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Deadly Dose: The Untold Story of a Homicide Investigator's Crusade for Truth and Justice
The crime was unforgivable.
The suspected murderer—unbelievable.
One man’s pursuit of justice—unstoppable.
The death of promising young pediatric AIDS researcher Eric Miller stunned the Raleigh, North Carolina, community, largely because of the horrific way he was killed. For months, Eric was slowly tortured as arsenic consumed his body.
No one thought that Eric Miller’s wife, Ann—an attractive, demure, educated scientist—could be capable of such a horrible crime. No one except for veteran homicide investigator Chris Morgan, a man in the twilight of his career. But from the moment Morgan saw the thirty-year-old widow in the interview room at the police department, he knew he was seeing pure evil.
Now, journalist Amanda Lamb details Morgan’s dogged investigation—a quest for the truth that would last four years and see another life taken before Ann Miller’s tangled web of death and deceit finally came to light.
The suspected murderer—unbelievable.
One man’s pursuit of justice—unstoppable.
The death of promising young pediatric AIDS researcher Eric Miller stunned the Raleigh, North Carolina, community, largely because of the horrific way he was killed. For months, Eric was slowly tortured as arsenic consumed his body.
No one thought that Eric Miller’s wife, Ann—an attractive, demure, educated scientist—could be capable of such a horrible crime. No one except for veteran homicide investigator Chris Morgan, a man in the twilight of his career. But from the moment Morgan saw the thirty-year-old widow in the interview room at the police department, he knew he was seeing pure evil.
Now, journalist Amanda Lamb details Morgan’s dogged investigation—a quest for the truth that would last four years and see another life taken before Ann Miller’s tangled web of death and deceit finally came to light.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 3, 2008
80 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Lamb
21 books145 followersIn addition to being an author, Amanda Lamb is an accomplished public speaker, podcaster and veteran television crime reporter. She worked for an award-winning NBC affiliate in the southeast for nearly three decades. She also hosted, co-wrote, and co-produced three true crime podcasts including "Follow the Truth," "What Remains," and "The Killing Month August 1978." "Follow the Truth" won the regional Edward R. Murrow award for excellence in journalism. Currently, she hosts and produces "AGELESS: Opening Doors with Amanda Lamb" which is about women transforming themselves personally and professionally after fifty. This is the focus of her keynote speech about not allowing age to define your value and your potential. She shares her wisdom and inspiration with audiences across the country.
Amanda's newest thriller, Whispers on the Mountain, is due out in September 2025. It features a dogged newspaper reporter who arrives at a mountain resort only to learn there is a missing hiker. She can't ignore the tug of the compelling mystery swirling around her in the beautiful but dangerous North Carolina mountains. Amanda hopes this will be the first installment in a new murder mystery series.
Amanda has published twelve books in dramatically different genres from murder mysteries, to true crime books, to touching and humorous memoirs, to children's books. From murder cases to motherhood, Amanda examines life through the lens of a curious journalist who is constantly observing and documenting everything in her path with deep interest, insight, and compassion.
She has written a murder mystery series about a tenacious television journalist seeking truth and justice all while juggling her own intriguing backstory. These novels from Torchflame Books include "Dead Last," "Lies that Bind," and "No Wake Zone."
As a journalist, Amanda can only report about ten percent of what she knows, but her novels peel back the veil of the news industry and give readers an intimate peek into the world of journalism through the eyes of a crime beat reporter. While the people and stories in her books are fictional, they are all loosely based on real-life scenarios Amanda has encountered in her more than three decades in the trenches.
Amanda has also penned three true crime books which include "Love Lies," the saga of a young mother who disappeared after her husband said she went jogging and never returned home. In a desperate search for the truth her friends and family circle the wagons demanding answers-answers that ultimately expose a grim tragedy in the small, idyllic southern town. "Evil Next Door" features the story of a brutal rape and murder case Amanda covered as a news reporter. The victim, a young woman who was just beginning to live into her potential, was stalked and killed by a suspected serial killer who left copious amounts of DNA in his path, but little else for investigators to go on. They play a dangerous of game of cat and mouse with the police trying to lure the killer into their trap. "Deadly Dose" is a true crime story about a young up-and-coming scientist who was poisoned by someone in his inner circle. A dogged, old-school investigator refuses to give up in his relentless pursuit of the truth, a truth far more gruesome than anyone could have imagined.
