Customer Reviews

Death in Texas: A True Story of Marriage, Money, and Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

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

 

 

The city of Houston has been home to more than its fair share of epic American murder sagas. Many of these stories have been expertly chronicled, i.e. 'Blood and Money', The Cop Who Wouldn't Quit', 'Cold Kill'. A more recent tale-the murder of Doris Angleton in her sprawling River Oaks estate-deserves to be well told. Unfortunately, 'Death in Texas', a sloppy assemblage of newspaper clippings and court filings, does not come close to getting the job done.

I have followed this case in the Houston Chronicle and Texas Monthly. The story has taken so many odd twists and turns that it seems more like a cheap murder mystery than a real life case. For starters, consider the two main characters. Doris Angleton is a beautiful, popular wife and mother who seems to 'have it all' but has secretly turned to internet chat rooms to meet other men. Robert Angleton, her husband, has become the most successful bookie in Houston while ratting out his competition as an informant for the Houston Police Department.

Given the complicated and interesting people at the heart of this case, author Carlton Smith had a huge head start in sculpting a classic true crime book. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons-tight deadlines, lack of access, limited perspective-the end result here is not much better than reading all of the reporting on this case so far. And consider this: 'Death in Texas' ends when the jury brings in a verdict on the state charge of murder. Since then, Bob Angleton has spent a year in a Dutch jail while the governments of the USA and Holland went back and forth, negotiating the terms and conditions under which Angleton would be extradited back to Texas. In addition, Vanessa Leggert, a journalist who had conducted extensive interviews with some of the key characters in this story, spent 6 months in jail because she refused to cooperate with the prosecution.

There are not many stories that include murder, infidelity, gambling, police informants, rights of journalists, treaties between nations, suicide, etc. This story deserves to be told in all of its tragic, bigger than life, unbelievable, Texas sized detail.

This fascinating story of greed, control, and vice was given a hasty, poor treatment by a writer who was obviously very eager to get the product to the market rather than thoroughly research and present a compelling account of family tragedy. The pictures are very poor, including a picture of the dead woman and her very live daughters, the true victims. What teenage girl needs to see herself visually depicted in the same book with a picture of her deceased mother. Shame on you, Carlton Smith, you are a much better writer than this!!!

Having known many of the people in this tragic story, I was shocked at the exaggeration and misquoting throughout the book. It was also very poorly written and difficult to follow. It is much more like trashy fiction than a respectable account of the truth.

I suppose this book must sensationalize the lives of the people who surrounded the Angleton's to sell " a good story." But understand, that the Hughes, Welsh, and the Angleton families are not, and have never been known to be, a refined, upstanding group of people. Drunks, flunkies, and crooks hardly make up the pillars of Houston society. Aside from these misconceptions, the book seems to stay with the facts known to the public and those that were not revealed are enlightening. Why would Bob and Tex Welsh not go into the house to see if Doris was in danger-unless they knew she was already dead. Great, another O.J. on the streets. God help those girls!

This book about the murder of Doris Angleton in Texas has a very easily readible narrative by the author but seems to be lacking in background information on some of the principles in the case. I came away after reading it feeling like their was much more to explore in the relationship between the Angelton and her husband that the author didn't delve into. While the story itself, complete with a bad brother - sibling rivalry - a possible revenge motive, is interesting it lacks the details that other more researched books offer that gives a real good true crime novel it's "must read" quality. I would recommend reading it just for the unusual nature of the case but with some reservations. (If you have another book that sounds as interesting - read that one first)

Where are Jerry Bledsoe and Ann Rule when you need them? This story could have been turned into a great book - all the elements were there except a writer. The author took a mishmash of "facts" and called it done. I wanted to know the life stories of the characters, the dynamics of the marriage, more about the victim. I was extremely disappointed and don't plan on buying any more books by Carlton Smith.

This book seemed slanted in Bob's favor. He, like O.J., murdered his wife-though Bob didn't get his hands dirty. Tex Welch you knew all along!

I read about this murder in the new paper when it happen that is why I wanted to read this book Death In Texas its about a murder that happen in Houston, Texas in 1997. I was not disappointed it is a fascinating true crime account of greed, deception, and cold-blooded murder.

Remember the 1983 film, Terms of Endearment, where Shirley Maclaine and Jack Nicholson were neighbors on Ella Lane in prestiguous River Oaks burb of Houston, Texas. Well, a famous murder occurred there in April 1997. The victim was a beloved wife and mother of twin 12 years olds named Doris Angleton.

This book paints a poor picture of the case surrounding the millionaire widow/husband, Robert, who was an informant in gambling to the Houston Police Department. He was worth millions. His wife, Doris, had had enough of the marriage as well. She filed for divorce but she was murdered.

Robert's brother, Roger, is suspected of being Doris' killer but he commits suicide in jail. He was granted immunity to testify against his brother. Unlike other true crime cases, this book could have been compelling but it was wasn't. I found myself skimming the pages of repetition just to finish it.

There was nothing special about the case not even a good picture of the victim, Doris Angleton. Sadly, I didn't like the outcome of this case or the book. I know Carlton Smith has done much better work since then but this book is thin and doesn't depict everything that was going on in the case and there was a lot.

I HAVE READ BOOKS SINCE I LEARNED HOW TOO READ. I AM 55 YEARS OLD NOW THIS BOOK HAS NOT INTRESTED ME AT ALL CARLTON SMITH IS A MUCH BETTER WRITER THAN THIS. I PUT THE BOOK AWAY AFTER READING IT HALF WAY THROUGH. SORRY IT WAS JUST TO HARD TO FOLLOW