Fatal Romance: A True Story of Obsession and Murder

by Lisa Pulitzer

***Please This ebook edition does not contain the photos found in the print edition.***

Nancy Richards was a young, beautiful speechwriter when she met Jeremy Akers, a decorated war hero and environmental lawyer. Nancy was immediately taken with the daredevil adventurer, and it wasn't long before their intense courtship led to a whirlwind marriage and children. Discovering she had a talent for penning historical romance novels, Nancy found fame as a bestselling author. But Nancy's life was far from the happily-ever-after romances she wrote about...

Nancy's friends alleged that behind the doors of the couple's home in one of Washington, D.C.'s most exclusive neighborhoods she suffered repeated abuse at the hands of her husband. They also said that Nancy had told them Jeremy was resentful of her success and growing independence, and his beatings soon escalated into death threats. Torn between being forced to give up her kids and risking her life by remaining with jeremy, Nancy moved into a one-bedroom basement apartment with a young male friend. After several pleas to visit the children, Nancy was finally allowed to take them on an outing. And just when she dared to hope that the worst was over, Jeremy shot her twice in the back of the head, killing her in front of their two youngest children. He then drove to the Vietnam War Memorial, where he killed himself with a shotgun.

Fatal Romance is the shocking true story of the romance novelist who dreamed of the happiness she wrote of--only to die at the hands of the man she loved.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2001

About the author

LISA PULITZER is a former correspondent for the New York Times. She is the author of more than a dozen non-fiction titles, including New York Times bestseller Stolen Innocence (with Elissa Wall) and Portrait of a Monster: Joran van der Sloot, A Murder in Peru, and the Natalee Holloway Mystery (with Cole Thompson.)

Reviews

[Koren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting from beginning to end. This doesnt get bogged down in investigation and court room drama as we are told at the beginning and on the back cover that the husband shoots his wife and then kills himself. The victim was a romance author so that gave it an element of being a little different from the typical husband kills wife true crime book.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an open and shut case (spoiler alert)--husband shoots wife--and there's no trial, so the book is largely biographical information about the principals, who are not particularly interesting or sympathetic. This makes for a not-terribly-satisfying true crime reading experience. The author's A WOMAN SCORNED was infinitely superior.

[Roger]

I would describe (this story), a cross between a journalistic piece and a novel but a very well written novel…….a well researched novel. Large portions of the story are devoted to relating the life story of the victim, Nancy Akers, nee Richards and her husband (and murderer), Jeremy Akers but as I say, very well written. Nancy Richards was born into a privileged and genteel Southern family and attended the best colleges money could afford, whereas her husband, Jeremy came from a middle class working family. Very much opposites in upbringing and education but Nancy is described to have been very much in love with her somewhat “uncultured” husband, a former Marine and a man almost obsessed with being viewed as “upper class”. It should be mentioned that Jeremy Akers did become a lawyer - however a lawyer who never quite reached the “brass ring”. The motive for the killing his wife ………well that is not made completely clear. (as might be said of many murders).

[Sandy James · Rating 1 out of 5]

While this was clearly a well-researched true crime novel, I couldn't help but feel like the author was blaming the victim for her own murder. It seemed as though Pulitzer went to great lengths to stress how wonderful Jeremy was and how irresponsible Nancy was. It was grating, especially in light of the fact HE SHOT HER. (Not a spoiler being as the first scene is her murder.) I appreciate that Jeremy was an accomplished Vietnam veteran, but whether it was his Marine Corps training or exposure to Agent Orange, as the author implies, there was absolutely no excuse or justification for what he did. As a romance author, I also feel as if the author put a lot of emphasis on how Nancy had to write romance to make up for what was "missing" in her life. That is a ridiculous and too oft repeated myth. So this book was a disappointment for me. Doubt I'll pick up another by this author.

[Bookjunkie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author was very much on the "blame the victim" side of this story. Spends far too much time on what a "hero" this guy was. Even the Marines refused to accept that version and said he dishonored them. He shot is wife in cold blood in front of his kids because she did not want to live with his control freak issues. He took advantage of his own children's inability to understand complex adult relationship issues to make them think he was a great guy and she a terrible mother for leaving him.
None of these things equate to heroism.

[Robert Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I would recommend this book to people who read historical fiction. Crimes that truly happened. It made me wonder if the rage and the all consuming thoughts of Jeremy after the war were due to exposure to agent orange. Studies have proved that soldiers who were contaminated turned into violent unreasonable anger, and perception that resulted in these character changes. Yes Vietnam was a senseless war. But our troops were following orders they never should have been subject to the anger pointed towards them. It was the government who started it.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

usually like her stuff - this one I didn't even bother to finish. Meh.