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No One Is Perfect: The True Story of Candace Mossler and America's Strangest Murder Trial
Thirty years before the O.J. Simpson case, America was fascinated by another "trial of the century."
Jacques Mossler, a prominent financier known as "King of the Installment Loans", was brutally murdered in his Key Biscayne apartment. Suspicion quickly fell upon Melvin Lane Powers, the shady nephew of Mossler's wife Candace. When investigators discovered that "Candy and Mel" were carrying on an incestuous love affair, the pair were charged with the crime.
The Miami trial featured the legendary defense attorney, Percy Foreman, whose outrageous tactics created a number of memorable moments. A colorful parade of prosecution witnesses shared tales of recruiting hit men, and the unusual relationship between the glamorous aunt and her nephew.
No One Is Perfect is a thoroughly researched account of the landmark trial and the life of its chic blonde defendant.
Jacques Mossler, a prominent financier known as "King of the Installment Loans", was brutally murdered in his Key Biscayne apartment. Suspicion quickly fell upon Melvin Lane Powers, the shady nephew of Mossler's wife Candace. When investigators discovered that "Candy and Mel" were carrying on an incestuous love affair, the pair were charged with the crime.
The Miami trial featured the legendary defense attorney, Percy Foreman, whose outrageous tactics created a number of memorable moments. A colorful parade of prosecution witnesses shared tales of recruiting hit men, and the unusual relationship between the glamorous aunt and her nephew.
No One Is Perfect is a thoroughly researched account of the landmark trial and the life of its chic blonde defendant.
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Published January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
January 24, 2020
5.0 stars— I don’t give a lot of 5 star ratings, but when a book is this interesting and well written there is no other choice. I came upon this book on Kindle Unlimited (after it was recommended to me by Amazon) and thought it sounded interesting, so I gave it a chance. I am so glad I did. The book tells the story of Candace Mossler and Melvin Powers, incestuous lovers who were indicted for the murder of Candace’s husband. If this sounds intriguing to you just based on this one sentence then I promise you, this book does not disappoint. The book is a very well researched account of the events preceding the murder, the murder itself, the OJ trial of the 1960s, and the aftermath of the trial. If you like reading about botched criminal investigations, then this is the book for you. If you like reading extensive trial accounts with eccentric characters and eloquent lawyers then this is also the book for you. If you like reading a documented account of two of the most eccentric, screwed up alleged murderers of all time then this is definitely the book for you. I 100% recommend.
January 6, 2021
"She had one been his trophy wife-blonde, beautiful, and twenty-five years his junior. ...now, he has to ask himself: what contest in hell had he won, in which she was the trophy?" Bahahaha
October 9, 2019
Irrefutable proof that you can't buy class
Candace Mossler was a beautiful blonde golddigger. She was born into poverty, and her life goal was to be rich. That's not a crime; the same could be said about many successful people and it would be called ambition.
Candace accomplished her quest for wealth when she married millionaire Jacques Mossler. Things went well until she had a long-term affair with her nephew, Melvin Lane Powers, who was half her age. When Mossler took steps toward divorcing Candace, he was brutally murdered in his home.
This is a compelling, sometimes entertaining story about a heinous crime and its aftermath. The book, though generally well written, was hindered by the overkill use of commas, to the point, that, it drew out the time, spent reading, because the reader, instilled by English teachers, paused at every comma.
I remember the Candace Mossler case, a sensational story at the time because it had such shocking elements: sex, incest, murder, high profile lawyers, and an unexpected outcome.
15
Candace Mossler was a beautiful blonde golddigger. She was born into poverty, and her life goal was to be rich. That's not a crime; the same could be said about many successful people and it would be called ambition.
Candace accomplished her quest for wealth when she married millionaire Jacques Mossler. Things went well until she had a long-term affair with her nephew, Melvin Lane Powers, who was half her age. When Mossler took steps toward divorcing Candace, he was brutally murdered in his home.
