A Fatal Lie: A True Story of Betrayal and Murder in the New South

by Sally Chew

Book Overview

A lesbian love triangle explodes into bloody murder... Richmond, Virginia, July 1997. A brick row-house in the city's gay Carytown district, home of 18-year-old Kelley "Turtle" Tibbs, legendary... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312970145
• ISBN13: 9780312970147
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Tremendously sad, chilling and horrifying

I've read many true crime accounts, but this is one of the saddest and most horrifying... given the youth and blatantly callous attitudes of the perpetrators in this case. A group of young lesbians, seemingly with terrific psychopathic tendencies and ice water in their veins, took the most expedient and brutal way to end what should have been a simple problem in their relationships. Namely, in the heated emotion of their rage, jealousy and frustration, to end the life of a young woman who had become a problem in their ragtag, accidental and vicarious co-dependent relationships. Their own familial rejections and lack of moral leadership led to a deadly and bizarre solution to what they considered a huge complication and bother in their everyday relationships and existence. This is one of the most bizarre and brutal murder accounts imaginable. This book, well written and researched, should be hallmark reading for anyone entering into a lifestyle which begs violence and retribution. This is also an extreme lesson of someone being in the wrong place, wrong time, and trying to force their own personality and issues on the wrong people and relationships. Let the reader learn and beware... these volcanic friendships exist and it's far better to steer clear... tho often harder for young people to recognize and accept. Bravo for a very eye-opening and really blood-curdling account of what can happen to interlopers who do not use wisdom and discretion. If you are a true crime fan, this is one to read and savor.

First hand

For the people who think that all of the info in the book came from the killers, you are mistaken. I was there and lived through this ordeal. Most of the information came from several people with first hand knowledge, me being one of them. This book gets as close to the truth as you can get. There is no information from folks on the victim's side because they refused to talk. I do agree, however, that the book could have been written better.

I just cannot get it out of my mind!

This story is so sad, knowing these kids could be you, your sister, your daughter, your cousin... oh it goes on! It was well written, and because of that, I cannot get the slashing of the victim out of my mind. I am grateful for that. The day we forget the victim is the day we all die.

A True Thriller

I received this novel as a Xmas gift from a friend whose opinion on literary issues I greatly respect - he said it "blew me away." He was so right; it really is one of those books that rarely leaves your fingers once you've started. I just couldn't put it down. I was dragged through a whole range of emotions, you so feel like you're there - a part of every melee. The prose is tight and intensely compelling. The reader is nothing but absorbed and treated to a whirlwind of an adventure - which is all the more compelling due to the factual content of the story. I thoroughly recommend 'A Fatal Lie' to anybody with a life.

True crime at its best

From the opening paragraph to the last page of this sad story, Sally Chew's words draw you in and swallow you whole. It is a devastating story about a group of lost girls who try to find stability in their tenuous relationships and end up losing everything. Unlike most books in this genre, the writing is intelligent, sensitive and responsible. Reading this book is an amazing journey into a sad and scary world.