Customer Reviews

Suffer The Little Children (True Crime S.)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a true story about a man who lived and thrived on controlling, torturing and demeaning his family and those close to him. He tortured animals. He was an abuser both mentally and physically and a child molester. He was a murderer. He had no feeling toward anyone or anything except for himself and for fulfilling his own twisted, sick and warped fantasies.

I thought the way the book was written was great. It was easy to read and understand. It was detailed but only the important details. I've read true crime books where the author goes completely off-topic and starts going on and on about things not even related to the story. This was NOT one of those books.

While what happened in the book is EXTREMELY disturbing and brought me to tears of shock that someone this cold and warped actually existed and still exists (I believe Jesse James Cummings is still on death row in OK), I highly recommend it to any true crime book fan. It is a great read and written well.

I've read many books on domestic violence, and this one is definately the most horrific in its detail. I couldn't put the book down. This well-written story of unspeakable horror shows the twisted mind of real monster who was a master-manipulator. But it's hard to believe that NO-ONE from the outside world has interferred on behalf of the children, when it was clearly indicated there were constant visitors to the house of horror. And how come that Child Welfare did not investigate further the conditions children were surrunded with. Were they blind, or nobody truly bothered or cared? Surely they must have asked how many children lived there at the time. (It's not clear if the Walfare saw them all apart from little Scottie.) My heart grieves for those who suffered at the hands of the monster, Jesse Cummings, but the women had a choice, while the children did not. This is the only book on true crime that really made me cry. Very disturbing, but excellent story to read and reflect on. I guess there is a lot to be done on the law of child protection yet.

Wow! What a story! I must say, this man was surely a monster. I applaud Ms. Davis for writing this grueling tale. It must have been quite gut wrenching to delve into such an evil man and his family. I feel better knowing this man is locked away. But, could it be, that both of these women to SOME extent were willing participants in the macabre day to day life they led? I can surely see how easy it is for a strong man to prey upon a weak and unstable woman. But, for there to be two of them, and so many more that mingled in and out of their lives, how could they NOT have some way gotten away? If nothing else, gotten their children away? I am a mother, and I know that I would surely kill or die first, than to allow someone to brutally abuse my child! I truely believe that that monster was behind the worst of their acts, but do not feel too sorry for these poor souls, having to pay for their crimes now......

Ms. Davis,
I tried to read your book about Jesse James Cummings, I could not finish it. I knew him and his family,I thought. There was always an aire of dominance and secrecy when he would come to me looking for work and would bring his family with him. We would laugh and joke, I would play with his children, but at times with a glance or a nod he could put them in complete submission. Some things made me wonder. I knew him when he only had one wife, then two, then two wives and a girlfriend, there were no secrets about it. They all lived in Phillips, OK. They came and told me about his missing sister and niece. That is all I knew until the confessions and trial. Then your book came out. My knowledge of that family was well described in your book. So well in fact, that reading about it made me have bad dreams. Hence, I only read half the book. I am by no means a weak person but reading the unknown horrors you told stirred me deeply. You may have written a five star book, but i couldn't finish it to make that judgement.

This Book was exellently writen...Being as close to the subject as I was I thought it would be impossible for the story to be told in a realistic and point proven manner. Being related to Anita it would be incredibly easy for me to give a biased opinion but reading the book gave me every right to give it a good review. Barbara Davis did a wonderful job telling a story that no woman wants to tell... This story was easy for no one to take and I am glad that it is out and there for any woman who ever has had an ounce of abuse in her Life. Barbara Davis My hat is off to you! Thank you for allowing my cousin to get her story to ALL the women out there who feel like there is no Escape!!!!!!

This book was badly written, badly research, and doesn't even appear to have been edited for spelling/grammar mistakes. The writing is confusing because the author jumps around in time and then doesn't explain who people are in relation to the story. They just show up and then are gone. The research is obviously done be a bias person who is only interested in relating horrible facts, not actually proven events. It's a sad story that deserves to be properly portrayed. This book isn't that story. Save yourself the time of trying to read it.

I was unable to lay this book down. Myself not being an avid reader I found that this book really keeps your interest. Being interested in domestic violence issues, because of my lawenforcement background. I passed it on to my sheriff and undersheriff. They each read it in just one or two settings. We have passed it all around the office. I have not found anyone that did not finish or enjoy the knowledge that it suppies you with. KMAC

Well fellow readers, putting it nicely Jesse Cummings is a ...! I now believe it possible to be human, yet exist without heart or soul. The depravity of this man knew absolutely no bounds.
At one point many of us have thought about strangling a sibling in frustration, but to do so as a means of achieving sexual intimacy with your 11 year old niece - EVIL, pure and simple!
How did Jesse end up marrying 2 women? Obviously this was considered illegal, yet a second wedding ceremony was performed. Constantly pitting his 'wives' against each other served its purpose brilliantly for years - they were focused solely on survival, rather than methods of escape.
It is perplexing to me that no-one outside the 'family' made any attempt to help the women and children held captive by Jesse. Numerous (and in some cases severe) physical assaults were witnessed by visitors, who would understandably not confront Jesse in his home, but surely an anonymous call to police was possible.
I hear the question - why didn't the women help themselves? I believe sitting comfortably outside of such a world of hell forms part of the answer - no mother would willingly tempt a psychopath! ...

This story spanned a very long time. Ms. Davis did an excellent job bringing all the characters into focus and blending them showing how they grew up and how there paths crossed. And best of all she helps us understand mind control and how some women really can not extracate themselves from a monster like Cummings. A wonderful book for especially abused women to read; women who find themselves caught in situations they think there is no way out of; and a really good book for folks who critize such women and just can't understand why they don't just leave. Read the book and boy, you'll understand why some women feel they are trapped for life. Very very well written, cohesive and educational. You won't be disappointed.

This is the monster...the story of one, just one of the many victimizers in our world. So many go untouched and destroy the lives of young children, destroying thier innocence. This is a must read for everyone. So that you know what actually goes on in our society. Also recommended: Nightmares Echo-because it tells the story of abuse and redemption from the child/womans point of view Mandy Scott