This is a compelling, sometimes entertaining story about a heinous crime and its aftermath. The book, though generally well written, was hindered by the overkill use of commas, to the point, that, it drew out the time, spent reading, because the reader, instilled by English teachers, paused at every comma.
I remember the Candace Mossler case, a sensational story at the time because it had such shocking elements: sex, incest, murder, high profile lawyers, and an unexpected outcome.
15
January 10, 2020
End to story?
This was a very good book, certainly well researched. The only advice I can give to interested readers is make sure you're awake, not tired and prepared for a whole lot of information.
The main character/person of interest is a nut job whom in my opinion, should have been put away for a very long time.
So, who killed Jack Mossler anyway?!
This was a very good book, certainly well researched. The only advice I can give to interested readers is make sure you're awake, not tired and prepared for a whole lot of information.
The main character/person of interest is a nut job whom in my opinion, should have been put away for a very long time.
So, who killed Jack Mossler anyway?!
January 23, 2020
One of the Best
I am a consummate reader of true crime books, having read over 200. This is a top five for me. Very well written, it was hard to put down and it is long. Characters from Win Rockefeller to Percy Foreman add to the real life saga of Candace Mossler I highly recommend a read by all the true crime gurus out there.
I am a consummate reader of true crime books, having read over 200. This is a top five for me. Very well written, it was hard to put down and it is long. Characters from Win Rockefeller to Percy Foreman add to the real life saga of Candace Mossler I highly recommend a read by all the true crime gurus out there.
December 30, 2019
Dry good book but I got bored with all the court room drama and the amount of the book spent on it. What a storyline though!! I thought for sure they would be prosecuted but I guess money does by power and geez, what a fruitcake!! This book will definitely keep you interested and turning the pages.
January 18, 2026
The book No One Is Perfect tells the wild true story of the 1964 murder of wealthy businessman Jack Mossler, a case so scandalous it feels like a Hollywood movie. It has everything: a massive fortune, a beautiful wife named Candace with a dark secret, and her handsome nephew Mel, who was secretly involved with her. After Jack is found brutally murdered in his Florida home, suspicion quickly falls on those closest to him, and the case explodes into a national sensation.
What follows is a gripping courtroom drama filled with manipulation, power, and moral ambiguity, where public perception proves just as important as evidence. Beyond the crime itself, the book explores the cost of greed and desire, showing how scandal leaves lasting consequences. It’s a compelling read that proves that while money can buy influence, it can’t buy peace or happiness.
What follows is a gripping courtroom drama filled with manipulation, power, and moral ambiguity, where public perception proves just as important as evidence. Beyond the crime itself, the book explores the cost of greed and desire, showing how scandal leaves lasting consequences. It’s a compelling read that proves that while money can buy influence, it can’t buy peace or happiness.
December 5, 2024
That took awhile! But it was good, just very detailed about this sad person’s life, (and I’m not talking about the murder victim). Candy needed so much attention it was pitiful. And that behavior hurt so many others. Selfish, narcissist, promiscuous, greedy, etc etc etc. That saying “hurt people hurt people” rings so true here. I am sure she was a product of a dysfunctional family. I am in no way excusing her actions, just trying to explain them. All of us grow up more or less scathed, but we are responsible for our behaviors as adults. Hopefully, we don’t pass on the bad. It’s obvious she did. P.S. I had never heard of this wild tale. UNBELIEVABLE.
October 4, 2020
Amigo, if you like your true crime full of white trash trailer park money grubbing murderous fools and lots of incest, this is the book for you! The nouveau riche of Houston (looking at you, River Oaks) was a hotbed for rejects from the mobile home "industry" and the whorehouses of New Orleans. And when those two rejects met, it was lust at first sight, never mind it was incestuous love between an aunt and her nephew. LOL. Purdy good buk with lotsa incest.
July 20, 2020
This story is mind boggling as to what lengths a greedy, narcissistic person will come up with or be willing to do for wealth. Just when you think you've read it all...
