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Review: Dancing With Death by Shanna Hogan

A MISSING HUSBAND

Phoenix, Arizona, 2004. Former stripper turned suburban housewife Marjorie Orbin filed a missing person's report on her husband. She claimed that Jay, a successful art dealer, had left town on business after celebrating their son's birthday more than a month before. Jay loved his family more than life itself--and no one believed he would ever abandon them. Authorities suspected foul play...

A WIFE LYING IN WAITThe search for Jay made local headlines. But key elements in Marjorie's story still weren't adding up: Why did she wait so long before going to police? If Jay was away on business, as she claimed, why were there charges made to his credit card in Phoenix? Then, the unthinkable happened.

A SHOCKING DISCOVERYJay's headless, limbless torso was discovered on the outskirts of the Phoenix desert--and all evidence pointed to Marjorie as the killer. Soon, an exhaustive investigation would reveal surprising new details about her life--six previous marriages, an ongoing and passionate affair with a man from her gym, alleged ties to the New York mafia, a drug habit--and lead to her conviction for the murder and dismemberment of her seventh husband. (amazon.com)

The first few times I saw Shanna Hogan’s true crime novel, Dancing with Death, on the shelf at Wal-mart I took a pass.  I had two reasons for not wanting to read this book.  The first was that I had seen Marjorie Orbin’s episode of Snapped and thought I already knew all about the story.  The second reason was that Dancing with Death is Shanna Hogan’s first true crime novel.  I am very picky about what true crime authors I will read.  There are a ton of terrible TC books out there written by reporters who know how to report a story, but not how to turn it into a creative narrative where the characters come to life.  When I finally decided to read Dancing with Death I was not disappointed!  Shanna Hogan is a talented author who went far beyond just writing the facts.  From the very first page I was riveted by this terribly sad story and soon realized that there was a lot more to it than what was depicted on a 60 -minute episode of Snapped.

            By the time ex-stripper and former Vegas showgirl Marjorie Orbin settled down with her husband Jay she had already been married six previous times.  Not that Jay was aware of that fact.  Marjorie had led him and his family to believe that Jay was only her second husband and that she was a widow.  Unfortunately, none of those claims were true.  In fact, many of the things Marjorie told people were lies.  She bent the truth whenever she had a chance to portray herself in a more positive light or to garner sympathy from whomever she was speaking too.  Even if Jay Orbin knew the truth about Marjorie’s lies he might not have cared.  He was in love and had been for years.  Marjorie was his dream woman and he would do whatever he could to make her his wife.  Marjorie, who was drawn to wealthy men, knew a good deal when she saw one and made a deal with Jay.  She would marry him if he would pay for the expensive fertility treatments she needed to endure in order to have a child.  Of course, like many deals, this one had a deadline.  If Marjorie did not become pregnant within the first year she would be able to walk away from Jay with no strings attached.  Desperate to have Marjorie in his life Jay did everything he could to give his wife the child she so badly wanted.  Marjorie became pregnant within a year and gave birth to a son.  Now Marjorie was trapped.  She needed to stay with Jay in order to live a comfortable life with her son.  Yet, she insisted to anyone who asked that her marriage was more of a “deal” and that she was not at all romantically involved with her husband.  In fact, she often described him as “overweight” and “disgusting” and spoke often of wanting to be rid of him.  Then Jay Orbin disappeared.  According to Marjorie, Jay embarked on a business trip never to be heard from again.  Yet, she didn’t seem all that concerned and it took her several weeks to report her husband missing.  Rather than look for her missing husband, Marjorie was busy moving her new boyfriend into her house and telling her son that Larry would now be the boy’s father.  Not exactly the actions of a concerned wife.  When Jay’s dismembered body turns up in the desert several weeks after he was last seen the police start to zero in on Marjorie as her bizarre behavior takes on an even more sinister tone. 

            This story had all the elements of a modern tragedy.  The portrait Shanna Hogan portrays of Jay Orbin is that of a generous man who loved his family, and relished life itself.  Jay’s affable character, and Marjorie’s complete inability to recognize what a wonderful father and man he was, makes this story heartbreaking.  Her need to tear Jay down to others and completely over exaggerate his physical flaws was disgusting.  The pictures of Jay Orbin included in the book do not depict a “fat and disgusting” man, but an attractive man with a warm smile Hogan thoroughly researched Marjorie Orbin’s past and creates a chilling portrait of a sociopath whose only concern in life is her own wants and needs.  Although Marjorie is described as a devoted mother her relationship is overly controlling where her son is treated more like a possession than a child.  The marriage itself only existed in order for Marjorie to gain the things she wanted, but needed Jay to provide.  From the minute she met Jay Orbin Marjorie used him for his wealth without ever thinking about the actual man she was destroying.  He was a means to an end and when she was finished with him she threw him away like trash, literally.  The list of casualties who suffered at Marjorie’s hands is enormous.  Many lives were destroyed in her wake of destruction.  What amazed me was her ability to use her beauty and charm to manipulate those around her, even while in prison.  Shanna Hogan was able to meet with Marjorie Orbin after her conviction to try and get her side of the story.  The author writes that she too was drawn to Marjorie’s personality and easily manipulated by the complements Marjorie lavished upon her.  Unlike others in Marjorie’s life Shanna Hogan was able to get some distance from Marjorie, which allowed her to look back and see the cunning sociopath Marjorie Orbin really is.  I found that portion of the book to be perhaps the most chilling. 

            I definitely recommend Dancing with Death to anyone who loves a good true crime novel full of drama, twists and turns.  The book is very well written and pulls the reader into the investigation and trial of Marjorie Orbin.  The sad thing is knowing that this is a true story.  Jay Orbin was a real person who left behind a son. His son now has to go through life without the father who loved him so dearly.  The callousness of that act is heartbreaking.