True Crime at its Best

The explosion of words in Two Codes for Murder details the cunning preparation for a crime with extensive use of deceit and codes. Incomparable as a women's issue, the crime and its solution are authentically told through police reports, courtroom drama and the eyes of the bewildered victim.

A young St. Louis single mother dreams of a lasting marriage and a move to San Diego, anticipating a lifetime of bliss with a man in her life she has decided to believe in. Instead, the marriage turns out to be a nightmarish existence with nothing but heartbreak and terror, and then two heinous crimes.

Fearing for her life and her children's safety she gives up her dream and goes into hiding, at first unable to convince authorities that this man she has called husband for a few months is an incredibly cruel and selfish monster. He is a deviate who loves only money, himself and mysterious buddies who are clones of himself. He mistreats the young children and thinks nothing of abusing his new bride.

Middle Easterners add to the intrigue, confounding the criminal acts and their roles in them. But the duped, stalked woman, guided only by her courage and determination that justice be done, will not be discarded so easily. She is inspired by the story of Nicole Simpson and a defiance she has never known before.

A jewel of effective detective work, the investigations and court proceedings will fascinate crime buffs but all readers will admire and deeply empathize with the victim.

It happened in Beautiful San Diego where the Jacaranda grows.

Dorothea Fuller Smith, the author of this work, has been intensely involved in the events of the story, since the victim is her own daughter. The author has spent more than forty years teaching French and Spanish in various schools and colleges, and has written short stories about contemporary life, newspaper articles and poetry for publication.