What do you think?
Rate this book
Early Graves
Shocking true crime from the Edgar Award–winning author. “Powerful . . . A frightening close-up of sociopathic personalities at their most deadly” (Vincent Bugliosi, author of Helter Skelter). Evil has a way of finding itself. How else could you explain the bond between Alvin and Judith Ann Neelley, who consecrated their marriage in blood? Before the killings started, they restricted themselves to simple prank calls, vandalism, firing guns at strangers’ houses. Gradually their ambition grew, until one day at the Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia, they spotted Lisa Ann Millican. Three days after Lisa Ann disappeared, the thirteen-year-old girl was found shot and pumped full of liquid drain cleaner. In between her abduction and her death, she was subjected to innumerable horrors. And she was only the first to die. Drawing on police records and extensive interviews, Thomas H. Cook recounts the story of Judith Ann Neelley, who at nineteen became the youngest woman ever sentenced to death row.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 1990
285 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Thomas H. Cook
98 books357 followersThere is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 19, 2012
i knew the people that did this we had their twins as foster kids there is so much more that has happened since they went to prison it is unreal but the twins (wont say names) r realy good kids nothin like them
October 31, 2016
Decent true crime book about a killer couple not as well known as some others. I think that was mostly because they were caught pretty quickly.
If I after reading a book do not immediately write a review half of the book will be gone out of my foggy (but clean) mind. Or it must have been so unusually good.
If I after reading a book do not immediately write a review half of the book will be gone out of my foggy (but clean) mind. Or it must have been so unusually good.
January 28, 2026
Early Graves by Thomas H. Cook (1990, 352 pgs, Kindle, I bought it for $0.99 a year ago but it now costs $7.99 (thanks Amazon))...Thomas H. Cook is one of my favorite authors. He writes mostly crime fiction but has two true crime books, Blood Echoes, which is fantastic and I highly recommend, and Early Graves. Graves follows the murder spree by Alvin & Judith Neelley in Georgia & Alabama in the early 1980's. The book is well written and details the case very closely. Having said that Early Graves never rises to the level of Blood Echoes, it just isn't as exciting of a read. The final third of the book follows Judith Neelley's trial with emphasis on the prosecutor & defense handling of the case. While interesting I also found it to be a little bit of a bore and I speed read through to the end. If you're a fan of Thomas H. Cook like I am, or want to read a good account of the Neelley couple murder spree then I recommend Early Graves...3 outta 5.....
April 27, 2014
I used to be a huge fan of true crime novels, and after a long hiatus, I chose Early Graves as my return to the genre. I have to say, I was pretty disappointed.
Attempting to tell the story of Judith and Alvin Neeley and their crimes, Cook's writing style is very hard to understand. I found myself having to reread certain passages over and over in an attempt to figure out what exactly was going on.
Maybe I have been spoiled by the newer true crime like Erik Larson's Devil in the White City. This book just didn't really have much going for it in my view. I can't speak about all his work, as this is the first book of his that I have read, but Cook's work on this book is just terrible. The writing is sloppy and confusing and there is very little insight into Judith, Alvin, or any of the victims as people.
Attempting to tell the story of Judith and Alvin Neeley and their crimes, Cook's writing style is very hard to understand. I found myself having to reread certain passages over and over in an attempt to figure out what exactly was going on.
Maybe I have been spoiled by the newer true crime like Erik Larson's Devil in the White City. This book just didn't really have much going for it in my view. I can't speak about all his work, as this is the first book of his that I have read, but Cook's work on this book is just terrible. The writing is sloppy and confusing and there is very little insight into Judith, Alvin, or any of the victims as people.
January 21, 2016
A very horrific couple of murders comitted by this serial killer couple, written in a classic TC style. I definitely enjoyed this book, however I was left wondering why the author chose to focus almost exclusively on the female of the pair, Judith Neelley. I think it's possible that she played a very important role in the murders as the author has presented, but I was left wondering about her husband's part. I take it that the evidence of his guilt was not straight forward, but I would have rather heard the author's discussion of his life and crimes, and what part he may have played, rather than focusing exclusively on her guilt. Even so, the author presents a convincing story about Judith Neelley's culpability.
