New York Times Bestseller: The “gripping” true story of a beautiful Texas socialite, her ambitious husband, and a string of mysterious deaths (Los Angeles Times). Joan Robinson Hill was a world-class equestrian, a glamorous member of Houston high society, and the wife of Dr. John Hill, a handsome and successful plastic surgeon. Her father, Ash Robinson, was a charismatic oil tycoon obsessed with … charismatic oil tycoon obsessed with making his daughter’s every dream come true.
Rich, attractive, and reckless, Joan was one of the most celebrated women in a town infatuated with money, power, and fame. Then one morning in 1969, she fell mysteriously ill. The sordid events that followed comprise “what may be the most compelling and complex case in crime annals” (Ann Rule, bestselling author of The Stranger Beside Me).
From the elegant mansions of River Oaks, one of America’s most exclusive neighborhoods, to a seedy underworld of prostitution and murder-for-hire, New York Times–bestselling author Thomas Thompson tracks down every bizarre motive and enigmatic clue to weave a fascinating tale of lust and vengeance. Full of colorful characters, shocking twists, and deadly secrets, Blood and Money is “an absolute spellbinder” and true crime masterpiece (Newsweek).
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A true classic–this book made me realize that truth can be stranger than fiction–and that in the hands of a truly skilled storyteller, real life can read like a novel. A gripping and glamorous and sometimes even sordid novel. Big money, big ambition, and big crime. It’s in turn riveting, shocking and chilling. If you love In Cold Blood, this will be your next obsession.
If you like reading true crime, you will like this book. The author’s style of writing is very similar to that of Ann Rule. The story is a sad and horrible one but keep reading, justice happens.
Murder, passion and power to the nth degree!
I remember this case. I lived in Houston and it was news almost every day even tho we only had 1 short newscast and the paper in the 60s and 70s.i thought her husband killed her.
One of the best true crime books ever written. It is a classic.
One of the better True Crime books. I really enjoyed reading it. Complex personalities described very well.
When I bought this book, I didn’t realize that I had seen a movie about this case on TV in the 80s, starring Farrah Fawsett and Andy Griffith. The book added details and more crimes which weren’t in the film. As a pathologist, I found the results of the autopsies very interesting, although because the body was embalmed very quickly, without clearance from the coroner, much of the information that could have been gained, was not. I couldn’t put the book down, even though I knew much about the crime.
True story that was could have been written in half the number of pages.
The first two-thirds was super good. After that, I lost interest and did not finish it.
I had a hard time with this book as the major character is still not punished by the end. The author gives biographies of pretty much every person involved in the crimes but there are no real answers and no closure. I like to read true crime stories where the ‘perp’ is punished by going to prison for life. That is not the case here.
I read this book in the 1970’s and I still remember the details. Haunting murder of a wife with a shocking and fearful ending. A n excellent true crime novel!
Ended weird but a great read all the same.
This book will keep you interested to the end. A great read.
Truth is definitely stranger than fiction & Thomas Thompson has expertly told a gripping true sad tale of a soulless man that put his love of money above all else. Unfortunately for all of those around him.
Highly recommend this book
Fascinating
Both spellbinding and chilling! One of my favorite novels. A fairy tale life gone awry. A cold case that warrants the full measure of justice that can be imposed. As a native Texan and equestrian, I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
Very little conversation and more in the line of reading a documentary. After reading a hundred pages, I decided to not finish this book. Sorry.
This true crime book really got me interested in true crime books. I read this when it first came out and it is such a fascinating story that was later made into a movie.
I lived this book knew many of the people in it. Mostly factual but a great many mistakes in describing the people in the book.
I did finish this book but I thought it was very long, I had to push through. The story is interesting and so are the characters but I felt it could have been shorter and less descriptive of minor characters and events. It’s long.