No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge [Mass Market Paperback]

Irene Pence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

The horrifying true story of John Battaglia, an abusive husband who committed the ultimate act of violence and betrayal by murdering his two young daughters, as their mother listened helplessly on the telephone.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle; Second edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786015543
• ISBN-13: 978-0786015542
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars But what goes on behind closed doors?, August 25, 2004

By 

Mcgivern Owen L (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge (Mass Market Paperback)

One might suspect that any book with the title "No, Daddy Don't" would be serious and bloody. That assessment would be correct. NDD is first tier true crime and recommended without reservation. NDD is a hard and uncompromising true crime tale about a horrific, brutal abuser named John Battaglia. The setting is in Dallas. Battaglia murders his two daughters while on a visitation. His former wife actually hears the murders via cell phone! This takes place in the earliest pages. TDD proceeds to unfold like a classic noir crime tale: the story line is a flashback. This is a tried and true device, which does not detract from the suspense. Readers will be kept enthralled to learn if Battaglia will ever be brought to justice on two counts: one is for the murders, the other for the gross abusiveness to his second wife, Mary Jean. This observer won't give the plot away but the curious are forewarned. NDD is not light reading (an occasional true crime tale may be). There is only one complaint from this source-the absence of an epilogue. Since NDD is now on its' third reprint, one thinks the author could have completed the circle of where the main characters are today. Also: "The Ann Rule rule" is definitely is effect for NDD. Those centerfold photos reveal the ending! Skip over them till the very end. Sadly, one has to wonder what goes on behind closed doors in many marriages? How many spouses suffer physical and mental abuse in private with no one to turn to?

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Law Lawyers and ALL Judges MUST read this!, July 12, 2003

By 

Teraisa "True Crime Fanatic" (Carson City, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge (Mass Market Paperback)

Man abuses wife, wife tries to deal and justify it. Man abuses wife, woman tries to get away. Man abuses wife, woman files protective orders. Man violates orders, woman pays high price. Man remarries and starts over. New wife files protective order, man violates them. Man beats wife, man gets out of jail free. Again and again. Man teaches new wife lesson: takes away the two things she lives for. Forever.

Even his first severely beaten wife, Michelle Ghetti, thought he was a good father. So who would have thought notorious accountant, John Battaglia, would have committed the most devestating and horrendous act possbile? Worse still, little Faith and Liberty, his daughters, KNEW what was coming.

Mary Jean Pearle and Michelle Ghetti, with all their might, share their story with master true crime writer, Irene Pence, of domestic violence, injustices of the so-called-legal system (in place to protect them) and heartbreak.

During the story, if there is a time you are not terrified for Battaglia's wives, you are ensconced in Pence's terrific use of imagry. She shows you the story in such a way, it's as if you are there and living it--yet at a safe distance.

As incredible as the crimes Battaglia committed, is the American "justice" system. Many times, after making bail for one offense or another, the very place meant to keep the public safe--the jail--would actually ASSIST Battaglia stalk and taunt both Michelle and Mary Jean by allowing him to use the phone to taunt and threaten them!

Liberty, Faith, and Laura are the three children in the story. Laura is the lucky one; she survived her dad. But the horror will haunt her forever. Thanks to the courage of Mary Jean to come forward, Michelle for diligently working at changing the laws, and Pence, for making the story known, we just may be able to prevent another true crime from happening.

Don't read this story if you don't like domestic violence stories, because I guarantee, it's a shocker.

81 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crime without Punishment, September 22, 2003

By 

TundraVision (o/~ from the Land of Sky Blue Waters o/~) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge (Mass Market Paperback)

Irene Pence is a fine True Crime investigator and writer. She's so good at what she does that the reader forgets the writer's there - none of the over-written stuff that pulls the reader out of the story to focus on the raconteur. Ms. Pence artfully lets the Tale do the Talking and her words don't get in the way. And what a tale she tells. John Battaglia Jr's unpunished stalking and physical abuses of his ex-wives is a ringing indictment of a judicial system that winks at the Good Ole Boy Defendant and says: Now don't do that again, OK? A system that didn't quite get around to revoking John's slap-on-the-wrist probation until after he had murdered his two young daughters, with whom he had court-ordered unsupervised visitation, at point-blank range, with their momma on the phone to them as they screamed: "No, Daddy, Don't!"

Finally, and way late, the system did something. Reviewed by Tundra Vision