Customer Reviews

When a Child Kills

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This was a phenomenal book. It offerred a unique, unglorified view of the types of situations in which children sometimes turn to violence to escape abuse. A must-read for anyone who finds themselves in a position where they come into contact with children who have been, or are being abused.

When A Child Kills is an exceptionally insightful view of family violence and it's tragic outcome. Paul Mones shows us the unflinching truth of what we are doing to our children and what happens when they snap. With sensitivity for the real victims of parenticide, he describes, with numerous case examples, the various players in violent familial relationship and the almost predictable way that some children fight back. Mones discusses how some children are abused, unloved and humiliated repeatedly until they fear and loath their own parent. This fear and loathing mixes with the love they have for the parent and they end up feeling trapped and helpless. When they can no longer take the abuse or fear so desperately the next episode, they strike out at the moment they feel safest(usually when the parent is asleep). Mones explains how the child's fear is the very thing that makes the public believe the murder was in cold blood. I could say you won't want to put this book down but I found that I had to put it down frequently because I was shaking, I was so mad at the parents for the abuse and the untenable situation into which they put their own children. A disturbing, well written, thoughful, honest book. Robert Quinn-O'Connor robo@critpath.org Collingdale, PA, USA

After watching the Cody Posey murder trial (Court TV) I wanted to know more about this topic. Cody Posey testified in his trial that he had suffered horrible abuse at the hands of his father. I was very moved by his testimony and disappointed about his conviction. One of the interviewed Court TV trial experts for child abuse cases recommended the book When a Child Kills by Paul Mones. Luckily, my local library had this book.

This book is very shocking. I had to put it down after every chapter in order to process the facts. The author describes in a brutally raw way why some children kill their parents. I wouldn't call it child abuse in some of the described cases, I would call it severe torture.

The book (written in 1991) is timeless. Cody Posey's life story could have been one of the seven sad stories documented in this book. I am an atheist. I think hell is right here on earth.

This is a great book if you are interested in the complex reasoning for this crime. The book was informative in that it not only described one type of parricide: it included matricide by daughters and by just sons, and by both genders. They were presented in case study form that was easy to read and understand. Highly recommended if you are looking for a book that isn't filled with the complex psychology of many of these cases (it is from an experienced children's lawyers perspective)