June 3, 2023
I read this book in a three hour, non-stop session. Judith Neelley is the star of the story, along with her husband Alvin.
The lovebirds moved on up from robberies to the torture, rape and murder of a thirteen-year-old girl. Judy had injected Drano and Liquid Plumr into the victim and when the chemicals failed to kill the poor kid, then shot her and shoved the body off of a cliff.
The courtroom portion is unforgettable as the defense lawyer paints the killer as a battered wife. Both the prosecutor and author provide enough evidence to shoot down that particular theory.
Mr. Cook has done his homework and do not miss this awesome book.
The lovebirds moved on up from robberies to the torture, rape and murder of a thirteen-year-old girl. Judy had injected Drano and Liquid Plumr into the victim and when the chemicals failed to kill the poor kid, then shot her and shoved the body off of a cliff.
The courtroom portion is unforgettable as the defense lawyer paints the killer as a battered wife. Both the prosecutor and author provide enough evidence to shoot down that particular theory.
Mr. Cook has done his homework and do not miss this awesome book.
July 7, 2017
The family that preys together
Alvin and Judith Neelley were a killer couple. They did everything together, including robbery and murder. Judith was so devoted to Alvin that she abducted females for him to rape, then she got rid of them. I don't recall that being part of the marriage vows, but that's devotion.
32
Alvin and Judith Neelley were a killer couple. They did everything together, including robbery and murder. Judith was so devoted to Alvin that she abducted females for him to rape, then she got rid of them. I don't recall that being part of the marriage vows, but that's devotion.
32
January 17, 2016
Grim and horrifying, and not nearly as satisfying as I'd hoped in the area of explaining how people get to be like this. I shudder every time I look at the cover, and I may not even be able to keep the book.
September 5, 2012
Not a very well written book. It didn't probe the psyche of Judith at all. Instead it focused on boring irrelevant details and it read more like a newspaper article. I was very disappointed.
Read
January 9, 2022As a direct relative of Judith, I do not agree with this book at all. While it does touch base on the facts of the case, the only one of the two who were interviewed for the book, was Alvin. Judith had no way to give her side of anything in this book, so naturally it painted her as a seductive teenage monster who preyed on a mentally retarded man when the facts show that he was a grown ass man with a criminal record, who convinced a 15 year old girl, who was quiet and never done a bad thing in her life, to run away with him, elope, and join his crime spree. His ex wife (whom he was married to when he met Judith) even testified that he was sadistic and abusive. So, fuck this stupid book and all the idiotic media bullshit that just wants a good story.
March 14, 2019
Really good read!
Although this is a really sad story Tom Cook did a great job writing about it. This is an example of everything I like about a true crime book. Mr. Cook gave the reader a lot of background information without telling us what the town looked like in the 1900s as some authors tend to do. He gave a lot of information about the crimes, the investigation and the trial. At the conclusion he gave the reader pictures of the most important characters and he told what the main characters were up to at the time he ended the book. I would definitely recommend this book to other true crime buffs and I look forward to reading more of Mr.Cook"s books!
Although this is a really sad story Tom Cook did a great job writing about it. This is an example of everything I like about a true crime book. Mr. Cook gave the reader a lot of background information without telling us what the town looked like in the 1900s as some authors tend to do. He gave a lot of information about the crimes, the investigation and the trial. At the conclusion he gave the reader pictures of the most important characters and he told what the main characters were up to at the time he ended the book. I would definitely recommend this book to other true crime buffs and I look forward to reading more of Mr.Cook"s books!
March 3, 2017
In the early 80s Judith and Alvin Neelley went on a vicious killing spree. This book details all the things they did, the investigation and narrowing net around them, and Judith’s trial for one of the murders. It is well-written and quite a fascinating story. I highly recommend this book to true crime fans!
