M. William Phelps Obsessed [Book Review]

Courtesy of amazon.com

TRUE CRIME ANY TIME

As someone who enjoys true crime stories, whether it’s a TV show/series, movie of the week based on a true crime story or in book form, I will watch and/or read about it and take it in like there will be a test on it the next day. If the story is told right, you are either left guessing on who the perpetrator is or why someone committed the murder. I like the shows that keep you guessing on both fronts and a true crime book has to do the same thing.

I became, and still am, a fan of Ann Rule. This lady could write a true crime novel like nobody else. I also enjoyed the writings of Patricia Cornwell (All That Remains, Postmortem, Body of Evidence) who wrote her stories in the first person context under the name of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, who is a medical examiner. Rule’s books included The Stranger Beside Me (the story of Ted Bundy), Green River Running Red (about the Green River Killer), Too Late To Say Goodbye (about Bart Corbin who killed both his wives), and my favorite Everything She Every Wanted (the story of Pat Allison).

INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY CHANNEL

As mentioned, I enjoy true crime shows and a huge fan of the channel Investigation Discovery which is a channel dedicated to nothing but true crimes. Some of the shows on this channel are; Web of Lies, Deadly Women, Deadly Sins, Fatal Vows, Evil Kin, Deadly Devotion, Fear Thy Neighbor and A Stranger In My Home to name a few of their original on-going programs. I’m partial to Deadly Woman, Deadly Sins, and Evil Kin. They also have a slew of new shows such as Murder Calls, Murder Choose Me, Vanity Fair Confidential, Your Worst Nightmare and my absolutely favorite A Crime To Remember. I recommend doing research on these shows, download the ID GO app from iTunes of Google Play, and watch these shows as well as other shows they have.

It’s from a number of these shows that I learned of true crime writer M. William Phelps. I think the first time I saw was on an episode of Deadly Women. After seeing him on a few episodes I did research on some his books and looked up reviews, some of which weren’t that good, to see if his books would be of interest to me. Because of the bad reviews I read,  I decided not to give his books a chance. We are now a few years past and he’s on more Investigation Discovery shows, or ID for short, and I’m becoming more and more interested in reading his books, despite some of the bad reviews I read.

REVIEW BEFORE I BUY

I began doing research on his books and ready synopsis to find out what grabs me as my first dive into he M. William Phelps arena of true crime novels and came across Obsessed and boy am I glad I ignored the 3.82 rating given to the book on Goodreads. I felt that if I based on what I was going to read of watch on other’s opinions, I wouldn’t be reading nor watching anything. Yes, I do take the bad reviews in account along with the good reviews and then form my own opinion after reading the book or watching the show.

I purchased the book on my Kindle and started reading straight away and was hooked immediately.

Synopsis of the book Obsessed: “Sheila Davalloo was young, attractive, and successful. When she started a new job at a cutting-edge research lab in Stamford, Connecticut, she met the man of her dreams. Nelson Sessler had no idea how violently Sheila would react when he began seeing a co-worker, Anna Lisa Raymundo. Sheila eliminated her rival in a bloody knife attack–and then turned her rage on another victim she saw as an obstacle to her passions. M. Williams Phelps recounts the riveting story of a white-collar love triangle gone horribly wrong. . .and the terrifying infatuation that drove one woman to kill”. (Source: Amazon)

JUST LIKE ANN

As with Ann Rule, Phelps has a way of making you feel like you are there. His writing is simple and easy to read, even when incorporating the workings of police as well as talking about DNA gathering and forensic evidence. You know who did it, or you think you do, but you wonder why they committed the crime. My thoughts on murderers is when did logic and self control leave their minds?

We all have made the remark of wanting to kill someone, but how many of us mean it. How many of us would be so obsessed over someone or something that it cause us to think that taking a life is OK because, well in the end, we are going to get what we want, which is either that person we killed for or that thing we thought was worth killing for.

The book starts out with bang by explaining the scene in the victim’s apartment (Anna Lisa Raymundo). As for someone who knows the last thing I see or read will creep into my dreams, I had to stop reading the book (I started the book at night) and only agreed (with myself) to read the book during the day. That didn’t last long. Once I got past the description of the bloody scene and started in on the story this became my go-to book before turning out the lights for the night.

Phelps gives enough description of the characters without boring the readers, as he does with a place or a particular scene. He does, what I like to call, gives just enough information so you know what’s going on. Phelps also does a great job with the back and forth of past to present. He knows how and when to talk about someone’s past life without you forgetting what’s going on in their present life. He writes in a manner as if you’re watching a show. He gets your attention and then keeps you wanting more. Phelps knows how to give the background of Sheila Davolloo up bringing to where you are not sure how she became narcissistic and where could things have possibly gone wrong. We are privy to the fact that she was brought up in a strict Muslim household although being born in America, her family moved to Iran when she was two, but returned to the Americas when she was sixteen. We learn of her excellent education and a great job she acquires at a pharmaceutical company. We also learn of obsession with one man named Nelson Sessler, who also works at the same company. We also learn of Anna Lisa, whom Nelson was dating and more serious with while he was “dating” Sheila. We also learn of Paul Christos, who becomes Shelia’s gullible husband who soon becomes another obstacle in her way to be with Nelson, who incidentally, really doesn’t want to be with Shelia in that manner. He sees Shelia as someone to have sex with and nothing more. Anna Lisa was someone he would want to spend the rest of his life with and Sheila, as well as other women, were just his side activities.

Even though I had my strong suspicion on who killed Anna Lisa, there were times I wasn’t sure. Phelps kept you guessing while revealing who the killer is or giving strong indications of who it is. He makes you wonder how Paul could be so gullible and fall for Shelia’s lies like when she told him she had a mentally ill brother who was coming to visit and Paul had to leave the condo because her brother didn’t know she was married and it would cause problems for him. How could Paul fall for this lie on quite a few occasions, each one getting more and more outlandish. For instance, in one instance she told Paul he had take his computer, printer and any thing else that would show signs of a man being in the house with him to his hotel he stayed at on weekends. While reading this I’m wondering why isn’t Paul questioning Sheila. Why is Paul allowing Shelia to dictate what he does without fighting back or at best question her? This was part of the book I had to try to overlook or I would have been consumed with the “stupidity” of Paul. Side note, the brother Shelia was having over was really Nelson Sessler.

And the kicker to the whole thing is if it wasn’t for Shelia’s attempted murder on her husband Paul (you have to read how this came about) hadn’t happen, I don’t think they would have found out who killed Anna Lisa. Yet, once they found out, it took another 10 years for the trial to take place and the narcissism of the murderer to be put on display….by the murderer themselves.

I highly recommend this book to any true crime reader. If you’re missing the days of Ann Rule, you now have M. William Phelps to lean on.

Title: Obsessed
Author: M. William Phelps
Published: 4 March 2014
Publisher: Pinnacle
Pages: 512
Available formats: Paperback, ebook, audible
Available sites: Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, iBooks

I Glance [poetry]

I glance
not at what’s in front of me
but what should be in front of me
I glance

I gander
not at the choices I’ve made
but at choices neglected
I gander

I pause
not at the scenery before me
but the scenery I destroyed
I pause

I laugh
not at the joke being told
but at the joke being made
I laugh

I dance
not at the music being played 
but at the music being distorted
I dance

I seek
not for the approval long pasted
but for the past of my present
I seek

I glance, I gander, pause, I laugh, I dance and I seek —
all behind a steal wall whose locks are broken and whose soul is decraying.

Blog Has Moved

I have moved from WordPress.com to WordPress.org. To continue following, please click here

New Blog Location

I have recently moved my blog site to The Opinionated Telly

Please continue to follow me there.

Real Housewives of Orange County: Truce, Bunko and Loss

From Left to Right: Vicki, Meghan, Heather, Shannon and Tamara

I’ve been watching The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOOC) since season two and really enjoy the show as well as Real Housewives of Atlanta, Real Housewives of New Jersey and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills). I have to admit it’s the drama on the show that keeps me there and at times, it is mindless entertainment. But last night’s episode was anything but mindless and definitely not entertaining.

I’m not going go into deep details of the show for I want to focus on the main reason for this blog.

The show began with Shannon calling Meghan to invite her to a Bunko party she was having that she throws every year. Inviting Meghan was Shannon’s way of extending an olive branch and calling a truce between her and Meghan.

Vicki and Tamara are at a spa talking about being a grandmother (Vicki is one and Tamara is about to be one). This was basically it for Vicki and Tamara.

Heather goes to see her husband, Terry, at work for she got something in her hand that needs to be removed. Terry removes the item and Heather leaves. Other stuff went on during her visit including an uncouth remark by Terry to Heather. Heather ignored the remark as she is learning to do with Terry.

Meghan and the rest of the ladies show up at Shannon’s party and the Bunko game ensues. During the course of the game Vicki either makes a phone call or gets a phone call. I think she got a phone call on Shannon’s landline. Vicki takes the call in A small side room, almost like a cubby hole used for phone calls and its Briana, her daughter, calling to let Vicki know that her mother has passed away. Vicki learns that her mother passed in her sleep.

This was Vicki for a good portion of the phone call with her daughter.

This was a hard episode to watch. I’m not a softy by any means and this one got to me. Vicki broke down right then and there as in slowly going to floor with phone in hand and ends up in fetal position crying like a baby (and I’m not being funny or sarcastic here). No one in the other room hears her. The camera switches between Vicki being hysterical to the women laughing and have a good time. It isn’t until things quiet down a bit that they hear her. I believe it’s Tamara who wants to know where Vicki is and goes looking for her. Heather is in tow. They find Vicki, who has managed to stand up, still on the phone but crying and upset. They ask her what’s wrong and she tells them her mother died. Soon more women have shown up and everyone is trying to console Vicki. Heather leaves to call Brooks. Soon, they were able to get Vicki to sit on a chair in foyer and everyone gathers around her trying to do their best to console her, but as Tamara said to camera, there’s no consoling Vicki right now.

Vicki calls her brother to find out exactly what happened and he said he went to his mother’s house and saw the car in the garage and he knew immediately that something was wrong. He went to her bedroom and found her in bed. He tried to wake up, thinking she was still asleep, and that’s how he found her. A few minutes later Brooks shows up. Vicki is insistent on going to Chicago to be with her mother. In between all of this Vicki is saying she wants her mommy to wake up. Basically, Vicki was like a little kid who does not understand death and thinks their mother is sleeping and just needs to be waken up.

There was no happy ending or people in conflict ending with this episode. Next week’s is going to be a continuation of Vicki’s loss.

What I really liked about this episode is how all the women came together for Vicki. I like how Heather (who, by the way, I do like and might be a party of one) called Brooks and then went back to attend to Vicki. I liked how Tamara was with Vicki the whole time. Shannon and Meghan did their best to console her and Jeana (original OC right along with Vicki) was there as well.

My thoughts go out to Vicki.

Real Housewives of Orange County – Monday nights; Bravo TV – (check local listing for time and channel)

Celebrity Family Feud: The Annoying Wife

Courtesy of http://www.horsingaroundinla.com

I’ve been a fan of Family Feud since the 70’s when it was hosted by Richard Dawson (showing my age here ***sigh***). I never thought there could be a better host for the show outside of Dawson, but Ray Combs did a great job when he hosted it from 1988 – 1993. When Louie Anderson, Richard Karn and John O’Hurley became hosts of the show, I gave each one a shot, but didn’t find they had that certain something that Dawson and Combs had, and thus, I stopped watching for a number years. It wasn’t until Steve Harvey started hosting the show did I return to watching it like a religion, as I had done when Dawson hosted it. I personally find Harvey to be the second best host and Combs the third. But that’s not what I’m here for..at least not now.

