Bitter Remains

A Custody Battle, a Gruesome Crime, and the Mother Who Paid the Ultimate Price

By: Diane Fanning

Narrated by: Karyn O'Bryant

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

On July 13, 2011, Laura Jean Ackerson of Kinston, North Carolina, went to pick up her two toddler sons. It would be the last time she was seen alive. Laura's ex, Grant Hayes - the father of her two sons - and his wife, Amanda, the mother of his newborn daughter, both pointed the finger at each other as the one guilty of murdering Laura, cutting up her body, and then transporting and disposing of the remains on the shores of Oyster Creek, Texas. This is the hauntingly true story of a devoted mother, a disturbed couple, and how these horrific events came to pass.

©2016 Diane Fanning (P)2016 Tantor

WOW

Laura's story was a great way to honor a life that ended too soon. Gripping story that sounds like a work of fiction, but it's not.

COMPELLING ACCOUNT - WRONG NARRATOR!

This is a pretty good true crime story. One which has not been "done to death" on TV forensics shows to the point where YOU could commit the perfect crime AND solve it in 48 hours! The author did a lot of research, which is daunting in some places, but that's what a true crime buff lives for. However, the amount of details and minutiae become mind-numbing when delivered by this narrator. Her voice is just all wrong for such a dark and disturbing crime. It's like listening to an actress from "Nickelodeon" dropping "f-bombs" and talking about very sexually explicit acts. After about 3 hours, I decided to just look up the murder on Wikipedia because I couldn't take that narrator any longer. Overall, it's a good account and the perfect audiobook if you're stuck in a car for a long drive.

Marvelous writing, dreadful narration

The book was wonderful, the narrator was horrible. She read this story of the murder and dismemberment of a mother as if she were reading a fairy tale to a group of children, with a sing-song lilt. I could easily imagine her pausing to show pictures to the children. Had I not deeply respected Diane Fanning and her work, I would have stopped listening.

sad but true story

Justice for Laura at a great cost. well told and well written story about an unreasonable act

Good Listen

A a fan of true crime books in my opinion this book was bronze. It held my attention and was very detailed, describing the characters and helping me to visualize them as I read the story. I think I gave this book three stars because of narration.

The narration is dreadful

Whoever the lady is that narrates the story is ruining the amazing story. Her inflection and monotone way, and how she always ups her pitch after every sentence, is grinding on me. It's very disappointing because the story is excellent. This should be recorded with a man's voice who expresses more emotion and inflection in his voice.

Crazy, Ridiculous, evil exploits!!

As a true crime lover! This one did not disappoint!! I an addicted to stories of unbelievable human depravity, selfishness, ignorance and mayhem. In this. I was proud our Justice system works!! Some people, should NOT walk this earth!!!

GREAT NARRATOR!!! HEARTBREAKING DOCUMENTARY

The Narrator was EXCELLENT, with a clear & non-judgemental voice. The Perpetrator’s repetitive & aggressive cruelty & stupidity, an inflexible Justice System, & blindness of the victims was too much for me. I skipped forward to the Trials, which were compelling & heartbreaking.

I feel like it coulda been good, but...

Seems like a looooong build-up to get to the murder that I now already know from the start of the book. The narrator was really hard to listen to; I’m not going to be able to finish it. I love true-crime stories but unfortunately listening to her was distracting in that I was just annoyed. I’ll google the story to get the nuts and bolts.

Compelling & Riveting

What made the experience of listening to Bitter Remains the most enjoyable?

Most enjoyable for me would be the attention to detail of the facts of this case. I watched the trial from beginning to end and Diane Fanning included the most important facts accurately.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bitter Remains?

One of the most memorable moments of this book for me would have to be the trials of both Grant and Amanda Hayes.

What does Karyn O'Bryant bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Karyn O'Bryant had inflection in her tone and wasn't monotone. She managed to capture my attention and hold it from beginning to end.

If you could give Bitter Remains a new subtitle, what would it be?

I wouldn't change the subtitle. It reflects the murder of Laura Ackerson accurately.