Death in Texas: A True Story of Marriage, Money, and Murder

by Carlton Smith

Was he his brother's keeper?

Robert and Doris Angleton seemed to have the perfect life. Until she was coldly murdered in her own home, shot thirteen times in the head, chest, and abdomen...

Suddenly the ideal husband seemed anything but he was jailed, accused of hiring his older brother, Roger, to kill his wife for money-- possibly as much as $2 million. However, without the crucial eyewitness testimony of Roger-- who soon committed suicide in a Houston jail cell-- the case against Robert rested entirely on circumstantial evidence. But the facts raise more questions than answers...

* Doris Angleton-- deeply involved in a secret love affair-- had asked her husband for a divorce, which might have exposed him as a tax-skipping millionaire bookie and favored police informant...
* Extensive handwritten and typewritten notes, coupled with a secretly taped conversation between Roger and another man outlining the murder, were found in a briefcase Roger Angleton was carrying when he was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, it was later concluded that the second voice on the tape was not Robert's...
* Also in Roger's $64,000 in cash, along with a money wrapper with Robert's fingerprint on it...
* Ultimately Roger confessed to the murder in his suicide note, exonerating his brother of any guilt...

A Texas jury came to one conclusion. Read this fascinating true-crime account of greed, deception, and cold-blooded murder-- and decide for yourself.

With eight pages of shocking photos!

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 1999

Reviews

[Ceeceereads]

This true from account didn’t grab me in the sense that I didn’t get a feel for the victim Doris, a wealthy Houston wife and mother who was filing for divorce and was subsequently murdered, nor her husband and main suspect, the illegal bookie-come-millionaire Robert. Despite this case having all the murky aspects that make you want to delve into it, it didn’t bring the case to life in the way that makes me want to immerse myself in it.

[ErikaShmerika Wine]

I guess if you have someone else’s work and the court transcripts to quote from, anyone can write a true crime book! Seriously, though. Skip Hollandsworth is quoted so often, it’s surprising he doesn’t get co-authorship credit. (If he’d even want his name on this lifeless piece of work). You’d think it wouldn’t take much to make a story about a bookie’s murdered wife interesting, and I would agree. Sadly, there’s nothing much here. I know just as much after reading the book as I did after reading the synopsis. The victims are poorly represented and there’s no insight or analysis into the crime. Bummer.

[Rachel Groves]

I've read quite a lot of Carlton Smith's true crime books now and enjoy them. This one however is a little dry and hard to read. There's not enough narrative expanded between the brothers and on the victim (who gets quite lost in this book) to make the "facts" of the investigation and court case interesting and gripping. It gets a little tedious and I didn't finish this, quitting around the court case as I was getting quite irritated. Won't put me off other books or re-reading the ones I've enjoyed before.

[SheMac]

Meh ... I think I've enjoyed Smith's work in the past, but this book reveals little original research. Instead, Smith seems to rely heavily on one magazine piece, newspaper reporting and public documents. The writing is dry, and the story drags at times. As an example, this is a short book but more than ten pages are dedicated to an audio transcript that the author admits is not very clear! If you're looking for a good true crime, try 2023's THE ART THIEF.

[Koren]

I wondered what made this case stand out that the author wanted to write about it. Mostly taken from transcripts. The court proceedings are mostly repetition of what we already learned in the first part of the book. I will say that it was worth sticking it out until the ending. It was not what I expected. My book had a 2005 update which was also surprising and I did a search to find out what happened after 2005 and that was also surprising.

[Heather]

The writing was fine, but as far as true crime stories go, it wasn’t all that captivating. The book was full of facts and events, but I never felt like we learned enough about the wife to get an emotional attachment to her. Still, it was written well enough that I would definitely read more from this author.

[Michele]

I concur with other reviewers that this story isn’t that suspenseful but it does have an intriguing value. This was a new true crime story for me so it held my attention. However, I despised the chapter discussing the taped conversation between two individuals…Voice One and Voice Two. Extremely annoying. I understand why it was included but still…annoying.

[Rik]

Another Carlton Smith i've just got cheap and launched into without even reading the blurb. Another well researched and concise true crime book, not a case i would have picked or had much interest in but as always he makes it a compelling read. Banged it out in one sitting...tabloidy titles aside i can't get enough of his books!

[Lexi Anne]

I read, listen and watch a lot of true crime. This is not a case that I had come across before. I believe it was very well written, gave a lot of great details and well researched. Definitely can't go wrong with this one. If you decide to listen to this one on audible, I also recommend and it's an easy one to speed up!

[Nyssa]

Good book for those who want to know more about the situation it talks about, but a bit boring for me who wasn't really interested in the story. Still had some plot twists to keep me somewhat interested.

[Pamela Schneider]

Murder mystery is always entertaining

I was unsure throughout the book who actually killed this poor woman. The fact that one brother was unstable seemed important. The final chapter was decisive and money is always the root of problems.

[Kathy]

Listened to audiobook.

[Denise]

Oh my! Did he do it? Didn't he do it? I'd make a terrible juror.

[Toni]

Kinda old but still a very interesting case. The writer did a good job of balance and enough details that I was keen to see who /how it would all shake out.

[Maggie Haberman]

Listened to the audiobook version of this. What a bizarre story filled with many twists and turns. It took a while for me to get into it, but once we hit the courtroom stuff I was enthralled.

[Loraine]

Good book, but drawn out far too long. A pity that the most interesting part is only a short summary at the end.

[Dorry]

Fascinating case!

[Bev(baglady)]

3.5 stars

[Julie Pruitt]

on and on and on

To me, this book seemed to drag on and on and on. I should have stopped reading it, but I’m not one who likes to quit a book until the end.

[Frida Dillenbeck]

Rewriting transcripts into a book is not really writing a story. I think I listened to the exact same 45 minutes of recordings that the jurors listened to and it nearly made me stop listening to this rewrite.

[Daniel Lang]

"Death in Texas: A True Story of Marriage, Money, and Murder" by Carlton Smith offers a compelling dive into a real-life crime, unraveling the web of deceit, greed, and betrayal that led to a tragic end. While the book succeeds in capturing the essence of a gripping true crime story, it falls short in certain aspects, leaving readers with a mixed experience.

Smith's meticulous research is evident throughout the narrative, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the characters and the events leading up to the crime. The author effectively builds suspense, keeping the audience engaged with each twist and turn in the story. The portrayal of the legal proceedings adds an extra layer of intrigue, showcasing the complexities of the criminal justice system.

However, the book struggles with pacing issues. At times, the narrative feels bogged down by excessive detail, hindering the flow of the story. Certain sections could benefit from a more streamlined approach, allowing readers to stay immersed in the central narrative without getting lost in unnecessary minutiae.

Additionally, Smith's writing style, while informative, lacks the emotional depth that could have elevated the impact of the true story. The characters, while intriguing, often feel one-dimensional, leaving readers with a limited connection to their motivations and emotions. A more nuanced exploration of the individuals involved would have added a layer of complexity to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Death in Texas" is a decent true crime read that offers a fascinating glimpse into a real-life tragedy. While the book has its merits, including thorough research and a gripping storyline, it falls short in terms of pacing and character development. If you're a true crime enthusiast willing to overlook these flaws for the sake of a captivating story, it's worth a read. Three stars.

[Sheila]

Twisted case that will frustrate your true crime interest. Well written and well read.

[Dirk]

a true crime (murder), like a lengthy crime report, for those interested in all the details of such a case, including trial and verdict