What Really Happened

April 15, 2013

Hunter provides her side of the story of her sad, sordid love affair with former U.S. Senator from North Carolina and presidential contender John Edwards. At the time Hunter began her relationship with Edwards, she says, he was already involved with three other women outside his marriage. Hunter shares lesser-known details of the sleazy tale of Edwards's political suicide, beginning when she first met "Johnny," followed by more information than is necessary about their passionate trysts, how the affair escalated beyond heated infatuation into discussion of a possible long-term relationship, how she and Edwards had to adapt their lustful energies to accommodate the far-fetched Edwards presidential campaign, and how the tawdry affair eventually became public and Edwards began his ridiculous cover-up efforts. Also included are Hunter's surprising insights about Edwards's wife, Elizabeth, who died in 2010 of metastatic breast cancer. It was probably inevitable that Hunter would eventually release her side of this story; she rationalizes that she wants to make sure her daughter by Edwards understands "what really happened." VERDICT Audie Award-nominated and Earphones-winning narrator Cassandra Campbell's delivery is, unfortunately, marred by unnecessarily cheesy, adolescent voicing that makes this unfortunate story best suited to Jerry Springer fans and Oprah whoopers. [The BenBella hc was a New York Times best seller.--Ed.]--Dale Farris, Groves, TX

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