Fatal Vision

One of the Best True Crime Books

Once you start this book it is virtually impossible to put down. There is no way this doctor was innocent. Obviously, he was absent a conscience for there is no other way you could do what he did and live with yourself. His whole family murdered and he survived with superficial wounds most likely self inflicted. And he was a Green Beret no less. Read it you won't be disappointed.

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A reviewer

I have read this book at least 4 times. I have also read Fatal Justice and countless other articles and stories written on the MacDonald murders. What happened on that February night at Fort Bragg was nothing short of a tragedy. 4 innocent people lost their lives (Colette,her unborn child, Kimmy and Kris)at the hands of someone they loved and trusted. MacDonald was a lying, philandering egotistic man who, in a fit of rage, murdered his wife and oldest child. Why, we will never know. We can only speculate that perhaps the bed wetting, coupled with exhaustion from having worked long hours at the hospital caused him to snap. He had no other choice but finish the job and murder his sleeping baby daughter, Kristen. His injuries were superficial because they were self-inflicted. Why would a group of attackers leave him virtually unharmed while the deaths of the others was overkill? The lack of evidence of any intruders, the lack of blood by the phone where MacDonald called for help after having just checked his blood-soaked family...and so much more adds up to MacDonald's guilt. There's not a question of innocence at all. I have read all of the facts, and there has been nothing to support the intruder theory at all.

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The Truth about Jeffery McDonald

Joe McInnis did a wonderful putting FACTS together for this book. Jeffery McDonald, without a doubt, murdered his wife and girls. I believe that with every fiber of my being because my family lived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina when he committed the crimes. He is a smooth talker and believes everything he says. I have followed this case from day one and I have no doubt Joe McInnis had no choice but to expose the truth.

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The Best TRUE Crime Book Ever Written

Joe McGinniss is one of the best authors writing today and Fatal Vision is the best true crime book ever written. I've read everything on the MacDonald case (including the FOIA documents) and MacDonald is EXACTLY where he belongs. Every argument his supporters make regarding his innocence can effectively be refuted. This book presents a chilling portrait of the most narcissistic and monstrous man ever born.

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Well Written and Gripping

One of the best books I've ever read. Completely researched and laid out in an entertaining (but sad) way.

On second thought...

I first read this book about ten years ago. At that time, I had enjoyed it, and I had seen the movie as well. I was convinced of Jeffrey MacDonald's guilt. But any of you who've read this piece of fiction should know that Dr. MacDonald ultimately sued Joe McGinniss, successfully, for fraud and McGinniss settled out of court when the jury was hung the first time, 5 to 1 in favor of Dr. MacDonald. Think what you will...bottom line is there still exists a proverbial mountain of reasonable doubt here. Don't believe everything you read, people. 'Fatal Vision' is not fact.

a true work of fiction

McGinnis crafts a great work of fiction that actually persuaded the public that MacDonald killed his wife and children. If you want the real story of what happened, read Jerry Allen Potter and Fred Bost's book called Fatal Justice: The Reinvestigation of the MacDonald Murders. First his wife and children were murdered, then the Army bungled the investigation, then he was persecuted for making the Army look bad, then McGinnis turned on him and wrote this. Twenty five years later, this man is still in jail ... that's the second tragedy in this whole story.

Guilty or not guilty...that is the question.

It is clear that there was a lot to this case. And the incompetence of the Army's CID further complicated an already questionable crime scene. But Dr. MacDonald was a less than credible subject, which is what lead this reader to find him guilty in her mind. I wish that this tragedy had never happened, but I will say that with today's technology, had these murder's happened recently, this man would be proven guilty above and BEYOND a reasonable doubt!!

Wanted fewer stars

This book is very 'creative.' Do some more research before you judge Macdonald.

Murder or Victim?

This is a great book, and a fascinating story. I held back one star, because it gets a little tedious when the psychologists are testifying (about 50 pages or so in the middle seems like its taken directly from a psych textbook), but great nevertheless. I think the guy is guilty, but not unlike the (JonBenet) Ramsey case, I just do not see the killer's motive. Bedwetting? Ego?? Maybe...

A classic

Unputdownable, fascinating account of a true sociopath and his crime. The father-in-law and prosecuter are unforgettable.

Turn off the phone, get in bed......

and settle in for a great read. You won't be able to put this book down. A well written account of the famed Dr. Jeffery McDonald who murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters and then blamed it on drug crazed hippies. I'm sorry but I really can't buy McDonald's claim that three people would kill a woman and two children while leaving the man with a few minor scrapes. Yes, they say one of his wounds was serious but not at all life threatening. Still I doubt his attackers would have left him alive. And for what, what did they want? If they were angry because McDonald didn't have drugs why wouldn't they have taken their anger out on him? Why did they pick three defenseless people? Doesn't make sense. McDonald got tired of being a husband and father, he wanted to lead the life he was leading when this book was written. Instead of getting a divorce and allowing his family to live, he decides to get rid of them. Such a shame that Corinne's parents had to live with this knowledge that their beloved daughter and granddaughter's died at the hands of someone they trusted. But it was Corinne's father who heroically helps to bring this man to justice.

Too many oddities

I read this book quickly. I could not put it down. And after completing it, I too believe that he committed the murders. I wouldn't say that I'm 100% sure, but to me there were just too many odd things. Maybe he does suffer from this pathological narcissism, and the drug use the author proposed. That would at least attempt to explain why someone could do such a thing and act so afterward. And if he doesn't(didn't?).... It does bother me the way the crime scene was handled. I'm sure anyone who reads a lot of these type of books just cringed as I did during the opening chapters. I could just picture too many unnecessary people plodding through the house. And the loss of some of the evidence is inexcusable. However, I still do not see how three people were so brutally murdered and there not only be a survivor, but one so virtually unscathed. Especially when the survivor was the male of the family, supposedly the strongest one, and the one I would think killers would attempt to take out first. But the things that got me the most was the blood stains...those stains that in no way corresponded with McDonald's story, as well as his lies, and his often lack of real answers and action. If you're being falsly accused, you try to disprove it. Why didn't he conduct an investigation like he said? And why would you answer nearly every question with a non answer? He is consitently evasive in actually giving a definative answer. I admit I have not read Fatal Justice yet, but I plan on it soon. Maybe after reading it, I will change my mind, or will at least be unsure as I was in the beginning. Maybe someone will write a book that's not biased toward a side as these two are claimed to be.

Unbelieveable

I could not put this book down. Finally I found something from someone that spent every waking hour with the DEFENSE, and therefore knew every fact. McGinness lays them all out for us in a non-accusatory tone. Sometimes the facts are a little tedious, but necessary to understand the full story. Especially compelling is the blood evidence. MacDonald tries too hard to make everyone else look like bumbling idiots, and blames everyone but the postman for his various predicaments. GREAT READ.

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