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Snake Eyes: Murder in a Southern Town
By 1966, Hot Springs, Arkansas wasn’t your typical sleepy little Southern town. Once a favorite destination for mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, illegal activities continued to lure out-of-state gamblers, flim-flam men, and high rollers to its racetracks, clubs, and bordellos. Still, the town was shaken to its core after a girl was found dead on a nearby ranch. The ranch owner claimed it was an accident. Then the rancher was found to be the killer of another woman – his fourth wife.
The story begins when 13-year-old Cathie Ward was found dead after horseback riding at Blacksnake Ranch on the outskirts of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Frank Davis, the owner of the ranch, tells authorities Cathie’s death is an accident. He claims her foot caught in a stirrup and she was dragged to her death despite his pursuit of the runaway horse. People who know the 42-year-old skilled horseman don’t believe his story, and soon rumors of her rape and murder begin swirling around town.
The rumors reach a crescendo after Davis viciously guns down his fourth wife and mother-in-law in broad daylight outside of a laundromat. Davis is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Soon after, Hot Springs authorities re-open the investigation into Cathie Ward’s death.
Snake Eyes is the first book to examine this decades-old murder and cover-up, and the only in-depth account of the man who would become the town’s most notorious villain. Featuring personal interviews, crime scene records, court documents, and Davis’ own prison files, author and lifelong Hot Springs resident Bitty Martin reveals the true story for the first time.
The story begins when 13-year-old Cathie Ward was found dead after horseback riding at Blacksnake Ranch on the outskirts of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Frank Davis, the owner of the ranch, tells authorities Cathie’s death is an accident. He claims her foot caught in a stirrup and she was dragged to her death despite his pursuit of the runaway horse. People who know the 42-year-old skilled horseman don’t believe his story, and soon rumors of her rape and murder begin swirling around town.
The rumors reach a crescendo after Davis viciously guns down his fourth wife and mother-in-law in broad daylight outside of a laundromat. Davis is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Soon after, Hot Springs authorities re-open the investigation into Cathie Ward’s death.
Snake Eyes is the first book to examine this decades-old murder and cover-up, and the only in-depth account of the man who would become the town’s most notorious villain. Featuring personal interviews, crime scene records, court documents, and Davis’ own prison files, author and lifelong Hot Springs resident Bitty Martin reveals the true story for the first time.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 2, 2022
3.5 stars. An old case about the murder of a young girl. I think it was a tragic case and a very worthy story to tell. It definitely served to create the setting and bring her sad story to life. However, I did find it a bit disjointed and meandering at times. It didn’t fully have me hooked.
September 17, 2021
This was a compelling book about a killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas back in the mid 1960s named Frank Davis. He was an abusive man to women and animals alike, and was married four times because of it. When his fourth wife Sharron left him and took the 2 children, Davis became incensed that he couldn’t talk her into returning to him. He stalked and threatened her, and finally found his chance to attack her when he shot her and her mother behind the Redbird gas station and laundry mat. Sharron was only 22 when he killed her. Davis was also strongly suspected of having killed a 13 year old girl at his ranch prior to killing his wife. Her name was Cathie Ward, and he blamed it on a riding accident. Fascinating true crime written by an author who knew those involved. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Bitty Martin, and the publisher.
January 25, 2024
I grew up in Hot Springs and now am raising my family here, just two miles from the murderer’s ranch. My grandparents, mother, and uncles lived just as close, but during the 60s (the window of time Frank’s crimes are clustered). In fact, my uncle remembers sharing a property boundary with Frank where his cattle kept damaging a fence. After my grandfather and uncle had fixed it a couple of times, my grandpa asked Frank if he could keep the cattle away from that area. That led to Frank showing up to my grandparents house with a 30-30 trained on my grandpa. The same type of gun that was later used in one of his crimes.
In general, I love to read about the south in the 60s. Bitty did a great job documenting that era and included many Spa City locations that are familiar to me.
I also enjoyed how Bitty honored the memory of the victims and it was easy to see them as daughters, mothers, friends —more so than just how they died.
Now, I just have to throw my two cents out there, but while some in the book have said Frank Davis was mentally ill . . . I am undecided. One thing that is evident, however, is his mother was DELUSIONAL. The book can also serve as a cautionary tale to mothers who baby and spoil their sons much past toddlerhood. It would be an interesting experiment into nature vs. nurture to go back in time and see him raised by someone else and how or if his life would have differed. You know the song that goes “mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys”? Well that could easily be amended to “mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys like Frank Davis.”
I am looking forward to reading any other projects by Ms. Martin.
In general, I love to read about the south in the 60s. Bitty did a great job documenting that era and included many Spa City locations that are familiar to me.
I also enjoyed how Bitty honored the memory of the victims and it was easy to see them as daughters, mothers, friends —more so than just how they died.
