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Eye of the Beholder: The Almost Perfect Murder of Anchorwoman Diane Newton King
A grisly murder upends life in a charming midwestern hamlet
Battle Creek, Michigan, is famous as the birthplace of breakfast cereal, and the nearby suburb of Marshall is as wholesome as shredded wheat. Well-known for its colorful Victorian mansions, this stately slice of nineteenth-century Americana became infamous on a frigid night in February of 1991. Newscaster Diane Newton King was stepping out of her car, her children strapped into the backseat, when a sniper’s bullet cut her down. The police assumed that the killer was her stalker—a crazed fan who had been terrorizing King for weeks. But as their investigation ground to a standstill, the police turned to another suspect—one much closer to home.
In this gripping retelling of the crime and its aftermath, journalist Lowell Cauffiel re-creates the atmosphere of terror that marked King’s last days, giving us a story of celebrity, obsession, and what it means to kill.
Battle Creek, Michigan, is famous as the birthplace of breakfast cereal, and the nearby suburb of Marshall is as wholesome as shredded wheat. Well-known for its colorful Victorian mansions, this stately slice of nineteenth-century Americana became infamous on a frigid night in February of 1991. Newscaster Diane Newton King was stepping out of her car, her children strapped into the backseat, when a sniper’s bullet cut her down. The police assumed that the killer was her stalker—a crazed fan who had been terrorizing King for weeks. But as their investigation ground to a standstill, the police turned to another suspect—one much closer to home.
In this gripping retelling of the crime and its aftermath, journalist Lowell Cauffiel re-creates the atmosphere of terror that marked King’s last days, giving us a story of celebrity, obsession, and what it means to kill.
660 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 19, 2018
This is an extremely long and detailed case study. Happening in Michigan and within the Grand Rapids/ Kalamazoo jurisdiction of networking- I was especially interested. Not at all that far from my Cass County and I found the "mores" and hunting culture accurate. Diane (the victim) was a celeb- as she was the television news/ weather personality for that particular MI audience in the early 1990's.
For most readers of non-fiction in this genre, it will be far too long winded and filled with hearsay of every friend, neighbor, acquaintance etc. in that geographical location. Not to speak of the entities of police, law investigating the entire, or other organizational aptitudes for which Diane played supportive community roles or did service work and other P.R. relations inputs. Some of those related to her job and others not so much and others not at all. A massive list of "do good", IMHO. Neighborhood moms of association especially have and hold large segments of the "hear say". 200 plus pages of just the "we said this and then she said that" kind of minutia from those friends or neighborhood family members or their associates. It reads like a gossip fest of dueling opinions.
They had nearly reverse "role plays" for wife/husband in some ways- and also a quirky kind of personality meld dynamic. And that niche was the core of my interest re this terrible crime. That very strange "attraction"/ "compulsion" towards/ with each other? When his first wife gives such a different and altered personal evaluation of Brad as a non-violent detached solitary reserved human.
A crying dependent man, filled with "empathy". A bigger than life celeb personality with intensity and histrionics of control and need. Both had voids which "fit" the others need "shapes". But a truly odd dynamic.
Murder as cold as it gets. And such rationalizations. And reforming of "self-identity" too. Like Brad's Native American bent- what you see is NOT what you get.
Too long for most to be interested in this. I thought the facades that both marriage partners showed different groups and individuals was compelling of interest. Actors supreme! Both!
For most readers of non-fiction in this genre, it will be far too long winded and filled with hearsay of every friend, neighbor, acquaintance etc. in that geographical location. Not to speak of the entities of police, law investigating the entire, or other organizational aptitudes for which Diane played supportive community roles or did service work and other P.R. relations inputs. Some of those related to her job and others not so much and others not at all. A massive list of "do good", IMHO. Neighborhood moms of association especially have and hold large segments of the "hear say". 200 plus pages of just the "we said this and then she said that" kind of minutia from those friends or neighborhood family members or their associates. It reads like a gossip fest of dueling opinions.
