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Fear of Our Father: The True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties
Even after a childhood of abuse and fear, Stacey M. Kananen was shocked when her brother, Rickie, admitted his guilt in the cold-blooded murder of their terrifying father, and years later, their helpless mother.
But the greatest shock was to come—when he claimed that Stacey had helped him.
In 1988, when Rickie and Stacey’s father, Richard Kananen Sr., apparently left their home in Orlando, Florida, the family was so relieved that they never reported him missing. Fifteen years later to the day, their mother disappeared. When police became suspicious, Rickie admitted to Stacey that their father’s body was under the cement floor of their mother’s garage, and their mother was buried in Stacey’s own backyard.
Overwhelmed by grief and horror, Stacey’s brother convinced her that they should commit suicide. After a failed attempt, she woke to discover her brother arrested—along with the realization that he had probably never intended to kill himself at all. But his betrayals were not yet over: On the eve of his trial in 2007, he suddenly claimed Stacey had been in on it, and she found herself charged with murder with a gung ho rookie detective who was convinced she was involved.
This is the tragic and triumphant account of one woman’s struggle to overcome her past, clear her name in what would become a dramatic public spectacle of a trial, and finally escape the nightmares that had haunted her entire life.
But the greatest shock was to come—when he claimed that Stacey had helped him.
In 1988, when Rickie and Stacey’s father, Richard Kananen Sr., apparently left their home in Orlando, Florida, the family was so relieved that they never reported him missing. Fifteen years later to the day, their mother disappeared. When police became suspicious, Rickie admitted to Stacey that their father’s body was under the cement floor of their mother’s garage, and their mother was buried in Stacey’s own backyard.
Overwhelmed by grief and horror, Stacey’s brother convinced her that they should commit suicide. After a failed attempt, she woke to discover her brother arrested—along with the realization that he had probably never intended to kill himself at all. But his betrayals were not yet over: On the eve of his trial in 2007, he suddenly claimed Stacey had been in on it, and she found herself charged with murder with a gung ho rookie detective who was convinced she was involved.
This is the tragic and triumphant account of one woman’s struggle to overcome her past, clear her name in what would become a dramatic public spectacle of a trial, and finally escape the nightmares that had haunted her entire life.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2013
About the author
Lisa Bonnice
12 books9 followersLisa Bonnice is an award-winning author, podcaster, and longtime program host with The Shift Network, where she interviews leading voices in spirituality, energy medicine, and psychic phenomena.
She is the author of Castle Gate, a historical novel based on extensive genealogical research into the 1924 Castle Gate Mine Disaster, one of the deadliest mining tragedies in American history.
She also writes The Accidental Psychic Series of metaphysical comedies about Lola Garnett, an ordinary woman navigating the unexpected awakening of psychic abilities.
Lisa co-authored, with Stacy M. Kananen, Fear of Our Father: The True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties, which was adapted into a television movie (Monster in the Family).
Her first book, Shape Shifting: The Body/Mind/Spirit Weight Solution, explores the metaphysics of weight balancing and includes a foreword by Neale Donald Walsch.
Before focusing on writing, Lisa spent seven years as a stand-up comedienne, performing with well-known comedians on the national circuit. She later worked as an award-winning writer and affiliate producer for MSNBC.
She is the author of Castle Gate, a historical novel based on extensive genealogical research into the 1924 Castle Gate Mine Disaster, one of the deadliest mining tragedies in American history.
She also writes The Accidental Psychic Series of metaphysical comedies about Lola Garnett, an ordinary woman navigating the unexpected awakening of psychic abilities.
Lisa co-authored, with Stacy M. Kananen, Fear of Our Father: The True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties, which was adapted into a television movie (Monster in the Family).
Her first book, Shape Shifting: The Body/Mind/Spirit Weight Solution, explores the metaphysics of weight balancing and includes a foreword by Neale Donald Walsch.
Before focusing on writing, Lisa spent seven years as a stand-up comedienne, performing with well-known comedians on the national circuit. She later worked as an award-winning writer and affiliate producer for MSNBC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 6, 2020
I was surprised I had never heard of this court case. I’m sure it was big news in 2010. Double murder of both parents, 13 years apart. Unfortunately, Stacey who was on trial for one of those murders is not the best writer. She did very well at writing the emotional pieces and it just have been very difficult for her. It’s a shame that the co-writer didn’t add more oomph to make it flow better. It was very climactic at the end where the jury gives their verdict, but jacked something throughout the rest. Definitely an interesting true crime novel though.
September 10, 2018
This was quite an interesting, unusual story written from a person involved in the case, from what I hope is a unique perspective. So many true-crime stories include court testimony that just covers ground you're already familiar with from earlier in the book. In this one, the court testimony clears up the whole story for you, just as if you were one of the jurors. There are clearly some good-sized omissions in the information the author chose to give, and the author uses some odd constructions that forced me to go back and re-read to make sure I was following, like "Not only was I really angry, but I wasn't stupid." Those flaws weren't enough to really dent the story. This one is well worth your time.
June 13, 2013
This book is extremely well written. With its twists and turns throughout horrific life and death events it smoothly transitions from one time line to the next painting the clear picture from the perspective of the writers' experience. A tragic tale of a severely dysfunctional family with a hopeful ending, this book exposes the snares and dysfunctional coping mechanisms within psychological and physical abuse. A must read for anyone experiencing abuse of any form, practitioners working with the abused and abusive, professionals in the field of criminal justice, or anyone simply interested in a hair raising tale for their summer reading, this book does not disappoint!
November 29, 2014
Fear of Our Father
By Lisa Bonnice and Stacey M. Kananen
Book Review
Fear of Our Father is a story of horror, intrigue, and amazement that someone could
have survived a life journey such as Stacey M. Kananen's. This book tells her story in a
way that keeps your heart open to compassion for what her and her family have
endured. It also keeps you wondering how she can ever escape this nightmare. Just as
she starts experiencing something of a happy, "normal" life, things get much worse and
her world turns dark and scary, again. As a reader, you find yourself thinking that this is
a horror novel, as opposed to a non-fiction read of someone's actual life. The twist and
turns of Stacey M. Kananen's life seem unimaginable.
I enjoyed how it was written. Her story is a difficult one to tell, but I felt like both authors
brought it to light in an easy manner for the reader to understand. There is a world of
abuse out there that a lot of us know nothing about. Reading this story starts the
awareness. I would definitely recommend it for a "have to read"! It leaves you
wondering what's next for Stacey and is there a way I can help?
-Vickie Greenway
By Lisa Bonnice and Stacey M. Kananen
Book Review
Fear of Our Father is a story of horror, intrigue, and amazement that someone could
have survived a life journey such as Stacey M. Kananen's. This book tells her story in a
way that keeps your heart open to compassion for what her and her family have
endured. It also keeps you wondering how she can ever escape this nightmare. Just as
she starts experiencing something of a happy, "normal" life, things get much worse and
her world turns dark and scary, again. As a reader, you find yourself thinking that this is
a horror novel, as opposed to a non-fiction read of someone's actual life. The twist and
turns of Stacey M. Kananen's life seem unimaginable.
I enjoyed how it was written. Her story is a difficult one to tell, but I felt like both authors
brought it to light in an easy manner for the reader to understand. There is a world of
abuse out there that a lot of us know nothing about. Reading this story starts the
awareness. I would definitely recommend it for a "have to read"! It leaves you
wondering what's next for Stacey and is there a way I can help?
-Vickie Greenway
September 2, 2013
Abandoned this after about 80 pages.
In those pages, she used the words "honestly" and "truthfully" about a hundred times. Made me think she was being less than honest OR truthful.
She also repeated events, telling about her brother's and father's actions over and over and over. In some instances, she quoted police interviews--which only retold exactly what she described a few pages earlier.
All that, along with the annoying back and forth in time narrative made this really badly written. Even if I was drawn into the story (which I was in the beginning 30 pages, but lost interest), the poor writing overwhelmed any potential.
In those pages, she used the words "honestly" and "truthfully" about a hundred times. Made me think she was being less than honest OR truthful.
She also repeated events, telling about her brother's and father's actions over and over and over. In some instances, she quoted police interviews--which only retold exactly what she described a few pages earlier.
All that, along with the annoying back and forth in time narrative made this really badly written. Even if I was drawn into the story (which I was in the beginning 30 pages, but lost interest), the poor writing overwhelmed any potential.
April 2, 2016
This book is a little bit difficult to get through because of the graphic descriptions of the abuse the co-author suffered as a child. But, it is, of course, important to the story because family dynamics have everything to do with why these tragedies happened. The reader really gets the feeling that the right person was chosen to tell the story.
June 23, 2013
A very good and heart-rending account of a family torn apart by abuse and ultimately, murder! The only reason I could not give it 5 stars is because I found the editing quite bad but otherwise enjoyed the read!
July 25, 2013
A disturbing and sad story told very well with honesty, dignity and humor.
A more in depth review for this book will be posted after I put the necessary thought into finding the words to praise it adequately....but, don't wait for that to happen....READ THIS BOOK.
A more in depth review for this book will be posted after I put the necessary thought into finding the words to praise it adequately....but, don't wait for that to happen....READ THIS BOOK.
July 18, 2018
Very good book told from the abused.
June 13, 2013
Intriguing and horrifying story of what happens to families in abusive homes. I read the Kindle version entitled Fear of Our Father ISBN 0425258734.
At times it would have been helpful to add a restating of previous information when it came up again later in the book. There is much detail and conflicting statements it would help with the readability to have a review of the detail when explaining its significance later. That is why I removed one star from the rating.
At times it would have been helpful to add a restating of previous information when it came up again later in the book. There is much detail and conflicting statements it would help with the readability to have a review of the detail when explaining its significance later. That is why I removed one star from the rating.
August 9, 2013
This is a fantastically written book. It is sad with a triumphant ending. I loved it. Stacey Kananen relates the story of her horrific abuse and being on trial for a crime she did not commit with honesty and poignancy. This is a must read for true crime buffs. As a lover of true crime books I am accustom to sad endings even if the perpetrator is tried and convicted but this book ends with hope for a better future for Ms. Kananen. Again, a real must read.
February 27, 2015
I'm giving this three stars for the writing quality, not the story. I admire Stacey very much for sharing her story, and I can only imagine what she had to go through in deciding to share it with the world.
However, especially with a co-author, I would have liked there to be more editing and watchfulness over the actual writing. A lot of her writing comes across as streams of consciousness that don't make a whole lot of sense sometimes, which made the story hard to follow at points.
However, especially with a co-author, I would have liked there to be more editing and watchfulness over the actual writing. A lot of her writing comes across as streams of consciousness that don't make a whole lot of sense sometimes, which made the story hard to follow at points.
December 17, 2015
I wasn't crazy about this book. Although the author's life was horrifying, I didn't like the way the story was told. There is too much emphasis on her arrests and not enough about her life as a child. Sorry!
August 13, 2013
I liked it.
August 26, 2014
What a great triumphant story of the human spirit. I want to give Stacey a big hug....
October 17, 2013
I dislike books that skip around from the past to the present; especially ones that don't warn you that they are doing so. If not for that, I may have given this book one more star.
October 7, 2014
Child abuse really must stop. This story is so sad and tragic.
August 29, 2025
This is a difficult book to read..for a few reasons...one...it is very slow through the first half...i think they spent too much time on the abuse ...I understand why...but still made it a difficult read.. and probably makes that a good sign ...while the abuse was the biggest issue...i felt significantly sick very early on...and while i dont even begin to minimize what happened...there is no excuse and their father deserved no better than he got...i feel i would have done the same...but it was very detailed and went on for years...and with that it was covered very completely to the point that i just found it hard to keep reading on more than one occasion...thus the long time to complete it...
that being said.... stacey ...her mother and family were victims of what i would feel is some of the worst abuse that can happen...sexual... physical... mentally.. and just constant.. a total psychotic ..at a time when it was hard to get help for such things...I am sure that others have suffered worse...and some would say ..death would be preferable and i understand that too.. in the end...Stacey lost everyone ...father ..mother...brother to jail...and sister to just abandonment ...and i dont judge her sister....we dont get to hear her story and I am sure ... as always... there are two sides and hers will be different and somewhere in the middle there will be the truth... i can only hope... as coming from a family that was never brought up to be close...i miss that...and wish i had it... my one daughter walked away for a convicted felon...and tried to have me arrested...charges were dropped due to evidence proving the contrary ... but i mourn for these losses...and hope Stacey and her sister at some point can sit down and salvage what is left of their family...
but ...whatever happens...Stacey has survived ...and is now thriving.. moving to help others... taken a horrible situation and moved to make a positive... i give her so much credit...
the book is hard to read...and definitely wont be for everyone...but for anyone who doubts family abuse... who doubts the long term destruction this does...then this may be a book you need to read...
