Customer Reviews

Deadly Game of Tug of War

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This book is nothing but self serving lies made by the man who sent Kelsey home to die in a bed of murderous lies. The only reason why he wrote it is because he wanted to try to make light of the fact that he went against DHS recommendation (which he lies about) and that is why Kelsey's Law was created and sent Kelsey back to live with the one person which abuse was confirmed against in the case. Kathie Briggs has 10 grandchildren, she is a wonderful woman who many have left their children with, she has never tried to seek custody of any of them, and at the infamous hearing she asked that Kelsey either be returned to her or that she stay with her maternal grandmother Gayla Smith until Kelsey doesn't have any more injuries. Doesn't seem like too much to ask right? Raye Dawn Smith murdered Kelsey, and slowly the truth is coming out. She still to this day refuses a lie detector test. She has many obsessive groupies who whine for her freedom, so why not take the one test that would prove your innocent? You want Kelsey's true story, read Who Killed Kelsey and the most important part of the story-the official documents in the case. When you do, you will agree that Judge Key should have a cell next to Smith and Porter, which I hope they rot in.

He has an axe to grind and a reason to try and make himself look good. If you want to read a novel, this one is it.

This is a good book for continuing education for CASA Volunteers. I wish the judge had been a little more explicit on some details, but I think it is a fair writing of the facts and he was limited, as a judge, in what he could disclose.

I thought this book was a good read, I was able to finish it in about 4 hours. It is written in a manner that helps you to put all of the pieces of this tragic case together. I also think it's wonderful that Craig Key is donating ALL OF HIS PROFITS TO HELP FIGHT CHILD ABUSE.

this is by far the best book i have read on this story of this little girl. people say its a lie but until you read everything everywhere then youll know what is truth and what is a lie. i recommend this book

Ordered the book and read it twice. I was confused as to the content when Judge Key made remarks throughout the book like...Mrs Smith's makeup was perfect and Mrs Briggs dressed plain. There were quite a few things in the book that made this book hard to deny it was a little one sided. Having said that, the entire case was just gut wrenching. Both families are in pain!

This is so pitiful. The book is a total sham, a total lie. Raye Dawn Smith is now trying to profit from her own daughters death while she is in prison in Oklahoma. She has now sued for monies that was awarded little Kelsey's estate because of situations happening between DHS and CASA.
Book is total poorly written as if a grade school person has tried to put it together. It has been written by a ghostwriter from OKC that "admits" that she put her on little spin in it. She didn't even KNOW about the case. But she has her own drama going on and is writing a book that she now admits is BIASED.
This book was biased also. It's a good book for people that want to read something that is showing you "How NOT to Write A Book"!!! If you can believe it, this person supposedly shows people HOW to write. NOT.