They had nearly reverse "role plays" for wife/husband in some ways- and also a quirky kind of personality meld dynamic. And that niche was the core of my interest re this terrible crime. That very strange "attraction"/ "compulsion" towards/ with each other? When his first wife gives such a different and altered personal evaluation of Brad as a non-violent detached solitary reserved human.
A crying dependent man, filled with "empathy". A bigger than life celeb personality with intensity and histrionics of control and need. Both had voids which "fit" the others need "shapes". But a truly odd dynamic.
Murder as cold as it gets. And such rationalizations. And reforming of "self-identity" too. Like Brad's Native American bent- what you see is NOT what you get.
Too long for most to be interested in this. I thought the facades that both marriage partners showed different groups and individuals was compelling of interest. Actors supreme! Both!
April 30, 2017
I appreciated the author's honesty about how Mrs. King wasn't the nicest or humblest of people. All types of personalities are murdered sadly and this one happens to be one of those in the middle. Something else I liked was he didn't glorify Mr. King either. A murder was committed in front of their children and that is not okay in any way, I want to make that clear. Still both sides seemed honest and unbiased when a side could have easily been picked as a victim and villain (a common practice sadly but one I don’t really like in my true crime books unless it’s deserved). There was some repetition in the book that made it a bother to read sometimes so future readers beware. Overall, this was a really nice first read of Mr. Cauffiel's books.
January 12, 2018
I had the privilege and the pleasure of knowing and working with Diane for three years. She was so kind as to serve as an expert consultant on an event the zoo produced each year during the school year for area students called "Native American Autumn Fest." Accuracy was very important to us and we didn't want to get the information wrong or offend any of our Native American neighbors. Diane was part Ojibwa and part Apache and even though the local tribe here is Pottawatomie they respected her opinion and trusted her. Imagine the shock when on February 9, 1991 we learned that she had been fatally shot and the main suspect was her husband Brad who was a criminal justice professor at Western Michigan University and a former police officer. Even more shocking was that her 3 year old son and 3 month old daughter were in car seats still in the car. They were supposed to have stayed at Diane's mother's home but her daughter appeared to be coming down with something and the 3 year old didn't want to stay alone. I didn't believe it was possible that Brad had killed her until I heard that the dog...a giant of a German Shepherd... was tied in the hay barn to the loft ladder and the fatal shot came from the loft. I had encountered that dog and knew that it had to have been tied there by someone that it knew and there was only one other person other than Diane at the house. It's not a huge in your face crime as far as murders go but it happened to a lovely, well respected mother, daughter and friend so it was huge to us. This author does a really good job telling Diane's story.
August 8, 2017
Author: Lowell Cauffiel
Title: Eye of the Beholder: The Almost Perfect Murder of Anchorwoman Diane Newton King
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC.
Unabridged
Length of Production: 15 discs/19 hours: 2 minutes
Year of Publication: 2016
On February 9, 1991, Diane Newton King, a beloved local anchorwoman was brutally gunned down in the driveway of her quaint home in Marshall, Michigan. Such a grisly murder set the town reeling – perhaps the most intrigue this town had prior was its annual home tour. In the spirit of the great whodunit’s, Cauffiel masterfully paints the nuances of this murder mystery and the shocking conclusion as to who the guilty party was.
This audio book is not for the faint of heart, however. Piece by piece, the author takes 19 hours to unfold, in painstaking detail, the investigation that ultimately lands at the feet of Diane’s husband, Bradford Newton King. Those with a penchant for criminality or who enjoy following the development of such cases will be fascinated. Perhaps a significant portion of this work could have been eliminated for space but as the story unfolds the listener certainly comes to disdain Mr. King, a former police officer and criminal justice professor at the time of his wife’s death.
As the plot thickens, the reader discovers that the King’s marriage was not very healthy. This is only strengthened by the fact that Professor King has an interest in many of his young female students, having bedded many of them in his quest for self-affirmation. Bradford seems to be one who is steadily unsure of himself and adopts any identity that most suits his present state of mind.
