Engaged to Murder

This book was written in the same time frame as "Echoes In The Darkness", which means it misses one-third of the entire Story. The strength of the book is more in-depth information on William Bradfield and the mystery girlfriend, Joanne Aiken. Since Bradfield died in 1998 and Smith has nothing to gain by providing any additional information (if he actually can) on the details of the murders, it appears the question about what happened to Susan Reinert and her children will remain a mystery. Unless, Joanne decides to talk.

Having read Echoes of Darkness and Principal Suspect I felt compelled to read Engaged to Murder. The book gave me more insight of the personality of William Bradfield. I'm more inclined to believe that he did commit the murders with the age old motive of money. I didn't realize how much he was in debt until reading this book. I think Bradfield used Jay Smith's bizarre behavior and conviction of robbery to set him up for the murders. Still a part of me believes that maybe Jay was involved. I just don't know. I really would have liked to read and know more about Joanne Aitken. There's still the unanswered questions about what happened to Jay's daughter and son-in-law. Short of a death bed confession none of us will ever know.

I've read this and Wambaugh's Echoes and Costopoulos' Principal Suspect, the two other books written about the Philadelphia Main Line Murders Case. They're all good reads and Ms. Noble's seems to be the most objective. This case haunts me. Who did it? Where are those little children's bodies? Was Jay Smith set up or is he evil incarnate?