Bad Girls


Non-Fiction - True Crime
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 10/27/2013
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Denise Stern for Readers' Favorite

M. William Phelps has created a true crime read with Bad Girls. This is the true story of Bobbi Jo Smith and her lover, Jennifer Jones. The two women were accused and convicted of the murder of a man in Texas. His bed-ridden mother was locked in her room during the murder. The story develops with detailed and well researched descriptions of both girls involved in the crime, as well as what may have propelled them to commit their violent act. The story involves tales of drugs, love, and twisted emotions that unfortunately resulted in a violent and gruesome death. The narrative is filled with quotes from all participants, and are included ad infinitum.

Bad Girls is an interesting book, but is somewhat different than the author's previous works of true fiction. In this book, he seems to have taken the side of one of the women accused of the murder - Bobby Jo Smith. While the book leads the reader along a "she said/she said" history, it may ultimately be impossible for the reader to decide exactly which one of the girls pulled the trigger. Phelps takes quite a bit of time explaining Bobby Jo's unfortunate childhood, and was repetitive in places. However, if one can get past the relationship that was forged between the author and Bobby Jo Smith, the book certainly provides a bird's-eye view of one of the most atrocious crimes in recent Texas from the perspective of one of the accused. However, readers may have trouble sympathizing with either of the girls or their lifestyle.