Karen
I don't know why I read this, but I guess these two have been in the news again recently, I have Virginia Roberts Giuffre's book on the stacks, and I realised I knew next to nothing about Andrew or his ex-wife, other than the occasional bit of gossip that passes as news. Which I kind of suspected this book might turn out to be, or even worse, a massive attempt at reputation restoration.
It was neither. Mostly it's politely scathing, although I could have done without the little bit of motivation explanation - mostly on her part at the end, although to be fair, it was minor and it wasn't wholehearted. I think, on reflection, this book is exactly what it needed to be. Scathing, pointed, detailed and illuminating, without sensationalism, or judgement. This reads as well researched, with plenty of comments and observations from people close to them, as well as facts (like the eye-watering dollar amounts churned through on nothing much), and the never ending pushing, shoving and demanding of yet more money. There's details about both their childhoods, and their meeting, a bit about their marriage, and a lot about their "business" dealings, and associations. It's a litany of what might seem like poor choices, if it wasn't the same story over and over again.
Ultimately came away from this read realising what a particularly appalling pair, in a world full of appalling people. Money-grubbing, attention seeking grifters. Nothing admirable or redeeming about either of them. Let's hope with the burying of his existence going on at the moment they both disappear from view and we can all concentrate our attention, more rightly, on victims.
Originally posted at austcrimefiction.org.
I don't know why I read this, but I guess these two have been in the news again recently, I have Virginia Roberts Giuffre's book on the stacks, and I realised I knew next to nothing about Andrew or his ex-wife, other than the occasional bit of gossip that passes as news. Which I kind of suspected this book might turn out to be, or even worse, a massive attempt at reputation restoration.
It was neither. Mostly it's politely scathing, although I could have done without the little bit of motivation explanation - mostly on her part at the end, although to be fair, it was minor and it wasn't wholehearted. I think, on reflection, this book is exactly what it needed to be. Scathing, pointed, detailed and illuminating, without sensationalism, or judgement. This reads as well researched, with plenty of comments and observations from people close to them, as well as facts (like the eye-watering dollar amounts churned through on nothing much), and the never ending pushing, shoving and demanding of yet more money. There's details about both their childhoods, and their meeting, a bit about their marriage, and a lot about their "business" dealings, and associations. It's a litany of what might seem like poor choices, if it wasn't the same story over and over again.
Ultimately came away from this read realising what a particularly appalling pair, in a world full of appalling people. Money-grubbing, attention seeking grifters. Nothing admirable or redeeming about either of them. Let's hope with the burying of his existence going on at the moment they both disappear from view and we can all concentrate our attention, more rightly, on victims.
Originally posted at austcrimefiction.org.