Overkill Lib/E

by Lyn Riddle

Laurie Show was as compassionate as she was hardworking. The outgoing high-school junior worked part-time to pay for the home she and her divorced mother shared. Yet she always had time to tutor friends struggling in school. And she befriended a dejected classmate after his traumatic breakup with his pregnant long-time girlfriend Michelle Lambert. But soon things spiraled into jealous obsession, stalking, and a brutal attack that left Laurie murdered in her own bedroom. And once Michelle started telling one lie too many, the ensuing investigation shattered a peaceful community. Noted crime writer Lyn Riddle also brings you the latest updates on Michelle Lambert, her accomplices, and those involved in this unforgettable case.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime book that tells much of the sad story from the victim's family's point of view, especially her mother's. Tells a lot of what her mother went through.

How Michelle Lambert, an obsessively jealous pregnant teen stalked and attacked a sixteen year old girl. Then a different time talked another teen into going to the girl's home with her, where they both attacked her, and the sixteen year old girl, Laurie Show, ended up dead. Gruesomely stabbed, with her throat cut nearly through. But when found by her mother, she was just barely able to whisper, "Michelle did it".

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to have a copy of this book and guess I gave it to someone. Anyway I remembered that I liked it but that was all so when I was able to read this thanks to Kindle Unlimited I decided why not and glad I did.


Very sad but interesting case about 4 teenagers or wait I think 2 were teenagers and 2 were nasty ass grown ups that thought they were entitled to anything.

4.5 stars.

[J.H. Moncrieff · Rating 3 out of 5]

My usual quibble with average true crime...spent way too much time on boring trial details.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this true crime novel was very poor..in some instances the writer even repeated whole paragraphs at different points in the book. I had already seen this case on one of the very many true crime programs on tv, but of course you get more details, particularly of the backgrounds of the key players. I had a hard time caring about any of the people involved..they seemed like a bunch of white trash with bad 80's hairdos, typical teenage nastiness, a severe lack of intelligence, etc. Michelle Lambert is definitely a psycho- how could you be obsessed with a not too attractive girl your boyfriend dated for a week when you were broken up? There had to be a little more backstory to that..perhaps the bf constantly threw Laurie's name in Michelle's face.."I'd still be with her if you weren't pregnant."- that sort of thing. Also, both Laurie and Michelle claimed this guy had raped them, yet they continued to see him...isn't that a bit bizarre? what woman or teen girl would do that, let alone two of them? Weird! I left this book without any real empathy for anyone involved.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the actual case, but did not need a play-by-play of 2 almost identical trials. Much was repetitive. I did enjoy the fact that the author included an update on all the players' lives; I always appreciate when an author takes the time to do that.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book highly reecommend

[Norma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have wanted to read this book for the longest time (many years) but I did not enjoy it at all. I hate when true crime books are mainly about the trial. I do feel terrible for the mother but I have a lot of doubts that her daughter said all that (I think she probably heard some noises and her brain made it fit what she wanted) though I have no doubts the people in jail are guilty. The author wrote the phrase “she glared ...” so many times, it was insane, you could have made a drinking game of it.

[Becca Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad tale about an obsessed teenage girl. I think it was ridiculous how this girl could lie and have so many people believe her. I think her boyfriend was innocent of wrongdoing and her friend should be released for time served. However, they were guilty of helping to cover up after the fact. A good read.

[Lauren Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very direct representation of a cruel murder. I overall enjoyed the book although at times it seemed to drag on. The court hearings were very detailed and I learned way more in this book than any television special could have explained. I am glad it ended the way it did and the truth was eventually revealed for what it truly was.

[Kathy Izzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Well written book about a murder I never heard of. A lot of court testimony. I can not help but feel sorry for Hazel and the hell she has been put through at the hands of a very sick young women and the judicial system
I hope you can find some peace.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good synopsis of a chilling and cold blooded crime!

[Xerodog · Rating 3 out of 5]

At its heart this is depressing story about two teenage girls who haven't got the sense or maturity to see where their actions will lead them and a criminally indifferent young man who apparently enjoyed having girls in thrall to him. There is some sympathy, both for the victim's family and the loved (and bewildered) ones of the perpetrators; but sheesh - talk about the banality of evil.
Unfortunately, this did read like it was written in a rush and more careful editing choices may have produced better results. The reportage style is acceptable for this genre (true crime) and I'm giving it three stars, though as others have noted, there were repetitions. My edition also had a lot of irritating punctuation problems, too, so perhaps the publishers need to step up.
Ultimately, a bit more analysis of the criminal justice system - for example, the way that the sentencing of the junior perpetrator was influenced by the approach that her legal representative took would have been useful. For anyone looking for a useful contrast, try reading Joe Cinque's Consolation by the Australian writer Helen Garner. Different legal system, of course, but similar criminal motivation and a world of difference in writing technique, analysis and reader satisfaction.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I packed this in a third of the way in. I think it was a waste of money. It was sloppily written and whole passages were getting repeated by then which was enough for me. I can Google the case instead for nothing !!
I'd not realised it was set in Amish country and may have passed it over if I'd known as I'm not a fan due to their puppy farming activities but luckily they weren't mentioned TOO often.
The word parameters was used where I think it was meant to be paramedics, then truck instead of trunk, there were missed out commas and apostrophes. Then Penn State suddenly changed to Perm State. George's name was used when it was meant to be John and random fullstops cropped up here and there mid-sentence. The line "The one I seen was clean cuts" makes little sense. Then no explanation was given before we launched into Michelle's trial as to what had gone on with the other 2 kids and I gave up.
Very scrappy and I'd certainly not waste my money on any more by this author.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 54%. Stupid, boring, trashy people commit stupid, boring, trashy murder. There's a tragedy in here, but the writing's too bad to let it have much impact.

[Alena Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Michelle killed Lori. It's sad that this book even had to be written and even more sad that the ending doesn't come to a conclusion as to who killed Lori as the jury has convicted Michelle, it's not a 100% guilty verdict.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a true story of cruel teens tormenting and bullying to the point of way, way over-the-line, deadly. How horrible. A lot of bullying is done in many schools and neighborhoods on a smaller scale, but this one scares the wits out of you... especially if you are a parent.

[MaKenna Sonnenburg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terribly written. Repetitive, typos, everything that could be wrong with a book. Every characters life from start to finish including dumb details that are boring and irrelevant. The actual murder was only like 10 pages of a 300+ page book. Huge waste of time.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

True murder

This story happened not far from where I live.It is unbelievable the twists and turns the story has taken and I don't think it is over yet.