What do you think?
Rate this book
We Thought We Knew You: A Terrifying True Story of Secrets, Betrayal, Deception, and Murder
New York Times bestselling author, television personality, and host of the #1 podcast "Paper Ghosts," M. William Phelps is one of America's most celebrated true crime authorities. In WE THOUGHT WE KNEW YOU, he takes readers deep into the murder of Mary Yoder, a popular wife, mother, and healer in Upstate New York -- telling a gripping tale of a family drama, a determined investigation, and a killer with the face of an angel.
In July 2015, Mary Yoder returned home from the chiropractic center that she operated with her husband, Bill, complaining that she felt unwell. Mary, health-conscious and vibrant, was suddenly vomiting, sweating, and weak. Doctors in the ER and ICU were baffled as to the cause of her rapidly progressing illness. Her loved ones--including Bill and their children, Adam, Tamryn, and Liana--gathered in shock to say goodbye.
In the weeks that followed Mary's death, the grief-stricken family received startling news from the medical examiner: Mary had been deliberately poisoned. The lethal substance was colchicine, a chemical used to treat gout but extremely toxic if not taken as prescribed. Mary did not have gout. Another bombshell followed when the local sheriff's office received a claim that Adam Yoder had poisoned his mother. But Adam was not the only person of interest in the case.
Pretty and popular Kaitlyn Conley, Adam's ex-girlfriend, worked at the Yoders' clinic. She'd even been at Mary's bedside during those last terrible hours. Still, some spoke of her talent for manipulation and a history of bizarre, rage-fueled behavior against anyone who dared to reject her.
Had Kaitlyn and Adam conspired to kill Mary Yoder, or was the killer someone else entirely?
In another twist, accusations were hurled at Bill Yoder himself, ricocheting blame in still another direction...
Renowned investigative journalist M. William Phelps details this incredible story piece by piece, revealing a heartless plan of revenge--a scheme that would tear a family apart, divide a community, and result in two gripping, high-profile trials.
In July 2015, Mary Yoder returned home from the chiropractic center that she operated with her husband, Bill, complaining that she felt unwell. Mary, health-conscious and vibrant, was suddenly vomiting, sweating, and weak. Doctors in the ER and ICU were baffled as to the cause of her rapidly progressing illness. Her loved ones--including Bill and their children, Adam, Tamryn, and Liana--gathered in shock to say goodbye.
In the weeks that followed Mary's death, the grief-stricken family received startling news from the medical examiner: Mary had been deliberately poisoned. The lethal substance was colchicine, a chemical used to treat gout but extremely toxic if not taken as prescribed. Mary did not have gout. Another bombshell followed when the local sheriff's office received a claim that Adam Yoder had poisoned his mother. But Adam was not the only person of interest in the case.
Pretty and popular Kaitlyn Conley, Adam's ex-girlfriend, worked at the Yoders' clinic. She'd even been at Mary's bedside during those last terrible hours. Still, some spoke of her talent for manipulation and a history of bizarre, rage-fueled behavior against anyone who dared to reject her.
Had Kaitlyn and Adam conspired to kill Mary Yoder, or was the killer someone else entirely?
In another twist, accusations were hurled at Bill Yoder himself, ricocheting blame in still another direction...
Renowned investigative journalist M. William Phelps details this incredible story piece by piece, revealing a heartless plan of revenge--a scheme that would tear a family apart, divide a community, and result in two gripping, high-profile trials.
322 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2020
1440 people are currently reading
7850 people want to read
About the author
M. William Phelps
88 books1,159 followersCrime, murder and serial killer expert, creator/producer/writer and former host of the Investigation Discovery series DARK MINDS, acclaimed, award-winning investigative journalist M. William Phelps is the New York Times best-selling author of 30 books and winner of the 2013 Excellence in (Investigative) Journalism Award and the 2008 New England Book Festival Award. A highly sought-after pundit, Phelps has made over 100 media-related television appearances: Early Show, The Today Show, The View, Fox & Friends, truTV, Discovery Channel, Fox News Channel, Good Morning America, TLC, BIO, History, Oxygen, OWN, on top of over 100 additional media appearances: USA Radio Network, Catholic Radio, Mancow, Wall Street Journal Radio, Zac Daniel, Ave Maria Radio, Catholic Channel, EWTN Radio, ABC News Radio, and many more.
Phelps is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Sexual Crime and Violence (MCSCV), also known as the Atypical Homicide Research Group (AHRG) at Northeastern University, maintained by NU alumni Enzo Yaksic.
Phelps is one of the regular and recurring experts frequently appearing on two long-running series, Deadly Women and Snapped. Radio America calls Phelps “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer,” and TV Rage says, “M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” A respected journalist, beyond his book writing Phelps has written for numerous publications—including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant—and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter.
Phelps grew up in East Hartford, CT, moved to Vernon, CT, at age 12, where he lived for 25 years. He now lives in a reclusive Connecticut farming community north of Hartford.
Beyond crime, Phelps has also written several history books, including the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy, THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE, THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, MURDER, NEW ENGLAND, and more.
Phelps is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Sexual Crime and Violence (MCSCV), also known as the Atypical Homicide Research Group (AHRG) at Northeastern University, maintained by NU alumni Enzo Yaksic.
Phelps is one of the regular and recurring experts frequently appearing on two long-running series, Deadly Women and Snapped. Radio America calls Phelps “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer,” and TV Rage says, “M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” A respected journalist, beyond his book writing Phelps has written for numerous publications—including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant—and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter.
Phelps grew up in East Hartford, CT, moved to Vernon, CT, at age 12, where he lived for 25 years. He now lives in a reclusive Connecticut farming community north of Hartford.
Beyond crime, Phelps has also written several history books, including the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy, THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE, THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, MURDER, NEW ENGLAND, and more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
June 10, 2021
We Thought We Knew you: A Terrifying True Story of Secrets, Betrayal, Deception, and Murder by M. William Phelps is a 2020 Kensington publication.
An unreal, twisty, very sad, true crime saga...
This book is about the murder of Mary Yoder, a vibrant, active person, who, along with her husband, Bill, ran a chiropractor clinic.
The couple had hired their son Adam's girlfriend, Kaitlyn Conley, to work in the office, and never allowed the couple's on/off turbulence to affect the work relationship they had with Kaitlyn. In fact, it seemed Mary and Kaitlyn got on quite well... Until one day...
Mary came home from work presenting with symptoms of a violent gastrointestinal illness. The initial consensus was that she had a bug, just as Adam had endured a short time ago, but it soon became clear that Mary needed medical attention.
Once admitted into the hospital, the staff also felt her illness was due to what was most likely a short- lived stomach bug. But, Mary's condition quickly deteriorated, taking a serious turn for the worse. She coded, then rallied several times before finally succumbing to death.
Because it did seem very unusual that a woman in perfect health had died so suddenly, an autopsy was performed, where it was eventually discovered that Mary had been poisoned with colchicine, a substance normally used to treat gout- a condition she did not have.
The investigators, as is usually the case, zeroed in on Bill, but an anonymous letter pointing the finger at Adam changed their focus, leading them to conclude that Adam might be the victim of a frame-up.
Who wrote that letter? Who stood the most to gain from Mary’s death? Did Adam kill his mother… or was there a more sinister plot afoot?
Well, this was one strange story. By all accounts, Mary was a wonderful, beautiful, spirited woman. Why on earth were there SO MANY suspects???
My goodness- Mary’s husband, her son, her friend and employee, Kaitlyn-
They were All primary suspects. Mary’s daughters, and law enforcement say all the evidence points to Kaitlyn, but three of Mary’s sisters think it was Bill, while Adam also faced damning evidence and accusations against him, as well.
What did the jury say? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out the shocking way this case came to a close!
