Murder in Little Egypt

I'm about 1/4 of the way through the book, so still have a way to go, but it has taken me almost this long to begin to even be INTERESTED in continuing to read it. So far, I've only managed to read a few pages each night. There is just WAY to much detail in the beginning of this book about "Little Egypt" and the killer's parents lives (and, as I recall, even his grandparents). I skipped over some of it, not being interested AT ALL in the history of the towns he lived and worked in. To ME, there's just been way too much unnecessary 'filler'. I can understand including details that lead to the development of a man who could kill his own children; but other that that, it's just BORING to read extraneous details. HOPEFULLY now that he's married to the woman who evidently will bear his children, my interest in continuing to read this book will improve.

EL DA RAY DO Little Egypt area in southern Illinois. DR. DALE. What do you do when you are abusing your wife and your sons, your employees, committing medical fraud, welfare fraud, animal abuse, making very bad business decisions, drinking and you are broke? What do you do ? Well, if you are Dr Dale you insure your 4 sons for $140,000 each and you start killing them. He would kill 2 before he got caught. What happens...the town believes he is innocent and they stand beside him. WOW! This is a must read book. Does the family get justice. YES...please read how.

In 1988, I married a man from this area (Raleigh, IL) and moved there myself. Darcy O'Brien couldn't be more correct when he describes the natives and how they view newcomers or strangers. I purchased the book the day it hit the shelf in the Eldorado Big John's grocery store. I was fascinated by this true tale of a well-loved doctor who had murdered his own sons. As I read the story, I came across many names of people that I had recently met and became acquainted with in the area. One such person was the Sherrif that had arrested Dr. Cavaness. He wasn't sherrif any longer, as many years had passed. I later spoke with him about the murders & he basically recounted the story Darcy O'Brien tells in his book. Read this one - you won't be able to put it down - or forget it.

I'm glad this book has returned to print; in my opinion, it ranks right up there with "In Cold Blood" as a true-crime masterpiece. You will be fascinated by the author's portrait of the southern-Illinois area called "Little Egypt," and you'll shake your head at the Little-Egyptians' almost cult-like devotion to their "good" doctor, even after the extent of his crimes became known.