Amanda's memoirs include "The Living Room" which chronicles her 80-day journey caring for her mother who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. In the midst of tragedy, Amanda learns how to live from her dying mother. The darkness is tinged with light as her mother's departure becomes a celebration of a life and an inspiration to those around her.
Amanda's parenting memoirs include "I Love You to God and Back" which chronicles her young daughter's prayers giving the reader a glimpse into the way adults see the world through a child's eyes. There is also a companion child's book of the same title. "Girls Gone Child" chronicles Amanda's daughters' sometimes outrag
Amanda's newest thriller, Whispers on the Mountain, is due out in September 2025. It features a dogged newspaper reporter who arrives at a mountain resort only to learn there is a missing hiker. She can't ignore the tug of the compelling mystery swirling around her in the beautiful but dangerous North Carolina mountains. Amanda hopes this will be the first installment in a new murder mystery series.
Amanda has published twelve books in dramatically different genres from murder mysteries, to true crime books, to touching and humorous memoirs, to children's books. From murder cases to motherhood, Amanda examines life through the lens of a curious journalist who is constantly observing and documenting everything in her path with deep interest, insight, and compassion.
She has written a murder mystery series about a tenacious television journalist seeking truth and justice all while juggling her own intriguing backstory. These novels from Torchflame Books include "Dead Last," "Lies that Bind," and "No Wake Zone."
As a journalist, Amanda can only report about ten percent of what she knows, but her novels peel back the veil of the news industry and give readers an intimate peek into the world of journalism through the eyes of a crime beat reporter. While the people and stories in her books are fictional, they are all loosely based on real-life scenarios Amanda has encountered in her more than three decades in the trenches.
Amanda has also penned three true crime books which include "Love Lies," the saga of a young mother who disappeared after her husband said she went jogging and never returned home. In a desperate search for the truth her friends and family circle the wagons demanding answers-answers that ultimately expose a grim tragedy in the small, idyllic southern town. "Evil Next Door" features the story of a brutal rape and murder case Amanda covered as a news reporter. The victim, a young woman who was just beginning to live into her potential, was stalked and killed by a suspected serial killer who left copious amounts of DNA in his path, but little else for investigators to go on. They play a dangerous of game of cat and mouse with the police trying to lure the killer into their trap. "Deadly Dose" is a true crime story about a young up-and-coming scientist who was poisoned by someone in his inner circle. A dogged, old-school investigator refuses to give up in his relentless pursuit of the truth, a truth far more gruesome than anyone could have imagined.
Amanda's memoirs include "The Living Room" which chronicles her 80-day journey caring for her mother who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. In the midst of tragedy, Amanda learns how to live from her dying mother. The darkness is tinged with light as her mother's departure becomes a celebration of a life and an inspiration to those around her.
Amanda's parenting memoirs include "I Love You to God and Back" which chronicles her young daughter's prayers giving the reader a glimpse into the way adults see the world through a child's eyes. There is also a companion child's book of the same title. "Girls Gone Child" chronicles Amanda's daughters' sometimes outrag
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 9, 2011
I found myself completely fascinated by this case in large part due to the way the author laid the book out. Told from the perspective of the leading homicide investigator,she begins the book with him sitting down in his comfy leather chair to tell about the investigation which took years to resolve and one which he never gave up on. Told entirely in his words she done an excellent job capturing not just his emotions throughout the long drawn out process but also the emotions of the victims family.
My heart aches for them, that their son was taken from them and his daughter at such a young age by someone who was supposed to love and cherish him. I've read many many true crime books in my life (being one of my favorite genres) and have never fed into the "must prove a motive" that all prosecutors feel they must have to make a case. Some people are just pure evil and if this book doesn't prove that I know of none that ever has. She is a total psychopath, who masqueraded as normal and led a functional life. That's scary folks, cause that is what a psychopath does, they're good at it and she sure was. I was very disappointed that she got away with such a light sentence in view of the horribly cruel and painful way she killed the man who worshiped her. Sometimes there just is no justice. I highly recommend this book, I found it to be intriguing and so unlike any other true crime I have ever read that it just put it over the top for me.
My heart aches for them, that their son was taken from them and his daughter at such a young age by someone who was supposed to love and cherish him. I've read many many true crime books in my life (being one of my favorite genres) and have never fed into the "must prove a motive" that all prosecutors feel they must have to make a case. Some people are just pure evil and if this book doesn't prove that I know of none that ever has. She is a total psychopath, who masqueraded as normal and led a functional life. That's scary folks, cause that is what a psychopath does, they're good at it and she sure was. I was very disappointed that she got away with such a light sentence in view of the horribly cruel and painful way she killed the man who worshiped her. Sometimes there just is no justice. I highly recommend this book, I found it to be intriguing and so unlike any other true crime I have ever read that it just put it over the top for me.
January 17, 2016
Despite the subtitle of "the untold story of a homicide investigator's crusade for truth and justice" potential readers might assume, as I did, that this book would provide an understanding of the crime, the victim (Eric Miller) and the murderer (Ann Miller). I am sorry to report this is not the case. Maybe a detailed police procedural showing the ins and outs of the investigation, you hope? Not so fast my friend. How about a reasonably chronological telling of the investigation itself, you ask. Au contraire. What will you get?
Would you believe repeated hints about the weight of the cop in question along with regular updates on his sartorial tastes accompanied by detours into other investigations that have nothing to do with the Miller case? I've read some bad true crime in my years but this is truly one of the lamest. This is not the story of the Eric Miller case in any way, shape or form. It is, at best, several years in the life of policeman Chris Morgan who happens to be in charge of the Miller case for some of those years. Which would be lame enough but the way Amanda Lamb tells this story makes it a thousand times worse.
First, Amanda Lamb seems to be under the impression that Chris Morgan is a piece of rare Americana. An investigative Rousseau, helping humankind to see life in a completely new way. Also, she's obsessed with his physique. Think I'm exaggerating? In the first 10 pages Lamb alludes to Morgan's size 5 times. His "ample frame", "formidable frame", fears that his favorite chair will collapse under his weight, etc. For the rest of the book few pages go by without another reminder that Morgan is a big guy. So many reminders that I began to wonder if perhaps we were dealing with a badge-wearing Jabba the Hutt. This was distracting to say the least. When the action (and I use that word with caution) includes Morgan hiding in the bushes to watch arch criminal Ann Miller not leave her house for hours my thoughts immediately turned to "my God, how large IS that oleander bush?"
Other aspects of Morgan's anatomy make frequent appearances. There's his "gut" for example. Morgan's gut is pretty special. Whereas the average gut gives hints about feelings and the odd bit of intuition, Morgan's gut provides detailed facts. "His gut told him it was not his shift, not his squad". His gut can tell time AND read the duty roster. Amazing! Then there's his head, which is really only mentioned so that we can read more about Morgan's endlessly fascinating white fedora. Police fashion - does true crime get any better?
Here's a tip for all true crime writers: There is very little reason for ongoing detailed descriptions of police attire for the simple fact that it comes in only two flavors: uniform and plainclothes. Yes, there is a subset of plainclothes specific to "undercover" but that is dictated by the situation and is not indicative of the character of the wearer. The specifics of the plainclothes may be described one for the sake of completeness or to provide "insight" into the personality of the police officer in question but regular updates on the apparel choice of the day are not necessary. Years of reading true crime have given me ample opportunities to ponder this and I can confidently say that the only scenario in which ongoing sartorial info is required would be if the police officer liked to dress as a different circus performer on a rotating basis. A tutu on Monday, the lion tamer outfit on Tuesday, the clown suit on Wednesday. Other than that, leave the clothes out of the narrative.