I have my own opinion, and because of remarks made by the author about the Dateline coverage of the case, I looked it up online. Mary’s daughters had interview time, as did Mary’s sisters. I didn’t really pick up on a strong slant. Still, I was disappointed to learn those involved in the Dateline production, seemed to have favored one side over the other. No matter, though, because I’m still with the author on this one.
This is just a horribly sad case. Mary seemed to live life with gusto, with so much more to give, it's just tragic that her life was cut short in such a cold, ruthless way, and that her death has torn her family apart.
As for the organization and presentation of the facts, the author uses multiple timelines, outlining Adam and Kaitlin’s relationship, Bill and Mary’s history, the gathering of evidence and the trial.
For the most part, this approach works well, and prevents the book from becoming too dry, the way a more traditional, chronological approach might have. The downside to this method is that it led to some repetitiveness.
One should also be aware that this book is focused Kaitlyn, who was the person arrested, and who was placed on trial for Mary's murder.
The book, I think, sets out to remove all doubt about who killed Mary Yoder. From that standpoint, it might seem one sided- but in my personal opinion, the evidence bears the burden and law enforcement got this one right.
Overall, true crime fans will find a great deal to puzzle over with this case. The courtroom drama was unbelievable, and the author lays out his case admirably and convincingly. I hope the Yoder family finds some comfort and peace moving forward.
4 stars
An unreal, twisty, very sad, true crime saga...
This book is about the murder of Mary Yoder, a vibrant, active person, who, along with her husband, Bill, ran a chiropractor clinic.
The couple had hired their son Adam's girlfriend, Kaitlyn Conley, to work in the office, and never allowed the couple's on/off turbulence to affect the work relationship they had with Kaitlyn. In fact, it seemed Mary and Kaitlyn got on quite well... Until one day...
Mary came home from work presenting with symptoms of a violent gastrointestinal illness. The initial consensus was that she had a bug, just as Adam had endured a short time ago, but it soon became clear that Mary needed medical attention.
Once admitted into the hospital, the staff also felt her illness was due to what was most likely a short- lived stomach bug. But, Mary's condition quickly deteriorated, taking a serious turn for the worse. She coded, then rallied several times before finally succumbing to death.
Because it did seem very unusual that a woman in perfect health had died so suddenly, an autopsy was performed, where it was eventually discovered that Mary had been poisoned with colchicine, a substance normally used to treat gout- a condition she did not have.
The investigators, as is usually the case, zeroed in on Bill, but an anonymous letter pointing the finger at Adam changed their focus, leading them to conclude that Adam might be the victim of a frame-up.
Who wrote that letter? Who stood the most to gain from Mary’s death? Did Adam kill his mother… or was there a more sinister plot afoot?
Well, this was one strange story. By all accounts, Mary was a wonderful, beautiful, spirited woman. Why on earth were there SO MANY suspects???
My goodness- Mary’s husband, her son, her friend and employee, Kaitlyn-
They were All primary suspects. Mary’s daughters, and law enforcement say all the evidence points to Kaitlyn, but three of Mary’s sisters think it was Bill, while Adam also faced damning evidence and accusations against him, as well.
What did the jury say? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out the shocking way this case came to a close!
I have my own opinion, and because of remarks made by the author about the Dateline coverage of the case, I looked it up online. Mary’s daughters had interview time, as did Mary’s sisters. I didn’t really pick up on a strong slant. Still, I was disappointed to learn those involved in the Dateline production, seemed to have favored one side over the other. No matter, though, because I’m still with the author on this one.
This is just a horribly sad case. Mary seemed to live life with gusto, with so much more to give, it's just tragic that her life was cut short in such a cold, ruthless way, and that her death has torn her family apart.
As for the organization and presentation of the facts, the author uses multiple timelines, outlining Adam and Kaitlin’s relationship, Bill and Mary’s history, the gathering of evidence and the trial.
For the most part, this approach works well, and prevents the book from becoming too dry, the way a more traditional, chronological approach might have. The downside to this method is that it led to some repetitiveness.
One should also be aware that this book is focused Kaitlyn, who was the person arrested, and who was placed on trial for Mary's murder.
The book, I think, sets out to remove all doubt about who killed Mary Yoder. From that standpoint, it might seem one sided- but in my personal opinion, the evidence bears the burden and law enforcement got this one right.
Overall, true crime fans will find a great deal to puzzle over with this case. The courtroom drama was unbelievable, and the author lays out his case admirably and convincingly. I hope the Yoder family finds some comfort and peace moving forward.
4 stars
November 2, 2020
Always a fan of this writer, whether its his true crime books or his commentary on different crime shows on the 24 hour TV crime channels out there now, or his own shows he’s done. This book follows the case of the untimely death of Dr. Mary Yoder, universally beloved in her community. So it’s a shock when it is eventually discovered that her death was a murder. I remember hearing bits and pieces of this story floating around after it happened. There is no one I’d rather have put it all together for me to read than Phelps, so this was a treat, indeed. Phelps gets to the heart of the story, telling it in his typical, thorough style, yet keeping the interest up. I enjoy the amount of detail and background he layers in without overdoing it. So I enjoyed this book, and I’ll be looking forward to the next one too. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author M. William Phelps, and the publisher.
January 2, 2021
I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher and Bookish First Impressions in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is the first true crime book I’ve read by this author but won’t be the last. He has a unique manner of presenting all the facts from every perspective. It is obvious that extensive research has been done to write such a compelling book.
As Mark Twain is noted for stating: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.”
Since this is true crime there really are no “spoilers” as the case has been followed and reported by the media outlets. I will add my review regarding my personal comments and opinions.
The author goes to great lengths to make the story about the victim Mary Yoder and not the sensationalized media attention or conspiracy theories. I admire the presentation of the facts and evidence as they are and not what some would like them to be. Just because people “can’t imagine” someone being capable of such heinous acts doesn’t mean she didn’t commit them!
It is obvious that Kaitlyn “Katie” Conley is a person with deep rooted psychological issues. An example of a sociopath with whom we should all take note as there are many people in world just like her. The conniving and manipulative mastermind of those people should not be underscored.
Another appalling aspect was that regarding Dateline and their coverage of the case. I don’t recall whether I watched that episode. The author is respectful but does share information that he received from several reliable sources. As much as we hope that media presentation will be accurate we must always remember that people are human. The human spirit is strong and wants to believe the best of people and shun the possibility of such evil. The most difficult task is to put all feelings aside and examine facts without emotion or judgment. I believe that M William Phelps possess that ability.
This is the first true crime book I’ve read by this author but won’t be the last. He has a unique manner of presenting all the facts from every perspective. It is obvious that extensive research has been done to write such a compelling book.
As Mark Twain is noted for stating: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.”
Since this is true crime there really are no “spoilers” as the case has been followed and reported by the media outlets. I will add my review regarding my personal comments and opinions.
The author goes to great lengths to make the story about the victim Mary Yoder and not the sensationalized media attention or conspiracy theories. I admire the presentation of the facts and evidence as they are and not what some would like them to be. Just because people “can’t imagine” someone being capable of such heinous acts doesn’t mean she didn’t commit them!
It is obvious that Kaitlyn “Katie” Conley is a person with deep rooted psychological issues. An example of a sociopath with whom we should all take note as there are many people in world just like her. The conniving and manipulative mastermind of those people should not be underscored.
Another appalling aspect was that regarding Dateline and their coverage of the case. I don’t recall whether I watched that episode. The author is respectful but does share information that he received from several reliable sources. As much as we hope that media presentation will be accurate we must always remember that people are human. The human spirit is strong and wants to believe the best of people and shun the possibility of such evil. The most difficult task is to put all feelings aside and examine facts without emotion or judgment. I believe that M William Phelps possess that ability.
January 7, 2021
4.5 Stars
December 11, 2020
What a read! I always love doing an occasional true crime read, because no matter what the crime, they're always the books that stick with you the most. We Thought We Knew You is no exception, as we explore the lives, secrets, and betrayals of the Yoder family and how they all fell apart.
