Till Murder Do Us Part (Discovery's Murder is Forever #6)
Published January 19th 2021 by Grand Central Publishing, Paperback 336 pages
From the world's #1 bestselling author comes a collection of Discovery ID true crime stories where the bonds of matrimony and love can tear you brutally apart.
Til Murder Do Us Part: Kathi Spiars can't believe she's found such a good man to marry as Stephen Marcum. Twelve years later, she starts to suspect that he isn't who he says he is. As she digs into his past, she doesn't realize that learning the truth will lead to a lifetime of fear and hiding. (with Andrew Bourelle)
Ramp Up to Murder : Brandi McClain, a young beautiful teenager, moves to California from Arizona, to model and live with her new boyfriend, a professional skateboarder. But her perfect life is about to turn on its head. In San Diego, investigators hunt for a missing girl. It’s a case that seems to plagued by dead ends. But once the truth emerges, it’s more haunting than they could have imagined. (with Max DiLallo)
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Two separate, distinct, true crime stories featured on the Investigation Discovery Channel. Written in the classic Patterson short chapter, fast paced style, they're a quick read. I can't help thinking what a waste of life choices by the perpetrators. They do teach something though. Protect yourself at all times.
Rating: really liked it
Two interesting true crime stories. Quick read and interesting cases.
Rating: really liked it
Till Murder Do Us Part Imagine kissing your husband goodbye as he leaves for work, only to never see him again. Hours later, detectives show up with questions. His car was found with a bullet hole in the door and animal blood smeared on the seat. In his desk drawer, there is a book detailing how to fake your death......
Eric, now Steve begins a new life in Colorado.
Steve is new to the area, living in a hotel, has no family, and is on the run from the CIA. At least that's what he told Kathi when they started dating. She drank in the mysterious aura that surrounded him. She believed his stories, even when he said he was a hitman for the CIA. But there was some truth to his stories. He was on the run, not from the CIA, but from his wife and three children. But he also may have been trying to escape a murder charge as well.
Kathi started asking questions near their 12th wedding anniversary. She wanted to get him something sentimental as a gift and thought a high school year book would be perfect. Steve claimed everything he owned from his past life burned up in a house fire. So when she called his old high school, she was put in contact with one of his classmates who had never heard of Steve Marcum. She bought the yearbook anyway, and found a picture of young Steve....only his name was Eric Wright. Who on earth was she married to?!
I think the best thing to come from this crazy case, was that Kathi actually solved a 20+ year cold case based on small details Steve had given her over the years. She believed he had actually killed someone. When he described taking a man's life, she could see the truth in his lies.
Ramp Up to Murder I honestly was not expecting this story to be about a professional skateboarder turned murder.
Mark Rogowski meets his future girlfriend Brandi and her best friend, Jessica at a warehouse party. The two immediately hit it off and quickly become the hottest couple on the scene. Mark is killing it in the vert competitions and Brandi is creating a name for herself in the modeling world. It's the perfect combination of kids with money who have no idea how to spend it.
Mark hits a rough patch when street-skating takes over. There's no money coming in, but hopefully a trip to Germany will help Mark become relevant once again. Instead, a near death experience leads him to Jesus and quickly sours his relationship with Brandi. What no one expected was the threatening calls and stalking that soon followed their break up. Mark was obsessive, possessive, and manipulative. He even managed to sneak into Brandi's gated community and take back all the gifts he gave her.
I know what you're thinking, he really murdered his ex? No, but he did rape and murder her one time bestie, Jessica. In a fraction of a second, Jessica was a stand in for Brandi, and he took out all of his anger on her. He eventually confessed and at this time has been behind bars for 27 years.
This review and reviews for the rest of the
Murder is Forever Series can be found at A Reader's Diary!
Rating: really liked it
Another well written book involving two real-life cases. I was sucked in and listened to it in one day. I'm still amazed at the way people think. I will never understand murderers and their theories for what they do and I'm not sad about it!
Rating: really liked it
I've really been enjoying these novelized true crime books from James Patterson; which feature two cases per volume. This one includes "Til Murder Do Us Part," a truly fascinating story, and "Ramp Up to Murder," a truly disturbing one.
Rating: really liked it
Two very easy to read short stories. I like that they are based on true stories. The first one appeals more to the type of books I like them the second story but I think it’s beneficial that they are each a bit different. Patterson never fails to tell a good story.
Rating: really liked it
Poor reflection of former worthI feel that Mr. Patterson has subbed his name out to others to trade upon his once earned reputation. This book was a disappointment and not much else can be said. I will no longer read his work.
Rating: really liked it
Well that was exciting. I enjoy these books because they are easy to read and give me some knowledge of unknown creepy crimes. I liked the first one about the guy faking his death quite a bit.
Rating: really liked it
Terrible
Rating: really liked it
Every man will experience the highs and lows in life along with love and hatred. Gabe was star struck by himself and felt entitled to remain on top forever...but life gets in the way. His love life was more about his position of control and the picture of perfection than any real feelings of love. The same scenario was true when he turned his love to Jesus...all about his image. He was saved but didn’t give This book was very good. As all James Patterson's books. I love them all. Some I have read twice. I can't see the books very good to light and to small. So. I can only read on my IPAD. The ones I read Publisher Description
From the world's #1 bestselling author comes a collection of Discovery ID true crime stories where the bonds of matrimony and love can tear you brutally apart. Til Murder Do Us Part: Kathi Spiars can't believe she's found such a good man to marry as Stephen Marcum. Twelve years later, she starts to suspect that he isn't who he says he is. As she digs into his past, she doesn't realize that learning the truth will lead to a lifetime of fear and hiding. (with Andrew Bourelle)
Ramp Up to Murder: Brandi McClain, a young beautiful teenager, moves to California from Arizona, to model and live with her new boyfriend, a professional skateboarder. But her perfect life is about to turn on its head. In San Diego, investigators hunt for a missing girl. It’s a case that seems to plagued by dead ends. But once the truth emerges, it’s more haunting than they could have imagined. twice are the audible. The same gift to the woman he killed.
Rating: really liked it
Was between books on my reserve list at library and found this at a used book store months ago so thought what the heck give it a try. My reading friends know I gave up on Patterson long ago so I wasn’t expecting much from this novel and that proved to be true. I love true crime scene stories and thought if based on facts how could Patterson mess up the stories. Much to my surprise the first story wasn’t a horrible read…the second one was terrible. The writing was so bad and amateurish that all 3 authors involved in this novel should be embarrassed; however, that will not happen and Patterson will continue to put out novels one after the other and somehow…they all end up on bests seller lists. Very weak 2 stars.
Rating: really liked it
Things you learn from this book, the latest in J-Pat and Company's true crime series:
1. Like in the previous book Murder Thy Neighbor, bad things happen when you trust men who say they are associated with the CIA.
2. A skateboarding guy from the Tom Petty " Free Fallin' " video after converting to Christianity ends up commiting a brutal assault and murder.
On to the last one in this batch....
Rating: really liked it
Another true crime collection, really enjoyed this one although in the first story I was surprised she didn't see through the lies fairly quickly and never really pushed the issue of not knowing his past/backstory before marrying him this is why you ask questions.
As for the second story I felt so sorry for Brandi she did everything right and left him the moment things turned physical and super weird but then he went full psycho.
The last page was what really got me was how can someone who did the things he did ever even be considered for parole, that is disgusting.
Rating: really liked it
It's hard to review a book when the real stories in the book are mind blowingly disgusting, horrific, and just over all tragic. I guess that's what Patterson does best is give it to you straight. This book did give me insight on 2 cases I wasn't aware of and had to really talk to someone about it because it really sickened me to the core. Brandi McClain case will be in the closet of "cases I can't handle." Every true crime fan has one.
Rating: really liked it
I wasn't expecting too much with this book and I wasn't disappointed. The book was a gift so thought I would give it a go. Two stories, both written with co-writers. Both a fair read but nothing out-standing. True crime or not the stories were not terribly gripping or even remotely shocking, but easy enough to read and filled in a few hours of down time. Probably a good Young Adult read.
