Counterpoint: A Murder in Massachusetts Bay

Nicely written, with lots of insight into the killer's mindset as well as the psychology of the investigators. Absorbing.

"A Scream on the Water" is the story of Thomas Maimoni, a narcissistic sociopath who lived a life of lies and abuse culminating in murder. This is a very well-written book. The setting is very well-developed. The descriptions of the people and places around Salem Mass. are well-rounded and satisfying. The reader feels as if they are there, and get inside the heads of the victim, her husband, the police investigators, and the wives of Maimoni and many other victims of his deceit and manipulation. For years Maimoni lied about everything to everyone: his marital status, military career (ha!), education, and jobs. This book is not only interesting to the true crime reader, it is like the works of Ann Rule in that the writer uses the opportunity to warn the innocent among us that people are often not as they present themselves. Even those who sensed that Maimoni was full of bull had no idea how explosive and deadly his rage could be when threatened with disclosure. A well-developed, psychologically complex, and thrilling cautionary tale.

Born and raised in Salem, Mass. I could certainly relate to all the landmarks, etc. mentioned in the book. The story of Martha Brailsford is indeed a tragic one. I thought the author did a superb job of telling the story with compassion and straight-forward information.I literally couldn't put the book down from the first page and even a day later, Martha lingers in my mind.The story was written with a good pace and left this reader looking to purchase another of Margaret Press's books.

Excellent read about this chilling case. This book was originally released as "Counterpoint: A Murder In Massachusetts Bay".

Press did a thorough job in this true tale of a man who could not take no for an answer. Her character build of Tom Maimoni, a slipshod liar, NASA imposter, fake collegiate alumnus and all around creepy guy kept me riveted to the end. The strange death of local Martha Brailsford sent the small, close knit sailing/witching community of Salem Mass into a tailspin. The tailspin turned hurricane when numbers of women came forward after her death to report they had been pawed and humiliated by Maimoni. Good research, nicely done reconstruction and time line and tightly packaged facts which read like a novel. Margaret, what is your next crime?