The cadence of the audio book is at an appropriate pace and the narrator, Luke Daniels, masterfully helps the listener navigate the doldrums of minutiae. Daniels’ background is in classic theatre and film and he adroitly demonstrates multiple characterizations, including female voices, to keep the story from getting too boring. Be warned not to listen to this audio book in the presence of children as the narrative includes copious utilization of swearing to enliven the drama.
A novel approach in this delivery is the insertion of passages that are labeled, “from the perspective of Brad King.” Therein, the author attempts to determine King’s perspective on various aspects of the case, his wife, and his future. As with the other characterizations, the narrator does an exceptional job bringing Mr. King to life in these subtle attempts to pull back the veil of his mind. While an interesting approach it does not seem to add much to the story.
If you’re the type who enjoys HLN’s Forensic Files®, you will love Eye of the Beholder. Hopefully, you can piece together 19 hours to listen to the full story.
Title: Eye of the Beholder: The Almost Perfect Murder of Anchorwoman Diane Newton King
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC.
Unabridged
Length of Production: 15 discs/19 hours: 2 minutes
Year of Publication: 2016
On February 9, 1991, Diane Newton King, a beloved local anchorwoman was brutally gunned down in the driveway of her quaint home in Marshall, Michigan. Such a grisly murder set the town reeling – perhaps the most intrigue this town had prior was its annual home tour. In the spirit of the great whodunit’s, Cauffiel masterfully paints the nuances of this murder mystery and the shocking conclusion as to who the guilty party was.
This audio book is not for the faint of heart, however. Piece by piece, the author takes 19 hours to unfold, in painstaking detail, the investigation that ultimately lands at the feet of Diane’s husband, Bradford Newton King. Those with a penchant for criminality or who enjoy following the development of such cases will be fascinated. Perhaps a significant portion of this work could have been eliminated for space but as the story unfolds the listener certainly comes to disdain Mr. King, a former police officer and criminal justice professor at the time of his wife’s death.
As the plot thickens, the reader discovers that the King’s marriage was not very healthy. This is only strengthened by the fact that Professor King has an interest in many of his young female students, having bedded many of them in his quest for self-affirmation. Bradford seems to be one who is steadily unsure of himself and adopts any identity that most suits his present state of mind.
The cadence of the audio book is at an appropriate pace and the narrator, Luke Daniels, masterfully helps the listener navigate the doldrums of minutiae. Daniels’ background is in classic theatre and film and he adroitly demonstrates multiple characterizations, including female voices, to keep the story from getting too boring. Be warned not to listen to this audio book in the presence of children as the narrative includes copious utilization of swearing to enliven the drama.
A novel approach in this delivery is the insertion of passages that are labeled, “from the perspective of Brad King.” Therein, the author attempts to determine King’s perspective on various aspects of the case, his wife, and his future. As with the other characterizations, the narrator does an exceptional job bringing Mr. King to life in these subtle attempts to pull back the veil of his mind. While an interesting approach it does not seem to add much to the story.
If you’re the type who enjoys HLN’s Forensic Files®, you will love Eye of the Beholder. Hopefully, you can piece together 19 hours to listen to the full story.
January 14, 2019
I've read other books by this author that were very good but this one was just too long for the amount of information (over 500 pages) and ended up being very repetitive. It was almost surprising at the number of people the author found that said how wonderful the victim was and how bizarre the husband was. I think it would have been a much better book if it was about half the size. This book is about the murder of Diane Newton by her husband in 1991.
January 12, 2018
Eye of The Beholder by Lowell Cauffiel
4★'s
Battle Creek, Michigan, is famous as the birthplace of breakfast cereal, and the nearby suburb of Marshall is as wholesome as shredded wheat. Well-known for its colorful Victorian mansions, this stately slice of nineteenth-century Americana became infamous on a frigid night in February of 1991. Newscaster Diane Newton King was stepping out of her car, her children strapped into the backseat, when a sniper’s bullet cut her down. The police assumed that the killer was her stalker—a crazed fan who had been terrorizing King for weeks. But as their investigation ground to a standstill, the police turned to another suspect—one much closer to home.
