Obeying Evil: The Mockingbird Hill Massacre Through the Eyes of a Killer by Ryan Green

Obeying Evil: The Mockingbird Hill Massacre Through the Eyes of a Killer Reviews

• 
  Ruthy lavin

  A Well written account of a truly horrifying and brutal series of murders committed by Ronald Gene Simmons in the 1980’s over the course of a week.
  Chilling stuff, incredibly hard to comprehend.
  If you like true crime you will enjoy this, although it is a shocking read.
• 
  Lyn❤Loves❤Listening #AUDIOBOOKADDICT

  AUDIO 5 Stars
  STORY 4 Stars
• 
  Miriam on hiatus

  5 stars audio
  4 stars story
• 
  Kayla Krantz

  This book gives a very good look into the life of a twisted individual. While I’ve studied a lot of true crime, I’ve never heard of Arkansas’ most dangerous serial killer, Ronald Gene Simmons, before this book. After listening, I think I’ve learned enough to know just how disturbing all his crimes actually were. The author’s prose throughout left some intriguing questions as well as one at the end in which he poses the idea that it is easier to believe this killer was a highly intelligent psychopath rather than believing than a sane person could be capable of doing everything he did.
  
  Excellent true crime book, and the narrator did a splendid job as well.
  
  This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
  
• 
  Cynthia Sillitoe

  This may be the most concise true crime book I've ever read. Some people may like that. I would have preferred more background.
• 
  Beverly Laude

  I grew up about 30 miles from where this massacre occurred and remember the terror and horror that was felt in this small community. The author, Ryan Green, does a good job of leading the reader through the background of Ronald Gene Simmons and telling the listener what might have led up to his horrific killing spree.
  
  Even though this is a fairly short book, it covers this story in an effective way. If the reader wants something more in-depth, I am sure that there are books that would fit the bill. The opening of the book gives you a glimpse into the psychotic thinking in Simmons' mind on that fateful December day in 1987. Mr. Green then leads you through the early life of Simmons, his incestuous relationship with his oldest daughter, and his abuse and control of his wife and children. The end of the book describes the legal wranglings that occurred and their implications for future cases involving a death sentence.
  
  The narrator, Steve White, does a great job and his pacing and emphasis are perfect. The author does not pull any punches in his descriptions of the actual murders, but he also doesn't overdo the graphic details. IMHO, if you are a reader that "enjoys" true crime books, you expect details of the crimes. However, be aware that some of the murders are more troubling than others since they involve very young children.
  
  I definitely recommend this book for anyone who remembers this crime spree, as well as those that are looking for a well-written true crime book. The next time that I am looking for a short account of true crime, I will remember Mr. Green's writing and know that I will not be disappointed. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book through Audiobook Boom! and chose to review it.
• 
  Bettye McKee

  A great book about an unforgettable crime.
  
  I knew this story from reading Zero at the Bone, but this book came from an entirely different perspective and it read like a novel.
  
  Every person who tries to explain motive comes up with something different. Perhaps we will never understand the mind and motive of Ronald Gene Simmons. It's plain to see he had a plan and executed it like a military mission.
  
  Simmons was not a crazed killer running around killing anyone who stuck their head up. He had specific targets, then he was finished. There's no doubt he knew what he was doing.
  
  25
• 
  Kelly

  I enjoyed this as much as one can enjoy a true crime book. There were a few typos, and grammatical mistakes, but not enough to detract from this horrifying story. I've read many true crime books and so many of them are divided into two parts: the first half is the crime and the second half is the trial. I often get bored reading the trial part. I really liked the way Mr. Green cut to the chase. He gives you just enough backstory on Simmons; enough story about the Simmons family dynamics; and quite enough story about the crime. It is a heartbreaking crime committed by a perverted, psychopathic control freak who got what he deserved in the end. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ryan Green.
• 
  Jay

  This was a crazy story that happens to be true. It is hard to understand the reasons for some of the actions in the tale. It progressed into utter madness like a Stephen King novel... and it really happened. The narration by Steve White was good. I got a bit turned around with all the names being thrown around, that is maybe the one thing I would change... how the situations and people present were introduced. Other than that I enjoyed it as much as I could.
  
  This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.
• 
  odedo1 Audio book worm.

  The author Ryan Green is amazing, I believe that no matter the subject he would glue you to it, he does a complete research before he starts and then like magic he tells the story like no others !
  If I only had teachers like him, I would have been a much better student then just an average one.
  Really beautifully written coupled with the narrator Steve White a great audiobook was created.
  
  This audiobook is Full heartedly recommended !!!
  
  
  
  I believe that my review was honest even so that I got this audiobook for free.
• 
  Michelle Boyer

  Ryan Green weaves a tale of terror, torture, sexual and physical abuse, and murder unlike no other. If you weren't an avid reader of true crime, you might think this is a work of fiction. However, this story follows a madman as he abuses his family and then exacted revenge upon them when they tried to get away. If you ever crossed this man he had a vendetta against you.
  
  What a terrible human and a tragic story. Well worth a read if you enjoy true crime.
• 
  Emily Ross

  I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
  
  I really struggled with this audiobook. It’s quite short and many details were left out, which I struggled with because I could never remember who was who.
  
  The narrator was brilliant, and I really appreciated his narration style.
• 
  Jesse

  This is terrible. Poorly written murder porn. Child murder porn.
• 
  crashqueen73

  Easy reading and told from the view of the killer. Flowed well. Enjoyed the writing style which was uncomplicated and would read more by this author.
• 
  Amanda Borys

  In the National Treasure 2 movie, Nicholas Cage's character's sidekick writes a book of conspiracy theories and, to advertise it, has a pretension, supposedly serious author's photo taken. That is what came to mind when I saw this author's photo on the back of this book. The arrogant and self serving author description (written in the third person probably by the author himself) certainly didn't help that impression or how I viewed this book.
  
  A poorly constructed and edited book (if there is an editor, there are no acknowledgements so if there was one, they are probably glad to remain anonymous), the book mainly relies on clichés, predictable descriptions, and a poor attempt to dramatize and shock to tell the story of Ronal Gene Simmons. The chronology is poorly laid out and the story often jumps from situation to situation without it being clear how the events unfolded or who was involved. To summarize, the book shows the writing skills of a senior high student assigned a serial killer as a class writing project and, at 114 pages widely spaced and with a larger font, is only slightly longer.
  
  According to the author's write-up, "Ryan puts the reader in the perspective of those who lived and worked in proximity of his subjects." If this were true, according to this book Simmons' wife, Becky, accepted his physical, emotional, verbal, and financial abuse of herself and her children at Simmons' hands. There are vague mentions that she tried to leave her husband, how many times is unclear, but apparently overall she accepted their lot in life. The book also implies that Sheila, the daughter Simmons sexually abused and fathered a daughter with, enjoyed her father's attentions and returned his affections. No attempt was made by the author to truly understand or relate the deeply complex interactions that would be the cause for any of this behaviour.
  
  The book is also supposed to be "packed" with facts, alternative considerations (Simmons served in Vietnam, so could have been suffering from PTSD, but this was never mentioned), and open mindedness. However, there is no evidence any research was undertaken and no sources are mentioned anywhere. A quick read of the Wikipedia page for Ronald Gene Simmons brings up the same basic facts as outlined in the book between bad attempts to show Simmons falling into paranoia and delusions, with some minor differences.
  
  Even the title doesn't make sense. What evil was Simmons obeying? He never claimed he heard voices or was controlled by an outside force. He acted alone, so no one else was obeying him. His family was heavily controlled, but saying they obeyed evil is an exaggeration as they didn't commit any crimes.
  
  Overall, if anyone is truly interested in Simmons or any of the true crime stories this author has written about I would recommend finding a well researched, well written, well edited, and professionally published book on the subject. One that will present the facts, not try to hide their absence with hyperbole, cliched over dramatics, and stock descriptions of murderers.
• 
  Linda

  I read your book Obeying Evil. I have read all of your books. It is chilling to know there are people like Simmons in the world. As the wife of a retired police officer of 41 years, it scares and amazes me what people can do to each other.
  
  I really like your style of writing. You keep an open mind while making your case
  
  I'm looking forward to your next book. Keep up the good work.
• 
  ♥ Marlene♥

  Finished this this week. I am more of the more details in my true crime books but when it are cases like this, with incest and such I do not mind if there are not as many.
  A quick true crime read. Not badly written at all although I do wonder how the author knew what the author was thinking during the killings. Perhaps this came out during interviews I do not know but boy what a cowardly controlling weasel.
• 
  Sofia

  It took me forever, but I finished this book.
  
  In truth, I have a very perplexing relationship with Ryan Green's books mainly because they try to look through the gaze of the killer and their victims. Sometimes, I can believe the perspective he writes in, and other times, I can't.
  
  This book is the latter.
  
  If you don't already know, this book is about Ronald Gene Simmons, the worst mass murderer in the state of Arkansas. He was a very peculiar individual who did absolutely horrendous things, and many people at the time of his crimes did not understand anything about him or why he did the things he did. Frankly, I think this is true of every killer. Most normal individuals do not know the level of rage needed to push someone over the edge and towards awful crimes. Most times, however, we are able to see motives, we are able to see actions, and we are able to construct ideas that fit relatively well with the situation and can give at least some inkling of why these types of crimes are committed.
  
  Now my issue here, is that I don't think it was very effective to write in the perspective of Ronald, when there is very little known about him and his actual thoughts, and then there's also a disconnect between what is being said and what is being seen in this book. This man was a recluse and he controlled his family very well. Because of this and the planning of his crimes, he was seen as intelligent and cunning by many of the investigators and evaluators of his case and himself in general. Mr. Green didn't really embody this. I personally did not see any sign of immense intelligence being portrayed in this book. I really didn't see Mr. Green taking what people said about this man and apply it to his writing. What I did see were simply repetitions of the same thoughts over and over and over again. I think if there had been more detail about this man, more knowledge and interactions between him and others, then Mr. Green may have had better success in portraying his mind, but because there isn't, I don't think the regular formatting that Mr. Green uses is really effective.
  
  All in all, this book isn't necessarily bad, but I wouldn't go so far as to label it as good, either. I honestly just don't think this a case that fits Ryan Green's format and that really just made it difficult to believe the perspective we were being fed in this book.
  
  2 stars. Read it if you must, but you're not missing out on much if you don't.
• 
  Daniel Kupres

  The immediate title of this book, made me assume that this took place in the UK as that is where Ryan Green resides but this massacre actually takes place in Arkansas. To say that I know of every horrendous crime committed in the States is an overstatement but I have read or watched and learned of many of the biggest committed here. But the story of Ronald Gene Simmons slipped by me somehow.
  
  What I enjoy about Ryan's work is that while it remains a third person narrative, we are provided with the antagonists point of view (but my interpretation of writing would actually be Sheila, his daughter). When it comes to true crime, I am almost always able to stomach it and in today's day, I am no loner really shocked. This one however made me sick to my stomach. I will never understand how a man can father a child and then in turn look upon that child as they grow to be his sexual partner. Then to be denied by her being the cause to murder his whole family and those he felt had disrespected him in some way, there is just no words to describe what a horrible human being he was and to plan and execute the murder of his entire family on Christmas and they way he chose to do so. He did receive the death penalty but there is part of me that would had preferred that he received some of the torture he bestowed upon his wife, children and grandchildren.
  
  This story truly disturbed me and while Ryan reminds us that his psychopathy began as a toddler with the death of his father, I choose to remember that he was evaluated by a psychiatric doctor that essentially said that he knew the difference between life and death, basically right and wrong and knew exactly what he was doing at every moment when he executed his evil plan. Ronald Gene Simmons and his murders will be forever burned into my memory.
• 
  Kathleen Riggs

  A Gripping Accounts Of Torture, Abuse
  This is the true story of Ronald Gene Simmons who was a former military man in both the Navy and Air Force.
  Simmons demands complete obedience from his wife Becky, and their many children. Simmons also commits incest with his eldest daughter Sheila, and she ends up having Simmon’s baby. Simmons and Becky flee New Mexico after it gets out Shelia is pregnant with Simmon’s baby and move around until settling outside a small town in Arkansas.
  Sheila left the family home and married which tells Simmons that he is losing control of his family but how dare Shelia disobey him as she is the only thing that mattered to him.
  
  As Christmas comes the family is set for a heart-warming reunion and Becky is planning on leaving Ronald afterwards. Sadly, Simmon’s has his own plans, and this is to deliberately wipe out his entire family. Sadly, this turns out to be one of the most disturbing family killing sprees in the United States as he wipes everyone of the family out and then goes after people in town that he worked for and did him wrong. Simmons was not a crazed killer as there is no doubt, he knew what he was doing.
  Ryan Green does not disappoint once again a fantastically written book which you will find hard to put down, I highly recommend this book. I am part of the ARC group for Ryan Green, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
  
• 
  Pamela Merritt

  Not for everyone. This is a true crime book where we know what happened, and who did it, right away. This is a glimpse into a murderer’s mind that is very unsettling. He cares only about himself to an amazing degree, and we dwell in that mind far more than is comfortable.
  
  We also are with him as his commits his crimes, and that is almost unbearable.
  
  It is well-written and not sensationalized; it’s just not possible to downplay such a horrible set of deeds. I find it very valuable as an illustration of a mindset that is all too common. An utter disregard for other people is extensively rationalized by even the most evil people. Almost as if they cannot stand to take responsibility for things they have decided to do. But then, they are not honest with others or themselves; they live in a fantasy world that means more to them than reality does.
  
  It is also a stark reminder that people like this can be extremely dangerous. They may act “normal” and can be dismissed as blowhards and jerks, but once they have disregarded the boundaries of humane behavior, it seems like nothing is off limits to them.
  
  The criminal’s family should have been far warier than they were.
• 
  Chosptickz11

  I’m not sure why I like listening to true crime, but I’ve found I enjoy listening to Mr. Green’s take on these crimes as much as watching the television shows that provide similar information. Mr. Green’s ability to portray the crime from the view of the perpetrator while keeping a flowing narrative are great. It keeps the reader glued to the chair with all of the lights on and all of the doors and windows locked. And then you remember that its all true.
  
  The matchup of Mr. Green’s narratives and Mr. White’s narration are perfect. Mr. White portrays the perpetrator here with conviction. His intonation of the internal monologues is great and indicates that the perpetrator isn’t such a bad guy…in his own head. Mr. White also adjusts the speed of his narration to match the mood of the novel keeping the reader right in the action.
  
  I recommend Mr. Green’s books if you like true crime or just want a scare for a spooky night.
  
  I was provided with a free copy of this audio book for my honest review. The views expressed here are entirely my own.
• 
  Zelda

  Love hurts.
  This book deals with some very sensitive matters and contains some very brutal and horrific descriptions, so be warned if you want to read any further. The author provides a keen insight into some of the things that makes Ronald Gene Simmons tick. The kinds of thoughts and motivations that run through this monster's brain are chilling and horrific. He comes across as a very psychotic narcissistic type of person, who must have control over everything in his narrow little world, especially when it pertains to his wife and children. Especially his favourite child, who he fathers a child with. Reading about this monstrous man makes me feel the depths of despair and fear, like I've been dropped into a viper's nest. The descriptions in the latter part of the book, of how he slaughters his whole family, are horrifying and heart breaking. I highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime, and has a strong stomach.
• 
  Brenda

  Through the eyes of a killer
  
  To read this book through the eyes of the killer gave it a different feel then other true crime books. I enjoyed reading from the killer's incited of his life and all that lead up to the final way he went about killing. No excuses did he make for himself, except for the losing of the control around him. Being betrayed by those he had control over. It is a very good read for true crime enthusiast, but not one I would think a beginning reader of true crime.
  
  Mr.. Green again did not disappoint in the material chosen nor in the writing. Thoroughly enjoyed reading. My only complaint would be the loss of sleep because I am never able to put one of his books down, until I have finished them.
  
  Thank you
• 
  Joan

  This is the true story of a horrific massacre and although I am a big fan of Ryan Green, I felt this book was perhaps too short to really cover all the details of these crimes. Unlike the other Ryan Green books I read, I felt this book did not really give us much insight into the murderer's state of mind to truly give us an idea of how they are able to commit these horrendous crimes. We also don't really get to know his family, they were sort of glossed over, and that gave me a bit of a disconnected feeling while listening to this audiobook. I still enjoy Ryan Green's style of telling these true crime stories.
  
  *I was given a free copy, at my request through Audiobook Boom, in exchange for an honest review*
• 
  Jennifer Bourque (ButterflyReader77)

  4 Stars
  
  I listened to this book on audible and it definitely didn't disappoint. This is a true crime story that tells the true crime account of Mockingbird Hill Massacre committed by Ronald Gene Simmons. In 1987 Ronald Gene Simmons went on a killing spree killing 14 of his own family members, a former co-worker and an individual who was unknown to him.
  
  Simmons was in the Air Force for twenty years and after his time served he initiated control and dominance over his family. He had an inappropriate relationship with his daughter Sheila that resulted in the birth of a child as well as isolating his family from the outside world.
  
  Over one week he committed the heinous murders of his family and two others. The book gives in-depth accounts of the murders, and they are brutal. It was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking to listen to the pain and suffering that was imposed on these people; especially what was done to his own children. He murdered them each one at a time and it was truly excruciating to listen to these true accounts. If you are sensitive to listening to violence against children, trigger warnings are forewarned. This part of the book made me emotional and even just recounting it in this review is bringing back the emotions I felt while listening to the story.
  
  The audio is well documented and lays out the facts, history and the aftermath of the monstrous actions of Ronald Gene Simmons. This book reminds us that evil exits in this world and that people are capable of committing the unspeakable and unthinkable against others.
  
  If you are a fan of the true crime genre "Obeying Evil: Mockingbird Massacre: Through the Eyes of a Killer" is a must read. The audiobook was compiled by Ryan Green and I have now added him to my TBR as he has many other books relating to true crime.
• 
  Victoria Haugen

  Just when you think reality can't get any more horrific or gruesome (and this is coming from a certified true crime addict!), you read this. VERY well-written story of a really messed up dude. Total psychopath! Reality is stranger than fiction, most times. Enjoyed the story and the narration. I really think both author and narrator did an excellent job, and I'd definitely recommend it, but you'll need a thick skin... Good stuff.
  I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.