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Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
A Daughter's Quest To Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder is the poignant true crime story about a daughter who, upon her father's murder, learns of his secret double-life. In her quest to assist the detectives, the daughter and author discovers deadly secrets that could help her father's killer escape the death penalty, should she come forward.
From the Book: "He cruised by slowly, peering intently over his steering wheel at the well-manicured grounds. Though he had been brought up in the Bible Belt of North Carolina, Wes had not attended worship services there. He had gone to the church on this day for another reason: Derek Carney.
Carney was a twenty-two-year-old white youth who had been sleeping on the church grounds. Wes wanted to once again offer him a place to stay for the night and was hoping the young man would take him up on the offer this time. The young heroin addict had discovered that he could shoot up in the bathroom of the church despite his filthy, disheveled appearance and not get caught. Most other churches kept their facilities locked at night, but the pastor, Reverend Bill Withers, had a notoriously kind heart. The first time he had come across Carney sleeping on the church lawn, he had awoken him, invited him in for counsel, and taken him to breakfast.
As Wes passed in his car the reverend gave him a wave from the open door of the church. Wes waved back at him and grinned, then threw his head back and took a long drag on his Marlboro cigarette."
From the Book: "He cruised by slowly, peering intently over his steering wheel at the well-manicured grounds. Though he had been brought up in the Bible Belt of North Carolina, Wes had not attended worship services there. He had gone to the church on this day for another reason: Derek Carney.
Carney was a twenty-two-year-old white youth who had been sleeping on the church grounds. Wes wanted to once again offer him a place to stay for the night and was hoping the young man would take him up on the offer this time. The young heroin addict had discovered that he could shoot up in the bathroom of the church despite his filthy, disheveled appearance and not get caught. Most other churches kept their facilities locked at night, but the pastor, Reverend Bill Withers, had a notoriously kind heart. The first time he had come across Carney sleeping on the church lawn, he had awoken him, invited him in for counsel, and taken him to breakfast.
As Wes passed in his car the reverend gave him a wave from the open door of the church. Wes waved back at him and grinned, then threw his head back and took a long drag on his Marlboro cigarette."
308 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2016
97 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Denise Wallace
7 books30 followersDenise Wallace is an American author and story analyst in Hollywood. Her debut true crime book, Daddy's Little Secret, is about the murder of her father, Wesley Wallace in Palm Beach, Florida. Denise completed the Professional Program in Screenwriting at the University of Los Angeles. She is currently working on a screenplay based on the story of her father's murder, which has garnered interest from television networks. A second book called Faces of Connie Rider about a kidnapping in Mexico is also in the works. Denise grew up in South Florida and currently lives in Los Angeles, California, where she evaluates scripts and manuscripts for their potential as feature films, TV series, and books. She also writes development notes for writers and producers to help them make their stories better. Along with being an avid hiker, Denise is also an athlete. She trains at Jiu Jitsu and was the APF 2010 California State Powerlift Champion and the APF 2009 Golden State Powerlift Champion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 6, 2016
You don't usually expect such good writing from a first effort, especially when the book is a true crime story about the writer's own father's murder. But this one from Denise Wallace is very good. We are right there with her and the detectives as she goes through finding out about her father's death, then being blind-sided by one shocking revelation after another as information about his secret life comes to light. Things that happened when she spent time with him growing up during his visitations take on entirely new meanings looking back with the new insight she gains during the investigation of his awful murder and things that come out during the trial of the young man eventually arrested in his killing. She realizes that she only knew one side of him, and not nearly as well as she had thought. But then again, she reminds herself...there were signs. I think most true crime fans would enjoy this one.
August 1, 2016
What a fantastic book! Author Denise Wallace did an excellent job telling the story of her father's murder while having to relive painful memories from her childhood and then discover that he led an alternative life style. This book grabbed my attention from the first page and it was hard to put down. I highly recommend this book.
November 27, 2016
5 Stars Book, 4 Stars Narration
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
Written by: Denise Wallace
Narrated by: Sara Morsey
Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-03-16
Publisher: WildBlue Press
My first love has always been true crime when I saw this on audio I had to have it. The author show the hard struggle of thinking she knew her father only to find out she didn’t know him as well as she thought, her painful memories of her childhood and her love of her father. Her fight for justices as well as her fight for the truth along with her fairness for the events that happened and the man who killed him is easily shown in these pages. I really wanted to not like the killer but I found my heart softened a little for him. I also found I really liked her father even though he used addiction of others to get what he wanted he was still a very likable man. As with most murders there are truly no winners here only a sad lonely man who has found a way to get what he needs and wants through using young men and the young man who would do anything to get the money he needed. Let’s not forget the daughter who so dearly loved her father that he was truly her hero and in many ways will always be, finds shocking things she never dreamed of. The author will take you through her younger years, teen and her older years trying to understand a man who is driven by lust.
Some might think the killer deserved what he got or he should have gotten more or that the victim got what he had coming to him due to how he found young men and used their needs against them. What I found was a man still trapped in the 50’s and not knowing how to handle what people would think of him. Driven by his alternative lifestyle and finding away to get what he wants without paying for it or having a relationship where he might be judged. I also found a young man for whatever reason trapped in his addiction for drugs doing whatever he had to, to get them.
The narration of Ms. Morsey was very good her character voices were nice she put real emotion into the story. I did think some of her voices were close to others but you still knew who was talking and what they were feeling. I found no background noises or any places where the audio was higher or lower in volume than any other place in the audio. If breaks were taken you could not tell. The audio was clean, clear and crisp told in a way you could feel the pain, shock, uneasiness and sorrow of each character. Her male voices were as nice as her female ones giving you a nice listen. The narrator pulls you in waiting to see what happens next. I really had trouble putting this down I really wanted to understand the characters and what drove them. I felt the narrator was able to do this as well as she was able with the facts she was given.
I thought this was well written giving both side as it keeps you informed as the author gives you the full impact of each character. This was not bias but gives the story from all sides. All the facts are there written in a style that is clear and pretty clean. The murder scene is there but doesn’t go into a lot of detail but at the same time gives you all you need to know to paint the picture in your mind. There is no doubt the author was daddy’s little girl and she loved him dearly. The pain and confusion she had to go through not only to find his killer but to see the man he really was is shown and felt by the reader. Her father was very complex and I felt she wrote it from a stand point of trying to understand him, who he truly was and what he became but still able to show how much she loved him and would miss him along with her confusion of the events around her. I do not mean that in a bad way but in the way he used the addiction to get his pleasure when he most likely could have found young men who would have gladly have given him what he wanted. I would have liked to have known the man better and why he didn’t just find someone to have a relationship with but that will be forever locked in his mind. I felt the author filled in all the blanks as best she could since she could not talk with her father to understand what he was going through.
This was a touching heartbreaking read from all areas. It was a story I could not turn off I wanted to try to understand the man who was daddy’s little girl and the effect it had on the author. If you enjoy true crime this is well worth the listen. It will be an audio I will most likely listen to again.
Buy Links
Audible
http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Little-...
B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy...
Summary
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder is a poignant true crime story about a daughter who, upon her father's murder, learns of his alternative lifestyle. She had looked the other way about other secrets of his as well - deadly secrets that could help his killer escape the death penalty, should she come forward. An inside look at the complex and fascinating psyche of a father who shared an uncommon bond with his daughter.
She had spent years hiding deadly secrets about her enigmatic father, Wesley Wallace. Wes was a trusted security guard at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach. He was supposed to protect those who found themselves in his care. But a closer look into his brutal murder revealed a split personality - one that his daughter may have seen but tried to ignore. However, detectives assigned to the case persuaded her to assist them in the capture of her father's killer. The trail would lead from the glitz of Palm Beach to the murky streets of Dixie Highway and end in a courtroom where her father's secret life, and his dangerous penchant for sex slaves, would be revealed.
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
Written by: Denise Wallace
Narrated by: Sara Morsey
Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-03-16
Publisher: WildBlue Press
My first love has always been true crime when I saw this on audio I had to have it. The author show the hard struggle of thinking she knew her father only to find out she didn’t know him as well as she thought, her painful memories of her childhood and her love of her father. Her fight for justices as well as her fight for the truth along with her fairness for the events that happened and the man who killed him is easily shown in these pages. I really wanted to not like the killer but I found my heart softened a little for him. I also found I really liked her father even though he used addiction of others to get what he wanted he was still a very likable man. As with most murders there are truly no winners here only a sad lonely man who has found a way to get what he needs and wants through using young men and the young man who would do anything to get the money he needed. Let’s not forget the daughter who so dearly loved her father that he was truly her hero and in many ways will always be, finds shocking things she never dreamed of. The author will take you through her younger years, teen and her older years trying to understand a man who is driven by lust.
Some might think the killer deserved what he got or he should have gotten more or that the victim got what he had coming to him due to how he found young men and used their needs against them. What I found was a man still trapped in the 50’s and not knowing how to handle what people would think of him. Driven by his alternative lifestyle and finding away to get what he wants without paying for it or having a relationship where he might be judged. I also found a young man for whatever reason trapped in his addiction for drugs doing whatever he had to, to get them.
The narration of Ms. Morsey was very good her character voices were nice she put real emotion into the story. I did think some of her voices were close to others but you still knew who was talking and what they were feeling. I found no background noises or any places where the audio was higher or lower in volume than any other place in the audio. If breaks were taken you could not tell. The audio was clean, clear and crisp told in a way you could feel the pain, shock, uneasiness and sorrow of each character. Her male voices were as nice as her female ones giving you a nice listen. The narrator pulls you in waiting to see what happens next. I really had trouble putting this down I really wanted to understand the characters and what drove them. I felt the narrator was able to do this as well as she was able with the facts she was given.
I thought this was well written giving both side as it keeps you informed as the author gives you the full impact of each character. This was not bias but gives the story from all sides. All the facts are there written in a style that is clear and pretty clean. The murder scene is there but doesn’t go into a lot of detail but at the same time gives you all you need to know to paint the picture in your mind. There is no doubt the author was daddy’s little girl and she loved him dearly. The pain and confusion she had to go through not only to find his killer but to see the man he really was is shown and felt by the reader. Her father was very complex and I felt she wrote it from a stand point of trying to understand him, who he truly was and what he became but still able to show how much she loved him and would miss him along with her confusion of the events around her. I do not mean that in a bad way but in the way he used the addiction to get his pleasure when he most likely could have found young men who would have gladly have given him what he wanted. I would have liked to have known the man better and why he didn’t just find someone to have a relationship with but that will be forever locked in his mind. I felt the author filled in all the blanks as best she could since she could not talk with her father to understand what he was going through.
This was a touching heartbreaking read from all areas. It was a story I could not turn off I wanted to try to understand the man who was daddy’s little girl and the effect it had on the author. If you enjoy true crime this is well worth the listen. It will be an audio I will most likely listen to again.
Buy Links
Audible
http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Little-...
B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy...
Summary
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder is a poignant true crime story about a daughter who, upon her father's murder, learns of his alternative lifestyle. She had looked the other way about other secrets of his as well - deadly secrets that could help his killer escape the death penalty, should she come forward. An inside look at the complex and fascinating psyche of a father who shared an uncommon bond with his daughter.
She had spent years hiding deadly secrets about her enigmatic father, Wesley Wallace. Wes was a trusted security guard at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach. He was supposed to protect those who found themselves in his care. But a closer look into his brutal murder revealed a split personality - one that his daughter may have seen but tried to ignore. However, detectives assigned to the case persuaded her to assist them in the capture of her father's killer. The trail would lead from the glitz of Palm Beach to the murky streets of Dixie Highway and end in a courtroom where her father's secret life, and his dangerous penchant for sex slaves, would be revealed.
May 9, 2017
The author did a fantastic job of telling the story of her childhood and the murder of her father. It must have been very painful and emotional to put her thoughts in writing.This is a very interesting and thought provoking book. A must read for lovers of true crime. Thanks to Denise Wallace for this insight into her life and the life of her father. Many thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
June 2, 2017
Non-fiction authored by the daughter of a murder victim with a so-so secret. Despite being penned by someone so close to the victim, the narrative seems artificial and I am still left uncertain of the goal of this book.
*Some Spoilers*
Reading the blurb for the book, I expected some grand reveal of something horrific her father had done that made him unworthy of sympathy. True, he was an abusive husband and an alcoholic, but the big secret? He's gay. He has a thing for younger men and can be creepy in his pursuit of them. ....That's it. Once this is known, there is an underlying tone of homophobia throughout that I couldn't stand.
Most of the book could've and should've been edited and reduced by at least a third, because much of it is unnecessary filler. The scene descriptions go on ad nauseum. Almost half the book is trial transcripts with pointless commentary. But with all that was included, so much substance was left out. The reader is repeatedly reminded of the author's "athletic physique and flowing blonde hair", of how unsupportive her ex-husband was, we even get a bonus Author's Commentary at the end that described her introduction to film school and the mentors she had there. Yet there's no real inclusion on how her father's death affected her beyond the fact that she felt betrayed by him hiding his sexuality. She has two children apparently, but not a word on how she explained the story to them then or since.
I was hoping for some enlightenment on her part. How did her father's death change her beyond the decision to change her career? Did this affect the community at all? Was there anything law enforcement learned or missed that could benefit crime solving in the future? In the end, all I got was a sad, yet unsurprising and common story of a man's death at the hands of his "lover". Whatever her reason for sharing her story, it left me feeling as if she was in it just for the profit. That's hard to sympathize with.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Some Spoilers*
Reading the blurb for the book, I expected some grand reveal of something horrific her father had done that made him unworthy of sympathy. True, he was an abusive husband and an alcoholic, but the big secret? He's gay. He has a thing for younger men and can be creepy in his pursuit of them. ....That's it. Once this is known, there is an underlying tone of homophobia throughout that I couldn't stand.
Most of the book could've and should've been edited and reduced by at least a third, because much of it is unnecessary filler. The scene descriptions go on ad nauseum. Almost half the book is trial transcripts with pointless commentary. But with all that was included, so much substance was left out. The reader is repeatedly reminded of the author's "athletic physique and flowing blonde hair", of how unsupportive her ex-husband was, we even get a bonus Author's Commentary at the end that described her introduction to film school and the mentors she had there. Yet there's no real inclusion on how her father's death affected her beyond the fact that she felt betrayed by him hiding his sexuality. She has two children apparently, but not a word on how she explained the story to them then or since.
