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Ashes to Ashes
Describes the murderous rampage of twenty-four-year-old Bobby Coulson, who burned his mother to death and then killed his father, two sisters, and brother-in-law, and the shocking family secrets that led to the crime. Original.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
270 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 16, 2018
3.5 stars
The author does a good job of raising questions in the readers' minds. On the surface, this seems like a simple, albeit horrific, crime--a family of five is suffocated and burned to death by their own son and brother. One should feel nothing but sorrow and pity for the victims, particularly Otis and Mary Coulson, who adopted the killer and did everything they could to make him feel loved.
Or did they? As the story goes on, more and more holes are poked in the myth of the loving adoptive parents. While not stereotypically abusive, the Coulsons repeatedly rejected their adopted son, to the point he wasn't allowed to drop by for visits without calling first and asking permission. And why? Because he was a difficult teenager or he argued with his sister as a twenty-something? The book isn't clear about why Mary disliked her son so much, but the Coulsons, avid church goers, had a strict set of standards for their adopted children that none could live up to. Either their marks weren't good enough or the girls got pregnant or they fell in love with the wrong men. Their son was injured and received disability payments, but the author makes it seem his parents believed he was faking his injuries. So it became hard to blame Bob Coulson if he was a tad resentful and angry, though of course nothing excuses his actions.
One of the most troubling mysteries is presented by the back cover copy: "But his actual motives were deeper and darker than anyone imagined." Really? What were they? These mysterious motives were never presented.
An interesting, quick read. Even the trial component, which I usually skip, was kept brief and to the point and didn't drag.
The author does a good job of raising questions in the readers' minds. On the surface, this seems like a simple, albeit horrific, crime--a family of five is suffocated and burned to death by their own son and brother. One should feel nothing but sorrow and pity for the victims, particularly Otis and Mary Coulson, who adopted the killer and did everything they could to make him feel loved.
Or did they? As the story goes on, more and more holes are poked in the myth of the loving adoptive parents. While not stereotypically abusive, the Coulsons repeatedly rejected their adopted son, to the point he wasn't allowed to drop by for visits without calling first and asking permission. And why? Because he was a difficult teenager or he argued with his sister as a twenty-something? The book isn't clear about why Mary disliked her son so much, but the Coulsons, avid church goers, had a strict set of standards for their adopted children that none could live up to. Either their marks weren't good enough or the girls got pregnant or they fell in love with the wrong men. Their son was injured and received disability payments, but the author makes it seem his parents believed he was faking his injuries. So it became hard to blame Bob Coulson if he was a tad resentful and angry, though of course nothing excuses his actions.
One of the most troubling mysteries is presented by the back cover copy: "But his actual motives were deeper and darker than anyone imagined." Really? What were they? These mysterious motives were never presented.
An interesting, quick read. Even the trial component, which I usually skip, was kept brief and to the point and didn't drag.
August 27, 2008
This is a true crime book that is set somewhat close to where I live, and the DA is well known so I felt like i knew some of the "characters" The book was good, and suspenful, I finishes it in a day and a half. The thing is, after I read it, I looked the man up to see what had happened and was shocked by what I found. It made me question if he was really guilty or not.
August 26, 2014
Terribly written. Lacked the promise the blurbe suggested. Full of assumptions and left the reader with so much unanswered questions.
April 22, 2012
Mary & Otis Coulson adopted 3 children. Two, Bobby & Robbin were bio sister and brother. Sarah, was the youngest. On Nov. 13, 1992, Bobby murdered the whole family which included his 6 mo. pregnant sister Robin and her husband Rick. Bobby did it for the money in their estate. But lost that, along with his life, by lethal injection.
September 23, 2019
This was a good true crime story and is highly readable. It had added significance for me, as I knew Robert Coulson from playing youth sports together growing up. As an adult, he was what I saw as a kid - a volatile, angry, and potentially violent person. The book provides a lot of answers to questions I had about Coulson, mostly the “why” questions but also many details about him, his family, and his actions that didn’t make it into evidence at trial, all of which make absolutely clear he was guilty. A quick and easy read about a disturbing and horrific crime.
December 6, 2022
This is a really good book, Bobby is actually my cousin my mother was his aunt blood aunt he had a very messed up life his mother sucked I've read the book over and over and I just ordered it again it's horrible I feel like he got what he deserved and I can't wait to read it again it's just horrible that the family had to go through that pain
October 12, 2024
Was to intrigued by the story, finished it in just 3 days. amazing. really.
November 30, 2015
Good book talked about a man that was narcissistic and was a sociopath. Felt like he deserved the money and made sure he didn't have to share it with anyone in his family. I didn't care for the trial part and they could have left the fbombs out of the book.
June 21, 2016
Very well written. Easy to follow loved it made it very personable.
May 31, 2015
really very good book i think he did do it the way he was acting if he didn't he was evolved with what happened
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews