Customer Reviews

Until the Twelfth of Never: The Deadly Divorce of Dan & Betty Broderick

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was an excellent book, a real inside look at the "all-American happy family of 6" turned dysfunctional, as well as the current state of our justice system. Betty Broderick was a product of her upbringing, a "good Catholic girl" who spent nearly 10 years cutting corners and making sacrifices to put her husband Dan through Harvard Law School, although he had already achieved a medical degree from Cornell. Betty, unfortunately, placed far too much importance on appearances and social aspirations. Her decision to "look the other way" from Dan's high-profile affair with his hand-picked 22-year-old assistant, Linda, proved to be devastating. When Dan decided to divorce Betty for Linda, Betty's entire world was shattered. Stumbo tells the entire story of Betty's "fall from grace" in an even-handed manner, showcasing Betty's selfishness as well as her descent into madness. Dan and Linda are portrayed in a good light by their friends and relatives, while shown by others to be petty and self-centered, especially in their continuous efforts to knock Betty down another notch, even years after Betty and Dan's separation. Stumbo's best moments, however, are in the courtroom, for both the divorce and murder trials. The divorce trial takes a beating by Stumbo, who shows just how unfairly long-suffering wives and mothers are treated by the justice system when the spouse is a prominent citizen, not to mention a millionaire who regularly rubs shoulders with law-enforcement officials. Dan Broderick got by constantly on his influence without having to prove himself as a "good" parent, a responsible individual, or even a wealthy one, as Betty constantly was forced to do. The tragedy that resulted is shown by Stumbo in all of its tarnish: there are no heroes in this story, only seriously flawed human beings, who by turns, were also victims. Betty was the first victim, Dan and Linda were the final victims, and the children were the ultimate victims. I would especially ! recommend this for anyone going through a divorce, civilized or not. It's a chilling look at how emotions, untreated and flamed by a lack of concern, can suddenly become an impulsive act.

I became very interested in this case as soon as I heard about it (I was 24 at the time and this book taught me a few lessons, such as if you get married, make sure you are self-sufficient and do not have to rely on your husbands money, so that if he starts acting crazy like Dan, pack your bags, grab your money and wish him a pleasant life with his new wife)! I have read all of the books about this case and none of the others come even close to being as good as author Stumbo's book. The other books read as if someone simply read newspaper articles on the case and threw some fluff into them. What I like about Stumbo's account is that is was very non-partisan; the ugly sides of both Betty and Dan were shown; it presented the facts and let the reader decide. Stumbo also delves into the mind of Betty; so much so that I sometimes had the shivers because Betty's thoughts/feelings seemed so real(she was interviewed by Stumbo). I bought this book when it first came out and reread it so many times that my paperback fell apart, but I was able to locate a used hardcover. This and Jerry Bledsoe's "Bitter Blood" and are the two best crime novels out there!

Bella Stumbo gives a balanced and very well researched treatment to this disturbing story. She is an extremely talented writer and journalist, and consequently this book is very hard to put down. An excellent book.

I have read some of the reviews here and actually wonder if they read this book or are just commenting on the case in general. Stumbo does an excellent job of giving both sides of the story, whether Dan is still alive or not. Neither one is made out to be a Saint. Betty was raised to be a perfect wife and mother, with very little support or encouragement from her family that she could do anything else. To be dumped for a younger woman as your youth is slipping away could be devastating to ANY woman. Just as Dan and Betty had reached the pinnacle of their lives and should have been enjoying the fruits of all their labors, Dan changed partners. Betty definitely behaved in an obsessive and calculating manner, unable to "let go" and move on, even though she eventually found another partner. This was her downfall. On the other hand, Dan used his legal maneuvers to taunt Betty and to save himself some money, making it his (literally) fatal mistake. Stumbo pulls no punches; by the end of the book, one is left with a sad feeling for the children who have gone through hell and practically lost both parents, as well as Betty, who has pretty much drifted into a state of denial while trying to recreate a perfect world in prison. It will be interesting to see what happens when her parole comes due.

Bella Stumbo has done an excellent job of researching the book as well as putting it together in a riveting tale.

Stumbo's account is extremely interesting and well-researched. I found it a compelling story of how anger can turn into a murderous obsession.

Frankly, I have no sympathy for Dan OR Linda; Dan was unfaithful to Betty for *years* before finally admitting his ongoing affair with Linda, and Linda knew she was sleeping with a married man who had 4 kids; presumably she knew that was wrong. I think that Betty became sick, and that at some point she lost control over her actions; my impression is that it became literally intolerable for her to

think about how she had helped Dan get where he was and then, just as the big money was starting to come in, be tossed aside for someone else. She had been pregnant nine times during the marriage and suffered several miscarriages - that has to leave scars on a woman. Betty's initial anger was not an abnormal reaction, but as the years went on, and Dan just systematically antagonized her, her hatred took on a life of its own. The worst thing about it is that it blotted out the importance of her

children, who were used by both Dan and Betty in their war against each other.

As I read this account, I kept marvelling at Dan's supreme arrogance and stupidity in handling relations with Betty. He could have done better, and he should have. But evidently, he thought he didn't have to, which turned out to be the wrong strategy.

I am not saying Betty should be treated as a completely innocent victim, and she's not treated as such by the author. But Dan KNEW she was out of control and still kept deliberately tormenting her with petty "punishments" despite the fact that his tactics had never worked. And I think that's why he's dead - not because he was unfaithful, but because he (and apparently, Linda) messed with Betty once too often.

That's how I see it. But, no matter how you come down on the ethics of the parties involved, Until The Twelfth of Never is definitely good reading.

You'll need to speak with Betty yourself, and yes, she's willing to talk but I think Bella Stumbo did a very fantastic job of telling the story from both sides.

Yes, I had to make a judgement call on the "Dan and Linda" side. They are both dead.

If you are interested in this case, get a copy and read the story. If you are REALLY interested, drop Betty a line. She'll probably write you back.

I searched everywhere for this out-of-print book and finally located it on the Web. It was worth the trouble it took to find it. Masterful, riveting drama of the divorce of Dan and Betty Broderick and the subsequent murder of Dan and his new wife. While giving a balanced and fair view of all sides, Ms. Stumbo does not seem to be biased in any one direction. Rather, she shows both the good and the bad in all parties concerned. Contrary to other reviewers, I did not come away from reading this book thinking "Poor Betty". I found her to be very unsympathetic - spoiled, shrewish, and completely selfish. Their sex life was such that she admits she never saw her husband naked! Bella writes that their marriage was never picture-perfect by anyone's account - so the handsome, intelligent, and wealthy Dan met someone else and wanted to start life over again. That makes him the devil incarnate? I don't think so. Betty took another lover. She could have accepted her $16,000 a month and moved on with her life. She had so many opportunities & she threw them all away - destroying her life, her children's lives, and, of course, Dan & Linda's. How anyone can read this book and still think Betty stands for any higher ideals or is deserving of anything beyond piteous contempt is beyond me. However, by allowing us readers to come away forming our own opinions demonstrates just how evenly-handed this book is written.

While I can certainly understand Betty Broderick's rage and feeling of betrayal upon being told that she was being dumped, she also, as this book makes clear, was her own very worst enemy in a thousand and one ways. It wasn't her husband's evil machinations that prevented her getting a lawyer so much as her own rapidly-earned reputation as an impossible client; it wasn't her husband's evil machinations that got custody awarded to him as much as her own increasingly insane behavior.

For an interesting exercise, reverse the genders in this story, and try to convince yourself that "Billy" Broderick, after killing his high-flying ex-wife and her new toyboy in their bed in their house, would escape the death penalty. A lot of women, I've noticed, are ardent feminists until the subject of "equal punishment for equal crimes" comes up---at that point they're as old-fashioned as it gets.

The ones I really felt for were the kids, and, to a lesser extent, Linda Kokelna, the forgotten victim.

At first glance, the average person might be able to relate to the Brodericks with their wealth and social position. However, this book deals with so many universal themes: The inequity in divorce laws, parents who lash out in anger at each other and children caught in the middle. This is such a sad story for everyone involved, especially the Broderick children, who were not only victims of their parents anger, and of course, the murders, but also victims of a mother who refuses to take any responsibility for the pain she has brought to so many people. The author did an excellent job of telling this story and tying all the pieces together. I pray that the Kolkena and Broderick families find some peace of mind.

Bella Stumbo gives a balanced and very well researched treatment to this disturbing story. She is an extremely talented writer and journalist, and consequently this book is very hard to put down. An excellent book.