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On Father's Day, Cindy Gambino's Shattering Account Of Her Children's Revenge Murders
A heartbreaking account of love and loss.
"When newly separated mum, Cindy Gambino, dropped her boys off to spend Father's Day 2005 with her estranged husband, she had no idea she would never see them alive again.
Now, the 'triple dam drowing mum', who was the true target of Robert Farquharson's festering rage, relives the unspeakable revenge which shocked Australia, and left her with the legacy of life-long suffering - her punishment for ending their marriage."
"When newly separated mum, Cindy Gambino, dropped her boys off to spend Father's Day 2005 with her estranged husband, she had no idea she would never see them alive again.
Now, the 'triple dam drowing mum', who was the true target of Robert Farquharson's festering rage, relives the unspeakable revenge which shocked Australia, and left her with the legacy of life-long suffering - her punishment for ending their marriage."
388 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Megan Norris
16 books16 followersMegan Norris is a UK-born journalist experienced in the criminal justice system. Her career in journalism began in 1976 as a reporter in the UK covering courts, police rounds and general news. Later specialising in court coverage, she wrote about the impact of crime on victims and their families. She has covered stories including the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre and some of Australia's most high-profile serial killers and stalkers.
She lives in Melbourne, Victoria, with her husband Stephen and their two sons Peter and Alex.
She lives in Melbourne, Victoria, with her husband Stephen and their two sons Peter and Alex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 18, 2016
Once again another compelling read about the Father's Day killing of 3 boys by their father. Whilst not as refined as Helen Garner's work what I did like about this version was that it gave you a real insight into some of the main people involved in this terrible tragedy. We were especially able to see what Cindy Gambino, the boys' mother had to endure. It really was a warts and all account of a mother's pain and grief. The raw emotion described here was palpable. This traumatic event changed so many lives and all because Robert Farquharson wanted to take revenge on and punish his ex wife. Once again we are confronted with the evil that lurks within what otherwise seem like ordinary people.
November 15, 2025
As expected this was heart wrenching to listen to. The book was written well for the content it contained. Will be looking at more books from this author
March 21, 2014
It's hard to even find the words to describe this book. I've been thinking about how best to word this for a couple of days. What I can say is that if you are ever so very unfortunate enough to become a victim of a horrific crime, Megan Norris is who you want to be telling your story.
On Father's Day in 2005, 3 beautiful boys were murdered by their father while on an access visit. He claimed that he suffered a coughing fit while driving with his 3 little boys, in which he blacked out, for the very first time in his life, conveniently on a dark, isolated stretch of road and that he woke up to find the car in the middle of a 7m deep dam.
We now know that he deliberatley steered the car into the exact location where it ended up, escaped the car and left it to sink with 3 helpless, terrified little boys inside. We know that he flagged down a passing motorist and refused to call emergency services. Instead he demanded to be taken to his ex wife's house so that he could tell her to her face that her children were dead. He dragged the legal proceedings up to the High Court of Australia in 2013 for maximum impact.
And that's just the beginning... Norris explores the disturbing trend of fathers murdering their children in revenge attacks on their ex wives/the mothers of their children; something that is on the rise in Australia. She delves into the psyche of somebody who would commit such a horrifying crime and does her best to advise of the 'warning signs,' (if there are any at all), using examples of events in Cindy Gambino's life, which could help other mothers out there.
Megan Norris approaches the narrative with a sensitivity that I have come to admire in her work. The way that she delicately handled Cindy Gambino's reliving of her trauma (that persists to this day) is admirable.
This book is disturbing, and some may be tempted to put it down when it gets too heavy, but it is an important book, about a discussion that Australia needs to have.
On Father's Day in 2005, 3 beautiful boys were murdered by their father while on an access visit. He claimed that he suffered a coughing fit while driving with his 3 little boys, in which he blacked out, for the very first time in his life, conveniently on a dark, isolated stretch of road and that he woke up to find the car in the middle of a 7m deep dam.
We now know that he deliberatley steered the car into the exact location where it ended up, escaped the car and left it to sink with 3 helpless, terrified little boys inside. We know that he flagged down a passing motorist and refused to call emergency services. Instead he demanded to be taken to his ex wife's house so that he could tell her to her face that her children were dead. He dragged the legal proceedings up to the High Court of Australia in 2013 for maximum impact.
