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Bitter Harvest
 
 
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Bitter Harvest (Hardcover)

by Ann Rule (Author) "The wind had blown constantly that fall, but that wasn't unusual for Kansas ..." (more)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)

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Fans of Ann Rule will find much to relish in Bitter Harvest, the tale of a brilliant Kansas physician who holds herself together well enough to put on a decent show for the outside world, but in the heart of her horror-struck family is a violent and baffling monster. She drinks, abuses drugs, spews invective, and even lights fires. At one point she learns from an Agatha Christie novel about a potent toxin contained in castor beans, and she starts poisoning her long-suffering husband. Yet until the final fire that consumes two of her children, they continue to love her and defend her to attackers. Rule tells the story with flair, conveying all of the heady feelings involved, but still the book has a flaw: Rule fails to understand the main character. When a psychiatrist testifies that the doctor is at a younger age than a toddler in her ability to process or sustain emotions, Rule writes, "That was a shocker. Could a woman with an IQ of 165 and a biting, facetious wit, a woman who had zipped through college and medical school, be a child emotionally?"Yes, she could. Bitter Harvest would've been a stronger book if Rule had shown us how. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Dr. Deborah Green was a brilliant, wealthy, married mother of three who was convicted of repeatedly trying to poison her husband and of killing two of her children in a fire she methodically set in the family home. Rule (A Fever in the Heart, LJ 11/1/96) proves once again that she is a master of the true-crime genre?she builds the narrative from Green's days as a student of superior intelligence through her years in an increasingly unhappy marriage to her physician husband. Rule carefully chronicles Green's bizarre behavior and takes the reader through the arson investigation as well as Green's husband's illnesses, surgeries, and attempt to rebuild his life with his remaining child, who escaped the fire. Peppered throughout the narrative are quotes from Green herself, which expose her twisted thinking and her attempts to rationalize her behavior. An outstanding chronicle of a crime investigation as well as a riveting profile of a brilliant mind and empty soul.
-?Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County P.L., N.Y.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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The wind had blown constantly that fall, but that wasn't unusual for Kansas. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

74 Reviews
5 star:
 (24)
4 star:
 (16)
3 star:
 (16)
2 star:
 (11)
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Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (74 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Ann Rule is the best...., Nov 13 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Bitter Harvest (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read this book several times. I live about 90 miles from Prairie Villiage. I was driving around, frankly lost one day, when I came upon Canterbury Court. My arms got gooseflesh on them just remembering the tragedy that occurred there. I was very impressed with Ann Rule's writing of this book. I could see her trying to be objective in this case, but not able to hide her feelings as she normally is. During the first reading of this book, I was engrossed in the story and did not focus on her bias, although it was obviously written to present Mike Farrar in the best possible light. What surprised me was even knowing the disgusting horrible things that Debra Green did, Ann Rule gave her a voice, and I found myself feeling very sorry for her. I will never understand why she, or her attorneys, placed the blame on her son. That is unbelievable to me. I can see why her defense attorney did not want to speak with her in the writing of this book. Hopefully he had enough hindsight to see what a horrible thing he did in trying to make Tim to be the culprit.

There are those people out there who feel Debra Green was framed. I cannot see how anyone read about this case and came to that conclusion. She admitted guilt, and like all convicted felons, tries to distance herself and "find the real killer". She is a monster, she knows exactly what she did. But she still facinates me. Michael Farrar on the other hand is a largely forgetable character, and sympathy for him is not easily given. I do not believe he is guilty of any crime, but I believe if he had put his children first instead of his sex-life, things would be vastly different.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is well written, and objective as can be given the subject matter and the fact that the author has 5 children of her own.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Outraged, Nov 10 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Bitter Harvest (Mass Market Paperback)
I have seen many things in my life and I am shocked that someone could be so cruel as to take the life of her children. Even if in an alcoholic fog I don't think that gives Deborah the right to claim she wasn't responsible. I remember when Susan Smith killed her children and I lived through that. The horror isn't something to be taken lightly. I don't condone cheating on someone, I think people who do that are lower than scum. This book shows what happens when someone will not let go of an image and how tragic it can become. This is a great book and it gets to the bare bones of some of the evidence against Deborah.
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4.0 out of 5 stars To Bookworm, July 4 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Bitter Harvest (Mass Market Paperback)
Out of curiosity, how are we supposed to e-mail you without an address?
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars I lived the story
Debora Green and her surviving child are vary close friends of my family and have been for many, many years. You notice I leave Mike Farrar out of the equation. Read more
Published on Jun 10 2004 by Lizzie

3.0 out of 5 stars Riveting but disturbing
This was a difficult book to rate - it was riveting and fascinating to read, but Rule's one-sided sympathy with Mike was hard to take. Read more
Published on May 13 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars Not A Feel Good Book
It's been several years since I've read an Ann Rule book, but I remember liking her writing style. So, when this story didn't get off to a running start, I trusted Rule to have... Read more
Published on May 9 2004 by N. Sausser

5.0 out of 5 stars Ann Rule, Rules
Loved the book...Like the "victim" wife in Rule's book, "Last Dance" (who I just wanted to slap) I wanted to slap Green's husband for leaving those kids with... Read more
Published on May 3 2004 by penelope4321

3.0 out of 5 stars Boring Harvest
The book was a bit boring and while I have no pity for Debora Green, it was her husband Mike that I wanted to slap. Read more
Published on

5.0 out of 5 stars If It Sounds Like Horses, Don't Think Zebra's
I thought that the book was very well written on the facts that were presented. Maybe Ann presented Mike a little too well. Read more
Published on Mar 26 2004 by Lorinda Anderson

4.0 out of 5 stars Rule rules
Rule is well-known for her true crime writing and justifiably so. Ever since Truman Capote popularized the form in In Cold Blood, true crime has become a popular genre. Read more
Published on Mar 25 2004 by Eric C. Welch

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting case
I just finished this book today -- the second Ann Rule book I've read this week (the other was _Heart Full of Lies_). Read more
Published on Jan 2 2004 by J. P. Warrant

4.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Deborah Green Had Serious Problems!
I enjoyed this book most of the way through. It is hard to believe that a person with such intellect had so many other shortcomings. Read more
Published on Nov 25 2003 by J. Kirkman

3.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story but only adequately told
This may be the last Ann Rule book I ever buy. It does not come close to the standards of writing and research I came to expect after reading Small Sacrifices and Everything She... Read more
Published on Jun 25 2003 by jacktheripper19

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