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The Bad Nurse
Murder By MedicineIn the small southern town of Ider, Alabama, everyone knew Karri Willoughby as a devoted nurse, loving wife, and mother of two small children. When she was accused of killing her stepfather Billy Junior Shaw with a fatal injection of the anesthetic Propofol, outraged friends and family rallied to her defense. Overnight Karrie became a media sensation, portrayed as an innocent young woman caught up in a terrible tragedy—until four years later, when she walked into court and pleaded guilty as charged. Only then did the full scope of her crimes emerge. Nurse Karri was unmasked as cold-blooded, conniving murderer. Investigative journalist Sheila Johnson draws on hundreds of pages of previously unseen police records, interviews, recordings and videotapes, to create a haunting real-life thriller of medicine, family, and betrayal. Includes Dramatic Photos
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
18 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 5, 2015
I remember this in the news
Karri Willoughby was a wife, daughter and a nurse. She abused her position for monetary gains.
It was a very short read, insightful and explained a lot.
I didn't realize this was in a True Story format, I thought it was going to be a novel!
I really need to read up on things more.
** I would like to thank Kensington Books via Net Galley for my copy **
May 30, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars -- "The cause of the death had been lethal injection, and the manner of death was homicide."
Interesting and very short true crime novel (192 pages) about the suit against Karri Willoughby, nurse and mother of 2, who is accused of murdering her stepfather in 2008 because of her greed for his money. Despite having thousands of supporters who initially rallied to Karri's defense because of her active Facebook blogging, she stuns everyone by pleading guilty when the case is finally brought to trial in 2012. This is the story of a very manipulative and cunning woman who had lied to everyone in the small community of Ider, Alabama, for years with her purported belief in God and family. Meanwhile she was stealing money from her parents until they put that to a stop by locking her out of their personal and business accounts. Her staggering personal debt and bankruptcy filing showed a history of fiscal irresponsibility and was the motive for the murder.
I read a lot of crime and suspense thrillers, and every once in awhile like to again discover that sometimes the true stories read just like crime fiction. The book includes some photographs, but none of the people involved are pictured. Usually the murders are for love or money and this one proves no exception. I enjoyed it and recommend to any fans of the genre. Criminals are fascinating because often they hide behind a mask of normalcy -- and Karri Willoughby did that very well. Until the monster was ultimately revealed.
Thank you to NetGalley an Kensington Publishing for an e-book ARC of this to review.
Interesting and very short true crime novel (192 pages) about the suit against Karri Willoughby, nurse and mother of 2, who is accused of murdering her stepfather in 2008 because of her greed for his money. Despite having thousands of supporters who initially rallied to Karri's defense because of her active Facebook blogging, she stuns everyone by pleading guilty when the case is finally brought to trial in 2012. This is the story of a very manipulative and cunning woman who had lied to everyone in the small community of Ider, Alabama, for years with her purported belief in God and family. Meanwhile she was stealing money from her parents until they put that to a stop by locking her out of their personal and business accounts. Her staggering personal debt and bankruptcy filing showed a history of fiscal irresponsibility and was the motive for the murder.
I read a lot of crime and suspense thrillers, and every once in awhile like to again discover that sometimes the true stories read just like crime fiction. The book includes some photographs, but none of the people involved are pictured. Usually the murders are for love or money and this one proves no exception. I enjoyed it and recommend to any fans of the genre. Criminals are fascinating because often they hide behind a mask of normalcy -- and Karri Willoughby did that very well. Until the monster was ultimately revealed.
Thank you to NetGalley an Kensington Publishing for an e-book ARC of this to review.
October 1, 2018
This book feels less like a factual account and more like the author has a personal axe to grind against Karri, the bad nurse. Much of the information that was presented was excerpts from comments that people posted on social media, opinions unrelated to the case (such as stating a woman was overheard saying that she supported Karri), and information that was more opinion than fact (e.g. stating a defendant was "obviously" not mentally incompetent). I'm sure that there were facts interspersed with the opinions, but I'm only giving the book one star as the general vibe was that the author did not like the bad nurse on a personal level and she was determined that her audience was only presented with information that would make them feel the same way. (I'd like to state there are no actual first person references by the author, nor any indication she knew Karri prior to the events of this book.)
February 5, 2016
Horrible thing. I knew the husband of the "bad nurse." He's a really nice guy and I feel for him and his kids for what they went through. According to the book, he seems to be putting his life back together.
July 16, 2023
misleading title
Although the topic had great potential- the book was very repetitive and somewhat boring- The story really had nothing to do with being a bad nurse.
Although the topic had great potential- the book was very repetitive and somewhat boring- The story really had nothing to do with being a bad nurse.
February 21, 2024
If this weren't such a short novel, I wouldn't have finished it. It was full of repetition to the point where I had a moment that I thought there was a mistake in the book and that I was rereading a chapter being Ch 27 & Ch 32 but it was just a repeated situation in a different but similar wording.
June 20, 2017
Quick and enjoyable read.
July 11, 2017
A recounting of the crime of a stepdaughter killing her stepfather because of greed for money. I was in the mood for something brief and factual.
July 31, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Karri Willoughby seemed like a normal person, who loved her family, was a devout Christian, worked as a nurse, and who seemed the perfect woman in almost every way. At least, that was how she appeared to her faithful and loyal followers on her blog. In The Bad Nurse, author Sheila Johnson tells the real story.
Enigmatic and sympathetic Karri Willoughby killed her stepfather, Billy Shaw, over a money dispute, giving him a lethal dose of medication she brought along from the place she worked at. For months, she tried to convince her friends and online followers of her innocence, right until she walked into the court room and plead guilty. The author investigates Karri’s motives, her behavior prior to pleading guilty in court, how the murder happened, and communication between Karri and other inmates that betray she’s not the person she pretended to be at all.
While the book was an entertaining read, and it did focus a lot on the manipulative aspects of Karri’s personality, it came across as repetitive – repeating the same passage and/or sentiment several times. It also didn’t seem that well-researched. It does show communication between Karri and other inmates, some snippets of what people had to say about Karri, and so on, but it doesn’t really mention much about the toxicology rapport and the forensics of the murder. It’s mentioned but not detailed enough for my liking. Rather than on the murder, the book focused on the aftermath, and Karri’s manipulative ways.
Not bad at all, and definitely an interesting read, but I generally prefer books that focus more on the crime itself.
Karri Willoughby seemed like a normal person, who loved her family, was a devout Christian, worked as a nurse, and who seemed the perfect woman in almost every way. At least, that was how she appeared to her faithful and loyal followers on her blog. In The Bad Nurse, author Sheila Johnson tells the real story.
Enigmatic and sympathetic Karri Willoughby killed her stepfather, Billy Shaw, over a money dispute, giving him a lethal dose of medication she brought along from the place she worked at. For months, she tried to convince her friends and online followers of her innocence, right until she walked into the court room and plead guilty. The author investigates Karri’s motives, her behavior prior to pleading guilty in court, how the murder happened, and communication between Karri and other inmates that betray she’s not the person she pretended to be at all.
While the book was an entertaining read, and it did focus a lot on the manipulative aspects of Karri’s personality, it came across as repetitive – repeating the same passage and/or sentiment several times. It also didn’t seem that well-researched. It does show communication between Karri and other inmates, some snippets of what people had to say about Karri, and so on, but it doesn’t really mention much about the toxicology rapport and the forensics of the murder. It’s mentioned but not detailed enough for my liking. Rather than on the murder, the book focused on the aftermath, and Karri’s manipulative ways.
Not bad at all, and definitely an interesting read, but I generally prefer books that focus more on the crime itself.
June 4, 2015
The Bad Nurse by Sheila Johnson
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
When Karri Willoughby called 911 to say she found her stepfather, Billy Junior Shaw unconscious, no one in the small town of Ider, Alabama had any thoughts of foul play. When he died, Karri played the grieving daughter well. After all, she had just lost her mother a few weeks before. But when the autopsy showed Billy Shaw had a fatal dose of the anesthetic Propofol in his system, friends and family rushed to her defense. Karri just couldn't be guilty. A manipulative Karri played the community like a violin; right up until four years after the murder, when she walked into the courtroom and pled guilty to murder.
Sheila Johnson paints a fascinating portrait of a cold blooded, ruthless killer; one who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. The story begins with the murder of Billy Junior Shaw, and continues with the incarceration of Karri Willoughby in prison. If you like true crime, you will enjoy The Bad Nurse. I can recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
When Karri Willoughby called 911 to say she found her stepfather, Billy Junior Shaw unconscious, no one in the small town of Ider, Alabama had any thoughts of foul play. When he died, Karri played the grieving daughter well. After all, she had just lost her mother a few weeks before. But when the autopsy showed Billy Shaw had a fatal dose of the anesthetic Propofol in his system, friends and family rushed to her defense. Karri just couldn't be guilty. A manipulative Karri played the community like a violin; right up until four years after the murder, when she walked into the courtroom and pled guilty to murder.
Sheila Johnson paints a fascinating portrait of a cold blooded, ruthless killer; one who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. The story begins with the murder of Billy Junior Shaw, and continues with the incarceration of Karri Willoughby in prison. If you like true crime, you will enjoy The Bad Nurse. I can recommend this book.
July 26, 2015
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review**
Billy Jr Shaw was thought to have died of a heart attack but it was found out six months later that it was murder. Karri Willoughbi was Billy's step-daughter. She had filed for bankruptcy more than once. She had been caught, in multiple occasions, on withdrawing funds out of the account of Billy's saddlery business and stealing her mom's identity. Karri had made the 911 call. She was eventually indited on the murder of Billy. The motive was financial.
Kerri was a nurse and had been liked by a lot of people. She had two kids, 3 and 4yrs old. She had been a nurse for 10yrs, then fired for a mistake she had made. Karri had been an active blogger on going to jail during the 2 years going to trial. She became just as faithful on Facebook.
The story was pretty good, as was the way it was presented. I thought it dragged some, but on the whole still a pretty good story.
Billy Jr Shaw was thought to have died of a heart attack but it was found out six months later that it was murder. Karri Willoughbi was Billy's step-daughter. She had filed for bankruptcy more than once. She had been caught, in multiple occasions, on withdrawing funds out of the account of Billy's saddlery business and stealing her mom's identity. Karri had made the 911 call. She was eventually indited on the murder of Billy. The motive was financial.
Kerri was a nurse and had been liked by a lot of people. She had two kids, 3 and 4yrs old. She had been a nurse for 10yrs, then fired for a mistake she had made. Karri had been an active blogger on going to jail during the 2 years going to trial. She became just as faithful on Facebook.
The story was pretty good, as was the way it was presented. I thought it dragged some, but on the whole still a pretty good story.
March 2, 2016
The Bad Nurse by Sheila Johnson is a book based on a true crime. It was filled with repetitiveness & was very dry reading. Because it barely kept my interest enough to finish reading it, I gave it two stars.
"There aren't that many secrets that remain a secret for long in most rural small towns in the South, and gossip isn't considered an invasion of privacy or even bad manners. It is simply thought of as passing along interesting information."
I would like to thank Kensington Publishers & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy. This did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Nurse-Sheil...
"There aren't that many secrets that remain a secret for long in most rural small towns in the South, and gossip isn't considered an invasion of privacy or even bad manners. It is simply thought of as passing along interesting information."
I would like to thank Kensington Publishers & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy. This did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Nurse-Sheil...
July 21, 2015
The “Bad Nurse” is the true story of Karri Willoughby and her crimes. The “Bad Nurse” allows the reader to step inside the mind of a master manipulator with narcissistic tendencies who feels that nothing she has ever done was wrong. This novel explores the court system that got the verdict correct, as well as how family dynamics can play into greed. The story had a choppy feel to it and I felt that I was often reading a newspaper account of the story. I was given this book to read by the author in return for an honest review.
May 26, 2016
I found the heart of this story to be so fascinating. What would cause a seemingly loving daughter to murder her step father? I love a good true crime drama and this one, short and sweet, kept me flipping the pages.
The one thing lacking was some in depth connection to the players. Who were these people and why should I care about them? I would have loved to know more than the "just the facts" story that this book is. Ultimately it was a good read that with a little more detail would have been great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
The one thing lacking was some in depth connection to the players. Who were these people and why should I care about them? I would have loved to know more than the "just the facts" story that this book is. Ultimately it was a good read that with a little more detail would have been great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
June 8, 2015
I received a copy of this book thru Netgalley, to read and review.
It's amazing the public front people put on and the facts that come out after a trial or confession. This Bad Nurse was a master manipulator. Almost made me want to go look up her blog to see if it was still online.
Great read. Glad justice was served
It's amazing the public front people put on and the facts that come out after a trial or confession. This Bad Nurse was a master manipulator. Almost made me want to go look up her blog to see if it was still online.
Great read. Glad justice was served
January 2, 2016
Like reading a newspaper article
No heart. No soul. Repetitive to the point of annoyance. It seems to be a perfectly fine newspaper article with a bunch of dry filler.
No heart. No soul. Repetitive to the point of annoyance. It seems to be a perfectly fine newspaper article with a bunch of dry filler.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews