Murder In The Heartland by M. William Phelps
When Author M. William Phelps admits that much of his information in Murder In The Heartland came from extensive interviews with Carl Boman, Lisa Montgomery’s ex-husband, he’s not making an understatement. Much of the Information contained in this book is told from Boman’s “personal recollections,” which, to say the least, are undoubtedly jaded.
However, setting Boman’s contributions aside, Phelps still does an excellent job of compiling information about the case. In addition, despite being refused interviews from Bobbie Jo Stinnett’s (the victim) family (which is greatly understood), he was still able to provide the reader with a relatively clear picture of Bobbie Jo’s life.
Phelps makes it perfectly clear up front that the book is written prior to the trial of Lisa Montgomery. As a matter of fact, he states it was not his intent to write so much about the “outcome” as it was about the lives of Stinnett and Montgomery and how, in those two crossing paths, this horrendous crime was committed. When Phelps states that he is not the first to write a book prior to trial, he’s right; however, I will give him kudos for being the first author that I’ve read to do this is and in the end I was not disappointed. Whether it was the authors compliation of information and easy flow of relating same in story form or the mere fact that Lisa Montgomery was caught with Victoria Jo in her arms, I really felt there was no need for a trial. There’s no guessing about whether or not Lisa committed the crime; the only thing that remains to be seen is the punishment.
On last thought before closing….in a town that previously took matters into their own hands (see In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean), maybe once more the town of Skidmore, Missouri should have been given their “turn” with Lisa Montgomery?!
