Shadow on the Mountain: Nancy Pfister, Dr. William Styler, and the Murder of Aspen's Golden Girl

by Stephen Singular, Joyce Singular

Nancy Pfister, heir to Buttermilk Mountain, the world-renowned site of the Winter X Games, was Aspen royalty, its ambassador to the world. She lived among the rich and she partied with Hunter S. Thompson, dated Jack Nicholson, had a joint baby shower with Goldie Hawn, and globetrotted with Angelica Houston. She was also a philanthropist, admired for her generosity. But behind the warm façade, she could be selfish, manipulative, and careless. Pfister enjoyed bragging about her wealth and celebrity connections, but those closest to her, like Kathy Carpenter, Pfister's personal assistant, drinking companion, and on one occasion lover, knew better.In 2013, after a long fall from grace, Dr. William Styler and his wife, Nancy, relocated to Aspen to reinvent themselves. They'd lived the high life before a misguided lawsuit left them near poverty, and Nancy Pfister was their answered prayer. She took them in, gave them a place to live, and allowed them to launch their new spa business. Everything seemed perfect until Pfister turned on them, making increasingly irrational demands and threatening to throw them out on the street. When Nancy was found beaten to death in her own home, the Stylers and Carpenter were all under suspicion for the gruesome murder. But in this close-knit, wealthytown set on keeping its reputation and secrets safe from the public eye, the police struggled to solve the mystery of what really happened.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2016

About the author

Stephen Singular is the author or co-author of 22 non-fiction books, many of them about high-profile criminal cases. He’s also written sports and business biographies and social commentary. Two of the books have been “New York Times” bestsellers.

His first book, Talked to Death, set the tone for his journalistic career. Published in 1987, it chronicled the assassination of a Denver Jewish talk show host, Alan Berg, by a group of neo-Nazis known as The Order. The book was nominated for a national award — the Edgar for true crime — and became the basis for the 1989 Oliver Stone film, “Talk Radio.” Talked to Death was translated into several languages and explored the timeless American themes of racism, class, violence, and religious intolerance.

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard of the murder of Nancy Pfister while watching one of the television news shows, I think it was Dateline NBC. So when I noticed this book, I wanted to read it for more detail. The authors certainly are great reporters. They include everything about the case, and perhaps most interesting, they profile the community of Aspen, Colorado, where Nancy grew up and was murdered. She led an incredible life -- heir to Buttermilk Mountain resort, she partied with celebrities and traveled the world. She also battled demons, such as drug use and excessive drinking, and she could be extremely selfish and manipulative with those closest to her. Dr. William Styler and his wife, Nancy, relocated to Aspen in 2013 and thought themselves fortunate when Nancy Pfister allowed them to rent her house while she traveled to Australia. But then suddenly Pfister began making demands for rent payments and threats to toss them out of her home. She returned early from her trip, and a few days later was found dead, wrapped in sheets inside her master closet, by close friend Karen Carpenter. The Stylers and Carpenter were immediate suspects, and the ensuing investigation had many flaws and confusing accounts by all 3 suspects. The ending probably will be un satisfying to many readers, but you could almost hear the huge sigh of relief from the residents of Aspen when it was finally over, and their city could return to what it's been known for - ski resorts, celebrities and great wealth.

[Karen F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the murder of a socialite in aspen. The authors spoke at our book club and were interesting. I’d read additional books by them!

3.75

[Sarah Ewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping true crime book about the murder of one of Aspen's founding family's members. Nancy Pfister was a golden, make that rich, golden girl who lived her life as though consequences didn't exist. Traveled wherever, made friends easily, trusted people all too easily. She was found dead in her home, wrapped up in a sheet. Who did it, people were all to readily to accuse. The unlikely confession prevented the Pfister's family dirty laundry from being aired in court. Was it justice, or were local officials all to ready to move on, ready to put the dirty episode to rest?

Was interesting because of the obviously lurid crime, but the authors also gave a history lesson into the creation of Aspen, and its lore, and lure of the wealthy to the community in the mountains.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel based on a true event reads as though the governmental officials involved in the prosecution of the case couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. The townspeople of Aspen live in another world and put their priorities in their names and pocket books. The woman murdered was a free spirit and lived like one. Loaded with money and a sense of self-importance she was loved but not always well thought of by her friends. My rating is at 2 stars only because of some of the more sensible people involved.

[C. Kim Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

This book was of special interest to me because I'm from the Roaring Fork valley. It was well researched, with interesting and pertinent interviews, and the author appeared knowledgeable about the crime scene and the principal characters. Still, there was enough mystery to retain one's interest. Repetitive in places and could have been tightened up a bit, but still worth the time spent on it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually listen to audio books, so for a book of this size and me to read it and it hold my attention is amazing to me :)

I never heard of the people that the book is about, maybe because I’m an East Coast gal. I love biography/memoire/ true crime and this book had it all. I wish we knew for sure who did commit the crime at the end of the book.

It was well written and completely kept me interested.

[Paulette Ponte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book captured my interest because of a connection with one of the suspects.

[Mountain_Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m almost 200 pages in and it’s rambling and repetitive. Ugh.

[Cori · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. That’s all.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. This is a well written book on a bizarre murder, a bizarre investigation, and a distressing ending. Distressing because in my opinion there was no closure for anyone. None of the Aspen officials, from the sheriff to the judge, seemed to know how to competently handle this murder. After just seeing this week's Dateline on the Jonbenet Ramsey case, I wonder if justice is served in any brutal murder.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I first heard of the case while watching 48 Hours. The story itself is very interesting, and unfortunate, but this book was repetitive, hard to follow at times, and didn't share nearly as many new developments as you'd expect in 290 pages. On a nit-picky note, the last sentence in the book references the incorrect character, which is not the best note to end on.

[Douglas Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched and well-paced, this true crime story contains an account of the facts surrounding the death of Nancy Pfister and the trial of her suspected murderers. Stephen and Joyce Singular paint a decadent picture of Aspen living and the odd law enforcement strategies that reign there, leaving us wondering if justice was served in Pitkin County.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the murder of Nancy Pfister on Dateline. A well researched suspensful book also I loved how the city of Aspen becomes a character as well!

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

not that well written, honestly

[Amy Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't finish it..I'm up to Chapter 15...kind of confusing. If I pick up a book and can easily not go back to it, it's not for me.