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Crime Files #1
A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases
This first installment in the New York Times bestselling Crime Files series is a chilling collection of shocking crimes and the ensuing struggles to bring the perpetrators to justice—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Beside Me . Soon to be a Lifetime original movie.
The “country’s premier true crime author” ( Library Journal ) brings her clear-eyed, compassionate writing and investigative skills to this unputdownable anthology. Distinguished by the former Seattle police officer’s razor-sharp eye for detail and her penetrating analysis of the criminal mind, the featured case in this collection is the twisted story of Randy Roth—a man who married, and murdered, for profit. Following are compelling tales of bloody vengeance, estranged relationships that turn deadly, and fateful encounters. With her trademark “unwavering voice” ( Publishers Weekly ), Ann Rule exposes the darkness that lurks among us.
The “country’s premier true crime author” ( Library Journal ) brings her clear-eyed, compassionate writing and investigative skills to this unputdownable anthology. Distinguished by the former Seattle police officer’s razor-sharp eye for detail and her penetrating analysis of the criminal mind, the featured case in this collection is the twisted story of Randy Roth—a man who married, and murdered, for profit. Following are compelling tales of bloody vengeance, estranged relationships that turn deadly, and fateful encounters. With her trademark “unwavering voice” ( Publishers Weekly ), Ann Rule exposes the darkness that lurks among us.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1993
1537 people are currently reading
5065 people want to read
About the author
Ann Rule
141 books4,511 followersAnn Rule was a popular American true crime writer. Raised in a law enforcement and criminal justice system environment, she grew up wanting to work in law enforcement herself. She was a former Seattle Policewoman and was well educated in psychology and criminology.
She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders. At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis Clinic, giving her a unique distinction among true crime writers.
Rule won two Anthony Awards from Bouchercon, the mystery fans' organization. She was nominated three times for the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. She is highly regarded for creating the true crime genre as it exists today.
Ann Rule also wrote under the name Andy Stack . Her daughter is Goodreads author Leslie Rule.
She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders. At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis Clinic, giving her a unique distinction among true crime writers.
Rule won two Anthony Awards from Bouchercon, the mystery fans' organization. She was nominated three times for the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. She is highly regarded for creating the true crime genre as it exists today.
Ann Rule also wrote under the name Andy Stack . Her daughter is Goodreads author Leslie Rule.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
December 13, 2018
Only Ms. Rule could have written so diplomatically about the man that married, then murdered for insurance money.
August 31, 2024
I never thought I'd be a true crime addict, but I've lately discovered some great true crime books and authors, and I wish I hadn't, because I can't seem to stop reading them.
Ann Rule is one of those authors. The Grande Dame of the true crime genre, Rule has written dozens of best-selling and award-winning books, including one of the definitive works on serial killer Ted Bundy, "The Stranger Beside Me". Many of her books have become movies.
In 1993, Rule published the first volume in her Crime Files series, "A Rose For Her Grave And Other True Cases". It is a compilation of nonfiction stories about real-life murder.
"Riveting" does not begin to describe her writing. Rule writes in a very straightforward manner. One could say that it is almost dry, kind of what one would expect from a thoroughly-detailed police report. (She was a police officer early in her career, which helps to explain that.) And yet she manages to capture the humanity and the deep psychological underpinnings of some of the most vile crimes one human can commit against another.
This book would be un-put-downable except for the fact that it deals with some extremely awful real-life cases. I had to set the book aside several times for mental and spiritual breathers.
Rule published about a baker's dozen more in this series, and I want to read them all.
Ann Rule is one of those authors. The Grande Dame of the true crime genre, Rule has written dozens of best-selling and award-winning books, including one of the definitive works on serial killer Ted Bundy, "The Stranger Beside Me". Many of her books have become movies.
In 1993, Rule published the first volume in her Crime Files series, "A Rose For Her Grave And Other True Cases". It is a compilation of nonfiction stories about real-life murder.
"Riveting" does not begin to describe her writing. Rule writes in a very straightforward manner. One could say that it is almost dry, kind of what one would expect from a thoroughly-detailed police report. (She was a police officer early in her career, which helps to explain that.) And yet she manages to capture the humanity and the deep psychological underpinnings of some of the most vile crimes one human can commit against another.