This book is awful. I don't know what Chris Morgan is like but he can't possibly be the self-enchanted oaf Lamb depicts. In her telling, Morgan spends the first half of the book criticizing Sgt Fluck's handling of the Miller case (Morgan's not even on in), jumping to the conclusion that Ann Miller is guilty because ... well, because he knows it, and spouting wisdom like "the truth is simple, if it's not simple, it's not the truth." The hilarity is just getting rolling though, since once Morgan is actually assigned to the case he doesn't get around to reading the case files until two years after the murder. Who would expect to find probative, investigative information in the case files! He actually says he doesn't want to understand Ann Miller or any other criminal. He knowledge of the victim appears limited to his regional prejudices of the Midwest.
It is a dark, dark day when a true crime book leaves the reader wondering if the plus-size flat foot in charge didn't create a case against a woman just because he decided she was a "psychopath", a "criminal mastermind," and a "master manipulator" without a single fact to back up any of his pronouncements. I do think Ann Miller is guilty but since Lamb doesn't see fit to tell us what the investigators actually learned and never provides insights from people who knew Eric or Ann I can only imagine what facts were. Why show us anything when we can just bask in Chris Morgan's profundities, such as "it's no mystery crime makes people stupid"? Apparently it's especially brutal on the IQs of certain crime writers.
I'm hard pressed to pick the worst thing in this book. The phrase "prior murderess events" is convoluted and meaningless but the winner has to be Lamb spending pages on the fact that a friend of Ann Miller is playing The Dixie Chicks "Earl's Gotta Die" when the police question her. I hate country music in all forms and even I know the song is called "Goodbye Earl" and that it sounds nothing like a "funeral dirge" nor is it likely to "waft" anywhere. Oh, and William of Ockham was a monk and a philosopher, not a mathematician.
Even the ending, thankful as I was for it, was lousy. More time is spent on the question of Chris Morgan's retirement - will the showboating arm of the law start drawing his pension before he final star turn at the trial? - then on any aspect of the trial. It ends with Morgan being "finished with it", just SO over it, "alone with his tortured soul."
When in the acknowledgements section Lamb thanks her "collaborators" it actually took me a second to realize that she did not use that word in the sense of "those who assist the enemy." Some stories really are better left untold if they're going to be told with staggering ineptitude.
(I brought this review over from Amazon, where I first posted it.)
Would you believe repeated hints about the weight of the cop in question along with regular updates on his sartorial tastes accompanied by detours into other investigations that have nothing to do with the Miller case? I've read some bad true crime in my years but this is truly one of the lamest. This is not the story of the Eric Miller case in any way, shape or form. It is, at best, several years in the life of policeman Chris Morgan who happens to be in charge of the Miller case for some of those years. Which would be lame enough but the way Amanda Lamb tells this story makes it a thousand times worse.
First, Amanda Lamb seems to be under the impression that Chris Morgan is a piece of rare Americana. An investigative Rousseau, helping humankind to see life in a completely new way. Also, she's obsessed with his physique. Think I'm exaggerating? In the first 10 pages Lamb alludes to Morgan's size 5 times. His "ample frame", "formidable frame", fears that his favorite chair will collapse under his weight, etc. For the rest of the book few pages go by without another reminder that Morgan is a big guy. So many reminders that I began to wonder if perhaps we were dealing with a badge-wearing Jabba the Hutt. This was distracting to say the least. When the action (and I use that word with caution) includes Morgan hiding in the bushes to watch arch criminal Ann Miller not leave her house for hours my thoughts immediately turned to "my God, how large IS that oleander bush?"
Other aspects of Morgan's anatomy make frequent appearances. There's his "gut" for example. Morgan's gut is pretty special. Whereas the average gut gives hints about feelings and the odd bit of intuition, Morgan's gut provides detailed facts. "His gut told him it was not his shift, not his squad". His gut can tell time AND read the duty roster. Amazing! Then there's his head, which is really only mentioned so that we can read more about Morgan's endlessly fascinating white fedora. Police fashion - does true crime get any better?
