Rating: 
Summary: Keeps the reader in suspense
Review: Although it is clear from the start that the two women are responsible for the murders of the nursing home patients, the author does keep back some details until the end. The shifting accounts from witnesses and interviews opens new thinking as the tale unfolds.
I had to really mentally shift gears at the end once all the details were laid out and even then I'm glad I wasn't on the jury.
Some of the incidents cropped up over and over, but I began to realize the different points of views given to each retelling. Sifting out what was real, what was staged, and who was covering for someone makes it a really complex case.
True crime readers will find it worth wading through.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent true-crime book
Review: At first I hesitated buying this book in a store because the cover had the rather cheesy, slap-dash look of inferior true crime books. It has been several years and dozens of other true-crime books since I read this one but the story and writing quality still stand out in my mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Editing, Writing
Review: From the begining of this book to the end, I was disgusted at the improper grammar and punctuation that was used. I was so bothered by it, that I actually went through with a pen and edited it myself. In my opinion, this book is nothing more than trash and sleaze being played off as "true crime." It had the potential to be interesting, but many details that were included were simply not necessary and seemed to only be in the book to titilate the reader, and not to provide any REAL information.
Rating:
Summary: Who edited this?
Review: I bought this at a used book store for a buck; and that goes to show that you get what you pay for. I, too, went through the book with a red pen and edited the misspellings, fractured usage and ambiguous sentences. The editing disasters were so egregious that it took away from a relatively interesting story. How did this ever get published in the first place?
Rating:
Summary: Long and detailed, but a worthwhile book.
Review: I do agree with other reviewers-a good editor could have made the difference in this book. It was long and detailed in sections, difficult to wade through, but, nonetheless, a worthwhile story. The only part left undone for me was how the nursing home management could allow such employees to behave in the manner as they did on the third shift. Cathy and Gwen were such heartless human beings to have cheated these older people out of what little dignity they had left. It appears that Cathy will always continue her sadistic, manipulative behavior; never sorry for what she has done nor the lives she has selfishily destroyed. Ashamed to admit it, but this is one person I would like to see sitting on death row.
Rating:
Summary: if you want cheap superficiality, look elsewhere please
Review: I have been a fan of Mr. Cauffiel's books for several years now.
His books are NOT tedious or difficult to read--they are meticulously researched and the subject matter revealed layer by layer to the interested reader. Infused in the narrative of his books is a deep respect for the parties involved and dare I say, some subtle humor as well. For me, this makes for wonderful reading. Fans of superficial, rush-to-market, cheap accounts of lurid crimes and criminals should look elsewhere, not criticize one of the finest true crime writers out there.
Rating:
Summary: C'mon folks, it's not that bad?
Review: I read true crime constantly and to the two top "reviewers" who put down this book so blatantly....lighten up. The book is interesting enough. I find typos in practically everything that I read anyone. I proofread for a living and I could get through it without so much annoyance. Relax people. What hit me most, was Gwen Graham's childhood. Kids who are brought up around so much violence are always affected. I would recommend this book to the true crime lover. It is not Helter Skeleter but it's a good read.
Rating:
Summary: C'mon folks, it's not that bad?
Review: I read true crime constantly and to the two top "reviewers" who put down this book so blatantly....lighten up. The book is interesting enough. I find typos in practically everything that I read anyone. I proofread for a living and I could get through it without so much annoyance. Relax people. What hit me most, was Gwen Graham's childhood. Kids who are brought up around so much violence are always affected. I would recommend this book to the true crime lover. It is not Helter Skeleter but it's a good read.
Rating:
Summary: From the Author
Review: In the interest of accuracy to serious readers, I feel it necessary to respond to Roxanne Marcianti's review here. Ms. Marcianti makes a number of charges and assumptions which have no basis in fact. First, not a single sentence of "Forever and Five Days" is "padded" and the book contains not a single passage of "fictionalization." Everything in the work has been meticulously researched and documented with hundreds of hours of taped interviews, court transcripts, police reports and other proven methods of journalistic research. Furthermore, Ms. Marcianti's charge that I did not interview the two perpetrators in this book is simply careless reading on her part. The book's "Author's Note" makes quite clear the sources of all the material in "Forever and Five Days," including stating that the perpetrators were interviewed extensively. Apparently, she didn't bother to read it, or chose to ignore it completely -- which, by the way, makes her "review" libelous in that it maliciously ignores the facts. I would suggest Ms. Marcianti apply the same standards of research and accuracy she expects in my books to her own reviewing skills.
Rating:
Summary: Forever and Five Days
Review: Simply Put; This book was boring. I found it insulting to the average brain. Ann Rule, you have nothing to fear with this writer. Clearly the Author has 'padded' this book with his own uncredible information. This book is fact? With a heaping tablespoon of fiction! C'mon Lowell. You blew it big time. You give very specific details about Cathy & Gwen's sex life (i.e. dildo use). You don't mention that you ever interviewed either of them. The repetitive nature of the psychoanalyis of these women is deplorable. I have never read a book where I've skipped pages & paragraphs...Until I read this one. Your publishers should also be ashamed with all the grammer errors, typos etc. I do not recommend this book. The story itself is an interesting one but perhaps a better story teller would be appropriate. I am forgiving and have plans to read "House of Secrets" when it arrives from Amazon. I shall read this next one with caution after this yawning experience. Lowell Cauffiel, please give readers more credit for intelligence.
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