leighannsherwin's review
4.0
I have found a new favourite true crime author. This is my second Shanna Hogan book I've read. The first being about the case of Martin McNeilas case I followed closely and almost obsessively. This book covers the murder of Jay Orbin, which I didn't know a whole lot about. I might've seen a documentary or two about it but I watch so many I don't remember. The story took me a while to get into but only about 20 pages or so. I liked the style of writing opening with the discovery of a rotting torso in a large Rubbermaid tub left in the Arizona desert. Car keys found in the pockets of the victim match the truck of a missing man Jay Orbin and soon what was a missing person case turns into a cold blooded murder case. Marjorie Orbin is an interesting person to say the least. She was married seven times before she was 34, was a stripper, a dancer, a choreographer courted by numerous men. All she wanted though was a child of her own which she couldn't have. She met Jay Orbin at 24 and dated him briefly. He fell in love instantly she didn't. They parted only to meet again 10 years later. Jay promised he would do anything to give her a baby. They marry and after fertility treatment their son Noah is born. Noah is the centre of his parents' world. They settle into seemingly happy domestic bliss. But all is not as it seems. Marjorie has an almost obsessive love for her son, to the point where she terrorizes other parents whose kids beat Noah in competitions. She lies and makes up stories about her life. She has affairs including one with the boyfriend of her good friend. It all leads up to Jay vanishing. At first there is confusion as to when he disappeared but later it's revealed it was on his birthday. The book follows the investigation into the disappearance and murder. Jay's body appeared not long after Marjorie was told she would have to wait 7 years to collect life insurance. The case begins to unravel and all evidence points to Marjorie. A chilling story of a beautiful manipulative woman who would stop at nothing to get her own way.
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