I was hoping for some enlightenment on her part. How did her father's death change her beyond the decision to change her career? Did this affect the community at all? Was there anything law enforcement learned or missed that could benefit crime solving in the future? In the end, all I got was a sad, yet unsurprising and common story of a man's death at the hands of his "lover". Whatever her reason for sharing her story, it left me feeling as if she was in it just for the profit. That's hard to sympathize with.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2016
Family secrets rise to the surface
The author has presented a good account of the father she adored who emerged as a stranger following his brutal murder. Families are very good at keeping the unsavory secrets hidden, but a murder investigation will expose them to the harsh light of day.
The author appears to have had much difficulty accepting her father's risky lifestyle. She seems to have tried to assume that burden of guilt when she was in no way responsible. Though the shock must have been great, hopefully she will be able to love the father of her memories and set aside the lifestyle that took him from her.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 18 corrections.
Includes photos.
The author has presented a good account of the father she adored who emerged as a stranger following his brutal murder. Families are very good at keeping the unsavory secrets hidden, but a murder investigation will expose them to the harsh light of day.
The author appears to have had much difficulty accepting her father's risky lifestyle. She seems to have tried to assume that burden of guilt when she was in no way responsible. Though the shock must have been great, hopefully she will be able to love the father of her memories and set aside the lifestyle that took him from her.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 18 corrections.
Includes photos.
December 17, 2017
A thought-provoking read
This is the true story of the investigation into the murder of the author's father. The writing varies from excellent to strikingly clumsy -- the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars -- but this story was far too compelling for that to slow me down. This is supposed to be a memoir, but the author barely inserts herself into this story at all. I came away far from sure where she stood on any of the head-scratching issues in her father's case. And there were many in here, believe me. I came away with a greater understanding of the decisions jury has to make in order to reach a just verdict. And it underlined my understanding of how little you can know about your closest relatives.
This is the true story of the investigation into the murder of the author's father. The writing varies from excellent to strikingly clumsy -- the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars -- but this story was far too compelling for that to slow me down. This is supposed to be a memoir, but the author barely inserts herself into this story at all. I came away far from sure where she stood on any of the head-scratching issues in her father's case. And there were many in here, believe me. I came away with a greater understanding of the decisions jury has to make in order to reach a just verdict. And it underlined my understanding of how little you can know about your closest relatives.
July 26, 2016
I really liked this book by Denise Wallace. It was well written and I could not put it down. It takes a lot of strength and character to write a book like this, going through one of the roughest times of your life. Reliving her father's heinous murder could not have been easy, but she does it in the book very well. I would highly recommend this book.
August 17, 2017
Content warnings: mentions of the greensboro gay scare of 1957, death, gay men, talks of sex acts, mentions of pornography, mentions of blood, mentions of alcoholism and recovering addict, mentions of drugs (marijuana and cocaine), mentions of theft, mention of fighting, mention of spousal abuse as result of alcohol addiction, mention of drug addiction
review tba
review tba
July 12, 2017
I chose to read this book because I prefer to read non-fiction. This is the story of the brutal murder or Wesley Wallace, a man who had a close bond with his only daughter, Denise. Upon learning of her father's death, Denise is suddenly plunged into the discovery of his secret life of homosexuality, brutality, and domination. Although the title of this book leads one to think that she played an active part in the discovery of information regarding his murder, I did not feel that it was so. It seemed to me to be more of narration explaining the actions of the investigators in the case. At any rate, the facts surrounding his life would have been devastating to learn about one's beloved father, except that in her case, Denise had seen and experienced many occasions with her father that gave a clear indication of the man he really was. I suppose her choice to ignore and not question him about these things might be the natural reaction of a child, teenager, or even adult in regard to a father's activities. I certainly would have been unable to confront my father had I experienced some of the things she did. That being said, it would still have been devastating to go through the discovery of all the facts she learned and be forced to come to the realization that her beloved father was a pervert. That she showed compassion for the murderer's family and even the murderer himself is a testimony to her character.
November 27, 2016
5 Stars Book, 4 Stars Narration
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
Written by: Denise Wallace
Narrated by: Sara Morsey
Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-03-16
Publisher: WildBlue Press
My first love has always been true crime when I saw this on audio I had to have it. The author show the hard struggle of thinking she knew her father only to find out she didn’t know him as well as she thought, her painful memories of her childhood and her love of her father. Her fight for justices as well as her fight for the truth along with her fairness for the events that happened and the man who killed him is easily shown in these pages. I really wanted to not like the killer but I found my heart softened a little for him. I also found I really liked her father even though he used addiction of others to get what he wanted he was still a very likable man. As with most murders there are truly no winners here only a sad lonely man who has found a way to get what he needs and wants through using young men and the young man who would do anything to get the money he needed. Let’s not forget the daughter who so dearly loved her father that he was truly her hero and in many ways will always be, finds shocking things she never dreamed of. The author will take you through her younger years, teen and her older years trying to understand a man who is driven by lust.
