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Legally Dead
Attorney Seth Bader and his wife, Vicki, moved to New Hampshire in 1992. Three tumultuous years later, their marriage ended and left Vicki a broken woman, driven to the edge as Seth seduced their teenage son Joey into a violent plot to kill her in cold blood. What followed was one of the most bizarre and harrowing crime stories in New Hampshire history.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2011
28 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Flynn
7 books109 followersKevin Flynn is the author of four true crime books: "Wicked Intentions," "Our Little Secret," "Legally Dead," and "Notes on a Killing," as well as the nonfiction book, "American Sweepstakes." He has appeared on such TV shows as "Unusual Suspects," "Deadly Women," "Killer Instinct," "Deadly Sins," "Pretty Bad Girls," "Nightmare Next Door," and "On the Case with Paula Zahn." He has also written for such publications as Playboy and playboy.com.
Kevin's primary writing partner is his wife, best-selling author and public radio producer Rebecca Lavoie.
Kevin is a native of Holyoke, MA. He got his start in journalism at the age of 19 working as a news writer for News Radio WHYN-AM in 1989. In the subsequent twenty years, Kevin has become an award-winning journalist and respected author.
He rose through the ranks of WZID-FM in Manchester, NH, starting off at 8 hours a week until he eventually became News Director. During his decade at WZID, he won more than 50 awards for broadcast journalism, including multiple New Hampshire AP awards, several Golden Mike awards from the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, and four Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. The award winning pieces covered a diverse set of topics, including features on gang intervention, secret government meetings, opening day at Fenway Park, and a visit to Ground Zero in New York City. Kevin was also three-time winner of the AP Contributor of the Year.
In 2002, Kevin joined the staff of WMUR-TV as a general assignment reporter, again winning several honors for himself and the station. For the first feature piece he ever did for television, Kevin won a New England Emmy Award - the first reporter from his station ever to do so. Kevin excelled at both hard news and soft news features. He covered deadly floods, the murder of a police officer, and presidential politics as easily as his fun stories about spelling bees, karaoke, and dodge ball. He was named "Best TV Reporter" three times by the readers of New Hampshire magazine.
Kevin's primary writing partner is his wife, best-selling author and public radio producer Rebecca Lavoie.
Kevin is a native of Holyoke, MA. He got his start in journalism at the age of 19 working as a news writer for News Radio WHYN-AM in 1989. In the subsequent twenty years, Kevin has become an award-winning journalist and respected author.
He rose through the ranks of WZID-FM in Manchester, NH, starting off at 8 hours a week until he eventually became News Director. During his decade at WZID, he won more than 50 awards for broadcast journalism, including multiple New Hampshire AP awards, several Golden Mike awards from the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, and four Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. The award winning pieces covered a diverse set of topics, including features on gang intervention, secret government meetings, opening day at Fenway Park, and a visit to Ground Zero in New York City. Kevin was also three-time winner of the AP Contributor of the Year.
In 2002, Kevin joined the staff of WMUR-TV as a general assignment reporter, again winning several honors for himself and the station. For the first feature piece he ever did for television, Kevin won a New England Emmy Award - the first reporter from his station ever to do so. Kevin excelled at both hard news and soft news features. He covered deadly floods, the murder of a police officer, and presidential politics as easily as his fun stories about spelling bees, karaoke, and dodge ball. He was named "Best TV Reporter" three times by the readers of New Hampshire magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 11, 2012
Bizarre true crime story about a divorce and custody battle between a lawyer and his wife, and the lengths the lawyer and his new gold-digging girlfriend go to in order to win at all costs. It becomes really unbelievable at times, the things that go on. Made for an interesting read.
January 14, 2017
After reading this book, (well while really but I did not want to be spoiled) I was so curious how Seth Bader the main character in this book would look because the author describes him not very complementary. Beady eyes comes to mind. There was mention of his very disturbing eating habits having no manners. It was apparent to me that the author was not a fan and what I have been reading about this guy I can understand.
