Jump to content

M. William Phelps

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Dark Minds)

M. William Phelps
BornMathew William Phelps
(1967-02-01) February 1, 1967 (age 57)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation
  • Investigative journalist
  • TV presenter
  • author
  • podcaster
Period2000–present
GenreNonfiction crime, history
SubjectMurder, serial killers, history
Notable worksPaper Ghosts, Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps
Notable awards2013 Excellence in Journalism—2015 Investigative Journalism Award
Website
www.mwilliamphelps.com

Mathew William Phelps (born February 1, 1967) is an American crime writer and investigative journalist, podcaster, and TV presenter.

Career

[edit]

Phelps is the author of 39 fact-based nonfiction (true crime) books, 2 thrillers, and four history books, including co-authoring Failures of the Presidents with Thomas J. Craughwell.[1] Phelps has written for The Providence Journal, the Hartford Courant and the New London Day, and consulted on the first season of the Showtime cable television series Dexter.[2]

After his book Murder in the Heartland was released, Phelps went on Good Morning America to talk about the 2004 murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett covered in his book about convicted killer Lisa Marie Montgomery.[3]

Beginning in January 2012, he produced and hosted with criminal profiler John Kelly the Investigation Discovery series Dark Minds, which airs on the Investigation Discovery channel.[4][5][6] The series features unsolved serial murders.[7] When Phelps' book The Killing Kind was released in June 2014, Publishers Weekly wrote, "Fans of the author's Discovery TV series, 'Dark Minds,' will be rewarded."[8]

He was featured in Writers Digest with his debut true-crime book Perfect Poison in 2003 and again with the release of his eighth book, I'll be Watching You, in 2009.[9]

The New York Post in a February 2012 review called Phelps' book Never See Them Again, about Texas killer Christine Paolilla, a "riveting new book" that "examines one of the most horrific murders in recent American history."[10] Kirkus Reviews called it a "thorough account of a quadruple murder in a Houston suburb in 2003."[11]

Phelps' book Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy was listed as number 14 on The New York Times bestseller list in e-book nonfiction the week of May 11, 2014.[12] Twilight actor Peter Facinelli in June 2014 acquired movie rights for his Nathan Hale book.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Phelps is divorced and a father. Phelps' sister-in-law was murdered in 1996, and the killer was never found.[2] He now resides in Tolland County, Connecticut.[14][15]

Published works

[edit]

True crime

[edit]
  • Perfect Poison (2003)
  • Lethal Guardian (2004)
  • Every Move You Make (2005)
  • Murder in the Heartland (2006)[16][17]
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace (2007)
  • Because You Loved Me (2008)
  • If Looks Could Kill (2008)
  • I'll Be Watching You (2008)
  • Cruel Death (2009)
  • Deadly Secrets (2009)
  • Death Trap (2010)
  • Kill For Me (2010)
  • The Devil's Rooming House (2010)[18][19]
  • Love Her To Death (2011)
  • Too Young to Kill (2011)
  • Never See Them Again (2012)
  • Bad Girls (2013)
  • Kiss of the She-Devil (2013)
  • Obsessed (2014)
  • The Killing Kind (2014)
  • One Breath Away (2015)
  • To Love And To Kill (2015)
  • I'd Kill For You (2015)
  • If You Only Knew (2016)
  • Don't Tell A Soul (2017)
  • Targeted (2017)
  • Dangerous Ground (2017)
  • Beautifully Cruel (2017)

History

[edit]
  • Failures of the Presidents: From the Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812 to the Bay of Pigs and War in Iraq (2008) With Thomas J. Caughwell
  • Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy (2008)[20][21][22]
  • The Devil's Right Hand: The Tragic Story of the Colt Family Curse (2011)
  • Crimes of the Presidents (2013)

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Failures of the Presidents: JFK's Bay of Pigs Disaster". History News Network.
  2. ^ a b "'Silence of the Lambs' for Real: 'Dark Minds' Uses a Serial Killer to Catch Serial Killers". Reuters.
  3. ^ Good Morning America. "Cut from the Womb: Family of Defendant in Gruesome Slaying Speaks Out". ABC News.
  4. ^ "Connecticut True-Crime Author M. William Phelps to Star in Reality Show". tribunedigital-thecourant.
  5. ^ Levine, Stuart (July 28, 2011). "Cabler delves into 'Dark Minds'". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  6. ^ Lowry, Brian (January 20, 2012). "Investigation Discovery Finds Its Hannibal Lecter". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "'Dark Minds' to profile four Aurora murder cases". denverpost.com.
  8. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: The Killing Kind by M. William Phelps. Kensington, $25 (416p) ISBN 978-1-61773-445-8". PublishersWeekly.com.
  9. ^ Strawser, Jessica. "M. William Phelps Expanded Interview". WritersDigest.com.
  10. ^ "'Psycho' 17-year-old shot, beat classmates to death - New York Post". New York Post.
  11. ^ M. William Phelps. "NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN". Kirkus Reviews.
  12. ^ "Best Sellers - EBook Nonfiction". NYTimes.com.
  13. ^ McNary, Dave. "Peter Facinelli to Adapt Nathan Hale Movie". Variety.
  14. ^ "Kensington Publishing Co. - M. William Phelps". Kensingtonbooks.com. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "The Day - Book Beat: 'Generation Dead' hits the big-time, and more - News from southeastern Connecticut". The Day.
  16. ^ "Excerpt: 'Murder in the Heartland'". ABC. June 7, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  17. ^ Summers, Chris (October 27, 2007). "The women who kill for babies". BBC. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  18. ^ Leavenworth, Jessica (March 21, 2010). "'Devil's Rooming House' Examines 'Arsenic And Old Lace' Killings (Interview)". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  19. ^ Yamato, Jen (November 19, 2013). "Peter Facinelli's A7SLE Films Options Female Serial Killer Tome 'The Devil's Rooming House'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  20. ^ "Bestsellers (E-Book, nonfiction)". New York Times. May 11, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  21. ^ McClintock, Pamela (March 22, 2007). "Warner spy tale a Hale bio film". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  22. ^ McNary, Dave (June 30, 2014). "'Twilight' Actor Peter Facinelli Working on Nathan Hale Movie". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  23. ^ "Connecticut Magazine Wins 23 Awards from the CT Society of Professional Journalists". connecticutmag.com.
  24. ^ "New England Book Festival". newenglandbookfestival.com.
[edit]