• Shattered

  • The True Story of a Mother's Love, a Husband's Betrayal, and a Cold-Blooded Texas Murder
  • By: Kathryn Casey
  • Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
  • Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,137 ratings)

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Shattered  By  cover art

Shattered

By: Kathryn Casey
Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
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Publisher's summary

In Creekstone, Texas, a small, quiet suburb of Houston, football was king and David Temple was a prince. A former high school and college gridiron-star-turned-coach, he had a fairy-tale marriage to bright, vivacious Belinda Lucas, a teacher at the local high school who was so warm and popular her colleagues called her "The Sunshine Girl".

The fairy tale ended savagely on January 11, 1999, when Belinda's lifeless body was discovered in a closet. Her skull had been shattered by a shotgun blast at close range. She was eight months pregnant.

There was no damning evidence directly linking the brutal murder to husband David, who stood by emotionless and dry-eyed as police searched the crime scene. But a dogged eight-year investigation would expose a shocking history of cruelty and domination, infidelity and rage - ultimately resulting in an epic courtroom battle for the ages - as the scandalous truth was revealed about love betrayed and innocent lives shattered.

©2010 Kathryn Casey (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Kathryn Casey is one of the best true crime writers today." (Ann Rule)

What listeners say about Shattered

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

WELL DONE STORY IN A DECLINING GENRE

Ever since I read Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood", I became a huge fan of true crime books. At one time I owned so many print versions that I probably would have been arrested if law enforcement ever raided my house! There was a time when I could name just about every known serial killer AND describe his "signature". I always thought I'd be a great help to the detectives if I was somehow involved - innocently, of course - in a murder case. Guess what? It didn't happen like that. When my husband was shot and killed in a home invasion robbery, I was literally PARALYZED from shock and trauma for over a decade! There was quite a while where I had to lay off my "guilty pleasure" of reading every true crime book published, although not completely. When I could handle it, I returned to find that books in this genre had lost much of the in-depth research and expert writing that veteran authors such as Ann Rule and Gregg Olsen had become famous for, thereby shaping the standards for the genre. But, recently, Ann Rule's recent "True Crime Files" compilations had become out-dated, rehashed blips on the "radar screen" which barely qualify as real stories. She stopped delivering the fantastic writing quality of her earlier works and seemed to shy away from recent "millennium" crimes as if she doesn't want to bother with the requisite research. Instead, she's giving us offenses from the 1960s and 1970s BEFORE the advent of forensics and DNA. I'd just about given up on ever enjoying a true crime book again when I came across "Shattered". Kathryn Casey has picked up the baton dropped by Rule in this 1999 account of a murder in Texas. I thoroughly enjoyed this book just as much as I used to with Ann Rule's early works. It is well-researched, expertly written, and compelling. Narrator Coleen Marlo complements the book perfectly. I will be buying more of Ms. Casey's works in the future.

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71 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Justice at last!

What did you like best about this story?

Great outline of the events before and after the murder.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Makes me want to stay single!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good, but confusing to me

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

for true crime lovers, i recommend it.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

not on the edge of my seat at all. somewhat upset at what my fellow human beings are capable of, though.

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

the narrator was good in that she did not detract or distract from the book. i think that is the most important quality, where the narrator is not the author.

Any additional comments?

what irritated and confused me about this book is just a couple features. one, in the beginning, it spends what feels like forever, explaining what an absolute ANGEL, a person PERFECT in every way, the victim was. i mean, she had no flaws. she was the true love in everyone's heart, the light in everyone's eyes. none of them could hardly LIVE without her. okay, okay. that could have been said in far fewer chapters, for my taste. i got pretty bored and angry when that line went on and on, and on.the other feature that annoyed me was how the story kept switching back and forth from how the crime and aftermath proceeded, to the background of the characters growing up, their relatives, etc. i had trouble knowing which world i was in, as i would listen and then put it away, and then listen again, etc. it was beginning to drive me nuts. after i was done with the book, i couldnt explain exactly how the story unfolded, i was so confused by all the switching back and forth. there could have been a much clearer way to handle this.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a very good story told very well!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES! the story was really well told, interesting, and if you like true crime it is a no brainer--this book should be in your library.

What did you like best about this story?

that it had a conclusion. some books are written before the whole story plays out and the end of the story is not there. this book was written, researched, and read well. i got a snapshot of what it was like to be belinda temple.

the book was very sad but it had closure.

Have you listened to any of Coleen Marlo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

i am not sure. but she read well. reading an audiobook must be murder (excuse the pun).

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

several reactions, anger at david, sadness for belinda and her family, satisfaction that david was tried in a court of law and exposed for who he was--a worm.

i felt rage at the way david had a double standard. one for him and one for everyone else.

Any additional comments?

i will read this again and it is a welcome addition to my growing library.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I Wonder What Becomes of the new Mrs Temple?

there were times during this audiobook that I struggled to finish because of my disgust for David Temple. David Temple was a spoiled brat who never had anyone say no to him and he felt he could get away with murder?

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Captivating

If you could sum up Shattered in three words, what would they be?

Mystery, Love triangle

What did you like best about this story?

Great information about the victim and the killer

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

I enjoyed listening to her voice, It was soothing, but not monotone, as I was driving home, or catching the bus to work and kept me interested in the story

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make me sad for the victim throughout the book because of the abusive marriage

Any additional comments?

Great read. Highly recommend

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good for this genre

This was an interesting and captivating story, a good listen for what it is. True crime stories tend to have a sameness and this was true of this book,as well. But it was fascinating despite it's predictability.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just as good as an Anne Rule book

I read a lot of true crime books and about once a year I read an extraordinary one. Shattered is so well written and the speaker is such a good actress. I never got tired of her voice. Im so sad I finished this book but excited to start reading Kathryn Casey’s other books. May you rest in peace Belinda and Erin.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating Listen

Where does Shattered rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I couldn't stop listening. This shocking, sad, true crime story was extremely well detailed and depicted by both author and narrator. It truly invoked thoughts of what another human being can be capable of. It also shows the power of words in a way that, despite the truth, someone will find a way to bend, hide, manipulate or even omit something so precious. Sad story, but true.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Decent

If you could sum up Shattered in three words, what would they be?

Narcissists scare me

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really

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

No however I prefer audio so she did a decent job. Her reading pace is a little fast for my liking.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Over and over again I wonder how the victim missed the signs.

Any additional comments?

I like true crime but the books are a little slow.

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3 people found this helpful