Stacey....wishing you the best... God bless you and yours and hope every day moving forward are true blessings and gifts
that being said.... stacey ...her mother and family were victims of what i would feel is some of the worst abuse that can happen...sexual... physical... mentally.. and just constant.. a total psychotic ..at a time when it was hard to get help for such things...I am sure that others have suffered worse...and some would say ..death would be preferable and i understand that too.. in the end...Stacey lost everyone ...father ..mother...brother to jail...and sister to just abandonment ...and i dont judge her sister....we dont get to hear her story and I am sure ... as always... there are two sides and hers will be different and somewhere in the middle there will be the truth... i can only hope... as coming from a family that was never brought up to be close...i miss that...and wish i had it... my one daughter walked away for a convicted felon...and tried to have me arrested...charges were dropped due to evidence proving the contrary ... but i mourn for these losses...and hope Stacey and her sister at some point can sit down and salvage what is left of their family...
but ...whatever happens...Stacey has survived ...and is now thriving.. moving to help others... taken a horrible situation and moved to make a positive... i give her so much credit...
the book is hard to read...and definitely wont be for everyone...but for anyone who doubts family abuse... who doubts the long term destruction this does...then this may be a book you need to read...
Stacey....wishing you the best... God bless you and yours and hope every day moving forward are true blessings and gifts
January 12, 2025
This book had potential for being really good, but it was just overly repetitive. I didn't like how facts were talked about so much throughout the book and it went out of order that didn't make much sense to me. Back and forth between story lines is hard to do in a fictional book, it's even harder to follow in non-fiction. It is a very disturbing story and honestly, Richard Kananen Senior had what was coming to him. He was literally a devil and should never have been allowed to reproduce because of what he did to his children. The mother, well, IMHO she didn't do her job at protecting her children properly. She knew damn well that her children were repeatedly r@ped by this man, and she did nothing to protect them. Despicable in my opinion. Obviously a jury of Stacey's peers found her not guilty, so I'm not going to judge on that. It is really sad that it doesn't seem like her and her sister have a relationship at all after all of that. What was really weird to me is that the sister ends up dating the lead detective.
February 12, 2023
When there is abuse in a family, there are ugly stories to tell. Stacey Kane men was accused of murder for her father and later in years, her mother by her own brother. Both bodies were buried. This story takes you through Stacey's life, but much deeper is the mentality of the abused. Someone must be held accountable for the murders, but will they accuse, try and sentence the correct individual or individuals?
August 27, 2020
I love true crime books but not this one. The entire story was revealed in the first two chapters, which were a complete mess of jumping psychotically from subject to subject. No desire to continue.
August 19, 2024
Very interesting
Such a sad story and yet in the end Stavey survives and finds a way to move on. She was so fortunate to have e a good lawyer that never stopped fighting for her. So dad that a rogue deceive could cause thismuch harm
Such a sad story and yet in the end Stavey survives and finds a way to move on. She was so fortunate to have e a good lawyer that never stopped fighting for her. So dad that a rogue deceive could cause thismuch harm
December 26, 2025
An interesting book but very drawn out and dragged out from about the middle of the book to the end ..lots of repetition in the book but the story kept me interested enough to finish the book. Enough said the book could have been shortened by about 50 pages less.
February 22, 2018
There's not alot of True Crime Books oit there to read that's intetesting since the queen (Amne Rule passed). This one is different but good
October 3, 2018
Unputdown-able book!
April 22, 2019
Really good read , didn't want to put the book down
October 30, 2022
Horrific story of cruelty. It's almost unimaginable. Stacey is one strong gal.
I gave the book 4 stars because reading so much of the trial was just boring. TMI
I gave the book 4 stars because reading so much of the trial was just boring. TMI
October 4, 2025
its really good book if you been one of them child it would be one to read
July 7, 2015
For the most part a riveting read of a sick and twisted abusive father who gets his and then the stunning trial of the daughter accused of murdering the mother. Stacey Kananen presents her own story of her life from her abuse at the hands of her father and the daily nightmare living in a household held hostage by his violence to the trial where she was accused by her own brother of co-plotting and committing the murder of her mother. Separating the book into thirds it was the middle portion that I got bogged down in, as the authors used a clumsy method of non-linear storytelling jumping around from telling Stacey's life story from childhood to the unravelling of the police case in the disappearance of her mother and her brother's confession to murdering their father. This read as if Stacey were just telling things as they came to here no matter what order. The first and, especially, the last part of the trial were engrossing reading and Stacey is a remarkable person who suffered and survived an horrific life.
January 15, 2014
Extremely well written story of a family's abusive relationship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews