Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder

A sad, but well written book. It's fairly short and fast-paced, but I don't feel like anything was skipped. I think we got enough information about the case and I'm glad it was all understandable and not overwhelming. <br /><br />The narrator was chosen wonderfully too, and her narration almost made this seem like a fictional book by how much effort she put into setting the scene, making everyone sound unique etc.

I took a particular interest in this one because Jason Bautista went to my high school and was friends with one of my friends. One of my best friends also had Chemistry class with Jason. Imagine our horror when we heard about this on the news? Note: My high school in the book is actually spelled wrong. <br /><br />This one is a fast and interesting read. I could not put the book down. In fact, I read it in one day. It is sad because I believe that if the mother's mental illness had been treated, this tragedy would not have happened. Jason Bautista was a very smart person who had the potential to get out of this unlucky situation . He just made the wrong decision. Jane Bautista's (victim) grandparents were well off. Jane Bautista's grandmother was sending her money to pay for bills and rent. It's so unfortunate that they did not realize that Jane was delving deeper and deeper into mental illness and in serious risk. Otherwise, perhaps they could have financed her psychiatric treatment as well. I was also disheartened that the grandparents &amp; parents were initially supportive of Jason Bautista's legal defense. However, once they realized how much money it was going to cost them, they didn't support Jason financially, even though I believed they had the funds. <br /><br />The author succeeds in portraying Jane as the schizophrenic paranoid. The character development was effecient and because the author gave insight on Jane Bautista's past, it was easy for me not to judge her as pure evil. It was just an unfortunate tragedy for everyone involved. I recommended this book.

A sad story about a murder of an abusive mother. Rather shocking how many people knew the woman was unreliable, struggling with mental health issues (neighbors, police, coaches, family) but nobody ever seemed to think it appropriate to make sure that her two kids were okay. Finally the oldest killed her. People ask how could he do that, why didn't he reach out for help, etc.— but it really looks like he was never offered any help or ever was given the notion that help was out there for the asking. And of course it is also horrific that he killed his mother. Some of the jury members were in tears.<br /><br />Having finished the book I wondered where exactly the details were coming from. The younger brother was a prosecution witness and the jury did not believe his account; yet it is this account which the author seemed to rely on. I would have appreciated an acknowledgment in the narrative where the story was coming from: the accused? the co-accused brother turned prosecution witness? experts? Makes the narrative less tidy, of course, but this messy tragedy was never meant to be tidy.

This is a terrible true-crime book. The writing is terrible; mercifully, it is short. The author spends the first half of the book outlining the terrible abuse two boys endured at the hands of their paranoid schizophrenic mother and then spends the last half lambasting them for murdering her. She could have at least explored the idea that the abuse played some role in their horrific act.

I was very surprised by this book. loved it. Felt like I knew the people involved.

This was an interesting true crime case yet I grew tired of reading it. A lot of the mental health issues and paranoia felt taxing and a little repetitive, although I understand the obvious significance.

This True Crime novel of Jason and Matthew's killing of their mother is an interesting one. Dirman gets you on the boy's side for the entire beginning of the novel and you yourself would understand why someone would want to kill the woman they call mom. She abuses them, belittles them, and lets her schizophrenia take control. The entire time you wonder why no on intervenes with the rearing of these two boys. Then as the madness becomes too much Jason decides the only way to get rid of her is to kill her. Matthew goes along with it but doesn't commit to helping in anyway whatsoever. After killing her, Jason disposes the body a way he sees in the latest Sopranos episode by cutting off her head and hands. Matthew helps him as he goes off to dispose of the body, leaving the head and hands in the hall closet of their apartment. Towards the end, as Jason lies more and as you see another side of both of the boys you begin to question how you felt in the beginning. You begin to wonder if they were really so abused and if they ever abused back. It is a really easy read and keeps you interested.

This is a true case of how mental illness can affect a family. Could an intervention taken place before this family fell apart. I say yes. It shows how turning a blind eye to every red flag before you can lead to disaster. All the signs were there, to family and friends, yet no one took any action to save the children. This was a preventable crime right from the beginning. It makes you angry that not one person reached out. You ask why. I have learned from this book that mental illness should not be hidden away but recognized for what it is and for God's sake DO SOMETHING. These boys should have had a chance to live a life most of us enjoy. But because no one intercepted they were doomed from birth. After reading reviews from other readers of this book I felt compelled to edit my review. The other readers seem to be focused on the crime rather than the possible cause of it. I see this as a book that can enlighten us to the need to address mental illness rather than address a crime that was a victim of it.

on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 I wrote about this book:<br /><br />Just finished it a few seconds ago (It is Tuesday September 16-2008 12.44.)<br /><br />Quick read but what a sad case. You could feel that the author sided with the 2 boys. She was looking for excuses for both of them, but especially for Jason. Not that it did bother me.<br />All in all a good read. 8.5 <br /><br />

This was an interesting read and I was interested in the story (although I have no idea if the author really did get facts wrong or not) but at times the book could have used a little more depth to it. The story was focused to much around facts in some parts and not enough to get you to embrace the book. I hope that makes sense. If you are a lover of True Crime then you may like this if you only like it every now and again type thing I would pass up on this one. You could probably get the story in a shorter version on the internet.