Customer Reviews

Circle of Fire: Murder and Betrayal in the "Swiss Nanny" Case

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I think that Ms. Egginton's book is far superior to Don Davis's book, "The Nanny Murder Trial." Ms. Egginton includes information about Olivia Riner which Mr. Davis either did not know or simply neglected to include in his book. Until I read this book, I did not know that Olivia had stolen a whole bag full of baby clothes from the Fischer family. (How do Olivia's supporters explain that?) The passage from Olivia's diary in which she wished that her previous employer, the German doctor, would die was also bizarre. Ms. Egginton builds a persuasive case against Olivia Riner. She explains why Olivia's alibi is not believable, and she rebuts the false charges that Olivia's defense team raised against John Gallagher and Leah Fischer. Ms. Egginton identifies the Fischer family member who made the infamous "barbecue" remark which was erroneously attributed to John Gallagher. Ms. Egginton explains that the remark was actually made by one of Kristie Fischer's paternal uncles, and Ms. Egginton makes it clear that the uncle was only joking and was not malicious. One of the most fascinating parts of this book was the final chapter. I thought that the similarities between Olivia's situation and the cases of the murderous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century nursemaids were both amazing and disturbing. By the time I finished this book, I was one hundred percent certain that Olivia Riner was guilty. I was also deeply moved by Ms. Egginton's account of the extended Fischer family's history and the other tragedies that they had already endured. My only complaint is that Ms. Egginton occasionally criticizes Olivia for alleged shortcomings which have nothing to do with the crime. What does it matter that Olivia didn't wear makeup when she went out to eat? I also do not agree with Ms. Egginton that Olivia's long hair "should have been either braided or cut short." I am a long-haired woman, and I resented Ms. Egginton's irrelevant beauty tips. Another portion of Ms. Egginton's book that annoyed me was a set of quotes by Linda Sawyer, an early defender of Olivia who eventually turned on her. According to Ms. Sawyer, Olivia was "screwed up about sex" because she was proud of being a virgin. Virgins are NOT "screwed up about sex," and virginity is NOT evil! I am a virgin, and I resented the connection that Ms. Egginton drew between virginity and criminality. I would have given this book five stars if Ms. Egginton had omitted the snide remarks about Olivia's hair, her failure to wear makeup, and her lack of sexual experience.

I read this book and believe me I was disgusted at Joyce Egginton's arrogance in claiming that only Olivia Riner murdered the child and used some obscure dissertation from the 19th century to "prove" her so-called guilt. She also lambasts the defense attorney for the way she used the media. If the prosecution was upset at the way the defense used the media then why didn't they get the judge to issue a media blackout on the attorneys? What really disgusted me about Ms. Egginton was the way she declared that Ms. Riner was mentally unstable. Instead of a psychiatrist she used a hand-writing expert! I was also disgusted at the way the Fischer family handled having Ms. Riner in their home. Ms. Riner came over here not just to take care of the child but also for a cultural exchange and to learn about the United States. I only recommend this book if you want the Fischer's side of the story. Otherwise read "The Nanny Murder Trial" by Don Davis for a more balanced view of this story.

This is one of the worst books I've ever come across. It is so full of bias and non-facts, it's pathetic. Joyce Eddinton leaves out evidence and facts that don't support her opinion. She seems to think that Olivia Riner was jealous of Leah Fisher. Leah had nothing for any young (or old for that matter) woman to be jealous of. She's homely. Olivia is very pretty. Her dorky boyfriend is a local hood. At 22, Leah still lives with and is supported by her parents. (Sure, she has something of a job, but she is not self-supporting). Olivia isn't tied down by a boyfriend and is in a foreign country. She's traveled internationally several times. If anything, Leah should have been jealous of Olivia.

It's obvious that Olivia had nothing to do with the crime other than the fact she was a victim. Even the family believed she had nothing to do with it until they were convinced otherwise by the prosecution team, which had no evidence, no motive, no real reason at all to charge her.

Don't waste your time or money on this book. If you want to know the facts of the case presented in an unbiased manner, read The Nanny Murder Trial.

This book was very interesting and grabbed my attention.

I live in Valhalla, NY (about 1 mile from Thornwood, NY). I know Louis Alagno, and Greg Wind (police lieutenant and fire chief in the book). Louis Alagno is now my Boy Scout leader, and Chief of Police for Mount Pleasant, NY (Thornwood, Valhalla, and Hawthorne).

After reading this book, I talked to them. They recall the incident clearly, and say that this book is not exaggurated at all.

It was an okay book, but there were some things that I didn't agree with. I don't think homesickness was much of a murder motive. Stealing babyclothes is a lot different than murder. Being a shy virgin doesn't make you screwed up (I am also a virgin), and having an eating disorder doesn't make you violent. Maybe the reason Olivia didn't rescue Kristie was that Olivia was terrified of fire. Arson investigators have made some serious mistakes. I once heard of a case where a mother was accused of starting a fire that killed her 8-month-old son. The investigators thought that the fire started in the closet in the baby's room. There shouldn't have been anything flammable in there. It later turned out that the fire started in the attic, because something was wrong with the heating system. That is a big difference. The investigators trying to solve Kristie's murder could have been wrong, too. Someone could have been in the house with Kristie and Olivia. Maybe Olivia didn't want to admit that she wasn't paying enough attention. John Gallagher told a lot of lies. Another thing, you can't tell whether or not someone is a murderer by their handwriting. This doesn't mean that I am sure she is innocent, I just have reasonable doubt, like the jury.