This true crime book was exactly what it was intended to be. A glimpse into our failing medical system and how it affects the patients. I grieved for the families of all involved and made me want to investigate more. Good audio narrator!

This story is about Brian Bechtold’s offense and life after. In a psych ward. While it did hold my attention, it was a bit dry and I wondered what the purpose was in telling the story. So, it ended up taking me longer to get through than it should have. In the end, the overall purpose to me was how he was regarded and treated with his mental illness. Narrator was the author and she did well.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book started strong but was a DNF for me at 25%. It kind of felt repeatative in a way. At the beginning of the book I was invested in what happened to the main characters but the farther I got into the book the more, I felt, it becoming dull. By 25% I was just not interested anymore.

In February of 1992, a young man of only 22 years old walks into his local precinct and admits to shooting and killing his parents in their family home in Silver Springs, Maryland. Brian Bechtold claims that at the time of the murder he was possessed by the devil. Eventually, after psychological evaluation, he is diagnosed with schizophrenia and deemed "not criminally responsible " for the brutal slaying of his parents. Rather than be sent to prison, he is sent to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital to serve his sentence.

The author of this book actually hosted workshops in many of the Maryland Prison and Hospitals. After visiting Perkins, she becomes personally invested in Brian's story. This book definitely reflects all the time and research that she put into his case. Brockman does a phenomenal job at bringing awareness to the issues that often plague our prisons and institutions for the mentally ill.

Overall, 'Couple found Slain' isn't a terrible book, but I do find it to be somewhat problematic. Brian is often portrayed more as a victim than a villain. There is a large focus on Brian's upbringing and family history of mental illness. It's as if it's trying to exonerate his actions fully.

Repeatedly, his parents are slandered and painted as the villains of this story... and maybe in many ways they were. But for me personally, I struggle with this way of writing. It's all very one-sided. Abuse doesn't obsolve you from your moral obligations. While abuse could have been a catalyst for his actions, it doesn't negate his own liability.

Reading about the conditions and treatment of the patients at Perkins Hospital is heartbreaking. Whether criminal or insane, these are still people and deserve common decency. Brottmans book successfully shines a light on a system that urgently needs improvement.

In conclusion, 'Couple found Slain' serves more as a testament to our penal systems failings and less of a true crime retelling. I can appreciate Brottmans' intentions in writing this. It definitely made me stop and think about the concept of nature vs. nuture. If you are looking for a true crime book that focuses more on perpetrator and less on their crime, you may actually enjoy this book.

I really liked the audio version of this book but ended up reading instead. Really good, informative story and great true crime with accuracy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of COUPLE FOUND SLAIN. Review has been posed on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I hate to respond negatively to a true crime book because my assessment is not at all related to the real people involved. Suffice it to say, this book was not one that I wanted to finish, but that has nothing to do with the victims.

This is a true crime book about a couple who was murdered by their son. Unlike many true crime stories where you are walked through the evidence and events leading up to the murder to script a mystery of "who-dun-it", we quickly discover the details of the murder. Instead, this book not only relays the details of the murder but the background of the children's upbringing which is very important to the dynamics of the family structure. The book then spends most of its time on the repercussions of the crime. The majority of this book focuses on the mental health facility that the son is sentenced to as a punishment for his crime.

I found the audiobook of this book difficult to get through. It kind of dragged on for me, but there were many parts that brought me back in. I think there are parts that could have been more succinct but I appreciated the discussion on how mental facilities are over capacity and proper treatment can slip through the cracks and leave those that need help missed.

I found this a very interesting story about mental illness, the judicial system, and how people can fall through the cracks if not handled correctly. This all took place in Howard County MD where I grew up so it was interesting to hear them talk about that area in particular. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

The text of this book was interesting and well written as a true crime novel. The speaker for the audiobook was monotone and put me to sleep.

I love listening to true crime and this one did not disappointlistening to the story of a man that killed his Parents and the aftermath that insued. The narrator did a great job of reading the context of the book and left you with emotions instead of putting emotions where they thought was needed.

This book was very well researched and very well written I enjoyed the book however sad it might have been it I was not expecting so much information on mental illness and Brian's experiences but didn't mind as it was a very interesting and quick read with lots of background information as opposed to the typical murder documented type of non fiction I expected.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This audiobook is well read and well written. I enjoyed this audiobook. It isn't written like nonfiction. It keeps your attention and interest from the first minute, trying to figure out why they did what they did. The author did a phenomenal job reading this book along with Christina Delaine. This true crime audiobook is in stores for A$23.99 (AUD).

loved this one and sad it didn't get more PR when it came out. Really engrossing read, and couldn't stop listening once I started. Thank you so much for a copy of this one!

Insightful and disturbing. A very different type of true crime book looking at the aftermath of the murder and how mental illness is treated.

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was still interesting. It's less a true crime story and more an exploration of the mental health experience for those found guilty by mental instability. This isn't a topic I knew much about. Elements of this book are disturbing, so readers should be prepared for this.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, narrator, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

RATING: 3 STARS
2021; Macmillan Audio

Couple Found Slain is part true crime and part biography in a psych ward. Murder is only the beginning of this book. Occasionally, a murderer is found criminally insane, but what does that really mean and what happens after the diagnosis? In 1992, Brian Bechtold murders his parents, and blames the devil. He is believed and diagnosis with schizophrenia. He is put in a maximum security psychiatric hospital but is kind of left in limbo. While he is being treated with medication, it does not seem to be going anywhere. He is not taught how to manage or how this will affect him in the long term. He will be released when he is "sane" but there is no concrete guidelines for that. There have been cases where patients would rather murder someone to be put in prison so they have some kind of freedom. With diminished responsibility, also come diminished autonomy. Much like prison, it seems like people are put on the shelf instead of actually providing reformative justice. I do not claim to know the answers, or that there is anything better. I do know that this was just heartbreaking to read. Sometimes the book does drag and and I didn't always agree with the author on things. I am glad I read this one.

***I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

I really feel like I would enjoy this story, but the narration didn’t do it for me this time. I normally really enjoy true crime on audio but I think this one was just off.

Couple Found Slain was an interesting audiobook to listen to although it was a bit different from what I was expecting it to be. This is more a portrayal of mental health issues in the aftermath of a crime.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for sharing this book for an honest review.

This was a different kind of true crime read. It shares the story of the killer, his childhood, the reason for the murders and his life after being locked up.

It dives into the ups and downs in the life of a prisoner in a psychiatric hospital and their journey to be released. There are some interesting things you learn in this book about the disciplines that can handed down when the patient disagrees with the doctor. I enjoyed this book and would recommend.