The Pastor's Wife

The True Story of a Minister and the Shocking Death that Divided a Family (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

De: Diane Fanning

Narrado por: Julie Williams

Beneath a veneer of respectability and religion, Mary Winkler's soul festered as she struggled to be obedient and loving to her husband and her God. Her suppressed anguish exploded in a shotgun blast that took the life of her husband, preacher Matthew Winkler.

Mary packed up her three young daughters and fled to the beach, leaving an endless trail of questions in her wake. Would anyone ever make sense of the tragedy in Selmer, Tennessee?

About the author: Diane Fanning is the author of the Edgar Award finalist Written in Blood: A True Story of Murder and a Deadly 16-Year-Old Secret that Tore a Family Apart. Her other works of true crime include the best seller Mommy's Little Girl, A Poisoned Passion, Gone Forever, and Through the Window. She is also the author of the Lucinda Pierce Mysteries. She has been featured on 48 Hours, 20/20, Court TV, The Today Show, and the Discovery Channel, and has been interviewed on dozens of radio stations coast to coast. Her books are sold throughout the English-speaking world, including the UK and Australia, and there are more than half a million copies in print. Before becoming a writer, Fanning worked in advertising, and she earned more than 70 Addy Awards.

©2008 Diane Fanning (P)2012 Diane Fanning

Good story

What made the experience of listening to The Pastor's Wife the most enjoyable?

I thought it was a good book that explained in depth what had happened, and what I had been hearing about in the media in this case.

What other book might you compare The Pastor's Wife to and why?

I am not sure if I would compare it to any.

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

I believe she read the story very well, and I enjoyed listening to her

If you could give The Pastor's Wife a new subtitle, what would it be?

Wife gets away with murder, or did she?

So interesting!

I enjoyed this true story! I was fascinated with this case when it was in the news—mostly because, as a young woman, I married a Church of Christ man. Although I had been a practicing Christian, and had been baptized, that was not good enough for the CofC. My husband was also abusive, physically, mentally & emotionally. Eventually he was unfaithful, we divorced. Although the church “deemed” our divorce for biblical reasons, my former father in law was asked to step down as a deacon, and I was ostracized completely from my “friends”. This church is a cult. 100%!! Like the author, I am skeptical of SOME of the trial shenanigans, but I completely believe that as a pastor’s wife in the Church of Christ, this woman probably felt smothered, controlled, manipulated and abused in some ways at least. I don’t know if justice was served completely… but I might have made the same choice the jury did… I hope she and her girls are happy and well.

80% Facts plus 20% Author's opinion. Perfect!

This is my first introduction to Diane Fanning. I was listening to her on a podcast and was really impressed as I felt that she was very 'into' the facts and was 'turned off by 'waffle and filler'. I was hoping that her books would be the same. I was NOT disappointed.

I love a 'long listen' and in truth non of Diane Fanning's books fall into my preferred category however what we have to chose from is 'choice'.

So many crime writers do tend to break that cardinal rule and make so many assumptions in so much that they try and tie all those lose ends together neatly in the last few pages. Well before you get started on this little diamond I want you to brace yourself as THAT is not going to happen here. I was left asking several questions and was wondering whether our judicial system had performed well. I am also concerned for the children in this case. One wonders whether there is a mental health issue here and are the children going to inherit it or are they going to be injured either physically or psychologically by it?

All in all a terrific read.

Great story horrible narration

No southern accents and no voice inflections made it very very hard to listen to.

just about the perfect amount of information

the reader did good, she talks ki me dmv it quick and almost seem like the disk is skipping.. but I like the way she says some words. and while i was actually worried I might have to return it in the beginning, .
the story takes off from 1st chapter and kind of too the point unless this case is something out great interest to you. I found the amount of info as satisfactory. cause Mary hasn't made anything cheers. and I think I would have been annoyed with too more or less info.
she starts with the chronology after the crime and then the other half is covering her trail. while I found the narrative a bit sluggish to start I feel completely opposite even hearing to trail coverage. it was good and. she explained thing well and focused on what I think was well done.
but too long not to short.. wanna see Mary.. watch her on SNAPPED.. the tv show. it was one of top crazy episodes