This book would be un-put-downable except for the fact that it deals with some extremely awful real-life cases. I had to set the book aside several times for mental and spiritual breathers.
Rule published about a baker's dozen more in this series, and I want to read them all.
April 10, 2017
The centerpiece to this look at murder cases is Rule focusing on the case of Randy Roth. Rule calls him a modern day Bluebeard and the comparison is apt.
Roth we find truly hates women and woos with the plan to marry them in order to collect their insurance.
The first case is set up in typical Rule fashion. She goes into Roth and his victims background. This book differs slightly due to the time between two victims and Roth's apparent plans for more in between. Roth focuses on the women in this case more than usual and I think it's because of Roth's hatred towards women. I did like how Rule got into how hard it was and still is for female police officers and prosecutors due to them being seen as "bitchy" or mean if they raise their voices. Due to the high stakes with Roth when he is brought to trial it was very insightful to get into everyone's heads for this one.
After the main case then Rule goes into five bonus cases. Not all ended satisfactory (bad guys brought to justice) or I just wished for more details.
Roth we find truly hates women and woos with the plan to marry them in order to collect their insurance.
The first case is set up in typical Rule fashion. She goes into Roth and his victims background. This book differs slightly due to the time between two victims and Roth's apparent plans for more in between. Roth focuses on the women in this case more than usual and I think it's because of Roth's hatred towards women. I did like how Rule got into how hard it was and still is for female police officers and prosecutors due to them being seen as "bitchy" or mean if they raise their voices. Due to the high stakes with Roth when he is brought to trial it was very insightful to get into everyone's heads for this one.
After the main case then Rule goes into five bonus cases. Not all ended satisfactory (bad guys brought to justice) or I just wished for more details.
February 23, 2022
All in the name of greed, Randy Roth marries, murders, and steals for his own profit - to collect insurance and assets- never showing an ounce of remorse for his victims or any other life he ruined including children’s. A predator who deliberately set his plan in motion time and time again.
Ann Rule does a good job in recounting the details.
Ann Rule does a good job in recounting the details.
February 4, 2017
*"A Rose for Her Grave": Beacon Rock OR 1981, Lake Sammamish WA 1991: the abominable career of Randy Roth, who murdered two of his four wives for their life insurance--and a third escaped him by the skin of her teeth
*"Campbell's Revenge": Clearview WA 1974, 1982: the completely preventable murders of two women and a child by Charles Rodman Campbell. Campbell raped Renae Wicklund in 1974. She had the guts to testify against him. He was convicted in 1976 and sentenced to thirty years with a seven-and-a-half year minimum, plus fifteen years with a five-year minimum on a completely different conviction. (Why he was at large to rape Wicklund at all is not clear to me.) So it looked like Campbell should have been neutralized as a threat for somewhere between twelve and forty-five years (a range from 1988 to 2021). However. Those two sentences ran concurrently, not consecutively, and due to what looks like both corruption and gross mismanagement in the Monroe Reformatory, Campbell started getting furloughs in 1982. When he was put in a work-release program very shortly thereafter, nobody bothered to notify either Wicklund or her local law enforcement. Campbell promptly returned to Clearview and revenged himself on his victim: he raped and murdered her, murdered her daughter, and murdered a neighbor who happened to be visiting. I am so very ambivalent about the death penalty; mostly I think it's wrong, but every so often there's a case like this where I think it's right. Campbell was hanged in 1994.
*"The Hit Person: Equal Opportunity Murder": Seattle WA 1980: this one is just so weird. The murder of Wanda Touchstone by Cynthia Marler, MOST LIKELY as the result of a conspiracy by Touchstone's estranged husband, his daughter, and his son-in-law; it was cheaper to murder her than to let her go through with the divorce. Marler did not testify against Touchstone, and in return he left her hanging out to dry.
*"The Runaway": Nile Country Club WA 1974: Malevolent chance put 13-year-old Janna Hanson in the path of Ken Burke on a day when he couldn't keep his homicidal insanity under control. Her body wasn't found for eight months, during which time her family's concern was of course rebuffed by authorities telling them Janna had just run away.
