On 2 August 2015, father-of-two Jason Corbett was savagely beaten to death in the bedroom of his home. His killers were his wife Molly Martens and his father-in-law, Thomas Martens. In a trial that gripped both the US and Ireland, the case that the duo had acted in self-defense - though they hadn't a scratch - fell apart and they were sentenced to over 20 years in prison. Behind the scenes, Jason's family was locked in a desperate battle to bring Jason's children back to Ireland and away from the woman who had killed their beloved father and brother. With full access to Jason's records, Jason's sister, Tracey Corbett-Lynch, reveals for the first time the full and shocking story of what The Martens tried to get away with.
5* Hmm you may think. I rarely give any book this rating so why this one? It's certainly not a literary award winning book, it's not a book I want to keep and read over and over again it's a book written from the heart. My rating is a tribute to the Corbett, Lynch and Fitzpatrick families for the never ending and relentless fight to ensure the Martens were brought to justice. All the proceeds from this book will go the Jack and Sarah and this is one reason, if nothing else, to buy it
read this book. do not listen to the audiobook. the story is interesting and infuriating at times. the narrator of the audiobook tries various Irish accents and fails every time. I found it very distracting. if I was not so invested in the events I would have abandoned the book early on.
This book was a hearbreaking read. I feel like Jason was a member of my family by the time i had got through this book. The suffering that he went through and that his poor family went through all because of this womans jealousy. There were so many moment throughout this book when i had to put it down out of sheer frustration- The manipulation from his 2nd "wife" and her family infuriated me. And the lies that were told were ungodly. I am so happy that the family have him and the children home and that even in death he is back in the arms of his first wife. This is an amazing read and i know the author wrote it so that people would stop asking her for interviews and let the family finally greive peacefully, but i say thank you to Tracy, i think a lot of people would have had no idea the extent of the manipulation went between jason and "her" . I only wish that this book could have had a happy ending after everything that Jason endured and i hope that his 2 amazing kids are doing well.
The first word that comes to my mind after reading this book is AMAZING. The second is brave. The third is senselessly tragic. This is a truly incredible story of dogged determination and familial love, devotion, loyalty and single-minded determination to get justice for Jason. Tracy, if you read these book reviews I want you to know that I am wholly in awe of you and your family. God bless you all, especially Jack and Sarah. I pray that all of your tragedies are in the past and that the rest of your lives are blessed beyond measure.
I watched Netflix's A Deadly American Marriage and wanted to know more about the story and found this book. I get that Netflix was trying to make a true crime documentary with a twist but I think they did the Corbetts a real disservice by making it seem like Molly and Tom Martens were anything but calculated murderers. Molly is obviously very unwell and as Tracey Corbett-Lynch asks a few times in her book, does she believe her own lies? I think she does. I think her dad believes his own lies, too. But he's just an arrogant ass, not living in an alternate reality like his daughter. It was really interesting learning about the American legal system through an Irish lens. I audibooked this and the narrator was awful. Why not get an Irish woman from Limerick to narrate the book by an Irish woman from Limerick? The narrator was kind of whispery and then would randomly say a word very deeply. It was weird and irritating to listen to.
This book was a very emotional read. Although I knew the tragic ending I found myself rooting for Jason. I cried when reading about the death of his first wife "Mags' three weeks after the birth of their second baby, who was the ultimate love of his life. I felt his pain trying to imagine going it alone. My heart sank, when his second wife was introduced. Knowing the fate that would be fall a truely lovely man. The manipulation & abuse he suffered at Mollys hands. The why? Why did he stay and not leave sooner & the why from Molly and Tom. This man had so much to live for. He succeeded when the whole world was against him. To die in such a horrific manner only 8 years later. Its so very clear how much this man is loved by his family. I hope Sarah and Jack can find some peace and happiness. All the proceeds of this book goes to his children.
I live in the county where this murder occurred. I'm appalled at the total disregard for the blatant crime against this man. The father-in-law is ex-FBI, need I say more. We've got to come together and change the crooked system we have here in this great nation. These two should be behind bars for the rest of their lives.
Sad story for all involved. Hard though to fathom why the Martens extended family took the views they did in relation to the children . They knew Molly had issues so why were they so convinced she should have the children. Weird story
Listened to the audiobook. This HAD to lose a star because of the narrator. I refuse to believe they couldn’t find one Irish person to narrate this. The accent the narrator put on was worse than Gerard Butler in PS I Love You and was actually so bad it was offensive. She also pronounced every Irish word she had to say wrong. When she tried to say “cead míle failté” I did a full body cringe 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
To read about this family and their tragedy was utterly heart breaking. My sympathies and prayers are with them. And to know within this last week these people may walk free... that would be a horrid mistake on North Carolina’s judicial system’s part. JUSTICE FOR JASON!
The book itself was great, however I listened to the audio book and the narrator DROVE. ME. NUTS. Her breathy, dramatic nonsense made it so I barely made it to the end and I was distracted throughout.
*note to self for future reference: avoid books narrated by Mary Sarah
Truly a Captivating and Amazing book This is the story of Jason Corbett the father-of-two beautiful children who lost his True love and wife Mag’s Fitzpatrick and to an Asthma attack in 2006. Jason then married an American Molly Martens several years later which turned out to be a big mistake. Jason kept in touch with his family in Ireland regularly and had been in touch with his sister Tracey and told her that he intended leaving Molly and bringing the children back to Ireland to live with his family once again and find peace and happiness. Jason was savagely beaten to death in the bedroom by his second wife Molly Martens and father-in-law Thomas Martens just before he planned to leave her, so one can only presume Molly found out and sadly with help from her dad Tom who was originally an X FBI agent killed Jason leaving his children Jack and Sarah orphans. Jason's sister, Tracey Corbett-Lynch, reveals for the first time the full and shocking story of what Molly and Tom Martens did to her brother Jason on 2nd August 2015, as they both beat him to death in his bedroom with a baseball bat and brick while his children slept in nearby bedrooms. Tracey Corbett-Lynch, and the rest of Jason’s family live in, Limerick Ireland and when they got news that Jason was dead it was just the beginning of the nightmare that would involve going to America to fight to get Jason’s body released to his family before Molly could have it cremated, a custody battle for Jason’s two orphaned children Jack and Sarah, an online hate campaign by Molly Martens and then finally the gripping trial that would lead to Molly’s conviction, alongside her father Tom Martens for the murder of Jason Corbett. This is the story of how an ordinary, loving family was torn apart by the brutal murder of their beloved brother, but they never gave up even under enormous pressure of everything they had to go through for the love they held, and the promise Tracy made to Jason that she would not give up until justice prevailed. Tracy has also added some very touching photographs. A very emotional book and Tracy you have done both your brother Jason and his two children Jack and Sarah proud. I hope both Molly and Tom Martens are denied parole and never sees the light of day. I also hope your family is more at peace and remembers more and more the Good times you all had. RIP JASON AND MAGS
This book was recommended to me while on a recent trip to Ireland. I find traumatic themes tough to read, and would not normally choose this theme while on vacation. However, I found myself very moved by the story of a young widower who tries to rebuild his life with two small children, after the sudden death of his young wife.
I am a widow myself, albeit at a much later stage of life, and realize the complete transformation of life as we know it. Too, grief and bereavement are known to create clear changes - physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual - that must be processed until a time of clarity and focus arrives. Single parenthood and career building are added sources of stress. These sets of circumstances can distort thinking and judgement, and increase our vulnerability to influences that, in times of stability, clarity and focus, we would avoid.
This book also reminds us that we can never know what there is to about people who conceal who they really are under a carefully crafted veneer, enabled and supported by those close to them who are either in denial, or facing their own mental health limitations.
Such is the perfect storm for Jason Corbett, and it ends up with his brutal death at the hands of people he should have been able to trust. His fault, perhaps, is that he trusts others and has not been schooled in searching out signs of evil and protecting himself. Nothing in his own family upbringing in Limerick could prepare him to deal with perpetrators of heinous acts.
Tracy Corbett-Lynch and her coauthor have crafted this volume carefully - to show resilience through trauma, persistence in justice, power in the love of family/friends/community, and the healing power of love.
I highly recommend this read, with a caution to the faint of heart as there are some graphic instances of abuse, manipulation, and murder that are related in great detail. This qualifed my rating but I can understand why the authors chose to handle the material in the manner they did for the story.
Tracey Corbett is a very brave and courageous woman who for the last number of years has campaigned with all her passion and heart to tell the true story about what happened to her brother Jason. His murder trial was well published in the news on both sides of the Atlantic and amid false allegation made by the Marten family, I would urge anyone who has followed the case to read this book. Jason was a warm and much loved individual who had suffered the tragic loss of his wife, when an extremely callous, manipulative and evil woman came into his life and preyed on the vulnerabilities and the good nature of Jason. Molly Martens, is the very definition of a toxic person. A liar, a manipulator, a fraud and under all that a cold blooded killer. She does not deserve your pity or sympathy, despite whatever PR machine her family and friends might spin. She deserves to pay the harshest price of all for her crime. It is an eternal shame on the American Justice system that that this evil person is now walking the streets of America.
This book is dedicated to the loving memory of Ms. Corbett-Lynch's brother who was brutally murdered by his wife and father-in-law. As the details regarding the death of Jason Corbett are revealed, the brutality is palpable. My heart goes out to Jason's family but most importantly his children. I will note that there are several events that are repeated throughout the book and I found that to be unnecessary but perhaps the author was locked into a certain word count and thought that was the best way to reach that goal. There is a lot of emphasis on how horrible Molly and Tom were and how good and loving Jason was. It is very clear what happened was tragic and unnecessary and I do not believe for one moment that the reason Jason was killed was due to self defense. Absurd! Prayers for the author and her family for stepping in to raise Jason's children and make sure that they received the therapy they needed and all the love in the world since both their parents were take way too soon.
"My Brother Jason" was an interesting true crime book written from a different point of view than most true crime books. This book was written by the victim's sister and throughout the book her strong, sincere and undying love for her brother and his first wife Mags was always evident. In this book the reader learns the details of the crime and the trial with a fair amount of commentary by the sister. She speaks lovingly about her brother, his first wife and the tremendous love she has for their two children. She is a "fighter" who will not give up until the two people who killed her brother are brought to justice. We should all hope to have a "Tracey" in our lives that could and would love us enough to do the same. I would definitely recommend this book to others. There are many pictures included.
This is a terrific, easy-to-read account of the heartfelt anguish, pain and grief suffered by an ordinary Irish family, told by the sister of the murder victim in shocking detail and in shocking circumstances. She tells in a controlled, measured way how her siblings, parents, and many friends dealt with this tragedy at the hands of a retired FBI agent and his only daughter. She shows the lengths she and they went to for justice at the far side of the Atlantic, which included doubling her number of children from 2 to 4 in that she, and her heroic husband, took in her young niece and nephew, the surviving children of her murdered brother under her roof. As an Irishman I just feel very proud that an ordinary Irish family behaved so well - while all the time grieving - in such shocking circumstances.
What an absolutely heartbreaking true story. I felt the pain and devestation at the loss of Jason Corbett. I feel like I knew him after litening to his sister tell his story. First losing his first wife, who was the love of his life. Then, dying in a brutal way. What happened to him is beyond devastating and heartbreaking or his family, especially his children who lost both parents. Sending prayers to Jason in heaven and to his family.
There is a Netflix series about this story called "A Deadly American Marriage." I watched that as well. I don't believe a word of what came out of Molly or her dad's mouth. I'm so happy justice was served for a little while. Molly and her dad are now out of prison, which is disgraceful. They should spend the rest of their lives in jail after what they did to Jason.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is written with class, simplicity and truthfulness. She could have tried to smear the heartless murderers of her brother in the same shameful and disgusting manner they tried to do. But she didn't. She didn't divulge private things about Jason's children, and use them like those despicable killers did. I find it apalling that Tom Martens was an FBI agent and his smug face sickens me. I was in law enforcement, and he is not representative of our "family". He's disgusting. It's not surprising that scum like him raised his daughter to be psychotic. They deserve all the worst prison holds for them.
To Tracey and the Corbett family: God Bless and you did your brother proud.
I love this book, because Tracey wrote it with passion, with love and we can see her brave heart and how she loves her brother and I totally can imagine how a good man Jason had been! My heart melted all the time she talks about the live between Jason and Mags. I start crying when she tell us the final veredictus of sentence to Tom and Molly. Because I feel the pain, I feel so sad that this horrible story had been a true story! I only didn't understand one thing: why Molly and her family was so obcessed with Jason's children? Did she really loves Sarah and Jack?! I don't know what to thing about this part. Tracey, if you read this, thank you for sharing this story with us and I send you all my strenghts with all my heart!
"My Brother Jason" book by Tracey Corbett Lynch will always be engrained in my mind and heart. It is a book about a tragedy that beset a family across the pond in Limerick, Ireland. It is about her brother who was murdered by his wife and father-in-law in the most heinous way. Tracey and her family traveled and made NC their home as they faced the most gruesome trial. This book is about love, grief and two Irish children left homeless by their fathers murder. Tracey and husband Dave fought hard to take custody of Jason's children and bring them back to their home country of Ireland. A must read about the courage and love of a sister to seek justice for her brother ❤
Like most others, all I knew of this case was what I heard/read in the media. So to have an account of everything from the point of view of Jason Corbett’s sister Tracey was eye opening.
We are told of Jason’s childhood, his first marriage and subsequent children, how he came to meet Molly Martens, and his ultimate demise at the hands of her and her father, all told in intimate and heartbreaking detail.
Even knowing the outcome, I was gripped to the end. I felt I was there in the courtroom with Tracey and her family. Tracey went through hell and back numerous times, and she is truly an amazing lady. Very well written.
#justiceforjason Tracey Corbett-Lynch fulfilled all of her promises to her deceased brother. She was very thorough in her portrayal of her caring brother, the witch psycho who brutally murdered Jason along with her heartless father, the trial, the verdict, and the sentencing. I hope that Molly and Tom are haunted with nightmares for the rest of their lives. I pray that every time that they close their eyes that they're are met with the horrific images of the brutal, malicious murder of an amazing father, brother, son, uncle, friend, neighbor, co-worker. Prayers and blessings for Tracey, Jack, Sarah, and the rest of their dear family and friends.
I recently watched the documentary about this case. I always feel that it is best to hear from the family of the victim. In this case, I do not feel that justice was served. I feel like they did not get what they deserved. They premeditated his murder. I feel like it was going to happen from the beginning. Molly lied from the beginning. Nothing ever lined up with things she said. She never told him about her mental health issues. I mean she was in a mental institution two days before going to Ireland to work for him. He should have never married her. I hate that it ended the way that it die. He did not deserve it. Men can be victims of domestic abuse as well. It is not always the woman who is the victim.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Just too long winded for me. I went audio on this one and the narration was a bit off-putting—not the accent but rather the strange inflection the narrator injected. That said, this is an interesting and tragic case. There is zero doubt in my mind that Tom and Molly Martens beat Jason Corbett to death in cold blood. Their claims of self defense are ludicrous—we’re meant to believe that a man killed by a brick paver and a baseball bat in his own bedroom by a duo that had nary a mark on them was self defense? The jury had it easy on this one. It’s a shame the two have already been released from prison.
This is an extremely well-written account of the life and brutal murder of Limerick man Jason Corbett. His family, especially his sister Tracey have carried themselves with dignity while standing up for their brother and re-establishing his good name. Molly Martens and her father Tom vilified poor Jason after the heinous and brutal beating they gave him resulting in his murder. Heart breaking story but one I would recommend everyone read. Best wishes to his family and children
The story of the murder of Jason Corbett by his wife Molly Martens and her father Tom. Written by Jason's sister Tracey with the help of journalist Ralph Riegel, the book paints a picture of a mentally disturbed Molly and a father who believed all her inventions to the extent that they would both commit an horrific murder. The couple have launched a successful appeal against their conviction but on the basis of this book's contents, it's hard to see how the original decision could be overturned.