August 2, 2020
When I first started reading this book, I was completely lost. Each chapter seemed to be about different people and different families, with no real clear connection. Upon further reading, it seemed like they were somehow connected, but the connection wasn't clear, and some of the people, like the main character's mother or Jacques' relatives from the old country really had no bearing on the story at all. The pre-story details almost made me stop reading.
However, I didn't stop, and it was a very interesting story. True story. Candance Mosler, a platinum blonde bombshell from Georgia, marries the much older, very wealthy Jacques (Jack) Mosler. Jack was a self-made man who started as a mechanic and moved up the auto world. He made it big in the auto financing and banking industries. Candace, who was a pathological liar, would later claim she had a modeling agency, a modeling career, and a number of other businesses. One thing she actually did have was good business sense, because when she took over as chairman of some of Mosler's businesses, they continued to thrive. But "Candy" never fit in with the River Oaks Society Crowd even though she donated to many charities.
There were two problems with Candy, other than being a golddigger. One was her lust for fame, or even infamy. The second was her relationship with her nephew Melvin Lane Powers (her sister's son). He even lived with them in the mansion in River Oaks, Houston, before Jacques finally had him evicted. But the affair didn't stop. And not much later, Jacques ends up dead in his apartment in Key Biscayne where he lives when he is in Florida for business. Candace and Mel are arrested in Houston and extradited to Florida for the trial. They would be tried at the same time.
I won't ruin any of the juicy details for you, and there are plenty of them! Ron Smith researched, not only the trial, but every aspect of the lives of the major players in the story including Powers' attorney Percy Foreman, the man who defended James Earl Ray against charges of shooting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The reason I was drawn to this story is due to all of the ties to Houston where I live. The couple moved to Houston in 1950 and took up residence in a mansion in River Oaks which to this day is still full of palatial homes and upscale boutiques and eateries. I loved coming across names I knew such as Roy Hofheinz (former Mayor, Judge, and State Representative), John Connally (former Texas Governor and later US Secretary of the Navy), Marvin Zindler (former newscaster - also famous from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - he broke that story), Price Daniel (Texas Attorney General, State Senator, and Texas Governor twice), and even Chuck Berry who was a guest at the Mossler home from time to time. I found all of the ties to my hometown fascinating!
If you like true crime, especially a salacious trial, you'll probably like this book.
However, I didn't stop, and it was a very interesting story. True story. Candance Mosler, a platinum blonde bombshell from Georgia, marries the much older, very wealthy Jacques (Jack) Mosler. Jack was a self-made man who started as a mechanic and moved up the auto world. He made it big in the auto financing and banking industries. Candace, who was a pathological liar, would later claim she had a modeling agency, a modeling career, and a number of other businesses. One thing she actually did have was good business sense, because when she took over as chairman of some of Mosler's businesses, they continued to thrive. But "Candy" never fit in with the River Oaks Society Crowd even though she donated to many charities.
There were two problems with Candy, other than being a golddigger. One was her lust for fame, or even infamy. The second was her relationship with her nephew Melvin Lane Powers (her sister's son). He even lived with them in the mansion in River Oaks, Houston, before Jacques finally had him evicted. But the affair didn't stop. And not much later, Jacques ends up dead in his apartment in Key Biscayne where he lives when he is in Florida for business. Candace and Mel are arrested in Houston and extradited to Florida for the trial. They would be tried at the same time.
I won't ruin any of the juicy details for you, and there are plenty of them! Ron Smith researched, not only the trial, but every aspect of the lives of the major players in the story including Powers' attorney Percy Foreman, the man who defended James Earl Ray against charges of shooting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The reason I was drawn to this story is due to all of the ties to Houston where I live. The couple moved to Houston in 1950 and took up residence in a mansion in River Oaks which to this day is still full of palatial homes and upscale boutiques and eateries. I loved coming across names I knew such as Roy Hofheinz (former Mayor, Judge, and State Representative), John Connally (former Texas Governor and later US Secretary of the Navy), Marvin Zindler (former newscaster - also famous from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - he broke that story), Price Daniel (Texas Attorney General, State Senator, and Texas Governor twice), and even Chuck Berry who was a guest at the Mossler home from time to time. I found all of the ties to my hometown fascinating!
