House of Secrets

This book was truly sickening, but it was good because people need to hear about the horrendous things people are capable of. To talk about it we can all be aware and hopefully prevent things like this from happening in the future....or at the very least be aware of signs so we can help those helpless who may find their selves in a horrible situation(s) as the ones depicted in this novel. This was a train wreck of a book in the sense that I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Finished in less than 24 hours.

This book is difficult to read and not only because of the contents; the editing is horrendous! Improper sentence structure abounds, the author goes back and forth from the subject's given name and nickname in the same sentence instead of leaving the inclusion of nicknames to direct quotes, he uses incorrect product or location names (Mercury Mekur instead of Mercury Merkur and Willing, WV instead of Wheeling, WV), and the list goes on. Plenty has been said about the subject matter, so I will reserve my comments and state simply that this book is being given a mere 3 stars because of the editing, or the lack thereof, which is contributing significantly to my struggle to finish this book. Reading this book is a chore.

I just finished reading this book and let me tell you it's absolutely sick. Those poor children having to grow up in that type of environment. Absolutely sickening! Well worth the read into a dysfunctional family living among us

I grew up in the same town. I went to a neighboring school. I read this book when I was in high school and couldn’t believe it. My mom worked for a company taking care of developmentally delayed individuals and the one guy was delayed to them. He told her stories that were just horrible and that were from the book. I still go by the house on a weekly basis and it is still empty. They wanted to drain the pond out front but were afraid to see how many bodies they would find.

I was in prison with the mother and it made me sick soon as I realized I was helping her by pushing her wheel chair and soon as I was told I left her out in the middle of the prison yard with no help and she sat there til she could finally push herself to go eat . I don't care how sorry she is but I told her she is pure evil sick and twisted and I hope she burns in he'll and I asked her as a mother how could she allow it and she said nothing to me and I told her you are supposed to protect your children not harm them and I said if die for my children and told her I hope she lives for many more years so she can relive what she did over and over and they even took this book out of the prison bc for her safety bc everyone was finding out it was about her But yea they didn't take all the books of this story out and I hope she is still being tortured everyday just like she had done her own children but I was in there in 2012 with her so I'm not sure if she's still alive or not honestly

I read house of secrets about a year ago and this book really opened my eyes as to what kind of sick and demented people exist out there. I feel very sorry for the family and the pain they had to endure from Ed Sexton and his sick ways. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in finding out more about what True Crime is all about. I gave this book 5 stars because I think Lowell Cauffiel really did a wonderful job in including all aspects of the family, the crimes that were committed, and the background of Ed Sexton and "his" family. Like another review I read this book really changed the way I look at abuse and the effects that has on the families that endured it.

I live about 2 minutes away from where this all happened. I went to Jackson High School with one of the children. It is so hard to believe that this happened so close! What a great book, though! You could read the book with in 2 days...I recommend to all!

This book is sick and twisted. After reading just the first chaperted, I was left disturbed as to what was being forshadowed. Me being from the home town of which many of these events took place and already hearing dozens of rumors made my emotions pile up. I cryed several of times through out the book at the thought of what these childeren had to be a part of. I thought to myself couldn't something more have happend to help prevent the situation from ever happening. In the book it mentioned the Sexton children being outcast in the school and community. This is what hurts me the most. If the children only had some one, some peer that they could trust, perhaps they may have spoken up sooner. The children did not even get a chance to compare there home life to another persons home life, therefore not fully understanding that somthing wrong was going on. Maybe all they needed was a helping hand some they knew they could trust and confide in. Because there are sick domented people in our world today I feel it is our responsibliy to look out for those around us, in any way possible, who may need a helping hand, and be aware of actions that need to be stopped As far as Ed Sexton and his wife; I don't understand what went on in his mind, his intentions, or what triggered him to do such horrible things. As far as this man, he deserves one place and the name of this place is HELL. I would not be shoked if he himself was a demond parading and corrupting the earth with his presence. All and all I really liked the book. It made me think.

As I was reading this well-written book, I kept asking myself, with all the police officers, social workers, neighbors and relatives who were involved at different levels in this family's lives, how did Eddie Sexton get away with all these unspeakable acts? To think that in this day and age, someone in our very own neighborhoods could be doing what he did is very scary and very sad. I've read many true crime books but none has had the impact that this one did. I think it is because many talk about what strangers do to strangers. This is a father and mother, who are supposed to protect and love their children above all else. I truly believe that Edddie Sexton epitomizes the word "dysfunction". My heart goes out to ALL of his children because they were living the world he had created for them. None had a clue as to normal. Mr. Cauffiel did a superb job investigating and reporting this tragic true horror story.