Customer Reviews

Grave Accusations: A True Story of Lies, Family Secrets, and Death (True Crime (St. Martin's Paperbacks))

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3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I am an avid true-crime reader and have read over 300 true crime books. I have never read one as bad as this one. Quite frankly, I am very surprised that St. Martin's published this.

Ms. Egger states that she is an "investigative journalist." Evidently she only investigates one side of the story. Ms. Egger makes little to no attempt to tell both sides of this story. The book is written by Ms. Egger "in collaboration with Paul Dunn" - who was the defendant in the case. In reality, the book appears to have been written by Dunn with Egger's name attached. Ms. Egger appears to me to be infatuated with the man -- how else to explain this nonsense?

This is the first time I have ever written a bad review for a book. But, honestly, I thought this one was so bad it deserved comment.

I made a mistake in getting this book as I usually try to avoid anything that is co-written by a principle in the case.

This book is an excellent example of why I try to avoid such books. It is poorly written with just plain boring useage of language. It is also written as if serial philander Paul Dunn is some sort of God or at least very special being. There is no balance of characters.

Whether or not he killed Monica (and he probably did), he is now trying to make a profit by dragging his dead wife's name through the mud. I feel so sorry for her poor daughters.

This would have been interesing if written by an unbiased party, but as it is, it is pure garbage that St. Martin's should not have published.

This isn't much of a whodunnit, per se. You know fairly early on which side the author is on. (This is likely because so many people on the opposite side refused to cooperate). However, you really don't know if justice is going to be done until the end of the case.
I produced a TV show on the case, and the book is extremely accurate. The writing -- like most true-crime writing--left me underwhelmed because it seems so overblown. But if you want to learn how the justice system does and does not work, this is an excellent look at it. A good explanation of the politics, pressures, and forensic analysis that are crucial in so many cases.

I was reluctant to read this book when I realized the defendent was co-author but went ahead anyway. It is poorly written in several respects. The book jumps back and forth with repetitive information and becomes confusing. It also fails to show us a complete picture of the victim or the defendant, except to tell us that Paul Dunn is a great man who can do no wrong. I found it difficult to believe that Monica would have gone back to the house just moments after driving out of the garage with her kids, and decided now was the time to kill herself. That just makes NO sense. She may have wanted to scare Paul and accidentally discharged the shotgun, but it still seems a stretch. I am more apt to believe he killed her because he was so angry at her reporting him for domestic abuse. He had a lot at stake. The book was clearly biased (well, duh, Dunn is one of the authors) and it doesn't answer a lot of questions. I am surprised the jury didn't even deliberate!! Worse than the OJ jury. There may have been reasonable doubt, but not to deliberate?? Even when all agree, you should still discuss the case and how you have come to your decision. This was definitely one of the worst TC books I have read and I have read many.

I violated my own cardinal rule -- don't read anything that the accused has had a part in writing! I still don't have an iron-clad opinion about whether or not the victim's husband killed her. I think he certainly could've, but then, there is some evidence pointing to accidental death (I don't believe it was suicide). But this was written with a definite slant towards the husband's innocence. Much of it was written in a very unprofessional, unpolished manner, which I assume was hubby Paul's contribution. I thought it a poor attempt at exonerating Paul Dunn and was disappointed overall in the book.

This is surely one of the most poorly written books St Martin's has ever published. The only reason I hung with it to the end was that I was traveling, couldn't sleep, and in a hotel room with only this book that I'd stuck in my suitcase. Save your money and your time. And if you're traveling, read a chapter or two of anything you plan to take along BEFORE you board the plane.

"Grave Accusations" concerns the suspicious death of Monica Dunn. She was the former wife of Paul Dunn, a Farmington, New Mexico cop. The circumstances of Monica's demise are questionable, to say the least. In an apparent rush to judgement by the local District Attorney, Paul is charged with her murder. Officer Dunn claims Monica committed suicide. GA proceeds from this adversarial stating point and follows the cases of both prosecution and defense. Although the text is slow paced and frequently repetitive, suspense is maintained until the jury renders its verdict. Readers are advised that despite the "maintenance of suspense", authoress Egger is scarcely an impartial observer. She wrote GA in cooperation with the defendant! Consequently, the prosecution's viewpoint is downplayed, if not almost scorned. The local D.A.and his expert witnesses are labeled as venal, politically motivated and even incompetent. Egger then proceeds to portray the defense team as crusaders for justice when they really are just well -paid hired guns. Two observations on those centerfold photos: They are boring and far from " startling", as the book jacket claims. They are as bland as can be. They neither shed light on the resolution nor do they humanize the characters. The "Ann Rule rule" is NOT in effect! GA is still recommended. At least it is different. How many true crime tales are set in remote Northwestern New Mexico? True crime aficionados should be satisfied with GA if they can ignore the overstated evidence and hold Egger's preset prejudices in abeyance.

I didn't even finish this book. It's co-written by the victim's husband who was accused of killing her. The victim's reputation is slayed in this book. Really- not one nice thing is written about her. Are you kidding me?? If I had seen that the husband co-wrote the book, I would have never purchased it. It's awful. I usually lend my true crime books to friends, this one is so bad, I'm tossing it in the trash. Do not waste one second reading this book!

Monica Sanchez Dunn is not painted positively in this book even though it was her death that sparked her husband, Paul's arrest. The author does not really delve much into Monica's psychology or motive for her suicide. The writer does include Monica's vengeful nature and her anger toward Paul not for what you think. The writer paints Paul Dunn in a much better light than his deceased wife. Simply because it was Paul who did the household chores and acted more like Mr. Mom while his wife shopped them into financial debt. Monica was quite a van, self-centered, egotistical woman. I think she was furious at Paul for having an affair with a less attractive woman than herself. Monica probably couldn't stand the humiliation of losing him. She probably couldn't live with herself. Paul was head over heels in love with Monica and did everything for her but they both had lovers on the side except Monica's lover never comes to light. I think that's the problem with some women is that they treat their male or female partners more like their property rather than a companion and mate. Paul was working two jobs as a guard at a former governor of New Mexico's home and a police officer. Not that being a policeman would have helped him much anyway, the police was pressured by Monica's well-to-do and connected family to try him for murder.

I'm amazed at what the prosecutors did in this case, and especially the medical investigator! A regular who-dun-it, where you're thinking in one direction for half the book, then you believe the total opposite about the crime at the end. (I don't want to spoil it for you!) Frightening about this book is this could happen to anyone.

I read a lot of true crime books and found this one up there with the best of 'em. Well researched, lots of interviews, a broad perspective of "both sides" of the situation. Pretty unbelievable but true!