I really enjoy reading True Crime books when the author focused primarily on the victim and the hole their death left behind instead of spending all their time on the murderer.  

Dr. Mary Yoder was poisoned in 2015, but this book doesn't just focus on her murder, we learn about her life, her family, her hobbies and how much she loves her job.  She was a gardener, a mother and the type of person who lit up the room.  The book never allows us to forget that a whole, unique person was lost when this woman was killed.   

Slight spoiler ahead... The book also builds a solid and believable case for the guilt of the woman who was convicted of the murder, Katie Conley.  This book outlines the unbelievable twists and turns of this case, and the amazing way technology was used to crack the case.

*WARNING: mild spoilers*

I’m not sure what drew me to request We Thought We Knew You to read, other than it’s been a while since I’ve read a straight true crime focusing on a single case, and the author, William M. Phelps, has been recommended to me previously. Until I read the synopsis, I had never heard of this particular case and knew nothing of the details, or the outcome.

In July of 2015 Mary Yoder, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and successful chiropractor in the state of New York, was rushed to hospital after experiencing the sudden onset of severe stomach pains, nausea and breathing difficulties. Despite all attempts to treat her symptoms, Mary’s condition continued to deteriorate, and less than twenty-four hours after falling ill, she was dead. Stunned, her family requested an autopsy be performed, and were shocked to soon learn not only was Mary poisoned by a deadly toxin, Colchicine, but there is suspicion it was deliberately administered.

Drawing on personal interviews, legal documents, and public records, award winning investigative journalist, author, and media presenter William M. Phelps presents a coherent and concise exploration of the life of Mary Yoder, the investigation into her death, and the subsequent trial that saw a young woman, the on-and-off-again girlfriend of Mary’s son and office manager of the family Chiropractor practice, convicted of manslaughter.

I found this to a very readable account of a tragic crime. I appreciate that Phelps does his best to ensure that Mary, by all accounts a warm, vivacious, intelligent and caring lady, is not merely a victim, but a person whose life was as important as her manner of death. He provides adequate context to the crime, exploring the backgrounds of, and relationships between, those intimately involved. The process of the police investigation is clearly laid out, giving insight into how the police gathered evidence and narrowed in on their suspect. The court cases are related in summary, so as not to get bogged down in jargon and detail.

I’m not sure at which point Phelps became convinced of the accused’s guilt, whether it was before or during his investigation into the case but there is a lack of objectivity here that bothered me somewhat. It’s not that I disagree with his conclusions, the evidence presented, presuming it’s accuracy, leaves me in no doubt that Kaitlyn Conley intended to cause the death of Mary Yoder, and frame Adam Yoder, Mary’s son and Katie’s ex-boyfriend, for her murder in what I conclude was a twisted plan of revenge for rejecting her, but that the bias is inescapably pervasive from the first. I would have preferred that Phelps had been able to gain an interview with someone from the defence, though he states all such requests were refused. While he does discuss the rebuttals given by Conley’s supporters, there is an uncomfortable imbalance in what he is able to present.

We Thought We Knew You is a sad tale of a toxic relationship, obsession, betrayal, and murder. Mary Yoder died horribly, a victim of intentional poisoning, yet simply a pawn in a quest for revenge by a remorseless killer. As of this month (December 2020), Conley has launched an appeal against her conviction.

I wasnt familiar with this case but immediatley felt intrigued to read on. Mary Yoder was a woman full of life who did not deserve to die the way she did. It broke my heart to read just how much she fought to live. The author does a good job at keeping you intrigued give, bits and pieces as how the case unfolded.

Mary Yoder, a kind and caring, chiropractor is murdered. The suspects range from her husband Bill to her son, Adam to Adam's ex-girlfriend, Katie, who is office manager for the Chiropractic Family Care business. It is a wild ride and one that will leave you wondering why the jury couldn't convict of Second Degree Murder. Mary's death was a tremendous loss for the community and her convicted murder never once apologized or showed remorse.

This is a must read for any true crime fan. I went into this blind, having not heard anything about the Yoder murder. This book was very well written and researched. The passion the author had for getting Mary Yoder's story out shines in every single page.

I loved this book so much that I will definitely be checking out Phelps's backlist. I appreciate investigative journalists who are not swayed

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Kensington for the #gifted copy and opportunity to read this book.

Hard to believe this is a true story. This book reads like fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had not read anything by this author before and I am not into true crime podcasts so I was pleasantly pleased at how well written and well researched this was. What was most fascinating to me is how so many people including the victim’s sisters could believe Katie Conley was innocent. I could tell early on where the case was going and it was clear she planned and murdered her boss. The fact that so many could say with no real defense of why she couldn’t do it that she couldn’t have only because she looked too young and innocent astounds me. And those same people believed that a loving husband or son could have done it? The way people judge based on feelings instead of facts in our country is appalling. I loved the ending where the author talked about wanting to give a voice to the victim Dr. Mary Yoder. I loved the photos in the back of the book including pictures of her living her life and the art she had created. I will definitely be reading more true crime by M. William Phelps.

"...sometimes people arrive in our lives and, like black mold, create havoc and hell without us having a clue what is happening."

This is a very well-written true crime account with all the details surrounding the murder of Mary Yoder by Katie Conley in 2015. I do not remember this case on my radar, though I typically follow news of this sort. The story was so interesting because it involved a perpetrator who had insinuated herself into the Yoder family (as girlfriend to Adam Yoder) and as a receptionist/office manager at Chiropractic Family Care, the family business in upstate New York.

The murder weapon was quite unusual -- colchicine -- a very toxic medication used in the treatment of gout. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, and has no antidote or effective treatment if that range is exceeded. The revelations that describe how Katie planned and carried out the poisoning of Dr. Mary Yoder were chilling. It is incredibly scary that a 23-year-old family friend and trusted employee ended up charged in Oneida County Court with second degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records, and petit larceny. The motive(s) behind Katie's acts further demonstrate her narcissism and sociopathy. The lengths Katie went through to try to frame others to hide her guilt defy any understanding of emotions or empathy. I am not sure she got the punishment she deserved, but you will have to read all about the trials to see for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I plan to look for other books by this very talented author -- he really broke this down well and laid out all the facts.

We Thought We Knew You is the true crime story of the murder of Mary Yoder. As a true crime buff, I had heard the story before (there is an episode of Dateline dedicated to it), but I was interested in getting Phelps' take on this twisted family murder. Phelps is known for giving his readers every detail, evidence, etc so the information is provided for readers to make their own conclusions with the proper knowledge. He is very comprehensive.

Because of this comprehensiveness, I learned a lot more about the case than I knew previously. I knew that the son's ex-girlfriend was convicted of the crime and that she tried to frame her ex, Mary's son. Phelps presents the evidence, but he does clearly state what he believes (and backs it up with evidence). The story is more than just the facts, its Phelps' interpretation and conclusion as well.

Because Phelps gives so much information, the book is a bit long. Adding to that is that information is repeated at different points in the story. Honestly, it made the book feel LONG to me. I skimmed a bit at times because I had read the info the first time and didn't need it repeated. I don't know if he thought readers might forget what they already read, or if he thought it would add impact. Either way, it certainly made me enjoy the story a tad less.

This book, this book....
Well, it was not what I was expecting to say the least.

I tend to get into True Crime books and this one was no different. I can't wait to research this case. Thats usually what I do after I read about a case!

Bill and Mary Yoder, married chiropractors sharing a practice in Utica, had always been more interested in their patients’ health than in the bottom line, sometimes even accepting in-kind items for payments. Mary, in particular, was a source of joy for the community, and her interests included gardening, pottery, and healthy living.

This made it all the more surprising when patients reported that, one July afternoon, Mary wasn’t as engaged as usual, even uncharacteristically leaving them alone in the treatment room. Mary came home, vomiting and weak, and when she didn’t improve, Bill took her to the ER thinking she had a terrible case of the flu. The entire family was shocked a few days later when Mary not only deteriorated but passed away. As the medical examiner investigated, they were horrified to learn that Mary had been murdered—deliberately poisoned.

Bill, who began a relationship with Mary’s sister after her death, and Adam, her troubled son, were both suspects, as was Katie, Adam’s on-again, off-again girlfriend who worked as office manager for the chiropractic clinic. As the police combed through computer records and reviewed forensic analyses, they homed in on a surprising suspect. .. but would they be able to find justice for Mary?

If you are like me and watch true crime day and night, you’ll be familiar with author M. William Phelps who has appeared on shows on both Investigation Discovery (Deadly Women) and Oxygen (Snapped, Killer Couples). To research this book, he extensively researched documents and interviewed Bill, Adam, other family members, and law enforcement. Katie and members of her family declined to be interviewed.

We Thought We Knew You unfolds in dual timelines: when Adam met Katie to Mary’s murder and from her illness and death to the close of the two trials in the case. I generally liked this structure and thought it helped strengthen the narrative, but at times, the transitions and timelines were a little rocky or unclear. Although Bill and Adam are not presented as saints by any means, the book does favor them, likely in part because of the access they provided to the author. Additionally, I imagine Phelps would say that he took that position due to the evidence. In a Q&A on the publisher’s site, he explains.“ I’ve always gone by the assumption that people lie, documents don’t. In this case, the computer forensics—and the DNA—is so clear as to who committed this murder, only an ignorant person with an agenda would deny it.”

Mary was such a beloved figure and lived life to the fullest—so evident in the photos reproduced in the book. It’s truly hard to wrap my head around the motive in the case, but that’s one reason the story is so interesting and so tragic. Personally, I also enjoy reading books set in upstate NY. Utica is just over two hours from us, very close to home!

This is a quick, engrossing read, and focuses on the events and personalities involved in the case. True crime fans should definitely consider this, especially those who like cases focused on family and relationship drama.

This was another fantastic book. Thank you net gallery for letting me read this sensation book. I love the way this author writes.

Wow I went down the rabbit hole with this one. One of those that I just couldn't stop reading because I had to see how it ended. I'm sure I could have done a Google search, but I also didn't want to spoil the ending. This book may have just ignited a love for true crime novels in me... Only time will tell.

I found the story very compelling and the facts in which order Phelps presented them clearly lead to only one person. I will say that some of the jumping in the timeline confused me, but I was able to get my bearings fairly quickly.

I'm really interested in what Phelps noted at the end of his novel regarding Dateline. I may need to look that up and watch it to see if my opinion changes. I just don't see how it could presented with the facts though. But that's what makes this story so compelling! It's amazing that anyone thinks the culprit isn't guilty.

Phelps, you may have converted me. I see many more true crime novels in my future.

While at first, I wasn't sure about this book I eventually got pulled into it and loved it by the end. But this one was definitely one I couldn't put down after I got into it. I have yet to read a true crime book but this was the perfect mix of true crime and thriller. I also did not realize that this was a nonfiction read when I first started it. I loved how this story was told, I have not read any books by M.William Phelps but I am going to from here on out!!


Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this copy to review for my honest opinion.

Sometimes I'll read a fictional thriller that will blow my mind because of the fact an author has managed to think of something so beyond crazy I can't get my head around it.
Other times, I'll read a true story and it will blow my mind because this actually happened. This is that book. Reads like a thriller, so couldn't put this down other than for taking deep breaths!
I had nightmares the first night I read it, and thought about it constantly when I wasn't reading it.
My only negative was that when relaying some of the text conversations between Adam and Katie, it was difficult to work out who said what. I would normally deduct a mark for things like that, but I can't. It was that good.
Unputdownable.
The true crime book I've always wanted to read.

I will admit that I was a bit confused at the beginning of this one just because it felt like the author jumped around a lot. This is an unbelievable tale and I really enjoyed it in the end.

We Thought We Knew You is a fascinating and disturbing true story of the murder of Mary Yoder.

Mary was such a bright light who died a horrendous death so Katy her son's former girlfriend could get the perfect revenge on her son Adam.

M. William Phelps does an amazing job taking you through the investigation, the trials and the aftermath.

There is no doubt Katy was guilty from the beginning and it bogles my mind how a few of her victims sisters could support her. This was your sister she poisoned .

How the Yoder family held their heads up high as they were treated to badly by Katy's followers made me wonder if the supporters were just as psychotic as Katy , they certainly felt entitled.

This is Mary Yoder's story , one of justice, one that never should have happened and it is told so well by Mr. Phelps.

It is the story of Adam and Bill Yoder. I admire you both.

This is my first book of his I have read, it wont be my last and I am off to check out his podcasts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for the allowing me the privilege to read and review We Thought We Knew You.

I am really on a true crime genre kick so this was a perfect fit, The intriguing yet deviously evil crime was hard to believe but it was really well written. I enjoyed seeing the progress of the case as well as the flashbacks from Mary and Bills marriage. It made me feel like I was a detective I the crime. The difference in the storylines showed the background of the couple and furthered the case to a new emotional level. Although the true murder was not revealed until closer to the end, the evidence made it somewhat obvious to the reader, But this is true crime where a lot of cases are well known and you can easily google the case. We got to know the characters, hear their thoughts, their perspective on the murder and everything in between. This book was an enjoyable to read and follow along with throughout the case although knowing the story is true makes it really sad! I truly recommend this book.

I was riveted to the entire story as it unfolded. What a crazy messed up psychopath. For those that don't like anything gory or bloody, don't worry, this one is a psychological psychopath.

We Thought We Knew You is the true story of Mary and Bill Yoder. Successful chiropractors running their own practice in Utica, New York. Aged in their 60's and preparing for an extended trip to Europe, Mary suddenly falls violently ill and within 48 hours she is dead.

A police investigation begins and what unfolds is nothing short of terrifying. That someone that close to Mary can be that calculating and that manipulating had me beyond words the entire time.

The author has done a fantastic job of reporting the facts whilst keeping the readers interest the entire way, I couldn't put this one down. It wasn't just fact telling, it was personal, and emotional and you truly understood that real people were involved.

Living on the other side of the world I had never heard of this story and I believe there was an episode of Dateline that possibly shone a slightly different light to the story, but seriously, after reading this, there can be absolutely no doubt who do it.

Highly recommend for fans of true crime.

Before I requested this book, I had been familiar with this case only in the vaguest sense. In fact, I didn’t even realize who exactly the author was until I got to the end and saw his picture. Phelps does such an amazing job going through the Yoder case and explaining exactly what happened and how. It’s such a saddening story that for the family doesn’t really have an ending. Not only is this a tantalizing read, but it does what many true crime books fail to do, and that’s making sure the victim isn’t lost within the story of what happened to them. Four stars, job well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this true crime book by M. William Phelps. Fascinating look into the mind of a criminal! 5 stars.

In Upstate NY, Mary and Bill Yoder ran a chiropractic/healing clinic. Bill was semi-retired but Mary was still actively seeing patients; they were planning a big vacation. When Mary came home from work deathly ill and had to be rushed to the hospital the next day, no one knew what was happening to make this very healthy woman suddenly be on the brink of death. When she died and it was determined she was poisoned, the family and community were shocked. Everyone loved Mary. But evil was at play and it would take sharp detective and prosecutor work to solve the case.

I am a big fan of true crime stories and this one was written perfectly - we got to see how things progressed in real time as well as the recent past leading up to the events. This story really showcases the diligent work that police officers, detectives, lab personnel and district attorneys put in to solve a case and see that justice is done. This story was also made into a Dateline episode which I'm anxious to watch, especially after reading the end notes by the author.

Highly recommended for true crime fans.