*"The Rehabilitation of a Monster": Salem OR 1961, 1975: two more completely preventable murders, from what we might call the Kill Me Twice (Shame On Me) Department. Richard Marquette murdered and literally butchered Joan Caudle in 1961. He spent 11 years being a model prisoner and was paroled in 1973. In 1974 he murdered and butchered a still unidentified woman (he didn't bother to find out her name before he killed her and, since searchers were unable to find her head, her remains couldn't be matched to any missing persons report--if anyone ever reported her missing at all); in 1975 he murdered and butchered Betty Wilson. This time, he was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. He's 81 now and still in the Oregon State Penitentiary.
*"Molly's Murder": Seattle 1986: Young woman raped and murdered by her upstairs neighbor . . . simply because he could. This case is also the subject of one segment of The New Detectives 5.4, "Natural Witness."
Dear men, If you ever wonder why women spend their lives being subliminally afraid, read this book.
*"Campbell's Revenge": Clearview WA 1974, 1982: the completely preventable murders of two women and a child by Charles Rodman Campbell. Campbell raped Renae Wicklund in 1974. She had the guts to testify against him. He was convicted in 1976 and sentenced to thirty years with a seven-and-a-half year minimum, plus fifteen years with a five-year minimum on a completely different conviction. (Why he was at large to rape Wicklund at all is not clear to me.) So it looked like Campbell should have been neutralized as a threat for somewhere between twelve and forty-five years (a range from 1988 to 2021). However. Those two sentences ran concurrently, not consecutively, and due to what looks like both corruption and gross mismanagement in the Monroe Reformatory, Campbell started getting furloughs in 1982. When he was put in a work-release program very shortly thereafter, nobody bothered to notify either Wicklund or her local law enforcement. Campbell promptly returned to Clearview and revenged himself on his victim: he raped and murdered her, murdered her daughter, and murdered a neighbor who happened to be visiting. I am so very ambivalent about the death penalty; mostly I think it's wrong, but every so often there's a case like this where I think it's right. Campbell was hanged in 1994.
*"The Hit Person: Equal Opportunity Murder": Seattle WA 1980: this one is just so weird. The murder of Wanda Touchstone by Cynthia Marler, MOST LIKELY as the result of a conspiracy by Touchstone's estranged husband, his daughter, and his son-in-law; it was cheaper to murder her than to let her go through with the divorce. Marler did not testify against Touchstone, and in return he left her hanging out to dry.
*"The Runaway": Nile Country Club WA 1974: Malevolent chance put 13-year-old Janna Hanson in the path of Ken Burke on a day when he couldn't keep his homicidal insanity under control. Her body wasn't found for eight months, during which time her family's concern was of course rebuffed by authorities telling them Janna had just run away.
*"The Rehabilitation of a Monster": Salem OR 1961, 1975: two more completely preventable murders, from what we might call the Kill Me Twice (Shame On Me) Department. Richard Marquette murdered and literally butchered Joan Caudle in 1961. He spent 11 years being a model prisoner and was paroled in 1973. In 1974 he murdered and butchered a still unidentified woman (he didn't bother to find out her name before he killed her and, since searchers were unable to find her head, her remains couldn't be matched to any missing persons report--if anyone ever reported her missing at all); in 1975 he murdered and butchered Betty Wilson. This time, he was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. He's 81 now and still in the Oregon State Penitentiary.
*"Molly's Murder": Seattle 1986: Young woman raped and murdered by her upstairs neighbor . . . simply because he could. This case is also the subject of one segment of The New Detectives 5.4, "Natural Witness."
Dear men, If you ever wonder why women spend their lives being subliminally afraid, read this book.
November 23, 2020
I’m a sucker for true crime stories and nobody writes them better than Ann Rule. She takes cases from her personal case files and explains them to her readers like no one else can. The first case in this book, A Rose For Her Grave, is the story of Randy Roth and his unfortunate wives. Roth was convicted of killing two of his four wives for their life insurance and social security. He’s probably one of the most ruthless and unfeeling men I’ve ever read about. This case is followed by several shorter cases: Campbell’s Revenge, The Hit Person: Equal Opportunity Murder, The Runaway, The Rehabilitation of a Monster and Molly’s Murder. All of these cases took place in the Northwest. They involve rape, murder for hire and dismemberment. I don’t read Rule’s stories because I like to read about young women being killed, raped or dismembered. I read these stories because Rule has a real affinity for the police officers and others involved in the investigations. It always makes me feel great that the perpetrators of the crimes she writes about are always brought to justice. I love reading about the investigations and what steps the police go through to catch the killers. Even though some of the cases in this book are almost thirty years old, she still makes them fresh. Also, in a way, through telling the stories of the victims, she keeps these women alive in people’s memories. If you like true crime, this is a good one.
