We Thought We Knew You: A Terrifying True Story of Secrets, Betrayal, Deception, and Murder

Title: We Thought We Knew You
Author: M. William Phelps
Publisher: Kensington Books
Release Date: December 29, 2020
Page Count: 400
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Mary Yoder was beloved by just about everyone who knew her, and when she died an agonizing death in 2015, poisoned by a fairly unknown drug, the person eventually convicted for her murder was someone no one suspected.  To this day, members of Mary Yoder's own family believe the wrong person was convicted.

The story is a convoluted one, but Phelps does a stellar job in detailing why Kaitlyn Conley was the only person who could have murdered her boss, Mary Yoder.  Kaitlyn was son Adam Yoder's on-and-off girlfriend, who started working at the Yoder chiropractic clinic part-time while attending school. She was an attractive young woman with dark hair and a lovely smile ... but she also spent months crafting a murderous plot to place the blame on her ex-boyfriend.  

Phelps really has his work cut out for him detailing all the twists and turns in the planning of the murder, and he does a good job in showing how all the little details connect into the larger picture.  Given that Kaitlyn's family and friends refused to talk about her, the picture is less than complete, but bit by bit, the detectives on this case uncovered and put together a series of actions and deeds that clearly showed Kaityln as the guilty party.

Phelps' writing style here is clear and well-organized, something that I felt was lacking in his earlier works.  4.5 stars and I highly recommend this book.  

I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Kiss of the She-Devil

Title: Kiss of the She-Devil
Author: M. William Phelps
Publisher: Pinnacle
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Page Count: 320
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

As prep for reviewing Phelps' newest book "We Thought We Knew You," I quickly read his 2013 account of the senseless murder of Martha Gail Fulton by Donna Kay Trapani. 

Gail Fulton was a good Catholic woman, married to George for over 25 years and mother of 3 good kids. When her husband George began an affair with his boss, Donna Trapani, he opened a Pandora's box of craziness caused by this psychopath who lied horrifically, stalked his family and hired killers to shoot her rival Gail. 

The story is fairly straightforward with the case and trial never in doubt, but what I found especially difficult to read is how Gail's husband George had no concept - or just didn't care - how his actions brought about Gail's death. He cheated on his wife, strung Donna along when he did not want to make a decision about leaving Gail, strung Gail along and expected her to make enormous concessions, lied to his children, etc. George's actions are deplorable throughout and his lack of judgment is appalling.  

Phelps gives us all the facts, but at times his writing style is fragmented and doesn't always read smoothly. He is very dismissive of Donna Trapani, which is understandable given her behavour and action, but I would have preferred a bit more distance and less strong opinion. 

However, at the end of the day, this book does what it needs to do. It tells the story of a family shattered by poor decisions and actions on the part of George Fulton, and full-blown insanity from Donna. 3.5 stars.