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I Wish You Were Never Born
As an adult, Marlow tended to develop relationships with women like his mother. He used drugs and was often sexually promiscuous, living the same sort of unstable life he had been exposed to as a child. From 1980 to 1983, Marlow was incarcerated in prison for his robbery convictions. From the time of his release until he met Coffman, he had no arrests, successfully completed parole, and held jobs. He married a woman named Josie. The marriage ended when she shot another woman in a bar after she and Marlow had a misunderstanding.
Not long after, Marlow met Coffman, with whom he fell in love because she immediately reminded him of his mother. He was willing to do anything to make her happy. After they killed a man in North Carolina, Coffman threatened to call the police if Marlow did not do her bidding. As a result, Marlow felt trapped. Coffman wanted to acquire funds, or have her in-laws killed to get her son back. The Orange County and San Bernardino County murders of two more women were the product of Coffman’s desire for money, and Marlow’s attempt, by doing what she wanted, to please Coffman and avoid abandonment. Dr. Kentia opined that the crimes would not have happened had Mr. Marlow not met Coffman. After the second murder, killing Ms. Hudson, Cynthia Coffman was hired to kill “a pregnant woman” in Arizona. However, Marlow grew tired of the situation and of Coffman’s out of control behavior, and essentially gave up, purposefully discarding evidence in a way likely to lead the police to Coffman and himself.
Not long after, Marlow met Coffman, with whom he fell in love because she immediately reminded him of his mother. He was willing to do anything to make her happy. After they killed a man in North Carolina, Coffman threatened to call the police if Marlow did not do her bidding. As a result, Marlow felt trapped. Coffman wanted to acquire funds, or have her in-laws killed to get her son back. The Orange County and San Bernardino County murders of two more women were the product of Coffman’s desire for money, and Marlow’s attempt, by doing what she wanted, to please Coffman and avoid abandonment. Dr. Kentia opined that the crimes would not have happened had Mr. Marlow not met Coffman. After the second murder, killing Ms. Hudson, Cynthia Coffman was hired to kill “a pregnant woman” in Arizona. However, Marlow grew tired of the situation and of Coffman’s out of control behavior, and essentially gave up, purposefully discarding evidence in a way likely to lead the police to Coffman and himself.
- GenresTrue Crime
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2012
40 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 11, 2016
What a joke
The best part of this book was the so called "threatening" letter to the murder from a female prisoner. Now that was funny and I completely agree with the female, I'm sure anyone with a brain would agree Marlow is a monster.
I did enjoy reading how paranoid he has become and how awful his life is in prison, that's great! Makes me feel better knowing he's getting a small amount of karma. Here he takes the life of three innocent, young people. He sodomized and beat them then killed them and his tiny brain wants the reader to feel sorry for him? Yeah right. I'm so happy his life is miserable. I do hope it's not just paranoia and they guards are trying to have him killed and using mind radar control, that would be so funny. He thinks God is on his side. Ha, people who murder innocent people don't go to heaven. Just because you might be forgiven doesn't mean you aren't going to hell you sick whack job. Boy oh boy, I knew there were some sickos out there but Marlow is the worst. His childhood was awful but so was mine and millions of other people, only evil people would ever do the things this man did. Then he blatantly lied throughout the book about his actions. He's a horrible lair. You would have to be as dumb as he is to believe the lies he wrote about the murders. Poor girls having to cross paths with him and his sick girlfriend. But still enjoyed the hate mail from the female prisoners, that was the only honest part written in this book.
The best part of this book was the so called "threatening" letter to the murder from a female prisoner. Now that was funny and I completely agree with the female, I'm sure anyone with a brain would agree Marlow is a monster.
I did enjoy reading how paranoid he has become and how awful his life is in prison, that's great! Makes me feel better knowing he's getting a small amount of karma. Here he takes the life of three innocent, young people. He sodomized and beat them then killed them and his tiny brain wants the reader to feel sorry for him? Yeah right. I'm so happy his life is miserable. I do hope it's not just paranoia and they guards are trying to have him killed and using mind radar control, that would be so funny. He thinks God is on his side. Ha, people who murder innocent people don't go to heaven. Just because you might be forgiven doesn't mean you aren't going to hell you sick whack job. Boy oh boy, I knew there were some sickos out there but Marlow is the worst. His childhood was awful but so was mine and millions of other people, only evil people would ever do the things this man did. Then he blatantly lied throughout the book about his actions. He's a horrible lair. You would have to be as dumb as he is to believe the lies he wrote about the murders. Poor girls having to cross paths with him and his sick girlfriend. But still enjoyed the hate mail from the female prisoners, that was the only honest part written in this book.
January 31, 2013
Very intresting to read. To hear what marlow was thinking and feeling. short read but good. worth a look
August 24, 2014
Wow!!!!!!
I can only say that I am blown away by the way our government is treating OUR Citizens!!!! I was reading in the hopes of getting a better understanding as to why people turn out to be who they are based on their childhood experience... I love that Mr Marlow took responsibility for his actions and apologized to the families. What blew me away was the fact that while serving his debt to society that we as a nation feel is just, he is being abused by the system in a way that is inhumane. I can only pray that with the system being exposed it will stop.... Good luck!!!!!!!
I can only say that I am blown away by the way our government is treating OUR Citizens!!!! I was reading in the hopes of getting a better understanding as to why people turn out to be who they are based on their childhood experience... I love that Mr Marlow took responsibility for his actions and apologized to the families. What blew me away was the fact that while serving his debt to society that we as a nation feel is just, he is being abused by the system in a way that is inhumane. I can only pray that with the system being exposed it will stop.... Good luck!!!!!!!
February 16, 2013
It was interesting to get the first person opinion of what happened in his life. He seems very forgiving towards a woman that tried to frame him for everything.
January 23, 2013
First of all, a disclosure:
I am the narrator of the audiobook version of this book. I took on the project because it was interesting, and because I believe everyone has a story to tell, and the right to tell it.
With that said:
Mr. Marlow's story is fascinating, if only because he is a man convicted of serial murder. A man who admits to being a serial murderer.
As an author confined to a luxury apartment on Death Row in San Quentin State prison, Mr. Marlow's access to the "tools" of the writing trade is somewhat limited, and it shows.
His story is there, but you must chip away at the stone to get to it. The editing is rough, even disjointed. If he had access to an editor, perhaps even some face time, his story would have been much more coherent and easy to read.
Keep in mind that he most likely never actually spoke with his editor, and had no access to email, either. Any editing was probably done via letters that were exchanged weeks or even months apart.
The story he tells is incomplete. The parts that you want to know more about, like his childhood and his relationship with his mother, are very light and topical. These will perhaps be covered in more detail in another book?
He does a good job of putting the reader at the scene of his crimes, without doing so in a graphic or disrespectful way. Fanboys (and girls) of "torture porn" type stories will be disappointed, because Mr. Marlow does not go into great detail about the murders, perhaps thankfully so, from the reader's perspective.
For me, the most moving detail regarding the crimes, (and I don't know if Marlow even noticed it as he wrote it) is how one of his victims was more concerned about her car, (that her dad had given her) than she was about herself.
As a father, this detail resonated strongly for me, and I just wanted to weep for the poor child, who thought her dad would care more about the condition of some lifeless machine than his own daughter.
His Letter of Apology to the Victim's Families is perhaps the most powerful and moving rhetoric in the entire book. Mr. Marlow has the soul of a poet, and I did my best to capture the emotion of that letter in my read.
You will not find gore in this book. You will find a great deal of insight into the mind and the crimes of a man who was tortured and abused as a child. You will not be surprised that he became a torturer and abuser himself.
As ye soweth, also shall ye reap.
I am the narrator of the audiobook version of this book. I took on the project because it was interesting, and because I believe everyone has a story to tell, and the right to tell it.
With that said:
Mr. Marlow's story is fascinating, if only because he is a man convicted of serial murder. A man who admits to being a serial murderer.
As an author confined to a luxury apartment on Death Row in San Quentin State prison, Mr. Marlow's access to the "tools" of the writing trade is somewhat limited, and it shows.
His story is there, but you must chip away at the stone to get to it. The editing is rough, even disjointed. If he had access to an editor, perhaps even some face time, his story would have been much more coherent and easy to read.
Keep in mind that he most likely never actually spoke with his editor, and had no access to email, either. Any editing was probably done via letters that were exchanged weeks or even months apart.
The story he tells is incomplete. The parts that you want to know more about, like his childhood and his relationship with his mother, are very light and topical. These will perhaps be covered in more detail in another book?
He does a good job of putting the reader at the scene of his crimes, without doing so in a graphic or disrespectful way. Fanboys (and girls) of "torture porn" type stories will be disappointed, because Mr. Marlow does not go into great detail about the murders, perhaps thankfully so, from the reader's perspective.
For me, the most moving detail regarding the crimes, (and I don't know if Marlow even noticed it as he wrote it) is how one of his victims was more concerned about her car, (that her dad had given her) than she was about herself.
As a father, this detail resonated strongly for me, and I just wanted to weep for the poor child, who thought her dad would care more about the condition of some lifeless machine than his own daughter.
His Letter of Apology to the Victim's Families is perhaps the most powerful and moving rhetoric in the entire book. Mr. Marlow has the soul of a poet, and I did my best to capture the emotion of that letter in my read.
You will not find gore in this book. You will find a great deal of insight into the mind and the crimes of a man who was tortured and abused as a child. You will not be surprised that he became a torturer and abuser himself.
As ye soweth, also shall ye reap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2015
The version I read included both volumes of James Marlow's story, "I Wish You Never Born" and "Mind Control".
I was more interested in his side/explanation of the crimes he committed and how he grew up. First, the book could've used a decent editor. Second, it was interesting how detached he seemed to be from most of his book, but he got so poetic toward the end of this part...just an observation.
I'm not sure how much I believe him. He does take responsibility for his actions, but he says that he did these things under threats from Cynthia, fear of losing her, and just to appease her. He says that he tried to get caught by deliberately placing evidence that would lead authorities to him and Cynthia. I've heard all of this come up with couples who kill. So I'm like...hmmm.
I haven't read more about James Marlow and Cynthia Coffman yet, but I plan to.
I was more interested in his side/explanation of the crimes he committed and how he grew up. First, the book could've used a decent editor. Second, it was interesting how detached he seemed to be from most of his book, but he got so poetic toward the end of this part...just an observation.
I'm not sure how much I believe him. He does take responsibility for his actions, but he says that he did these things under threats from Cynthia, fear of losing her, and just to appease her. He says that he tried to get caught by deliberately placing evidence that would lead authorities to him and Cynthia. I've heard all of this come up with couples who kill. So I'm like...hmmm.
I haven't read more about James Marlow and Cynthia Coffman yet, but I plan to.
July 8, 2014
Parents need to be responsible
Interesting & well written. did mr. Marlowe write the entries? if so I'm amazed by his intelligence. I have difficulty with the mind controls but as my father & mother worked at a prison I shave no difficulty with allegations of cruelty & abuse. I'm also sceptical about mr. Marlowe claims of coercion regarding the crimes that sent him to death row. I don't know many guilty persons in prison. an interesting writing nonetheless.
Interesting & well written. did mr. Marlowe write the entries? if so I'm amazed by his intelligence. I have difficulty with the mind controls but as my father & mother worked at a prison I shave no difficulty with allegations of cruelty & abuse. I'm also sceptical about mr. Marlowe claims of coercion regarding the crimes that sent him to death row. I don't know many guilty persons in prison. an interesting writing nonetheless.
July 7, 2013
This was an unusual, yet intriguing read. The redundancy was a bit much. I can't truly say I liked it, but can't say I didn't. (And if I could go on debating that for 100 pages, you might have an idea of the book. ). :)
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August 13, 2015A few pages were good when he writes about honesty.
When he talks about starting to be honest with family I found it touched my heart. Most of the book he implies that while on death row they were torturing people with my control. I don't know,whether it's true or not.
When he talks about starting to be honest with family I found it touched my heart. Most of the book he implies that while on death row they were torturing people with my control. I don't know,whether it's true or not.
January 5, 2015
Lacking punishment
Well I'm not sure I completely believe the stuff that supposed to have happen to these inmates. Death row takes to long for someone who commits murder. I have no sympathy!
Well I'm not sure I completely believe the stuff that supposed to have happen to these inmates. Death row takes to long for someone who commits murder. I have no sympathy!
January 15, 2013
It was just an ok book, short read
September 3, 2016
I couldn't finish this book. He goes on a lot about how is the good guy and I guess I found it all pretty hard to believe.
January 15, 2015
What a load of tripe . Spelling awful and really badly written .
October 20, 2015
Skips around alot. Not well written.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews