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Boxful of Nightmares
Terry Hobbs' personal memoirs on the West Memphis Three Murders
203 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 19, 2019
This is a book based on what is referred to as Terry Hobbs journals. I have serious doubts about that claim. I have watched and listened to him speak through the last 20+ years and he is far from an articulate person. I do believe his family has had a terrible time dealing with his step sons death particularly through the media attention the crime drew and continues to draw.
I have read every bit of evidence available online and nothing points toeards the three men that were convicted in the crime. I do not know who perpetuated the crime but I am confident those three did not.
Not really a book worth reading unless you have followed this story and can see the obvious attempt to claim innocence in a crime where it is quite possible he was the culprit.
I have read every bit of evidence available online and nothing points toeards the three men that were convicted in the crime. I do not know who perpetuated the crime but I am confident those three did not.
Not really a book worth reading unless you have followed this story and can see the obvious attempt to claim innocence in a crime where it is quite possible he was the culprit.
January 20, 2023
Was this supposed to make people believe he didn't do it?
September 29, 2020
First, let me preface this review by saying that I never review a book for being something it was not intended to be. This book is, in some ways, genuinely unsophisticated and natural, and I am going to judge it as so.
The main argument of this book is two-fold. First, it attempts to explain Terry Hobbs’ perspective on how the murder of his step-son, Stevie Branch, and the following “murder” trials affected his personal life, ultimately destroying his marriage to Pam Hicks Hobbs and causing him a great deal of emotional and financial pain. The second reason is a lukewarm attempt to clear his name as a “possible” alternative suspect in the murders of not only Stevie Branch, but also Christopher Byers and Michael Moore on May 5, 1993. This book does not really make an attempt to explore the murder case at all so I don’t review it as such. Edwards throws in some bolded quotes throughout the book to register certain moments of the case or events related to the case that affected Hobbs and they do keep the narrative on track, although some are very lightweight and one is full of error. Buddy Lucas was not interviewed on May 6, 1993 by the West Memphis Police Department and this is according to both Buddy Lucas and Callahan. Since the case is not examined thematically either and Hobbs provides little information on the case other than brief references to the West Memphis Police Department’s narrative, and some general comments on people involved, readers should not expect this nor provide criticism except in general disappointment.
What this book is primarily about IS Terry Hobbs relationship with his wife, Pam Hicks Hobbs after her son died. It’s about his handling of her reaction to the murder of her son, and ultimately Hobbs’ relationship to his wife’s parents and siblings. And this premise is absolutely heartbreaking and I say that sincerely. It’s terribly heartbreaking for everyone involved, including the Hicks family. Hobbs is convincing as a man in trouble. No doubt. One event after another leads him deeper into heartache and steady conflict, which he can’t seem to avoid. Often he appears as some sort of passive bystander, bewildered and confused. No doubt. In this story, Terry Hobbs never has control of anything. His story is a steady descent into a nightmare.
However, at the heart of this chosen premise is the total understanding that the Hicks’ family believes (even a few weeks after the death of Stevie Branch) that Terry Hobbs is somehow involved in the murders. The reader can pick their sides. Hobbs may have not wanted this, but this is what he writes about. Family. The rest is window dressing for what happened to him and his family and relations.
I am not going to pick a side. If I have any serious concerns about this book, it’s the constant repetitive exposure of details concerning Pam Hicks Hobbs and how that will ultimately affect Pam Hicks Hobbs and Amanda Hobbs (who is an absolute prisoner of this tragedy) and maybe even sour some sympathetic readers. A little restraint could have been used in some of the details. I became more and more sensitive to Pam Hicks Hobbs as the narrative progressed and felt that some of her exposure was totally unnecessary. Ultimately, the domestic tale lost some of its agency because how is the reader to feel about the mentally unstable mother of a murdered child? Do we need to know the scene called Going Clubbing? Is the M.O.M.M.Y. status going to help anyone out here? The answer is no.
Moving on.
Hobbs feels failure and shame, he says. The public, and the outcome of the legal case, which ended in an Alford Plea that released the three former teenagers who were convicted of the murders in 1994. That Terry Hobbs is now an alternative suspect in the minds of some people is harsh, even brutal in his mind. That’s his reality and this story is how he is dealing with some of that. According to Hobbs, he’s been angry, wished for revenge, been humbled, and he feels deeply that he somehow lost everything he valued because three teenagers murdered his step-son. That’s his personal narrative. That is what he believes. That is what he wants the reader to believe.
Do we???? And if we do, is it valid?
There are some elements in this tale that bothered me, really little things that are more subjective and that have nothing to do with Hobbs’ story and more how it was told. Edwards doesn’t keep tract of time as well as she should, letting Hobbs roam a bit. As I wrote previously, some of the details about Pam are punishing and excessive in my opinion. Edwards also chooses to intervene in the narrative itself, which I felt added nothing, but maybe personalized it for her as author, and then there are the questions at the back of the book, which I thought took away from the emotional drama, but are clearly there to somehow offer Hobbs some kind of closure and defense on questions raised on social media and the Internet. I did not like that Amanda Hobbs was interviewed. I did not feel that the questions asked and answered will do anything to alleviate social media pressures. But if Hobbs feels they were necessary, who am I to disagree? I do salute Edwards on taking on such a topic, for attempting to mitigate the anxiety Hobbs must feel in holding on to these journals and notes. This murder case is just dreadful, even after twenty-five years.
Finally, it takes a great deal of courage or bravado to write a story like this and share it with the public. Everyone should take that into consideration.
Third read, Content is good. Style could be better. Hobbs appears impotent and unable to make changes in his life. He's surviving, which is good, but he is unable to let go of 1993. Tragic. And his family suffers for it. I really dislike the whine about Pam Hobbs because she is mentally ill and unstable. I also don't understand why Hobbs is so sure of the West Memphis PD narrative which is hazy and false in many details. But I hope to understand this by later readings.
The main argument of this book is two-fold. First, it attempts to explain Terry Hobbs’ perspective on how the murder of his step-son, Stevie Branch, and the following “murder” trials affected his personal life, ultimately destroying his marriage to Pam Hicks Hobbs and causing him a great deal of emotional and financial pain. The second reason is a lukewarm attempt to clear his name as a “possible” alternative suspect in the murders of not only Stevie Branch, but also Christopher Byers and Michael Moore on May 5, 1993. This book does not really make an attempt to explore the murder case at all so I don’t review it as such. Edwards throws in some bolded quotes throughout the book to register certain moments of the case or events related to the case that affected Hobbs and they do keep the narrative on track, although some are very lightweight and one is full of error. Buddy Lucas was not interviewed on May 6, 1993 by the West Memphis Police Department and this is according to both Buddy Lucas and Callahan. Since the case is not examined thematically either and Hobbs provides little information on the case other than brief references to the West Memphis Police Department’s narrative, and some general comments on people involved, readers should not expect this nor provide criticism except in general disappointment.
What this book is primarily about IS Terry Hobbs relationship with his wife, Pam Hicks Hobbs after her son died. It’s about his handling of her reaction to the murder of her son, and ultimately Hobbs’ relationship to his wife’s parents and siblings. And this premise is absolutely heartbreaking and I say that sincerely. It’s terribly heartbreaking for everyone involved, including the Hicks family. Hobbs is convincing as a man in trouble. No doubt. One event after another leads him deeper into heartache and steady conflict, which he can’t seem to avoid. Often he appears as some sort of passive bystander, bewildered and confused. No doubt. In this story, Terry Hobbs never has control of anything. His story is a steady descent into a nightmare.
However, at the heart of this chosen premise is the total understanding that the Hicks’ family believes (even a few weeks after the death of Stevie Branch) that Terry Hobbs is somehow involved in the murders. The reader can pick their sides. Hobbs may have not wanted this, but this is what he writes about. Family. The rest is window dressing for what happened to him and his family and relations.
I am not going to pick a side. If I have any serious concerns about this book, it’s the constant repetitive exposure of details concerning Pam Hicks Hobbs and how that will ultimately affect Pam Hicks Hobbs and Amanda Hobbs (who is an absolute prisoner of this tragedy) and maybe even sour some sympathetic readers. A little restraint could have been used in some of the details. I became more and more sensitive to Pam Hicks Hobbs as the narrative progressed and felt that some of her exposure was totally unnecessary. Ultimately, the domestic tale lost some of its agency because how is the reader to feel about the mentally unstable mother of a murdered child? Do we need to know the scene called Going Clubbing? Is the M.O.M.M.Y. status going to help anyone out here? The answer is no.
Moving on.
Hobbs feels failure and shame, he says. The public, and the outcome of the legal case, which ended in an Alford Plea that released the three former teenagers who were convicted of the murders in 1994. That Terry Hobbs is now an alternative suspect in the minds of some people is harsh, even brutal in his mind. That’s his reality and this story is how he is dealing with some of that. According to Hobbs, he’s been angry, wished for revenge, been humbled, and he feels deeply that he somehow lost everything he valued because three teenagers murdered his step-son. That’s his personal narrative. That is what he believes. That is what he wants the reader to believe.