This book was on my wish list for a long time but thought it too expensive to pay 10 for a book that will not ever be my property and I am not allowed to do with what I want (meaning ebooks) so I was looking to get a paper copy. Then I won the price of a book of my wish list and the generous gifter bought me this ebook She picked it because it was the oldest on my wish list. yay! .
Well the wait was definitely worth it. What characters appeared in this story.
This is the only picture of Vicky Lynn Bader and this was before she became obsese.This book was so interesting because of the characters. Enjoyed it.
October 17, 2011
If this would have been a fictional murder story, nobody would take it seriously ... nothing ever happens in the region of Exeter, NH.
Again, reality is more unimaginable then fiction.
A lawyer tries to make a complete win in a divorce through bitter and mean psychological warfare. Mastering the art of cheating and lying he pulls everyone around him, even his adopted sons, to attack and "torture" his ex, which finally leads to murder.
Very well investigated, with a lot of details, and stylishly written like fiction, this is a very interesting document.
Again, reality is more unimaginable then fiction.
A lawyer tries to make a complete win in a divorce through bitter and mean psychological warfare. Mastering the art of cheating and lying he pulls everyone around him, even his adopted sons, to attack and "torture" his ex, which finally leads to murder.
Very well investigated, with a lot of details, and stylishly written like fiction, this is a very interesting document.
August 2, 2012
This story is about the murder of Vickie Bader, a young ex-wife and mother. She is murdered by her ex-husband, Seth Bader. Seth Bader is a selfish, self-centered, cold, human. She inlists his adopted son to help him with all the work involved in murdering his ex-wife and his adopted son's adopted mother. Sad story of a disgusting human, not to mention his disgusting girl friend, Mary Jean Martin, who seems to have been a very significant part of the murder and got off scott free. Currently living in Florida. I hope she is living the miserable life she deserves.
September 30, 2018
I love good, gritty, true crime fiction, and “Legally Dead” was just my type of story. Thoroughly researched and written in a form of a novel it offers a glimpse into one of the most bizarre and complicated murder cases that took place in New Hampshire in the 90’s. Amid a nasty divorce and custody battle, strangest things keep happening to the estranged wife; but is it really her doing to gain sympathy and win the case, or is she indeed being threatened and harassed by her former husband? The story was incredibly interesting to follow not only because of the investigation itself but also because it allowed the reader to “get inside” a mind of a true sociopath, for whom nothing is off limits in this deadly game. Fascinating!
June 22, 2013
Seth Bader and his wife, Vicki, moved to New Hampshire in 1992. When he decided he wanted out of the marriage, he started a campaign to ruin Vicki, by destroying her reputation, her self worth. His actions resulted in Vicki sinking into depression, attempting suicide and losing visitation with their sons. Seth proceeded to work on the boys to turn them against Vicki. When she began to pull her life together and ended up getting unsupervised visitation with their youngest son, he decided to kill her, using their oldest son as his accomplice.
As the summary says, this was a very bizarre crime. I imagine some could not believe a son turning against his mother, especially one that loved him after his previous mother did not treat him like a son. I can also think of some people with teenage sons nodding their heads and saying, “Teenagers!”
In keeping with the bizarre label, this crime could also have been confusing with all the people that eventually became involved it was a mess. It is a tribute to Kevin Flynn that he was able to keep the storylines straight. There were a couple of times where, this person said this, then later said this. I don’t know how he kept it straight, in the end you understood (as much as anyone could) what had happened and who was involved. You can also feel the frustration that not everyone involved got what they deserved.
Another fascinating true crime account from someone who someday may be as dear to me as M. William Phelps.
As the summary says, this was a very bizarre crime. I imagine some could not believe a son turning against his mother, especially one that loved him after his previous mother did not treat him like a son. I can also think of some people with teenage sons nodding their heads and saying, “Teenagers!”
In keeping with the bizarre label, this crime could also have been confusing with all the people that eventually became involved it was a mess. It is a tribute to Kevin Flynn that he was able to keep the storylines straight. There were a couple of times where, this person said this, then later said this. I don’t know how he kept it straight, in the end you understood (as much as anyone could) what had happened and who was involved. You can also feel the frustration that not everyone involved got what they deserved.
Another fascinating true crime account from someone who someday may be as dear to me as M. William Phelps.
January 12, 2013
Seth Bader and his wife, Vicki, moved to New Hampshire in 1992. When he decided he wanted out of the marriage, he started a campaign to ruin Vicki, by destroying her reputation, her self worth. His actions resulted in Vicki sinking into depression, attempting suicide and losing visitation with their sons. Seth proceeded to work on the boys to turn them against Vicki. When she began to pull her life together and ended up getting unsupervised visitation with their youngest son, he decided to kill her, using their oldest son as his accomplice.
As the summary says, this was a very bizarre crime. I imagine some could not believe a son turning against his mother, especially one that loved him after his previous mother did not treat him like a son. I can also think of some people with teenage sons nodding their heads and saying, “Teenagers!”
In keeping with the bizarre label, this crime could also have been confusing with all the people that eventually became involved it was a mess. It is a tribute to Kevin Flynn that he was able to keep the storylines straight. There were a couple of times where, this person said this, then later said this. I don’t know how he kept it straight, in the end you understood (as much as anyone could) what had happened and who was involved. You can also feel the frustration that not everyone involved got what they deserved.
Another fascinating true crime account from someone who someday may be as dear to me as M. William Phelps.
As the summary says, this was a very bizarre crime. I imagine some could not believe a son turning against his mother, especially one that loved him after his previous mother did not treat him like a son. I can also think of some people with teenage sons nodding their heads and saying, “Teenagers!”
In keeping with the bizarre label, this crime could also have been confusing with all the people that eventually became involved it was a mess. It is a tribute to Kevin Flynn that he was able to keep the storylines straight. There were a couple of times where, this person said this, then later said this. I don’t know how he kept it straight, in the end you understood (as much as anyone could) what had happened and who was involved. You can also feel the frustration that not everyone involved got what they deserved.
Another fascinating true crime account from someone who someday may be as dear to me as M. William Phelps.
December 31, 2016
Simply heartbreaking.
I enjoy Flynn and Lavoie's podcast (Crime Writers On...) and finally got around to reading some of their work. This made my heart ache. Legally Dead tells the story of a mother whose own adopted teenaged child assisted her husband in a brutal murder, and how the perpetrators covered up the crime - and what happened when the plot was uncovered. No spoilers here, but if you love true crime you have to give this well-researched and sensitive book a try! Lavoie and Flynn are less melodramatic than most, so if the sturm und drang of a lot of true crime puts you off you might give this one a shot. Definitely recommended.
I enjoy Flynn and Lavoie's podcast (Crime Writers On...) and finally got around to reading some of their work. This made my heart ache. Legally Dead tells the story of a mother whose own adopted teenaged child assisted her husband in a brutal murder, and how the perpetrators covered up the crime - and what happened when the plot was uncovered. No spoilers here, but if you love true crime you have to give this well-researched and sensitive book a try! Lavoie and Flynn are less melodramatic than most, so if the sturm und drang of a lot of true crime puts you off you might give this one a shot. Definitely recommended.
February 7, 2019
True account of a manipulative NH attorney and psychopath, his mentally troubled divorced wife, and their subsequent fierce custody battle. Anyone who enjoys true detective stories and legal battles would probably like this book.
November 3, 2011
Slow to grab my attention initially, but a good red involvng some very intriguing characters..
November 27, 2011
Good book for a true crime novel!
July 4, 2012
I can only really feel sorry for the children here. I hope that they're able to shake off the terrible upbringing they've suffered and grow up to be somewhat functional.
February 20, 2023
Warning: spoilers (I mean...it's a 25 year old case so...)
I recently discovered these awesome true crime authors and have been binge listening to any of their books I can find on audiobook. They write really interesting and well written books and I highly recommend them. Anyway, I had some FEELINGS about this one. Perhaps it should have been called something like "woman with mental health problems and her children are let down by every system that was supposed to protect them while they were surrounded by narcissistic sociopaths." I spent a lot of this book hoping that certain people were rotting in prison to this very day. Fortunately, Seth Bader, who is a sorry excuse for a human being, is indeed still rotting in prison (yay!) but unfortunately nothing really happened to Mary Jean Martin, which is very unsatisfying. There also is not an update on the older boys but I hope they are doing well after their terrible childhood. Some of the things Seth did to Joey in particular are really sick. The whole story is very sad.
I recently discovered these awesome true crime authors and have been binge listening to any of their books I can find on audiobook. They write really interesting and well written books and I highly recommend them. Anyway, I had some FEELINGS about this one. Perhaps it should have been called something like "woman with mental health problems and her children are let down by every system that was supposed to protect them while they were surrounded by narcissistic sociopaths." I spent a lot of this book hoping that certain people were rotting in prison to this very day. Fortunately, Seth Bader, who is a sorry excuse for a human being, is indeed still rotting in prison (yay!) but unfortunately nothing really happened to Mary Jean Martin, which is very unsatisfying. There also is not an update on the older boys but I hope they are doing well after their terrible childhood. Some of the things Seth did to Joey in particular are really sick. The whole story is very sad.
January 18, 2025
Just ok.
Took place in the 90’s, up north. Never heard of this one before.
Sad, messed up family.
Don’t know how the kids caught in the middle of this turned out - gotta be scarred.
On audio. Narrator not the best. Hilarious on the Italian accent, btw.
Warnings: Child neglect , Animal cruelty!
Took place in the 90’s, up north. Never heard of this one before.
Sad, messed up family.
Don’t know how the kids caught in the middle of this turned out - gotta be scarred.
On audio. Narrator not the best. Hilarious on the Italian accent, btw.
Warnings: Child neglect , Animal cruelty!
December 28, 2017
intriguing true story. VERY LONG because it include many laborious details that most fiction murder mysteries omit.
September 17, 2025
This was a crazy ride and well written.
June 8, 2021
Too much is too much
If you enjoy reading 60 some pages of basically the same thing over and over, well you might like this book. Frankly, I don't. Tedious and tiresome chapter after chapter of reading about a vicious custody battle between Seth Bader and his estranged wife Vickie. Seth the sociopath husband - Vickie the target of this wacko Seth's psychotic wrath. When the trial portion is the best part of the book you have to know "something's" wrong.
Well anyway it helped put me to sleep.
If you enjoy reading 60 some pages of basically the same thing over and over, well you might like this book. Frankly, I don't. Tedious and tiresome chapter after chapter of reading about a vicious custody battle between Seth Bader and his estranged wife Vickie. Seth the sociopath husband - Vickie the target of this wacko Seth's psychotic wrath. When the trial portion is the best part of the book you have to know "something's" wrong.
Well anyway it helped put me to sleep.
October 19, 2023
Books like this are why I fell in love with the true crime genre: it's detailed but not repetitive; it's told largely in chronological order; the identity of the suspect and to some extent, the crime itself remain a mystery until at least halfway through the book; and the authors do not inject themselves into the story. It is perhaps a little too streamlined as I was left wanting to know more about the victim's son. But otherwise an easy-breezy enjoyable read.
November 8, 2016
The true story of the unraveling of Seth and Vicki Bader's marriage and life. Seth meets a new woman and proceeds with destroying Vicki.
I was interested in reading the book, as I'm in NH myself, not far from where they lived, and I recall hearing snippets of the story as it was coming out in the news.
The book was alright, tough to follow in places.
I was interested in reading the book, as I'm in NH myself, not far from where they lived, and I recall hearing snippets of the story as it was coming out in the news.
The book was alright, tough to follow in places.
July 1, 2012
I hated these people. Guy killed his ex, had a pig girlfriend, had his SON help bury the body in the Maine woods, was just a fat slob of a man...ugh.
February 11, 2018
I'm disappointed the digital version I read did not have photos.
February 7, 2016
Horrible story, well written. Did not leave me confused about any details.
December 4, 2025
Don't be fooled by the dubious title and cover art. This is more than your standard mass market paperback true crime. It's a well-researched and pretty well-spun work of investigative journalism.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews