Murder in the Heartland

By: M. William Phelps

Narrated by: J. Charles

On December 16th, 2004, a Nodaway County, Missouri, 911 operator received a frantic call from the mother of 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett, an eight-months-pregnant mother-to-be found bleeding and barely breathing on her family room floor, her unborn baby gone.

More than 150 miles away, in Melvern, Kansas, Lisa Montgomery proudly showed off "her" new baby at church and a local diner, duping many while arousing the suspicions of others. Across the nation, televisions broadcast the first Amber Alert for an unborn child...

Here is the true story of a baby born under shocking conditions, of the lucky break that led to the alleged killer, of a tortured history of sexual abuse and "moral insanity," and the pain that lingers in two American towns that will never be the same again. With the exclusive cooperation of key witnesses and participants, investigative journalist and acclaimed author M. William Phelps reveals what really happened that fateful December day.

Like Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Murder in the Heartland takes an unflinching look at an American tragedy, exploring its terrible trajectory with courage, insight, and compassion.

©2006 M. William Phelps (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

disappointed

this is what happens when you try to write from a viewpoint you dont share [Carl's]. a jumble of dysfunction does not excuse treachery, never mind murder. failing to include the trial outcome is the ultimate in laziness. wow, total disappointment Phelps.

this story was written before it was complete.

Would you listen to Murder in the Heartland again? Why?

maybe. it was a good story. but the incompleteness of the ending bothers me. why not wait until the trial is over before writing the book? the book is quite sad.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Murder in the Heartland?

it is not a memorable book. it is a true crime story. i guess i found some of the detective work memorable and clever.

Which character – as performed by J. Charles – was your favorite?

i think he did a good job with all the "characters"

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

when the cops got into lisa montgomery's computer.

Any additional comments?

as i stated before, the book would be better if the whole business of the trial was completely over. so that the book was written completely.

Not a well researched book

This book is completely one sided...giving the ex-husband of this convicted murderer a soap box to stand on. I really got the impression that the writer decided to save himself research time and just stick to the guy (ex-husband) who spilled his guts to him. I think a more investigative type approach would have been less annoying than continually hearing about Carl (the ex) and his excuses why he wasn't a dead beat dad.
Also, the narrator was bizarre. He constantly changed into strange impersonations of how he felt the character might speak (Usally some type of twang). This was completely annoying and off putting.

Interesting!

Towards the end, the back and forth between past and present was a bit hard to follow; otherwise, definitely worth the read (listen).

Very good!!

A very good book, interesting and enlightening explanation of a horrible event! Very good narration too!