I had the privilege and the pleasure of knowing and working with Diane for three years. She was so kind as to serve as an expert consultant on an event the zoo produced each year during the school year for area students called "Native American Autumn Fest." Accuracy was very important to us and we didn't want to get the information wrong or offend any of our Native American neighbors. Diane was part Ojibwa and part Apache and even though the local tribe here is Pottawatomie they respected her opinion and trusted her. Imagine the shock when on February 9, 1991 we learned that she had been fatally shot and the main suspect was her husband Brad who was a criminal justice professor at Western Michigan University and a former police officer. Even more shocking was that her 3 year old son and 3 month old daughter were in car seats still in the car. They were supposed to have stayed at Diane's mother's home but her daughter appeared to be coming down with something and the 3 year old didn't want to stay alone. I didn't believe it was possible that Brad had killed her until I heard that the dog...a giant of a German Shepherd... was tied in the hay barn to the loft ladder and the fatal shot came from the loft. I had encountered that dog and knew that it had to have been tied there by someone that it knew and there was only one other person other than Diane at the house. It's not a huge in your face crime as far as murders go but it happened to a lovely, well respected mother, daughter and friend so it was huge to us. This author does a really good job telling Diane's story.
4★'s
Battle Creek, Michigan, is famous as the birthplace of breakfast cereal, and the nearby suburb of Marshall is as wholesome as shredded wheat. Well-known for its colorful Victorian mansions, this stately slice of nineteenth-century Americana became infamous on a frigid night in February of 1991. Newscaster Diane Newton King was stepping out of her car, her children strapped into the backseat, when a sniper’s bullet cut her down. The police assumed that the killer was her stalker—a crazed fan who had been terrorizing King for weeks. But as their investigation ground to a standstill, the police turned to another suspect—one much closer to home.
I had the privilege and the pleasure of knowing and working with Diane for three years. She was so kind as to serve as an expert consultant on an event the zoo produced each year during the school year for area students called "Native American Autumn Fest." Accuracy was very important to us and we didn't want to get the information wrong or offend any of our Native American neighbors. Diane was part Ojibwa and part Apache and even though the local tribe here is Pottawatomie they respected her opinion and trusted her. Imagine the shock when on February 9, 1991 we learned that she had been fatally shot and the main suspect was her husband Brad who was a criminal justice professor at Western Michigan University and a former police officer. Even more shocking was that her 3 year old son and 3 month old daughter were in car seats still in the car. They were supposed to have stayed at Diane's mother's home but her daughter appeared to be coming down with something and the 3 year old didn't want to stay alone. I didn't believe it was possible that Brad had killed her until I heard that the dog...a giant of a German Shepherd... was tied in the hay barn to the loft ladder and the fatal shot came from the loft. I had encountered that dog and knew that it had to have been tied there by someone that it knew and there was only one other person other than Diane at the house. It's not a huge in your face crime as far as murders go but it happened to a lovely, well respected mother, daughter and friend so it was huge to us. This author does a really good job telling Diane's story.
December 11, 2024
Read if you're in the mood for something: dark, informative, & slow-paced
Book Rating: 3.0 stars
The book wasn't bad, it was a bit dry and emotionless. I feel like this book could have been at least half the length it is. The whole story was drawn out for a simple, the husband did it story. It also felt like the author had an agenda with the book.
Overall, it was a decent book, but way too long.
Narrator Rating: 2.75 stars
The narrator was neither great nor terrible. Just meh.
Content Warnings
Book Rating: 3.0 stars
The book wasn't bad, it was a bit dry and emotionless. I feel like this book could have been at least half the length it is. The whole story was drawn out for a simple, the husband did it story. It also felt like the author had an agenda with the book.
Overall, it was a decent book, but way too long.
Narrator Rating: 2.75 stars
The narrator was neither great nor terrible. Just meh.
Content Warnings
December 11, 2025
Excellent!
This is a fascinating true crime story and it is superbly researched and written. I will read more by this author.
This is a fascinating true crime story and it is superbly researched and written. I will read more by this author.
October 25, 2020
Absolutely riveting
May 3, 2024
This book covers the murder of Diane Newton King, who was found shot in her driveway on February 09, 1991. Diane was a news anchor in Michigan, where she lived with her husband and two children. She had been to visit her parents and other family members for a few days and had returned home the day of her death. Her children were still strapped into their car seats in the car. This book discusses the details of the police investigation and subsequent court case. The book was well researched and informative.
I watched this episode of Forensic Files not terribly long ago, so I was familiar with the case. I saw the book on Audible Plus, and was trying to listen to the things I selected that are expiring soon. This one expires on May 07, 2024. If you are interested in the Audible version, it was about 14 hours to listen to. The physical copy is around 600 pages. The narration was pleasant and I learned a great deal more about the case than was provided on the short Forensic Files episode. (If you are interested in that, it is Season 9 Episode 6.)
I watched this episode of Forensic Files not terribly long ago, so I was familiar with the case. I saw the book on Audible Plus, and was trying to listen to the things I selected that are expiring soon. This one expires on May 07, 2024. If you are interested in the Audible version, it was about 14 hours to listen to. The physical copy is around 600 pages. The narration was pleasant and I learned a great deal more about the case than was provided on the short Forensic Files episode. (If you are interested in that, it is Season 9 Episode 6.)
February 5, 2020
This is a very sad non-fiction book that details in painstaking detail the process of discovering who murdered local TV anchor Diane Newton King, and why. To me, it seemed that the book got a slow start, but as soon as I gave it a chance I was very impressed with the author’s ability to detail the unfolding of the crime and its aftermath, cross-checking all facts and even tracing the steps of an investigator. Cauffiel did more than his due diligence when revealing background information about the victim, her spouse and her family in a way that made every person in this tragedy lifelike and understandable, as if I was their unfortunate next door neighbor.
It is always nice when a victim is given her voice even when it is by someone who never had the opportunity to meet her in real life. It contributes to the sense of justice.
It is always nice when a victim is given her voice even when it is by someone who never had the opportunity to meet her in real life. It contributes to the sense of justice.
March 15, 2025
True Crime Novel at its BEST!
I absolutely loved this book! It was so hard to put down each night. It had all the elements of amazing murder mystery. I loved the authors style of writing and all the thoughtful details he included. I love how long it was because I didn't want it to end. The FBI paychological profiling style he used to interview Bradford at the end was such a cool and original thing to include so we could see his thought processes. The murder of Diane King was horrific, and I'm so glad that the right killer was found guilty and sentenced to prison. I highly recommend this book and this amazing true crime author!!!
I absolutely loved this book! It was so hard to put down each night. It had all the elements of amazing murder mystery. I loved the authors style of writing and all the thoughtful details he included. I love how long it was because I didn't want it to end. The FBI paychological profiling style he used to interview Bradford at the end was such a cool and original thing to include so we could see his thought processes. The murder of Diane King was horrific, and I'm so glad that the right killer was found guilty and sentenced to prison. I highly recommend this book and this amazing true crime author!!!
May 23, 2025
Riveting death.
I couldn't stop reading this story. It seems that from the beginning, it was obvious that the Brad King was his wife's killer. She may have had her faults, but he is a grown man and wanted to be a frat boy all his life. He has 3 children who will never be able to hide from what he did. Two of which have lost the mother who lived them.
I couldn't stop reading this story. It seems that from the beginning, it was obvious that the Brad King was his wife's killer. She may have had her faults, but he is a grown man and wanted to be a frat boy all his life. He has 3 children who will never be able to hide from what he did. Two of which have lost the mother who lived them.
August 18, 2025
The murderer and his wife are a perfect pair : needy new age dominant woman, supportive male. Brad is a fabulist, a philanderer. Diane is charismatic, but impossible to live with. The book comes close to saying she deserved to die. Too many interviews with Brad, which make him more antipathetic, but unrevealed. probably better off watching the court tv coverage. If you are up to it after 600 pages of Brad and Diane.
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November 30, 2019
This book gives a highly detailed account of the murder of Diane Newton King by her husband, Brad.
Chilling, horrific, and yet, riveting.
Brad received a well earned life sentence.
May he continue to rot in prison.
Chilling, horrific, and yet, riveting.
Brad received a well earned life sentence.
May he continue to rot in prison.
May 29, 2023
Book was way too long and badly needed an editor. If you want to quote from a transcript, fine, include a few keys phrases that make your point and summarize the rest. There's no need to include the entire transcript with every "um" and "uh" lovingly reproduced. So. Many. Transcripts.
February 2, 2025
Well done journalism
This is probably the best true crime book I have ever read, albeit laden with punctuation errors. The journalism is impeccable and the writer’s objectivity second to none. Well done.
This is probably the best true crime book I have ever read, albeit laden with punctuation errors. The journalism is impeccable and the writer’s objectivity second to none. Well done.
January 8, 2026
Well developed writing! Worth the purchase
Lots of detail! Somewhat tedious at times but overall a worthwhile read. Unanswered question - who else could have done it? Probably sealed his fate...
Lots of detail! Somewhat tedious at times but overall a worthwhile read. Unanswered question - who else could have done it? Probably sealed his fate...
November 21, 2017
i really tried to give this a try but it bored me to tears it was way to long i couldn't even finish i dnf it
May 6, 2018
Good read
Interesting read with good photos. I would read this author again. Tragedy for the children to lose their mother .
Interesting read with good photos. I would read this author again. Tragedy for the children to lose their mother .
November 16, 2018
Very detailed, but at times very dramatic.
June 16, 2020
long, painful book of murder of beautiful tv personality. everything points to sleazy husband but looks like he's going to skate . great police work.
July 4, 2022
Nice take on a true crime — less definitive “this is who did it” than most.
October 16, 2022
Author Details Masters Degree In Criminology, Professor, Was Not Smart Enough To Pull Off The Perfect Crime!
August 9, 2025
Very good account from multiple people
August 20, 2025
Omg!
Never read a book that was so redundant and boring.
l skipped from page 300 to 650 and didn’t miss a thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Never read a book that was so redundant and boring.
l skipped from page 300 to 650 and didn’t miss a thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 11, 2025
It took me forever to finish because it couldn’t hold my attention. The story’s villain was off putting. The book’s writing style is good, just not my cup of tea
April 3, 2026
Excellent research and analysis
If you like true crime books, this is one of the better ones. In-depth research and analysis. I recommend reading it.
If you like true crime books, this is one of the better ones. In-depth research and analysis. I recommend reading it.
October 11, 2011
I didn't care much for this book. I've read other good books by this author but this one pretty much bored the hell out of me. First, the victim was a woman that liked herself too much. Second, the husband was a piece of work himself, they were made for each other. And what's with this "indian heritage" stuff, I mean, don't get me wrong... Everyone should be proud of their heritage and I have a lot of friends who are American Indian and I respect them for their race, but this was mentioned just about every other page in the story of the crime, it was like overkill. I had to take about a 5 week break from finishing to read the book, and only finished reading it because I spent money on it.
February 12, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, but partly it's because I'm from this area and I knew one of the investigators on the case. I was an adolescent when this murder took place, and one of my best friend's father was an investigator for the prosecution after the murder of Diane King, a popular television news anchor in mid-Michigan. The book wasn't reviewed well, but I found it to be fascinating, particularly given that Gerry Woods, one of the men who worked so hard on the case, is portrayed quite accurately and recently passed away. For me, it was a lovely homage to him and it was very cool to fit my memories of the case together with the account in this book. It's a really gripping story with a gratifying ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews