My Account Log in

1 option

Most wonderful terrible person : a memoir of murder in the Golden State / Debra Miller.

Van Pelt Library HV6533.C2 M55 2026
Loading location information...

Available This item is available for access.

Log in to request item
Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Miller, Debra (Teacher), author.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Miller, Debra (Teacher).
Miller, Debra.
Miller, Lucille, 1930-1986.
Miller, Lucille.
Miller, Lucille, 1930-1986--Trials, litigation, etc.
Trials (Murder)--California.
Trials (Murder).
Murder--California.
Murder.
Mothers and daughters.
Genre:
True crime stories.
Biographies.
Memoirs.
Physical Description:
xii, 229 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Place of Publication:
Brooklyn, NY : She Writes Press, 2026.
Summary:
"On October 7, 1964, Debra Miller's life turns upside down when her mother is arrested for the murder of her father. At only fourteen years old, Debra becomes a ward of the court, grappling with the unfathomable trauma of watching her mother's trial and conviction--a devastation that is only amplified when her family's tragedy is splashed across headlines nationwide and featured in Joan Didion's 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem'. Desperate to escape the notoriety of her family and utterly ill equipped to face the world, Debra spends her young adulthood sinking into mental illness, toxic relationships, and substance abuse. Meanwhile, her unrepentant mother, Lucille, uses Debra to supply contraband in prison. When Lucille is released, twentysomething Debra, seeking the love and support she so desperately desires, moves in with her--only to find herself constantly manipulated and dragged into her mother's illegal activities. Torn between love and survival, Debra spends years trying to escape her mother's vortex even as she battles her own demons. Ultimately, it's only when Lucille passes away that Debra finally frees herself from her grip--and realizes she needs to change her life. In this raw and poignant memoir, Debra Miller bares the scars of an adolescence and adulthood shaped by the impact of a destructive mother and demonstrates that healing is always possible--even in the face of a past that just won't let go" -- Provided by publisher.
ISBN:
9798896361022
OCLC:
1524062908

The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.

Find

Home Release notes

My Account

Shelf Request an item Bookmarks Fines and fees Settings

Guides

Using the Find catalog Using Articles+ Using your account