Under Cover of the Night

Summary: It was planned to look like a suicide.
But even in the best-laid plans, evidence is left behind…

Jocelyn Branham Earnest was found dead on the floor of her living room in Forest, Virginia. By her side was a gun and a suicide note—typed, lacking a signature, and with one fingerprint on it. A fingerprint apparently belonging to Jocelyn’s estranged husband…

Wesley Earnest was a respected high school administrator, poised to restart his life in a new community. Parents entrusted their children to his care and believed he was above reproach. But the investigation into the life the couple once shared would reveal adultery, troubled finances, and shattered dreams—enough for one man with murder on his mind to travel hundreds of miles…

Angie's comments: If you are interested in true crime, Under Cover of the Night might be for you. The author, Diane Fanning, takes readers through the murder of Jocelyn Branham Earnest and the two trials of her estranged husband, Wesley Earnest. The strength of this book is the focus on the trials, which is the majority of the book. The details of the trials gave me a new appreciation for the legal side of crime. The objections and rebuttals of the lawyers and the judge's rulings were fascinating to me. However, the crime itself is not surprising, other than that the accused was a school administrator. It is another reminder that domestic life can turn deadly. 

Under Cover of the Night would be best suited for true crime readers who are interested in the legal side of trials. 

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