Without a doubt, the best part of this book was around the 200-page mark. The puzzle pieces are starting to come together, the investigators are starting to lean more into the suspicious death, with the suspects being Bill, Adam, and Kaitlyn. We do kind of know how it will all end up, but it's thrilling nevertheless watching the suspicion switch back and forth between each character.
Unlike other true crime I've read, We Thought We Knew You is truly written like a Dateline episode. It has a third-person narration and we get often direct quotes from the characters themselves. This was refreshing to read at first, but it did slow the pace of the first third of the novel.
In the end, a must-read for people who enjoy true crime. One of the worst things in the literature world is an author not doing enough research about the topic they're writing on, and gladly this book does not fall victim to that. To people who enjoyed We Keep The Dead Close.
Without a doubt, the best part of this book was around the 200-page mark. The puzzle pieces are starting to come together, the investigators are starting to lean more into the suspicious death, with the suspects being Bill, Adam, and Kaitlyn. We do kind of know how it will all end up, but it's thrilling nevertheless watching the suspicion switch back and forth between each character.
Unlike other true crime I've read, We Thought We Knew You is truly written like a Dateline episode. It has a third-person narration and we get often direct quotes from the characters themselves. This was refreshing to read at first, but it did slow the pace of the first third of the novel.
In the end, a must-read for people who enjoy true crime. One of the worst things in the literature world is an author not doing enough research about the topic they're writing on, and gladly this book does not fall victim to that. To people who enjoyed We Keep The Dead Close.
December 28, 2020
As a sucker for true crime and someone who has read a TON of books in this genre, M. William Phelps is one of the authors whose books are always on my TBR list, and one whose books generally are well written. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley, I received a copy of his latest, We Thought We Knew You, in exchange for this honest review.
TBH, I hadn’t a clue what the book was about when I began reading. All I knew was it was by Mr. Phelps, who rarely disappoints. As soon as I began reading, I realized I knew the story, who was going to be killed, who did it, and why. I’m not sure if this was covered in one of the TC podcasts I listen to, or if I’d seen it in a magazine or news story somewhere along the way, but it was familiar. Despite that, I enjoyed it. Well written as usual, and I appreciated that the story unfolded as it did. I was imagining how it would be received if I had no clue about the murder of a chiropractor by a woman who worked in the Dr.’s office and had been dating the victim’s son. The sociopathy of the wretched woman who committed the crime was revealed gradually, and the picture of the son presented his flawed character without any effort to pile blame onto him just for emphasis (I’m sure he has enough guilt to last his entire lifetime). Considering how much I knew about the crime and the people involved, it really held my interest. Four stars.
TBH, I hadn’t a clue what the book was about when I began reading. All I knew was it was by Mr. Phelps, who rarely disappoints. As soon as I began reading, I realized I knew the story, who was going to be killed, who did it, and why. I’m not sure if this was covered in one of the TC podcasts I listen to, or if I’d seen it in a magazine or news story somewhere along the way, but it was familiar. Despite that, I enjoyed it. Well written as usual, and I appreciated that the story unfolded as it did. I was imagining how it would be received if I had no clue about the murder of a chiropractor by a woman who worked in the Dr.’s office and had been dating the victim’s son. The sociopathy of the wretched woman who committed the crime was revealed gradually, and the picture of the son presented his flawed character without any effort to pile blame onto him just for emphasis (I’m sure he has enough guilt to last his entire lifetime). Considering how much I knew about the crime and the people involved, it really held my interest. Four stars.
December 9, 2020
My Rating: 5 Stars
Genre True Crime
There is no doubt about it; M. William Phelps is one of my FAVORITE true crime authors. Phelps has a knack for not only drawing his readers into the tumultuous and sometimes stomach-churning crime novels, but for also giving every single detail of the case that’s important. As he mentions in this one, we all form out own opinions. However, our opinions don’t negate the facts. What he does is present every single piece of the murder puzzle (for lack of a better word) so we can actually SEE and ACKNOWLEDGE all the pieces that lead to the figuring out the true culprit. It’s hugely impressive. Whenever I read a true crime novel, I always think to myself “this has GOT to be one of the hardest genres to write in because these authors have to dig into thousands of pages of testimonies, statements, and everything else in order to put together a picture of the murder or crime.” It’s intense! Bravo to Phelps for not only doing this work (that couldn’t have been easy anyway) but presenting it to us in a way that it makes SENSE. This my friends, is an exceptional novel and I look forward to many of his books in the future. I’ve read just about every one of his books and I am a huge fan!
Now I’ll get into the things I think really worked for this book (what I loved) and some of the things that could have been done better or changes (my dislikes).
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
📝 Phelps presents all the facts surrounding the case in a way that readers can see BOTH sides (i.e. what’s happening within the family and what’s going on with the perpetrator). I think the way he presents the facts are fascinating, easy to follow, and perfect for this type of book.
📝 Phelps PROVES the case. He lays everything out while also giving us the court room transcripts (or pieces of them I should say) making everything come full circle. He doesn’t miss a single important thing that needs to be in a book like this.
📝 Phelps uses care and discusses the victim as she SHOULD BE. This isn’t just a story about the crime. It’s a story about the woman who lost her life and how it changed everyone. I hate when the focus of a true crime novel deviates from the person who was killed and that doesn’t happen here.
📝 The book is compulsively readable. It’s so intriguing and you WANT to know the answers so bad that you continue reading despite the time. I love a book that can take over and this one did that! When my son gets a little older, I’m going to have him read these books because I KNOW he’ll find them to be awesome!
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
📝 Sometimes with true crime novels you can tell that the author is taking sides and its pretty clear in this one that Phelps took the side of the victim’s family. While I DO COMPLETELY AGREE that they had nothing to do with it I think its important for an author of true crime to remain impartial throughout the story. This wasn’t the case here.
📝 Some of the information was redundant. If the author or publisher could clean up the story a but and get rid of the redundancies (we don’t need to hear about the exact same fights 4 or 5 times) then readers may be keen to listen to what’s going on rather than rolling their eyes.
𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗧 𝗨𝗣
If you’re a true crime junkie like me then you need to read a book by M. William Phelps (this one included). He writes about fascinating cases and presents everything to his reader in a timely fashion. While some of the stuff was a little redundant, I realize that since I’ve read so many of his novels that I look through it. Some readers may not feel the same but that’s me! I highly recommend this one!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre True Crime
There is no doubt about it; M. William Phelps is one of my FAVORITE true crime authors. Phelps has a knack for not only drawing his readers into the tumultuous and sometimes stomach-churning crime novels, but for also giving every single detail of the case that’s important. As he mentions in this one, we all form out own opinions. However, our opinions don’t negate the facts. What he does is present every single piece of the murder puzzle (for lack of a better word) so we can actually SEE and ACKNOWLEDGE all the pieces that lead to the figuring out the true culprit. It’s hugely impressive. Whenever I read a true crime novel, I always think to myself “this has GOT to be one of the hardest genres to write in because these authors have to dig into thousands of pages of testimonies, statements, and everything else in order to put together a picture of the murder or crime.” It’s intense! Bravo to Phelps for not only doing this work (that couldn’t have been easy anyway) but presenting it to us in a way that it makes SENSE. This my friends, is an exceptional novel and I look forward to many of his books in the future. I’ve read just about every one of his books and I am a huge fan!
Now I’ll get into the things I think really worked for this book (what I loved) and some of the things that could have been done better or changes (my dislikes).
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
📝 Phelps presents all the facts surrounding the case in a way that readers can see BOTH sides (i.e. what’s happening within the family and what’s going on with the perpetrator). I think the way he presents the facts are fascinating, easy to follow, and perfect for this type of book.
📝 Phelps PROVES the case. He lays everything out while also giving us the court room transcripts (or pieces of them I should say) making everything come full circle. He doesn’t miss a single important thing that needs to be in a book like this.
