Rating: 
Summary: Ann Rule delivers again.
Review: Once again Ann has captivated her readers. Her characters are so well defined they become real. Like some neighbor, or friend you once knew.As the story unfolds, she has you pondering, perplexing questions as to why this murder occurred.Its a fascinating tale of the psychopathic mind and how this personality will go to the extremeto accomplish her mission; MURDER!("The Kill") This narrative will keep you engrossed from page one to the last bloody page.Ann Rule has kept me entertained with her brilliant writing for over 20 years. Another fine job. I think this book ranks along side one of her best, "Dead by Sunset".
Rating: 
Summary: Two Thumbs Up for Ann Rule, a fascinating study of insanity
Review: I just finished Ann Rule's new book, and I unequivically give it "two thumbs up". Yes, at times it felt a bit uncentered, and "choppy", but that doesnt' take away from the fascinating story of one' woman's downward spiral into deception and murder. It never ceases to amaze me, how Ann can lure us in to another's dark recesses of the mind. I always feel like I know her victims, the families, and the judicial system that eventually comes into play. I totally recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Another turn pager from the Queen of Crime
Review: Ann Rule never fails to grip readers with her stories, and HEART FULL OF LIES is no exception. As always Ann inserts little of herself into the book but draws crisp and vibrant images of the characters. Her attention to interesting detail will satify any real true crime fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Heart Full of Lies is not so full
Review: I picked up Ann Rule's latest yesterday with great anticipation. I've read every one of her books, and had high expectations for her latest. I was greatly diappointed when I opened the book and saw the size of the font. It almost looks like a large-print book for people with sight problems. This tells me there wasn't nearly enough material for a nearly-400 page book. I am very diappointed, and Ann Rule has fallen from my list of all-time favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: It doesnt even rate one star!
Review: Readers...if you want a biased account of this case, go ahead and buy this book. Why wasn't Liysa's story told? this was my ongoing thought as I read this sensationalist book. And why does Rule so aggressively set out to paint Liysa as the villian? Why is she so judgemental? She doesnt even consider the possiblity that Liysa was abused. This book is clearly based upon information soley from Chris Northon's family and freinds. Certainly Rule can feel compassion for this family's loss, but why does she set out to destroy this woman in the process? Why is she quick to excuse Chris's worst traits and portray him as a saintly victim? One reason: her version SELLS.
I also find it hypocritical that she dedicates the book to Chris's son so that he may one day "know the truth". Gee, who gave Ann Rule the scales? And how can she make a judgement when she only knows one side of the story? How dare her dedicate this book to his son...this book will haunt and follow this boy for the rest of his life. Does Rule care that she is destroying his image of his mother? No.
There are huge gaps in the information given, leaving the reader questioning why she elaborated on some things and skips over other info ( info that would not support her biased theories).
Lastly, I work in the mental health field and am insulted by her amatuerish diagnosis of Liysa. She labels her a "sociopath". Newsflash: Sociopaths are not good mothers. And this is something even Rule could not dismiss, the fact that Liysa was a devoted and loving mother. BR>What a disappointment. I have previously read all of Rule's books but I won't read another.
I certainly am questioning everything that Rule has ever written, after reading this poorly written biased account of this case.I think the true story (the one that featured both sides, fairly) would have been much more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: One of the most intriguing Ann Rule books I have read. Liysa Northon is obviously a sociopath-- and I'm glad that this tragic story brings out the truth, and clears her poor husband's name. The man was obviously coaxed and lured into doing lots of things he didn't want to do, all under her spell.Well written, and interesting. I couldn't put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Rule Masterpiece, But Solid
Review: Admittedly, I'm a fan of Ann Rule's, and I agree with other reviewers that this is not one of her finest books. But let's face it, even when she's not up to her own exacting standards, Rule still produces stellar work. For me, the first quarter of book moved a little sluggishly, and my interpretation of Chris, the murdered husband, was that he didn't have enough chutzpah or insight. He wasn't drifting through his life, but he wasn't the take-charge type, either. That is not a crime, I don't advocate all people be unpleasant, grim Alpha types. With a calculating personality such as Liysa, you need to be "onto her." Whereas others can take her at the surface, in an intimate relationship, you need to know what a person like her is capable of, her lies, deceit, etc., and WATCH OUT. Be wary. Perhaps that was a hallmark of all Liysa Northon's husbands, a personality quirk she could effectively use against them: they were successful but not particularly insane with ambition. She pushed and got what she wanted. Liysa is not as intelligent as she has animal cunning, and her narcissism, pretense and ambition fuel all her lofty goals. Still, even if this woman "achieved," it would never be enough. As with other emotionally disturbed women like her, it's never enough.
What I found puzzling about this woman, is if she had photography or writing talent, why wouldn't she pursue those goals on her own? Why would she have to marry and nag/bully her husbands into getting what she wanted? Intelligent career women do it on their own... then hook up with a husband.
I didn't think Rule portrayed Chris as a saint, but his faults weren't emphasized, either. For me, I see Liysa and other dangerous women like her as borderline personalities who present as narcissistic personality disorder. Borderline women are adept -- no, supremely skilled -- at polarizing people into opposing camps. They get people to fight over them. They believe themselves to be victims and manipulate others into believing it. They poison people's minds. God help the children any borderline's raising. Borderlines can appear as idyllic mothers, when they are anything but.
As others have pointed out, by virtue of attaching a 'y' to the middle of her name, tells you what you need to know about this woman. "Liysa." Give me a break.
As I read along, my biggest frustration was that so few people perceived this woman accurately. A sharp-eyed, discerning person would sense there was something off with Liysa Northon. I suppose her superficial chattiness, attractive shell and slim figure cloaked her capacity for evil... convincing people she was normal, even sympathetic.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: I am a huge fan of Ann Rule, she never disappoints! While I don't think that this book is her absolute best, I still enjoyed in nonetheless.
And now about Liysa. I have never heard of a woman more in love with herself than Liysa Northon. Every single thing about her screams, "I want attention!" From her bragging attitude to the stupid 'y' she even added to her name, this woman is pathetic. It makes me sick that this woman actually got THREE men to agree to marry her, and even had two children. Scary. Her clueless friends need to wake up and realize that Liysa is one of the biggest manipulators around. I cringed when I read the statements they were giving to detectives about what a "monster" Chris Northon was. Gee, and how could they support their statements? Because LIYSA told them!! What a joke. I hope they read this book and realize how unabashedly stupid they look.
Ann, you've done a good job in telling this story. It couldn't have been easy to try to keep a fair attitude when telling this pathetic loser's story. Liysa Northon owes you a debt of gratitude for at least trying to give her SOME substance where no real substance actually exists.
Rating:
Summary: Book Full Of Whys
Review: I picked up HEART FULL OF LIES to read while on an airplane trip as I am true crime afficianado, former police science student and survivor of child and partner abuse. As an abuse survivor, I find Liysa Northon's continued assertions that it was necessary for her to murder her third husband, Chris, in order to protect herself and her children, particularly offensive. Please! She had too many other perfectly acceptable and legal options available to her. And for an allegedly, highly intelligent woman, Liysa committed what is arguably one of the most inept and poorly thought-out murders I've ever read about.
What kind of IQ does one need to realize, for instance, that anyone who starts off, fleeing a murder scene, sopping wet, while driving in a heated car for several hours, is not going to still be soaked to the skin by the time she reaches her final destination, unless she's stopped to re-wet herself? Liysa should have stuck to scriptwriting. While her dramatic writing and staging sensibilities were apparently skillful and sharp enough to impress a Hollywood writer, her knowledge of forensics was appallingly deficient.
As a murder scheme that is alleged to have been planned over a period of two years the end result was so rife with dumb inconsistencies between Liysa's story and the actual crime scene evidence, I can only assume she was either too caught up in starring in this real-life drama of her own making to maintain an objective perspective or she wanted to be caught and thought she could bluff her way out. Were I her attorneys I might have gone for an insanity defense, except I also happen to think she should have gotten longer than 12 years. Her lack of remorse for Chris's death as well as her lack of consideration for the devestating potential impacts to her boys leave me with the impression of this woman being one very sociopathically selfish individual. And I also recently read that Liysa, her father and brother have sued Ann Rule for $3.5 million. Hmm? It seems Liysa might still trying to secure that $2 million with which to start Chrysallis, that she couldn't get from her late husband's insurance? But, of course, I could be wrong.
Author, Ann Rule, may not be (in my opinion) the world's best true crime writer, but she is a former policewoman who researches her stories with meticulous care and does not jump to haphazard conclusions; she arrives at her opinions with painstaking, sometimes tedious prudence. Rule tells a compelling, truthful story that does not diverge off into personal speculation over obvious innuendo. Her restraint is admirable as it affords the reader the ability to draw their own conclusions. I derived the feeling that Rule, in the course of researching this case ended up with mixed feelings toward this woman who who was a fine writer and incompetent criminal whereas Rule is a fine criminologist and maybe not quite as good a writer as the subject she was writing about. My guess is Rule may have thought at some point that had Liysa not committed murder and had instead pursued screenplay writing, she might have one day written a screenplay adaptation of one of Rule's books...
As to review posted to Amazon.com by a member of the DeWitt family, what does anyone expect? Yes, I think their daughter / sister is guilty of first-degree murder, but how many of us would be any less supportive of a relative who'd done the same thing? I feel pity for both the DeWitt and Northon families who have suffered tremendously because of Lisya's horrific actions. But most of all I feel sorry for Papako and Bjorn, the two most innocent victims in all this. It is a best-of-a-bad-situation blessing that they have Papako's father and his wife willing rear the brothers together, and a friend of Chris's to remind Bjorn that his "Mydad" had many qualities worth remembering and emulating.
Rating:
Summary: Nice piece of biased trash
Review: I have a lot of problems with this book. Firstly, let me state that I have always found Ann Rule to be highly over-hyped. She is nowhere near the brilliant true crime writer so many reviewers and readers consider her to be. You want good true crime, pick up anything by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
What bothered me the most about this book was the fact that Liysa's claims of abuse are, in essence, laughed off and ignored by Ann. I have no clue whether or not this woman was abused. My gut tells me 'no'. But do I have the right to decide this? Nope. Because I have not been given ANY of the information necessary to formulate such an opinion. The systematic destruction of character was nauseating, as was the fact that there was no involvement with Liysa's family in the writing of the book. It lacks credibility. I do believe Liysa is exactly where she belongs. I also believe that she is mentally ill. What I dislike so intensely about this book is the attempted bestowing of sainthood on the victim, Chris. The man has got to be one of the coldest, most pathetic excuses for a man I have ever read of. While I do not believe he beat her, I most certainly can recognise the emotional and psychological abuse he heaped on her. He did not deserve to die. He also does not deserve to be placed on that pedestal Ann Rule has hoisted him to.
I am grateful that Liysa's two children are being raised by her ex; perhaps they will have a chance to know what decent parents are like now. They clearly never had that while their father was alive and their mother was free.
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