Deadly Game of Tug of War [Paperback]

Craig Key (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1600373119 | ISBN-13: 978-1600373114 | Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Kelsey was a bubbly ray of sunshine. It is impossible to comprehend how anyone could harm a child, much less have something happen when so many were watching so closely. The lesson from Kelsey's death is not only a cry to stop child abuse, but a reminder to cherish the little ones in our lives, and a warning to those embroiled in custody battles to take the focus off themselves and put it where it belongs, on the innocent children who did not ask to be a pawn in someone's game.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judge Craig Key began practicing law in 1992. He was sworn in as Associate District Judge of Lincoln County on January 13, 2003, and lost the re-election in 2006, due to the circumstances surrounding the death of a child, as detailed in A Deadly Game of Tug of War. Craig has gone back to practicing law in Lincoln County and has a wife, Dana, and a blended family with four daughters: Abbi (14), Macy (13), Sarah (12), and Kamryn (8).

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Morgan James Publishing (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600373119
• ISBN-13: 978-1600373114
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Medical Books > Veterinary Medicine > Food Animals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sad Story, June 30, 2009

By 

Mac Pro "Local History Buff" (Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Deadly Game of Tug of War: The Kelsey Smith-Briggs Story (Hardcover)

I find it sad and disturbing that the hate in this horrible situation has spilled over into what is suppose to be an honest and helpful part of Amazon's book service. The writer of this book, the judge in the case of little Kelsey Briggs, could not speak during the ongoing affair so has chosen, right or wrong, to tell his side. There are, in fact, so many sides that it's like a bad movie. A relative of mine taught school at Meeker High School and said that, in his opinion, everyone but sweet little Kelsey was to blame for her death, maybe not directly but the poor child never had a chance. She was pulled and tugged by every side and obviously battered for months. Her parents, step-parent, both grandparents and the system killed this darling little girl. The author of this book has struggled with his writing somewhat but appears to back up what he says. The reviews that are so vicious are by people who have never written reviews before so doubt they even read the book but wanted to lash out in one more way. Read the book and judge for yourself. You would do well to toss out any reviews other than those by readers who have also reviewed other books. Otherwise I'd say the writers of the reviews simply are spewing more hate in this case. It has been unbelievable around here. Oh, and it's widely know the author is donating any money made on the book to child abuse charities. Everybody knows that.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The negative reviews are about the case, not the book., February 18, 2008

By 

Avid Reader and True Crime Enthusiast - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deadly Game of Tug of War (Paperback)

Despite the negative comments written on this book I decided to purchase it and find out why some of the reviewers on this site seem to have such a strong animosity toward the author. After reading the book and researching the history and background that led up to its conception, now I understand. The book WAS well-written as a few of the reviewers so eloquently stated. It delivered the facts about Kelsey Smith-Briggs, as promised, and the negativity that the reviewers have attempted to pin on the author have no bearing whatsoever on the book.

The author was the judge who presided over Kelsey's custody hearings and in his book he delivers the facts and he does so in a way that draws you into the story and keeps you from putting it down.

Those leaving negative reviews are part of a large group who made it their mission to remove him from the bench and they succeeded. Many underhanded things have occurred from the paternal family and the jury in Kelsey's mother's trial. The fight that has surrounded this book reminds one of the Hatfields and McCoys with the maternal and paternal family interwoven repeatedly in relations that can only lend to the madness that has consumed the small town of Oklahoma that Kelsey resided upon the time of her death.

It's not surprising that the bad blood would spill over to this site and others that promote this book. This avid reader saw not one shred of evidence to back up the claims of the negative reviews. This book is definitely worth the purchase price and the proceeds are going to charity, a charity with a loss of donations because of malicious posters on this site. It's a shame!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book makes its points., March 4, 2008

By 

C. Mount (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadly Game of Tug of War (Paperback)

I heard about this case a week ago in a child abuse class that I am taking for my Bachelors degree in Rehabilitation Science. It is not a normal part of our class work but my Professor was reading this book on her own time. This book made a great enough impression on her that she presented it to her class because she felt this book was a perfect example of how decisions are made from the Judge's point of view. I bought this book with no favor to one side or the other. All though I do agree with a few reviewers on how repetitive he was about certain information or feelings, however, Judge Key does a good job of making the point that he only had the information that was presented to him to base his decisions on and that the families refused to do what was in the best interest of Kelsey. Many students, including myself, after having seen a story such as this would, has asks the Professor how a Judge could put a child back in a home after such horrible acts. I do think this book is an unfortunate good example of how a Judge may come to a decision in a child abuse case. Judges are not above the law nor do they create their own laws while making decisions and, as stated in the book, they do not have crystal balls to tell them the future. I think people lose sight of this when there is so much emotion attached to a case.