📝 Phelps uses care and discusses the victim as she SHOULD BE. This isn’t just a story about the crime. It’s a story about the woman who lost her life and how it changed everyone. I hate when the focus of a true crime novel deviates from the person who was killed and that doesn’t happen here.
📝 The book is compulsively readable. It’s so intriguing and you WANT to know the answers so bad that you continue reading despite the time. I love a book that can take over and this one did that! When my son gets a little older, I’m going to have him read these books because I KNOW he’ll find them to be awesome!
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
📝 Sometimes with true crime novels you can tell that the author is taking sides and its pretty clear in this one that Phelps took the side of the victim’s family. While I DO COMPLETELY AGREE that they had nothing to do with it I think its important for an author of true crime to remain impartial throughout the story. This wasn’t the case here.
📝 Some of the information was redundant. If the author or publisher could clean up the story a but and get rid of the redundancies (we don’t need to hear about the exact same fights 4 or 5 times) then readers may be keen to listen to what’s going on rather than rolling their eyes.
𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗧 𝗨𝗣
If you’re a true crime junkie like me then you need to read a book by M. William Phelps (this one included). He writes about fascinating cases and presents everything to his reader in a timely fashion. While some of the stuff was a little redundant, I realize that since I’ve read so many of his novels that I look through it. Some readers may not feel the same but that’s me! I highly recommend this one!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 30, 2020
*WARNING: mild spoilers*
I’m not sure what drew me to request We Thought We Knew You to read, other than it’s been a while since I’ve read a straight true crime focusing on a single case, and the author, William M. Phelps, has been recommended to me previously. Until I read the synopsis, I had never heard of this particular case and knew nothing of the details, or the outcome.
In July of 2015 Mary Yoder, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and successful chiropractor in the state of New York, was rushed to hospital after experiencing the sudden onset of severe stomach pains, nausea and breathing difficulties. Despite all attempts to treat her symptoms, Mary’s condition continued to deteriorate, and less than twenty-four hours after falling ill, she was dead. Stunned, her family requested an autopsy be performed, and were shocked to soon learn not only was Mary poisoned by a deadly toxin, Colchicine, but there is suspicion it was deliberately administered.
Drawing on personal interviews, legal documents, and public records, award winning investigative journalist, author, and media presenter William M. Phelps presents a coherent and concise exploration of the life of Mary Yoder, the investigation into her death, and the subsequent trial that saw a young woman, the on-and-off-again girlfriend of Mary’s son and office manager of the family Chiropractor practice, convicted of manslaughter.
I found this to a very readable account of a tragic crime. I appreciate that Phelps does his best to ensure that Mary, by all accounts a warm, vivacious, intelligent and caring lady, is not merely a victim, but a person whose life was as important as her manner of death. He provides adequate context to the crime, exploring the backgrounds of, and relationships between, those intimately involved. The process of the police investigation is clearly laid out, giving insight into how the police gathered evidence and narrowed in on their suspect. The court cases are related in summary, so as not to get bogged down in jargon and detail.
I’m not sure at which point Phelps became convinced of the accused’s guilt, whether it was before or during his investigation into the case but there is a lack of objectivity here that bothered me somewhat. It’s not that I disagree with his conclusions, the evidence presented, presuming it’s accuracy, leaves me in no doubt that Kaitlyn Conley intended to cause the death of Mary Yoder, and frame Adam Yoder, Mary’s son and Katie’s ex-boyfriend, for her murder in what I conclude was a twisted plan of revenge for rejecting her, but that the bias is inescapably pervasive from the first. I would have preferred that Phelps had been able to gain an interview with someone from the defence, though he states all such requests were refused. While he does discuss the rebuttals given by Conley’s supporters, there is an uncomfortable imbalance in what he is able to present.
We Thought We Knew You is a sad tale of a toxic relationship, obsession, betrayal, and murder. Mary Yoder died horribly, a victim of intentional poisoning, yet simply a pawn in a quest for revenge by a remorseless killer. As of this month (December 2020), Conley has launched an appeal against her conviction.
I’m not sure what drew me to request We Thought We Knew You to read, other than it’s been a while since I’ve read a straight true crime focusing on a single case, and the author, William M. Phelps, has been recommended to me previously. Until I read the synopsis, I had never heard of this particular case and knew nothing of the details, or the outcome.
In July of 2015 Mary Yoder, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and successful chiropractor in the state of New York, was rushed to hospital after experiencing the sudden onset of severe stomach pains, nausea and breathing difficulties. Despite all attempts to treat her symptoms, Mary’s condition continued to deteriorate, and less than twenty-four hours after falling ill, she was dead. Stunned, her family requested an autopsy be performed, and were shocked to soon learn not only was Mary poisoned by a deadly toxin, Colchicine, but there is suspicion it was deliberately administered.
Drawing on personal interviews, legal documents, and public records, award winning investigative journalist, author, and media presenter William M. Phelps presents a coherent and concise exploration of the life of Mary Yoder, the investigation into her death, and the subsequent trial that saw a young woman, the on-and-off-again girlfriend of Mary’s son and office manager of the family Chiropractor practice, convicted of manslaughter.
I found this to a very readable account of a tragic crime. I appreciate that Phelps does his best to ensure that Mary, by all accounts a warm, vivacious, intelligent and caring lady, is not merely a victim, but a person whose life was as important as her manner of death. He provides adequate context to the crime, exploring the backgrounds of, and relationships between, those intimately involved. The process of the police investigation is clearly laid out, giving insight into how the police gathered evidence and narrowed in on their suspect. The court cases are related in summary, so as not to get bogged down in jargon and detail.
I’m not sure at which point Phelps became convinced of the accused’s guilt, whether it was before or during his investigation into the case but there is a lack of objectivity here that bothered me somewhat. It’s not that I disagree with his conclusions, the evidence presented, presuming it’s accuracy, leaves me in no doubt that Kaitlyn Conley intended to cause the death of Mary Yoder, and frame Adam Yoder, Mary’s son and Katie’s ex-boyfriend, for her murder in what I conclude was a twisted plan of revenge for rejecting her, but that the bias is inescapably pervasive from the first. I would have preferred that Phelps had been able to gain an interview with someone from the defence, though he states all such requests were refused. While he does discuss the rebuttals given by Conley’s supporters, there is an uncomfortable imbalance in what he is able to present.
We Thought We Knew You is a sad tale of a toxic relationship, obsession, betrayal, and murder. Mary Yoder died horribly, a victim of intentional poisoning, yet simply a pawn in a quest for revenge by a remorseless killer. As of this month (December 2020), Conley has launched an appeal against her conviction.
July 8, 2021
A bit repetitive and the time jumping was difficult to follow at times but overall, an interesting story. I thought the best part was the investigation into the crime.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an e-edition of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Update 7/8/21: When I finished this book a few days ago, while I generally enjoyed the story, I was left wanting to know more about Katie's history: her family life, her early years, etc. I felt this would have given us a more well-rounded account, from both sides. I noticed and felt this lack both while reading and upon finishing the book. Since then, I've come across information showing some interesting ideas from another perspective, one we didn't get in this book. The fact that this information is so interesting, and compelling, makes me wonder why it wasn't presented in this book for a more well-rounded, compelling and thought-provoking story. It's interesting enough, and perhaps even convincing enough, to be added to this account, why would we not get this side of the story? Instead we are given a story from one perspective and that's it, we are to believe this one side and not consider other ideas. It nagged at me while I was reading the story, but now that I've had some time to sit and think about it, and, in fact, come across some additional information that I'm sure the author could have, and probably did come across, I'm left wondering why we didn't hear about this side of the story and as a result, I'm now pretty dissatisfied with this book. Downgrading my review to 2, and that's being generous.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an e-edition of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Update 7/8/21: When I finished this book a few days ago, while I generally enjoyed the story, I was left wanting to know more about Katie's history: her family life, her early years, etc. I felt this would have given us a more well-rounded account, from both sides. I noticed and felt this lack both while reading and upon finishing the book. Since then, I've come across information showing some interesting ideas from another perspective, one we didn't get in this book. The fact that this information is so interesting, and compelling, makes me wonder why it wasn't presented in this book for a more well-rounded, compelling and thought-provoking story. It's interesting enough, and perhaps even convincing enough, to be added to this account, why would we not get this side of the story? Instead we are given a story from one perspective and that's it, we are to believe this one side and not consider other ideas. It nagged at me while I was reading the story, but now that I've had some time to sit and think about it, and, in fact, come across some additional information that I'm sure the author could have, and probably did come across, I'm left wondering why we didn't hear about this side of the story and as a result, I'm now pretty dissatisfied with this book. Downgrading my review to 2, and that's being generous.
