not just a recitation of facts. Readers really learn a lot about the people involved in the cases, and their backstories. His books are also written in a tasteful manner, and do not sensationalize crimes, merely convey the facts of the case and the personal histories of those involved. I enjoyed this book. If you are interested in this book, it is currently available to listen for free on Audible Plus if you have the subscription. I will say that this book concludes some time ago, so you should really do a quick Google search for updates on Elizabeth and Jens. I always recommend doing a Google search for updates on any true crime books you read, because appeals, parole, deaths, etc. can always occur in the meantime. If you are going to learn about a case, you should want to know the most current details as well.

[Carla (There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Intellectual gymnastics” is what this book is about, and how they killed two people. This is a fine dissection of a personality disordered woman and her drawing into a foile à deux her boyfriend.

I finished this book wondering what I believed and what I didn’t about what Elizabeth and Jens said over the years. Do I believe Elizabeth’s British accent is fake? Absolutely. She grew up in Virginia, and only went to high school in the UK. A complete put-on. Do I believe Elizabeth’s mother sexually abused her? No. Jens most likely took those nude photos of her and they planted them. Do I believe Jens was impotent until the murders, then hyperpotent? Perhaps.
What do I think about their obsessive, organized shoplifting? I think it was fetishized, sexualized control over others, hence the carefully labeled bags and not using the items.
I think one or both of them had hypergraphia, and that wasn’t fully explored.

These are two of the most deeply disturbed teenagers/young adults I have come across, and I have a master’s in counseling. Two personality disordered people in a perfect storm, and I still don’t think we have the full story because Elizabeth is such a manipulative liar.

[BradMD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this book is fascinating. It got boring towards the end and repetitious. The author actually comes across as somewhat biased before the book is done. There is an obstacle with the book, as because of copyright law, the author was not allowed to quote from the personal letters and diaries of the criminals themselves.

[Bettye McKee]

Outstanding true crime

If you enjoy reading true crime, this is a well-written book by a well-respected author. I was not familiar with the story and recommend it if you are interested in the case.

Nancy and Derek Haysom were discovered brutally murdered in their home in Boonsboro, Virginia. The author takes you from the crime scene to the final disposition of the case.

21

[Suzana Ahmad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap!

[Shevaun · Rating 1 out of 5]

True crime at its worst. Boring, overwrought...overtly sexist. Blech.

[Lexi Mag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoodwinked into believing that this book was not written in the 80's, but it quickly became evident on the fixation of describing people by their weight. It's nice to see that not used as much in more modern books.

This book felt too long to me at first, with the author delving too far into the pasts, and repeating himself a lot. But as it went on, I was grateful for the extra information. It made the whole story make sense in the end.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a story. You get to know the daughter involved in her parents' murder and it is really hard to understand the "why". There were times when I thought I might leave it unfinished, but it kept grabbing me and I did finish it. It is unique in that the crime happened in the USA but the killers traveled to England frequently and one of them was a German citizen. The foreign travel caused a lot of issues that had to be worked through all of the countries and courts. The whole crime and trial were interesting.

[Jackie Salamone-Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about two entitled, self-absorbed wealthy brats who were not satisfied until they committed double murder. Wish the book explored Jens'/Elizabeth's ordeal in prison, plus what they got up to after their release in 2019. Watch the Netflix documentary, Til Murder Do Us Part, then read this book ...

[Jayme Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Mind boggling

This book still leaves you with the question"Why?". A girl whose parents gave her everything she ever wanted meets a boy whose parents gave him everything he wanted. She conveniently nces him to kill her parents. The murders were horrific. And yet still no one knows why. Great book.

[Mary Lou Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

This is the best true crime book i have read since Ann Rule. I was enthralled from page one. The character descriptions were vivid and colorful. I will look for more from this author.

[Len Eisenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting But Tedious

Very interesting book but IMO, too much minutia for me. The chapter especially the questioning of Elizabeth was again in my opinion way too detailed. Despite all of that, I would still recommend the book.

[Rachel White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary Real Story!

This is a true murder mystery which is hard to read at times but you just can't put it down. I don't remember of ever hearing of this when it happened. So sad and disturbing in so many ways.

[Beckie Flannagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this true crime book is actually better paced and detailed that much of the recent true crime, so I was delighted that it was findable in used books. I really wonder why it’s not been reissued.

[Rose Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Great book and great writer! Would like to read other works by this author. Held my attention. Very interesting story.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsettling how talented young people can be deluded

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some weird punctuation and editing issues but a good story overall.

[Joe Stafura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story told too many times

While this was an interesting true crime story, there were too many instances of covering the same points.

It’s worth reading if you move quickly.