February 5, 2011
There are stories of six true crimes in this book. The book spends 341 pages on one specific case--the Randy Roth murder trial. The other five case get 200 pages--about forty pages each.
Frankly, the smaller cases were a bit more interesting, because Ms. Rule basically gave a summary of each case, hitting the high points.
For the longest case, the story was written in extensive detail. For example, whenever she tells about the family's moving, she gives the complete street address. Yes, a police report must say, "Officer Whoever arrived at 1:24pm at 123 Main Street" but when repeating the story afterwards, you could paraphrase it. I longed to take a scissors and cut out chucks of detail to tighten the narrative.
The crimes described WERE horrible, and knowing that they were real tragedies was sad. I simply did not care for Ms. Ann Rule's writing style.
Also, occasionally she will add suppositions of her own "PERHAPS he felt...." Such supposition would not be allowed in many courtrooms.
One of my first dips into true crime; I was not overly impressed with this one. Worth reading once if true crime is an interest of your.
Frankly, the smaller cases were a bit more interesting, because Ms. Rule basically gave a summary of each case, hitting the high points.
For the longest case, the story was written in extensive detail. For example, whenever she tells about the family's moving, she gives the complete street address. Yes, a police report must say, "Officer Whoever arrived at 1:24pm at 123 Main Street" but when repeating the story afterwards, you could paraphrase it. I longed to take a scissors and cut out chucks of detail to tighten the narrative.
The crimes described WERE horrible, and knowing that they were real tragedies was sad. I simply did not care for Ms. Ann Rule's writing style.
Also, occasionally she will add suppositions of her own "PERHAPS he felt...." Such supposition would not be allowed in many courtrooms.
One of my first dips into true crime; I was not overly impressed with this one. Worth reading once if true crime is an interest of your.
August 22, 2024
Książka zawiera 6 spraw kryminalnych, z czego ta pierwsza zajmuje 70% książki. Wszystkie są z lat 60'- 90'. Tytułowa "Róża na jej grobie" traktuje o pozbawionym empatii oszuście i mordercy Randym Roth, który potrafił omotać i rozkochać w sobie kobiety. Był żonaty 4 razy. Po ślubie szybko nalegał na podpisanie ubezpieczenia na życie, a potem kombinował jak pozbawić żony życia, żeby uzyskać pieniądze. Jedną zrzucił z klifu, a inną utopił. Próbował utopić jeszcze jedną, ale udało się jej ujść z życiem. Ciekawe jest to, jak jedna z jego żon uniknęła tego losu, bo wcześniej chorowała na raka, i nie było szans, żeby ktoś zgodził się ją ubezpieczyć. Gdy jej mąż się o tym dowiedział, małżeństwo szybko się skończyło. Interesująca była sprawa w sądzie, bo dowody były głównie poszlakowe. Całe szczęście został skazany.
Inna sprawa to polski akcent, o Wandzie Emelinie Norewicz Touchstone, młodej żywiołowej kobiecie, która wyemigrowała do USA. Trafiła na Amerykanina, który chciał z niej zrobić kurę domową, podczas gdy ona chciała się wykształcić i coś osiągnąć. Zapłaciła życiem za swoje ambicje, bo mąż takiej żony nie chciał- zaaranżował morderstwo, by uniknąć podziału majątku.
Pozostałe sprawy są dość makabryczne, ale chce zaznaczyć, że podoba mi się podejście tej autorki - podkreśla rolę policji i adwokatów, którzy przyczynili się do wsadzenia zwyrodnialców za kratki, i skupia się bardziej na ofiarach niż mordercach. Przedstawia ofiary tych zbrodni z dużą empatią, opisując ich osobowość, życie, marzenia.
