At Any Cost

March 1, 2021

New York Post journalists Rosenberg and Algar provide a detailed account of the long road to justice for Shele Danishefsky Covlin, a Manhattan wealth manager who in 2009 was strangled by her abusive husband, Rod Covlin; a decade later, Covlin was convicted of the murder. From the moment the police entered Danishefsky Covlin's apartment, they made mistakes that would long delay the trial and conviction, such as readily accepting Covlin's claim that his estranged wife had fallen in the bathtub and drowned. The investigation was further stymied when a rabbi advised the devout Danishefsky family against an autopsy. Rosenberg and Algar deftly humanize Danishefsky Covlin, covering her childhood, friendships, and career. The book reveals how patterns of an abusive relationship may seem obvious, but repeated calls for forgiveness from the abuser and family considerations can prevent many from leaving their abusers. At times, the narrative suffers from an awkwardly verbose style--perhaps a shortcoming of dual authorship, as the writing becomes more fluid in later chapters. VERDICT A vivid portrait of the complications that family dynamics, religious considerations, and investigative errors produced to obfuscate justice, and the depths to which an abusive master manipulator is willing to go to continue that obfuscation. True crime fans will be satisfied.--Bart Everts, Rutgers Univ.-Camden Lib., NJ

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2021
A successful finance executive, Shele Danishefsky was eager to focus on her personal life when she met Rod Covlin; they quickly married and started a family. But things turned ugly as Covlin grifted, lied, and cheated on her. Danishefsky wanted to avoid divorce due to her Orthodox Jewish faith, but ultimately saw no other option. As the divorce and custody battles raged, Covlin made wild accusations and Danishefsky began to fear for her life. Days before a meeting to ensure Covlin didn't receive a dime of her money, Danishefsky was found dead in her bathroom. Police dismissed it as an accident, but as the Danishefsky family warred with Covlin over custody and Danishefsky's inheritance, suspicions remained. Nine years later, in 2018, Covlin was charged with Danishefsky's murder. New York Post reporters Rosenberg and Algar clearly lay out Rod's motive and despicable character in the book's first half, leaving little doubt of Covlin's guilt. The second half is a detailed retelling of the trial. True-crime fans may be disappointed, but courtroom drama buffs will relish this.

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