If you like true crime, especially a salacious trial, you'll probably like this book.
December 16, 2025
No One Is Perfect is a remarkable testament to Ron Smith’s talent as both a historian and storyteller. His careful research and ability to bring real people and events to life makes this book deeply engaging. I was particularly impressed by the way he captured the courage and perseverance of the Moscovici family, allowing readers to feel both the struggles and triumphs of their journey. Smith’s dedication to detail and respect for his subjects truly honor their stories, making this book an unforgettable read.
October 18, 2025
Seemed like this story went on forever. The only reason I give it 3 starts was because of the verdict.
June 27, 2020
Interesting
A long book to read...interesting and little repetitive in parts. Will look for more books like this in the future.
A long book to read...interesting and little repetitive in parts. Will look for more books like this in the future.
June 19, 2020
Fine book
A interesting read with massive amounts of detail. I live in Houston and was not aware of the case although I am old enough to have read the newspapers. Percy Foreman was a legend and I certainly remember him. I enjoyed it. Taught me a great amount.
A interesting read with massive amounts of detail. I live in Houston and was not aware of the case although I am old enough to have read the newspapers. Percy Foreman was a legend and I certainly remember him. I enjoyed it. Taught me a great amount.
January 11, 2020
No one is perfect. A perfect title for Candice
This is a very good book, which takes place in the sixties. It is well researched. The main character/person of interest is a nut job whom in my opinion, should have been put away for a very long time.
Candace and her nephew Melvin Lane Powers who was half her age commit incest,
Jack Mossler Candace husband is a millionaire and is murdered after he leaves the family home.
The only advice I can give to readers is be prepared for a whole lot of information and plenty of twists and turns. I have decided who killed Jack Mossler, but I will leave it up to you to decide anyway?
This is the first book I have read by the author and I am very impressed.
This is a very good book, which takes place in the sixties. It is well researched. The main character/person of interest is a nut job whom in my opinion, should have been put away for a very long time.
Candace and her nephew Melvin Lane Powers who was half her age commit incest,
Jack Mossler Candace husband is a millionaire and is murdered after he leaves the family home.
The only advice I can give to readers is be prepared for a whole lot of information and plenty of twists and turns. I have decided who killed Jack Mossler, but I will leave it up to you to decide anyway?
This is the first book I have read by the author and I am very impressed.
January 13, 2020
Fascinating!
Truth really is stranger than fiction. This was a very well written account of absolutely narcissistic people. Somehow, the author makes a long, drawn out story and trial into superbly interesting reading. I enjoyed his tongue in cheek comments throughout the story, too. It’s incomprehensible that people like the main characters exist in real life and the author does a brilliant job of relaying the long, complicated story. Some parts of the book were a little wordy and there were a lot of characters to keep up with, but overall, an interesting read. I finished it in three days!
Truth really is stranger than fiction. This was a very well written account of absolutely narcissistic people. Somehow, the author makes a long, drawn out story and trial into superbly interesting reading. I enjoyed his tongue in cheek comments throughout the story, too. It’s incomprehensible that people like the main characters exist in real life and the author does a brilliant job of relaying the long, complicated story. Some parts of the book were a little wordy and there were a lot of characters to keep up with, but overall, an interesting read. I finished it in three days!
June 2, 2020
Fascinating, Interesting and well written
I couldn’t set this down what a fascinating story. The background of the case, people involved, investigation and trial coverage are so interesting. It reveals the corruption, lies and secrets on both sides. I felt as if I was sitting in the courtroom during the trial. The author covers this complex story in its entirety yet keeps things moving. Their were no tedious, boring or difficult parts to follow.
I couldn’t set this down what a fascinating story. The background of the case, people involved, investigation and trial coverage are so interesting. It reveals the corruption, lies and secrets on both sides. I felt as if I was sitting in the courtroom during the trial. The author covers this complex story in its entirety yet keeps things moving. Their were no tedious, boring or difficult parts to follow.
Read
July 16, 2020Yesterday I purchased this book from amazon but after reading 2 pages I knew I had read this book and not even that long ago. To be honest I very much enjoyed the book but I made the mistake of googling what happened and then I did not really want to read it so I am not going to rate it.
it was very interesting. I liked the history of it and the writing, just not the outcome I guess.
Estimate reading at May /June
it was very interesting. I liked the history of it and the writing, just not the outcome I guess.
Estimate reading at May /June
January 6, 2020
Don't know how I missed this
This book is a really well written true crime story of a rich and scandalous woman who has her nephew kill her wealthy husband and all the madness that ensues. It takes place in the sixties which is interesting as it this murder had happened today investigators would have had no problem with finding digital evidence. Really good book. Five stars.
This book is a really well written true crime story of a rich and scandalous woman who has her nephew kill her wealthy husband and all the madness that ensues. It takes place in the sixties which is interesting as it this murder had happened today investigators would have had no problem with finding digital evidence. Really good book. Five stars.
April 9, 2020
Good Read
The author does a good job of holding the reader’s interest with his account of a scandalous woman and her lover. The book has all the elements of solid true crime writing. The only problem with this book, however, is the writer’s over abundant use of ill-placed commas, which made for awkward sentences and interrupted reading. Nonetheless, the book is worth reading.
The author does a good job of holding the reader’s interest with his account of a scandalous woman and her lover. The book has all the elements of solid true crime writing. The only problem with this book, however, is the writer’s over abundant use of ill-placed commas, which made for awkward sentences and interrupted reading. Nonetheless, the book is worth reading.
December 27, 2019
Wow! Well written with much detail on this true story!
It held my interest so much that I could hardly put it down! The only thing missing was pictures ...would love to have seen photos of all the players in this amazing story of greed and murder.
It held my interest so much that I could hardly put it down! The only thing missing was pictures ...would love to have seen photos of all the players in this amazing story of greed and murder.
February 6, 2020
A great, rivetting read about a true-life crime which puts OJ "in the shade"! It has everything e.g. money, sex, love, beauty, fame - except race, especially as it happened in Florida. Superbly written and researched.
February 12, 2020
The second part of title aptly describes this book. This true story is stranger than fiction. It is hard to read how the immoral Candace and her lover got away with murder. A well told, chilling to the bone tale.
May 5, 2020
Would rate this 4 1/2 stars. Was surprised to see how loosy goosy the law was in the sixties. Enjoyed the back stories on the characters. Didn’t know the case and was glad to find a true crime book that I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.
January 14, 2020
A boring book
This was a boring book but a interesting one of you like true crime books i would not read it again
This was a boring book but a interesting one of you like true crime books i would not read it again
February 20, 2020
Great read
Very Interesting, story line stayed on course, I would recommend this book, I chose the 5star rating because I never got bored reading the book
Very Interesting, story line stayed on course, I would recommend this book, I chose the 5star rating because I never got bored reading the book
March 6, 2020
A Page Turner
Beautifully written and held my attention throughout the entire scope of the book. It will keep you guessing and hungry for more.
Beautifully written and held my attention throughout the entire scope of the book. It will keep you guessing and hungry for more.
April 27, 2020
Very Good
As with a lot of true crime novels, there is a lot of detail. Oftentimes too much. What a sordid life ‘Candy’ maintained.
As with a lot of true crime novels, there is a lot of detail. Oftentimes too much. What a sordid life ‘Candy’ maintained.
May 28, 2020
Easy flow
Average well written true crime story. Not really lacking in anything except pop or gripping hold. Good story none the less.
Average well written true crime story. Not really lacking in anything except pop or gripping hold. Good story none the less.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews