In the tradition of In Cold Blood, The Executioner’s Song, and A Civil Action, Suzanne O’Malley exposes the human mystery of the most horrifying crime in recent history and the legal drama surrounding it.

Like a journalist, Suzanne O’Malley started covering the murders of Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary Yates hours after their mother, Andrea Yates, drowned them within their suburban Houston home in June 2001. Over twenty-four weeks, O’Malley interviewed or witnessed the sworn testimony greater than about Are You There Alone?: The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates 100 participants within this crisis, including Yates herself; her husband, Rusty Yates; their own families; attorneys; the personnel of the Harris County region attorney’s and sheriff’s offices; medical personnel; close friends; acquaintances; and professional witnesses.

O’Malley argues persuasively that under less extraordinary conditions, a mentally sick woman could have been silently offered a plea discount and delivered to an institution under court supervision. But on March 12, 2002, Andrea Yates was discovered guilty of the murders of three of her five kids. She is presently serving a lifestyle sentence and will not qualify for parole until 2041.

O’Malley’s exclusive personal marketing communications with Andrea Yates and her interviews with Rusty Yates enable her to provide fully realized portrayals of individuals at the guts of the horrifying case.

In ‘Are You There By itself?’ O’Malley makes a crucial contribution to your understanding of mental medical issues within the criminal justice system.