Heart Full of Lies : A True Story of Desire and Death

Rating:
Summary: Heart Full of Lies succeeds and raises an interesting issue
Review: For the reviewers above: I wonder who the heck reads Ann Rule for her "skillfull prose?" The story is what compells readers! I have an English degree and the lack of fluent prose does not even faze a reader who is caught up in the skillful depiction of real-life people. Those complaints are pointless. If you want good prose, try other literary genres. True crime is supposed to be relatively journalistic. I disagree with people upholding the Ted Bundy book as an example of wonderful prose by Ann Rule; I found it blowsy and distracting. This book was fascinating and absorbing, and the people involved make a deep impression on any reader. The story comes to life very quickly. A good author makes that happen, even if the style is not fluent. This book is also very relatable, we all have charismatic friends who (even though they may not be murderers) find a way to be the center of attention through dishonesty and manipulation.
Also, I am still reeling from shock at the reader above who claims that Ann Rule ignored all of these problems from Chris Northon and wrote a story based on the skewed versions of the Northon family and Liysa's old relationships. I hope it's a relative posing as an unbiased reader. I agree Ann Rule paints her victims as more saintly, (women as well as men!) but this person actually seems to believe that there was a plausible side to Liysa's allegations of abuse! Ann Rule did an excellent and merciless job showing the inconsistencies in Liysa's story, over and over. Also, she made the point very clear that Chris Northon was willing to seek therapy for his family, and included the therapist's notes about how his anger is nonviolent! She also wrote repeatedly that Chris did not appreciate Liysa's intellect and mental gifts, and ignored her ambitions. This, I agree, can be damaging to any person and is not the earmark of an attentive spouse, but it is FAR from abusive behavior. Used to feeling desired, Liysa of course was hurt when she realized Chris was used to his autonomous lifestyle. However, in her this hurt became a drive to rid herself of him in the way most beneficial to her, instead of working it out. And who were the "credible sources" who were ignored that knew about Chris's problems with alcohol? The reviewer above mentioned this, and where he or she got this knowledge is very unclear. Liysa not only murdered her husband but may have helped destroy the credibility of real abused women with her carefully concoted lies. The faking amnesia with her first husband was a practice session in her skillful deceit.
The most interesting issue this book raises is that of abuse of a male. It sounds like Chris was a victim of spousal abuse; emotionally. The damages to his character are pervasive. Anyone who still tries to find a solid thread of truth to Liysa's story of fear and abuse is doing a GREAT DISSERVICE to abused victims all over the world and is ignoring the real signs of abuse. Hopefully this woman's lies did not do damage to anyone's real story. Hopefully she asks for a new trial and gets NAILED with a life sentence so that her stories do not harm her sons.

Rating:
Summary: BORING
Review: I am beginning to think Rule is being paid by the number of words she writes. Very disappointed with this book.....half way through it and doubt I can finish it as I do not need to know what every stick, stone and leaf is like. Didn't think she would ever get to the story. Also so tired of hearing what Liysa is wearing, how she combs her hair and on and on and on. Let's get to the meat of the story before I fall asleep again.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: I picked up this book at a hospital gift shop, and had no idea I would be as taken in with the story as I was. I found myself speaking out as I read, completely frustrated with the extent this woman went to to destroy lives and get everything she thought she deserved. My blood was chilled.

I understand that Liysa is currently suing Ann Rule for painting a untrue picture of her in the novel. Well darling, if only a quarter of what she wrote is true (and I'm most positive it's much more than that), then you deserve to rot in jail for the rest of your natural life.

I really recommend this title for anyone who likes to read true crime books, and especially for those who relish watching the selfish and manipulative get what they deserve.

Rating:
Summary: The first book that I've read by Ann Rule
Review: I purchased this book at the airport prior to a flight. It certainly made the miles pass quickly and I continued reading it through the night. So, yes, a page turner. But I am frustrated by (don't read any further if you don't want to know the results of the trial) the plea bargain of manslaughter agreed to by both parties. Ann Rule's book leads one to believe that there was plenty of evidence to convict the killer/defendant. Why then, did the State agree to the plea of manslaughter? Makes me think that there is more to the story than what was in the book. Unsatisfying ending but that's what you can get with a true story.

Rating:
Summary: Heart Full Of Lies
Review: I thought this one was one of Ann Rules best books yet.Just the way she portrayed Lisa.And I could not believe how manipulative this women was. Ann Rule does a great job really making you feel what she is writing. She is by far one of the best true crime authors I have ever read books by. By the time I am done with one of her books my heart goes out to the victims families.Couldn't put this book down. I hope one day to get to meet her.And for those of you who haven't read them I also suggest reading Bitter Harvest and Every Breath You Take.Two must reads.







Rating:
Summary: disappointing for ann rule fans
Review: I've read and enjoyed all of Ann Rule's books, so when I saw this on the front table of the bookstore I bought it without even opening it up. Everyone knows what to expect from an Ann Rule book, right? Unfortunately, not this time. As another reader pointed out, the type is huge... always a bad sign of padding. It actually jars you when you open the book to start reading. What, it HAD to be 350+ pages? It's a compelling story but could have been half as long. The editor really let her down on this one. Choppy, disjointed, repetitive. Back and forth in time and place. Very hard to follow, and the writing is never smooth. Wait for it in paperback. Really.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to Phathom
Review: It is hard to phathom that a woman could be so narcasistic. To use people the way she did and have no remorse for it or what she took away from her sons; not herself, but a wonderful loving father.
It was hard for me to get thru this book, but Ann did a great job again.



Rating:
Summary: Excellent Account of a Troubled Woman's Decline Into Murder
Review: It's tough to choose the right amount of stars in a genre that includes "In Cold Blood," "The Executioner's Song" & other classics that really raise the bar. But Ann Rule's "Heart Full of Lies" is one of her best since "The Stranger Beside Me," which is saying a lot, considering "Stranger" is itself a (flawed) classic.
"Heart" starts slow and just builds & builds & builds until we realize Rule just has a great grip on who the main characters are & has developed them very well. We get a very good sense of both Chris Northon & his wife Liysa. There is also a surprising & satisfying lack of ambiguity at the end about what happened.
The portrait of Liysa is ultimately devastating & compelling. I'm still thinking about her a couple of days after finishing the book. When do dysfunctional people cross the line from being merely a strain on their friends to being dangerous? How many people fit the category of dysfuctional time bombs? And why is it that some are able to fix themselves before calamity happens & become decent human beings where others never do?
The portrait of Liysa is all the more compelling because I got the sense that it ran against what Rule expected to find & against her natural sympathies. She seems inclined to empathize with abused women--but an empathetic abused woman is not where Rule's research leads her.
I don't recall the word "sociopath" anywhere in the book. But it does appear in reviews here. I suppose that is what Liysa is--a female sociopath (which seems to be rarer than male). If that's the case, then she's best locked up for the rest of her life.
"Heart" has well-developed characters, a decent sense of place & good reasons for being written. This is not (unlike much true crime) mere rubbernecking. This is a thought-provoking contribution to the genre.
Ann Rule has been doing this for a long time, & she is a true crime standard-bearer.

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: This book is a real page-turner, one of Rule's best. Lisa Northon, who murdered her husband after maliciously trying to paint him as a violent brute, is a grand manipulator. She callously destroyed many lives and this is a chilling portrait of a woman who had everything except a soul.