Screenplay-styled Presentation

Diane Fanning offers a cinematic interpretation of an oddly captivating crime. What should be - on paper - a fairly mundane murder-made-to-look-like-an-accident is turned into a mind's-eye realistic narrative. The trial, in particular, comes across like a Grisham Thriller.
In addition to the entertaining storytelling technique, Fanning doesn't lean in too hard with dramatized dialogue (relying instead on interview & courtroom transcripts).. readers/listeners are largely invited to draw their own conclusions.
Less fortunately, she goes into detail like childhood backgrounds for even the most peripheral players - confusing the situation with too many names to remember (I felt like I should have taken notes). I also found myself questioning the authenticity of the book at times (How much of this is accurate and how much is "artistic license"?).

Casting reader Callie Beaulieu doesn't do the book any favors, either. Don't get me wrong.. she's a solid professional with regard to diction, cadence, and tone - but her girlish timbre gets annoying after a few hours and her voice-acting choices are indistinctive.

In toto, this is a decidedly average 6/10-star True Crime book. I quite enjoyed the Hollywood-esque exposé approach as a 'Plus' option.. but can't recommend spending a Credit on the book if they ask for one.

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