Beautifully Cruel

"Phelps is the Harlan Coben of real-life thrillers." -Allison Brennan Iowa housewife Tracey Pittman Roberts seemed to have it all: natural beauty, three loving children, and a fairy tale second marriage to a wealthy businessman. But beneath the happy façade was a woman who used lies, manipulation, sex, ugly allegations, blackmail-and even murder-to serve her own selfish ends. On December 13, 2001, police rushed to Tracey‘s home after a shooting left her vulnerable young neighbor dead. Tracey claimed it was an act of self-defense. Nine gunshot wounds-and a decades-long trail of extortion, fabrication, fraud, and intimidation-said otherwise. Ten years after the crime, Tracey‘s case finally went to trial in an explosive courtroom showdown. In a searing exploration of the criminal mind, bestselling investigative journalist M. William Phelps traces the saga of a psychopath who hid in plain sight-until her wicked ways caught up with her. "Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer." -TV Rage "Phelps is the king of true crime." --Lynda Hirsch, Creators Syndicate columnist "One of our most engaging crime journalists." -Dr. Katherine Ramsland "Phelps treads dangerous ground like an Amazon jungle guide-fearless, compassionate, insightful." -Geoff Fitzpatrick, Executive Producer of Dark Minds "Anything by Phelps is an eye-opening experience." -Suspense Magazine INCLUDES 16 PAGES OF DRAMATIC PHOTOS