December 28, 2020
I had not read anything by this author before and I am not into true crime podcasts so I was pleasantly pleased at how well written and well researched this was. What was most fascinating to me is how so many people including the victim’s sisters could believe Katie Conley was innocent. I could tell early on where the case was going and it was clear she planned and murdered her boss. The fact that so many could say with no real defense of why she couldn’t do it that she couldn’t have only because she looked too young and innocent astounds me. And those same people believed that a loving husband or son could have done it? The way people judge based on feelings instead of facts in our country is appalling. I loved the ending where the author talked about wanting to give a voice to the victim Dr. Mary Yoder. I loved the photos in the back of the book including pictures of her living her life and the art she had created. I will definitely be reading more true crime by M. William Phelps.
March 14, 2021
Best non-fiction criminal case I've read this year absolutely. Maybe in the last 2 or 3 years! 4.5 stars in the surround of eyes and perceptions to this family and these people. Mainly those in the Yoder and Conley families- but especially Mary and Bill Yoder within their Chiropractic Clinic and out of it.
As much as I considered giving this a 5 star rating, the juxtaposition of at least 20 time flips and locale switches kept me from doing so. But the more I think about it, I doubt this could be at all told well if you didn't have HUGE context to the 5 years prior to Mary Yoder's murder.
The title is totally accurate. Everyone thought they knew her. How do you not trust work mates or family associates of years' practice? Is what you see, what you get.
Having seen the Dateline program on this case- the book is just eons better. It put you into the 2 different "couples" here in very much a psychological sense and not just a relationship dynamic. Very unusual in any print copy, IMHO. The married Yoders and Adam (their son) and his off and on again girlfriend, Katie. You don't just get the reality of structures but the inherent core outlook and outcome personality bents to the MAX.
Bill Yoder is so essentially about Bill Yoder from his teen years to his 70's. It's all in the now and fulfillments for him. Mary is feeling and energy. Neither of them are economic or essential practical applications cored. Not at all. Hobbies, fun of physical and mental, job joy and in some ways nurturing all trump the essentially rote.
Adam, their son- definitely inherits many of his Dad's emotional highs and effusive moods. Plus the bottoms and self-identity core issues on top of it. Mid-twenties and still parsing all about himself. And Katie.
Well, you read the book. I've since gotten a list of Phelps' work and put interlibrary loans for almost all of them. Dozen or more. His psychological analysis is 5 stars. He doesn't need to give them DSM-5 designations either. What they are is enough. Personality disorders in good and normal folks. And personality disorders in not so good or normal folks. Which is which??
Photos were excellent. They did give you intense aura that surrounded Mary. Gardening, pottery, and chiropractic hugs. You wouldn't ever find her in the kitchen. She did NOT deserve what fate handed to her. New York state should have handed out a much harder sentence.
Always remember- everything you put into your phone or computer never really "goes away" to total deletion any more. And cameras ARE everywhere.
As much as I considered giving this a 5 star rating, the juxtaposition of at least 20 time flips and locale switches kept me from doing so. But the more I think about it, I doubt this could be at all told well if you didn't have HUGE context to the 5 years prior to Mary Yoder's murder.
The title is totally accurate. Everyone thought they knew her. How do you not trust work mates or family associates of years' practice? Is what you see, what you get.
Having seen the Dateline program on this case- the book is just eons better. It put you into the 2 different "couples" here in very much a psychological sense and not just a relationship dynamic. Very unusual in any print copy, IMHO. The married Yoders and Adam (their son) and his off and on again girlfriend, Katie. You don't just get the reality of structures but the inherent core outlook and outcome personality bents to the MAX.
Bill Yoder is so essentially about Bill Yoder from his teen years to his 70's. It's all in the now and fulfillments for him. Mary is feeling and energy. Neither of them are economic or essential practical applications cored. Not at all. Hobbies, fun of physical and mental, job joy and in some ways nurturing all trump the essentially rote.
Adam, their son- definitely inherits many of his Dad's emotional highs and effusive moods. Plus the bottoms and self-identity core issues on top of it. Mid-twenties and still parsing all about himself. And Katie.
Well, you read the book. I've since gotten a list of Phelps' work and put interlibrary loans for almost all of them. Dozen or more. His psychological analysis is 5 stars. He doesn't need to give them DSM-5 designations either. What they are is enough. Personality disorders in good and normal folks. And personality disorders in not so good or normal folks. Which is which??
Photos were excellent. They did give you intense aura that surrounded Mary. Gardening, pottery, and chiropractic hugs. You wouldn't ever find her in the kitchen. She did NOT deserve what fate handed to her. New York state should have handed out a much harder sentence.
Always remember- everything you put into your phone or computer never really "goes away" to total deletion any more. And cameras ARE everywhere.
February 8, 2021
This book resonates extraordinary writing from M. William Phelps. With the exchange of evidence literally and electronically, it will drive you to solve this hideous crime against a family. Mary Yoder, a mom, wife and dedicated worker in the community suffered a great deal of pain in her last few hours of life. After an autopsy was performed, it revealed an unfolding crime by a psychopathic killer. It terrified me to no end that a gout medicine called colchicine was used as a lethal weapon against Mary. The mystery behind Mary’s death revealed numerous leads, accusations, and lies to startling revelations beyond reason how someone could manipulate others yet maintain an innocent facade.
This is a true crime investigation that will leave you in disbelief and tears for an innocent family that suffered at the hands of a maniac. The evidence uncovered beyond the dark web is shocking and twisted. Praise for the investigators that recovered an insurmountable plan revealing a revenge plot at its worse.
Thank you Kensington Publishing Corp and Bookishfirst for my advanced uncorrected edition.
This is a true crime investigation that will leave you in disbelief and tears for an innocent family that suffered at the hands of a maniac. The evidence uncovered beyond the dark web is shocking and twisted. Praise for the investigators that recovered an insurmountable plan revealing a revenge plot at its worse.
Thank you Kensington Publishing Corp and Bookishfirst for my advanced uncorrected edition.
January 5, 2021
"...sometimes people arrive in our lives and, like black mold, create havoc and hell without us having a clue what is happening."
This is a very well-written true crime account with all the details surrounding the murder of Mary Yoder by Katie Conley in 2015. I do not remember this case on my radar, though I typically follow news of this sort. The story was so interesting because it involved a perpetrator who had insinuated herself into the Yoder family (as girlfriend to Adam Yoder) and as a receptionist/office manager at Chiropractic Family Care, the family business in upstate New York.
The murder weapon was quite unusual -- colchicine -- a very toxic medication used in the treatment of gout. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, and has no antidote or effective treatment if that range is exceeded. The revelations that describe how Katie planned and carried out the poisoning of Dr. Mary Yoder were chilling. It is incredibly scary that a 23-year-old family friend and trusted employee ended up charged in Oneida County Court with second degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records, and petit larceny. The motive(s) behind Katie's acts further demonstrate her narcissism and sociopathy. The lengths Katie went through to try to frame others to hide her guilt defy any understanding of emotions or empathy. I am not sure she got the punishment she deserved, but you will have to read all about the trials to see for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I plan to look for other books by this very talented author -- he really broke this down well and laid out all the facts.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...?