Now, I just have to throw my two cents out there, but while some in the book have said Frank Davis was mentally ill . . . I am undecided. One thing that is evident, however, is his mother was DELUSIONAL. The book can also serve as a cautionary tale to mothers who baby and spoil their sons much past toddlerhood. It would be an interesting experiment into nature vs. nurture to go back in time and see him raised by someone else and how or if his life would have differed. You know the song that goes “mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys”? Well that could easily be amended to “mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys like Frank Davis.”
I am looking forward to reading any other projects by Ms. Martin.
couldn-t-finish
January 21, 2023As an avid true crime reader for nearly 25 years I have noticed a pattern. And alas not a good one. First of all reviews are not how they used to be, reviews that could help you decide if you would try and buy a book. Now even the most awful books have tons of 5 star reviews.
The second tendency I have noticed is that there are more true crime books than before because TRUE CRIME IS IN! You’d think I would like that but no I do not because there are so many badly written books that it makes it even harder to find a good true crime book.
Back to this book. On amazon this book has raving reviews and stupid me decided to buy it. The first chapter was okay but then it got disjointed very fast. I tried to keep reading but after 12 % I could not care what happened. Please someone point me to a well written true crime book of the last 10 years cause I am sick of wasting my time on mwah books. I did find some authors I liked so it is not all bad. Steven B Epstein comes to mind and I liked Shanna Hogan’s first book. So thankfullly it is not all bad.
The second tendency I have noticed is that there are more true crime books than before because TRUE CRIME IS IN! You’d think I would like that but no I do not because there are so many badly written books that it makes it even harder to find a good true crime book.
Back to this book. On amazon this book has raving reviews and stupid me decided to buy it. The first chapter was okay but then it got disjointed very fast. I tried to keep reading but after 12 % I could not care what happened. Please someone point me to a well written true crime book of the last 10 years cause I am sick of wasting my time on mwah books. I did find some authors I liked so it is not all bad. Steven B Epstein comes to mind and I liked Shanna Hogan’s first book. So thankfullly it is not all bad.
September 30, 2022
A very thorough account of the brutal murders of three people and another attempted murder occurring in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the later 1960s. The book is written by a good friend and classmate of the 13 year old girl who was brutally murdered. Ms Martin keeps her personal reflections out of the narrative until the prologue. Her personal thoughts are very interesting and leads the reader to imagine what our reaction would have been if one of our dear friends had been murdered when we were 13. Very thought provoking. The coverage of the case, including the murder investigation and the trial, was very thorough and very well done. I was both informed and educated.
December 19, 2022
A well written personal account of someone who was around at the time. It in no way is an investigating true crime novel as it claims.
January 24, 2023
This book has a framing problem. It is about the murder of a young woman by her estranged husband. This is a good narrative and does a very nice job dealing with those events and the legal machinations that followed. Unfortunately, the book wants to be about the alleged murder of the author's childhood friend. This death is ruled an accident and never investigated nor is anyone brought to trial. Yet throughout the book, she refers to the perpetrator of the other murder as having committed this murder. This is very sloppy writing and legally dubious. The author never points to enough evidence to even making a convincing case that the man would have been found guilty. The author's stated agenda of honoring her friends memory in spite of a lack of evidence gets in the way of an otherwise good book.
May 12, 2026
Decent book about murderer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the 1960’s. It’s an interesting topic, and it seems clear that the perpetrator was definitely not a good guy. He was an abuser, a bad drunk, married 5 times, likely abused and then killed a thirteen year old girl, and was eventually convicted of killing his fourth wife and shooting her mother in the head. The author knew the first murder victim and writing this book was clearly a cathartic experience for her, but the book itself suffered from too many points of view, an inconsistent timeline, and an ending that felt drawn out. Overall, the book was only okay which feels like a bit of a letdown.
January 24, 2023
I made it 3/4 page 160 but could not finish.
February 20, 2022
Snake Eyes: Murder in A Southern Town by Bitty Martin is a highly recommended true crime story.
In the summer of 1966 13-year-old Cathie Ward was killed while horseback riding at Blacksnake Ranch, located just outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Frank Davis, the 42-year-old owner of the ranch, claimed her death was an accident that happened when her foot caught in a stirrup and she was dragged. Even so, the town was rife with rumors and doubts about the veracity of Davis's claims. Doubts turned to certainty when in January of 1967 Davis stalked and gunned down his young fourth wife Sharron Knight Davis, killing her and wounding her mother. Sharron, who had recently left him, had left behind a letter implicating him in Cathie's death. Davis was indicted for both murders. He was sentenced to death for killing his wife, but the charges for Cathie's case were dismissed. Davis's sentence was later commuted to life. He was paroled in 1984.
This debut true crime is written by an author who knew the case, the town, and those involved. Bitty Martin was a friend of Cathie, so this case has been on her mind for years. It is one that shaped her childhood. Even if adults were trying to keep quiet around their children, kids always hear and know more than adults realize and that certainly applies to Martin and other friends of Cathie. She and her hometown friends had collected information about the case and had been following it for years. As someone who was well acquainted with the town and many of the residents, Martin had an insiders view of how the murders affected the whole area.
This well written and documented narrative features personal interviews, recollections, and stories, crime scene records, court documents, and Davis’ own prison files. Snake Eyes: Murder in A Southern Town includes an appendix, and sections on source interviews, source documents and notes. True crime aficionados will appreciate the nuanced details presented in this true crime tale. Those with ties to the area will likely have a greater interest in the complete story than casual readers.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Prometheus Books.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
In the summer of 1966 13-year-old Cathie Ward was killed while horseback riding at Blacksnake Ranch, located just outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Frank Davis, the 42-year-old owner of the ranch, claimed her death was an accident that happened when her foot caught in a stirrup and she was dragged. Even so, the town was rife with rumors and doubts about the veracity of Davis's claims. Doubts turned to certainty when in January of 1967 Davis stalked and gunned down his young fourth wife Sharron Knight Davis, killing her and wounding her mother. Sharron, who had recently left him, had left behind a letter implicating him in Cathie's death. Davis was indicted for both murders. He was sentenced to death for killing his wife, but the charges for Cathie's case were dismissed. Davis's sentence was later commuted to life. He was paroled in 1984.
This debut true crime is written by an author who knew the case, the town, and those involved. Bitty Martin was a friend of Cathie, so this case has been on her mind for years. It is one that shaped her childhood. Even if adults were trying to keep quiet around their children, kids always hear and know more than adults realize and that certainly applies to Martin and other friends of Cathie. She and her hometown friends had collected information about the case and had been following it for years. As someone who was well acquainted with the town and many of the residents, Martin had an insiders view of how the murders affected the whole area.
This well written and documented narrative features personal interviews, recollections, and stories, crime scene records, court documents, and Davis’ own prison files. Snake Eyes: Murder in A Southern Town includes an appendix, and sections on source interviews, source documents and notes. True crime aficionados will appreciate the nuanced details presented in this true crime tale. Those with ties to the area will likely have a greater interest in the complete story than casual readers.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Prometheus Books.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
August 1, 2024
When Bitty Martin was 13, her friend Cathie Ward died a suspicious death that was ruled an accidental death, even though most residents of Hot Springs, Arkansas were sure Frank Davis was responsible for her death. In 1966, a white male with money and connections was not going to be charged without eye witness testimony. Too bad Frank Davis decided to push his luck.
At 42 years old, Frank was married to 22 year old Sharron, his fourth wife. Alcoholic and abusive, it was only a matter of time before Frank was single again. Frank would shoot his wife and her mother in front of many witnesses, then claim insanity. Sharron had feared for her life, but would insure Frank didn't get away with anything. She left a letter detailing Frank's murder of Cathie Ward and another young boy whose body was in the pond on Frank's ranch. Conviction followed with a death penalty verdict.
While that piece of the story makes a compelling read, the life and times of Frank Davis after conviction will leave readers speechless. Not only was his penalty commuted to life in prison, Frank would eventually play the games to be released and marry again. But even luck will eventually run out. Frank died a free man, alcoholism taking his life.
At 42 years old, Frank was married to 22 year old Sharron, his fourth wife. Alcoholic and abusive, it was only a matter of time before Frank was single again. Frank would shoot his wife and her mother in front of many witnesses, then claim insanity. Sharron had feared for her life, but would insure Frank didn't get away with anything. She left a letter detailing Frank's murder of Cathie Ward and another young boy whose body was in the pond on Frank's ranch. Conviction followed with a death penalty verdict.
While that piece of the story makes a compelling read, the life and times of Frank Davis after conviction will leave readers speechless. Not only was his penalty commuted to life in prison, Frank would eventually play the games to be released and marry again. But even luck will eventually run out. Frank died a free man, alcoholism taking his life.
August 5, 2025
Bitty Martin, the author of Snake Eyes: Murder in a Southern Town did a lot of research for this book. She interviewed many people and had a lot of source documents in researching Frank Davis, a man who killed his wife in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the 1960's. The author was the childhood friend of a 13 year old girl who was rumored to have been killed by Davis, and then covered up. The book starts as a story about the girl, Cathie, then moves to the murder of the wife, the trial, and details about Frank Davis in prison and his efforts to get parole. It mostly reads like small town gossip, intertwined with legal talk. I wish there had been more interviews with people who worked on the ranch. I found some of the information about the prison system and legal system of Arkansas at that time to be interesting and appalling. I was interested in this book because I have a connection to the area. At times the book was a story of what was going on, but most of it seemed to be presentation of research.
