This was a very good, albiet heartbreaking, book. I hate that people like Rod exist. I was horrified by about 75% of this book, and read the prosecution part of this book with great interest. All in all I think Shele was a very brave woman, and I'm glad justice was served...I just wish the kids could see the truth. 4 stars.

B o o k. R e v i e w. @rossyreads on Instagram

thanks to @stmartinspress for the advance copy of this book!

I am a suckerrrrr for true crime and this book is no exception.

#AtAnyCost follows the story of Shele Danishefsky who is a devout Jewish woman with her sights set high: both professionally and in love.

One morning, her nine year old daughter finds her unresponsive in the bathtub and calls her father, living across the hall due to marital separation. This ensues a ten year dramatic battle to figure out who killed Shele and who gets her almost $6 million estate.

Throughout the book, I knew in my gut who did it but couldn’t believe all the measures her husband took to avoid trial. Her husband was emotionally, physically, and verbally abusive yet nobody wanted to admit it until each and everybody’s breaking point.

My heart aches for Shele’s children who grew up not knowing their mother, being isolated from her mother’s family, and believing that their father is a good person. Just really makes me sick and shows how scary the justice system really can be.

I am so thankful St. Martin’s Press reached out to me to read and review this book after previously reading another one of their true crime books. I am not a huge nonfiction reader but when a nonfiction book reads like a story and sucks you in....I’m game.

And y’all know once i found out there was a Dateline story covering Shele’s death, I just had to watch it.

I truly recommend this story to anybody who loves true crime and a marital drama!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#arc #netgalley #atanycost #rebeccarosenberg #sheledanishefsky #book #books #bookstagram #iowabookstagram #read #reader

This is a must read. This writer gives so much detail and information. I couldn't put this down wondering if justice was going to be served,. Read this book you will not be disappointed.

This is one of the best true crime books I've read in a while. A combination of good writing and a fascinating subject, featuring a truly evil suspect, make for compelling reading.

On the morning of December 31, 2009, Shele Danishefsky Covlin's daughter raced across the hall to where her father, Rod Covlin, was living in an apartment since separating from Shele. Rod found Shele in the bathtub, unresponsive. The paramedics declared her dead on the scene. She was only 47.

Thus began a tragic investigation that would span a decade. Shoddy police work and meddling Orthodox Jewish organizations (they're called Misaskim and my hatred for them was only usurped by that for the killer and his parents) ensured no autopsy was performed. Shele was quickly buried and her two children whisked away to their paternal grandparents, who made sure they had no real contact with Shele's family ever again.

This story has everything. Sex, divorce, custody battles, spying, psychological torture, family drama, money, fake allegations and... backgammon (yes, really). Authors Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar do an excellent job of laying out the evidence and bring the case to life. I could not put this book down.

Shele Danishefsky had everything going for her. A high powered job, a coveted NYC apartment, two beautiful children, a tight knit family. She was taken from this world because of one man's bottomless greed and selfishness. She deserved to have her story told, and I'm glad I got to read it. This book is an easy 5 stars.

At Any Cost is an informative, well-researched narrative of the murder of Shele Colvin, and an in depth look at the manipulations and depravity of her husband and accused killer, Rod Colvin. Told in easy to follow chronological chapters, the book doesn’t dwell on the murder itself, but weaves a head-shaking tale of custody battles, greed, investigative incompetence and religious roadblocks. This is a sad story, where sometimes justice may be a long time coming, if at all achieved. Highly recommended. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel that I received in exchange for an honest review.

When Shele Danishefsky was murdered on New Years Eve of 2009, it was ruled an accident. However, thanks to the relentless of her loved ones pushing for the truth to come out, we know it was murder. Roy Covlin, Shele's husband, was ruled by greed. He manipulated the system and his family to cover his tracks.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I stayed up all night to read it. Silently laying in bed at times gasping, crying, and getting angry at all the twists and turns this story takes.

At Any Cost unravels the twisted story of Rod Covlin, whose unrepentant greed drove him to an unspeakable act of murder and betrayal that rocked New York City.

Wealthy, beautiful, and brilliant, Shele Danishefsky had fulfillment at her fingertips. Having conquered Wall Street, she was eager to build a family with her much younger husband, promising Ivy League graduate Rod Covlin. But when his hidden vices surfaced, marital harmony gave way to a merciless divorce. Rod had long depended on Shele's income to fund his tastes for high stakes backgammon and infidelity--and she finally vowed to sever him from her will. In late December 2009, Shele made an appointment with her lawyer to block him from her millions. She would never make it to that meeting.

Two days later, on New Year’s Eve, Shele was found dead in the bathtub of her Upper West Side apartment. Police ruled it an accident, and Shele’s deeply Orthodox Jewish family quickly buried her without an autopsy on religious grounds. Rod had a clear path to his ex-wife's fortune, but suspicions about her death lingered. As the two families warred over custody of Shele’s children—and their inheritance— Rod concocted a series of increasingly demented schemes, even plotting to kill his own parents, to secure the treasure. And as investigators closed in, Rod committed a final, desperate act to frame his own daughter for her mother’s death.

Journalists Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar reconstruct the ten years that passed between the day Shele was found dead and the day her killer faced justice in this riveting account of how one man’s irrepressible greed devolved into obsession, manipulation, and murder.

3.5 stars, rounded up

This is a gut-wrenching true crime account of a murder that took place and the ten year journey to a conviction. This is a tough read, because the convicted murderer did many horrific things both before and after his wife's death.

The things he involved his children in are nothing short of abuse, yet even after his conviction the two children held onto belief that their father is and was a great guy and didn't commit the crime or deserve the outcome. Even though his coercion of them and attempts to involve them in setting up of crimes was unconscionable. This book paints an unflinchingly candid picture of evil, mostly for the sake of money.

Yet even with all of this, he claims his innocence and says that his wife's death was a tragic accident. I suppose it's up to the reader to determine, but the book is definitely slanted towards his guilt. There are a large amount of details and a full account of the trial, it's easy to picture what the authors are describing and it generates a huge amount of sympathy and empathy for everyone who loved Shele and fought for justice.

This book gets pretty graphic when it describes the different things Rod Covlin did and thought about doing, so sensitive readers should be warned as many of the incidents involve the children.

Shele Danishefsky, a beautiful New York financier was madly in love with the much younger stockbroker Rod Covlin who she met at a Jewish singles event in 1998. Six months later, they were married. But soon, Rod's true colours emerged. Rod is a professional backgammon player and had a string of affairs with different women every time he traveled to his backgammon competitions. A few years later, they have two children - Anna & Myles - but even a family life was not able to stop Rod's infidelity. Shele finally decided to sever Rod out of her will and made an appointment to see her lawyer. However she did not make it to the appointment. On December 31, 2009. Shele was found dead in the bathtub of her apartment. What ensued was a decade long war for justice and custody of the children.

This was well-written, and well-researched book about this heartbreaking case. I liked how the information about this case was presented. We learned about Shele and Rod's family background, their courtship, tumultuous marriage, her death, investigation, trial and Rod's incarceration. It was well done with just the right amount of information.

Rod is a nasty scheming man! It was so infuriating reading how manipulative he was even to the point of using Anna in one of his schemes. My heart broke for Shele's family and the children. They were both caught in a nasty custody battle which was really hard to read. Learning about Jewish laws on marriage and Jewish death rituals were an eye-opening one for me!

This is a good book to read about this case and I recommend it to everyone, especially true crime aficionados. The ending was a satisfying one albeit a very emotional one for me.


Pub. date: April 6th 2021

***Thank you St. Martin's Press, authors Rebecca Rosenberg, Selim Algar and NetGalley for this review copy to read and review.***

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Follow this twisting and enthralling true crime take of avarice and murder as you unravel the details of this fascinating and disturbing case. What is seemingly a perfect marriage degrades to abuse in all forms and the destruction of family ties. When Shele lost her life, the city of New York and her family and friends are facing lengthy quest for justice amid the details of a deep faith in Yahweh. Obsession, greed, emotional manipulation are at the center of one man's desire for domination and control in his family. Absolutely riveting and deeply disturbing tale of a lovely family and their quest for truth and justice.

True Crime – my guilty pleasure. Well-written true crime — too rare but oh so enjoyable. Frequently when reading true crime, the characters and outcome are familiar (think Laci, O.J., Menendez brothers). I admit I was not aware of At Any Cost, the story of Shele Danishefsky and her younger husband Rod Covlin, but the cover alone (“A wife’s murder…a father’s betrayal…and a ten-year search for justice”) had me hooked. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, I received a copy in exchange for this honest review.

Shele Danishefsky had it all: wealth beauty, and intelligence. She had a knack for numbers, and was wildly successful on Wall Street. Married to Rod Covlin, her joy was her family, even though her considerably younger husband seemed like such a loser, unable to find/hold a job despite his Ivy League education. Finally driven to divorce him after fulfillment at her fingertips. Having conquered Wall Street, she was eager to build a family with her much younger husband, promising Ivy League graduate Rod Covlin. But when his hidden vices including high stakes backgammon (who even knew this was a thing?) blossomed into grounds for divorce, the battle was on. Shele set up a meeting with her attorney to to exclude Rod from her will but, sadly, she never made it to that meeting. Found dead in the bathtub in their Manhattan apartment, Shele’s Orthodox Jewish family quickly buried her, with no autopsy. Rod battled with her family over custody and then, possibly the worst thing was when Rod tried to pin the murder on their DAUGHTER!

It’s a well-written account of a despicable man’s actions and the decade-long search for justice for Shele. Reads like fiction, definitely top-notch true crime. Four stars. Wavered between four and five…it really is good!

True crime that is easily google-able is a tough sell... but this book so detailed, so well-paced, so thoroughly researched, I resisted and just let the authors take me on the journey. It's an infuriating case, in a lot of ways, and finishing the book left me with ongoing unease, but that's testament to the effectiveness of the telling.

I will not deny that I’m not familiar with this story but after reading it, I am beyond heartbroken. It just so hard to believe sometimes how greed can get the most out of people. This is an enthralling, well-researched and heart-rending read any true crime fans shouldnt missed!

Oh man...this book is addicting! The first few chapters started off kinda slow as they are a retelling of all the major family members life stories. But as soon as the marriage occurs I was completely absorbed and stayed up reading my kindle until almost 3am. The utter depravity of Rod Colvin (the husband) completely floored me. Just when you think he cant get any more evil than he already is.....he hatches a plan to frame his own father for raping his daughter. And then tries to marry her off to a random Mexican boy so he can so he can be the solicitor (steal) her inheritance.

An addictive and compelling read!

I can't believe that as a true crime buff, I hadn't heard of this story. It was wildly fascinating and heartbreaking. The authors did incredible research and were able to tell the story in a way that didn't lead to being boring.

I am a sucker for True Crime books and Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar have really done their research on this case.
First, it is an attention grabbing case. On paper Shele Danishefsky had the perfect life. Then we find out her younger husband Rod is basically a two timing, money grubbing jerk. She finally decides to cut him out of her will but before she can finish the process, she winds up dead. It sounds like a thriller right? Well, this is not a fictional thriller, this is a real case!

In fact the story gets even more twisted as it goes on, even to the point where Rod basically is framing Shele and his's daughter!
This is a 10 year case and you can tell how passionate both Rosenberg and Algar were about this case and getting the story out there. The amount of time and research that when into this book is unbelievable and I could not put this one down.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

At Any Cost is a fascinating heart breaking story of the murder of Shele Danishefsky .

Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Alger have done an amazing job writing At Any Cost.

Shele was found dead by her daughter in 2009 and it takes over 10 years to bring her husband Rod to justice.

Shele's family fought hard and never gave up seeking justice.

There is so much more to this story that will break your heart

It is a story that will grab your attention and keep the pages turning .

It is a story that although hard to understand how Rod could get away with so much for so long.

It is a story that is true and one I will think of often.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing At Any Cost.

I had previously not heard of this case but was fascinated by this book. I felt it had the perfect amount of facts vs fluff, it really focused on what happened, and while bias toward the victim I felt it was rightfully so. I found myself researching some of the key figures to see "where are they now" considering this didn't happen too long ago. I don't know how i had never heard of this case! It was clear to me that the case was truly bungled by the police. I hope the family finds peace.

Great book very well written told the story well and explained the characters pretty good I highly recommend this book

I honestly wasn't overly excited to read this book. After all, I had heard about the case on a recent podcast. As it turns out, I didn't know the half of it.

I found this to be very well written with each word carefully chosen. Often in true crime books that span many years it can be hard to keep the players and timeline straight. Not so with At Any Cost. This was a fascinating look at the life and death of Shele and the many bizarre plots hatched by her husband Rod to either frame or kill those around him. The extent to which he involved his daughter were shocking.

I learned so much more about this case than I expected and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend! 4.5 stars.

This is a hard one to review as it's not a work of fiction. This was not a case that I was very familiar with prior to reading this book. I can say that I was gripped from page one and that is not something that always happens with true crime. The author was able to make me feel the heartbreak of Shele's family, not only loosing a daughter/sister but loosing out on a relationship with her two children as well. Very well written and I look forward to checking out other works by Rebecca Rosenberg.