An idyllic Hawaiian wedding held the promise of a wonderful future for Chris Northon, an airline pilot, a confirmed bachelor-turned-devoted family man; and Liysa, a loving mother and aspiring Hollywood screenwriter. But few, including Chris, had seen Liysa's other side and no one anticipated the fatal outcome of a family camping trip in an Oregon forest. Liysa soon revealed herself as a victim of domestic abuse that culminated at the campsite, where she shot Chris in self-defense. But crime scene evidence led detectives to wonder if Liysa was a killer, not a victim.
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"I really enjoy true crime stories, and Ann Rule is one of the best-known writers in this genre. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest, where a lifeless body is found in a remote riverside campground. Rule begins to reveal a detailed account of this man, and the woman he was married to at the time of his death. Rather than just examine the facts of the death scene, it is important to understand the details of the victim's life, and the life of the accused (and confessed) killer. There are a few parts of the book that are re-told and don't seem to flow as well as it could have, but in all, Rule paints a vivid picture using actual testimony and extensive interviews with many of the people who knew the couple at the center of the book."
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
“A convincing portrait of a meticulous criminal mind.”
— Washington Post“Fascinating and strange....The case hangs on the believability of the beautiful and charming widow…The sheer weight of [Ann Rule’s] investigative technique places her at the forefront of true-crime writers.”
— Booklist“Former Seattle police officer and crime author Rule knows a good drama when she finds one: it involves love, betrayal, greed and violence… Rule has done an impressive amount of research to reconstruct the history of Liysa’s crime and the stories of the main people involved, interviewing dozens of police officers, investigators and private citizens across the country.”
— Publishers Weekly" Psycho wife kills husband claiming self defense from abuse, but her true intentions are revealed in this book. "
— Elyssa, 2/17/2014" Tells of a women that lies her way through life and disposes men when they no longer fit her needs. She killed one man and lied about it, but her lies caught up to her and hurt her kids and other families. "
— Katrin, 2/14/2014" This book was my introduction to true-crime and I was pretty unimpressed. The edition I read was riddled with technical errors and the language was repetitive. I also found the author's claim of an unbiased recitation of the facts to be pretty insulting. There was no question that this story had been sensationalized, which brings me to my biggest complaint: beneath the thin veneer of crime drama, this was an uninteresting domestic murder. "
— Jess, 2/7/2014" another great book by Ann Rule. "
— Ruby, 1/21/2014" For a True Crime book I did enjoy the story but... "
— Misty, 1/12/2014" This is the first Ann Rule book I have tried. I couldn't get into it. Perhaps she should have taken the true facts and wrote a fictional account. It would have been much more interesting. The writing just wasn't all that great. I have this book to share. "
— Catheron, 1/5/2014" I enjoyed the author's style, though I realize the book is skewed in perspective because, as the author states herself, she didn't have access to the accused. Still, I found it an intriguing read and will definitely pick up another by the same author in the future. "
— J.M., 1/1/2014" Good read, but not as interesting as other Ann Rule books I've read. "
— Tracy, 12/28/2013" This was a little different from the Anne Rule books I usually read, this one was about a female killer. Generally her books are about male predators. Still very interesting. Kept my interest the whole way through. "
— Tiffy, 12/24/2013" Heart Full of Lies is not one of Ann Rule's best, but interesting. "
— Cora, 12/24/2013" I read this book in 3 days, which is a record for me. Ann Rule does an excellent job establishing the family members, friends, victim and murderer. If you enjoy true crime, I'd definitely put this on your must read list. "
— Laura, 12/21/2013" I really enjoyed this book, at first it took me a while to actually get into the book it kind of starts out boring but then it became really good. That girl Liysa Nothon is freaking nuts, she lies about everything, she's really a pathalogical liar. "
— Shaelyn, 12/11/2013" There wasn't a trial in this true crime to slow me down so I probably enjoyed it a little more than the usual true crimes. "
— Kay, 12/4/2013" How could such a talented woman do such a stupid thing? Fascinating and tragic story of a couple that had so much going for them and ended in tragedy because of her compulsive greed. I enjoyed how Rule fully fleshed out Chris in addition to Liysa. "
— Shawna, 8/6/2013" Just when you've thought you've seen so many strange and weird crimes, along comes another one! Ann Rule did a fantastic job writing about this true life crime/murder. "
— Kathy, 7/31/2013" All though it was written like a clinical study. It was not to bad of a story. "
— Janet, 7/19/2013" Not as good as her other books, kind of drawn out and slow. "
— Michele, 5/4/2013" A slow read but the story is interesting.....the main character of this book is seriously screwed up. "
— Shannon, 4/11/2013" Ann Rule is a favorite. She objectively tells these tragic stories with compassion. Although I will never understand why or what would make people do what they do, she does provide some insight. I read that she is writing the Susan Powell story. "
— Elise, 3/5/2013" This is one of the few Ann Rule books I didn't like. I can't put my finger on the reason, but I just couldn't get into it and after months of trying, I have given up. "
— Jenna, 2/28/2013" Excellent true crime. This was one scary female! "
— Gayle, 1/21/2013" Typical Anne Rule, very good. The courtroom stuff tends to drag a bit though. These type of books just draw me once in a while. "
— Deanne, 1/7/2013" Interesting but not one of her best. "
— Natalie, 2/28/2012" This book was not as exciting as the other books she has written. "
— Jeannette, 12/5/2011" Didn't realize when I picked it up that it was a true story and not fiction, but it was interesting. "
— Diane, 5/10/2011" There wasn't a trial in this true crime to slow me down so I probably enjoyed it a little more than the usual true crimes. "
— Kay, 3/13/2011" All though it was written like a clinical study. It was not to bad of a story. "
— Janet, 3/1/2011" One of my favorites of Ann Rule's. "
— Kjerstine, 1/11/2011" Interesting but not one of her best. "
— Natalie, 12/16/2010" Something to listen to while commuting. "
— Tammy, 11/20/2010" A true crime story of narcissistic woman who put always put herself above everyone else, including her sons even though she says she killed her husband to save them from him. A sad ending for all the lives she touched. "
— Lianne, 11/11/2010" Excellent true crime. This was one scary female! "
— Gayle, 9/15/2010" For a True Crime book I did enjoy the story but... "
— Misty, 9/11/2010" Good read, but not as interesting as other Ann Rule books I've read. "
— Tracy, 12/28/2009" I read this book in 3 days, which is a record for me. Ann Rule does an excellent job establishing the family members, friends, victim and murderer. If you enjoy true crime, I'd definitely put this on your must read list. "
— Laura, 12/4/2009" Typical Anne Rule, very good. The courtroom stuff tends to drag a bit though. These type of books just draw me once in a while. "
— Deanne, 11/18/2009Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.
Blair Brown is an award-winning narrator and a Tony Award–winning actor. Besides earning several AudioFile Earphones Award, she received the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2020. She has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in numerous miniseries and TV movies and received five Emmy Award nominations for her starring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.