From cradle to grave

by Joyce Egginton

From 1972 to 1985, all the children of the Tinnings, a Schenectady, N.Y. couple, died in infancy. At first, friends and physicians assumed they were victims of "crib death" or an inexplicable genetic flaw. As the deaths continued, suspicion mounted against the mother, who was always alone when her babies were stricken. Without hard evidence, officialdom was agonizingly slow to act, but finally, following a police interrogation, Marybeth made a confession (later retracted) to smothering three children. Investigative reporter Egginton has written a moving, sympathetic account of human tragedy, including insights into what triggers infanticide, a phenomenon which the author suggests is more prevalent than commonly believed. Recommended. - Gregor A. Preston, Univ. of California Lib., Davis