Autorka była policjantką zanim zajęła się pisaniem, umarła w 2015 roku. Wiem, że były jakieś kontrowersje wokół jej znajomości z Tedem Bundy, ale nie wiem, czy będę czytać jej książkę o nim.
Inna sprawa to polski akcent, o Wandzie Emelinie Norewicz Touchstone, młodej żywiołowej kobiecie, która wyemigrowała do USA. Trafiła na Amerykanina, który chciał z niej zrobić kurę domową, podczas gdy ona chciała się wykształcić i coś osiągnąć. Zapłaciła życiem za swoje ambicje, bo mąż takiej żony nie chciał- zaaranżował morderstwo, by uniknąć podziału majątku.
Pozostałe sprawy są dość makabryczne, ale chce zaznaczyć, że podoba mi się podejście tej autorki - podkreśla rolę policji i adwokatów, którzy przyczynili się do wsadzenia zwyrodnialców za kratki, i skupia się bardziej na ofiarach niż mordercach. Przedstawia ofiary tych zbrodni z dużą empatią, opisując ich osobowość, życie, marzenia.
Autorka była policjantką zanim zajęła się pisaniem, umarła w 2015 roku. Wiem, że były jakieś kontrowersje wokół jej znajomości z Tedem Bundy, ale nie wiem, czy będę czytać jej książkę o nim.
April 19, 2022
Rule's collection of cases focuses on women who were murdered by men, in many of the cases by men that they knew or were romantically involved in.
It's not a bad collection. Rule's writing is great and the narration on the audio book is quite good.
I did get tried of the woman always being described as pretty or beautiful. We need to stop doing that. It shouldn't make it make more if they are beautiful.
It's not a bad collection. Rule's writing is great and the narration on the audio book is quite good.
I did get tried of the woman always being described as pretty or beautiful. We need to stop doing that. It shouldn't make it make more if they are beautiful.
November 2, 2021
Ann Rule is arguably the best true crime writer ever. I always enjoy re-reading her books and I'm sad there'll be no more from her
March 27, 2022
Vividly frustrating, awful people populate these pages, which I suppose is how it goes with true crime.
September 6, 2023
This is not my first Ann Rule read and it most definitely won’t be my last either! In fact, I think it’s amongst my favourites I’ve read by her. Minus maybe The Stranger Beside Me because that one is just beyond iconic and my fave by her. But this one made me feel almost as excited and horrified while reading it. This story is really both horrifying and fascinating, a space Rule occupies so well. Of course the events these victims went through at the hands of this monster were horrifying but seeing justice served provided such an immense sense of satisfaction. Knowing the victims got justice makes any true crime read all that much sweeter. And as usual Rule’s sensitivity is on point in her writing, she’s not being sensationalistic or exploiting the victims. That’s one of my favourite parts about her writing, her ability to bring class and sensitivity to a normally quite exploitative genre.
June 24, 2019
Book 23 of 2019: A Rose for Her Grave by Ann Rule
I read this after completing Michele McNamara's book, based on recommendations from my true crime hive. Being a true crime buff, I'm surprised that I never heard of Ann Rule given her literary contributions to the genre. My interest was piqued when I read about one of her most famous books, The Stranger Beside Me( #currentlyreading ). I was on the hold list for this one at the time through my library so this is where I started.
I have to say, I get the appeal, she is a great writer. My only complaint about this book was that she meticulously went through the details of the first case with a fine toothed comb and perhaps elongated it to the point of tedium...but the other true crime stories were very well told while remaining concise and arguably more interesting than the one that took up the majority of the book. I hate to cast a negative light on anyone's writing, so even with that said, I am already enjoying my next Ann Rule book considerably more than the first. In a word, it is fascinating content and I'm here for the ride. I'll definitely be reading more of her work.
I read this after completing Michele McNamara's book, based on recommendations from my true crime hive. Being a true crime buff, I'm surprised that I never heard of Ann Rule given her literary contributions to the genre. My interest was piqued when I read about one of her most famous books, The Stranger Beside Me( #currentlyreading ). I was on the hold list for this one at the time through my library so this is where I started.