Some might think the killer deserved what he got or he should have gotten more or that the victim got what he had coming to him due to how he found young men and used their needs against them. What I found was a man still trapped in the 50’s and not knowing how to handle what people would think of him. Driven by his alternative lifestyle and finding away to get what he wants without paying for it or having a relationship where he might be judged. I also found a young man for whatever reason trapped in his addiction for drugs doing whatever he had to, to get them.
The narration of Ms. Morsey was very good her character voices were nice she put real emotion into the story. I did think some of her voices were close to others but you still knew who was talking and what they were feeling. I found no background noises or any places where the audio was higher or lower in volume than any other place in the audio. If breaks were taken you could not tell. The audio was clean, clear and crisp told in a way you could feel the pain, shock, uneasiness and sorrow of each character. Her male voices were as nice as her female ones giving you a nice listen. The narrator pulls you in waiting to see what happens next. I really had trouble putting this down I really wanted to understand the characters and what drove them. I felt the narrator was able to do this as well as she was able with the facts she was given.
I thought this was well written giving both side as it keeps you informed as the author gives you the full impact of each character. This was not bias but gives the story from all sides. All the facts are there written in a style that is clear and pretty clean. The murder scene is there but doesn’t go into a lot of detail but at the same time gives you all you need to know to paint the picture in your mind. There is no doubt the author was daddy’s little girl and she loved him dearly. The pain and confusion she had to go through not only to find his killer but to see the man he really was is shown and felt by the reader. Her father was very complex and I felt she wrote it from a stand point of trying to understand him, who he truly was and what he became but still able to show how much she loved him and would miss him along with her confusion of the events around her. I do not mean that in a bad way but in the way he used the addiction to get his pleasure when he most likely could have found young men who would have gladly have given him what he wanted. I would have liked to have known the man better and why he didn’t just find someone to have a relationship with but that will be forever locked in his mind. I felt the author filled in all the blanks as best she could since she could not talk with her father to understand what he was going through.
This was a touching heartbreaking read from all areas. It was a story I could not turn off I wanted to try to understand the man who was daddy’s little girl and the effect it had on the author. If you enjoy true crime this is well worth the listen. It will be an audio I will most likely listen to again.
Buy Links
Audible
http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Little-...
B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy...
Summary
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder is a poignant true crime story about a daughter who, upon her father's murder, learns of his alternative lifestyle. She had looked the other way about other secrets of his as well - deadly secrets that could help his killer escape the death penalty, should she come forward. An inside look at the complex and fascinating psyche of a father who shared an uncommon bond with his daughter.
She had spent years hiding deadly secrets about her enigmatic father, Wesley Wallace. Wes was a trusted security guard at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach. He was supposed to protect those who found themselves in his care. But a closer look into his brutal murder revealed a split personality - one that his daughter may have seen but tried to ignore. However, detectives assigned to the case persuaded her to assist them in the capture of her father's killer. The trail would lead from the glitz of Palm Beach to the murky streets of Dixie Highway and end in a courtroom where her father's secret life, and his dangerous penchant for sex slaves, would be revealed.
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
Written by: Denise Wallace
Narrated by: Sara Morsey
Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-03-16
Publisher: WildBlue Press
My first love has always been true crime when I saw this on audio I had to have it. The author show the hard struggle of thinking she knew her father only to find out she didn’t know him as well as she thought, her painful memories of her childhood and her love of her father. Her fight for justices as well as her fight for the truth along with her fairness for the events that happened and the man who killed him is easily shown in these pages. I really wanted to not like the killer but I found my heart softened a little for him. I also found I really liked her father even though he used addiction of others to get what he wanted he was still a very likable man. As with most murders there are truly no winners here only a sad lonely man who has found a way to get what he needs and wants through using young men and the young man who would do anything to get the money he needed. Let’s not forget the daughter who so dearly loved her father that he was truly her hero and in many ways will always be, finds shocking things she never dreamed of. The author will take you through her younger years, teen and her older years trying to understand a man who is driven by lust.
Some might think the killer deserved what he got or he should have gotten more or that the victim got what he had coming to him due to how he found young men and used their needs against them. What I found was a man still trapped in the 50’s and not knowing how to handle what people would think of him. Driven by his alternative lifestyle and finding away to get what he wants without paying for it or having a relationship where he might be judged. I also found a young man for whatever reason trapped in his addiction for drugs doing whatever he had to, to get them.
The narration of Ms. Morsey was very good her character voices were nice she put real emotion into the story. I did think some of her voices were close to others but you still knew who was talking and what they were feeling. I found no background noises or any places where the audio was higher or lower in volume than any other place in the audio. If breaks were taken you could not tell. The audio was clean, clear and crisp told in a way you could feel the pain, shock, uneasiness and sorrow of each character. Her male voices were as nice as her female ones giving you a nice listen. The narrator pulls you in waiting to see what happens next. I really had trouble putting this down I really wanted to understand the characters and what drove them. I felt the narrator was able to do this as well as she was able with the facts she was given.
I thought this was well written giving both side as it keeps you informed as the author gives you the full impact of each character. This was not bias but gives the story from all sides. All the facts are there written in a style that is clear and pretty clean. The murder scene is there but doesn’t go into a lot of detail but at the same time gives you all you need to know to paint the picture in your mind. There is no doubt the author was daddy’s little girl and she loved him dearly. The pain and confusion she had to go through not only to find his killer but to see the man he really was is shown and felt by the reader. Her father was very complex and I felt she wrote it from a stand point of trying to understand him, who he truly was and what he became but still able to show how much she loved him and would miss him along with her confusion of the events around her. I do not mean that in a bad way but in the way he used the addiction to get his pleasure when he most likely could have found young men who would have gladly have given him what he wanted. I would have liked to have known the man better and why he didn’t just find someone to have a relationship with but that will be forever locked in his mind. I felt the author filled in all the blanks as best she could since she could not talk with her father to understand what he was going through.
This was a touching heartbreaking read from all areas. It was a story I could not turn off I wanted to try to understand the man who was daddy’s little girl and the effect it had on the author. If you enjoy true crime this is well worth the listen. It will be an audio I will most likely listen to again.
Buy Links
Audible
http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...
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https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Little-...
B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy...
Summary
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder is a poignant true crime story about a daughter who, upon her father's murder, learns of his alternative lifestyle. She had looked the other way about other secrets of his as well - deadly secrets that could help his killer escape the death penalty, should she come forward. An inside look at the complex and fascinating psyche of a father who shared an uncommon bond with his daughter.
She had spent years hiding deadly secrets about her enigmatic father, Wesley Wallace. Wes was a trusted security guard at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach. He was supposed to protect those who found themselves in his care. But a closer look into his brutal murder revealed a split personality - one that his daughter may have seen but tried to ignore. However, detectives assigned to the case persuaded her to assist them in the capture of her father's killer. The trail would lead from the glitz of Palm Beach to the murky streets of Dixie Highway and end in a courtroom where her father's secret life, and his dangerous penchant for sex slaves, would be revealed.
March 13, 2017
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This is a story written by a murder victim's daughter. The father was a closet homosexual, which was something she never knew. He was murder by a young drug addict who claimed he killed in self-defense because he was in fear for his life. Much is made about the difference in the two men in height and weight. Her father was a large man who the defense said was violent and overpowered the younger, "slight built" drug addict. The author goes into her past with her father who for years had been an alcoholic when she was young. She talks about all the time she spent with him and the things they did and places they went. The past she tells of, consisted of a lot of drinking on his part and her going for rides with him while drunk and him making her drive because he was too drunk. She talks about him being violent with her mother, which the mother denies, how he be passed out drunk while she was there with friends. Nowhere, does she ever mention telling anyone including her mother about these things. The focus she uses most is about her loving relationship with him, but then she hears the defense depict him as a violent man and suddenly she feels sorry for the killer. I just don't understand so much, even a slight drug addict can be unbelievably strong and could have been the instigator of violence. Even if her father was a recovering alcoholic and gay, none of his friends gave any hint of violence, anger yes, pushy yes, but not violent. By the end of the trial it sounded like all her sympathy went to the killer and very little to her father. I don't know if her father did become a violent man at the end, but he did not deserve what happened to him. If the killer would have ran with stealing items or trying to get rid of evidence with bleach I might have had some sympathy. The book was good, but unsatisfying. In the title it says it's a quest to solve her father's murder, sorry but I don't think she did anything of the kind, the police did.
This is a story written by a murder victim's daughter. The father was a closet homosexual, which was something she never knew. He was murder by a young drug addict who claimed he killed in self-defense because he was in fear for his life. Much is made about the difference in the two men in height and weight. Her father was a large man who the defense said was violent and overpowered the younger, "slight built" drug addict. The author goes into her past with her father who for years had been an alcoholic when she was young. She talks about all the time she spent with him and the things they did and places they went. The past she tells of, consisted of a lot of drinking on his part and her going for rides with him while drunk and him making her drive because he was too drunk. She talks about him being violent with her mother, which the mother denies, how he be passed out drunk while she was there with friends. Nowhere, does she ever mention telling anyone including her mother about these things. The focus she uses most is about her loving relationship with him, but then she hears the defense depict him as a violent man and suddenly she feels sorry for the killer. I just don't understand so much, even a slight drug addict can be unbelievably strong and could have been the instigator of violence. Even if her father was a recovering alcoholic and gay, none of his friends gave any hint of violence, anger yes, pushy yes, but not violent. By the end of the trial it sounded like all her sympathy went to the killer and very little to her father. I don't know if her father did become a violent man at the end, but he did not deserve what happened to him. If the killer would have ran with stealing items or trying to get rid of evidence with bleach I might have had some sympathy. The book was good, but unsatisfying. In the title it says it's a quest to solve her father's murder, sorry but I don't think she did anything of the kind, the police did.
June 6, 2017
This is a great true crime book as that it gets right to the point. All characters are explained and this makes it easy to follow along. The majority of this book is dealing with the trial although it does start off with the actual crime itself. Family is explained as far as the daughter and the father mostly and the fact that the daughter had no clue as to her fathers homosexuality so the trial was both shocking and hard for her. I would recommend this to true crime readers as it gets right to the point and doesn't add in a lot of unnecessary points.
January 25, 2017
Wow! I couldn't put this book down. The narration was enticing and fueled every turning page. Denise's father was such an interesting character and this book dives into her memories of him and the side of him she only glimpsed at but never truly knew. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this interesting book!
November 13, 2019
Kind of boring
I'm unsure if the women who wrote this book had any real feelings for her father. She seems very cold and detached to the man who is her father, strange that she would write a book about his death.
I'm unsure if the women who wrote this book had any real feelings for her father. She seems very cold and detached to the man who is her father, strange that she would write a book about his death.
February 22, 2018
I found this book to be readable. It was rather flat which is typical of this type of book. It tells the story it's supposed to tell.
Want to read
March 16, 2017This was a page turning thriller . You want to keep reading to see what will happen next .
I don't believe I've read a book quite like this one before . Very good read . 5 Stars .... From me .
March 5, 2017
Such a heartbreaking story of a daughter seeking justice for her father. The saddest thing is that nothing can return her father to her and all of his secrets caused more pain. There were times when, if this were fiction, I would be critical of the author but this was not fiction. One of those times when fiction is stranger than life. Thank you to Netgalley for recommending this story. Although well written, this story is exhausting and requires some emotional R&R for recovery.
March 6, 2017
Amazingly well written.
From the first page to the last page, I was hooked. Denise is a very strong woman to have gone through this and to have written about her journey. It could not have been easy. I read a lot of true crime books, not all are worth reading, and some are good enough. This one being a first book about true crime from the daughter of a victim had so much feeling added.
I would totally recommend this to anyone who asks for a new book to read.
From the first page to the last page, I was hooked. Denise is a very strong woman to have gone through this and to have written about her journey. It could not have been easy. I read a lot of true crime books, not all are worth reading, and some are good enough. This one being a first book about true crime from the daughter of a victim had so much feeling added.
I would totally recommend this to anyone who asks for a new book to read.
September 7, 2016
Contains potential spoilers:
A true crime story so riveting, it reads like fiction. The book deals with the homicide of the author's father and her involvement in the ensuing investigation. The title suggests that the killer was a murderer, which is surely the way the daughter first saw the situation.
However, as the facts unfold, it becomes clear that the man Denise Wallace knew as her father isn't the same one she recalls from better days with the man. If anything, it shows starkly how unreliable and slippery our own memories can be. As the case moves to trial, Wallace starts to recall long-buried events that cast doubt on the prosecution's case. It also reminds us of how often the victimized -- in this case Wallace's mother -- will forgive an abuser for hurting them and fail to act against them.
The case resolves in a way that satisfies, but leaves both author (it seems) and reader feeling unsettled, in a reflection of how difficult it is to determine true guilt and fitting punishment under such circumstances.
The story kept me riveted until the very last page, including the author's epilogue regarding her road to becoming a published author.
A true crime story so riveting, it reads like fiction. The book deals with the homicide of the author's father and her involvement in the ensuing investigation. The title suggests that the killer was a murderer, which is surely the way the daughter first saw the situation.
However, as the facts unfold, it becomes clear that the man Denise Wallace knew as her father isn't the same one she recalls from better days with the man. If anything, it shows starkly how unreliable and slippery our own memories can be. As the case moves to trial, Wallace starts to recall long-buried events that cast doubt on the prosecution's case. It also reminds us of how often the victimized -- in this case Wallace's mother -- will forgive an abuser for hurting them and fail to act against them.
The case resolves in a way that satisfies, but leaves both author (it seems) and reader feeling unsettled, in a reflection of how difficult it is to determine true guilt and fitting punishment under such circumstances.
The story kept me riveted until the very last page, including the author's epilogue regarding her road to becoming a published author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2016
Perceptions...
I imagine at one time or another we have always been surprised when we find a person we knew was not really what we thought at all. As written in this book, the daughter of the victim had no idea what kind of man her father was. I think she was shattered by her illusions.
This book was very well written. She was able to bring all these characters to "life" with just her written word. Even the trial was not boring!
Kudos Ms. Wallace. My sincere sympathy for your loss. I'm glad you were able to write this book and I hope it has been somewhat of a catharsis for you....
I imagine at one time or another we have always been surprised when we find a person we knew was not really what we thought at all. As written in this book, the daughter of the victim had no idea what kind of man her father was. I think she was shattered by her illusions.
This book was very well written. She was able to bring all these characters to "life" with just her written word. Even the trial was not boring!
Kudos Ms. Wallace. My sincere sympathy for your loss. I'm glad you were able to write this book and I hope it has been somewhat of a catharsis for you....
December 5, 2016
DO NOT BOTHER!
I read true crime novels quite often. There's the Ann Rule level, then moving down to ones that just copy and paste trial transcripts. I thought this might be better as the author was the victim's daughter. It was worse! Trite, boring, repetitive and alarmingly full of bad spacing, font errors and blatant cliches.
Even if you get this for free-don't bother! I'm so irritated I want Amazon to pay me the two hours of my life I spent trying to get through this "book".
I read true crime novels quite often. There's the Ann Rule level, then moving down to ones that just copy and paste trial transcripts. I thought this might be better as the author was the victim's daughter. It was worse! Trite, boring, repetitive and alarmingly full of bad spacing, font errors and blatant cliches.
Even if you get this for free-don't bother! I'm so irritated I want Amazon to pay me the two hours of my life I spent trying to get through this "book".
October 18, 2016
Captivating and sad
This crime story grabs you on page one . My feelings for the daughter were so emotional. I, too, had an alcoholic father and certain memories do come back to haunt you. Although I have never experienced a crime in my family, I found the author and daughter to be an extraordinary and empathetic human being as well as being a great writer. I hope she is doing well and will publish again.
This crime story grabs you on page one . My feelings for the daughter were so emotional. I, too, had an alcoholic father and certain memories do come back to haunt you. Although I have never experienced a crime in my family, I found the author and daughter to be an extraordinary and empathetic human being as well as being a great writer. I hope she is doing well and will publish again.
November 11, 2016
Daddy's Little Secret: A Daughter's Quest to Solve Her Father's Brutal Murder
: Denise Wallace
What an intriguing story. I can't imagine the feelings, finding out secrets of her father after she was grown. It's a very sad story for everyone involved.
The narration was well done. Sara Morsey brought the story alive.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
: Denise Wallace
What an intriguing story. I can't imagine the feelings, finding out secrets of her father after she was grown. It's a very sad story for everyone involved.
The narration was well done. Sara Morsey brought the story alive.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
November 12, 2016
Rick-what a guy!
I didn't care for it. It started out well enough but it was pretty much downhill after page 30 or so. And who the hell was Rick, her incredibly selfish husband, and shouldn't even had been in her book. He added nothing. What a dork he is and I was happy to see they separated. Hope they stayed that way. Actually I don't care one way or the other because this couple was so self- absorbed I just wanted to start screaming out of pure boredom.
I didn't care for it. It started out well enough but it was pretty much downhill after page 30 or so. And who the hell was Rick, her incredibly selfish husband, and shouldn't even had been in her book. He added nothing. What a dork he is and I was happy to see they separated. Hope they stayed that way. Actually I don't care one way or the other because this couple was so self- absorbed I just wanted to start screaming out of pure boredom.
July 27, 2016
People are complex
The author's father had a lot of layers. She saw the good parts that were there. There was a while lot more going on, which is what the crime and the book is about.
I think Wes was violent most of his life, totally self-absorbed, though that doesn't mean he deserved to die. The story is very well told.
The author's father had a lot of layers. She saw the good parts that were there. There was a while lot more going on, which is what the crime and the book is about.
I think Wes was violent most of his life, totally self-absorbed, though that doesn't mean he deserved to die. The story is very well told.
August 7, 2016
A Daughter's Dilemma
This book was a page Turner for me. Denise wrote with such emotions that I FELT each one. I can't imagine being in her shoes for one minute. To have every memory turned upside down when she learned about her father's death and secret lifestyle. I hope she has found someone who can share the ups and downs of life with more compassion than her husband had.
This book was a page Turner for me. Denise wrote with such emotions that I FELT each one. I can't imagine being in her shoes for one minute. To have every memory turned upside down when she learned about her father's death and secret lifestyle. I hope she has found someone who can share the ups and downs of life with more compassion than her husband had.
November 19, 2016
This is part memoir and part true crime. The combination makes it more interesting than it might have been otherwise. It's well written and fairly complete.
Sara Morsey delivered an outstanding performance for this genre. She gave distinctive voices to the various characters with appropriate accents.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
Sara Morsey delivered an outstanding performance for this genre. She gave distinctive voices to the various characters with appropriate accents.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
August 24, 2016
Real page turner
I gave this book five stars because the book is real interesting and is a page turner. It kept me interested from start to finish... It's also a sad ending for all concerned.. May God Bless you Denise Wallace... Thank you for sharing your story.
I gave this book five stars because the book is real interesting and is a page turner. It kept me interested from start to finish... It's also a sad ending for all concerned.. May God Bless you Denise Wallace... Thank you for sharing your story.
October 13, 2016
Quite interesting
Not quite sure how I feel about this story. I do feel like Denise is still in denial about the truth. But she was pretty honest about her confusion. I also believe Travis should have gotten a lesser sentence, especially considering the facts of the case.
Not quite sure how I feel about this story. I do feel like Denise is still in denial about the truth. But she was pretty honest about her confusion. I also believe Travis should have gotten a lesser sentence, especially considering the facts of the case.
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