Love You Madly: The True Story of a Small-Town Girl, the Young Men She Seduced, and the Murder of Her Mother

At the heart of Fleeman’s pedestrian account of Lauri Waterman’s 2004 murder is the extent of, and motive behind, her teenage daughter’s complicity in it. The remote Alaska setting on Prince of Wales Island adds an extra layer of gloom to an already dreary story. Though the Watermans appeared to be a happy family, and 15-year-old Rachelle an excellent student, tension roiled beneath the surface. On her blog, “My Crappy Life,” Rachelle described physical and verbal abuse by Lauri, who disapproved of Rachelle’s new interest in Wicca and especially in 25-year-old Jason Arrant. In November 2004, Lauri’s charred body was found in her burned minivan in the forest. The police investigation soon led to Arrant and his friend, Brian Radel, both of whom had had sexual relations with Rachelle. Both also eventually confessed to killing Lauri and were convicted of first-degree murder. Police believed Rachelle to be the instigator—but was it really to protect herself from further abuse? After seven years and two trials, Rachelle was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. People magazine’s Fleeman does little more than recount the events, with the liberal addition of adjectives. (Nov.)