June 1, 2018
Well done true crime. After finishing it I still had no clear grasp of whether Judith or Alvin was the dominant personality in the killing of the two girls. I suspect that the jury got it right by convicting Judith of being the actual person who pulled the trigger and poisoned the girls. Alvin seemed to be weak willed and slow witted which makes it unlikely that he masterminded the crime.
July 18, 2017
Husband and wife go on killing spree in Georgia. She gets death but is still fighting for parole(!). Lots of details- probably more than you need to know. An interesting read. A wonderful description of her defense attorney and the lengths he goes to to spare her life.
September 4, 2018
True Crime Story
A true crime book, which tells of an unusual crime and n interesting trial. The trial was a suspenseful one, as the defense seemed to tell a totally false story about the defendant and the crime. Actually the jury did not fall for it.
A true crime book, which tells of an unusual crime and n interesting trial. The trial was a suspenseful one, as the defense seemed to tell a totally false story about the defendant and the crime. Actually the jury did not fall for it.
November 26, 2019
Horrifying and Fascinating
The author did a tasteful and informative job on this true crime case. Judith Neelly and her husband committed atrocious crimes against mostly young women and girls.
The author did a tasteful and informative job on this true crime case. Judith Neelly and her husband committed atrocious crimes against mostly young women and girls.
February 29, 2020
A very disturbing and tragic true crime story. The author did a fairly good job and the story is readable and compelling. Some grammatical and spelling errors present; especially toward the end of the story.
February 9, 2025
I loved this guy's fiction novel, at least from ones I've read but sadly his non-fiction work is just okay. Not bad, just okay.
Didn't really make you connect with the case, reads like a long wikipedia page. Just what happened, and then, and then and then. I already forgot about it the next day
Didn't really make you connect with the case, reads like a long wikipedia page. Just what happened, and then, and then and then. I already forgot about it the next day
June 3, 2025
True Crime that will you can't put down!
This was an amazingly horrific story told in well written format. I couldn't put it down! A haunting story since one of the victims and one of the perpetrators were so young!
This was an amazingly horrific story told in well written format. I couldn't put it down! A haunting story since one of the victims and one of the perpetrators were so young!
September 25, 2019
A great book about how Judy Neely loved to kill!
November 18, 2019
Read this book after finding out Judith is from my hometown - sounds evil to me - would like to know more about her children
November 20, 2019
Thomas Cook did an excellent job in telling the tale of the two psychopathic killers. His research is faultless and managed to keep the suspense up till the end
December 27, 2019
Excellent
Really good true crime book. Had all the elements I like, some background, the crime, the investigation and the trial. All covered very well. Very good writer.
Really good true crime book. Had all the elements I like, some background, the crime, the investigation and the trial. All covered very well. Very good writer.
July 23, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
May 25, 2024
Horrifying book. Lots of graphic details of torture and murder of innocent women
July 10, 2025
Another of those folie-a-deux stories, in which a couple kills for no discernible reason, and when arrested each incriminates the other.
July 28, 2025
Great coverage of a terrible story from a familiar place. Not for the weak of heart.
September 21, 2025
It was ok
This book read more like a commentary than a true crime book. The trial part was long because the defense attorney kept droning on & on portraying this murderer a saint.
This book read more like a commentary than a true crime book. The trial part was long because the defense attorney kept droning on & on portraying this murderer a saint.
November 11, 2025
Excellent true crime
April 8, 2021
Thomas H. Cook is probably my favorite writer. I give almost all of his books five stars and find them hard to put down one I start reading. Early Graves was well written, as are all of his books. I am not a fan of true crime and this book was very difficult to get through. I did not know anything about these two appalling killers so I am glad I read it. I definitely prefer Mr. Cooks's fiction mysteries and suspense to the true crime but, again, the book was well written and informative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews