Murder In The Family

Good book but way too much detail from the trial. I thought the book was never going to end and skipped the last 8 - 10 pages. I read a lot of true crime but prefer the books where the characters are more fleshed out. The trial...dry and TMI!

Well written details of a horrible crime. The author gets right to it and then builds his story witness, by witness. I appreciated getting the follow up on the crime's surviving victims and how they got thru their grief.

Very well written account of a horrible crime. Wonderful police work and terrific job by the prosecution to put this animal away. The only reason I didn't give this five stars was due to the many, MANY mistakes and typos throughout, which interfere with a smooth read and that's a shame.

Having read and reread MURDER IN THE FAMILY several times, the negative review (huh?) from Seattle is obviously about a different book all together. There are no ballistic tests in the book at all -- this is the story of rape and murder -- the killings accomplished by stangulation, stabbing, and beating. No guns. No bullets. None. There are, however, brilliant insights into the rage released by the psychopath, Kirby Anthoney, provided by Dr. Robert Hare and other experts who work with and/or train the FBI. The dedicated detectives of the Anchorage Homicide Response team, and the crime scene investigators come off as real people wrestling with the intense personal emotions stirred by this most horrid crime -- the rape and murder of two little girls, ages 8 and 2, and their mother. I found the book exceptionally well structured, with easy flow from one chapter to the next, which may be due to the professional editing job we have come to expect from Pinnacle's True Crime series. Obviously researched in depth, and written by an Edgar Award winning author, I suggest this book to anyone who reads true crime, especially if they can keep track of them so they don't post the wrong review about the wrong book. Ballistics, indeed!

A well written story of a deeply disturbing crime. If you enjoy true crime stories, I recommend this book. However, prepared to be disgusted by the details. That being said, the author did a fine job of describing the horrific details without sensationalism.

Had read about this case before. But this author takes it to a whole new level. Well written and the victims are the first priority. I love Alaska and the people but sometimes a wolf walks among the sheep. To recognize psychopaths is to help prevent this kind of tragedy. Bravo

Very well written book about an unbelievably horrible crime. After beginning to read, I realized that I had seen an Investigation Discovery show about this case. I wish that the author would do a follow up about the survivors.

This is a story that will probably change the way you see the world forever. The first part of this book is quite graphic in its telling details of the crime itself. I had to stop and start more than a few times to get through it. The insights into a psychopath are enlightening and frightening. I would recommend this book to true crime fans. It's one you won't soon forget.

The book follows the true story of horrific crimes committed against family members by Kirby Anthoney, in Alaska in the early years of DNA identification. The book understandably lags during the trial portions, but the portrait of Anthoney as unrepentant psychopath is all too memorable.

This book provided a fascinating examination of a crime that tore apart a family and made forensic history. The author deftly explained complex issues and told a gripping story at the same time. Well-written and well-documented.

I can't even believe this monster exists! Sincerely Hope he gets his! Ty for an in-depth account of the most horrific true crime story I've ever read! My heart hurts so for this family! May God bless all of Nancy Newman's family and friends. Amen

Very well written book and you can clearly understand the text. The book also gives a good understanding of early signs of problems to look for. It has also contributed to helping with ending some violent TV programs geared toward teens.

Almost incomprehensible violence against a mother and her young daughter. This book is about the psychopath that commits the crime and the inane craziness associated with the trial. A lot of trial detail...a bit too much for me. A bit of a long read. Found myself scanning ahead alot to get to the key points.

Almost incomprehensible violence against a mother and her young daughter. This book is about the psychopath that commits the crime and the inane craziness associated with the trial. A lot of trial detail...a bit too much for me. A bit of a long read. Found myself scanning ahead alot to get to the key points.

This book was very well researched and detailed, but I would have liked to have seen more character history. The first 1/4 of the book described the crime scene and the investigation and the rest detailed the trial. I found myself wanting to know more about the key characters' histories, particularly Kirby Anthoney's. I love true crime but always enjoy delving into the killer's childhood and background more than the trial.

This could have been a really interesting book. It isn't. The author, like too many true-crime writers, relies on filler material. The reader gets to wade through opening and closing arguments (ugh), every single objection and motion before the judge, and I swear if the judge had picked his nose we'd have known that too. I'd much rather know more about the people involved, but I guess that's too much work for this author.

Burl Barer has, in the past few years, distinguished himself as America's premier investigative true crime journalist. MURDER IN THE FAMILY was his first "serious" true crime book, following his vastly amusing MAN OVERBOARD: THE COUNTERFEIT RESURRECTION OF PHIL CHAMPAGNE. While Barer has followed MURDER IN THE FAMILY with several more well written and heart breaking stories, there is something about MURDER IN THE FAMILY that lifts it above and beyond other true crime books -- perhaps it's Barer's brilliant narrative, the insightful background material discovered in his personal investigation into the crime, or the nature of the crime and the manner in which rapist/murderer Kirby Anthoney was brought to justice. Whatever the reason, MURDER IN THE FAMILY remains perhaps one of the most emotionally involving true crime books ever written. If you have not read it before, I suggest you read it now -- and maybe get the other books in Barer's true crime series. While each is distinct, the quality of MURDER IN THE FAMILY is not compromised in his other efforts.

Anyone who reads true crime should have MURDER IN THE FAMILY in their library.

This book, and this crime, is heartbreaking, dramatic, touching, and REAL. I was pleased to see Ms Eastman remind readers that this is a TRUE STORY. I don't know if she gave the book only one star because of the painful memories or the nature of my prose. I shall assume for former.
Researching the Newman murders was emotionally draining and painful. My own daughter is only one day younger than Melisa Newman, raped and murdered by Kirby Anthoney. The crime scene photos haunt me to this day. While writing the book, I kept full color school photos of the two little girls taped to my computer monitor so I would never allow myself to forget that they were real people, not characters in a book. When I staarted this project, my friend and fellow true crime author Gary C. King said, "be prepared to cry a lot, and either be loved or hated by the victims' families for telling the story -- some will help, others would rather not. " My other true crime compatriot, Jack Olsen, said that any true crime book that doesn't talk about why and how the killer became a killer is nothing more than pornography.
Having now read my own book, and knowing how difficult these are to write, I honestly give it five stars, with 3 stars of it going to my editor, Karen Haas.
Buy the book, then write your review.
BB

This was a fascinating book on a horrible crime. I have a question for author Burl Barer. In some books of this type the authors have interviews with the killers. In Bitter Harvest Ann Rule spoke with Debora Green who murdered her children. In another book about night stalker Richard Ramirez the author spoke with the killer on death row. I'm just curious if any effort was made to obtain a jailhouse interview with Kirby Anthoney. I'm sure there was a reason that there was none and I'm just curious what it was. Was a decision made by the author that an interview was unnecessary? Did the DOC inform the author that no interviews were being granted at this time, or did the killer himself decline any interview that was proferred? If the author Burl Barer could respond in this forum I would appreciate it. Thanks.

"Murder In The Family" was the most intelligible true crime books I've ever read. It was well organized. However, it contained too much detail of the trial, which is good if you are interested in trials. It also discussed the psychopathology of the antisocial personality in depth and this is what I liked most about it. I did not like this book as much as some of the well-known true crime authors.