And that's just the beginning... Norris explores the disturbing trend of fathers murdering their children in revenge attacks on their ex wives/the mothers of their children; something that is on the rise in Australia. She delves into the psyche of somebody who would commit such a horrifying crime and does her best to advise of the 'warning signs,' (if there are any at all), using examples of events in Cindy Gambino's life, which could help other mothers out there.
Megan Norris approaches the narrative with a sensitivity that I have come to admire in her work. The way that she delicately handled Cindy Gambino's reliving of her trauma (that persists to this day) is admirable.
This book is disturbing, and some may be tempted to put it down when it gets too heavy, but it is an important book, about a discussion that Australia needs to have.
October 20, 2015
Wow, what an incredibly sad and yet fascinating story. One cannot even begin to imagine the loss of a child, let alone three at once at the hands of their petty and vindictive father. I had seen the media reports of course, but I hadn't seen an update on the story for years. It is so easy to forget that for every horrific headline, someone has to rebuild their life. That for every news report there is a reality. This book accurately paints the portrait of Cindy's life before and after the loss, and her eventual acceptance that her Ex Husband murdered their child as revenge for their divorce. It was a compelling book, and extremely well written. I got talking to a fellow customer at the bookstore today, as she was reading Rosie Batty's new book, and once I finished this I returned to the store and gave it to one of the workers who knew the lady I was talking to, the worker and then the customer are going to read it too now. This is definitely a book that needs to be shared, and a story that shouldn't be forgotten. Five stars.
August 23, 2014
A very difficult subject dealt sensitively by Megan Norris, who kept her promise to Cindy Gambino to tell they story of how her ex-husband murdered their three sons. Norris has written the exhaustive account of this horrific crime and reveals new facts about the case and the trauma that Cindy has endured since that horror Father's Day... This is an excellent book that is the best analysis I've read of the ultimate act of family violence. Norris has also talked to other victims of this unspeakable crime who wanted to lend their voices to support Cindy Gambino. No other journalist and writer has had the involvement in this case like Norris has.
I will disclose that Norris is a good friend of mine and I know how hard she worked on this book and the relationship she developed with Cindy over the years. She had unrestricted access into the life of Cindy and the utter devastation and trauma this crime has wreaked on her life and that of others.
I will disclose that Norris is a good friend of mine and I know how hard she worked on this book and the relationship she developed with Cindy over the years. She had unrestricted access into the life of Cindy and the utter devastation and trauma this crime has wreaked on her life and that of others.
March 22, 2014
What an amazing women Cindy Gambino is. For a so called father to do this to his children is incomprehensible. Megan Norris I couldn't put the book down.
February 6, 2025
Probably one of the most well known cases of domestic violence in Australia, certainly in Victoria, Cindy Gambino's account (as told by journalist Megan Norris) of the triple murders of her 3 young sons on Father's Day in 2005 is heartbreaking and harrowing.
Cindy tells her story in the aftermath of the night her life changed forever.. the night her 3 sons were driven into a dam and left in the car to drown by their father, Robert Farquarson, on the outskirts of Winchelsea, a small rural township about 120 Kms South West of Melbourne.
Having previously read Helen Garner's 'This House of Grief', an account of Farquarson's trial for the murder of his children, many of the details of that horrific night and the evidence presented at the trial were familiar to me, but learning of the impact this unimaginable tragedy and the years of protracted legal proceedings had on Cindy and her family shone a new light on this devastating act of retaliatory filicide.
This story, again, has a sense of familiarity about it in as much as the setting and many of the places where events took place are ones that are known to me, places I have spent time in, and as with Garner's account of the trial, one of the witnesses (Dr Christopher Steinfort) called to give evidence about Farquarsons's claim that he experienced a coughing fit and passed out, thereby losing control of the car, is the Respiratory Specialist who treated my own father during his many years of illness before dying. This familiarity has a way of deepening the sadness this event makes me feel, and I'm sure anyone else with that same sense of familiarity and knowledge of the case would feel the same.
Megan Norris's thorough research and the trust Cindy Gambino placed in her to tell her story is clearly evident here. Although at times quite confronting and heavy with repetition of conversations and court details and evidence, this is a compelling insight into the far-reaching effects of domestic violence and long-term trauma - Cindy, understandably, was never the same, and although she had great love and support from her second husband, Stephen Moules , she existed as a mere shell of her former self, addicted to painkillers and anti-depressants for the remainder of her too-short life, dying at the age of 50 and being reunited with her children.
Her fervant desire was that her 3 beautiful boys would never be forgotten, and this account of their tragic murder and the years that followed ensures that they will not.
Cindy tells her story in the aftermath of the night her life changed forever.. the night her 3 sons were driven into a dam and left in the car to drown by their father, Robert Farquarson, on the outskirts of Winchelsea, a small rural township about 120 Kms South West of Melbourne.
Having previously read Helen Garner's 'This House of Grief', an account of Farquarson's trial for the murder of his children, many of the details of that horrific night and the evidence presented at the trial were familiar to me, but learning of the impact this unimaginable tragedy and the years of protracted legal proceedings had on Cindy and her family shone a new light on this devastating act of retaliatory filicide.
This story, again, has a sense of familiarity about it in as much as the setting and many of the places where events took place are ones that are known to me, places I have spent time in, and as with Garner's account of the trial, one of the witnesses (Dr Christopher Steinfort) called to give evidence about Farquarsons's claim that he experienced a coughing fit and passed out, thereby losing control of the car, is the Respiratory Specialist who treated my own father during his many years of illness before dying. This familiarity has a way of deepening the sadness this event makes me feel, and I'm sure anyone else with that same sense of familiarity and knowledge of the case would feel the same.
Megan Norris's thorough research and the trust Cindy Gambino placed in her to tell her story is clearly evident here. Although at times quite confronting and heavy with repetition of conversations and court details and evidence, this is a compelling insight into the far-reaching effects of domestic violence and long-term trauma - Cindy, understandably, was never the same, and although she had great love and support from her second husband, Stephen Moules , she existed as a mere shell of her former self, addicted to painkillers and anti-depressants for the remainder of her too-short life, dying at the age of 50 and being reunited with her children.
Her fervant desire was that her 3 beautiful boys would never be forgotten, and this account of their tragic murder and the years that followed ensures that they will not.
August 30, 2015
I have just finished reading this horrific account of Cindy Gambino's recent life. I have issue with those who say, 'She lost 3 children'.... she didn't lose them, they were ripped out of her life by her evil, vindictive and sadistic ex-husband. What makes a man do something like this? I really don't know, I don't understand why men feel they have to be so sadistically vindictive to kill their own children just to spite the mother, but I read this book with an open mind and yet, there are things in this story that are creepily similar to parts of my own life, where an ex-husband is concerned.
I found this story exceptionally well written and at the same time it was a story that more or less wrote itself. Kudos to Megan Norris for writing such a passionate and sympathetic account of the tortuous life Cindy Gambaro had suffered and endured since the time her ex-husband deliberately killed her children.
Cindy is made of strong stuff even if she doesn't think so because having had endured the pain and suffering of the initial event, this evil, vindictive and revenge filled ex-husband went on to torment her life for nearly a decade. Many times she felt she could not go on; many times she lashed out at those who were trying to help her, and many thousands of times she would dissolve into a blubbering heap knowing at the time, she was no use to anyone at all.
I related to Cindy whilst reading this book, in part, because having had one of my own children also killed, but in an awful accident, I could physically feel her pain. Many times I could not put the book down; I just HAD to turn the next page....and earn myself many headaches from feeling her stress and the strain of her everyday life without her first children.
What her family and extended family and those of the murderous father, had to endure, and still will continue to do so for the rest of their lives, is unbelievably heartbreaking and desperately sad....and it was all so very unnecessary.
Stephen Moules, Cindy's new husband, is an extraordinarily remarkable man. How he coped; had to cope with a woman who was self destructing before his eyes, when he had tried so hard to help her, must have been devastating for him, particularly when he could see the damaging effect her situation was having on his entire family, especially his children. I thought, this man understands the true meaning of real love. I thought as I read about his efforts to help Cindy, most men I know would have run a mile. Stephen must have the strength of Job. His little boys Luke and Zack, who had lived through this nightmare with Stephen and Cindy, have come out the other end of the long, very black tunnel, along with Stephen, Cindy and their younger children Hezekiah and Isaiah after an incredibly shocking and horrific roller coaster ride which no-one should ever have to go through, ever, and not one of them have come out unscathed.
When I thought about the people who had been affected by this shockingly selfish and vengeful act of one man, Farqhuason, it became a ripple effect and the rings just seemed to get wider and wider, and be never-ending. From the 2 people in the centre of the picture, there became a massive pain that just grew and grew and affected everyone around them and many further beyond both the small Victorian communities of Winchelsea and Burrigarra. These communities will never be the same; they will never get over the shocking events surrounding that awful Fathers Day in 2005, because these little communities are tightly knit, everyone knows everyone else, and when something like this happens, it affects everyone.
Megan Norris has done a remarkable job in putting this story in print. Her descriptions of the shattered Mum and how her depression and sadness had time and again taken Cindy to the edge of the abyss, makes this book one to read and remember. A very skilful and talented writer who was not only interested in the story, but the human side of this mother's shattered life, Megan has become a very close part of it. She has become a very close friend to Cindy and Stephen and it is a friendship, despite beginning in tragedy, will endure.
I hope that those who choose to read this story, can do so without coming to tears, as I have done, because I felt so devastated for Cindy herself.This is a book you will not want to put down; you will want to keep turning the pages to the end.
I found this story exceptionally well written and at the same time it was a story that more or less wrote itself. Kudos to Megan Norris for writing such a passionate and sympathetic account of the tortuous life Cindy Gambaro had suffered and endured since the time her ex-husband deliberately killed her children.
Cindy is made of strong stuff even if she doesn't think so because having had endured the pain and suffering of the initial event, this evil, vindictive and revenge filled ex-husband went on to torment her life for nearly a decade. Many times she felt she could not go on; many times she lashed out at those who were trying to help her, and many thousands of times she would dissolve into a blubbering heap knowing at the time, she was no use to anyone at all.
I related to Cindy whilst reading this book, in part, because having had one of my own children also killed, but in an awful accident, I could physically feel her pain. Many times I could not put the book down; I just HAD to turn the next page....and earn myself many headaches from feeling her stress and the strain of her everyday life without her first children.
What her family and extended family and those of the murderous father, had to endure, and still will continue to do so for the rest of their lives, is unbelievably heartbreaking and desperately sad....and it was all so very unnecessary.
Stephen Moules, Cindy's new husband, is an extraordinarily remarkable man. How he coped; had to cope with a woman who was self destructing before his eyes, when he had tried so hard to help her, must have been devastating for him, particularly when he could see the damaging effect her situation was having on his entire family, especially his children. I thought, this man understands the true meaning of real love. I thought as I read about his efforts to help Cindy, most men I know would have run a mile. Stephen must have the strength of Job. His little boys Luke and Zack, who had lived through this nightmare with Stephen and Cindy, have come out the other end of the long, very black tunnel, along with Stephen, Cindy and their younger children Hezekiah and Isaiah after an incredibly shocking and horrific roller coaster ride which no-one should ever have to go through, ever, and not one of them have come out unscathed.
When I thought about the people who had been affected by this shockingly selfish and vengeful act of one man, Farqhuason, it became a ripple effect and the rings just seemed to get wider and wider, and be never-ending. From the 2 people in the centre of the picture, there became a massive pain that just grew and grew and affected everyone around them and many further beyond both the small Victorian communities of Winchelsea and Burrigarra. These communities will never be the same; they will never get over the shocking events surrounding that awful Fathers Day in 2005, because these little communities are tightly knit, everyone knows everyone else, and when something like this happens, it affects everyone.
Megan Norris has done a remarkable job in putting this story in print. Her descriptions of the shattered Mum and how her depression and sadness had time and again taken Cindy to the edge of the abyss, makes this book one to read and remember. A very skilful and talented writer who was not only interested in the story, but the human side of this mother's shattered life, Megan has become a very close part of it. She has become a very close friend to Cindy and Stephen and it is a friendship, despite beginning in tragedy, will endure.
I hope that those who choose to read this story, can do so without coming to tears, as I have done, because I felt so devastated for Cindy herself.This is a book you will not want to put down; you will want to keep turning the pages to the end.
April 20, 2016
A disturbing read written in women's mag speak. Dull country bloke exacts his revenge on estranged wife by drowning their three little boys in a roadside dam and staging it as an accident. Two murder trials ensue, followed by multiple appeals against his conviction. She believes in his innocence, then doesn't. Medicated up to the eyeballs her suffering just goes on and on and on for years and years and years and the two new children she bears to her new partner (strong silent type and real love of her life) apparently offer her little lasting consolation. OK, I get it - Cindy Gambino is the victim of a cruel fate. But in dwelling so relentlessly on her Decimation Megan Norris overplays her hand, why else would I feel sorry for her subject yet find her strangely unsympathetic and become so sick of her in the end? This sorrowful Aussie battler tale misses the mark for me.
August 1, 2014
A very sad tale of a mum losing her 3 young boys to her vengeful ex husband who drove them all into a dam and left them to drown. This story describes how this tragedy affected many people forever, even tho the mum married again and had 2 more children. You get a feeling that the author slightly disapproved of this drinking, smoking, hysterical woman who became addicted to painkillers and booze and even after 8 years seemed to somewhat enjoy being a victim. Or maybe that's just the way I saw it.
October 11, 2014
One can never really know what another person goes thru until we walk in their shoes.
Whilst I found this book difficult at times to read and did not necessarily understand or agree with all of Cindy's choices- my heart absolutely breaks for her.
I wish her and Stephen luck with the test of their lives.
RIP Jai Tyler & Bailey.
Whilst I found this book difficult at times to read and did not necessarily understand or agree with all of Cindy's choices- my heart absolutely breaks for her.
I wish her and Stephen luck with the test of their lives.
RIP Jai Tyler & Bailey.
June 13, 2025
The 4 stars on this rating is not because it is a good book/audio book, the story itself is heartbreaking, traumatic, and incredibly sad which makes me want to give it a low rating; however, the story was very well written and the audio enhanced the story, so that is the reason for 4 stars.
October 20, 2013
Incredibly sad :( Made me cry a lot but well worth the read, cannot begin to imagine the pain that Cindy Gambino has to face everyday, my heart goes out to her :(
July 12, 2022
Agonizing Tragedy
Agonizing tragedy and an agonizing read. This book is very well written and the events are incomprehensible. I don’t know how any mother would be able to move past this, but Cindy has a staggering capacity to marinate in her sorrow and wound everyone in her life for years on end.
Stephen is an incredibly supportive husband who took on Cindy’s heartbreak very early on, and who has stuck by her side unconditionally. Cindy allowed herself to become pregnant twice within a short timeframe, within a year of the tragedy the first time. Through counseling, love, a tight support system, two stepsons who desperately needed love and support after losing three friends they cared about, two new young children, and their father who was also traumatized, Cindy continues to focus narrowly inward year after year after year after year after year after year. At some point this became a very destructive pattern and a choice. After about year three of Cindy’s inward pain, howling, self-obsession, over medicating and emotionally abusive treatment of her stepsons and her own two young boys, I began to feel anger towards Cindy and towards Stephen who should have (figuratively) jerked a knot in her and taken a hard line on what had become very selfish wallowing to the detriment and destruction of their four boys and everyone else in her life.
She chose to bring two babies into this world and instead of cherishing them, nurturing them, being grateful for them, all throughout year six of this trauma she continued to obsess about her ex-husband and his continual appeals and even his unwillingness to see her! Cindy’s dad finally lit into her about it, but instead of taking stock and manning up, she refused to see her parents for 6 months.
I hope and pray that at some point after this book was published, Cindy made a U-turn and chose to cherish the precious family she was blessed with following this tragedy. I really hated that at the six year mark, Cindy still allowed Rob and his evil, incomprehensible act to completely dominate her life and cast a nasty, continual, unhealthy shadow over her new beautiful family. Her behavior is exactly what Rob wanted for Cindy. He must be very pleased indeed if he read this book. Mission accomplished.
Agonizing tragedy and an agonizing read. This book is very well written and the events are incomprehensible. I don’t know how any mother would be able to move past this, but Cindy has a staggering capacity to marinate in her sorrow and wound everyone in her life for years on end.
Stephen is an incredibly supportive husband who took on Cindy’s heartbreak very early on, and who has stuck by her side unconditionally. Cindy allowed herself to become pregnant twice within a short timeframe, within a year of the tragedy the first time. Through counseling, love, a tight support system, two stepsons who desperately needed love and support after losing three friends they cared about, two new young children, and their father who was also traumatized, Cindy continues to focus narrowly inward year after year after year after year after year after year. At some point this became a very destructive pattern and a choice. After about year three of Cindy’s inward pain, howling, self-obsession, over medicating and emotionally abusive treatment of her stepsons and her own two young boys, I began to feel anger towards Cindy and towards Stephen who should have (figuratively) jerked a knot in her and taken a hard line on what had become very selfish wallowing to the detriment and destruction of their four boys and everyone else in her life.
She chose to bring two babies into this world and instead of cherishing them, nurturing them, being grateful for them, all throughout year six of this trauma she continued to obsess about her ex-husband and his continual appeals and even his unwillingness to see her! Cindy’s dad finally lit into her about it, but instead of taking stock and manning up, she refused to see her parents for 6 months.
I hope and pray that at some point after this book was published, Cindy made a U-turn and chose to cherish the precious family she was blessed with following this tragedy. I really hated that at the six year mark, Cindy still allowed Rob and his evil, incomprehensible act to completely dominate her life and cast a nasty, continual, unhealthy shadow over her new beautiful family. Her behavior is exactly what Rob wanted for Cindy. He must be very pleased indeed if he read this book. Mission accomplished.
Read
January 4, 2024This is a harrowing true life story, sensitively written, and riveting to read. Mother of 3, Cindy Gambino suffered the tragic loss of all 3 of her young sons when their separated father, Robert Farquharson drove his car into a dam in Winchelsea on Father's Day 2005. Megan Norris spent years researching this case, and following the many twists and turns of the legal process, trials, and appeals that followed. The trauma of the families involved, and most especially Cindy Gambino are portrayed with deep empathy. Megan presents both families sides of this case of retaliatory filicide. In reading this book I am reminded of the wonderful, highly acclaimed American true crime writer, Ann Rule. I was delighted to discover we have an Australian author who can write these important stories on behalf of the families involved. Both Megan and Ann, (who passed away in 2018) are advocates for victims of domestic violence. As hard as these stories are, - both to write and to read, they are vital in helping us all to try to gain some understanding of domestic violence. I highly recommend this book, and this author.
May 8, 2025
This was by far one of the most gut-wrenching books I’ve ever read—yet I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Megan Norris delivers a powerful and heartbreaking account of a crime that shook a small Australian town to its core.
As much as it pained me to imagine the agony Cindy endured across eight harrowing years, it was bittersweet to witness how her strength and persistence ultimately ensured justice was served. The man who took the lives of three innocent children in the name of revenge remains behind bars, and while no outcome can undo the horror, there is some solace in knowing he was held accountable.
Norris tells this story with both compassion and conviction, ensuring the victims are honoured and their voices never forgotten. It’s a confronting read—but an essential one that highlights the devastating consequences of coercive control and family violence.
Highly recommended for true crime readers who seek more than just a retelling—this is a story of heartbreak, justice, and the strength of a mother’s love.
As much as it pained me to imagine the agony Cindy endured across eight harrowing years, it was bittersweet to witness how her strength and persistence ultimately ensured justice was served. The man who took the lives of three innocent children in the name of revenge remains behind bars, and while no outcome can undo the horror, there is some solace in knowing he was held accountable.
Norris tells this story with both compassion and conviction, ensuring the victims are honoured and their voices never forgotten. It’s a confronting read—but an essential one that highlights the devastating consequences of coercive control and family violence.
Highly recommended for true crime readers who seek more than just a retelling—this is a story of heartbreak, justice, and the strength of a mother’s love.
September 14, 2025
This was by far one of the most gut-wrenching books I’ve ever read—yet I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Megan Norris delivers a powerful and heartbreaking account of a crime that shook a small Australian town to its core.
As much as it pained me to imagine the agony Cindy endured across eight harrowing years, it was bittersweet to witness how her strength and persistence ultimately ensured justice was served. The man who took the lives of three innocent children in the name of revenge remains behind bars, and while no outcome can undo the horror, there is some solace in knowing he was held accountable.
Norris tells this story with both compassion and conviction, ensuring the victims are honoured and their voices never forgotten. It’s a confronting read—but an essential one that highlights the devastating consequences of coercive control and family violence.
Highly recommended for true crime readers who seek more than just a retelling—this is a story of heartbreak, justice, and the strength of a mother’s love.
As much as it pained me to imagine the agony Cindy endured across eight harrowing years, it was bittersweet to witness how her strength and persistence ultimately ensured justice was served. The man who took the lives of three innocent children in the name of revenge remains behind bars, and while no outcome can undo the horror, there is some solace in knowing he was held accountable.
Norris tells this story with both compassion and conviction, ensuring the victims are honoured and their voices never forgotten. It’s a confronting read—but an essential one that highlights the devastating consequences of coercive control and family violence.
Highly recommended for true crime readers who seek more than just a retelling—this is a story of heartbreak, justice, and the strength of a mother’s love.
February 3, 2018
It remains beyond belief how a parent would even contemplate that such a heinous crime would bring them satisfaction that they’d continued to hurt their ex!!!
I don’t want to generalise, but don’t fathers “feel” the special joy when they’re part of producing kids???
How then can they murder them when relationships turn bad & they want to wreak havoc on their ex?
What has been achieved?
I don’t want to generalise, but don’t fathers “feel” the special joy when they’re part of producing kids???
How then can they murder them when relationships turn bad & they want to wreak havoc on their ex?
What has been achieved?
April 7, 2025
A very detailed thoroughly researched book revealing several points of which I was unaware even having read other books on this tragedy. It goes right up to the passing of Cindy Gambino-Moules. Well worth reading though there will probably always be divided opinion on the guilt or otherwise of Robert Farquharson, the boys’ Father.
September 23, 2017
I loved it but it was difficult to read everything was put in detail.
December 17, 2018
A very harrowing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
A horrific story but so well written. Very worthy of a read.
June 22, 2020
A well written and absolutely heart breaking insight into this crime.. It’s a scary thought how much you can live with someone, have children with them and NOT know them at all..
April 1, 2021
Such a heartbreaking story.
April 27, 2021
This was a sad book I felt so sorry
August 27, 2022
Ive driven past this dam numerous times without knowing this story. Its just shocking, such a selfish and spiteful act to do over "nothing".
March 20, 2025
Bro this book made me grieve for a family I never knew. So beautiful and important.
August 4, 2025
Sad but must read story - I cried more than once. What this woman went through was terrible.
December 12, 2025
An exhaustive unpacking of why another crumb of a man thought his inability to deal with not being the centre of everyone's universe was more important than his families lives.
July 19, 2016
My deepest condolences for the boys' families.
This was such a harrowing story, one of unimaginable loss. I quite literally cried 10 times whilst reading it. It's hard to review this book because you don't want to belittle the experiences of all involved. Nobody should ever have to endure pain like those affected have.
All in all, this was a fair account of what happened. Despite it being clear that the author though Robert was guilty, the story was laid out without bias. However, a fair amount of it dragged. I feel horrible saying that but it's true.
This was such a harrowing story, one of unimaginable loss. I quite literally cried 10 times whilst reading it. It's hard to review this book because you don't want to belittle the experiences of all involved. Nobody should ever have to endure pain like those affected have.
All in all, this was a fair account of what happened. Despite it being clear that the author though Robert was guilty, the story was laid out without bias. However, a fair amount of it dragged. I feel horrible saying that but it's true.
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