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Zero at the Bone
From Publishers Weekly
The story of Ronald Gene Simmons and his psychotic rampage, which in 1987 left 14 family members in a mass grave behind their trailer home, is presented here in detail. When his military days were over, Simmons, a former Air Force sergeant, began a torturous series of acts of violence and humiliation against his family. While a fierce presence to his wife, Becky, and six of their seven children, he became exceptionally tender with his favorite daughter, Sheila, and forced her into an incestuous relationship that culminated in the birth of a child. Simmons went through a series of menial jobs and, after several moves, finally settled his family in the foothills of the Ozarks. But faced with growing frustration of his need for control, along with his daughter's rejection of him and marriage to another man, which he claimed had ruined his plans to have a happy life alone with her, he prepared the ritual killing of all those who had made his dream unworkable. While for the most part, Williams ( Tankwar ) and Marshall, a journalist, tell the story convincingly, they fail when they attempt to re-create and explain Simmons's thought processes.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The story of Ronald Gene Simmons and his psychotic rampage, which in 1987 left 14 family members in a mass grave behind their trailer home, is presented here in detail. When his military days were over, Simmons, a former Air Force sergeant, began a torturous series of acts of violence and humiliation against his family. While a fierce presence to his wife, Becky, and six of their seven children, he became exceptionally tender with his favorite daughter, Sheila, and forced her into an incestuous relationship that culminated in the birth of a child. Simmons went through a series of menial jobs and, after several moves, finally settled his family in the foothills of the Ozarks. But faced with growing frustration of his need for control, along with his daughter's rejection of him and marriage to another man, which he claimed had ruined his plans to have a happy life alone with her, he prepared the ritual killing of all those who had made his dream unworkable. While for the most part, Williams ( Tankwar ) and Marshall, a journalist, tell the story convincingly, they fail when they attempt to re-create and explain Simmons's thought processes.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 23, 2008
This true crime nonfiction piece rises above the tabloid level that usually characterizes the genre. It's not just that the story is absolutely friggin' astonishing, but that the analysis of the perpetrator, control-freak extraordinaire Gene Simmons (needless to say, not the Kiss bassist), is actually insightful and enlightening, rather than tawdry and dopey (see Albert Goldman if you need tawdry and dopey, he's a cornucopia of both).
Roughly, what we have here, is a deeply disturbed individual, Simmons, whose need to control is so great that by the time it's over, daughters have borne his incestuous spawn, and family members have met their maker (this is no spoiler, the author drops this info in the first chapter). Fascinating, and arguably the best of its class.
Roughly, what we have here, is a deeply disturbed individual, Simmons, whose need to control is so great that by the time it's over, daughters have borne his incestuous spawn, and family members have met their maker (this is no spoiler, the author drops this info in the first chapter). Fascinating, and arguably the best of its class.
July 20, 2025
I'm actually surprised with all the true crime stories I consume that I haven't heard of Gene Simmons before. This was mostly an engaging story but its age also shows because there is less notation and sources than there probably would be today (I'm reading it nearly 35 years after the fact) I wanted to know where a lot of Gene's inner dialogue came from. We have diaries and letters for his wife, Becky and his children but did Gene leave any. What we are made well aware of is Gene loved lists to the point of OCD which made him suited for military life (he served in both the navy and air force) but not so much outside of that rigid structure.
The book is broken into three part, the first gives us part of the end of his story and the third is all about the horrible things he did and the second part...could have been cut out. I think it's there merely to make sure this was a certain length for the publisher because we literally do not need every posting Gene ever had or his mother's entire back story etc. So it definitely bogs in the middle.
In a nutshell, Gene is a narcissist with delusions of grandeur. In his head, he built up two things, the idea of rural homesteading life and how great Arkansas was (a place he lived briefly). Had he had more charisma, he could have been a cult leader. He and Becky met in high school and her own background made her the perfect woman for him to dominate and manipulate. She felt like her mother chose her stepdad and her half siblings over her so she had no one to fall back on when things went bad.
Because naturally Gene is abusive and controlling, giving her barely enough to feed the children (kids get a free meal at school after all) didn't allow her to learn to drive or work. He bought a garage piece of land/house in New Mexico, forcing his children to help build some sort of compound where he could have his chickens etc but he has no idea how any of it worked. He was great at going into debt and starting projects he never finished. He did the same in Arkansas.
He also became obsessed with his eldest daughter Sheila, rapes and impregnates her twice (one live birth one abortion) tells his wife and oldest son, Little Gene, (eventually the other two older kids Billy and Loretta learn of it) and expects them to accept Sheila as a second wife. His son turns him in and this is where everyone and everything fails Sheila.
New Mexico doesn't really do its due diligence in following up to arrest him once he flees to Arkansas. Becky you can almost feel sorry for. She has no money, no family, no education or job. She can't even drive. Even with the support of one of her sisters she feels unable to break away from Gene. Why her sister doesn't turn Gene back in who knows other than Becky doesn't want her to. Ditto the kids. There were so many opportunities to stop him but none were taken.
Sheila escaping to community college and into a marriage breaks Gene and he finally goes family annihilator kills fourteen members of his family plus all the bosses (especially women) he feels wronged him.
I thought this was a good true crime book, not too dry, covers it well but does get a little long in the middle.
The book is broken into three part, the first gives us part of the end of his story and the third is all about the horrible things he did and the second part...could have been cut out. I think it's there merely to make sure this was a certain length for the publisher because we literally do not need every posting Gene ever had or his mother's entire back story etc. So it definitely bogs in the middle.
In a nutshell, Gene is a narcissist with delusions of grandeur. In his head, he built up two things, the idea of rural homesteading life and how great Arkansas was (a place he lived briefly). Had he had more charisma, he could have been a cult leader. He and Becky met in high school and her own background made her the perfect woman for him to dominate and manipulate. She felt like her mother chose her stepdad and her half siblings over her so she had no one to fall back on when things went bad.
Because naturally Gene is abusive and controlling, giving her barely enough to feed the children (kids get a free meal at school after all) didn't allow her to learn to drive or work. He bought a garage piece of land/house in New Mexico, forcing his children to help build some sort of compound where he could have his chickens etc but he has no idea how any of it worked. He was great at going into debt and starting projects he never finished. He did the same in Arkansas.
He also became obsessed with his eldest daughter Sheila, rapes and impregnates her twice (one live birth one abortion) tells his wife and oldest son, Little Gene, (eventually the other two older kids Billy and Loretta learn of it) and expects them to accept Sheila as a second wife. His son turns him in and this is where everyone and everything fails Sheila.
New Mexico doesn't really do its due diligence in following up to arrest him once he flees to Arkansas. Becky you can almost feel sorry for. She has no money, no family, no education or job. She can't even drive. Even with the support of one of her sisters she feels unable to break away from Gene. Why her sister doesn't turn Gene back in who knows other than Becky doesn't want her to. Ditto the kids. There were so many opportunities to stop him but none were taken.
Sheila escaping to community college and into a marriage breaks Gene and he finally goes family annihilator kills fourteen members of his family plus all the bosses (especially women) he feels wronged him.
I thought this was a good true crime book, not too dry, covers it well but does get a little long in the middle.
February 24, 2019
One thing I love is true crime but if it is a well written book like this one, you have to have the stomach to handle it. This is one of the most disturbing cases of multiple murder that I have ever read. It left me with nightmares for a long time.
The other reviews hold the specifics of this case and you can read to your heart's content but I warn you that once you get hold of this book and you read the horrific details, you will be changed forever knowing that people like this walk the earth among us. And you can be certain that where there is one, there are hundreds flying just below the radar not getting caught until they get caught.
If you are into true crime, this is a great book to read but please get the Kleenex because the way this guy tortured and murdered, will bring you to tears.
The other reviews hold the specifics of this case and you can read to your heart's content but I warn you that once you get hold of this book and you read the horrific details, you will be changed forever knowing that people like this walk the earth among us. And you can be certain that where there is one, there are hundreds flying just below the radar not getting caught until they get caught.
If you are into true crime, this is a great book to read but please get the Kleenex because the way this guy tortured and murdered, will bring you to tears.
July 7, 2020
This was a chilling read and a decent look into the eyes of evil. The story itself was disjointed into several chronological periods which may or may not have worked. The author inserts a lot of dialogue and omniscient thoughts without really explaining the how or where he came up with it. It doesn’t read like straight nonfiction where sources are stated and explained, but it is written more generally like true crime in the Capote sense, where the author uses inferences. This may be a turnoff for some.
One issue I had was that the author would seemingly drop complex vocabulary at times which was off putting. Simple vocabulary would have sufficed for this story. Overall, I’m glad I read it for its look into mind of pure evil.
One issue I had was that the author would seemingly drop complex vocabulary at times which was off putting. Simple vocabulary would have sufficed for this story. Overall, I’m glad I read it for its look into mind of pure evil.
February 21, 2025
I was hooked in the beginning of this, but near the middle I had a hard time paying attention to the writing. I'd never heard of this case before, which is what made me pick up this book, but I was really struggling to make it through.
May 11, 2025
I was in high school in Little Rock and my sister was in college in Russellville when it all went down. Everyone was shocked and horrified at what this evil man did to his family. Almost 40 years later I re-read this story and it still haunts me.
October 19, 2020
Story and info 5 stars. The book and writing 2 stars.
October 15, 2021
True crime, dad is a horrible horrible person.
June 16, 2022
Too much speculation regarding the events that occurred in the house.
May 7, 2023
This book captured my interest from the first page. Well done.
January 1, 2021
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
If you like true crime, this one may still be hard to stomach, this guy is one of the most vile human beings in US history. He murdered 14 of his family members, including at least 8 children including, his daughter whom he raped and had a child with (also killed) THEN went on a hunt of 4 people that had wronged him (in his eyes) from former jobs, killing 2 of them. i wanted this pile of garbage to get the death penelty badly... until i read thats what he wanted, to "stop the pain" then i changed my mind to life without the possibility of parole. make him suffer, he acted like a 4 year old throughout his life, when things didnt go his way he had a temper tantrum, and that's what he did when he couldn't rape his own daughter anymore. He had a baby fit and executed his entire family, ALL his children and his wife and 3 other people that were married to his oldest kids who were there for Christmas... yes he did this days before Christmas. He did make history for killing the most family members in the shortest period of time.. good thing we keep stats like that. (Eye roll) He did eventuly die by lethal injection. Date of execution set by than Gov, Bill Clinton, which was in June 1990.
Nothing in his past, if you read this, you would think would make him become this evil, evil monster, i guess some people are just born with dark souls...
If you like true crime, this one may still be hard to stomach, this guy is one of the most vile human beings in US history. He murdered 14 of his family members, including at least 8 children including, his daughter whom he raped and had a child with (also killed) THEN went on a hunt of 4 people that had wronged him (in his eyes) from former jobs, killing 2 of them. i wanted this pile of garbage to get the death penelty badly... until i read thats what he wanted, to "stop the pain" then i changed my mind to life without the possibility of parole. make him suffer, he acted like a 4 year old throughout his life, when things didnt go his way he had a temper tantrum, and that's what he did when he couldn't rape his own daughter anymore. He had a baby fit and executed his entire family, ALL his children and his wife and 3 other people that were married to his oldest kids who were there for Christmas... yes he did this days before Christmas. He did make history for killing the most family members in the shortest period of time.. good thing we keep stats like that. (Eye roll) He did eventuly die by lethal injection. Date of execution set by than Gov, Bill Clinton, which was in June 1990.
Nothing in his past, if you read this, you would think would make him become this evil, evil monster, i guess some people are just born with dark souls...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2013
I was appalled by the sheer cunning and twisted abandon with which Gene Simmons controlled and ultimately killed his family.
As far as recommending it as "good reading material", I'm on the fence simply because this kind of true story isn't for everyone. That being said, if you're a true crime story buff it's for you. If you're not and you're simply curious about this guy, I suggest treading softly because some of it is utterly repulsive.
The story is well written and seems to contain as many of the facts and small details to make reading it a cinch, however, it bothered my soul to know that such evil could dwell inside a human being.
As far as recommending it as "good reading material", I'm on the fence simply because this kind of true story isn't for everyone. That being said, if you're a true crime story buff it's for you. If you're not and you're simply curious about this guy, I suggest treading softly because some of it is utterly repulsive.
The story is well written and seems to contain as many of the facts and small details to make reading it a cinch, however, it bothered my soul to know that such evil could dwell inside a human being.
January 2, 2012
The author of this book has a nice way of using the English language. I found myself interested in his sentence structure and style. The story itself is horrid, a mass murder of almost an entire family. I do not like reading a book that is so suspenseful I am more eager to find out "what happens" than to enjoy the words and story, and this book fit my expectations in that way. Honestly, I read the book as I am writing a true crime story and wanted to see his methods. It was helpful, but otherwise I wouldn't purposefully read about such a horrid event.
January 5, 2009
The authors went to a lot of trouble to collect all the information they've put into this book, I give them credit for that, but I found myself skipping over pages, even whole chapters. There's only so much knowledge my brain could handle about this creep who killed all his family members. He even got what he wanted in the end, his own death. His whole life was played out on his own terms. That almost seems more despicable than the killings. There's no getting around this rotten ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2010
As with all of these that I've read with disgusted awe and fascination, it gives a clue into the mind of madmen. However, like others before, it also leaves you wondering what creates the monsters that they ultimately become. This particular account isn't just about a serial killer, it's a glimpse into pure evil.
January 7, 2008
highly disturbing and I'm not sure why this true crime case has not been more widely discussed. Perhaps it's too unthinkable: sadistic father impregnates his oldest daughter, then later kills 14 members of his own family along with a couple of others.
December 18, 2008
I was living out of state when this happened, so I thought I would read the book to see just what happened. It was about a very disturbed man and his control over his family. It was not an easy read. I'm glad he's gone, I just wish his family would have been able to get away.
February 7, 2013
This novel by Bryce Marshall and Paul Williams kept me captivated from Page 1, I couldn't put it down. It is a true story but it is so well laid out that it keeps the reader's interest. I would highly recommend it!
January 26, 2016
Dreadful story of a miserable family finally killed off by the twisted paterfamilias. This book really gets into the family dynamics, which couldn't have been easy because there was nobody left to interview.
June 9, 2008
I cannot believe there are people as sick as this out there.
May 13, 2010
With all the true crime I read and watch I am surprised I have never heard this awful story before. What a sickening, deranged man. What a horrific tale of torture and murder.
May 28, 2012
Horrible man who destroyed his family True crime at its best
June 8, 2012
Bryce Marshall is my cousin
November 9, 2014
Very good book, but this guy was a despicable human being and I feel very angry that he got out so easy...
July 22, 2017
Good detail. Disturbed man.
June 26, 2016
Hard copy
December 3, 2016
I remember when this happened. I lived not to far from where it took place. I enjoyed the book. A very disturbed man. Such a tragedy.
Read
January 30, 2019This book is so good, I read it for a class in college but the story is an eye opener. Crazy to read something that happened in a town not far from where I grew up.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews