Customer Reviews

AN Almost Perfect Murder

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You will like this book if you enjoy the medical mystery-thriller!

I was living in Las Vegas at the time the murder of Kathy Augustine came to light. She had a reputation of being someone hard to deal with and she was also a member of the Nevada Republican Party. I remember three things.....that her prior husband died suddenly, that she was involved with a new man shortly after the last husbands death, and that the Republicans were not happy with Kathy. What was more intriguing is that anyone familiar with Nevada politics will know the GOP of Nevada is not like that of other states. This is cowboy/robber baron politics mixed with a sprinkling of pious religiosity and win-at-any-costs conviction!!

This is the second book I have read by Gary King that takes place in Nevada, and like the first book, An Early Grave (the story about the murder of Casino Owner and Vegas legend, Ted Binion), this story represents another in a long line of high-profile murders based on twisted defendants with incredibly selfish motive and colorful, interesting, yet tragically-flawed victims.

The only thing that I would have loved to read in this book...and perhaps there's a sequal in the works.....was more from Chaz Higgs. I am eager to listen to his own explaination of what he did and why he did it. If he still professes his innocence then I want to know who he thinks murdered his wife and why they did it!!??? I guess we won't know that until this case makes it through the court system and he is eventually released, or his appeals run out.

I could not finish this book. I read only truecrime books. This author took the trial transcripts and rewrote it into a book. No background on the characters or the relationship that they had. Such a bad read. I had to stop in the middle.

Kathy Alfano Augustine was not well-liked to say the least. This book is written by author and Las Vegas resident, Gary C. King. By being a resident of the state, King is familiar with the politics. He opens the book up about the history of poison in murders that went unsolved for centuries until it could be traced and detected.

In this case, Kathy Augustine, would slowly be paralyzed by a drug inserted by her nurse husband, Chaz Higgs. Of course, Chaz was planning to divorce his powerful wife but it wouldn't be that easy like his three previous divorces.

By then, Kathy had faced impeachment and was considered an embarrassment to the Republican party of her state. She was still running a campaign for State Treasurer anyway.

Of course, Higgs wanted separation and divorce but Kathy was resistant despite the failing marriage. Maybe after the election, she could have ended their unhappy union but I don't think Chaz could wait that long.

I won't reveal anymore but the book is just repetitive of the other book on this case which was more revealing about Kathy's family life, her parenting skills, and her previous marriages. You have to ask yourself if somebody can be driven to commit such a crime.

I just hope Kathy can rest in peace. Even in death, she earned 26,000 votes in the primary.

The July 2006 murder of wealthy Kathy Augustine made headlines. She was a high profile, dominating political figure in Reno, Nevada, who made history by being the first woman elected state controller. She had her photo taken with both President George Bush and his son President George W. Bush, survived an impeachment process, and in 2004 was a finalist for the office of Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. She had a history of using less than above board political tactics. A Republican Party colleague stated publicly he considered her an embarrassment to the party. Nevertheless, she could win elections and had an impressive resume.

Her husband, whom she was divorcing, died in 2003, and three weeks later Kathy married a former bodybuilder, Chaz Higgs. After being married for three years, they discussed divorce, and Chaz flirted with another woman. Then Kathy died of an apparent heart attack. Based on a tip from the woman Chaz had been flirting with, the police looked for poisoning by succinylcholine. Based mainly on the FBI finding traces of that chemical in her urine, Chaz Higgs was charged with the murder of Kathy Augustine.

King's account of the investigation and the trial of Chaz Higgs for Augustine's murder is detailed and interesting, though the facts related in the beginning of the book flow less smoothly than his writing about the trial. He repeats facts, particularly in describing succinylcholine effects, which interferes with the pacing of the story at times. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read.

I have only recently started reading true crime novels. Most of them have been riveting, even knowing the outcome. This book proves that not everyone can tell a story. This book is told from the perspective of someone who sat in the courtroom. He even recounts the parts of the trial most people find boring: the full list of qualifications of the experts. Two-thirds into the book I no longer cared. I finished it only because it's a policy of mine to always finish the book. My advice, don't start reading it!

Author Gary C. King is truly a master at the true crime genre. Join him as he tells the story of a hard-pushing political powerhouse, Kathy Marie Augustine. She pushed her way through the "good old boy network" in the Nevada legislature, rising at the time of her death to the elected position of State Comptroller. A nationally known political figure, her death made headlines around the country. Even bigger headlines followed, when it was discovered she was brutually murdered, and who the culprit was.

I recall following the case on Dateline, the Nancy Grace Show, and 48 hours. As a true crime buff, I was fascinated by it. I was anxious to find out more, and the author of this book definitely did not disappoint me.

Kathy's killer thought his plan was foolproof. Had he kept his mouth shut, it just might have been foolproof. Choosing a poison that left no physical evidence behind , Kathy's husband, critical care nurse Chaz Higgins, had seemingly pulled off the perfect murder.
Kathy had been a political powerhouse, a beautiful, wealthy and sexy woman. It was easy for friends of the couple to see how Chaz had fallen for her. Her domineering attitiude eventually got the best of Chaz, and rather than risk losing the "good life", he committed murder.

Were it not for a hardworking Nevada detective, the case would never have been solved. Chaz Hggins made a thoughtless comment to a coworker, and that coworker had a good memory. If not for the continual questioning and probing, the detective may never have heard a report of the comment Chaz made.

Go beind the healines to a story even more riveting than the best work of fiction. Gary King brings details to light that were unmentioned previously, and his insight is very helpful and adds much to the story. I look forward to reading many more books by this author!