Bitter Remains: A Custody Battle, A Gruesome Crime, and the Mother Who Paid the Ultimate Price

Written by Diane Fanning

Narrated by Karyn O'Bryant

On July 13, 2011, Laura Jean Ackerson of Kinston, North Carolina, went to pick up her two toddler sons. It would be the last time she was seen alive.

Laura's ex, Grant Hayes-the father of her two sons-and his wife, Amanda, the mother of his newborn daughter, both pointed the finger at each other as the one guilty of murdering Laura, cutting up her body, and then transporting and disposing of the remains on the shores of Oyster Creek, Texas.

This is the hauntingly true story of a devoted mother, a disturbed couple, and how these horrific events came to pass.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781494588489

Diane Fanning

DIANE FANNING is the author of the Edgar Award finalist Written in Blood: A True Story of Murder and a Deadly 16-Year-Old Secret That Tore a Family Apart, as well as several other true-crime books (available from St. Martin’s) and the Secret City mystery series. She lives in Bedford, Virginia.

Reviews for Bitter Remains

[newscott321 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's longer than necessary and the narrator was too breathy

[Cindie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's an excellent story written perfectly this review is for audio. Unfortunately the audio book drives me crazy. The narrator inflects every 30 seconds , even if the sentence does not call for it. I'm a fan of Diane from Deadly Women series, wished so much she was the one reading her own novel, it would be much better.

[bonniekernene · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Laura Jean Ackerson was murdered and dismembered in 2011. She was the mother of Grant Hayes' sons and he wanted her completely out of the picture. Apparently, his wife Amanda Hayes, wanted the same. So they made it happen, and tried to make it look like they had nothing to do with it. They had made life extremely difficult in the past years, so of course, they made this new plan difficult, and extremely heinous as well. This book was well-written and well researched. I felt it was balanced between all of the focuses, but never lost sight of the actual victim, Laura Jean Ackerson. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all who read true crime.