This is a very well-written true crime account with all the details surrounding the murder of Mary Yoder by Katie Conley in 2015. I do not remember this case on my radar, though I typically follow news of this sort. The story was so interesting because it involved a perpetrator who had insinuated herself into the Yoder family (as girlfriend to Adam Yoder) and as a receptionist/office manager at Chiropractic Family Care, the family business in upstate New York.
The murder weapon was quite unusual -- colchicine -- a very toxic medication used in the treatment of gout. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, and has no antidote or effective treatment if that range is exceeded. The revelations that describe how Katie planned and carried out the poisoning of Dr. Mary Yoder were chilling. It is incredibly scary that a 23-year-old family friend and trusted employee ended up charged in Oneida County Court with second degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records, and petit larceny. The motive(s) behind Katie's acts further demonstrate her narcissism and sociopathy. The lengths Katie went through to try to frame others to hide her guilt defy any understanding of emotions or empathy. I am not sure she got the punishment she deserved, but you will have to read all about the trials to see for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I plan to look for other books by this very talented author -- he really broke this down well and laid out all the facts.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...?
November 22, 2023
I love reading true crime, but I don’t love it when a true crime author has a specific agenda he or she is trying to foist upon the reader. This is exactly how I felt as I read We Thought We Knew You. It was clear from the start who the author believed was the guilty party, and he essentially tried to hammer you over the head with “facts” to prove it. When phrases like “quite brazen and insensitive” are used to describe the lawyers on one side, while “smart” and “hardworking” are used to describe the other, it doesn’t take a very discerning reader to see that they are being manipulated. Ironically, at one point the author accuses the tv show Dateline of “cozying up to” one side and sacrificing journalistic integrity by only seeing one viewpoint, when he literally does the same thing throughout this book. The case seems like it could have been interesting, but I will clearly have to read about it elsewhere to see if that is true. Personally, I can’t put too much stock in any book where the author freely admits in his epilogue that he finds anyone who disagrees with his conclusions “troubling and beyond my understanding.”
March 9, 2021
I am a big "true crime" fan and as such am forced to demand little in the way of style, so I can’t fairly claim to have been disappointed by Phelps’ shortfall. But I do expect at least an appearance of impartiality, and in this regard the author falls so far short that one would almost suspect him of special pleading (I have no ax to grind; before picking up the book I’d never heard of the case, and the writing is not such as to inspire much interest in any the participants). I don’t know whether Phelps decides the case for the reader in all his books or this is an exception ... but I’m not going to read another to find out.
I can’t close without citing just one example of the author’s inadequacy as a true crime reporter: "Murder victims and their families are generally - no, should always be! - off limits to such a bombardment of insults, intimidation, innuendos and taunts." An extraordinary claim considering how large a percentage of the murdered are victims of members of their family ....
I can’t close without citing just one example of the author’s inadequacy as a true crime reporter: "Murder victims and their families are generally - no, should always be! - off limits to such a bombardment of insults, intimidation, innuendos and taunts." An extraordinary claim considering how large a percentage of the murdered are victims of members of their family ....
January 27, 2024
This was an interesting true crime book. A sad story of a manipulative Young woman that plotted to murder her ex boyfriend's mother when she didn't get her way. Oh the lies she tells!
December 15, 2020
RATING: 3.5 STARS
November 18, 2020
Mary Yoder was beloved by just about everyone who knew her, and when she died an agonizing death in 2015, poisoned by a fairly unknown drug, the person eventually convicted for her murder was someone no one suspected. To this day, members of Mary Yoder's own family believe the wrong person was convicted.
The story is a convoluted one, but Phelps does a stellar job in detailing why Kaitlyn Conley was the only person who could have murdered her boss, Mary Yoder. Kaitlyn was son Adam Yoder's on-and-off girlfriend, who started working at the Yoder chiropractic clinic part-time while attending school. She was an attractive young woman with dark hair and a lovely smile ... but she also spent months crafting a murderous plot to place the blame on her ex-boyfriend.
Phelps really has his work cut out for him detailing all the twists and turns in the planning of the murder, and he does a good job in showing how all the little details connect into the larger picture. Given that Kaitlyn's family and friends refused to talk about her, the picture is less than complete, but bit by bit, the detectives on this case uncovered and put together a series of actions and deeds that clearly showed Kaityln as the guilty party.
Phelps' writing style here is clear and well-organized, something that I felt was lacking in his earlier works. 4.5 stars and I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my new blog "I Love True Crime Books"
The story is a convoluted one, but Phelps does a stellar job in detailing why Kaitlyn Conley was the only person who could have murdered her boss, Mary Yoder. Kaitlyn was son Adam Yoder's on-and-off girlfriend, who started working at the Yoder chiropractic clinic part-time while attending school. She was an attractive young woman with dark hair and a lovely smile ... but she also spent months crafting a murderous plot to place the blame on her ex-boyfriend.
Phelps really has his work cut out for him detailing all the twists and turns in the planning of the murder, and he does a good job in showing how all the little details connect into the larger picture. Given that Kaitlyn's family and friends refused to talk about her, the picture is less than complete, but bit by bit, the detectives on this case uncovered and put together a series of actions and deeds that clearly showed Kaityln as the guilty party.
Phelps' writing style here is clear and well-organized, something that I felt was lacking in his earlier works. 4.5 stars and I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my new blog "I Love True Crime Books"
March 16, 2021
Krista says:
Mary and Bill Yoder have spent many happy years together and manage their own chiropractic business in New York. Their son's girlfriend, a pretty and reticent college student named Katie, maintains the business aspect so that the Yoder's can pour all their energy into caring for their patients. One day, however, Mary doesn't feel right, and Bill rushes her to the ER. She dies within hours, and the family is left with questions. Was this some sort of deadly virus? Or did an unfaithful husband, a depressed son, or a manipulative friend want her out of the way? The author does a phenomenal job of detailing events and relaying people's emotions. I couldn't put this book down, even though the author makes it clear early on who the culprit is. The idea that these are real people, and this happened only a few years ago, is chilling, and will have you thinking twice about who you trust. My only complaint is that the timeline jumped around and was a little confusing. Don't let that keep you from reading this book, however; it's fantastic! Bizarre, twisted, and disturbing, this is a must-read for true crime fans.
TW Rape
Mary and Bill Yoder have spent many happy years together and manage their own chiropractic business in New York. Their son's girlfriend, a pretty and reticent college student named Katie, maintains the business aspect so that the Yoder's can pour all their energy into caring for their patients. One day, however, Mary doesn't feel right, and Bill rushes her to the ER. She dies within hours, and the family is left with questions. Was this some sort of deadly virus? Or did an unfaithful husband, a depressed son, or a manipulative friend want her out of the way? The author does a phenomenal job of detailing events and relaying people's emotions. I couldn't put this book down, even though the author makes it clear early on who the culprit is. The idea that these are real people, and this happened only a few years ago, is chilling, and will have you thinking twice about who you trust. My only complaint is that the timeline jumped around and was a little confusing. Don't let that keep you from reading this book, however; it's fantastic! Bizarre, twisted, and disturbing, this is a must-read for true crime fans.
TW Rape
November 5, 2020
If you love true crime and love an Author that writes a thorough and detailed novel on the gritty and chilling details of a cold blooded killer, than this book and Author is for you. This is not my first rodeo with Author Phelps; in fact Phelps has been my go to Author when it comes to true crime dealing with serial killers and all true crime. Getting to the core of the story. He is also the creator of the series DARK MINDS on the Investigation ID channel. This is a book and Author that true crime junkies cannot miss.
*****
Mary & Bill Yoder met when they were young and married, had children and opened a chiropractic practice together. Married for over thirty years they were still deeply in love. They were looking forward to retirement and an upcoming month long vacation getaway.
They had three children, Lianna, Adam and Tammy. Their son Adam worked for the practice and got his girlfriend, Kaitlyn a job there and she even stayed on when he left. Things seemed to be ideal in this perfect family. That is until one day the completely healthy Mary got ill suddenly at work and died with 2 days with no explanation.
There was an anonymous letter received at the police department saying that her death was not an accident. This led to further investigation into the case and poison control experts finding toxic poison in her system. She was in fact murdered. But who would want to murder Mary? That’s where the stories are told and motives are given and her husband, her son Adam and even his now ex-girlfriend are suspects. You won’t believe what you find out and who did it. I definitely recommend this as a must read.
*****
Mary & Bill Yoder met when they were young and married, had children and opened a chiropractic practice together. Married for over thirty years they were still deeply in love. They were looking forward to retirement and an upcoming month long vacation getaway.
They had three children, Lianna, Adam and Tammy. Their son Adam worked for the practice and got his girlfriend, Kaitlyn a job there and she even stayed on when he left. Things seemed to be ideal in this perfect family. That is until one day the completely healthy Mary got ill suddenly at work and died with 2 days with no explanation.
There was an anonymous letter received at the police department saying that her death was not an accident. This led to further investigation into the case and poison control experts finding toxic poison in her system. She was in fact murdered. But who would want to murder Mary? That’s where the stories are told and motives are given and her husband, her son Adam and even his now ex-girlfriend are suspects. You won’t believe what you find out and who did it. I definitely recommend this as a must read.
December 28, 2020
4.5⭐
This is my first time reading a book by M. William Phelps. I will be taking a look at his true crime backlist. His writing really flows.
We Thought We Knew You is about the death of Dr. Mary Yoder. Drs. Mary and Bill Yoder are the joint owners of a Chiropractic practice. They both work part-time and their son's girlfriend, Katie Conley, is the business manager. Katie and their son, Adam, have had a tumultuous, on-again off-again relationship. They met when they were 18 and 20 respectively. In 2015, Dr. Mary (her nickname) is working when she suddenly gets ill and goes to the hospital because she needs fluids. Within 24 hours and multiple cardiac arrests, Dr. Mary passes. The doctors and her family are desperate to figure out what happened.
After a few weeks of investigating, the medical examiner determines that Dr. Mary was poisoned.
I will not say that We Thought We Knew You is an unbiased examination into what happened to Dr. Mary. The author does lay out all the potential suspects, her husband, her son, or Katie, or even a combo of the above. But the author is also very clearly indicating that only one person makes sense.
Spoilers Below:
Kaitlyn (Katie) Conley has been convicted of the crime and Phelps lays out the evidence that points to the facts she clearly premeditated this crime. Katie is clearly a narcissist and the author points out comparisons between Katie Conley and Jodi Arias. Unfortunately, Katie still denies committing the crime and has many supporters that believe her. Because of this, Katie has never said why she killed Dr. Mary. Probably revenge against Adam, but we don't know if she intended to kill her or just make her very ill.
Because of Katie's young age and clearly does not have any empathy, I have serious concerns about her ever being released. She has been convicted to 23 years and will only be 47 when released if she serves her entire sentence.
This is my first time reading a book by M. William Phelps. I will be taking a look at his true crime backlist. His writing really flows.
We Thought We Knew You is about the death of Dr. Mary Yoder. Drs. Mary and Bill Yoder are the joint owners of a Chiropractic practice. They both work part-time and their son's girlfriend, Katie Conley, is the business manager. Katie and their son, Adam, have had a tumultuous, on-again off-again relationship. They met when they were 18 and 20 respectively. In 2015, Dr. Mary (her nickname) is working when she suddenly gets ill and goes to the hospital because she needs fluids. Within 24 hours and multiple cardiac arrests, Dr. Mary passes. The doctors and her family are desperate to figure out what happened.
After a few weeks of investigating, the medical examiner determines that Dr. Mary was poisoned.
I will not say that We Thought We Knew You is an unbiased examination into what happened to Dr. Mary. The author does lay out all the potential suspects, her husband, her son, or Katie, or even a combo of the above. But the author is also very clearly indicating that only one person makes sense.
Spoilers Below:
Kaitlyn (Katie) Conley has been convicted of the crime and Phelps lays out the evidence that points to the facts she clearly premeditated this crime. Katie is clearly a narcissist and the author points out comparisons between Katie Conley and Jodi Arias. Unfortunately, Katie still denies committing the crime and has many supporters that believe her. Because of this, Katie has never said why she killed Dr. Mary. Probably revenge against Adam, but we don't know if she intended to kill her or just make her very ill.
Because of Katie's young age and clearly does not have any empathy, I have serious concerns about her ever being released. She has been convicted to 23 years and will only be 47 when released if she serves her entire sentence.
December 13, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this true crime book by M. William Phelps. Fascinating look into the mind of a criminal! 5 stars.
In Upstate NY, Mary and Bill Yoder ran a chiropractic/healing clinic. Bill was semi-retired but Mary was still actively seeing patients; they were planning a big vacation. When Mary came home from work deathly ill and had to be rushed to the hospital the next day, no one knew what was happening to make this very healthy woman suddenly be on the brink of death. When she died and it was determined she was poisoned, the family and community were shocked. Everyone loved Mary. But evil was at play and it would take sharp detective and prosecutor work to solve the case.
I am a big fan of true crime stories and this one was written perfectly - we got to see how things progressed in real time as well as the recent past leading up to the events. This story really showcases the diligent work that police officers, detectives, lab personnel and district attorneys put in to solve a case and see that justice is done. This story was also made into a Dateline episode which I'm anxious to watch, especially after reading the end notes by the author.
Highly recommended for true crime fans.
In Upstate NY, Mary and Bill Yoder ran a chiropractic/healing clinic. Bill was semi-retired but Mary was still actively seeing patients; they were planning a big vacation. When Mary came home from work deathly ill and had to be rushed to the hospital the next day, no one knew what was happening to make this very healthy woman suddenly be on the brink of death. When she died and it was determined she was poisoned, the family and community were shocked. Everyone loved Mary. But evil was at play and it would take sharp detective and prosecutor work to solve the case.
I am a big fan of true crime stories and this one was written perfectly - we got to see how things progressed in real time as well as the recent past leading up to the events. This story really showcases the diligent work that police officers, detectives, lab personnel and district attorneys put in to solve a case and see that justice is done. This story was also made into a Dateline episode which I'm anxious to watch, especially after reading the end notes by the author.
Highly recommended for true crime fans.
December 15, 2020
Superb! This was a great read and I want to thank Kensington Publishing for an advance copy. It’s a story I only knew a little about so I was glad to have a book that told the complete story. It’s very well written and also contains a good photo section. The author really did his research and it shows. Definitely worth reading, especially for true crime buffs, such as myself.
July 23, 2022
This book is true-crime at it’s best. It’s presented via two timelines; one of events as they progress after Mary’s sudden and unexplained death; the other delving into the past to provide background on the various players. Both timelines are laid out chronologically, so we are able to gain information and put the complete story together exactly as the police investigating Mary’s death would have done.
The first and most obvious suspect is Mary’s husband, Bill. The police interview Bill, as well as other family members and patients who interacted with Mary on the day she became ill. Bill is completely cooperative; coming to the police station whenever they requested, providing his electronics to be combed over, and giving officers access to his home and office to search for clues. Police find absolutely no evidence that Bill was anything more than a bereaved husband who had lost his wife and best friend.
Suspicion now turns to Bill and Mary’s son, Adam. The receipt of two anonymous letters pointing to Adam as his mother’s murderer, and advising them of evidence they can find in Adam’s car, surprise the detectives and push them to look into Adam as a serious suspect. Again, however, they find a completely cooperative witness who gives them access to whatever they need to establish his guilt or innocence. After much digging, the detectives come to a surprising conclusion: Adam is being framed and the letters are lies. They further discover the author of the letters; Katie Conley, Adam’s ex-girlfriend and employee of the Yoders.