Do we???? And if we do, is it valid?
There are some elements in this tale that bothered me, really little things that are more subjective and that have nothing to do with Hobbs’ story and more how it was told. Edwards doesn’t keep tract of time as well as she should, letting Hobbs roam a bit. As I wrote previously, some of the details about Pam are punishing and excessive in my opinion. Edwards also chooses to intervene in the narrative itself, which I felt added nothing, but maybe personalized it for her as author, and then there are the questions at the back of the book, which I thought took away from the emotional drama, but are clearly there to somehow offer Hobbs some kind of closure and defense on questions raised on social media and the Internet. I did not like that Amanda Hobbs was interviewed. I did not feel that the questions asked and answered will do anything to alleviate social media pressures. But if Hobbs feels they were necessary, who am I to disagree? I do salute Edwards on taking on such a topic, for attempting to mitigate the anxiety Hobbs must feel in holding on to these journals and notes. This murder case is just dreadful, even after twenty-five years.
Finally, it takes a great deal of courage or bravado to write a story like this and share it with the public. Everyone should take that into consideration.
Third read, Content is good. Style could be better. Hobbs appears impotent and unable to make changes in his life. He's surviving, which is good, but he is unable to let go of 1993. Tragic. And his family suffers for it. I really dislike the whine about Pam Hobbs because she is mentally ill and unstable. I also don't understand why Hobbs is so sure of the West Memphis PD narrative which is hazy and false in many details. But I hope to understand this by later readings.
October 14, 2025
superficial at best.
While I believe the 3 convicted of these murders are innocent, I’m not fully on board with the theory Terry Hobbs is guilty. With that said, this book was superficial at best. It jumps timelines, rambles, and reads as a “my ex sucks and here’s why”. He “tries” to be sympathetic to Pam’s struggles but it felt forced and more like he was trying to get brownie points for pretending like he cares. He only ever mentions stories that were mentioned in the press and deflects any responsibility while basically saying “we were both at fault, but she’s more at fault and here’s why”. I also found it funny that all the times someone apologized to him or things he done can’t be verified - like Pam’s brother forgiving him just so happens to take place alone in a vehicle. Also, him calling into a radio station to defend John Mark Byers. It’s like that’s thrown in just to say oh hey… look what I did while he was down and look at how he treated me when I was down.
All in all, this book did nothing to help him in my opinion. There’s still contradicting statements, deflecting responsibility, and not much being said. I went in with an open mind. I wanted to get his side, but just got a he said/ she said version of what’s already out there.
While I believe the 3 convicted of these murders are innocent, I’m not fully on board with the theory Terry Hobbs is guilty. With that said, this book was superficial at best. It jumps timelines, rambles, and reads as a “my ex sucks and here’s why”. He “tries” to be sympathetic to Pam’s struggles but it felt forced and more like he was trying to get brownie points for pretending like he cares. He only ever mentions stories that were mentioned in the press and deflects any responsibility while basically saying “we were both at fault, but she’s more at fault and here’s why”. I also found it funny that all the times someone apologized to him or things he done can’t be verified - like Pam’s brother forgiving him just so happens to take place alone in a vehicle. Also, him calling into a radio station to defend John Mark Byers. It’s like that’s thrown in just to say oh hey… look what I did while he was down and look at how he treated me when I was down.
All in all, this book did nothing to help him in my opinion. There’s still contradicting statements, deflecting responsibility, and not much being said. I went in with an open mind. I wanted to get his side, but just got a he said/ she said version of what’s already out there.
October 18, 2020
It still leaves so many questions
The book was hard to follow. The journals skipped around so much I had to constantly review things.... I understand why, this being multiple journals.
In all, its sad to read how much pain this man constantly endured.
The book was hard to follow. The journals skipped around so much I had to constantly review things.... I understand why, this being multiple journals.
In all, its sad to read how much pain this man constantly endured.
July 6, 2021
Written by Terry Hobbs.. interesting if you listen to True Crime Podcasts..
April 18, 2019
A heartbreaking story from Terry Hobbs and his story of how his life was affected by the West Memphis Three Murders.
September 2, 2024
Good read!
Good read not my favorite, but did give me a little incite into TH. I’m still not convinced that he didn’t have something to do with it.
Good read not my favorite, but did give me a little incite into TH. I’m still not convinced that he didn’t have something to do with it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews