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Mama's Madness
A story inspired by a northern California news account a few years ago ... Some of the details in this fictional penning are true. Some of the details are exaggerated and are simply the work of the author's imagination. What is clearly evidenced in this novel is the coldness of a mother's heart and the madness of her cruelty. The mind cannot comprehend lives the children depicted here were forced to endure: from black punishment closets of hell, kitchen tables used for crudely performed operations, to a high sierra execution by fire. The terror is real. The pain is vicariously felt. Unbelievable? Yes, it is unbelievable that such depravity, such MAMA'S MADNESS exists in our world. Accept the embellishments with the truth.
346 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2018
18 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Billy Ray Chitwood
21 books83 followers- Graduate of Lycoming College (Williamsport, PA) - BA English
- Actor in film, stage, television
- Honorably and proudly served in the United States Navy
- Taught school (Advanced Writing)
- Worked in Sales and Marketing for major textbook publishers
- Owned and ran a business
- Author of 14 books, with one more in the oven
- Recently moved from The Sea of Cortez with wife, Julie Anne, and 'George' (a Bengal cat with some serious attitude). Now live in the bluegrass rolling hills of Kentucky.
-Writing is therapy for the soul.
- Actor in film, stage, television
- Honorably and proudly served in the United States Navy
- Taught school (Advanced Writing)
- Worked in Sales and Marketing for major textbook publishers
- Owned and ran a business
- Author of 14 books, with one more in the oven
- Recently moved from The Sea of Cortez with wife, Julie Anne, and 'George' (a Bengal cat with some serious attitude). Now live in the bluegrass rolling hills of Kentucky.
-Writing is therapy for the soul.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 2, 2013
"BONE-CHILLING FICTION IMITATES LIFE"
Mr. Chitwood writes a fascinating piece of fiction, but it's a difficult book to read. Why? Because it involves difficult subject matter -- child abuse, sexual abuse, and murder of one's own children.
The main character - "Mama" is a despicable human being. She is, in fact, by virtue of her acts - inhuman. And then you remember this is based on a true story. It is sobering to read fiction that is so frightening and imitates life.
As a news junkie and observer of the human psyche, I'm all too aware of the horrific acts humanity imposes upon itself - through acts of war, in the name of religion, and in many instances, via the instability of the mind. The landscape of Mama's mind is dark indeed, and the worst part is she shares it with the people around her. As the reader, we see the results of her warped way of thinking.
I commend Mr. Chitwood for not being gratuitous with his description of the horror. He allowed the story to dictate how much detail was needed. Mama's wrath in itself was bone-chilling enough, and the author did a very good job of conveying this.
Mr. Chitwood writes a fascinating piece of fiction, but it's a difficult book to read. Why? Because it involves difficult subject matter -- child abuse, sexual abuse, and murder of one's own children.
The main character - "Mama" is a despicable human being. She is, in fact, by virtue of her acts - inhuman. And then you remember this is based on a true story. It is sobering to read fiction that is so frightening and imitates life.
As a news junkie and observer of the human psyche, I'm all too aware of the horrific acts humanity imposes upon itself - through acts of war, in the name of religion, and in many instances, via the instability of the mind. The landscape of Mama's mind is dark indeed, and the worst part is she shares it with the people around her. As the reader, we see the results of her warped way of thinking.
I commend Mr. Chitwood for not being gratuitous with his description of the horror. He allowed the story to dictate how much detail was needed. Mama's wrath in itself was bone-chilling enough, and the author did a very good job of conveying this.
July 1, 2012
(Won from Goodreads First Reads) A chilling tale of one woman's madness and how she harmed her children and family. Just the thoughts that people could be this cruel is sickning. You feel immediate disgust for the woman in the first 2 chapters as she kills off 2 of her daughters. You feel sadness for her one left daughter and anger at the male children who left yet didn't feel the need to help their sisters.
July 8, 2018
Mama’s madness is a work of fiction, but according to the author Billy Ray Chitwood, there are some inspirations from actual criminal behavior. This is a story about the meanest, lowlife, straight razor totin’ woman named Tamatha Preen. She is the mother of six kids and the ex-wife of four husbands. Although this seems a little abnormal in everyday life, compared to mama’s proclivities having four husbands is normal in comparison. Let’s say mama has some problems and as you can guess the children are the ones who bear the brunt of her mental issues. To describe any of the abusive behaviors would be courting spoilers, so I’m just going to summarize by saying mama is evil.
The writing in this story is so good the reader feels like a transportation into the scenes has taken place. The descriptions of people, places, and events are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Mr. Chitwood has been blessed with a golden pen (or keyboard). He can show the reader all the sights, sounds, and smells of each scene through a tapestry that only can be woven by a perfectionist literary genius. I think that pretty much describes Billy Ray Chitwood. He has honed his writing art, and there is no more exquisite example of the resulting output than this book. I would recommend Mama’s madness to anyone who enjoys a deeply disturbing story told effectively and with great taste.
The writing in this story is so good the reader feels like a transportation into the scenes has taken place. The descriptions of people, places, and events are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Mr. Chitwood has been blessed with a golden pen (or keyboard). He can show the reader all the sights, sounds, and smells of each scene through a tapestry that only can be woven by a perfectionist literary genius. I think that pretty much describes Billy Ray Chitwood. He has honed his writing art, and there is no more exquisite example of the resulting output than this book. I would recommend Mama’s madness to anyone who enjoys a deeply disturbing story told effectively and with great taste.
February 4, 2018
A chilling and disturbing story based on a true event. I had difficulty putting the book down hoping that the main character would be found and punished. There were some editorial issues and at times there was too much repetition, but overall a good book. I appreciated the author's epilogue which gave the story more meaning.
January 21, 2013
Chitwood’s novel tells the story of Tamantha Preen, a fictional character based on a real person who terrorized her family in northern California. Tamantha had a real or imagined depraved upbringing, and she is hell bent to pass depravity on. She murders two daughters and seems determined to make it three if her daughter Tammie Jo is not able to escape what seems inevitable. It is a powerful story with this big “if” providing the reason to keep turning pages.
Chitwood brings a confident authorial demeanor to this tale of squalid, frightened family life. He handles scenes of forced sex, beatings, and closet imprisonment adeptly. He is at home with the thinking and investigative skills of two sets of detectives, who make about a quarter of the book a police procedural. He renders the rules and tactics of low ball poker, and the atmosphere of seedy game rooms with ease.
Only a problematic point of view, some fairly blatant editing lapses and inconsistencies, and a detective’s “hunch” that strains credulity diminish this compelling book. Chitwood tells the story with confidence and elan. He seems to thumb his nose at whatever rules still exist for the effective writing of novels. It works. It’s a good read. Sales might benefit from a good cover.
Chitwood brings a confident authorial demeanor to this tale of squalid, frightened family life. He handles scenes of forced sex, beatings, and closet imprisonment adeptly. He is at home with the thinking and investigative skills of two sets of detectives, who make about a quarter of the book a police procedural. He renders the rules and tactics of low ball poker, and the atmosphere of seedy game rooms with ease.
Only a problematic point of view, some fairly blatant editing lapses and inconsistencies, and a detective’s “hunch” that strains credulity diminish this compelling book. Chitwood tells the story with confidence and elan. He seems to thumb his nose at whatever rules still exist for the effective writing of novels. It works. It’s a good read. Sales might benefit from a good cover.
November 21, 2012
"COMPELLING AND DISTURBING"
Billy Ray Chitwood’s novel ‘Mama’s Madness’ is a real find.
While many Indie authors follow well-trodden paths of ‘popular genres’, Chitwood’s work cuts its own route through the underclass wilderness of modern America. Based on real-life events – but fictionalised in the telling – Chitwood’s story is by turns compelling and disturbing.
The central character, Tamatha Preen, is a monster for our time. Inhabiting her own self-centred and embittered world she inflicts psychological and physical damage on her daughters while keeping her sons cowed by alternating violence with affection.
Chitwood has an authentic voice articulating the world of the grifter and petty criminal hovering at the margins of society. The writing is gritty, laying bare the animal beneath the thin veneer of civilisation. Child abuse, theft, deception and murder all feature in a heady cocktail of corrupted morality – yet these topics are handled without sensationalism, and at times the novel has an almost journalistic feel to it.
This is a brave book, swimming against the tide of literary popcorn, and it deserves a wide readership.
Billy Ray Chitwood’s novel ‘Mama’s Madness’ is a real find.
While many Indie authors follow well-trodden paths of ‘popular genres’, Chitwood’s work cuts its own route through the underclass wilderness of modern America. Based on real-life events – but fictionalised in the telling – Chitwood’s story is by turns compelling and disturbing.
The central character, Tamatha Preen, is a monster for our time. Inhabiting her own self-centred and embittered world she inflicts psychological and physical damage on her daughters while keeping her sons cowed by alternating violence with affection.
Chitwood has an authentic voice articulating the world of the grifter and petty criminal hovering at the margins of society. The writing is gritty, laying bare the animal beneath the thin veneer of civilisation. Child abuse, theft, deception and murder all feature in a heady cocktail of corrupted morality – yet these topics are handled without sensationalism, and at times the novel has an almost journalistic feel to it.
This is a brave book, swimming against the tide of literary popcorn, and it deserves a wide readership.
July 5, 2012
(Won through FirstRead Giveaway)
This book painted a vivid picture of what an abusive single-mother household looked like. Drugs, alcohol, physical, and sexual abuse were all chronicled within these pages. I had originally thought this was a true story, but it was only based upon a couple of news articles, and a lot of the story was fictional.
Considering the subject matter, I thought some of the sexual content was rather gratuitous, particularly since it was a fictional account. I also thought that it seemed to end rather abruptly; there were 250 pages of moving along through the story, then it seemed to just sort of jump to an ending at a different pace.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, and my attention was captured by it.
This book painted a vivid picture of what an abusive single-mother household looked like. Drugs, alcohol, physical, and sexual abuse were all chronicled within these pages. I had originally thought this was a true story, but it was only based upon a couple of news articles, and a lot of the story was fictional.
Considering the subject matter, I thought some of the sexual content was rather gratuitous, particularly since it was a fictional account. I also thought that it seemed to end rather abruptly; there were 250 pages of moving along through the story, then it seemed to just sort of jump to an ending at a different pace.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, and my attention was captured by it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2012
I received this book as an ARC, and thought it would be interesting. It was just scary.
Mama is not just mad, she's terrifyingly crazy, capable of just about anything. After she kills her older 2 daughters--in the first chapter!--the remaining daughter is almost afraid to breathe, sure she's next. The boys manage to leave or adapt. For whatever reason, they're not her primary targets.
I read almost half the book, then decided I just did not want to spend any more time with these people. The problem is that Mama was actually believable, and even more frightening for it.
Mama is not just mad, she's terrifyingly crazy, capable of just about anything. After she kills her older 2 daughters--in the first chapter!--the remaining daughter is almost afraid to breathe, sure she's next. The boys manage to leave or adapt. For whatever reason, they're not her primary targets.
I read almost half the book, then decided I just did not want to spend any more time with these people. The problem is that Mama was actually believable, and even more frightening for it.
April 10, 2013
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaways. To read about some of the things this mother had done to her children, whether or not it is fiction or nonfiction, makes me angry; but I know that there are people out there that are crazy, evil or whatever you want to call them. I did like the book although I did not care for the ending when I first read it but after reading the authors notes I understood why he ended the way he did. But there is still a part of me that thinks that the mother should have been killed in a different way...
April 7, 2015
Chilling
A very chilling and raw account of the true evil that exists in this world. I knew I had to brace myself for the harsh realities of this story but I don't believe one can truly prepare for what this book has in store for those brave enough to pick it up. A remarkable story that will sit with me until the end of time. I appreciate the "happy" ending.
A very chilling and raw account of the true evil that exists in this world. I knew I had to brace myself for the harsh realities of this story but I don't believe one can truly prepare for what this book has in store for those brave enough to pick it up. A remarkable story that will sit with me until the end of time. I appreciate the "happy" ending.
December 21, 2014
Sadness and heartbreak
Excellent story but painful to read.
Abuse is heartbreaking. This story seemed to be written from a real life perspective.
Graphic and sexually explicit, not recommended for young people.
Excellent story but painful to read.
Abuse is heartbreaking. This story seemed to be written from a real life perspective.
Graphic and sexually explicit, not recommended for young people.
Read
August 6, 2016This book didn't flow as well as I would have liked it to. I wish more would have been written from the mind of the youngest daughter. I would have liked more of the story from the two older sisters as well as the brothers' viewpoints. Overall, however, I found it to be a very interesting read.
July 12, 2014
Sensational
This book was riveting. However, the poor editing almost made me stop reading several times. There are many grammar and spelling errors throughout the book. Shame!
This book was riveting. However, the poor editing almost made me stop reading several times. There are many grammar and spelling errors throughout the book. Shame!
September 30, 2014
This story is heartbreaking , I don't want to say much as to not spoil any parts of the story but it is sooo very sad but in the end that sorry piece crap monstrous mother gets what she deserved!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews