Customer Reviews

No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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?

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.

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

Ms. Pence does a wonderful job of bringing a horrifying and unbelievable story to life. The characters are vividly depicted, and readers are given a deep understanding of the tragic and inevitable result of Battaglia's insane need to control and subjugate the women in his life. This is a difficult story to read, and I almost didn't buy the book, because I knew how horrific and unbelievable the crime was. I live in the area, and will never forget the first news reports of this crime and the search for the killer. It may seem difficult to understand why two intelligent, successful, and attractive women would marry this man and endure his abuse. But as an attorney, I can attest that I have seen many such situations, although none as extreme as this. Ms. Pence's book takes the reader a long way toward reaching some understanding of this too-common situation, and provides a chilling and instructive look at our flawed justice system.

I recommend this book to any true crime fan. The story was disturbing obviously, but it takes a good writer to make the story come to life. I love the character development, the background, and the story. This one you'll read in a day!!!

At first glance the Battaglia's marriage seemed like the stuff movies were made of. By the time their relationship was over a movie could be made out of their story, but that movie would be one of great sorrow. Mary met and married a guy whom she thought was so great, if she had only known about his past a little more she would have realized that he had a history of violence in his first marriage. When things went wrong between John and Mary, she learned first hand how out of control things could get so fast. In the end, their daughters were the ones who suffered the most. The crime committed towards Faith and Liberty Battaglia by their father, the person who was supposed to protect them from harm, makes me sick to my stomach. John Battaglia found the ultimate punishment for his second wife. He knew that by murdering his two daughters while their mother listened over the phone would devastate her more than anything in the world. When John realized that he was going to be arrested for beating his ex-wife, he wasn't going to go down with out consequences towards Mary for reporting him to the authorities.

This book made me realize that in an instant things can go incredibly wrong. I believe everyone should read this book because we can all learn from this lady's mistakes. All along she tried to get along with her ex-husband because she believed if she acted civil towards him he would not hurt her anymore. Everyone can learn from this that an unstable person doesn't care to please other people. This book would be really good as a required reading for people wanting to go into a law profession. By reading this book we get an inside view at how laws and judges go wrong all the time.

I could not put this book down! Such a shocking sad story but felt like I was living these poor women's lives. You feel such sorrow for all the people involved except the monstor that was evil and selfish. Very well researched - grabs you from the beginning and never lets go. I can't stop thinking about it!

Rarely does one experience the first hand version of man's inhumanity to woman as written here by Irene Pence! The details of these "crimes" are accurately portrayed, and it makes one wonder about the countless number of marriages that shield this type of male cruelty to protect self-image with nothing done until it's too late. This book contains fact -- not fiction, and it is a truthful but sad picture of reality. Read it and weep!

After reading this book I feel truly blessed to have married my dear sweet husband, because not everyone is so fortunate. This was a very good book. I was able to finish it in 2 days, you can't put it down. It is a very fast paced book that makes you keep reading to find out what happens next. You never get bored. Irene Pence did a good job in giving great detail to paint a picture of what happened. This book really showed how violent and troubled the father was and how it affected everyone around him. It also makes you mad about the way how law enforcement handles domestic violence. This takes you through the years of torture the 1st and 2nd wife went through to try to rid themselves of the evil they married. Luckily, the justice system prevailed and a crazy man was brought to justice for killing two little girls. If you are thinking about this book, order it! It was very interesting and I proudly display this book with the rest of my collection.

If you read NO, DADDY, DON'T, you have to appreciate that the two abused wives--one a very bright law professor and the other a successful businesswoman--did everything they could to get away from their abuser. The more the women asserted their independence, the more extreme and hateful their abuser became. Even though these women used their strength and intelligence, law enforcement was negligent in helping them or taking them seriously--until the ultimate consequences forced the law to step in.