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Excerpts

Foreword

Almost every book I have researched has had a beginning, a middle, and an end that were obvious when I began. By the time the defendant went to trial, his -- or her -- guilt appeared to be well established. There was little question that a sudden death might have been an accident or a suicide. There was no particular mystery about "who-dunnit?" Although loyal family members might have been in one corner or another, the mass of witnesses were testifying against the defendant.

In Heart Full of Lies, I found instead an emotional tug-of-war with dozens of people pulling on the victim's side and as many fiercely loyal to the accused. To this day, most of their allegiances have remained steadfast. Initially, I was puzzled that anyone could find the deceased so flawed and the defendant so angelic. Few human beings are either all good or all bad. The only way I have managed to deal with this impasse has been to show both sides as clearly as possible.

Still, in the end, the truth began to sift out of a morass of statements. I've noted that correspondence sent to me anonymously came from those who praised the defendant. They would give neither their names nor their positions in the defendant's life. On the other hand, the friends of the person who died were ready to step forward and give me their names and their connection to this case.

It is difficult to place your trust in people who hide in the shadows of anonymity. Did you personally see this happen? I asked again and again, trying to cut through the curtain that email with its endless choice of screen names affords. Could this have been an accident? And the answer was always No.

Then how do you know what happened? I pressed.

I just know, they all answered, either because they were absolutely convinced they were right or because they had been charmed and bewitched and manipulated by a brilliant and charismatic sociopath.

Copyright © 2003 by Ann Rule