From here the investigation takes off and we are provided with a description of Adam and Katie’s relationship, one filled with breakups and reunions, and dominated by Katie’s lies and manipulations. The evidence is mountainous, with tons of documents and digital files that point in only one direction. I was fascinated by Katie’s interviews with detectives that provided a window into her deceptions and frantic attempts to deflect blame back to Adam and Bill. I don’t know how anyone who looked over all the evidence could question Katie’s guilt, but there were many, including Mary’s own sisters, who staunchly refused to admit that Katie could have done anything so horrible.
This was a rollercoaster of a book that kept me riveted at all times. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a true crime story or any other mystery.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
The first and most obvious suspect is Mary’s husband, Bill. The police interview Bill, as well as other family members and patients who interacted with Mary on the day she became ill. Bill is completely cooperative; coming to the police station whenever they requested, providing his electronics to be combed over, and giving officers access to his home and office to search for clues. Police find absolutely no evidence that Bill was anything more than a bereaved husband who had lost his wife and best friend.
Suspicion now turns to Bill and Mary’s son, Adam. The receipt of two anonymous letters pointing to Adam as his mother’s murderer, and advising them of evidence they can find in Adam’s car, surprise the detectives and push them to look into Adam as a serious suspect. Again, however, they find a completely cooperative witness who gives them access to whatever they need to establish his guilt or innocence. After much digging, the detectives come to a surprising conclusion: Adam is being framed and the letters are lies. They further discover the author of the letters; Katie Conley, Adam’s ex-girlfriend and employee of the Yoders.
From here the investigation takes off and we are provided with a description of Adam and Katie’s relationship, one filled with breakups and reunions, and dominated by Katie’s lies and manipulations. The evidence is mountainous, with tons of documents and digital files that point in only one direction. I was fascinated by Katie’s interviews with detectives that provided a window into her deceptions and frantic attempts to deflect blame back to Adam and Bill. I don’t know how anyone who looked over all the evidence could question Katie’s guilt, but there were many, including Mary’s own sisters, who staunchly refused to admit that Katie could have done anything so horrible.
This was a rollercoaster of a book that kept me riveted at all times. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a true crime story or any other mystery.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2021
Mary Yoder was adored by all. She was a loving mother, sister, and wife; a pillar of her upstate NY community; a kind and giving person. After a brief stomach illness, Mary suddenly died. Her death ruled suspicious, the local police department began to the dig deep into the Yoder matriarch’s family and friends, soon to uncovered a trail of lies, deception, and revenge. For fans of Anne or Leslie Rule. #libro.fm
September 10, 2025
The first half of this, before the law enforcement investigation begins, is somewhat repetitive and hard to follow. The second half is much better.
November 20, 2020
What a fantastic read that captivated me from the very first page. Bill and Mary Yoder have a very successful Chiropractic Clinic in the state of New York. Both of the Yoders are very popular with their patients and love serving the people. One day, Mary comes home from work sick with vomiting and diarrhea. The next day Bill takes her to the emergency room and she is admitted. Doctors are puzzled about Mary's symptoms and sudden deterioration and Mary soon dies. It was discovered that Mary died of a Colchicine ingestion, but where did it come from and how did she get it?? This book explores all the possibilities of who would have wanted Mary gone, where and how the drug came from, as well as the subsequent trials. True Crime author, M. William Phelps, did a superb job with this very puzzling case and he is one of my favorite authors.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very interesting read in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very interesting read in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2021
3.5 stars
Who killed Mary Yoder? Was it her seemingly loyal husband, who may have been keeping secrets? Her introverted son, who was the first to have accusations flung at him? The son’s jilted ex-girlfriend, who was not at all the person she presented as? Or could the son and the ex-girlfriend have conspired together? One thing is certain: Someone Mary trusted had poisoned her.
I won’t try to sell you something this isn’t. The writing was not eloquent. The details were a bit choppy. It all reminded me of a low budget made-for-TV mystery movie from the eighties and I could hear the “dun dun dun” sound effect in my head as chapters revealed shocking details to close things out. But I suppose different formats work for different people and these qualities were exactly what kept me glued to the story.
A part of me wished this was fiction. As I became more invested in it, I felt devastated for Mary, who suffered greatly before succumbing, and broken-hearted for the people who had loved her. I can’t imagine having to live with the aftermath, especially in the face of such evil scheming.
This wasn’t a perfect read, but I was incredibly intrigued by the information. I’d been unfamiliar with the case before learning about this book. I’ve now found myself researching things further, although the author was very thorough, so there isn’t a lot to discover beyond what’s presented in the book.
Will this be a hit for all true crime fans? I cannot say. It certainly worked for me, someone who doesn’t love the genre. Even if it isn’t appreciated by everyone, it is definitely a narrative that will spark interesting conversations. I think this would be especially fascinating to discuss within a book club, given the convoluted nature of the crime and the controversial divisiveness about the verdict.
I am immensely grateful to Kensington and BookishFirst for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
You can find all of my book reviews, lots of other fun bookish content, and the occasional ramblings about movies right here: https://www.facebook.com/abookishbutt...
Who killed Mary Yoder? Was it her seemingly loyal husband, who may have been keeping secrets? Her introverted son, who was the first to have accusations flung at him? The son’s jilted ex-girlfriend, who was not at all the person she presented as? Or could the son and the ex-girlfriend have conspired together? One thing is certain: Someone Mary trusted had poisoned her.
I won’t try to sell you something this isn’t. The writing was not eloquent. The details were a bit choppy. It all reminded me of a low budget made-for-TV mystery movie from the eighties and I could hear the “dun dun dun” sound effect in my head as chapters revealed shocking details to close things out. But I suppose different formats work for different people and these qualities were exactly what kept me glued to the story.
A part of me wished this was fiction. As I became more invested in it, I felt devastated for Mary, who suffered greatly before succumbing, and broken-hearted for the people who had loved her. I can’t imagine having to live with the aftermath, especially in the face of such evil scheming.
This wasn’t a perfect read, but I was incredibly intrigued by the information. I’d been unfamiliar with the case before learning about this book. I’ve now found myself researching things further, although the author was very thorough, so there isn’t a lot to discover beyond what’s presented in the book.
Will this be a hit for all true crime fans? I cannot say. It certainly worked for me, someone who doesn’t love the genre. Even if it isn’t appreciated by everyone, it is definitely a narrative that will spark interesting conversations. I think this would be especially fascinating to discuss within a book club, given the convoluted nature of the crime and the controversial divisiveness about the verdict.
I am immensely grateful to Kensington and BookishFirst for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
You can find all of my book reviews, lots of other fun bookish content, and the occasional ramblings about movies right here: https://www.facebook.com/abookishbutt...
December 13, 2021
M. William Phelps writes great true crime. I've previously enjoyed several of his thoroughly documented/researched books. This one was good but not one of his best. It follows the case of a chiropractor who is poisoned, and despite several good suspects/red herrings, police find the office manager did it - an early 20's, lovely woman who used to date the doctor's son. Who did it and why is fascinating, but this book also lays out the bias for the defendant by the court and jury. Could this attractive, white, upper middle class woman really be a killer? I was already familiar with the case due to a Dateline episode, but Phelps provides a depth of detail lacking in the TV show. It's definitely worth a read for true crime fans, but I found myself with lingering questions I don't often associate with Phelps' research. For example, the motive was implied as related to the murderer's romantic past but what about the indications of embezzlement? This is just one of several details that get less page time/research, but I was left with a lot of questions as to why the prosecution didn't include this in the trial. This and other information would have improved the book. Still, though, a good true crime book.
February 2, 2021
The writing is dry, really dry. The sentences range from awkward to corny. It's got a strange way of focusing on detail - in many places, there's too much, while in others, where you'd want additional detail, there's simply not enough. This reads like a writer of a tabloid and one of those terribly corny netflix crime shows got together and decided to write about this completely random case that it seems like never made the news outside of the small little area that was impacted. All in all, it was rather disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews