From Booklist Readers may be familiar with the various online clips of Dalia Dippolito’s response to the shocking news that her husband of six months, Mike Dippolito, had just been shot dead. In fact, the Boynton Beach Police Department posted the video online the next day. Not only had the police been filming, but the TV show COPS’ cameras were also there. The good news is, it was a sting; the husband was safe, hurried away that morning by cops. The bad news is that the young bride herself hired the hit man and thus was faking her shock and horror. Prosecutor (and coauthor) Parker was brought aboard to sort things out, and she built her case against Dalia by intense scrutiny of her phone records, Craigslist and other online postings, and texts, some of which (e.g., advertising escort services, seducing old lovers) are reproduced in the book. This is an engagingly told, eyebrow-raising story of a nice guy with a bad past; a manipulative, brazen almost-murderess; and thugs, both softhearted and heartless, that is spiced with trial excerpts and the intricacies of Florida’s legal system. --Eloise Kinney Read more Review "This is an engagingly told, eyebrow-raising story of a nice guy with a bad past; a manipulative, brazen almost-murderess; and thugs, both softhearted and heartless, that is spiced with trial excerpts and the intricacies of Florida’s legal system."—Eloise Kinney, Bookist Online“Like a real-life story by James M. Cain, Poison Candy has a beautiful dame who’s full of venom and a trusting mug who’s too blinded by her charms to know she’s taking him for all he’s worth—or that she’s planning to kill him. Told from the perspective of a tough-talking woman prosecutor, Elizabeth Parker, and veteran crime writer Mark Ebner, this tale of greed and manipulation in Palm Beach County is impossible to put down.”—Nancy Jo Sales, Vanity Fair, author of The Bling Ring“Start with a South Florida trifecta of cash, cocaine, and call girls. Throw in Nancy Grace, street gangs, and even a cop reality show. Then top it off with an absorbing courtroom drama starring the beautiful aspiring black widow. A great read—and it’s all true.”—Roy Black, senior partner at Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A. and legal commentator"Elizabeth Parker presented a compelling case at trial, and now gives us all the juicy tidbits banned from the courtroom. Poison Candy proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. This is a must-read for true-crime aficionados."—Beth Karas, Legal Analyst and former Correspondent for Court TV's In Session“Not even Hollywood could come up with a character as evil and calculating as Dalia Dippolito! For anyone who wants to truly understand how diabolical criminals operate—and get away with what they do—Poison Candy is a must read. I couldn’t put it down!” —Diane Dimond, investigative crime reporter and author"Poison Candy is an essential read. Destined to become a true crime classic."—Mandy Stadtmiller, XOJane.com"Elizabeth Parker, the prosecutor who convicted Dalia Dippolito, tells the behind-the-scenes story of what really happened behind the femme fatale sting and subsequent trial. One of Florida’s most skilled and experienced criminal trial attorneys, she unfolds little known details of the case in a narrative that is rich with the insights of a veteran litigator and is very hard to put down. Parker and co-author Mark Ebner have produced a captivating account of one of Florida’s most notorious cases."—Bob Butterworth, Former Florida Attorney General"The only thing more riveting than having experienced this already legendary Florida crime saga in real time is reliving it via Parker and Ebner's page-turner. Who needs fiction when you can devour Poison Candy?”—Billy Corben, director of Cocaine Cowboys, The U, and Raw Deal: A Question of Consent"If the Coen Brothers ever decide to do an up-to-date version of Billy Wilder’s cynical, similarly caustic Ace in the Hole, they need look no further than Poison Candy."—George Hunka Read more P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); About the Author Elizabeth Parker began as a prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office in 1998 where she quickly rose through the ranks and achieved the position of Chief Assistant State Attorney in which she litigated high-profile cases.She has appeared on Dateline, Snapped, Sins and Secrets, Nothing Personal, and In Session for her role as the lead prosecutor in the Dalia Dippolito case. In 2011 Parker opened her own victim advocacy and criminal defense firm in Palm Beach County, FloridaAs a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Elizabeth has appeared on Nancy Grace, In Session and in USA TODAY as a legal analyst on high profile cases such as Jerry Sandusky, George Zimmerman, John Goodman, Adam Kauffman, and Tammy Smith.Mark Ebner is an award-winning journalist and "New York Times" bestselling author of titles including "Hollywood, Interrupted," "Six Degrees of Paris Hilton," and "We Have Your Husband." Read more See more
B**F
Fact is Stranger Than Fiction
"Poison Candy" provides an in-depth look at the Dippolito murder-for-hire case where Dalia conspired to have her husband Mike murdered. The story is something out of a Hollywood movie: boiler room scams, felons, prostitution, drugs, a less than year-long marriage, and an extravagant lifestyle that contributed to both Dalia and Mike's downfalls. Dalia, painted to be a woman to whom no man could say no, had affairs, one of her "friends with benefits", Mohammed, being the one to turn her into the police in an attempt at escaping prosecution. Dalia caught him in her web of lies and Mohammed knew if he didn't do something, he would be implicated when Mike turned up dead.Police hatched a plan to videotape the murder-for-hire meetings and went so far as to stage a murder scene to test Dalia's reaction, enlisting the help of the reality television series COPS (who happened to have been riding along) to make it look all the more authentic. Under the guise of being a news crew, COPS films Dalia's reaction to the news that her husband has been murdered (something she knows because she financed the hit). When she later finds out Mike (who she had been stealing money and property from, had turned into the police to have his probation violated on several occasions, and has planted drugs on in an attempt at sending him back to jail) is alive, she looks to downplay what she had attempted to do, saying it was an elaborate plot to get a reality television show.The book starts fast, with several chapters offering an inside look at Mike and Dalia's lurid meeting, their whirlwind romance, and the long list of terrible ways Dalia was trying to ruin her new husband. This is the meat of the book. The story is complicated and there are a lot of players, double-dealings, and deceptions. The author does a good job helping keep these things straight, if not too good a job. The repetition did slow down the pace. About a third of the way in, we get into the rambling transcripts that become an annoyance. These aren't well-spoken people, there's a lot of round about conversation, more double-talk, and the sense that we're going to be beat over the head with the same handful of "facts." My least favorite part of the book is that soggy middle, but the unfiltered look at what was say, where, how, and by whom does lend context and character. The closing arguments wrap everything up, connecting all of the dots, and leading to what seems an inevitable (and inevitably overturned) sentencing. There's no feeling of justice, only the sense that if one sticks to their story well enough, clings to the absolute fabricated truth, that commitment will bear fruit. I feel terrible for Mike, but you know, every story has two sides. This book is in no way written from Dalia's. A good true crime read. Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.
J**Z
Skanky Sociopath!
The author, Elizabeth Parker, was the lead prosecutor for this trial & for all Dalia's machinations & maneuverings, Ms Parker does an admirable job weaving it all together to make a cohesive & readily understandable case. Dalia was a master manipulator of men & was able to make them perform to her demands, however evil or illegal an act! Until one of them came to their senses & grew a conscience, something that she couldn't possibly perceive as she had practically made her cons an art! It almost appears in her short history that these all came naturally to her, that it was INGRAINED! That's frightening!Ms Parker does a remarkable job sorting out the huge amounts of cash that was involved & even draws a great deal of sympathy for Mike, Dalia's husband & intended target, though it was very difficult to feel compassion for a grown man who was so enamored of their sexual relationship that he didn't see remotely what was coming! I found Dalia's methods were quite well thought out & planned but things didn't readily fall into place in this particular con game & thus events spiraled out of control & she became sloppy, in her increasingly frantic methods to get to her intended goal.All in all, it's a fascinating book & gives one a great & interesting view inside the mind of a female sociopath & the lengths they go to in getting what they want....in this case, greed! If not for one man who had discomfort & distaste in his role & the likely outcome, this would more than likely be a murder trial!
B**E
A Scam Artist Gets Scammed By His Wife, Nearly Losing His Life in the Process
The premise was good but the writing relied heavily on transcripts which seemed "cold" when read. While the story itself was interesting and the woman involved very materialistic to the point she would do almost anything for "more", her greed was her downfall. While married to her husband she was busying herself with other men. When she burned through the husband's money she hired a hit man to kill her husband and take over any property which she could sell.After figuring out how serious she was, one of the guys she was doing turn himself into the police in order to stop her. The police set up a fake crime scene of her husband's death.
J**J
Great book. Ms
Great book. Ms. Dipolito is an interesting woman with an extensive history of breaking the law. The book is well written and easy to read. I particularly like the parts where actual transcripts of interviews and testimony are provided. This case was highly publicized and the author provides background info about the media coverage which was very interesting. Good buy and very entertaining.
A**R
Easy read.
The book was interesting, and a very easy read. It dragged on a bit, and had lazy writing writing where the author (prosecutor) copied and pasted copious amounts of testimony. I followed along on You Tube for the murder for hire video, COPS video.
K**Y
Wow!
What an amazing book, if I didn’t have a life, I would’ve read it within a day. Thank you for writing and sharing your side of the story with us. Poison Candy included so many close details that I don’t really remember in the shows I’ve seen about this case or read elsewhere and well worth the read coming from someone who actually worked the case.
S**A
Awesome read!!
This was an awesome read. It was more in detail than what was showed on TV and YouTube. It took me only 24 hours to read this! I couldn't put it down!!
L**8
Parker did a good job of presenting all the facts & including a ...
Having first hand exposure to this case, I was interested in seeing how the book would play out. Ms. Parker did a good job of presenting all the facts & including a few things that weren't presented in court.
M**N
Well written
Enjoyed the book although not the outcome for this dreadful woman
D**F
Five Stars
The book is in excellent condition, very happy.
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