Excerpt from Parents Who Kill Their Children

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, read the rules at A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along!

My teasers are usually fiction books, but I just started a non-fiction read, so you get a change today. I am reading Parents Who Kill Their Children, by R.J. Parker. Guess what it’s about?

Shortly after her husband left the house, Andrea wandered into the bathroom where she filled the tub with water about three inches from the top rim. Mary, then six months old, sat on the bathroom floor.

R.J. Parker, Parents Who Kill Their Children

What could drive parents to go against their fundamental protective instincts and murder their own children?
This collection of “Filicidal Killers” provides a gripping overview of how things can go horribly wrong in once-loving families. Parents Who Killed their Children depicts ten of the most notorious and horrific cases of homicidal parental units out of control. People like–Andrea Yates, Diane Downs, Susan Smith, and Jeffrey MacDonald–who received a great deal of media attention. The author explores the reasons; from addiction to postpartum psychosis, insanity to altruism, revenge and jealousy.

Each story is detailed with background information on the parents, the murder scenes, trials, sentencing and aftermath.

P.D. Workman Authorpreneur

P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author and multi-award winner, renowned for her prolific output of over 100 published works that span various genres. With a knack for crafting page-turners, Workman captivates readers with everything from cozy mysteries like the Auntie Clem's Bakery series to gripping young adult and suspense novels. Her stories resonate deeply as she masterfully weaves sensitive themes—such as childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction—into compelling narratives that evoke a powerful emotional response. Readers are drawn to her unique voice and empathetic portrayal of complex issues. With each new release, fans eagerly anticipate another thrilling blend of thought-provoking storytelling and relatable characters that define P.D. Workman’s brand as an author of unforgettable page-turners—gripping tales that leave a lasting impact long after the last page is turned.

See Full Bio

Mystery and suspense fiction Young adult crime thrillers Character-driven storytelling Cozy Mysteries Mental health and trauma in fiction Resilience and personal growth themes Indie publishing Writing craft and novel development Obsidian for writers and authors Forensic and medical thriller research Social issues in contemporary fiction Psychological thrillers Traditional mysteries Police procedural mysteries Characters with disabilities

Lauren

May 15, 2015 at 5:38 am

Oh my god! That is awful! I could never read this book! You’re very brave for doing so.

Laura Thomas

May 12, 2015 at 4:42 pm

I read a lot of true crime and this sounds heart breaking and enraging at the same time. Why they do it is beyond me. I watch Snapped and ID and see a lot of these cases.
My TT – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/05/12/teaser-tuesdays-114-the-city-of-blood-a-paris-homicide-mystery/

Karen

May 12, 2015 at 4:13 pm

I’ll never understand how parents could kill their own children. Don’t think I could read this book–just sounds too depressing and horrifying to me.

ljennison

May 12, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Horrifying and interesting. You do wonder what makes these sorts of people do what they do. My Teaser

Sonia Lal

May 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm

Well, that’s terrible.

mine: https://storytreasury.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/teaser-tuesday-zone-one-by-colson-whitehead/

dogearedpurpose

May 12, 2015 at 12:28 pm

Quite a weighted read. Don’t think I could read this one – but I’m sure is quite eye-opening!

Mine today is from Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton

thereadingrebel

May 12, 2015 at 12:27 pm

I have been and sometimes still am a huge watcher of true crime drama and know some of the cases very well. I think that Andrea Yates is mentally ill and should be in a mental hospital the rest of her life and not jail. Hope you find it intersecting. Thanks for stopping by my blog to check out my TT.

Claudia {SparrowHawk}

May 12, 2015 at 11:08 am

I couldn’t understand quite grasp the teaser until I read the title! Oh my gosh! You’re so brave for reading such a heavy-weighted book!

Claudia @ My Soul Called Life

Joy @ A Little Reading

May 12, 2015 at 8:52 am

Yes, horrifying indeed. I’m a little disturbed to admit that this one does sound intriguing! One of those attractive/repulsive reads I generally love. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy Martin

May 12, 2015 at 5:47 am

This sound fascinating and horrifying. I don’t read nonfiction unless it is a professional book about reading or libraries or, lately, Common Core. Happy reading!