Preview
  • Blood and Money

  • The Classic True Story of Murder, Passion, and Power
  • By: Thomas Thompson
  • Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
  • Length: 21 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (334 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Blood and Money

By: Thomas Thompson
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Joan Robinson Hill was a world-class equestrian, a glamorous member of Houston high society, and the wife of Dr. John Hill, a handsome and successful plastic surgeon. Her father, Ash Robinson, was a charismatic oil tycoon obsessed with making his daughter's every dream come true.

Rich, attractive, and reckless, Joan was one of the most celebrated women in a town infatuated with money, power, and fame. Then one morning in 1969, she fell mysteriously ill. The sordid events that followed comprise "what may be the most compelling and complex case in crime annals" (Ann Rule, best-selling author of The Stranger Beside Me).

From the elegant mansions of River Oaks, one of America's most exclusive neighborhoods, to a seedy underworld of prostitution and murder-for-hire, New York Times best-selling author Thomas Thompson tracks down every bizarre motive and enigmatic clue to weave a fascinating tale of lust and vengeance. Full of colorful characters, shocking twists, and deadly secrets, Blood and Money is "an absolute spellbinder" and true crime masterpiece (Newsweek).

©1976 Thomas Thompson (P)2018 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"This is his most assured and ambitious book so far...a drama as tight as a sudden adhesive tape over your mouth in bed. Non-decaffeinated all-night reading." (Kirkus)

What listeners say about Blood and Money

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    208
  • 4 Stars
    67
  • 3 Stars
    44
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    175
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    36
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    199
  • 4 Stars
    67
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Spoiler alert…

No real conclusion. It stops before we learn what happened to the father. Two words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Twists and turns!

Love this book and the story it tells. The characters are fascinating and the story is almost unbelievable….yet 100% true. It probably doesn’t hurt that I am a native of Houston and am related to one of the people in the story…..even though I never met her. I’m also a police officer and struggle to imagine a world where so many things could go wrong within the various investigations without someone being thrown under a bus.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Way too long.

This book could have easily been reduced by 20-50%. This is in addition to me listening to the book at 2x speed. Interesting story but lost of repetition and unnecessary detail.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don"t mess with Fathers

First all the narration was great clear easy to listen to .Now the story was detailed and most entertaining.You get the full bio on all true characters involve with this story . From the larger than like father Ash to his beautiful and Tragic daughter Joan and the evil plastic surgeon doctor she married. I love listening to the many intertwine lives and how each one had a role to play in this haunting story. My favorite part was the descriptions of early Houston Texas and how oil made these men rich and powerful, but this father love for his Pose and grand daughter. How her horrifying murder would bring him in contact with the underbelly of life and the people that reside there. If you love Stories of Rich and the powerful and riveting courtroom drama then this is the book and listen for you .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed for the most part

Enjoyed that it went into each characters life but didn’t care for the narrator. He did get better or maybe I just got accustomed to him.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very unsatisfactory ending

You would think after 21 hours, there would be some closure or clarification to what happened to the true mastermind behind the final killing. This book never explains why he was never charged in this case. You can assume money and power but this is never really explored. The narrator was so bland and matter of fact that it sounded more like a news report than a passionate true crime murder. I wouldn't wast a credit or your time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I thought they spent way too much time on Marcia after a Whit just got Tedious.

I liked it I listened to it all the way through. I live in texas so I could relat

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK

I WAS WAITING FOR THIS BOOK FOR A LONG TIME. I READ THE PHYSICAL BOOK YEARS AGO. NOW THAT I CAN'T SEE WELL ENOUGH FOR SERIOUS READING I CAN LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!

I DID NOT CARE FOR THE NARRATOR BUT HE WAS OK. HE SEEMED TO LACK SOMETHING.

I DO THINK THAT THE BOOK SHOULD HAVE PORTRAYED DR. HILL TO SHOW HIS TRUE NASTINESS. BUT I SUPPOSE THE BOOK WAS BEING OBJECTIVE. ANYWAY IT WAS A GOOD STORY!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Must Read

This book will get you and your friends talking, debating, and thinking over the murders of Mr and Mrs John Hill.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Weird story. Not what I expected but good.

This case changes, Big Time half way thru, I didn’t see it coming, and quite frankly I think the husband is guilty. There are so many more ways to poison that heavy metals. I think the evidence of Petri dish and his behavior made him 100% guilty. But the book takes a chilling turn. I mean it is a true story I believe. I had a hard time caring about the second part, bc I didn’t care about the person who was killed, and the person who causes the crime was insane with grief.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!