I have to say, I get the appeal, she is a great writer. My only complaint about this book was that she meticulously went through the details of the first case with a fine toothed comb and perhaps elongated it to the point of tedium...but the other true crime stories were very well told while remaining concise and arguably more interesting than the one that took up the majority of the book. I hate to cast a negative light on anyone's writing, so even with that said, I am already enjoying my next Ann Rule book considerably more than the first. In a word, it is fascinating content and I'm here for the ride. I'll definitely be reading more of her work.
July 28, 2019
Only the first story, which consumed bulk of the book , was good.
Don't feel like a detailed review.
Don't feel like a detailed review.
Want to read
March 1, 2023pages 528
August 4, 2021
Audiobook
October 6, 2021
I have always been a fan of Ann Rule and read a few of her books before I reviewed everything I read. I love True Crime. This book did not disappoint. The story of Randy Roth is a shocking one, you wonder how he got away with it for so long.
As usual, Ann Rule did a great job of telling the whole story from the POV of multiple people. What I like about Ann Rule’s books is she doesn’t just cover the crime. She covers the pre-life, the crimes, the discovery of the crimes, the criminal investigation and the jury’s decision.
The book was captivating from beginning to end, no part of it was dull. I don’t really know what else to say other than if you like True Crime, any Ann Rule book is recommended.
As usual, Ann Rule did a great job of telling the whole story from the POV of multiple people. What I like about Ann Rule’s books is she doesn’t just cover the crime. She covers the pre-life, the crimes, the discovery of the crimes, the criminal investigation and the jury’s decision.
The book was captivating from beginning to end, no part of it was dull. I don’t really know what else to say other than if you like True Crime, any Ann Rule book is recommended.
August 9, 2014
Looking on bookcrossing shelf I see I did write a little bit about this book.....................
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on Friday, January 23, 2004
8 out of 10
I have decided to share more of my books. its a process ,it is hard to say goodbye to your books, but i am trying ;-)
This was a great read.
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(I said it was short)
The first story is apparently about Randy Roth. So might re read.
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on Friday, January 23, 2004
8 out of 10
I have decided to share more of my books. its a process ,it is hard to say goodbye to your books, but i am trying ;-)
This was a great read.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(I said it was short)
The first story is apparently about Randy Roth. So might re read.
September 1, 2022
Ann Rule's singular approach to true crime puts her at the top of the heap for me. She writes about mostly female victims with compassion and emotion, and though she doesn't shy away from gruesome details, the focus is always the people. The title story about the many wives of a man who can't seem to keep them for long is particularly twisty and chilling. If you are a trusting and kind person, here's a read that will douse you in some (healthy?) reservations about charming strangers and windows left open at night.
January 21, 2016
I thought this was an above average Ann Rule book. I was especially impressed by the short crimes at the end, although I wished they had been longer and the main story a little shorter.
January 17, 2019
I pretty much love anything Ann Rule does. She is talented and compassionate when telling the details of the case, often from many perspectives.
November 29, 2020
Whew - the main story in this is wild!
March 18, 2022
This is the 1st book in Ann Rule's long-running true-crime short-story series. It includes a novella length crime and then five shorter stories. The longer story is that of the murderer Randy G. Roth, a man with a bad habit of making his wives die. Ms. Rule compares him to the European character Bluebeard, a character known for his numerous wives. Anyway, this book is just as satisfying as all the rest of Ms. Rule's many books!
June 15, 2023
Several true crime stories in one book with a main focus on one in particular (~300 pages of the 550) - if you like true crime, ann rule does a great job of balancing the horror of these stories with humanity for the victims.
January 25, 2020
I have realized that I don't really enjoy true crime books......
October 20, 2022
Great detailed read
The author had thoroughly researched the details and background of the case. Very well written with the case carefully outlined to be easily followed
The author had thoroughly researched the details and background of the case. Very well written with the case carefully outlined to be easily followed
April 24, 2022
I love reading about true crimes and this book didn't disappoint. Ann Rule is one of the best true crime writers.
February 3, 2020
Some truly horrific crimes carried out by some truly horrific human beings. The main case reviewed by Rule was Randy Roth and his murder of his 4th wife Cindy although it is pretty much a given that he also murdered his 2nd wife Jannis. I'll begin with Roth case as it's 3/4 of the book. Rule's narrative was quite dry giving the minutiae of the case even down to the house numbers, addresses, garden maintenance and layout, and I did find myself skipping over this sort of detail as you don't remember it anyway. Roth was a man who spent his whole life getting what he wanted for himself by whatever means necessary including the supposedly 'accidental' death of his spouses, he methodically tried to strip from these women everything of value he could claim, even down to trying to claim their orphan children so he could get social security death benefit for each child, so effectively Roth would get paid by the state to look after the children whose mother he had killed. Roth's behaviour in other aspects of his life show how dishonest he was in every area, from inventing a war veterans history, to seducing his best friend and neighbours daughter who was only 15 at the time when he was in his 30's. This case hinged on a wealth of circumstantial evidence and really shows how hard police and the prosecution have to work to get a conviction whilst then defence only have to show reasonable doubt.
The other stories were brief but interesting with the standout case being that of a Renae Wicklund and how the penal system completely failed her, her daughter and neighbour when her former rapist, after being released early from goal, returned to rape once again and kill them all. I think this was the most disturbing case for me as it shows how vulnerable a victim is even when they do the right thing and testify but if the machinations of state fail it can be disastrous.
I gave the book 4* and not 3* because despite the dry writing style the subject matter though horrific was fascinating all the more so because it was true. All through reading this book I never once doubted the accuracy of Rule's writing as it never appeared to overinflate the facts or make presumptions. If you like reading about true crime you'll like reading Ann Rule.
The other stories were brief but interesting with the standout case being that of a Renae Wicklund and how the penal system completely failed her, her daughter and neighbour when her former rapist, after being released early from goal, returned to rape once again and kill them all. I think this was the most disturbing case for me as it shows how vulnerable a victim is even when they do the right thing and testify but if the machinations of state fail it can be disastrous.
I gave the book 4* and not 3* because despite the dry writing style the subject matter though horrific was fascinating all the more so because it was true. All through reading this book I never once doubted the accuracy of Rule's writing as it never appeared to overinflate the facts or make presumptions. If you like reading about true crime you'll like reading Ann Rule.
July 5, 2018
This book wasn't bad, per se, but on the balance between good and bad, it's leaning more to the bad side for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, the book reads like someone took a cop's notes and then expanded on them. In that respect, the book is a pretty dry read. Second, there was a whole lot of supposition on the part of the victims. Lots of inserting how the victim must have felt, or was thinking, at certain times, which is something we will never know. And it's not 'so-and-so must have felt terror when... ' It was 'so-and-so was terrified.' Short of the victim video blogging every second up to and including their deaths (which wasn't possible at the time of theses cases), it's all just that, supposition and a good dose of hearsay if these suppositions were based on observations of the victims' friends.
I also had issues with the amount of repetition presented in this book. The book could have been half as long and still not lost much in the telling.
I also had issues with the amount of repetition presented in this book. The book could have been half as long and still not lost much in the telling.
February 11, 2021
Fascinating Read
I honestly love every single book that Ann Rule has ever had published and A Rise for Her Grave was no exception. Got right into the storyline from the get-go! You really get a feel for the people involved in these crimes. I just couldn't wait to see what sentence was handed down to the murderer - Randy Roth. A 50 year stretch and could be out after serving between 30-35 years for the murder of 2 of his wives and all the Insurance Policy Scams that he managed to pull off, just doesn't seem enough to me. He left children without their Mother and families without their much loved relatives. Roth was liked a chamelion and was able to change his character so often it was just unbelievable! Hopefully this man will die in prison, he's not worthy enough to live in this world! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and recommend any books by Ann Rule - she is an absolute legend to True Crime Fans!!!!
I honestly love every single book that Ann Rule has ever had published and A Rise for Her Grave was no exception. Got right into the storyline from the get-go! You really get a feel for the people involved in these crimes. I just couldn't wait to see what sentence was handed down to the murderer - Randy Roth. A 50 year stretch and could be out after serving between 30-35 years for the murder of 2 of his wives and all the Insurance Policy Scams that he managed to pull off, just doesn't seem enough to me. He left children without their Mother and families without their much loved relatives. Roth was liked a chamelion and was able to change his character so often it was just unbelievable! Hopefully this man will die in prison, he's not worthy enough to live in this world! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and recommend any books by Ann Rule - she is an absolute legend to True Crime Fans!!!!
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