Death Trap

By: M. William Phelps

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

A loving father and his new wife set out to pick up his kids for a scheduled weekend visit-but never suspected they were walking into a death trap. A handwritten note instructed Alan and Terra Bates to enter the back door of his ex-wife's Alabama home. A day later their charred bodies were found hundreds of miles away, wrapped in blankets, in a burned-out car's trunk on a desolate Georgia road. At Jessica McCord's house, law enforcement officials found windows covered in blankets, a cache of weapons and ammunition, carpets torn up, new tile on the floors, and the couch missing. Then they learned about the nasty divorce and bitter custody battle that had landed Jessica in jail. Along with her new police officer husband, Jessica became the prime suspect in this brutal double murder.

©2010 M. William Phelps (P)2014 Tantor

Great!

A book that is hard to put down! The case is covered and told so well by the author and very good narration!

Great true crime

Well researched. Not just a story of court documents. Well tied up thread in a well written true crime. Could not take a break a break from listening

Excellent True Crime

I'm a big fan of this author, although there have been a couple I didn't like. (only because they are a bit too much for me to stomach).
This is a very sad story. The people behind the crime are beyond horrible. I can never wrap my head around some peoples' blatant disregard for life. I'm not at all surprised this couple found each other. They were a perfect match :( At first I though Jeff was just a dumb guy who would do whatever his wife dictated but as I reached the end I could see he had absolutely no moral compass either.

It was well written and researched, as all M. William Phelps books are and I couldn't stop listening until it was over.
I did wonder what happened to those poor kids. That wasn't mentioned. I sure hope the Bates family got them.
Narrator did a fine job.

5 stars

She really didn’t get what she deserved

She and her husband should both be on death row. Feel sorry for the kids and terra and Alan’s family.

Great for fans of true crime!

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this true crime book! Comes off a little dated but all in all definitely worth the listen!

Could not put it down

Great book, I enjoyed it. I am up on true crime stories but this was new to me.

Decent story about dirtbags

I had trouble with the timeline-jumps in the first third of the book, but it all works out okay in the end. Well, not for Jessica or anyone else in the story. Hopefully Karma eventually delivers.

Good author - but got sick of how EVIL she is!

Sickening and borderline., and so cold blooded! Im at a loss of words at the devastation . 2nd husband. Just agree with her bc it’s easier?? What a scummy creepy MF. Just rot in prison also- bc Death would be too easy! - unless it’s the chair. i give the Author kudos. Btw- Way to go, cold blooded killer’s mom!

Really preachy, off-putting tone

A decent story but oh my god does the author come off as preachy! The way he talks about the main perpetrator is weirdly slut-shamey, even though at times he's talking about her when she was a troubled high school sophomore. And the way he emphasizes her abortions is gross too. He just comes off as incredibly judgemental about things that genuinely have no bearing on the case

Felt the book was the real death trap

What would have made Death Trap better?

This book seems like it was written in rapid speed just to get another book out there for us true crime lovers. It started with the crime and then bounced back and forth about characters background to the point of confusion. Half of it contains fillers to take up time and space, repetitive and predictable. Nothing special for the victims either, just left them out there. A true disappointment from this author.

Has Death Trap turned you off from other books in this genre?

Absolutely not.

What does Kevin Foley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings some life to a very dull, repetitive and boring book. He is one of the better narrators.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Death Trap?

If I could play editor I would of handed the manuscript back and suggested he start over. Yes, sadly it's that bad!

Any additional comments?

I want my credit back!