Dare I Call It Murder?: A Memoir of Violent Loss

Losing a loved one to violence is a gut wrenching experience. Author Larry Edwards' loss of his parents sent his life careening out of control, all the more so because the prime suspect in their apparent murders was Larry's own brother, Gary.In Dare I Call it Murder? A Memoir of Violent Lost, Larry describes not only how the violent deaths of his father, Loren, and his mother, Jody, affected his own life but also how the allegations against his brother tore apart his extended family.Loren and Jody died while cruising through French Polynesia in their homebuilt ketch, the Spellbound. The surviving crewmembers—brother Gary, sister Kerry, and their friend Lori—explained Loren died when struck by a shifting boom and Jody, distraught over the loss of her husband, committed suicide by shooting herself in the head.Almost immediately, French and American law enforcement officials considered the deaths suspicious. There were too many discrepancies in how Gary—the only person on deck with Loren and Jody when they died—described their deaths. Adding to their suspicions was Gary's hasty decision to bury his parents at sea despite the Spellbound being only hours from the nearest port.After a prolonged investigation, the FBI concluded Gary killed his parents, probably after they caught him molesting his sister, Kerry. However, the U.S. Attorney felt the case wasn't strong enough to take to court. No charges were ever filed.Larry describes in gripping detail his ordeal of flying to Tahiti to recover the Spellbound and its crew, only to find Kerry in a hospital with a skull fracture and his brother unwilling to explain what really happened aboard the ketch.Back in the U.S., the deaths of his parents set off a series of cascading events that tore apart the author's extended family. One side of the family refused to believe Gary capable of murder; the other side whispered about Gary's trouble history. Larry also describes in heart-wrenching honesty how the anguish over his parents' deaths caused his own life to crumble until he found help from a support group for survivors of violent loss.I've known Larry off and on for some 20 years. We worked together as journalists in the 1990s, then reconnected after becoming published authors. I put off reading Dare I Call It Murder? for fear it would be too personal, like peeking into a neighbor's bedroom window. I've always known Larry as a tough, hard-nosed journalist. Reading this book showed me a side of him I'd never known before.As a mystery author, I could not come up with a more compelling crime story than this. As a writer, I could not write as compelling a book as this.

I chose this book based on the favourable Amazon reviews and I was not disappointed. It was extremely well written for an autobiographical account. Larry apparently is a professional writer. As one of the children of 'alleged' murder victims, he sets out a well structured and compelling case for a murder and who committed the crime. I say 'may' and 'alleged' as tragically no-one has yet been charged and while I find Larry's account very authentic I dont want to jump the gun. Read the book and decide for yourself. The story also sets out decades of battles Larry faces in an attempt to discover what really happened on his parent's boat and also an ongoing hideous battle with his family to get support he needs to prove the case and find justice for his parents. The betrayals go on and on until you want to tell him to just stop trying for his own sake. I'm glad he didn't. If you think you have a dysfunctional family this may give you some perspective and you may relate to some of the deep frustration and anger he faces as he is randomly sideswiped by their selfishness. I cried in parts but I also found the book helpful and somewhat healing. Even though no-one in my family has murdered anyone, I can relate to Larry's struggle with family members who just don't have the compassion gene or any insight into what others are capable of. I know what it's like when half of the family takes the side of the One-Who-Smirks. I thank God in my case this person is not a sociopathic murder. Larry you are amazing, as is your wife. Knock off the booze for a bit buddy eh. You should try crime fiction novels if you are up to it? you are a great writer. I would love to read something else you have written. Maybe even True Crime? Properly researched. I hope you get justice one day.

I can't remember when I've read a more fascinating or compelling book than "Dare I Call It Murder?" Author Larry Edwards has done a superb job of documenting the complexities surrounding the mysterious deaths of his parents on their yacht in 1978--while keeping the reader in suspense every step of the way. It was a monumental task, and he has accomplished it thoroughly and with deep commitment.The story is tightly structured. Each piece builds on the one before with smooth transitions. Flashbacks tell the backstory, often in touching detail. The scenes are vivid, the dialogue, relaxed and believable.The author is driven to seek justice in honor of his parents' memory. When an FBI investigation stalls and the judicial system fizzles, his resentment festers and eventually pushes him to obtain classified records through the Freedom of Information Act. What he learns is shocking. The final outcome remains pending, but in the meantime "Dare I Call It Murder?" has taken the wraps off a story that was kept hidden for three decades.I felt that reading this book was time well spent.I am awarding it four stars because I think it would have been more effective if it had been condensed by about 10 percent. Sometimes the details got boring: the cigarettes, the cups of coffee, and the many, many references to alcohol. Also, the author indulges in some flights of purple prose. Tightening up the text and toning down the metaphors would turn this very good book into a jewel.

Difficult read, many superfluous items, HOWEVER, the book was superb, and real world, do not miss this book!!

I am so glad I read this. I found your niece Kara's book online and read that first. Seeing how it was written in 1st person fantasy and from memories of a 3 1/2 year old just made me want to know the real story. I have read all Ann Rule's books so know I have read her account but before rereading it, I wanted to read yours figuring it to be the closest to the actual facts.I can't believe the heartache and "crap" you and your family have gone through. I thought my life had been rough the last couple years dealing with a sociopathic brother and his BS lawsuits since my parents' deaths in 2011. But they were natural deaths. To have lost them as suddenly, violently and young as your parents were is unimaginable.And I'm so disappointed in Ann Rule. I don't intend to read hers again unless it's to see how poorly it was written. Have all her "stories" been so badly researched and written? I was anxiously awaiting the release of her new book shortly but now I won't bother. There are other true crime writers I like reading but will now do research to confirm the accounts.Thank you for writing this. I hope it really did help you start healing as much as possible considering. I hope you get justice one day and will search and follow online with that hope in mind.