Top Left: John Hurly; Top Right: Richard Karn Bottom Left: Ray Combs; Bottom Right: The one and only Richard Dawson (photo courtesy of pinterest.com)

Steve Harvey
(photo courtesy of http://www.truthrevolt.org)

ABC (Channel 7 – San Francisco) has a show on called Celebrity Family Feud (Sunday nights) in which celebrities bring their families on the show and play for charities.

Season 1: Episode 1: Anthony Anderson’s (Blackish) family vs. Toni Braxton’s (singer) family (Braxton family won) / Curtis Stone’s (chef) family vs. Monitor Potter’s (Along Came A Spider, Parenthood, Saw) family (Potter family won)

Season 1: Episode 2: NFC AFC vs NFC (AFC won) / Dancing With The Stars vs. The Bachelor (Bachelor won)

Season 1: Episode 3: Dr. Phil McGraw’s family vs. Penny Marshall’s (Laverne and Shirley, League of Their Own) family (Marshall family won)

The show is a hour long which allows for two episodes of Family Feud to be seen, which is great for me.

Courtesy of http://www.newslocker.com

This first half of this week’s episode had Dr. Phil’s family battling against Penny Marshall’s family. Second half, Kevin McHale (from Glee NOT the basketball coach) battling against Fred Willard’s family. As I write this the game is still going on so I don’t know who the winner is of this episode. But it’s the first part of the show that caused me to write this blog and I’ll just get right to it. Dr. Phil’s wife (Robin McGraw) is so flippin’ annoying. It will be hard to convey here how annoying she was being, but imagine that person you know or knew that just had to draw attention to themselves every chance they got. When Harvey was speaking to someone in Dr. Phil’s family other than Robin, she found a way to yell something at the person Harvey was talking to or yell something after they gave an answer. Even if they gave the worse answer in the world, she was yelling that it’s up there and pointing at the board like she was directing a plane in for a landing. As mentioned, it’s hard to convey here how annoying she was and if she watches the show later (which I’m sure she will just to see herself), I hope she realizes how annoying she was being. For those that have seen the episode know what I’m talking about. For those who haven’t seen the episode, I tried to find a clip of it online, but to no avail. Perhaps it’s too soon for the show just aired last night.

Normally I would change the channel, but I love me some Steve Harvey, plus, I knew they weren’t going to win because the Marshall family kept stealing the wins.

I normally don’t write blogs such as this where I’m speaking bad of someone, but since I don’t have a burn book

Photo courtesy of thekenyonthrill.com

this blog was the next best thing.

Side note: Fred Willards’s family ended up winning the game and the money

Ben and Jen Are Divorcing

News has been confirmed that Ben Affleck (massa Ben to some – hey, I couldn’t pass that one up) and Jennifer “Alias” Garner are heading to Divorce Court.

I really am shocked about this. As strange it may sound, I really thought these two would be together forever. I haven’t read the exact reason behind the divorce but did read a snippet in which Ben said, and I’m paraphrasing (or making it up – whichever) that they (he and Jen) feel this is the right thing to do. Hearing, rather, reading that tells me this has been in the works for some time. I do remember hearing the rumors a few weeks back, but didn’t believe it. Granted, they weren’t my Demi and Bruce (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis for you youngins), but they were close.

After doing some digging, I was able to obtain a transcript of Ben telling Jen that he wanted a divorce and here it is:

Ben: “Jen, I am my own movie”

Jen (after thinking about it for a minute, looks at Ben with a confused look on her face): “What does that mean?”

Ben: “I’m Gone Girl” (Ben then gave three snaps in a Z formation, hopped in his Bat-mobile and took off like a bat out of hell)

Tough Mudder – More Like Bacteria Mudder

While listening to The Lamont and Tonelli show on The Bone (107.7FM San Francisco)  they began talking about the mud runs people do, especially the Tough Mudder.

What is Tough Mudder?
Tough Mudder is a team-oriented 10-12 mile (18-20 km) obstacle course designed to test physical strength and mental grit. Tough Mudder puts camaraderie over finisher rankings and is not a timed race but a team challenge that allows participants to experience exhilarating, yet safe, world-class obstacles they won’t find anywhere else. (Source:Tough Mudder)

Tough Mudder isn’t really a team-oriented obstacle race but can turn into one. What I learned of Tough Mudder from watching MTV’s True Life: I’m Doing Tough Mudder (MTV True Life: I’m Doing Tough Mudder Video), you don’t have to be in a team to run the course. You can run it by yourself or with a group of people. The one thing I liked about Tough Mudder is that people do help each other out. I find this race to be the true essence of strangers helping strangers. During the course there is a wall you have to get over (well, there’s plenty of walls you’ll have to get over in this race, figuratively and physically), but this one particular wall will be almost impossible to get over without the help of strangers stand on top of it waiting to help pull you up and over it.

A lot of people enjoy doing these Tough Mudders and there’s a lot of training that goes into it. But nothing can prepare you for what you may encounter going through all that mud.

On the Lamont and Tonelli show I learned that people are starting to get sick from these runs, but not from the runs themselves, rather, from the mud. More clearly, they are getting sick or dying from what’s in the mud.

On lady has gone blind in one eye because the mud contained a flesh eating bacteria and a group of people in France got sick due to the mud containing animal feces. Regardless of what’s found in the mud, the mud itself should be enough to deter people from running this course. If you do research on the Internet you will find stories of people dying from running the Tough Mudder. Some die because of the bacteria in the mud or just from the course itself.

I don’t have plans on running this course but for those that are planning on running the course, I wish you a lot of luck. Oh, and make sure your health insurance is paid up.

A Deadly Adoption: Good Idea, Terrible Execution (Possible Spoilers)

I look forward to LifetimeTV’s Saturday night movies and tonight was no exception…wait, tonight was a definite can’t miss movie. Who could pass up seeing Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig (playing Robert and Sara Benson) in serious roles as parents who have lost their unborn baby (second child, they already have a little girl, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, The Young and the Restless) due to an accident. The accident left Wiig without the ability to give birth again, so they decide to adopt. In walks Brigitte (played by Jessica Lowndes, 90210) six months pregnant and currently living in a shelter.

We first see the Bensons at some type of outdoor gathering in which Robert (Ferrell) is holding his first born child while Sara (Wiig) is standing on a dock asking Robert to take her on a boat ride. Robert asks Sara to get off the dock for it is unsafe but Sara doesn’t listen and keeps insisting on him taking her on a boat ride. Sara leans back on the railing that breaks and causes her to fall into the water. Robert and a few other guys pull her out of the water and Robert gives her mouth to mouth to revive her.

Fast forward five years later when Bridgette arrives on their door step, six months pregnant, with a social worker of a shelter she’s staying in. Bridgette is carrying the baby that the Benson’s will be adopting. About 15 minutes of Bridgette arrival she cons herself into the Benson’s house by becoming their house guest until the baby is born and thus begins the fun….of terrible acting by everyone involved. Well not everyone. Wiig actually did a pretty good job in her role.

As with most of Lifetime movies, the concept and script is good but the execution of the concept and script leaves a lot to be desired and this movie does not disappointment in that department.

Ferrell’s words seems forced and you’re left waiting for him to say or do something funny. Actually, you were hoping he would say or do something funny just to end the pain having to watch him not only sound convincing, but look convincing during his emotional scenes. Ferrell made it hard for you to feel anything for him but hope that he will never do another serious role. NEVER! Even when he was standing still listening to the other person was painful to watch.

Wiig, on the other hand, does a much better job of acting and i could see her in more serious roles. Her words were more believe able, even the corny ones, and her facial expressions synced with what she was saying.

Jessica Lowndes, who I liked on 90210, seemed a bit off in the role. I personally don’t think this role was for her. I am not sure who could have played this role, but Lowndes was not it.She did her best to come off as a bad girl gone badder, but I wasn’t buying it at all..not even for a second…a nano second at that.

Where the movie really went south is when Ferrell was saving his wife from dying (a second time). Bridgette she was knocked Sara unconscious, placed in a car with the engine running and a garage door down. Bridgette was  now off somewhere else causing havoc when Ferrell showed up on the scene. The music that was playing during the rescue scene was something out of a Batman movie. The best way to describe the music is the last scene in The Dark Knight with Batman on his motorcycle being chased by cops. Let’s just say it was over the top for that scene and to top it off, they showed the scene in slow motion. When Ferrell laid Wiig on the driveway, I was waiting for him to rip his shirt open to reveal a big  on his chest, but it didn’t happen and I was sad. Not really. I was rolling my eyes, is what I was doing.

And if things couldn’t get any worse, how about Ferrell in a motor boat going how ever fast a motor boat can go and his hair not moving an inch in the gust of wind passing him. Come to think of it, his hair didn’t move the entire move..not an inch. Wiig’s hair moved quite a bit. Lowndnes hair moved and even Lind’s hair moved, but not Ferrell’s.

As with all Lifetime movies, it ended on a happy note and where the Benson’s were a happy family again.

I usually leave a Lifetime movie finding good things about it despite bad acting and/or bad writing, but I couldn’t with this one. I didn’t even have to sleep on it to see how I would feel in the morning about it. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could begin blogging about it. Oh wait, there was one good thing about the movie and that it was based on a true story. Now I have to find the story behind the movie or even if there is a story behind the movie.

I would highly recommend you don’t watch this movie, but rather, find a major spoiler somewhere online. There are some sites that give you a break down of the movies, scene by scene. You could ask one of your friends who watched the movie to give you the run down or you could go to Here and read the message board which after reading a few posts and responses, you’ll know exactly what happened throughout the movie.

From Boston to Charleston: Killers Shine While Victims Are Left Behind

When the bomb went off in Boston on 15 April 2013 the number of victims, both injured and killed were given and the suspect or suspects were at large. On 19 April 2013 the bombers were caught (they turned out to be brothers. One was killed while the other was caught). And thus began the constant media coverage about the suspect. The bomber got more media coverage than the victims; from the time a known suspect was mentioned all the way to his trial and sentencing. Only when the victim or victims were doing something, such as running The Boston Marathon the following year, where they ever mentioned and only for that particular news story.

When the story of the Charleston shooting broke the killer was still at large and there were nine victims. Shortly thereafter, the killer was caught and that’s all you heard about..was the killer. The nine people that died that day are mentioned but only for a short period of time. As with the Boston Bombing, the names of the victims are given only on one news story. After that, they are mentioned some more, but only as a number such as:

…”where three people were killed and 140 were injured..”
…”where nine people were killed, including the pastor of the church…

But when it comes to reporting about the killers the media goes into great detail to about them, from where they are from, their home life, their Facebook page, Twitter page, their childhood and probably what they had for breakfast the morning of the killings. We end up knowing more about the killers than we care to know, rather, than I care to know.

The advertisement of the news has the anchor damn near jumping out of their seats with joy to report what has been discovered about the killers. Soon, we are seeing baby pictures and school photos of the killers as if the anchor were showing pictures of their own kids. And people wonder why others commit the crimes they do.

The media has a way of glorifying crime, especially mass killings. They make stars of the killers and treat the victims as if they are extras in a movie. The media may or may not mention the victims in their news story, it just depends on how the anchor or reporter is feeling that day, I guess. But the killer’s name will be mentioned so many times, you’ll run out of fingers and toes to count them on.

As you noticed I did not mention the name of the Boston Bombing suspects because they have had their day in the sun. I didn’t mention the name of the Charleston Church killer because he’s just starting to have his day in the sun and will continue to do so for a long time coming. Although the bomber has been sentenced, he will still be brought up in news stories (when applicable) and definitely on each anniversary of the bombing.

The name of the Charleston killer is not important to me and shouldn’t be important to anyone else. The media should begin focus on the victims of crimes and stop giving the criminals all the glory.

For those who are not sure who the victims of the church killing were and for those who already know, here is a link to who the Victims were.