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Forever and Five Days
Describes how two nurses aides made a bizarre love pact that resulted in the death of five elderly patients at the Alpine Manor nursing home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the trial that brought to light astonishing evidence of sexual violence and insane jealousy. Reprint.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 22, 2014
re reading but I wonder why people want their senile mum or dad who suffers from Alzheimer to live like that? Is this just because they can't stand to lose them? Poor people are being force fed, bound and that was the normal medical procedure, not even talking about the crimes that were committed to them illegally.
I have to make a testament cause i do not want to be treated like that.
April 22 2014. Finished this morning.
Not as good as I remembered. I did think the author was a bit biased and now I am being nice by saying a bit.
I do enjoy his writing style but I felt too much stuff that was not necessary was added in the book. I did not like any of the main characters and Ken the ex husband what an idiot. sorry. I did enjoy the first half more than the second cause then I started to get tired of all the dribble and bullshit that came out of Cathy's mouth. It is a fascinating case.
3.5 star
I have to make a testament cause i do not want to be treated like that.
April 22 2014. Finished this morning.
Not as good as I remembered. I did think the author was a bit biased and now I am being nice by saying a bit.
I do enjoy his writing style but I felt too much stuff that was not necessary was added in the book. I did not like any of the main characters and Ken the ex husband what an idiot. sorry. I did enjoy the first half more than the second cause then I started to get tired of all the dribble and bullshit that came out of Cathy's mouth. It is a fascinating case.
3.5 star
December 24, 2015
This turned out to be a disorganized, choppy, gossipy, way-too-long, unsubstantiated book that bore no relationship to the hype of it's author reviews. How can you believe anything an author writing a documentary says when there are no footnotes, no bibliography, nothing to indicate that the author is accurately quoting anyone? A waste of time.
September 5, 2015
The overriding take-home lesson you get from "Forever and Five Days" is "Never put any relative into a nursing home, and never end up in one yourself."
In the 1980s, the Alpine Manor Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan was one of the best in the state, staffed by dedicated professionals and providing a caring and pleasant environment for their patients. All that changed when Catherine Wood hired on as a nurse's aide. Wood was a huge woman, nearly six feet tall and at one point as heavy as 400 pounds, with a big personality to go with it. She was loud, funny, outspoken and charismatic, and quickly became something of a leader among the Alpine Manor staff.
Also working at Alpine Manor was a young Texan named Gwen Graham, who was hard-working and kind to the elderly people she cared for. But when Wood and Graham met and fell into what they considered love, the character of Alpine Manor changed, very much for the worse.
It would eventually be shown that Graham and Wood suffocated five of the home's most helpless residents in their beds. Their motives were never quite clear (motives rarely are) but it was alleged that one murder was a mercy killing and the others were committed simply for the thrill of it and to "prove their love" for one another. The book goes into a huge amount of detail throughout, and does tend to drag on and be somewhat repetitive, but the portrait of Wood and Graham the author presents is vivid and complex.
It was chilling to see how Cathy Wood almost singlehandedly turned the ward she and Graham worked on into a circus. She relished drama and being the center of attention, and she was an expert at manipulating people and pitting them against each other for her own amusement. Under her influence, marriages were destroyed and friendships were ruined. Wood delighted in hosting wild drunken parties at her home, where she would seldom consume any alcohol herself but egged the others on so she could enjoy their antics.
She at first glance seemed to be very insecure and lonely, but in my own opinion, her neediness was something of a mask; she was totally confident in her ability to get other people to do what she wanted, and she felt entitled to everything she wanted. Her confidence was well-founded, as the ward became a place of disorder and rock-bottom morale.
Just as disturbing was Gwen Graham's transformation from a good employee into a killer. She was troubled, but I got the feeling that if she had never met Cathy Wood, she would eventually have worked through her problems and been successful and well-regarded in her field. But her loyalty to and fascination with Wood wrecked her judgment.
But most disturbing of all is the fact that higher-ups at Alpine Manor knew that things had gone off the rails in Wood and Graham's ward. There were fights, reports of patients being afraid of them, and multiple occasions where Graham and other staffers arrived at work noticeably drunk. Complaints were made by employees and patients' families alike, but nothing was done and no one was fired. When a patient died there was never any kind of investigation even when the circumstances appeared suspicious.
And there was also Ken Wood, Cathy's long-suffering ex-husband, whom she manipulated and mistreated for years, but who continued to try to get back together with her even as she pursued relationships with Graham and other women and men. She even confessed in a roundabout way to having killed patients, and this upset him deeply, but he sat on his information for months before finally going to the police with his suspicions. During those months, he continued to date Cathy and even treated her to a weekend in Las Vegas.
If the measure of what makes a true crime book good is its ability to fill you with a cold, deep fear, then Lowell Cauffiel succeeded handsomely.
In the 1980s, the Alpine Manor Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan was one of the best in the state, staffed by dedicated professionals and providing a caring and pleasant environment for their patients. All that changed when Catherine Wood hired on as a nurse's aide. Wood was a huge woman, nearly six feet tall and at one point as heavy as 400 pounds, with a big personality to go with it. She was loud, funny, outspoken and charismatic, and quickly became something of a leader among the Alpine Manor staff.
Also working at Alpine Manor was a young Texan named Gwen Graham, who was hard-working and kind to the elderly people she cared for. But when Wood and Graham met and fell into what they considered love, the character of Alpine Manor changed, very much for the worse.
It would eventually be shown that Graham and Wood suffocated five of the home's most helpless residents in their beds. Their motives were never quite clear (motives rarely are) but it was alleged that one murder was a mercy killing and the others were committed simply for the thrill of it and to "prove their love" for one another. The book goes into a huge amount of detail throughout, and does tend to drag on and be somewhat repetitive, but the portrait of Wood and Graham the author presents is vivid and complex.
It was chilling to see how Cathy Wood almost singlehandedly turned the ward she and Graham worked on into a circus. She relished drama and being the center of attention, and she was an expert at manipulating people and pitting them against each other for her own amusement. Under her influence, marriages were destroyed and friendships were ruined. Wood delighted in hosting wild drunken parties at her home, where she would seldom consume any alcohol herself but egged the others on so she could enjoy their antics.
She at first glance seemed to be very insecure and lonely, but in my own opinion, her neediness was something of a mask; she was totally confident in her ability to get other people to do what she wanted, and she felt entitled to everything she wanted. Her confidence was well-founded, as the ward became a place of disorder and rock-bottom morale.
Just as disturbing was Gwen Graham's transformation from a good employee into a killer. She was troubled, but I got the feeling that if she had never met Cathy Wood, she would eventually have worked through her problems and been successful and well-regarded in her field. But her loyalty to and fascination with Wood wrecked her judgment.
But most disturbing of all is the fact that higher-ups at Alpine Manor knew that things had gone off the rails in Wood and Graham's ward. There were fights, reports of patients being afraid of them, and multiple occasions where Graham and other staffers arrived at work noticeably drunk. Complaints were made by employees and patients' families alike, but nothing was done and no one was fired. When a patient died there was never any kind of investigation even when the circumstances appeared suspicious.
And there was also Ken Wood, Cathy's long-suffering ex-husband, whom she manipulated and mistreated for years, but who continued to try to get back together with her even as she pursued relationships with Graham and other women and men. She even confessed in a roundabout way to having killed patients, and this upset him deeply, but he sat on his information for months before finally going to the police with his suspicions. During those months, he continued to date Cathy and even treated her to a weekend in Las Vegas.
If the measure of what makes a true crime book good is its ability to fill you with a cold, deep fear, then Lowell Cauffiel succeeded handsomely.
October 16, 2017
This book is an indepth recitation of the deaths of six individuals at the Alpine Manor nursing home. The two aids convicted of murdering these victims were Cathy Wood and Gwendolyn Graham. An extensive background was done of both women. The source materials were both first and secondary sources.
I've got to say based on the evidence in this book I'm not even sold on the idea that the murders were even murders. Here's what we know. The number of deaths were not substantially more than any other months or years. We know that the autopsies were not done until months after their deaths, but there was no signs of asphyxia. Is that due to the fact that these individuals were to weak to fight back? Maybe, but honestly I'm not convinced. As disturbing as it is, I think Cathy Wood is a vindictive individual that would go to any extreme to punish someone that had the nerve to walk away from her. Could Gwen Graham be a murderer? She could be, but I would say that you could drive a mac truck through the window of reasonable doubt here and the Michigan court should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this kind of evidence to be presented as clear and absolute proof of a crime. Love notes penned in the style of a 14 year old? Seriously? Ridiculous.
I would recommend this book to individuals looking for case studies where innocent until proven guilty has not been the case. I would also recommend this book as case material to innocence projects. I would recommend this book for teachers looking to show how our court systems may use sympathy for one individual to support guilt of another. "If I feel sorry for Cathy then I want to believe her. If I believe her I have to vote guilty for Gwen."
Where most of my reading list I would not recommend to young readers I would definitely recommend this book to teens looking at a future career in the criminal justice system. I think it is important that we begin to recognize wrongs so we can do something to make changes to the system.
I've got to say based on the evidence in this book I'm not even sold on the idea that the murders were even murders. Here's what we know. The number of deaths were not substantially more than any other months or years. We know that the autopsies were not done until months after their deaths, but there was no signs of asphyxia. Is that due to the fact that these individuals were to weak to fight back? Maybe, but honestly I'm not convinced. As disturbing as it is, I think Cathy Wood is a vindictive individual that would go to any extreme to punish someone that had the nerve to walk away from her. Could Gwen Graham be a murderer? She could be, but I would say that you could drive a mac truck through the window of reasonable doubt here and the Michigan court should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this kind of evidence to be presented as clear and absolute proof of a crime. Love notes penned in the style of a 14 year old? Seriously? Ridiculous.
I would recommend this book to individuals looking for case studies where innocent until proven guilty has not been the case. I would also recommend this book as case material to innocence projects. I would recommend this book for teachers looking to show how our court systems may use sympathy for one individual to support guilt of another. "If I feel sorry for Cathy then I want to believe her. If I believe her I have to vote guilty for Gwen."
Where most of my reading list I would not recommend to young readers I would definitely recommend this book to teens looking at a future career in the criminal justice system. I think it is important that we begin to recognize wrongs so we can do something to make changes to the system.
February 6, 2017
Forever and Five Days is the story of the serial killings at the Alpine Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, MI. It is the story of nurses' aides Cathy Wood and Gwen Graham and their relationship. The book provided a lot of background material, on the aides and the victims. However, in this account, the accused overshadow the victims. But the victims are not forgotten. The story seems so unbelievable, but yet heinous. The way the accused played with people's lives and feelings bordered on the childish, even immature. But...were there really any murders? Did Cathy do this to get back at Gwen? If so, why did Gwen talk about it so often? This book is really good - well-written, with very complex characters. It was as if the author really knew them.
This was not the first time I read this book, and probably won't be the last.
This was not the first time I read this book, and probably won't be the last.
July 5, 2024
This story is just absolutely insane and I’m surprised it’s not more widely talked about in the true crime community.
One of the things I absolutely loved was the attention the author gave to the victims. Too often they’re just names on a page and this book let you get to know them.
I also like that, despite all the homosexual affairs, the author didn’t make vulgar remarks about homosexuality. The fact that they made sure to include that this was based on the actions of individuals and could have been done by others, regardless of sexual orientation, I greatly appreciated.
One of the things I absolutely loved was the attention the author gave to the victims. Too often they’re just names on a page and this book let you get to know them.
I also like that, despite all the homosexual affairs, the author didn’t make vulgar remarks about homosexuality. The fact that they made sure to include that this was based on the actions of individuals and could have been done by others, regardless of sexual orientation, I greatly appreciated.
July 5, 2017
The thing about Lowell Cauffiel is his writing style brings you in, makes you want to know the next bit. It's not always chronological and his subject matter is frequently difficult - who doesn't harbor a secret dread of helplessness in a nursing home or other such facility? - but you keep coming back. You can put it down because it can be overwhelming but you will always come back to it.
You know, you absolutely know, that since he's written it, the culprits have been found out and exposed.
The fascination is how well he illustrates the mind(s) and behaviors of people unlike many of his readers. This book is no exception.
So far, if you like true crime, I recommend anything by this author.
You know, you absolutely know, that since he's written it, the culprits have been found out and exposed.
The fascination is how well he illustrates the mind(s) and behaviors of people unlike many of his readers. This book is no exception.
So far, if you like true crime, I recommend anything by this author.
January 21, 2018
When I read a true crime book I usually feel like I know what really happened but not this time. I’m still wondering if Gwen is guilty or if Cathy was the actual murderer. In addition, I’m fast approaching the age when a nursing home could actually be someplace I experience on a personal level. Sometimes family has no choice in the matter when a patient needs a tremendous amount of care so these homes are vital. After reading this, I can see why so many people hate the idea. It wasn’t just the murders but the descriptions of the care provided to the residents that gave me chills. This industry needs to make some big changes including better pay for workers and more oversight.
Finally, I want to note that this is one of the best and most interesting true crime books I’ve ever read.
Finally, I want to note that this is one of the best and most interesting true crime books I’ve ever read.
November 17, 2025
This is an excellent account of the crimes and we get to see how Cathy and Gwen came to be who they are and their motivations for murder. My biggest complaint is that the author felt the need to point out that Cathy was “fat”, “overweight”, “huge”, “incredibly obese” etc over 100+ times in the book! Why? It was really annoying and frankly took away from the overall quality of the story. We get it. Cathy was fat. So what? Why did that matter or have anything to do with why she became a lesbian who murdered with her partner “for fun”? Also, the author seems to hint to his belief that Cathy possibly made the whole thing up or did it herself and blamed Gwen for revenge. I disagree. I believe that Gwen and Cathy worked together.
December 24, 2018
The truth can make you mad too
Lowell Cauffiel, or is it spelled with a k, either way, he's a great true crime writer, one of my favorites. As far as Cathy Wood, she should never be let out of prison and I don't understand why they didn't check the patient list of deaths after Gwen quit working there. It galls me that Cathy basically got away with her biggest game ever, fooling the attorneys and manipulating lives. The judge at that trial should have been hung himself, his rulings were unfair and wrong. Even the truth, can make one angry, especially with justice so unbalanced. And, the victims were forgotten in the sensationalism of the trial.
Lowell Cauffiel, or is it spelled with a k, either way, he's a great true crime writer, one of my favorites. As far as Cathy Wood, she should never be let out of prison and I don't understand why they didn't check the patient list of deaths after Gwen quit working there. It galls me that Cathy basically got away with her biggest game ever, fooling the attorneys and manipulating lives. The judge at that trial should have been hung himself, his rulings were unfair and wrong. Even the truth, can make one angry, especially with justice so unbalanced. And, the victims were forgotten in the sensationalism of the trial.
January 1, 2019
It took far too long to get to the point, and was too disturbing to finish. I could see where the author was headed, but I wasn't enjoying the ride and I didn't think I'd enjoy the ending either, so I just had to quit where I was. There aren't many redeeming characters in this book, and those who were, kept getting the short end of the stick. Just felt yuck and didn't want to continue any longer, so I opted out.
July 30, 2020
Bat shit crazy
First, the whole group of them are crazy town. Second, the police work really sucked. They believed everything she said without checking anything. Third, how positively awful and horrible for the victims and their families. The Wong person is rotting in jail. The other is a master manipulator dominating an emotionally challenged person.
First, the whole group of them are crazy town. Second, the police work really sucked. They believed everything she said without checking anything. Third, how positively awful and horrible for the victims and their families. The Wong person is rotting in jail. The other is a master manipulator dominating an emotionally challenged person.
April 25, 2021
This is the first nonfiction I’ve read in a LONG time. I really enjoyed it! Super sad story and so strange to be reading it as historical fiction when I lived in west Michigan for so many years. It reads as a story and gives so much detail- but every detail is necessary when looking at the story as a whole. Cathy wood is an evil woman.
February 18, 2023
Riveting True Crime Fiction
Read this engrossing account of mysterious nursing home deaths in 1980's Michigan, in three days. Well-written and detailed. Includes chapters concerning everyone involved in prosecution and defense and many of the affected family members of both the victims and killers. Purchased on Amazon. Streamed onto my Amazon tablet. Highly recommended.
Read this engrossing account of mysterious nursing home deaths in 1980's Michigan, in three days. Well-written and detailed. Includes chapters concerning everyone involved in prosecution and defense and many of the affected family members of both the victims and killers. Purchased on Amazon. Streamed onto my Amazon tablet. Highly recommended.
May 18, 2024
Honestly, the content of this book (the storyline) would be a 4 star book. However, the writing is baddddd. I OFTEN found myself questioning - wait, who is he referring to? Who is “she?” What is he saying?
I feel like the author didn’t even edit his own work. Like, he wrote it and then said ‘bam, done!’
I feel like the author didn’t even edit his own work. Like, he wrote it and then said ‘bam, done!’
May 29, 2017
True but drawn out story
The author has so many threads in this true narrative that it's hard to follow along. At the end the reader still isn't sure if the correct guilty party is punished. Too many complicated back stories
The author has so many threads in this true narrative that it's hard to follow along. At the end the reader still isn't sure if the correct guilty party is punished. Too many complicated back stories
June 30, 2022
I read this book because it has local interest for me. It is nonfiction, story of two women who worked as nurses aides in a nursing home, developed a relationship and collaborated on the murders of several patients in the nursing home. This is a true crime story. There are too many characters to keep straight, and the book is way longer than it needed to be. I felt like even after the case was closed, the author left readers hanging as to what really happened. For these reasons, I would not recommend the book.
June 11, 2025
Difficult to read based on the details of several people who struggled with personality disorders and lack of respect for themselves and others. A sad event that affected many families and still has ripple effects.
February 10, 2017
While the story is interesting, the book went on and on with details that didn't help it progress. I get it - they went to the bar for the 50th time, drank whiskey, and had sex...
July 2, 2017
Not up to par with Cauffiel's other books. Too much detail about all the different characters in the book.
June 5, 2018
The reason that this has 4 starts is because the story is stranger than fiction and interesting, but the writing is sketchy.
March 8, 2020
DNF - 65%. Bought it for research purposes; however, it meandered for too long. Skimmed through and did receive interesting facts for it; so it did help.
May 21, 2020
The story was interesting and pretty twisted but this book is way too long and it has way too many details that according to me should have not been mentioned.
November 30, 2020
Didn't enjoy this one as much as the other books I have read by this author. I had a hard time keeping up with the people in this one! What a sad story it was!
December 11, 2024
It felt like it took forever and five days to get through this book.
February 11, 2025
Didn’t finish. Way too wordy at the start. Got a lot half way through. Reading other reviews I made the right choice
August 12, 2025
Chilling to the point that it's almost unbelievable!
May 5, 2025
I was initially drawn to Forever and Five Days because of its Michigan-based true crime setting, and in that regard, the book didn’t disappoint. The story of serial murders within a nursing home was chilling and compelling, especially knowing it was rooted in real events so close to home.
However, the storytelling itself was less engaging than I hoped. The pacing felt slow throughout much of the book, which made it difficult to stay fully invested. Additionally, the narrative often jumped between timelines and perspectives without clear transitions, making it confusing to keep track of who was who and what role they played in the crimes. This lack of clarity diluted the impact of an otherwise shocking and tragic case.
Despite its flaws, the book offers an unsettling glimpse into a disturbing series of events and shines a light on a lesser-known crime. Readers with a strong interest in Michigan history or true crime may still find it worth a read, but be prepared for a meandering and sometimes muddled journey.
However, the storytelling itself was less engaging than I hoped. The pacing felt slow throughout much of the book, which made it difficult to stay fully invested. Additionally, the narrative often jumped between timelines and perspectives without clear transitions, making it confusing to keep track of who was who and what role they played in the crimes. This lack of clarity diluted the impact of an otherwise shocking and tragic case.
Despite its flaws, the book offers an unsettling glimpse into a disturbing series of events and shines a light on a lesser-known crime. Readers with a strong interest in Michigan history or true crime may still find it worth a read, but be prepared for a meandering and sometimes muddled journey.
March 18, 2021
god awful writing
September 13, 2015
This is the true story of Gwen Graham and Cathy Wood, two lesbian lovers who committed five murders in 1988. They were nurses aides at a nursing home in Michigan and they smothered five elderly women in six days and then thought they had gotten away with it. They were caught because they bragged about the killings to others. Gwen Graham received five life sentences and will never get out of prison but Cathy Wood received 20-40 years and will probably go free in the next few years. It is an interesting book and gives insight into the dark lives that some people live.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews