Eye of the Beholder [Hardcover]

Lowell Cauffiel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1994

The author of Masquerade provides a chilling account of the cold-blooded murder of Michigan television anchorwoman Diane King and the year-long manhunt that resulted in the arrest and trial of Diane's husband, Bradford, an ex-cop and criminal justice professor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Diane King, morning anchor at WUHQ-TV in Battle Creek, Mich., was fatally shot on February 9, 1991, in the driveway of her home. News of the murder elicited odd reactions: some acquaintances said they were not surprised; others lamented the death of a thoughtful friend. When, after inept local police work, the Michigan State Police began to focus on Brad, Diane's husband, a former cop who was now a professor of criminal justice at Western Michigan University, there was a parallel reaction: some assumed he had killed his wife, others considered him incapable of violence. Brad was prosecuted and sentenced to life on what the author suggests was circumstantial evidence. But what interests Cauffiel ( Masquerade ) most is unraveling the personality of Brad, who is portrayed as resentful of living in the shadow of a celebrity wife and a dominating woman. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

From the moment Diane King, a popular 34-year-old television anchorwoman from Battle Creek, Michigan, was shot dead in the driveway, her husband, a criminal justice professor at Western Michigan University and a former policeman, was the primary suspect. The Kings were an attractive contemporary two-career couple, with two children and a seemingly idyllic life. But as police probed, many flies were found in the ointment. Brad was a compulsive womanizer, unable to hold a job for very long; Diane was a strong, in-charge type of person. It soon became apparent that Brad was the murderer; the problem was how to prove it. Spending close to a year, the police and prosecutors built a very strong circumstantial case, which ultimately led to Brad's imprisonment on first-degree murder. This is both a taut police procedural and a fascinating psychological study of a nonrepentant murderer. For substantial true crime collections.
Sandra K. Lindheimer, Middlesex Law Lib., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books; First Edition edition (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821746146
• ISBN-13: 978-0821746141
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,086,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guy can brilliantly tell a story, November 14, 2001

By 

James Warner (CHICAGO, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eye of the Beholder (Mass Market Paperback)

Another masterpiece by Mr.Cauffiel.He has the ability to make me feel I was actually there watching this sick scene play itself out. How could king do this to the mother of his kids?!This guy is actually one of Cauffiel's oddest killer's yet.How did he think he could get away with it? How could he have actually ever become a cop?? Also included in this book are some good family photos,including some unintentionally hilarious pictures of killer king himself,obese and bald in a cheap looking plaid suit.What did these women see in this absolute moron?A MUST READ

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent research and good paced reading true crime novel., November 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Eye of the Beholder (Mass Market Paperback)

Eye of the Beholder is thoroughly researched and a very well written true crime novel. Lowell Cauffiel tells of the investigation and prosecution of Brad King for the murder of his wife and TV news anchorwoman, Diane King, in a way that makes you really understand the human failings in the investigation which are made up for only with dogged determination and some wonderful strokes of luck. As a former law enforcment officer and current prosecutor, I found it to be a fair telling of the investigation, warts and all, as well as an accurate portrayal of the interaction between many law enforcement agencies. Proof once again that human beings investigate crimes and do make mistakes; but that mistakes made, if recognized and admitted, can be remedied.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A thorough book but needs editing, June 2, 2003

By 

T. L. Rylands (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eye of the Beholder (Mass Market Paperback)

Caulfiel's look at the sensational murder of Battle Creek, Michigan anchor woman Diane King is extremely detailed and encompasses a wide range of issues. To Caulfiel's credit, he avoids overdramatizing events and putting a distinct spin on the story. This is a pitfall some true crime writers fall into but Caulfiel does not. He also paints a vivid picture of the small town atmosphere of Marshall, Michigan. The comments from King himself are also intriguing.

My main complaint with this book is that it is far too long. Much of the more boring mintuae of the investigation is unnecessary and plodding to read. A lot of issues are rehashed several times. Also, very little detail is given about how King's children were faring with her family after the trial. That would have been time better spent.

All in all, it's a good effort but could use some paring down.