The Stranger In My Bed

by Michael Fleeman

He Found New Brides To Love Him-
All Diane Bertalan really knew of her new husband, John, was that he was a widower, he lavished her with gifts, and he preferred to keep his past a secret. What she didn't know was that the FBI had been watching him for years. In the Fall of 2000, she found out why-it was a crime that had been haunting authorities for decades. They called it the mystery of the Lady in the Box.

Fifteen Years Later, Police Found The Remains...
A decaying body that had been left along an Indiana roadside ditch in 1980 had finally been identified as Janice Hartman. In 1974, the Ohio woman had been reported missing by her estranged husband...John David Smith. The gruesome discovery was only the beginning of Diane Smith's brutal awakening-for Hartman was only the first of Smith's wives to have vanished off the face of the earth.

This is the chilling true story of one woman who escaped the deadly hold of the killer she loved and married; and of the grieving families of his victims who banded together after nearly thirty years to prove that justice never forgets. Or forgives.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Biography, Psychology

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 14, 2003

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough recounting of the career of a murderer, and the Police investigation that finally took him off the streets.

[Darian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at Goodwill a couple weekends ago. It basically reads like a script of 48 hours. It is not overly complicated was a nice vacation for my brain from the last book a read. I am always surprised with the amount of detail that these mass market paperbacks are willing to go into when describing murders. Since the book is a little dated, I'm off to look up true crime tv series episodes that have spawned from this case.

My only gripe is that this book became a little long winded at times. It tended to repeat its self in places and had an obnoxious amount of detail at times (read: the phone transcript) that could have been better summarized. That was it though. If you're looking for a quick vacation read of something, this is for you.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know you are getting old if it is October 22 and you hardly can recall he books you read a month ago!



Thankfully I do know I liked it very much and I have become a fan of this author because I almost love all his books. Going to purchase another Michael Fleeman book today because amazon gives me 5 dollars of thanks to me following him on their site.

He is a very good story teller and I recommend reading his books. Probably going to re-read this book soon.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was really well written. Written in the style of a news reporter gathering the facts to weave a narrative. Even though this book is from 2002, Betty Fran Gladden Smith is still missing to this day.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

John David Smith was reportedly an abusive spouse to his first wife, Janice, who mysteriously vanished in 1974. Her body was discovered by members of his family, after he built a "box" for them to go in. His family helped him discard of the remains along the highway. Smith remarried in 1990. His second wife, Betty, also vanished from her home in 1991. Skull fragments were found in a locker he owned but have not been positively identified as of the writing of this book. Smith remarried again and was arrested while living with his third wife. She apparently dodged a bullet, but I would like to know how people kept marrying this scumbag.

This case has been featured on several shows, including Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, and Dateline. The book was really good and outlined the abuse and misdeeds of Smith. If you are interested, the sister of his second wife also wrote a book. (My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice- Sherrie Gladden-Davis)

[Nancy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it’s clearly without a doubt that I have sunk into a true crime sink hole once again. This happens to me every few years but I love it. These books are like sugar for your sweet tooth or like a dirty little secret. They are quick to read and almost always stranger than fiction.

Michael Fleeman is one of the best TC writers out there and I have always enjoyed his books. This was no exception. A bit wordy at times but the crimes were well researched and the information was well presented. In fact there is a 2021 update to the murder of Betty Fran by her husband John Smith which really brought the story full circle as in the book he had not been indicted for her murder. He was tried for the murder of his first wife, Janice Hartman, and that was where this book ended. I am glad justice was served. Highly recommend this book to true crime buffs.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A skeleton found in a wooden box in Indiana in 1980 was labeled "The Lady in the Box." She was thought to be in her twenties and the mystery lasted for more than twenty years.
The story jumps ahead to a missing wife, Fran and the strange, unconcerned husband named John David Smith. Johnny failed to inform his second spouse of his first marriage to a woman named Janice who also went missing in 1974. Looks like a pair of easy no-fault divorces.
The FBI eventually became involved in the cases of the missing wives of Mr. Smith. His third wife admitted that she found him to be physically unattractive and, being tired of living paycheck to paycheck, hooked up with the human ATM. She was also gifted a Ferrari.
Much like the Unabomber, John's brother Michael finally broke down after years of haunting nightmares and testified against his sibling. We get the standard murder trial and, unfortunately, we never find out what happened to Fran. The Stranger in my Bed is a good read.

[Tabbitha Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

True Crime Read: The Stranger In My Bed

Not one, not two but three brides. Two dead, who knows what would have happened to the third if the FBI hadn't stepped in. She could have been another Lady in the Box.

🌞🌞🌞 (3.5/5 Stars)

[Wendy DiMatteo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring, could shortened it to 3 hours of listening instead of 9. I even fell asleep, woke an hour later and didn't miss anything new. Only thing fascinating about it was the fact that some of the events took place in Ohio close to where I live.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange.

[Sandra Laymon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great

This is an interesting account of the death of at least two women, perhaps more. The beginning chapters had a LOT of people and names to keep up with which is always difficult to follow. One of the murders left the reader "hanging" with no final explanation about what really happened. As frustrating as that is to the reader, it's hard to imagine what that vagueness has done to the victim's family. For that I am so sorry.

This is not my favorite Michael Fleeman book but it was interesting at times.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most interesting case I've read about. Man has two wives and they both disappear off the face of the earth. Was he responsible? If I said the whole thing was pretty predictable I think you would figure it out. The courtroom proceedings are mostly a repetition of what we learned in the first part of the book.

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly admire Fran's sister and daughter's tenacity to find justice. It's heartbreaking that they still haven't found Fran's body, but at least her killer is in jail. And Janice Hartman's family has gotten some closure and justice.

Fleeman does a good job of giving a comprehensive look at this case.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished re-reading this Michael Fleeman book, which I have enjoyed several times over the years. It's about a creepy guy who has two wives go missing seventeen years apart.

[Gonzaga Escauriaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una historia increíble pero cierta.
La única pega es que los argumentos se repiten muchas veces, en la investigación y en el juicio.
Pero en cualquier caso merece la pena leerlo para quien le gusten los crímenes reales.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed information about this crime. John Smith is a horrible human being and I am not sure that his brother and grandfather are any better. They knew what he did and said nothing until years later.

[Dana Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well Written

I like anything about this c@se! I didn't enjoy it as much As some I have reaD but it was An o.k.reaD

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book regarding the disappearance and murder of John Smith's two wives.

[Tom Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written well. Enjoyable. Nothing ground breaking.

[Mandi Quigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

[Katelyn Fitzjarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting, the murders are curious but I am glad he’s locked up

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe that he got away with it for so long. As us ofter the case with true crime novels - too much trivial information/ research is shared.

[Victoria Hercolini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow....listening to cases from the 70s 80s 90s just blows my mind how people can just get away with so much! Glad this monster saw justice.

[Courtney Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook👂🏻

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in part cuz it was narrated by the same girl who did the last book I read. I highly recommend it. Good book

[Amy Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent true crime book.

[Melissa Mussyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was ok but I kind of felt like I was reading a Dateline transcript.

[Marie Wreath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible story, wow! Did not groove the writing style but I couldn't put it down.

[Lori (I will do proper reviews one day!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, what a creep. This was terrifying, but a little research and detail-heavy for my taste.