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Rating: Summary: Bravo Ann! Take a bow! Review: "And Never Let Her Go" is the gripping TRUE STORY behind the headline grabbing, heartstopping saga of murder and deciet that electrified the state of Delaware for almost 3 years.Anne Marie Fahey was a sweet, beloved, hardworking young woman whose life seemed to be an open book. But this outward confidence belied her inwardly deep rooted feelings of insecurity, which drove her into the clutches of anorexia nervosa and into a desperate and ultimately deadly affair with Tom Capano, a wealthy and prominent attorney and devoted father of 4 from a respected local family. However, he too had secrets. Embroiled in several secret illicit sexual liasions, Capano exercised the weapons of manipulation, domination, and control to force his paramours to behave. When Anne Marie Fahey attempted to circulate beyond his sphere of influence, he destroyed her and dumped her body into the dark fathoms of the inhospitable Atlantic Ocean, turning a beautiful, loving human being into fishbait for the sharks to devour. Once again, Ann Rule has proven beyond doubt that she is 1 of the few true crime authors in print who is capable of understanding the mind and actions of sociopaths - the thought processes and the complex mechanisms which drive these apparently "normal" people to act the way they do. But what is most commendable about her literary efforts is her determination to tell the story of the victims, both the living and the dead.
Rating: Summary: And Never Put It Down... Review: A fabulous addition to Ms. Rule's growing collection of true crime books. I couldn't put it down...now my husband's reading it and I probably won't see him with his nose out of the book for days. Oh, well. I must say Ms. Rule is a courageous woman. She writes with complete honesty about the most hideous people - not just the murderers but their family and cronies - you have to give her credit for daring to tread... This story too tragic to have been fiction. Poor Ann Marie. I really fell in love with her. We all know women like her - smart, sweet, vulnerable, beautiful but doesn't know it. I did feel sympathy for Debby MacIntyre. If you've read Women Who Run With the Wolves, you know that we still get into these 'Bluebeard' relationships and once you're in it's so hard to extricate yourself. As a friend of mine used to say, "A woman can love a pig. After all, they're so cute." Yes, women are trained to love, to be supportive, to stand by their man, blah-blah-blah. Which is why I of admired Kay Capano in this book, for insisting on keeping her indendence and identity as a nurse-practitioner, for extricating herself from the clutches of a true monster, for actually saying that she wasn't testifying on her ex's behalf, not 'standing by my man' - but strictly for her daughters. Most of all, for refusing to be in denial about her "vile" (her word!) ex-husband. Ann Rule's objective portrayal of Ann Marie's eating disorder was one of the best I have ever read anywhere. I have been in an eating disorders recovery group for years but have read no better depiction of what it's really like to go through it. It was consciousnesss-raising - especially the loss of control by one who so desperately feels she needs to be in control. I hated Capano for playing on that in Ann Marie. It was his meanest attempt to manipulate her. As for the Capanos - it was hard to tell why four such privileged men were so incredibly woman-hating. But there were a few clues if you read between the lines. For one thing, Louis Capano, Sr. - the father of the whole bunch - basically disowned his daughter, Marian simply because she was a female. Mrs. Capano, Sr. never worked outside the home - she was a sheltered person who didn't even "understand how the law works - why my son is considered guilty" when it was all over. Hello! I mean, this woman was either eleven ravioli to the dozen or deliberately kept in the dark by what I'd be willing to bet was a control-frreak husband. After all, Mrs. Capano lived in America most of her life. Without a clue as to its legal foundation? Did she never read a book or newspaper? Once again - she was probably considered as much "chattel" as her sons' wives and mistresses, sort of a beloved (maybe not even that, but you would never know, of course) 'pet' or 'house slave,' given all the luxuries and wifely status and weak enough to accept them in exchange for playing dumb. I think the Capano men simply felt they had the right to "own" women, that women were there purely for their needs, desires, vanities, not to be taken seriously as human beings. In fact, I have never read of any family of who had such contempt for women, including the mother, who blamed everything on Debby. Actually, Gerry was the ony one I liked. I felt sorry for him, but I think he had a good heart. Go know.
Rating: Summary: I Couldn't Put It Down ! Review: Ann Rule is an excellent writer, no one could out-do her book about this case. She brings people in the book to life and includes a lot of detail. Very well-written. It will remain one of my favorites among Ann's books. Ann is able to write with feeling,emotion,clarity, and common sense....it is very human writing..... is why it's so wonderful to read her writing. She is a great reporter.
Rating: Summary: Too long. Review: Ann Rule was one of my favorite writers, and still is, but I can't say I much care for "And Never Let Her Go". It's not a bad book, but it's way too long. I got bored in places. Ann just seemed to go on and on and on and on and ON about Anne Marie and everyone. I mean, 700 pages devoted to just one murder. By comparison her Ted Bundy book (and he killed scores of women) was only 550. I really think this book could have used another few passes at the editting table, for cuts. Also, I don't think Debby MacIntyre is the innocent put-upon Ann makes her out to be. In her book "Small Sacrifices", Ann wrote that Diane Downs ruined her marriage but she was careful to point out that Steve Downs wasn't exactly a saint. I wish she had done the same with Debby and Tom -- Tom is a [...] no doubt, but Debby did after all have an affair with her friend's husband. Kay Capano and Anne Marie Fahey are the wronged women in this story, not Debby MacIntyre.
Rating: Summary: The story is gripping, the writing so-so Review: I picked this book up mainly because I'm from the Philadelphia area and followed the intense coverage of the Capano trial as it happened. The story is compelling: the wealthy, politically connected yet controlling & obsessive lover, the beautiful yet troubled and needy murder victim, infidelity, betrayal, violence, stalking, family ties, all the ingredients of a TV movie or novel, yet, sadly, from real life. Ann Rule does a thorough job of assembling the facts, having interviewed many of the key players and obviously having extensively studied the trial transcripts, evidence and court pleadings. She also does a nice job of painting psychological portraits of the principals: Capano, Anne Marie Fahey, Debby McIntyre. Rule's writing is workmanlike, a little cliche-ridden, nothing special, but the story pulls you in and makes you shake your head in bewilderment at the waste of it all: a lovely, spirited & intelligent woman dead instead of raising the children she ought to have had; a bright, wealthy attorney who had every advantage in life yet squandered them all; close-knit families broken into pieces; lives and reputations destroyed. Read it and weep.
Rating: Summary: Ann Rule has done it again. Review: In her recent book, ...AND NEVER LET HER GO, she has chronicled the background and actions of attorney Tom Capano's narcissistic need to control the lives of an entire community, members of his family and especially the lives of the women who loved and trusted him. The murder of his long-time mistress, who wanted to break away from him, led him to betray all those who loved, trusted and respected him. Rule's in-depth account of this tragic episode and her detailed accounts of the subsequent investigation, arrest and trial vividly illustrate how Tom Capano's actions united the family of his victim. While at the same time, his lies, deceit, and duplicity turned his brothers against him and each other completely dividing his own family. ...AND NEVER LET HER GO is a story that all women and some men can identify with, and is yet another Ann Rule writing triumph to be read and enjoyed by her numerous fans.
Rating: Summary: America's premier true-crime writer does it again Review: Maybe Ann Rule's books should come with warning labels: "Readers may become addicted. Symptoms include the inability to put this volume down, dark circles under the eyes from staying up late, and an irresistible impulse to tell all one's friends about the book." Ann Rule is the premier true-crime writer in the country, and her works fly off bookstore shelves. Libraries have lengthy "on hold" lists. She takes a compelling story and with riveting, insightful prose, provides us with a wide cast of characters. Some evoke empathy from the reader, and some evoke outright horror. "...And Never Let Her Go" presents us with a trusting, affectionate, vivacious young woman who was murdered by her lover. The killer was a man who behind his facade as a successful, respected attorney, was coldhearted and utterly selfish. Like all of Rule's books, this one is well-researched and filled with extensive characterizations, not only of the victim and the killer but also of the people surrounding them. Rule has unequalled story-telling talents, and each of her books is a savory treat for her millions of readers.
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