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Carlton Stowers

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Open Secrets: A True Story of Love, Jealousy, and Murder Paperback – March 15, 2002

by Carlton Stowers (Author)

4.5 289 ratings

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On a fall afternoon in 1983, in an upscale Dallas suburb, Rozanne Gailiunas was found stripped, bound to her bed, and shot through the skull. Her four-year-old son has been napping peacefully in the next room when she was killed. Rozanne's husband, Dr. Peter Gailiunas--and her lover, Larry Aylor--immediately fell under suspicion. Until a surprise informant identified the mastermind behind the murder as Aylor's own wife, Joy--a woman so driven by jealousy and greed that she put out a contract on both Rozanne and later her own husband.

On the run and managing to elude investigators for eight years, the two-year search for the socialite would eventually end in the south of France. There, authorities found the elusive femme fatale, living as comfortably among the world's elite as she was among hired killers. At last, the authorities' questions would be answered, to reveal a shocking insight into the heart of an unlikely killer, and a small-town Texas crime that made international headlines.

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

St. Martin's True Crime
Publication date

March 15, 2002
Dimensions

4 x 1 x 6.75 inches
ISBN-10

0312982143
ISBN-13

978-0312982140
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most remarkable true crime books I've ever read.” ―Ann Rule

“A masterpiece of murder and betrayal, Texas-style.” ―Faye Kellerman, author of Grievous Sin

“A must-read. Filled with more twists, surprises, and suspicious characters than even the most fertile imaginations could concoct...a difficult book to put down.” ―Tulsa World

About the Author

Carlton Stowers is the author of more than two dozen works of nonfiction, including the Edgar Award-winning Careless Whispers, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Innocence Lost, and Open Secrets. He and his wife live in Cedar Hill, Texas.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's True Crime; 1st ptg. edition (March 15, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312982143
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312982140
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4 x 1 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,815,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,459 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts

Customer Reviews:
4.5 289 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

289 global ratings

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Jack

Captivating, Entertaining, and Memorable

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019

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I read "Open Secrets" after watching the legendary Dominick Dunne discuss the story on his TV program. That, combined with my growing up in Dallas-Fort Worth in the 80s and 90s-- aware of its commendable industry as well as its empty materialism-- made me really want to read this work. Man, was I not disappointed!

Stowers writes novelistically, almost cinematically, so he keeps you engaged and entertained. He certainly did his research for this tome, as you become introduced to material that you cannot even believe took place. Who the hell needs fiction when you have this? You got cocaine, Porches, millionaires, doctors, Joy Aylor's beauty and psychopathy, adultery, the degenerate murdering thug Hopper, a good mother heinously slaughtered in her own home while her little boy is in the other room, Mexico, French Mediterranean villas, Canada, ambitious lawyers who go bad due to greed and addiction, wretched low-life criminals whom we have all seen at gas stations before, and finally, the relentless hard work and dedication of the Richardson Police Department and the FBI. So basically, you have everything.

In many ways the book is frightening and reassuring at the same time. Frightening due to the reality of sick criminals being around us and our families, and reassuring by virtue of the decent and hardworking police officers-- who often are maligned in our society-- restoring your faith in justice.

Yes, my true crime genre reader, as you already know, for some it is simply never enough, and will never be enough. When people always want more they end up being sickened by the disease of jealousy, which inevitably leads to destruction.

Stowers is a top-tier author, and he grants us an engrossing and unforgettable work.

3 people found this helpful

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Mary W. Rice

Very Good

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2017

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This book was very good. Not the best book I have ever read. Lots of characters. Lots of details. That's not the authors fault. I kept wanting to picking it back up. But it was not a book I couldn't stop thinking about. It's hard for me to remember a bunch of different characters. That's my fault. So overall. A great book. Just not the best. The topic was fascinationg, however. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Hope you enjoy.

One person found this helpful

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LadyRegina

Carlton Stowers' is fast becoming a favorite!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2015

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This is one of the best stories I've read in quite a while. Stowers' writing style and character studies are great. While other authors try to tell us about ALL the characters involved (police) with information that I quickly forget, this author offers in-depth descriptions that actually TELL us something about the subject.

It read like a TV who-done-it, in that there were so MANY possible culprits. And we get a good description of each, without cluttering up the pages with useless trivia.

It's a book I didn't even WANT to skip to the end to find out who did it. I didn't want to miss a word of his narrative! And, for me, that says a lot.

I may have discovered a new favorite true crime author! And have moved on to another of Mr. Stowers' books. I'll tell you about THAT one as soon as I finish it.

So far, this author even surpasses my other favorite: M William Phelps. (I was disappointed in his last effort.)

2 people found this helpful

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Francesca Salerno

Steamy Murder Mystery Set In Dallas

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2013

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I first became aware of the 1983 Richardson, Texas, murder of Rozanne Gailiunas -- found stripped, bound to her bed, and shot through the skull -- on one of the TV crime shows, half watching because I live in Dallas and I never fail to be surprised by some of the eccentric people who also live here.

Carlton Stowers's account is far better than any version ever shown on TV. He is a very fine writer and would be in any genre, but he's picked one where suspense is important and he can always deliver it. To be sure, Dallas provided him with some exceptionally colorful characters, including the murderess herself, whose name I won't reveal here. Suffice it to say that she is very rich and remarkably lovely, the sort of woman one might easily encounter shopping at Neimann's.

This is a 5-star read. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed.

2 people found this helpful

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Kim Moye

Well researched and written

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023

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Stowers has always impressed me with his research and how he tells the story. This case interested me as I remember it being in the news as I was in my early 20s working in Richardson when this took place. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the true crime genre.

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Kindle Customer

Very well researched and written

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was totally unfamiliar with this case when I started this book but due to Carolton Stower's exemplary writing and research, I became enthralled with the drama, the twists and turns, the sociopathy of the main character. This true crime story is almost a mythic tragedy of how one woman sucks everything out of everyone in her circle before discarding them, destroying anyone who doesn't dance to her tune, all the while giving the impression of being one of the "wonderful" people at the pinnacle of society who has everything anyone could want. I would have liked to know more in some areas such as why were so many suspects allowed to be free enough that they were able to flee the area even while being aggressively investigated for a capital crime, what exactly happened during the time the main character was in hiding, how was she able to move about internationally seemingly so easily? Finally, one of the major flaws I had with this book is that with its HUGE cast of characters, it was difficult keeping everyone straight. It would have been such a help to have a listing of them and their general relationship with one another. There is a good section of photographs--though the main one showing the living room with pot of mums is difficult to see on my Kindle--but none of Rozanne Gailiunas, whose death started this whole story. I would have given this book five stars, but it was just on the cusp of being really, really good. It is well worth the read for fans of true crime stories.

One person found this helpful

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