May 1, 2024
A well-written piece of nonfiction, Snake Eyes captures the heart of a community hobbled with grief when one of their own is murdered. The life of a young thirteen-year-old girl is taken by a horse ranch owner, and those who knew Cathie will not be satisfied until her killer is executed. The suspense rises—along with the uproar of the townspeople—when the murderer's luck holds and unforeseen events cause the delay of the death penalty. Too many times.
Bitty did an excellent job in retelling the details surrounding the events related to the death of her friend. It is evident a great amount of research went into this true murder story. I would recommend Snake Eyes to anyone interested in true crime and/or Hot Springs and Arkansas history. Teeming with historical facts, the book is an excellent read for history buffs.
Bitty did an excellent job in retelling the details surrounding the events related to the death of her friend. It is evident a great amount of research went into this true murder story. I would recommend Snake Eyes to anyone interested in true crime and/or Hot Springs and Arkansas history. Teeming with historical facts, the book is an excellent read for history buffs.
August 2, 2025
The next book in my quest to read and learn more about Arkansas. I had never heard of this case, and I especially liked that the author was a personal friend of one of the victims, so I felt that she treated the subject with sensitivity. I will say that some of the coverage of the trial/legal minutia and mental health reports was a bit tedious, and perhaps not necessary to the overall story. By the end I felt that there were still a lot of gaps in the information, too, although this may be just because the information simply isn't there. Overall I'm glad I read it; it was an interesting case and a good introduction to the Hot Springs area and the Arkansas legal system, flawed as it may be.
July 4, 2024
This is a decent book. I’m not a true crime reader but as an Arkansan, I decided to pick this up. It was an interesting story for about 2/3 of the book and dragged on a little towards the end. It provides very little evidence but claims the person is the killer of a young girl. It is also a disjointed story, lot’s of irrelevant information. Overall, I’m glad I read it as a fan of history but it’s far from the best book.
January 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Bitty Martin and Rowman & Littlefield for the ARC of Snake Eyes. This is my personal review.
WOW! Let me start off by saying this book is going to stay in my mind for a long time. The name Frank Davis will always send a chill down my back when I hear it.
The author was able to bring the story out for the readers to be able to follow what was happening.
WOW! Let me start off by saying this book is going to stay in my mind for a long time. The name Frank Davis will always send a chill down my back when I hear it.
The author was able to bring the story out for the readers to be able to follow what was happening.
February 8, 2022
Interesting rendition of a young girl’s murder, then later the culprit murdered his fourth wife. Written by a former classmate who delved into archives to reveal the complete story. The culprit literally got away with 2 murders which is completely outrageous.
Thanks to Prometheus and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
Thanks to Prometheus and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
May 17, 2022
I was interested in reading about this story but there wasn't much structure to it. It was more like an interview than a book. I listened to the audiobook and I think I would've chosen someone different. This narrator's voice seemed to me like it would be for a child's book or at least a book with the main character being a child.
January 17, 2022
A truly scary novel about a brutal murder in a small town. The story is gripping and will keep your attention. A great true crime novel.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 26, 2022
Right away we are swept up in the murder of a 13-year-old girl and from there you are taken away through the findings and investigation of a rancher who has killed his fourth wife! This book is fast pace and keeps your interest!
August 11, 2022
As a resident of the state of Arkansas, I am not surprised.
Unnecessary death, especially of a child, is earth shattering. This is crazy, but it's not even close to the craziest things that happen in Hot Springs.
Unnecessary death, especially of a child, is earth shattering. This is crazy, but it's not even close to the craziest things that happen in Hot Springs.
October 23, 2023
The author apparently lived near the events depicted in this book and knew some parties in this true-crime southern gothic book. It is a compelling read. You can tell the author is close to the story.
August 24, 2025
In 1966 Hot Springs, Arkansas, 13-year-old Cathie Ward’s suspicious death at Blacksnake Ranch was ruled an accident until rancher Frank Davis murdered his wife and mother-in-law in cold blood. Snake Eyes uncovers the cover-up, the crimes, and the chilling story of the town’s most notorious villain.
April 9, 2026
This is a really well-researched book and was clearly undertaken with a lot of compassion and care. It could be a little dry at times, but the focus on the victims and the community was a real high point.
January 8, 2022
I received an ARC of, Snake Eyes, by Bitty Martin. I really liked this book. It was not an easy read, murder of a child is a hard subject, but an enjoyable read.
July 26, 2022
Very detailed and well-researched…missing human element. Although described, characters didn’t shine through the story.
November 6, 2022
Interesting Hot Springs, AR history. Some sections I skimmed. I agree with some prior reviews that noted the disjointed sequence.
October 14, 2023
Well written true crime story. Listened to the audio book
November 13, 2023
Interesting story. The author didn’t always describe events in a clear manner and left some areas unexplored.
April 18, 2026
Really good book. Needs a better editor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews