Lethal Charmer

by Patricia Springer

Fort Worth businessman Stephen Barbee was handsome, popular, and married to a wonderful woman. There was just one problem: His ex-girlfriend, Lisa Underwood, was pregnant - and asking for money...As guests gathered for Lisa's baby shower with presents and good wishes, only two things were missing: Lisa, and her seven-year-old son, Jayden. As time passed, friends and family became concerned. But even their worst fears couldn't compare to the gruesome truth...Lisa was still at home when Barbee showed up. Voices were raised. Then fists. By the end, Lisa, her unborn child, and young Jayden were dead...But all police found was a bloody room. What followed was an investigation filled with lurid twists, a wild trial, grisly details of multiple murder, a shocking burial, and the warped motives of a man who would do anything to gain his own happiness.

Genres: True Crime

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had absolutely NO redeeming value. The true crime is that it was published and I made myself read the whole thing.

[Traci Logue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went to school with Stephen. This was the reason I read it. Very sad story. I had a personal connection so that of course increased my interest, but overall I thought the author did a good job of capturing the details on which she chose to focus. Read that as you may. I’m now wanting to check out some of her other works.

[Sherry Haning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book but found a few descrepancies.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patricia Springer is a good writer, but this book has some things working against it. It's an open and shut case, and the principals aren't very likable. In the first third of the book, the crime is committed, the perpetrator is quickly apprehended, and we hear the pertinent biographies. I had hoped that the remaining two thirds would provide an unexpected or interesting development of some sort, but (spoiler alert) that was not to be; it was a slow march to the obvious and inevitable conclusion.

[Kristy Trauzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if liked is the right word. I read true crime novels once in a while if their case seems interesting. I'm not trying to justify her murder, but it annoys me how woman can be like "oh you're the father" when you aren't. Grrrr

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I wanted to read it as the outcome was already told in the first pages, but I was encouraged to do so and I'm glad to have read it. It struck enough emotional cues that kept me reading. Would I recommend? May be.

[Gay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Good story, but writing was lacking.