Death Trap by M. Williams Phelps (true crime book review by Teraisa)

Death Trap 

by M. William Phelps 

(you may have seen him on Investigation Discovery lately... Dark Minds, anyone?)

 Evil women are more common than you'd imagine, but none so evil as Jessica Inez Callis Bates McCord-who somehow got her police officer husband, Jeff McCord, involved in a double murder that devastated several families.
  
Alan and Terra Bates probably thought they'd seen the worst of Jessica, Alan's ex-wife, but they were fatally mistaken.

"... The reason for the bullet found in the garage was simple, Jessica explained. Jeff had misfired his gun in the house. After a complete search, however, neither she nor Jeff could find the bullet. She claimed all that talk about her saying she wanted Alan killed was a misinterpretation of the facts. Didn't matter that three witnesses--none of whom knew each other--had testified that Jessica had said Alan would pay for what he was doing and needed to be killed..."

Author Harry N. MacLean sums it up: "A chilling tale of a sociopathic wife and mother willing to sacrifice all those around her to satisfy her boundless narcissism..."

No one can put it any better than that. It's a quick read--'cause it's hard to put down.

Jus' the Facts, Ma'am:
Death Trap by M. William Phelps
Nonfiction
True Crime
455 pages
Other books by M. William Phelps:

      

Carefree Humidifier Plus?

Hunter 33201 2-Gallon CareFree Humidifier Plus with PermaWick 

Pros: Light weight, easily use any water faucet, cleans in dishwasher.

Cons: Doesn't feel any more humid in the air, a bit pricey compared to others.



Summary: If you don't mind not feeling the humidity, this one's for YOU.

If I needed a humidifier to feel more comfortable at home; I was sold on this particular one, Hunter's Care Free Humidifier Plus, because I would not have to clean so rigorously nor worry about mold growing inside anywhere.

Let's start from the beginning...
Our lives are filled with COPD, three cases of asthma, three people with extremely dry skin, five people with severe allergies, and stress level through the roof (for instance, our head of household was attacked night before last while serving in Iraq). We have certain needs; one of them being water in the air. Just a little. It's dry here, in this elevated and sometimes snow-covered desert.

A vaporizer SEEMS smarter, but does not work the same for us. I've actually waited a few months to find the right solution. Once the season of the day 'round heater came, I knew I found the "right" humidifier. Price was not a concern, since it would be something to last and to use for a long time, but it was one of the higher priced humidifiers at a discount mega super store.

What led me to this humidifier, forsaking all the rest? 
One thing I hate about the old-fashioned vaporizers and humidifiers is the cleaning. There is ALWAYS dirt and grime and tiny rocks at the bottom. The way they are made makes it hurt to get your hand in there to really clean it out and the grit, grime, and water does not easily POUR out. I have no idea who thought up that particular design, but it could not have been a genius. Hunter, however, did use a genius.

They claim they've been here since 1886. Who am I to differ (and I certainly do not intend to research that much)? Furthermore, they promised me I never needed to replace a filter (that's five bloody knives out of five), the antimicrobial properties will inhibit the growth of mold (another five out of five), and it looks good.

Price has nothing to do with my decision to purchase this humidifier over any other, after all, there were a few simple models for about twenty dollars less. In hindsight, those may have been worth more than their asking price. But that low maintenance called out to me. Loudly. I succumbed.

At home~Pros:
~easy to set up
~looks good
~feels clean
~lightweight, even with highest amount of water added
~cleans safely in the dishwasher
~can fill in pretty much any sink, including the bathtub
~runs up to 24 hours with just two gallons of water
~three fan speeds ALL QUIET
~no visible water spots or wet spots near or far away from humidifier
~good for rooms up to 1175 square feet (this is FABULOUS)

Cons:
Hunter's humidifier is easy to set up. Read the directions in a few minutes, fill up, run on high for a bit, then go for broke. No, really. Because this thing may work, you can feel the air, though you cannot see it, but you cannot feel any water. None. It's a cool breeze, but not cool like water is in it, cool like it's 2 degrees outside and I have a stream of air coming out of this electronic contraption and it happens to not be warm air.  It also cost double or more than all the others available at the same store. Cannot think of a better way to explain it.

We need, however, to feel great (i.e. we need WATER in our air!). No matter that everything else on the contraption is perfect and suited to us and our lifestyle, we just weren't feeling it enough. 

Rated:
While the first one I tried and returned because I needed to feel the water in the Nevada air, I came back to this same brand years later, in Hawaii, and now give it-as True Crime Fanatic- 4 out of 5 bloody knives



Similar review originally published on Epinions.com where True Crime Fanatic rated the Hunter Fan 3302 Humidifier two bloody knives out of five.

True Life Books Worth a Look

Star Mothers: The Moms Behind the Celebrities 

by Sue Russell, Georgia Holt, and Phyllis Quinn

Star Mothers brings you the stars through the unique eyes of their mothers combined with Sue Russell's amazing story telling techniques. This book is easy to read and you'll find yourself spending the weekend on the couch devouring every word to the end.

Georgia Holt, Cher's mom, seeks the answer to which star mothers are responsible for the success of their kids and which are undeniably at fault for their fall by interviewing over fifty other star mothers.


"...They sit on their pedestals--adored, desired, lusted after, dreamed of, not to mention emulated, admired, and revered, And yet these objects of a million fantasies are as riddled with insecurities as we life-sized mortals..."

Sacci & Vanzetti:

The Men, the Murders, and the Judgment of Mankind

by Bruce Watson

When Men Batter Women:

New Insights into Ending Abusive Relationships

by Neil Jacobson, Ph. D. and John Gottman, Ph. D.

"... Are you the center of your partner's life? Does his life revolve around you? Is he obsessed with your comings and goings? If your partner feels close to no one but you, he is particularly likely to commit desperate acts of violence when you leave him. He will experience your leaving as abandonment." And this is why smart women sometimes STAY.