An Almost Perfect Murder [NOOK Book]

Perfect Murder? If he had kept his mouth shut, maybe!

Author Gary C. King is truly a master at the true crime genre. Join him as he tells the story of a hard-pushing political powerhouse, Kathy Marie Augustine. She pushed her way through the "good old boy network" in the Nevada legislature, rising at the time of her death to the elected position of State Comptroller. A nationally known political figure, her death made headlines around the country. Even bigger headlines followed, when it was discovered she was brutually murdered, and who the culprit was.

I recall following the case on Dateline, the Nancy Grace Show, and 48 hours. As a true crime buff, I was fascinated by it. I was anxious to find out more, and the author of this book definitely did not disappoint me.

Kathy's killer thought his plan was foolproof. Had he kept his mouth shut, it just might have been foolproof. Choosing a poison that left no physical evidence behind , Kathy's husband, critical care nurse Chaz Higgins, had seemingly pulled off the perfect murder.
Kathy had been a political powerhouse, a beautiful, wealthy and sexy woman. It was easy for friends of the couple to see how Chaz had fallen for her. Her domineering attitiude eventually got the best of Chaz, and rather than risk losing the "good life", he committed murder.

Were it not for a hardworking Nevada detective, the case would never have been solved. Chaz Hggins made a thoughtless comment to a coworker, and that coworker had a good memory. If not for the continual questioning and probing, the detective may never have heard a report of the comment Chaz made.

Go beind the healines to a story even more riveting than the best work of fiction. Gary King brings details to light that were unmentioned previously, and his insight is very helpful and adds much to the story. I look forward to reading many more books by this author!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ok

Not one of Kings best book but it was ok.. to much info repeated and trial to long. It repeated the first half of book.... ... Bn

Recommend

Good book

A Slip of the Tongue Gives the Critical Clue

The July 2006 murder of wealthy Kathy Augustine made headlines. She was a high profile, dominating political figure in Reno, Nevada, who made history by being the first woman elected state controller. She had her photo taken with both President George Bush and his son President George W. Bush, survived an impeachment process, and in 2004 was a finalist for the office of Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. She had a history of using less than above board political tactics. A Republican Party colleague stated publicly he considered her an embarrassment to the party. Nevertheless, she could win elections and had an impressive resume.

Her husband, whom she was divorcing, died in 2003, and three weeks later Kathy married a former bodybuilder, Chaz Higgs. After being married for three years, they discussed divorce, and Chaz flirted with another woman. Then Kathy died of an apparent heart attack. Based on a tip from the woman Chaz had been flirting with, the police looked for poisoning by succinylcholine. Based mainly on the FBI finding traces of that chemical in her urine, Chaz Higgs was charged with the murder of Kathy Augustine.

King's account of the investigation and the trial of Chaz Higgs for Augustine's murder is detailed and interesting, though the facts related in the beginning of the book flow less smoothly than his writing about the trial. He repeats facts, particularly in describing succinylcholine effects, which interferes with the pacing of the story at times. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read.

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