"A Rip in Heaven" by Jeanine Cummins is a memoir recounting a devastating family tragedy where the author's cousins were murdered in a violent crime. The plot revolves around the author's cousin, Tom Cummins, who was wrongly accused of the crime and the aftermath that the family goes through. The writing style is described as well-told, plain, and compelling, focusing on the family relationships, the crime itself, the investigation, and the impact on the family members.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is a blend of emotional storytelling and factual recounting, though some readers find the third-person perspective occasionally detracting from personal connection.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot focuses on a tragic true crime incident involving the brutal assault and murder of two young women, the wrongful accusation of a family member, and the family's subsequent journey through grief, justice, and disillusionment.

Setting:

The setting is predominantly in St. Louis, focusing on a significant location that frames the tragic events of the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is characterized by a mix of reflective and intense sequences, engaging readers as the story progresses.

The rickety card table was so heaped with plates and elbows that Tom Cummins was almost afraid to lift his fork and feed himself, afraid that even this slightest movement might threaten to upend the c...

Genres:

nonfiction

memoir

true crime

Topics:

Notes:

The book is a true story written by Jeanine Cummins, also known for American Dirt.

It recounts a horrific incident from 1991 in St. Louis, Missouri, where Tom Cummins survived an assault while his cousins Julie and Robin were raped and murdered.

Tom was given a choice by the attackers to jump off a bridge or be shot; he jumped and broke his hip but survived.

Following the assault, Tom was initially treated as the prime suspect in the murders by law enforcement, which added to the trauma he experienced.

The victims, Julie and Robin Kerry, were closely related to the author, who describes the deep impact of their loss on her family.

One of the main focuses of the book is on the failure of police procedures and the media's misrepresentation of the events and their aftermath.

Tom Cummins, who was injured in the attack, later testified against the real perpetrators in court.

The book is written in a very emotional tone, reflecting the author's personal grief and anger at the injustices faced by the victims and their families.

The issues discussed in the book touch on victims' rights, trauma, false confessions, and the death penalty.

This memoir is described as compelling, yet also graphic and distressing, making it difficult for some readers to process.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes high content warnings due to graphic depictions of violence, rape, and murder.

From The Publisher:

The acclaimed author of American Dirt reveals the devastating effects of a shocking tragedy in this landmark true crime book-the first ever to look intimately at the experiences of both the victims and their families.

A Rip in Heaven is Jeanine Cummins' story of a night in April, 1991, when her two cousins Julie and Robin Kerry, and her brother, Tom, were assaulted on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis. When, after a harrowing ordeal, Tom managed to escape the attackers and flag down help, he thought the nightmare would soon be over. He couldn't have been more wrong. Tom, his sister Jeanine, and their entire family were just at the beginning of a horrific odyssey through the aftermath of a violent crime, a world of shocking betrayal, endless heartbreak, and utter disillusionment. It was a trial by fire from which no family member would emerge unscathed.

Ratings (2)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (2)

What can you read after
A Rip in Heaven: A Memoir of Murder And Its Aftermath?

See the list (28 books)

About the Author:

Jeanine Cummins is the author of four books: the bestselling memoir A Rip in Heaven, and the novels The Outside Boy, The Crooked Branch, and American Dirt. She lives in New York with her husband and two children.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

A Rip in Heaven: A Memoir of Murder And Its Aftermath

Jeanine Cummins