Customer Reviews

The Good Wife: The Shocking Betrayal and Brutal Murder of a Godly Woman in Texas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Clint Richmond did a commendable job in telling the tragic story of Penny Scaggs. Penny was a much beloved woman in her community who made it her mission to be the best wife possible to her hardworking husband, Roger. She even taught classes to other women about being a supportive and (hate this term) "dutiful" wife. Her thirty five year marriage was dedicated to providing a godly home for her family. Unfortunately, all this was at the detriment to her own individuality and autonomy. She never realized (or at least denied the notion) that her husband wasn't exactly the ideal Christian spouse. He seemed to be the classic narcissist, and unfortunately, Penny supported her husband's notion of self-importance and selfishness. She never seemed to see her husband for the egotistical and uncaring person that he truly was.

Author Clint Richmond is very detailed in his account of Penny and Roger Scaggs, and he put a lot of thought into his writing...he writes very well and I spent many a late night reading this book. It was truly hard to put down and very sad. I didn't think the book was overloaded with unnecessary details at all...rather, I thought the information provided about the individuals involved in this event enabled me to understand how this tragedy occurred in an outwardly happy marriage.

Great read for true crime fans~~~

I agree with the good and thorough reviews already posted, such a sad, tragic, and senseless case.

Just a couple of additional points: The police were really on the ball in this case. If not for the quick action they took immediately following the murder, this case might have never been solved. The dumpster not having been emptied (due to the delay of the trash

company removing it) was really the key factor in the collection of evidence. Roger never considered there would be a problem with the trash being picked up - he thought he was home free once he pitched the evidence. [and how stupid of him to pitch it in his very own company parking lot trash!] Thank God for the quick thinking of one good detective who thought to get that dumpster secured so it could be

thoroughly investigated. The defense tried its best to convince the jury that someone framed Roger by placing the murder weapons and other evidence in the dumpster behind his building - but since the couple were so beloved, who in the world would do such a thing?

A few questions remained in my mind after reading the book.

1. Could this couple not have a biological child of their own - is this why they adopted Sarah? The author never mentions problems of conception or the couple's personal choice to decide upon adoption.

2. Sarah adamantly denied ever facilitating the affair by allowing her father to use her apartment for his indiscretion - yet, someone who Roger worked with followed him one day and observed the three of them interacting, before Sarah leaves and the couple then proceed into her apartment. Perhaps Sarah didn't want to appear disloyal to her mother, but disclosing this after the fact wouldn't hurt her mother then! Either she did or she didn't and there appears to be no reason his co-worker would make that up.

3. How in the world could no one find the mistress for over a year? Her father was a well-known attorney in Austin - couldn't they put pressure on him to contact her and demand she return to the area? Afterall, she was to be a very important witness in a murder case! I don't understand how someone could just be allowed to 'leave town' at the very time her testimony was needed. If this had been a death penalty case, poor old Roger would really be up a creek.

I AM AN AVID TRUE CRIME READER, BUT THIS BOOK WENT INTO TO MANY DETAILS ESPECIALLY ABOUT ROGER'S BUSINESS AND HIS DEALINGS. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE BOOK KEPT REPEATING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER. VERY ANNOYING! TRULY WAS NOT ONE OF THE BETTER CRIME BOOKS I HAVE READ!

I am a huge true crime reader. I usually love the details included in each book but I found this story to be heavy on information about the husband's business background and, involvement with computers So heavy, I infact, skipped quite a few pages. The details about his small plane are enough to put anyone to sleep. Given the horrific subject matter, I'm not sure if this was needed as filler. I felt some lacking in describing Penny and her activites...it just seemed thin. The sequencing of the police investigation also read odd and out of order. Perhaps it was the intention of the author, but I found it confusing. Photos are definately lacking, very few of interest included. Great story, tragic murder and a so-so book.

It wasn't until I started reading this book that I realized I actually knew this couple eons ago in when we both lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We went to church together. Penny was as the book stated - well-groomed, a spotless housekeeper, and devoted to her family and church. But there were times when I thought she was just too good to be true. Not that she deserved to be murdered for it, but she set the bar so high there was no reaching it for anyone else. And she definitely wore the pants in the family. All that stuff about the husband being the head of the home - well, she believed that's how it was in her own family but that wasn't the reality of it. I remember Roger being congenial and cordial but something of a weenie at home. In fact, when I read how savagely brutal Penny's murder was, I couldn't believe Roger did it because he was always so wimpy! I can't believe he had the physical strength to do it. It was a tragic brutal death, though, and Penny certainly deserved better for all her years of devotion. The author does a pretty good job of laying everything out but I have to say he carried on forever regarding Roger's career and hobbies and really glossed over Sarah's upbringing and schooling, especially her early years. It will be interesting to see what happens at Roger's parole hearing in 2014.

I was really disapointed in this book.

The author did not got into the background of the chararcters much,he just wrote the trial transcripts.

I only read true crime and I have to say this one is really a boring read.

Great read from a newcomer to the true crime genre. I still cannot believe the daughter not seeing her father for what he is! Does anyone know what happened to Vanessa Ferguson other than reappearing in Austin after the fact? Would love to know more information about her. Does anyone else wonder if she had anything to do with it? Awesome read...the only disappointment I have is that I am finished with the book.

All I can say is this is a very sad situation. God Bless the family of this wonderful woman, my heart still breaks for you my friend.

Though few can match Ann Rule's style and thoroughness, I agree with the other reviewer that Richmond comes close. I had seen this case profiled on one of CourtTV's shows (or possibly one of the true crime shows on A&E) but this book added a lot of detail which I found very interesting. I thought Richmond did a good job of documenting the character changes in Roger's life which were significant enough to help convince not only many of his friends but also the jury that he was capable of this vicious murder, and indeed, no other suspects ever came to light. Homicide detective Carter comes off as a hero because he thought to check the contents of the dumpster behind Roger's office building - good police work in action! Overall, a real page-turner, and I look forward to more true crime from this author.

This is a well written and gripping book. Penny Scaggs was battered to death, and then, after death, stabbed repeatedly, in a fury, two wounds so deep they went through her chest. Why?

Penny was a deeply religious woman who devoted her life to her family and volunteer work for others. She even gave classes in how to become a good wife for your husband. For decades, her family had seemed the perfect embodiment of goodness. Then, slowly, cracks appeared. The teenage daughter rebelled. Her father seemed to support her.

Roger, Penny's husband, was wealthy and successful. After thirty years as a good husband, however, he began to grow away from Penny. A striking incident: after he got a pilot's license he held a party and said, "'Now, everyone, tell a little experience pertaining to me getting my pilot's license'" (p 68). It was all about me, me, me, it seems.

Soon he was having an affair with a much younger woman, and sleeping with the woman at his daughter's apartment. The daughter, meanwhile, in what also must have broken Penny's heart, had taken a job at a strip club, and briefly married and divorced a bartender there.

Roger could have divorced Penny and continued a life of pleasure without her. But that would have cost him half his fortune by Texas law. So instead he murdered Penny.