Bad Blood: A Family Murder in Marin County

by Richard M. Levine

On the first day of summer in 1975 a suburban Marin County couple named Jim and Naomi Olive were savagely slain. Their killers were the Olives’ 16-year-old daughter and her 20-year-old lover.

This is the story of that shocking murder and the appalling events that led up to it. It is the story of the middle-class dream turned into a nightmare, of parents and children living in mutually alien and hostile worlds, and of a youth culture for which promiscuous sex and every kind of drug are no longer enough.

It is a story that cuts to the bone of American life – and strikes inescapably close to home. 

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

330 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Richard Michael Levine has written magazine articles for many national publications, including Harper’s, Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone, New York, The New York Times Magazine and Esquire, where he was a contributing editor and wrote a monthly column on the media for a number of years.

He has been a staff writer and editor at Newsweek and The Saturday Review, received an Alicia Patterson fellowship, and has taught at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

His bestselling non-fiction book, Bad Blood: A Family Murder in Marin County, was published by Random House and the Penguin Group and has been translated into several languages.

His poetry has been widely published in literary magazines and anthologies and collected in Catch and Other Poems.

His short story collection, The Man Who Gave Away His Organs: Love and Obsession at Midlife, was released on July 10, 2015 by Capra Press.

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes:

I was not completely surprised when the police didn't believe Marlenes true account of what happened, although I do find it laughable.

Ominous and chilling, was how Chuck Riley's father used to tell him, (as any parent would tell their child any urban legend or myth, to get them to behave) while pointing across the water at Stan Quentin's foreboding walls, "If you don't straighten up your act THATS where you'll end up!"

Sadly the atmosphere in the Olive household made it a ticking time bomb for the future events that would occur. If Naomi would've gotten the mental help that she needed none of this may have happened.

Most importantly I am seeking out proof of who really killed Naomi Olive. Why would Chuck do so with a hammer, when he had the gun he used on Jim? What about all the times Marlene asked him how hard she would have to hit her mother over the head with it to kill her? She had already slipped her the pills, did she finish the job? Could she have done this while Jim was waiting in the car for her to run errands without becoming a bloody mess? Could she have held her composure to meet Jim immediately afterwords? And as a one prison guard he was adamantly convinced of Chuck's innocence towards Naomi, One does not match in someone's head with a hammer without feeling a deep personal anger towards that person.

this was a fascinating read and I will be thinking about this case for a long time, seeking out more current updates on the people involved.

[Linda Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a strange couple but very understandable in a pathetic kind of way. Both Marlene and Chuck are really fascinating and the 1975 world of Marine County teenage world also.

[Beer Bolwijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening chapter bored me to tears. The second chapter got me hooked and interested; an extremely interesting background story to the family (spoilers: a childhood spent with American parents not at the top of the economic ladder in Panama and Ecuador). After that it just slowly died out, mostly owing to way too much detailed storytelling. So many sequences were either uninteresting or didn't help to "color in" the imagery in new and refreshing ways.

Could have been a great book with some heavy editing. Stopped reading at around page 250, when it became clear the rest of the book was a tunnel with no light at the end.

[Hannah Mora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be thinking about this book for a long time

[Patricia Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research into the motivation of the young killers is outstanding. This book outlines the lives and emotional deterioration of teenagers, Marlene and Chuck, who are living lives of drug dealing, shoplifting, and sexual deviation during the summer of 1975. The behavior of kids in Marin County during this period is quite an eye opener. I wonder what the teens there are doing today.

[Charles Cavendish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four star because it starts off slow. It took me a little longer than usual to finish this book because it didn't reach out and grab my attention until the middle of the book. However, I did love the book. I'm glad that I kept reading, even when it felt "boring" in the beginning. The middle of the books definitely picks up the pace and then BOOM, you end up on an uphill climb that comes crashing down to the final ending of the story. Not as good as other books that I've read, but keeping in mind that this book is based off of a true story, it was worth the read!!!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book this was! It's a true story about a wacko misfit teenage girl who gets her follower BF to kill her adoptive parents. Her adoptive mom Naomi is mentally ill and also an alcoholic. Her dad Jim is an oil executive who switches careers a lot and has recently moved the family from the country of Ecuador to Marin County, CA. Marlene, the daughter, attempts to fit in socially by doing a variety of drugs and dressing in sexy glittery style 80's fashions. Her BF who didn't have many friends because he was fat, also tries to fit in socially by dealing marijuana, cocaine and pills. The mom and dad get killed by Chuck in the beginning of the book and the rest of the story so far, is describing Marlene's family life in Ecuador before moving to Marin County. There is also a lot of detailed info on Naomi and her depression and mental health issues. I'm only about a 1/3 of the way into the book. 02/02/2011

I wanted to add to this review. I finished this last week and mailed it to a friend in Finland who likes true crime. I never ever thought I would feel sorry for a murderer but guess what I felt sorry for Chuck. I wonder what ever happened to him? It was scary how many incidents from this book reminded me of stuff that happened in my life. I hate Marlene, she was a spoiled worthless piece of garbage. Too bad Chuck Riley had to meet this worthless slut.

[Nelda Fairley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love reading True Crime books. Most of the books I can't seem to put down until I read most of the book. But this one, however, I can't read more than ten or twenty pages at a time. And even then, I generally skip over the daughter's poetry.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo disturbing.......

[Benji Cossa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read In Cold Blood, but I assure you this is no In Cold Blood as the jacket would have you believe. It did, though, inspire me to inspire myself to become an amateur hypnotist

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreadful story of the terrible things we do for love.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been listening to My Favorite Murder and was thinking about the first true crime book I read. This was it.

[Paul R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when it came out years ago and return to it often. I found it well written and very well researched.
Maybe because I am/was close to Chuck and Marlene's age, but it certainly is timely for me, the music and concerts they went to, the clothes etc.. Also, as a not real popular type in high school I can somewhat understand both Chuck's need for acceptance and the power of that first girl "crush".
I've tried to follow what happened to both in the years after this event. Seems like Chuck is still incarcerated, keeps getting parole denied. Marlene couldn't seem to stay out of trouble with the law. Prostitution, passing bad checks, petty theft...nothing in the last 10 years so maybe she's cleaned up.

[Chris Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psychological profile of a family in Terra Linda San Rafael where the 16 yr. old daughter and her 20 yr. old boyfriend murdered her parents. The book seemed a little tedious at first but the backstory was necessary to put the situation in perspective...Who was really responsible letting this happen... the Father Jim who lived in blind denial? Marlene? who used her witchy teenage girl power over her boyfriend... it all could have been avoided if Father paid attention and got his wife some mental help. And separated Mother and Daughter. Using hypnosis for Chucks defense was interesting.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written recollection of events, just wish it had a different ending. Left me feeling slighted that Marlene got away and Chuck didn’t, but that’s the justice system for you.

[mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

ik they smelled like shit, too

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a true crime story that occurred around the time I was born. I did not like the flow of the story and the writing style. Having said that, I have to keep in mind the authour wrote this true story in early 80s and his approach may have been a page turner for readers of that time frame since the murder story was true and disturbing. As 2015 approached pretty quickly, we are part of the information age where we have an abundant awareness that the readers in 80s did not have as the subject may be new, unfamiliar, or still developing. Basically in this never-ending story, it actually was demoralizing, demonic and yet sad. The two teenagers in suburbs of San Francisco lived in someewhat a clean neighbourhood but both were involved in drugs as that was the common activity for teens in the 70s. The author gave a lengthy background story of both teens' families particularly the female teen Marlene. Throughout the story the authour would have snippets of close family and friends' observations or experience with the teens or their parents. I felt the authour placing of their point of views did not mesh well with the flow of the story. The epic story continued with the character development of Marlene Olive and her family life as well as her relationship with the other teen her boyfriend, Chuck Riley. If you are interested in mental illness this is a good book to read. I'm still learning as there is a growing awareness of mental disorders. Marlene's adopted mother seem to inherited a mental disorder which manifested after she married to Jim Olive. Marlene who may not carry any gene of mental issues but there's no proof however because of the relationship with her adopted mother who seemed distant most of her life, the environment at her home may be a factor for Marlene's mental capacity. She was a very talented writer and had vivid imaginations that she believed it was her reality. I felt Marlene was an intense person who believed in her unfathomable stories and imaginations. Her gentle soul boyfriend Chuck Riley fell in love with her at first sight and trapped himself in this "abusive" relationship. Marlene was able to manipulate Chuck who would do anything for her. Their toxic relationship lead to the demise of Marlene's parents as well as their relationship. The moral of the story is drugs create toxic relationship/personalities. Also, mental issues are often overlooked or not understood. Communication is the key to find solutions for healthy relationships with oneself and others. Overall the story was too long however at the same time the development of the crime, the post crime activities and the investigation were all very interesting.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I wrote years ago on bookcrossing. Not a very good review alas. I see I am just spoilering and talking about things not very interesting. blush.

Saturday, January 20, 2007
9 out of 10

I had read a few pages of this book (so I thought) but while reading this I started to wonder if I had not already read all of it.But then I did not know how the story would end.
It seemed I had already read 1/3rd of the book the first time.
WARNING SPOILER AHEAD!!!!!!!!!



Well this is such a crazy story and in a weird way I felt for Chuck. Normally I am all for giving the murderers a very tough punishment but this guy was really under a spell.

I can't believe how Marlene could get away with all of it. Did she even inherit from her parents ?

Highly recommend this book. Very well written and I could not out it down the second time.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story in Marin County of a 16-year old who murders her parents with the help of her boyfriend.