Here's a tip for all true crime writers: There is very little reason for ongoing detailed descriptions of police attire for the simple fact that it comes in only two flavors: uniform and plainclothes. Yes, there is a subset of plainclothes specific to "undercover" but that is dictated by the situation and is not indicative of the character of the wearer. The specifics of the plainclothes may be described one for the sake of completeness or to provide "insight" into the personality of the police officer in question but regular updates on the apparel choice of the day are not necessary. Years of reading true crime have given me ample opportunities to ponder this and I can confidently say that the only scenario in which ongoing sartorial info is required would be if the police officer liked to dress as a different circus performer on a rotating basis. A tutu on Monday, the lion tamer outfit on Tuesday, the clown suit on Wednesday. Other than that, leave the clothes out of the narrative.
This book is awful. I don't know what Chris Morgan is like but he can't possibly be the self-enchanted oaf Lamb depicts. In her telling, Morgan spends the first half of the book criticizing Sgt Fluck's handling of the Miller case (Morgan's not even on in), jumping to the conclusion that Ann Miller is guilty because ... well, because he knows it, and spouting wisdom like "the truth is simple, if it's not simple, it's not the truth." The hilarity is just getting rolling though, since once Morgan is actually assigned to the case he doesn't get around to reading the case files until two years after the murder. Who would expect to find probative, investigative information in the case files! He actually says he doesn't want to understand Ann Miller or any other criminal. He knowledge of the victim appears limited to his regional prejudices of the Midwest.
It is a dark, dark day when a true crime book leaves the reader wondering if the plus-size flat foot in charge didn't create a case against a woman just because he decided she was a "psychopath", a "criminal mastermind," and a "master manipulator" without a single fact to back up any of his pronouncements. I do think Ann Miller is guilty but since Lamb doesn't see fit to tell us what the investigators actually learned and never provides insights from people who knew Eric or Ann I can only imagine what facts were. Why show us anything when we can just bask in Chris Morgan's profundities, such as "it's no mystery crime makes people stupid"? Apparently it's especially brutal on the IQs of certain crime writers.
I'm hard pressed to pick the worst thing in this book. The phrase "prior murderess events" is convoluted and meaningless but the winner has to be Lamb spending pages on the fact that a friend of Ann Miller is playing The Dixie Chicks "Earl's Gotta Die" when the police question her. I hate country music in all forms and even I know the song is called "Goodbye Earl" and that it sounds nothing like a "funeral dirge" nor is it likely to "waft" anywhere. Oh, and William of Ockham was a monk and a philosopher, not a mathematician.
Even the ending, thankful as I was for it, was lousy. More time is spent on the question of Chris Morgan's retirement - will the showboating arm of the law start drawing his pension before he final star turn at the trial? - then on any aspect of the trial. It ends with Morgan being "finished with it", just SO over it, "alone with his tortured soul."
When in the acknowledgements section Lamb thanks her "collaborators" it actually took me a second to realize that she did not use that word in the sense of "those who assist the enemy." Some stories really are better left untold if they're going to be told with staggering ineptitude.
(I brought this review over from Amazon, where I first posted it.)
February 23, 2015
Why I'm interested in this book at the first place..
I found out about it through an episode of 48 Hours..and in a couple of other true crime documentaries.It amazes me since it was featured so many times on tv,and I was like,"Dang,this one's sorta high-profile and I gotta read the book"
What do I think about this book..now that I've done reading it..
Just so you know it was presented through the viewpoint of the lead detective,Lieutenant Chris Morgan.
+
- the narration is a no-nonsense,concise and straight-to-the-point. (Thumbs up,Amanda)
- Mr Morgan's tenacity.I just can't imagine if this case doesn't get solved..
- behind-the-scenes with the people involved in this case.
-
- since it's Mr Morgan's point of view,there were some snippets of his activities outside of the case.Okay,okay..it shows that he's human,but I skipped that portion,pardon me.
- no pictures.Well,I'd appreciate a "bonus feature" section where you can put some face to the events.
- it'd be great to have the author's thoughts on this,in a page or two.
Get this
- if you're a fan of true crime
- if you haven't heard of this case before (neither do I,I was a high-schooler when this happened)
- if you really,really interested on how the mysteries unfold.
I found out about it through an episode of 48 Hours..and in a couple of other true crime documentaries.It amazes me since it was featured so many times on tv,and I was like,"Dang,this one's sorta high-profile and I gotta read the book"
What do I think about this book..now that I've done reading it..
Just so you know it was presented through the viewpoint of the lead detective,Lieutenant Chris Morgan.
+
- the narration is a no-nonsense,concise and straight-to-the-point. (Thumbs up,Amanda)
- Mr Morgan's tenacity.I just can't imagine if this case doesn't get solved..
- behind-the-scenes with the people involved in this case.
-
- since it's Mr Morgan's point of view,there were some snippets of his activities outside of the case.Okay,okay..it shows that he's human,but I skipped that portion,pardon me.
- no pictures.Well,I'd appreciate a "bonus feature" section where you can put some face to the events.
- it'd be great to have the author's thoughts on this,in a page or two.
Get this
- if you're a fan of true crime
- if you haven't heard of this case before (neither do I,I was a high-schooler when this happened)
- if you really,really interested on how the mysteries unfold.
October 14, 2015
Interesting and disturbing read about a real life torturous murder of an upstanding and accomplished man who was just beginning to apply and enjoy all he worked for. His wife decided she would put an end to all of that. The book held my attention and was very engaging. Sociopaths are all around us I guess, and come in all types of packages-some always putting on sweet deceptive fronts. It's amazing how they can have so many fooled and manipulated. Ann Miller destroyed so many lives and just smirks into the camera. Too bad someone didn't realize and expose her number before she had the chance to murder. I think she secretly enjoys what she thinks is her power to control. Although now her game is over (even though I bet she still doesn't think so), as her true colors burn forever in history.
February 18, 2018
I picked this book up because I was familiar with the case and interested in learning more. What a disappointment. I only got one chapter in but hate the writing so much I can’t even continue. This book is not about the case but about the detective, not about how he solved the case but about how every statement someone made would result in a “this just doesn’t feel right” statement. I rolled my eyes several times while reading. I really don’t care that the detective (not even his case by the way) thinks that someone who says the victim was in a happy marriage (oh, it’s “somethings not right here”). I want to hear the details of the investigation. Flipping through the rest of the book it doesn’t seem like that changes much. The author also was trying too hard to dramatize the simplest of things like the detective sitting in a chair.
January 20, 2013
I bought this book for a few reasons. This was all over the news here years ago and Amanda Lamb is well known for all the news stories she has covered in this area along with the investigators who had to cover this case.
This book leaves you amazed at what people are capable of, shocked and heart broken. You always wonder why people can seem so in love but yet, not. It's a very scarey thing. He died not knowing the person he trusted and loved, is the person who killed him. Not only did she kill one man, she skillfully killed two with no remorse. She ruined families forever.
I really hope one day they find out, WHY.
Lust seems to be more powerful than Love....
I hope Amanda keeps writing more true crime.
This book leaves you amazed at what people are capable of, shocked and heart broken. You always wonder why people can seem so in love but yet, not. It's a very scarey thing. He died not knowing the person he trusted and loved, is the person who killed him. Not only did she kill one man, she skillfully killed two with no remorse. She ruined families forever.
I really hope one day they find out, WHY.
Lust seems to be more powerful than Love....
I hope Amanda keeps writing more true crime.
January 24, 2016
This tormenting real life murder should be turned into a major block buster movie! It has all of the elements that would be hard to make up if it wasn't so true. (sex, manipulation, deceit, infidelity, horrific poisoning, pawns, clueless characters, a "Colombo" type investigator that won't be fooled or give up, lawyers and their privileges, court decisions, suicide, slut- like behaviors, weird fake behaviors, a family that enables, users, etc.-goes on and on) A must read and so interesting because it's a true story. Your creep-meter will spin as you turn the pages when you think that there really are people in the world like this. Told through an investigators eyes, this book is a recommended read!
April 15, 2009
A piercing look into the inner workings of the Raleigh NC District Attorneys office and police department. Although they knew Ann Miller murdered her husband, they waited YEARS to indict her. I suppose in the end, getting a conviction was important, but I hated to see her going about her new life without a care, until she was finally charged & convicted.
February 1, 2016
Meet Investigator Chris Morgan who was on a quest for the truth. For Chris there are two types of murderers ; first, The Impersonal, where there victims die quickly and do not suffer. These murderers kill for money then there is the second kind that gets pleasure out of watching their victims suffer.
Ann Miller is such a murdered, she watched her husband, Dr. Eric Miller, a promising Pediatric AIDS researcher, die a thousand small deaths over a period of time until his suffering was finally over at 2:50AM on December 2,2000 at Rex Hospital in Raleigh,N.C.
Arsenic was her choice of weapon, arsenic poisoning is a very slow tortured way to die painful it also makes the victim suffer greatly.
Investigator Morgan can't understand why the promising AIDS researcher had to die this way. As you read the hows and whys this took place you will find it hard to believe that someone could be be so evil.
This book is very descriptive of how Ann Miller carried out and plotted her husband demise . I gave this book 5 stars
Ann Miller is such a murdered, she watched her husband, Dr. Eric Miller, a promising Pediatric AIDS researcher, die a thousand small deaths over a period of time until his suffering was finally over at 2:50AM on December 2,2000 at Rex Hospital in Raleigh,N.C.
Arsenic was her choice of weapon, arsenic poisoning is a very slow tortured way to die painful it also makes the victim suffer greatly.
Investigator Morgan can't understand why the promising AIDS researcher had to die this way. As you read the hows and whys this took place you will find it hard to believe that someone could be be so evil.
This book is very descriptive of how Ann Miller carried out and plotted her husband demise . I gave this book 5 stars
August 10, 2019
Fascinating-The book is an engaging and quick read that's all the more interesting because it's a true story. Scary to know there are people in the world that seem sweet and demure yet are evil to the core. And... they keep on smiling! Even scarier to know that so many people can easily be fooled by their phony masks. It's comforting to know that there are some dedicated and intelligent detectives that can see through the facade and get to the truth. After reading the book, you will realize how one person can destroy families now and in the future and cause so much evil heart-ache. Ann Miller got off so easy for such a cruel, tormenting murder; while Eric Miller is dead and his family will continues to suffer. An interesting book that's worth the read because it's true to life. Peace to the Miller family.
October 18, 2009
I followed this case as it was unfolding, all the more intrigued because it happened so close to home. That anyone could murder the winsome Eric Miller is hard to imagine; least of that his psychopathic wife did it so subtly and heinously, and without remorse ... chilling. This book is a good read; Amanda Lamb was there throughout the proceedings,and she gives the true crime story an interesting twist by concentrating on the perspective of the homicide detective and how he was affected by the case. The writing is nice, the story compelling; the tragic loss of two bright young men, both fathers, unspeakable.
December 2, 2016
Wow is all I have to say about this story. Ann Miller Kontz is so terrible for killing her husband and causing the death of her former lover. The only reason why she was probably able to found guilty was by a legal case to get her deceased lover's talk with his lawyer. The question about what the man said to his lawyer was protected by attorney client privilege? Could it incriminate a dead man enough to fine his family for the death of Eric Miller? These question are dealt with and answered in this book in regards to this case. It was extremely well written and I found myself drawn into the story of a master manipulator who was used to getting what she wanted.
August 1, 2008
This was a very well-written account of the investigation of the murder of Eric Miller, a pediatric AIDS research scientist. The hero of this story is the tenacious Chris Morgan, a homicide detective, with the Raleigh, NC, police department.
Getting to a guilty plea by Miller's wife took five years and legal wrangling to find out what was in a suicide note and what a coworker of Ann Miller's told his lawyer before he committed suicide.
Kudos to the author, Amanda Lamb, the WRAL reporter who covered the case from start to finish.
Getting to a guilty plea by Miller's wife took five years and legal wrangling to find out what was in a suicide note and what a coworker of Ann Miller's told his lawyer before he committed suicide.
Kudos to the author, Amanda Lamb, the WRAL reporter who covered the case from start to finish.
September 26, 2017
Hard to read book on an incredible case that took place in North Carolina-the true story of Ann Miller, who killed her husband Eric Miller for....who knows? She wasn't smart enough to take out a huge insurance policy on him. Ann Miller is the real mystery....but the behind the scenes action with the Medical examiner assigned to the case, and the prosecutor Tom Ford who seemed to throw a wrench in the detectives plan to arrest Ann Miller is even more interesting. The book is uneven, but the case is intriguing.
