When Evil Came to Good Hart Audiobook By Mardi Link cover art

When Evil Came to Good Hart

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When Evil Came to Good Hart

By: Mardi Link
Narrated by: JoBe Cerny
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About this listen

In this addictive true-life whodunit, author Mardi Link details all the evidence to date in the case of the Robison family murders. She crafts her book around police and court documents and historical and present-day statements and interviews, in addition to exploring the impact of the case on the community of Good Hart and the stigma that surrounds the popular summer getaway. Adding to both the sense of tragic history and the suspense, Link laces her tale with fascinating bits of local and Indian lore, while dozens of colorful characters enter and leave the story, spicing the narrative.

During the years of investigation of the murders, officials considered hundreds of tips and leads as well as dozens of sources, among them former secretaries who worked for murder victim Dick Robison; Robison's business associates; John Norman Collins, perpetrator of the "co-ed murders" that took place in Washtenaw County between 1967 and 1969; and an inmate in federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, who said he knew who killed the Robison family.

Despite the exhaustive investigative efforts of numerous individuals, decades later the case lies tantalizingly out of reach. It is still an unsolved cold case, yielding, in Link's words, 40 years' worth of "dead-end leads, anonymous tips, a few hard facts, and countless cockamamie theories."

©2008 Mardi Link (P)2016 Mardi Jo Link
Americas Murder State & Local True Crime United States
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Critic reviews

"The murder mystery that has confounded and fascinated people for over 40 years has been given a whole new life. When Evil Came to Good Hart is in its tenth printing and is a well-researched and well-written piece of nonfiction that holds the reader in its spell, just as it has the many writers, reporters, and law officers who have puzzled over it. My highest praise for Mardi Link's book is to say that it reads like a good novel, a real page-turner."

(Judith Guest, author of Ordinary People and The Tarnished Eye)

All stars
Most relevant  

Would you listen to When Evil Came to Good Hart again? Why?

I might to over details, but it was fascinating the first time to see if I could remember everything and pull the clues together.

What other book might you compare When Evil Came to Good Hart to and why?

Don't have a title to offer right now.

Have you listened to any of JoBe Cerny’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, JoBe Cerny's voice is always distinct. Feels like home. American voice.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Fascinated by the forensic details -

Any additional comments?

I felt like was actually a part of the detective team because I was given all the details to parse myself. Mr. Cerny's folksy, yet precise, trustworthy detective voice takes you through the journey and makes you want to draw the puzzle up on a white board and dig in-.

Pure Detective Work-

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JoBe is a pro - has been a narrator in Voiceovers for many years, and he handles this well-written text like the professional voice artist that he is. Also, the story itself is well-crafted for the genre, also written with confidence.

Well written with good narration

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Would you listen to When Evil Came to Good Hart again? Why?

Yes, to catch the details I missed the first time.

What did you like best about this story?

The pacing set by the narrator. A very digestible pace that keeps you engaged.

Which character – as performed by JoBe Cerny – was your favorite?

The author/narrator

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Murder where you least expect it.

Any additional comments?

A great listen!

Cool Midwestern Crime Story

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Wonderful true crime book about the prominent Robison family
A well-told story that is ultimately kind of life-affirming

TThompson

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Who would kill an entire family down to the smallest child? This is one mystery that is yet to be solved. There is good evidence to support the author’s theory of who she thinks is responsible but the police were never able to uncover enough evidence to bring a suspect to trial. The case remains unsolved to this day.

I feel like the book focused on the father too much. Yes, he is the most likely reason the family was murdered. He, by most accounts, was not a very likeable person although he had some redeeming qualities. He appeared to be a successful businessman but he seemed to rub most people the wrong and was overly exacting by nature. He was also a good provider for his family but had a somewhat bizarre fetish. His wife is only mentioned at the end and we don’t get to know the children at all so we are left with a very unclear picture of what life was like for this family.

The investigation was long and very detailed. Every lead was followed to the end. The police really wanted to find out who perpetrated this crime and yet, with no murder weapon, the main suspect out of the picture and so much time passed, it is unlikely we’ll ever know what happened and why. I just wish more time had been invested in detailing the lives of the children and Mrs. Robison. In the end, I’m left disappointed by those left behind.

The narration was really very good. I enjoyed JoBe’s voice and he brought a feel to the book that would have otherwise been missing if I had read rather than listened to this book.

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

Unsolved Mystery

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What did you like best about When Evil Came to Good Hart? What did you like least?

The author has a different writing style which makes her stand out

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The book turned out as a parched read

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Was When Evil Came to Good Hart worth the listening time?

Yes and no

Any additional comments?

The author has a different writing style which makes her stand out, but as the book turned out a parched read it became hard keeping the focus

This book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review

All opinions are my own

Began great

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The story will remind you of In Cold Blood (though the writing is good, alas, it is not Capote--yet what else is?). And this book will keep you on the edge of your seat with suspense. The problem, and I almost never complain of narrators, is that the reader is laughably, and I mean laughably bad. How this person every got hired to read an audible book is a greater mystery than the one detailed in the book.

A Compelling True Crime Read...

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I got this for free for a honest review, and that is what you get a honest review.

There is ALMOST nothing interesting about this book. The start was good, but it never comes from the start into a interesting story. The narrator is more then good, JoBe Cerny really really tries, but even JoBe cant save this book!

Meh over more meh!

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The story was well written but it was dragging and wandered at some points. I liked the fact that I could relate as a Michigan native and I go to the area every year. It surprised me that I had never heard this before. It happened at the same time as the coed case in Washtenaw County and it may have been overshadowed by that case. I'm glad someone took the time to bring it to light. I did have difficulty with the narration. His cadence was hard to listen to at times. He was very choppy like he was reading for the first time. It was also annoying to hear him mispronounce words that locals know. otherwise it was a good book

love local stories

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What made the experience of listening to When Evil Came to Good Hart the most enjoyable?

The story was about the murder of a family in 1968. It is officially unsolved. Told from the perspective of a journalist who has invesrigated the crime.

What was one of the most memorable moments of When Evil Came to Good Hart?

The idyllic location and unsuspecting neighbors who discover the crime.

Which character – as performed by JoBe Cerny – was your favorite?

JoBe Cerney the narrator does a good job. The "star" of this audiobook is the storytelling, the crime and setting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was enthralled from beginning to end. A moment that stuck in my mind is the interview / confession of a individual in prison.

Any additional comments?

Though never officially solved, a strong case is made for the probable killers and scenerio surrounding the murders of the Robison Family.Truly an interesting listen.This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

Strong True Crime

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