Book reviews

UPDATED FOR 2024. The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout, Ph.D., is a classic for describing sociopathic behavior. I read the book when it was first published in early 2005, shortly before Lovefraud launched. Thirteen years later, I read read it again.I've learned a lot about sociopaths during those 13 years, so the second read was certainly a different experience. The first time I read the book, much of what Stout wrote was a revelation. Here are my observations from the second time around: Stout does a good job of describing sociopathic motivation, but her book fails to capture how dangerous and destructive these people are.The reason, I believe, is that this was never a book about …

15 valuable lessons from ‘The Sociopath Next Door’Read More

Editor's note: Hera McLeod announces her new book, "Defying Silence: A Memoir of a Mother's Loss and Courage in the Face of Injustice," about the murder of her young son by his father. She previously contributed to Lovefraud under the name, "Cappuccino Queen," as she was in the midst of her concerns about the safety of her son. Read her articles here.By Hera McLeodTwo weeks after giving birth to my son Prince, I discovered that everything I knew about my son's father was a lie. After a 12-month custody battle, full of terrifying evidence that I uncovered, Prince's father murdered him during the fourth unsupervised visitation. Parts of my son's case have been reported about in the …

Why I wrote ‘Defying Silence’Read More

My first book, Love Fraud — how marriage to a sociopath fulfilled my spiritual plan, tells the outrageous true story of my sociopathic ex-husband’s betrayal. But it is also a story of healing. This is the final installment of my Valentine’s Day series of excerpts from my book about finding my true love. To catch up, I invite you to read: Excerpts describing my ex-husband’s lies and cheating. Excerpts describing my healing journey. By Donna Andersen Terry retained his job, but a few years later his employer closed his office and wanted him to work from home. We were happy, he no longer needed to live near the office, so we decided that he would move in with me. We planned a big m …

Love Fraud Book Excerpt: A diamond commitment from my true loveRead More

Yes, there can be love after the sociopath. In recognition of Valentine’s Day, this excerpt shares a bit more of the real love story in my book, Love Fraud — How marriage to a sociopath fulfilled my spiritual plan.  To catch up, I invite you to read: Excerpts describing my ex-husband’s lies and cheating. Excerpts describing my healing journey. By Donna Andersen Battered by competition from China, Terry’s manufacturing business was failing — his only option was to sell it. But as he was going through his divorce at the time, he needed the approval of his ex and her attorney, and it was not forthcoming. His financial situation deteriorated rapidly, which sent him into depression. …

Love Fraud Book Excerpt: Our love is testedRead More