November 3, 2008
Fast read, about a case that took place in NC, and the long term efforts of the police force and DA to bring a killer to justice. The killer is cold as ice, the victim was one of the nicest guys on the planet. A glimpse of what it can take to close these cases (to offset the one hour closure rate from Law and Order fans like myself).
February 14, 2009
Read this for a book club discussion. I don't usually read this genre. I don't remember this crime. It was very interesting. Thank goodness for detectives who never give up. This woman was pure evil!!!
April 25, 2017
There's very little of the crime and even less of possible motivation mentioned. The killer and her victim take a backseat to the investigator---HOWEVER--the victim and the killer are FAR more interesting than anybody else in the case.
July 17, 2018
True Crime Story
This is a good book one that opens up a mystery and he tells the readeexactly how the police ghost solved it. The policeman who solved it
was intelligent and focused. The stpry is interesting and entertaining
This is a good book one that opens up a mystery and he tells the readeexactly how the police ghost solved it. The policeman who solved it
was intelligent and focused. The stpry is interesting and entertaining
June 20, 2008
My friend wrote this book, you've got to read it! Check out the web site for the book to see where she will be having book signings this summer and fall.
March 30, 2010
Interesting story, but the book itself is incredibly repetitive and padded.
July 28, 2010
This book was pretty trashy. I only read it because I was looking for an "easy read" and it was about a local murder case. The story itself was interesting, but the writing was quite amateurish.
May 29, 2014
I loved that this book was written from the detective's perspective. It really turned what would have been a boring book into a great read.
July 13, 2019
I could not put this book down! Could be that it’s a local case that I followed closely at the time of the media coverage, but the full details were fascinating to read. I found it well written and the passion of the main investigator came through as truly heartfelt. I’m so glad the police and prosecutors never stopped seeking justice for Eric Miller and his family.
December 8, 2020
Poorly written and told 100% from the detectives' POV. I wanted to learn about the case, not a small town's hick detective (who wanted to arrest pretty much everyone he came across.) It was just bad.
December 16, 2020
A great chilling read. Amanda Lamb does an fabulous job telling the story of an evil wife who decided she wanted to take the slow poisoning route to do away with her husband as she screwed around even after just having a baby. What's even more amazing is how the wife completely deceives and plays those around her for complete simpletons, as they believe her "poor me" charade. Many other twists to this true story. Hard to put down. Read for a book discussion group. Recommended!
July 2, 2019
Exceptional true crime book
Another masterpiece of true crime by this author. This book is about a selfish, psychopathic female who decided that it was easier to murder her husband than it was to divorce him. It also details the incredible dedication and diligence of a police department and specifically one detective who never stopped searching for the answers. A must read for all true crime aficionados.
Another masterpiece of true crime by this author. This book is about a selfish, psychopathic female who decided that it was easier to murder her husband than it was to divorce him. It also details the incredible dedication and diligence of a police department and specifically one detective who never stopped searching for the answers. A must read for all true crime aficionados.
May 25, 2019
Well done
I enjoyed reading this account and am so sorry for the loss the Miller family feels every day. This account by Chris Morgan helps you feel like you are a part of the journey. The heartache the frustration all of it. I also feel for Darryl Willards family. They too have suffered that ultimately was because of Ann Miller. Good true crime read.
I enjoyed reading this account and am so sorry for the loss the Miller family feels every day. This account by Chris Morgan helps you feel like you are a part of the journey. The heartache the frustration all of it. I also feel for Darryl Willards family. They too have suffered that ultimately was because of Ann Miller. Good true crime read.
February 13, 2019
I think using more sources would have helped this book. It's told completely from detective Chris Morgan's point of view, so every page is "Morgan this, Morgan that, Morgan said, Morgan did, Morgan thought, Morgan felt..."
March 24, 2020
Four solid stars and recommended for true crime readers. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the book intriguing in a sad but true story sense. I just don’t know that there was enough “story” for a full-length book. The audio version was perfect listening for my workout times.
December 14, 2008
it is a true crime, kind of slow for my taste. but not to bad
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