At Any Cost

I wasn’t sure what to expect on this one, but I came away more than pleased with the result. Once I got into the basic story that makes up this case, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up all night inhaling this incredible story of a murder in New York of a mother of two. This is so worth the time to read, I’m still absorbing the ending. It’s books like this that I read true crime for. Written well, and sharing the entire experience from start to finish with so much amazing detail. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Rebecca Rosenberg; Selim Algar, and the publisher.

A totally absorbing well written case of a mother of two murdered in her Manhattan apartment..A story of a lovely successful woman whose life is destroyed by one man and the torture she and her family suffered at his hands.The authors due an excellent job taking us step by step through the victims life and the horrific facts of this case.#netgalley #st.martins books

This is a Non-Fiction True Crime book. This Non-Fiction book pulled me into the story for the beginning, and I have to say that is not normally what happens when I read Non-Fiction books. This book was well written, and it felt like I was just reading an Crime True TV show. I did not want to put this book down because I had to know how this case ended. I will not talk about the case itself because I do not want any spoilers in this review. When I finish I Non-Fiction book in just two days that as to show you I loved the book. If you like True Crime Non-Fiction books you should check this book out. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Press) or author (Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on April 6-2021.

Fantastic book! I love true crime and I had never heard about this case. It was very well written. #netgalley #atanycost

This was an extremely well written book.
This true crime story was not familiar to me before picking up this book.
This was a tragic story which angered me at times.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Loved this true crime book. So disheartening to hear of the abuse and torture the children and Shele dealt with.
So glad that justice was served FINALLY!

Thank you to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book . While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I had forgotten how much I loved reading true crime books. This is a well researched case. I was unfamiliar with this case but certainly became quite interested while reading it. I would have read this in one sitting if I hadn't decided to gather as much information as I could by googling the matter.

It's such a sad case but also really gives insight to domestic violence. You wonder why Shele gave a key to her estranged husband but this is the kind of thing that happens. I think in the back of her mind she wanted to pretend he was okay and wanted a semblance of normality in her life again. Old habits die hard and trusting her husband one last time was a fatal mistake.

The book also shows how children can get manipulated by parents. What Rod did to his daughter was unbelievable and obviously has scarred her for life.

So many lives were destroyed by this sociopath/psychopath.

I hate to say I enjoyed a book on this topic, but I did. God bless Shele's family and I hope his children get the therapy they need to get through their father's manipulation.

Why are we so addicted to true crime stories and television shows? Is it a “there but for the grace of god” thing? I like to think it’s because we want to see justice served, see a victim and their family get the answers they deserve. In any case, I was immediately drawn into this story of a wealthy woman with a much younger husband. Shele was eager to start a family with husband, Rod, but the handsome, intelligent man turned out to be something of a sociopath. Shele tries to correct her mistake by divorcing Rod, intending to cut him off without a penny, but she doesn’t show up for the appointment with her attorney to make those changes to her will. A couple of days later, Shele is found dead in her own bathtub. Accidental death, police rule, and Shele is buried without an autopsy. Meanwhile Rod and Shele’s family begin fighting over her estate and Rod begins to go to bizarre and desperate lengths to ensure that he gets his dead wife’s millions. The authors follow the story from the day of Shele’s death to Rod’s date with the justice system 10 years later. An intense, well written and researched book

At Any Cost is a horrifying true crime book that will leave you stunned and shaking your head in disbelief. Well written and full of detail, At Any Cost will captivate you from the first page to the last. It is shocking to read about Rod and what he did to his wife and family just for his own gain. I couldn't read fast enough because I had to get to the next page to find out what else he was capable of doing. Truth is stranger than fiction. Thank you to NetGalley.

5 stars
At Any Cost
by Rebecca Rosenberg; Selim Algar

It is really hard to describe a true crime book as 5 stars; however, the authors have done a phenomenal job of relating the horror of the murder while not sensationalizing it. At Any Cost is exceedingly well written, researched and incredibly readable. I appreciate it so much when true crime authors give background on all those involved within the lives of the victim and the murderer. This is just an incredible book.
This book will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

This true crime book was in equal parts fascinating and horrifying, but never boring and always impeccably written and researched. Even though I live quite close to where this happened, I don't remember ever having heard of it before, so to me it was like reading a thriller where I didn't know quite what would happen next. I thought the author struck just the right tone throughout, and as disturbing as it was to read, it was also hard to put down. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.

Was Shele Danishefsky murdered by her estranged husband, or was her death just a tragic accident? Rebecca Rosenberg tells a compelling narrative of a 10 year quest for justice by her family.

This was hard to put down!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shele grew up in a loving, caring, orthodox Jewish home with her parents and siblings. Growing up her and her sister, Eve, talked about meeting their perfect man and having a glamorous wedding. However, as they got older this seemed unlikely for Shele. She had everything going for her as a beautiful and successful women in corporate American but could not find Mr. Right. That is until she met Roderick Colvin. She thought she had just found the perfect man and they quickly fell in love and had children.

Shele was the breadwinner from the very start of their marriage and as life continued on she started to find Roderick acting strangely. He was often out of the home pursuing his love of backgammon and indulging in extra-marital affairs. Shele was physical and emotionally abused by Roderick and was making plans to leave him. One morning, Roderick ,who had moved out, received an unexpected call from their daughter. Shele was found dead in their bathroom. The case went unsolved for over 10 years...

This was my second true crime novel this month and is quickly becoming one of my favourite genres. I had never heard this story but the author did a terrific job of laying out the story. The story deeply details Shele’s life from a young age until her death. It also heavily features details of the Jewish religion which I found unique and was personally interested in. It also details Rodericks character in great depth and portrays him as the evil villain he is. Finally, the book takes us through the investigation or lack there of and the eventually trial of the suspect. This book reminded me of The Babysitter a bit in that the police did a horrible job in investigating the crime and cut corners wherever possible. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and finished it in 24 hours. I definitely recommend this to true crime lovers everywhere.

Thanks to @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of the one. Pub date- April 6, 2021

Shele had one thing she really wanted. She wanted marriage and children. She wanted the perfect husband. She already had a great job, loving parents and awesome siblings. She though she had found her prince charming when she met Ron. That would turn out to be the worst decision of her life. She did get her children, a boy and a girl. They were her life. Ron was a lazy, gambling, emotional and physical abusive man.
I was given this book to read and review by the publisher. It was an amazing true crime book. It is wounding to your heart, for Shele's parents her siblings and her children. It is a book of betrayal and loss. Unfortunately there is no winners.

Not since Joe McGinnis' Fatal Vision have I read such a compelling true crime narrative. The authors do a masterful job of bringing to life the people caught up in this evil, and the story moves at such a pace that it is hard to put the book down. I had a vague recollection of the case at the time of the trial in 2019, but was unaware of the significant delay in investigation, the drama surrounding the children during that period, and the depravity of Colvn's actions during those intervening years. The last quarter of the book is devoted to the trial itself, and its depiction is entirely authentic. Perfect for fans of :Making a Murderer" and "Dirty John", AT ANY COST is a must read.

I received an advance copy of, At Any Cost, by Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar. What a book, it has everything, lying, cheating, gambling, and murder. What a sad story.

A true crime story that is well worth the read. I was hesitant at the beginning of this story, but once I got further into it I was hooked. It’s fascinating and breaks down the case piece by piece showing many sides. There are always multiple sides to every story and the authors really question many aspects. I had quite a few what the heck moments and kept thinking did that really happen!? I would recommend this to all true crime fans and commend the authors on a fantastic read.

What a heartbreaking, scary, and maddening series of events this non-fiction book takes us through. I was riveted and terrified at the constant reminder that the events depicted actually took place.

This book was nowhere on my radar and I hadn't heard of the case back when Shele's murder took place, but now I'm billing it as a book that every true crime lover NEEDS to read.

My humble thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hard-to-believe story of greed, murder, and deception. Well-researched and very interesting as the reader follows the exploits of a truly evil character.

Like watching a slow moving train wreck, this book will keep you glued to this book. Its so engrossing, hard to put down, and you just want to scream at SHELE.....GIRL MOVE! GIRL...WATCH OUT!
This is a fascinating and deeply disturbing true crime about a man, Rod, who would DO ANYTHING for money and sex.
When his wife, Shele, finally got enough courage up to leave him, he went ballistic. Through court filings, emails, phone messages, the depths of Rods depravity emerges.
Caught in the middle are the 2 kids, Anna and Miles.
This is one true crime book that is so hard to put down.
With mounting horror, the reader begins to see the lengths that Rod will go to, to control the people in his life.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me early access to the book in exchange for this honest review.

At Any Cost
By Rebecca Rosenberg
Selim Algar

This is the true story of what can happen when you make excuses for an abuser,because you don't want to admit things are happening in your life.
This was a woman who was the bread winner in the family, who put aside her pride and funded the lifestyle of the slacker she married.
He was the type of person who is good at conniving and convincing those around him what a good father and great guy he iwas. Truth be told, he was a narcissistic scam artist, all show with no substance.
His life revolved around backgammon and women he met on line. He thought nothing of denigrating his wife to any who would listen and when she had enough and wanted a divorce he put his vindictive plan into action.
He thought nothing of running her down to friends and employers, painting her as a drug addictive child abusers. When that didn't result in a large payday, he started on the children, convincing them to do,just about anything he wanted. She was willing to share custody with him, because she believed he truly loved the children. He thought nothing of spying on her, comprising her computer and phone and cloning her emails to add and delete things.
When he pushed as far as he could, he decided to eliminate his children's mother, going so far as to let them find her body. By this time he had brainwashed his oldest child to believe he was her savior. Destroyer is more like it, asking her to do unspeakable things to herself and blame her grandfather. He plotted to kill his own parents using his own children to destroy them. His ego and evil knew no bounds.

This book should be required reading for any person in an abusive relationship where children are involved. Sometimes you have to take your children and your life back before the violence destroys you all. Even if you do everything right, you can still be in danger. Once an abuser and cheater show themselves, don't expect them to suddenly change, don't invite them back for the sake of the children. The charmers will turn your children and others against you, blaming you for what they are doing.

This man destroyed so many lives by his greed and his own parents helped to convince his children that everything was the fault of others. I feel sorry for his children who grew up convinced their father was the only person who loved them and knew what was best for them.

So many mistakes were made after her death by so many that it took 10 years to bring him to justice. In that time, his children were convinced he was the only one to love and cared about them.

I was given this book,by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I will post on Goodreads, Facebook, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This is a well written true crime story ripped from the headlines of NYC. I enjoyed all the background info on the families from the previous generations. This is a heartbreaking story - Shele was a brilliant, beautiful and sophisticated woman. She shined at her career and was ready for the next steps... marriage and a family. Rod comes into the pictures and settles in quickly- his greed, selfishness and abusive manner was definitely difficult to read. This story unfolded and I was quickly swept up. . Beautiful written I was captivated by the storyline and ended up finishing it on one sitting . This family will stay with me and It’s so sad Rod ruined the lives of so many....

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of At Any Cost in exchange for an honest review.

I just reviewed At Any Cost by Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar on my Goodreads. #NetGalley #atanycost.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Should never have happened. What a tragedy for a seemingly remarkable woman and great mother. I feel particularly sad for her children and her family. This true crime book is very well written and does not drag. Deserves all its five star ratings.

This novel tells the story of a mother of two who is murdered and uncovers the events of her life and tells what happened that fateful day she was murdered. A great true crime novel that I really enjoyed and recommend that you read. The writing was well done and told the story in a way that keeps you interested in the story and keeps your attention to the very end.

Very well written. Read more like a fiction. True crime enthusiast will love this book. I was amazed of some of the things this man did. Would definitely recommend this book

4.5 stars

I had never heard of this murder case before being offered an ARC of this true crime book. As I started reading it, I was glued to the pages. It was a horrendous yet riveting account of events leading up to Rod Covlin murdering his wife Shele, the aftermath, the investigation and the trial. It was a story about greed and betrayal, just as advertised. Rod was a nasty piece of work and his schemes were unbelievable! I was seething with anger and gripping the edge of my seat in extreme tension as I turned each page.

Shele Danishefsky had a successful career, a loving family and two beautiful children. She was in the prime of her life when Rod Covlin murdered her in cold blood. The other tragedy was the ensuing bitter custody battles between the Covlin’s and the Danishefsky’s and the children being used as pawns by not only Rod Covlin but his parents too. Shame on them!

I felt for the Danishefsky’s, and the children Anna and Miles. The Covlin’s are one dysfunctional family! This book is worth the read to learn more about this true crime and how it all ends.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shele and Rod had two young children and as Shele had a prestigious job on Wall Street, all seemed great with their lifestyle. Shele was the breadwinner as Rod did not seem to have much of a career as he considered playing backgammon would make him rich. Although he did travel and play consistently, he never seemed to come out on top. Finally Shele had enough supporting her husband and family and planned to change her will and get a divorce, but Rod could not let those millions of dollars slip through his hands at any cost and took Shele's life. He was so devious that he even tried to frame his family. This true crime story is sad and fascinating and I thank Netgalley for my ARC.

At Any Cost by Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar is a true crime stunner.

On the surface, it seemed Shele Danishefsky had it all: marriage to a handsome husband (10 years her junior), two beautiful children, and a successful career in wealth management. But beneath the façade, hers was a life unraveling. Rod Covlin’s penchant for women, backgammon, and other destructive behaviors intensified over the course of the couple’s marriage culminating in Shele’s decision to divorce her husband and cut off his financial support. She wouldn’t live to see that happen.

From the outset, the investigation into Shele Danishefsky’s death was beset by misunderstandings, misinformation, and mismanagement. Justice for her family would limp along for nearly 10 years as Rod Covlin’s desperate, downward spiral produced increasingly more bizarre schemes to lay hold of Shele’s fortune.

Rod Covlin was a man without conscience, and not a single person in his orbit was free from his psychotic manipulations - not even his children. The emotional and physical abuse his children endured was some of the most disturbing I’ve ever encountered in print, and for that reason, parts of this book may be hard for some readers to stomach. That said, this was an excellent true crime read for me. I sat down intending to read just a few chapters and was half-way through before I got up. Readability and pacing make this a swift read – one true crime fans will devour.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for this NetGalley copy. This one will be an easy sell in my store.

Wow, what a read. This book really makes you think. The deviousness and pain that this man put his kids through is totally mind shattering. As a parent it’s crazy to think someone would try to manipulate and abuse their own flesh and blood. Totally worth the read.

This is one of those books that grabs you in the beginning and does not let go until you finish it. This book was consistently good all the way through and there were no peaks and valleys that caused my interest to fluctuate. The authors did an excellent job researching and writing this very complex case.

Shele Danishefsky suffered burns on her chest and arms when she was very young and then had a weight problem in school which caused her to suffer from low self-esteem. After college, she entered the finance business joining her father's firm where she was a big success and soon gained confidence. She thought she had grabbed the brass ring, so to speak, when she met Roderick Covlin, 10 years her junior, and married him. They went onto have two children, Anna and Myles. Things rapidly went downhill when Rod decided he would rather not work and instead go around the country playing in backgammon tournaments and womanizing while his wife worked and paid the bills. Shele ends up dead and it took 10 years before justice was served.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this nail-biter that I just could not put down in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard one to review as it's not a work of fiction. This was not a case that I was very familiar with prior to reading this book. I can say that I was gripped from page one and that is not something that always happens with true crime. The author was able to make me feel the heartbreak of Shele's family, not only loosing a daughter/sister but loosing out on a relationship with her two children as well. Very well written and I look forward to checking out other works by Rebecca Rosenberg.

I honestly wasn't overly excited to read this book. After all, I had heard about the case on a recent podcast. As it turns out, I didn't know the half of it.

I found this to be very well written with each word carefully chosen. Often in true crime books that span many years it can be hard to keep the players and timeline straight. Not so with At Any Cost. This was a fascinating look at the life and death of Shele and the many bizarre plots hatched by her husband Rod to either frame or kill those around him. The extent to which he involved his daughter were shocking.

I learned so much more about this case than I expected and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend! 4.5 stars.

Great book very well written told the story well and explained the characters pretty good I highly recommend this book

I had previously not heard of this case but was fascinated by this book. I felt it had the perfect amount of facts vs fluff, it really focused on what happened, and while bias toward the victim I felt it was rightfully so. I found myself researching some of the key figures to see "where are they now" considering this didn't happen too long ago. I don't know how i had never heard of this case! It was clear to me that the case was truly bungled by the police. I hope the family finds peace.

At Any Cost is a fascinating heart breaking story of the murder of Shele Danishefsky .

Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Alger have done an amazing job writing At Any Cost.

Shele was found dead by her daughter in 2009 and it takes over 10 years to bring her husband Rod to justice.

Shele's family fought hard and never gave up seeking justice.

There is so much more to this story that will break your heart

It is a story that will grab your attention and keep the pages turning .

It is a story that although hard to understand how Rod could get away with so much for so long.

It is a story that is true and one I will think of often.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing At Any Cost.

I am a sucker for True Crime books and Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar have really done their research on this case.
First, it is an attention grabbing case. On paper Shele Danishefsky had the perfect life. Then we find out her younger husband Rod is basically a two timing, money grubbing jerk. She finally decides to cut him out of her will but before she can finish the process, she winds up dead. It sounds like a thriller right? Well, this is not a fictional thriller, this is a real case!

In fact the story gets even more twisted as it goes on, even to the point where Rod basically is framing Shele and his's daughter!
This is a 10 year case and you can tell how passionate both Rosenberg and Algar were about this case and getting the story out there. The amount of time and research that when into this book is unbelievable and I could not put this one down.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

I can't believe that as a true crime buff, I hadn't heard of this story. It was wildly fascinating and heartbreaking. The authors did incredible research and were able to tell the story in a way that didn't lead to being boring.

Oh man...this book is addicting! The first few chapters started off kinda slow as they are a retelling of all the major family members life stories. But as soon as the marriage occurs I was completely absorbed and stayed up reading my kindle until almost 3am. The utter depravity of Rod Colvin (the husband) completely floored me. Just when you think he cant get any more evil than he already is.....he hatches a plan to frame his own father for raping his daughter. And then tries to marry her off to a random Mexican boy so he can so he can be the solicitor (steal) her inheritance.

An addictive and compelling read!

I will not deny that I’m not familiar with this story but after reading it, I am beyond heartbroken. It just so hard to believe sometimes how greed can get the most out of people. This is an enthralling, well-researched and heart-rending read any true crime fans shouldnt missed!

True crime that is easily google-able is a tough sell... but this book so detailed, so well-paced, so thoroughly researched, I resisted and just let the authors take me on the journey. It's an infuriating case, in a lot of ways, and finishing the book left me with ongoing unease, but that's testament to the effectiveness of the telling.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Follow this twisting and enthralling true crime take of avarice and murder as you unravel the details of this fascinating and disturbing case. What is seemingly a perfect marriage degrades to abuse in all forms and the destruction of family ties. When Shele lost her life, the city of New York and her family and friends are facing lengthy quest for justice amid the details of a deep faith in Yahweh. Obsession, greed, emotional manipulation are at the center of one man's desire for domination and control in his family. Absolutely riveting and deeply disturbing tale of a lovely family and their quest for truth and justice.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel that I received in exchange for an honest review.

When Shele Danishefsky was murdered on New Years Eve of 2009, it was ruled an accident. However, thanks to the relentless of her loved ones pushing for the truth to come out, we know it was murder. Roy Covlin, Shele's husband, was ruled by greed. He manipulated the system and his family to cover his tracks.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I stayed up all night to read it. Silently laying in bed at times gasping, crying, and getting angry at all the twists and turns this story takes.

At Any Cost unravels the twisted story of Rod Covlin, whose unrepentant greed drove him to an unspeakable act of murder and betrayal that rocked New York City.

Wealthy, beautiful, and brilliant, Shele Danishefsky had fulfillment at her fingertips. Having conquered Wall Street, she was eager to build a family with her much younger husband, promising Ivy League graduate Rod Covlin. But when his hidden vices surfaced, marital harmony gave way to a merciless divorce. Rod had long depended on Shele's income to fund his tastes for high stakes backgammon and infidelity--and she finally vowed to sever him from her will. In late December 2009, Shele made an appointment with her lawyer to block him from her millions. She would never make it to that meeting.

Two days later, on New Year’s Eve, Shele was found dead in the bathtub of her Upper West Side apartment. Police ruled it an accident, and Shele’s deeply Orthodox Jewish family quickly buried her without an autopsy on religious grounds. Rod had a clear path to his ex-wife's fortune, but suspicions about her death lingered. As the two families warred over custody of Shele’s children—and their inheritance— Rod concocted a series of increasingly demented schemes, even plotting to kill his own parents, to secure the treasure. And as investigators closed in, Rod committed a final, desperate act to frame his own daughter for her mother’s death.

Journalists Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar reconstruct the ten years that passed between the day Shele was found dead and the day her killer faced justice in this riveting account of how one man’s irrepressible greed devolved into obsession, manipulation, and murder.

At Any Cost is an informative, well-researched narrative of the murder of Shele Colvin, and an in depth look at the manipulations and depravity of her husband and accused killer, Rod Colvin. Told in easy to follow chronological chapters, the book doesn’t dwell on the murder itself, but weaves a head-shaking tale of custody battles, greed, investigative incompetence and religious roadblocks. This is a sad story, where sometimes justice may be a long time coming, if at all achieved. Highly recommended. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best true crime books I've read in a while. A combination of good writing and a fascinating subject, featuring a truly evil suspect, make for compelling reading.

On the morning of December 31, 2009, Shele Danishefsky Covlin's daughter raced across the hall to where her father, Rod Covlin, was living in an apartment since separating from Shele. Rod found Shele in the bathtub, unresponsive. The paramedics declared her dead on the scene. She was only 47.

Thus began a tragic investigation that would span a decade. Shoddy police work and meddling Orthodox Jewish organizations (they're called Misaskim and my hatred for them was only usurped by that for the killer and his parents) ensured no autopsy was performed. Shele was quickly buried and her two children whisked away to their paternal grandparents, who made sure they had no real contact with Shele's family ever again.

This story has everything. Sex, divorce, custody battles, spying, psychological torture, family drama, money, fake allegations and... backgammon (yes, really). Authors Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar do an excellent job of laying out the evidence and bring the case to life. I could not put this book down.

Shele Danishefsky had everything going for her. A high powered job, a coveted NYC apartment, two beautiful children, a tight knit family. She was taken from this world because of one man's bottomless greed and selfishness. She deserved to have her story told, and I'm glad I got to read it. This book is an easy 5 stars.

This is a must read. This writer gives so much detail and information. I couldn't put this down wondering if justice was going to be served,. Read this book you will not be disappointed.

B o o k. R e v i e w. @rossyreads on Instagram

thanks to @stmartinspress for the advance copy of this book!

I am a suckerrrrr for true crime and this book is no exception.

#AtAnyCost follows the story of Shele Danishefsky who is a devout Jewish woman with her sights set high: both professionally and in love.

One morning, her nine year old daughter finds her unresponsive in the bathtub and calls her father, living across the hall due to marital separation. This ensues a ten year dramatic battle to figure out who killed Shele and who gets her almost $6 million estate.

Throughout the book, I knew in my gut who did it but couldn’t believe all the measures her husband took to avoid trial. Her husband was emotionally, physically, and verbally abusive yet nobody wanted to admit it until each and everybody’s breaking point.

My heart aches for Shele’s children who grew up not knowing their mother, being isolated from her mother’s family, and believing that their father is a good person. Just really makes me sick and shows how scary the justice system really can be.

I am so thankful St. Martin’s Press reached out to me to read and review this book after previously reading another one of their true crime books. I am not a huge nonfiction reader but when a nonfiction book reads like a story and sucks you in....I’m game.

And y’all know once i found out there was a Dateline story covering Shele’s death, I just had to watch it.

I truly recommend this story to anybody who loves true crime and a marital drama!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#arc #netgalley #atanycost #rebeccarosenberg #sheledanishefsky #book #books #bookstagram #iowabookstagram #read #reader

This true crime story is so crazy that if an author published this as fiction, it would be roundly panned as too outlandish. The NYPD comes across very poorly with numerous errors and lapses in procedure that jeopardized the eventual prosecution of Rod Covlin. The NY courts don’t come across much better with their bumbling of the custody cases. Covlin is quite repugnant, but his treatment of his children, especially the apparent brainwashing of his daughter, Anna, is the most disturbing.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Please note that "At Any Cost" does not provide much in the way of an in-depth discussion of Rod Covlin and Shele Danishefsky or their respective backgrounds or personalities but rather focuses primarily on the long years it took to bring this case to trial and the subsequent courtroom drama.

I mention this only because my initial perception of the book was that it was more of a "true crime" work and I had hoped to learn more about the respective personalities in this case. But, what the authors give us is an absolutely heartbreaking story of a woman murdered by her faithless ex-husband, who killed her to get her estate (valued at almost $6M) and the subsequent alienation (and essentially brainwashing) of their two young children.

Because Rod Covlin is simply such a horrible person, I would have liked to learn more about his upbringing, his school friends, his relationship with his incredibly supportive parents, etc. Rod was incredibly lucky in that a seriously incompetent investigation by New York's "finest" compromised evidence, as well as no initial autopsy due to Shele's strong Jewish faith. And finally, the NYC DA wasn't terribly interested at first in bringing the case to trial.

But despite this perfect storm of incompetence, the case was finally brought to trial, almost 10 years after Shele's murder, and where this work really shines is in detailing how the case was presented to the court, how the attorneys presented their case, and how all the circumstantial evidence was woven into a strong net to finally catch Rod Covlin.

The heartbreaking remainder of this case is what has happened to Shele's beloved children, Anna and Myles, who were manipulated and gaslighted by Rod, and continue to believe in his innocence. The crime has been solved, but what lingers is still so sad and unsettled. 3.5 stars for "At Any Cost."

Right away, my first thought about this book is how in the world I had never heard of this crime before. There are so many twists and turns, so many egregious actions by both the murderer and the police--if this was the plot of a fiction book, I would have dismissed it as being far too unbelievable. But this is all too true. I won't spoil anything for anyone who like me walked into this knowing nothing about the case, but there are moments after moments that will make your jaw drop.

My second thought is how well-written this book is. The facts are laid out in a narrative format, which really helps the reader get to know the people involved, the crime itself, and the shocking aftermath. Despite how complex and complicated the layers upon layers could get, Rosenberg and Algar make sure that the reader never gets lost.

I have read a lot of true crime over the years, and this is an excellent addition to the genre. It will open your eyes, engage your mind, and tug on every single one of your heartstrings.

Shele Danishefsky was, by all accounts, a good person. A loving and doting mother. A powerhouse in her chosen career of finance. A loyal friend. A faithful Jew. A beloved daughter and sister. Her murder was a tragedy that didn't just end her life, but effected the lives of all those people attached to her--none more so than her two young children.

Rosenberg details Shele's life, the lives of her children, and the evolution of her marriage, which ended--by all accounts and evidence--the night her husband took her life.

In exploring this case Rosenberg focuses on the lives. The life of Shele Danishefsky that was lost, and the lives of all those connected to her that changed indelibly. Rather than focus on gruesome details or gratuitous criminality, At Any Cost, explores the questions and events leading up to this story's tragic end and the perseverance of Shele's family.

In addition to witness accounts, court transcripts, news articles, and interviews, Rosenberg makes an effort to reach out to each party involved in this case (some who've chosen not to be involved with this project) and tries to prevent the facts of the case clearly, accurately, and in their appropriate contexts.

How can you and your children escape your abusive husband who appears increasingly unhinged? Unfortunately for Shele, the answer was being bludgeoned to death in her own bathtub. Shele had tried everything legally possible to escape At Any Cost. Nothing worked in this harrowing true crime tale.

Shele’s story is heart-breaking! It reads like fiction but, incredibly, is true. At Any Cost will make your spouse, regardless of their faults, look better by comparison. It is one of the best true crime tales I’ve ever read. 5 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have always been fascinated by true-crime books because I want to figure out what leads people to commit such horrific acts. When I was invited to read and review At Any Cost, I had never heard of this particular case. The authors did an excellent job of bringing me up to speed in a clear, straight-forward way. I truly came to know the people involved and was relieved to see justice served despite all the missteps along the way. I would not hesitate to read anything else by these authors. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review At Any Cost.

While I was familiar with this case via Dateline, this book goes into much more depth about it. A really interesting read into a tragic case.

This is the incredibly true story of the case of a wealthy mother of 2 who died on New Year's Eve in 2009. Found in her bathroom by one of her children, questions have circulated - What happened to Shele? In the midst of a contentious divorce, Was her death just an accidental slip and fall in the bathroom or was this a calculated murder by Rod, Shele's husband?

Little bit of background on me: I LOVED Serial. It is a podcast about a gentleman named Adnan Syed who claims to be completely innocent of murder. Being a complete armchair detective, I listened to the series twice, listened to Undisclosed (another podcast), read almost all of the trial transcripts, reviewed every page of the police report (except some of the victim's photos), viewed many of the legal filings, watched documentaries, and scoured even hints and whispers on Reddit. Let's just say I have a pretty good idea of what happened on the night in question.

This book was very interesting especially many of the people in the book were behaving very badly. In the practice of law, lawyers always say that their best clients are the criminals and the worst clients are the family law clients. Everything in this book proved that to be the case.

The story itself was very interesting and clearly very well researched. With that being said, I think that I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook because it kind of felt like I was reading a script from Dateline - the prose seemed a bit overly analytical, stilted, very straight, and to the point without the storytelling component. In my opinion, this book would have been more compelling if it was relayed in a way more like Serial, perhaps starting the book off with Rod explaining that he is completely innocent and explaining himself. Then starting going into more evidence that might look exonerating and then start slowly introducing evidence that implicates him. One of the things that I find very interesting in any case is the jailhouse snitch. They are notoriously unreliable. The jailhouse snitch is not exactly known for their outstanding behavior and usually will do anything in exchange for any hope of leniency. Sometimes the same jailhouse snitch will testify against dozens of prisoners which is highly unlikely that dozens of accused criminals are going to just chat up this one particular inmate. This type of discussion is really quite interesting and should have been explored further. Why wasn't the jailhouse snitch put on the stand? The particular individual never testified at trial. Why not? I have a lot of questions about this. Why would Rod behave that way with this individual especially on camera? What happened to the drawings that Rod allegedly made?

In the final published version of this book, I hope that there are pictures of Shele. Too often, the story is focused on whether the accused "did it" or not. However, Shele's life was gone too soon. She seemed to have the world at her feet being a rich, beautiful, vibrant, intelligent woman with a deeply caring family. When I read the victim's diary in Serial, I finally got to see the case in a new light and felt the victim's hope for the future and excitement of all of her first's to come - going to college for the first time, getting her first job, and so much more. Shele never got to hold her grandchildren or see her children graduate from high school. In my opinion, it would have been more poignant to end with a picture of Shele and her dates of death.

Overall, I think that this an interesting story for all of my arm chair detectives and my sincerest condolences to Shele's family - may healing and peace come your way.

This is a very well written book. I usually don't do well reading a true account but this is so compelling, I had a hard time to put it down. I knew a little bit from watching one of the television networks true crime coverage but this book certainly makes up my mind that justice is being served. My heart goes out to the families involved. It's absolutely unthinkable what they have been through. My heart breaks for the children.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of it. The account of events flows smoothly and I feel it fairly depicts the story of those who participated by interview along with court records, etc. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. Anyone who wants to better understand what took place will find this a magnetic read.

I could not, would not, put this book done until I finished it. I read many true crime books but rarely do I come across an author who holds my interest until the last page. The story about Shele Danishefsky and her husband Rod Covlin is told with compassion and exacting detail. My heart hurt while reading about the long road to justice Shele's family had to endure with several family members not seeing the final outcome. Big thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for my free copy. Excellent read.

Even the most tragically familiar stories can devolve into shocking and unbelievable true crime cases. Part true crime narrative and part courtroom drama, At Any Cost: A Father’s Betrayal, A Wife’s Murder, and a Ten-Year War for Justice by Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar (2021 St. Martin’s Press), recounts the worst results of domestic violence and the horrible ripple-effect of one family’s tragedy.

The book recounts the life of Shele Danishefsky, a successful and brilliant woman from a tight-knit and supportive Jewish family working on Wall Street. Eager to start a family, Shele meets and marries Rod Covlin, a Jewish Ivy League graduate with a promising future. However, the familiar hallmarks of systematic domestic violence soon emerged. After their marriage, Rod’s kind and caring nature dissolved into a taste for unemployment, online gaming tournaments, and internet dating—all reliant on Shele’s income. After a ten-year marriage, Shele filed for divorce and chaos over the custody of the former couple’s two children and Shele’s money ensued. Although Shele finally resolved to legally bar Rod from her will in December 2009, she would ultimately be dead before she could meet with her lawyer.

Both prominent journalists, Rosenberg and Algar bring a admirably clear writing style to the many complicated aspects of this book. In recounting the life and actions of a man who worked to confuse, tangle, misdirect, and lie his way to a fortune that he was not entitled to, Rosenberg and Algar carefully reconstruct and recount the events surrounding Shele’s murder with remarkable clarity. Many of their findings are accurately supported with witness testimony, court transcripts, and other evidentiary material. This text truly is a true crime novel in the digital age. With the case concluding in 2019, the authors seemingly had an overwhelming amount of evidence to work with over the course of more than a decade. Their status as journalists comes through in their punchy, to-the-point writing as well as in their ability to integrate hard evidence and fact-based reporting into their text.

The text pulls together a number of different threads that worked to make this case difficult to untangle. Shele’s Jewish background, police procedure, courtroom procedure, and custody rules, all contribute to the intense twists and turns of this case, Rosenberg and Algar include the right amount of context in order for the reader to understand the judicial system in the United States and New York City. Coupled with their technical skill, however, both authors are supremely interested in painting a portrait of Shele, her life, her family, and the gravity of her loss. While this story, in many ways, reads as sickeningly familiar and Rod’s abuse and manipulation is harrowing, Rosenberg and Algar paint a picture of Shele’s life in all of its complexity and vivacity. The authors also, in addressing the minute details of Shele’s story, make a wider statement about the complexities of domestic violence and the systems that can help or hinder victims in their ambition to protect themselves and their children.

Suspensefully written and expertly told, I read over half of this book in one sitting. I was hardly able to put it down. I was so desperate to see Shele and her family get justice. The twists and turns of this case are absolutely appalling and seemingly endless. In addition to recounting a timely and recent case that everyone should read about, I could not recommend this book more as a prime example of excellent, journalism-based true crime with a thoughtful and focused writing style.

Please add At Any Cost to your Goodreads shelf and follow Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar on Twitter or visit Rebecca Rosenberg’s Website.

Don’t forget to follow True Crime Index on Twitter and please visit our Goodreads for updates on what we’re reading! You can find Rachel on her personal @RachelMFriars or on Goodreads @Rachel Friars.

About the Writer:

Rachel M. Friars (she/her) is a PhD student in the Department of English Language and Literature at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She holds a BA and an MA in English Literature with a focus on neo-Victorianism and adaptations of Jane Eyre. Her current work centers on neo-Victorianism and nineteenth-century lesbian literature and history, with secondary research interests in life writing, historical fiction, true crime, popular culture, and the Gothic. Her academic writing has been published with Palgrave Macmillan and in The Journal of Neo-Victorian Studies. She is a reviewer for The Lesbrary, the co-creator of True Crime Index, and an Associate Editor and Social Media Coordinator for PopMeC Research Collective. Rachel is co-editor-in-chief of the international literary journal, The Lamp, and regularly publishes her own short fiction and poetry. Find her on Twitter and Goodreads.

A copy of this book was graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mystery and thrillers are usually my cups of tea. Sometimes I need to sink my teeth into some true crime. This was given to me for an honest review by NetGalley. I am so glad that it hit my radar. This is a sad story about a woman who continued to make excuses for the man she loves and was constantly hoping will change. At the end of the day, it costs her a life and destroyed the lives of the two people she loved the most her children. Shele Danisheefsky who was the breadwinner in the family, who put aside her pride and funded the lifestyle of the man she married without knowing what kind of monster he was and would become.
He was the type of person who is good at conniving and convincing those around him what a good father and great guy he was. Truth be told, he was a narcissistic scam artist, all show with no substance.
His life revolved around backgammon and women he met online. He thought of nothing and no one but himself. I do not understand how money could be more important than the health and wellness of his kids. When he saw that bad-mouthing Shele didn’t get the result he wanted he changed tactics to get what he wanted he turned her beautiful kids against her. She was willing to do anything to keep her kids' lives stable. When things failed to work in his favor, he brainwashed both the kids but especially Anna to think that her father was the best and that her mother was nothing.

In the end he decided to eliminate her to try and get his hands on her money and the kids. I paced myself with this one because a large portion of this book is heavy and it requires time to process. I am so happy that after so many years that justice was served and Rod is in jail. This book should be read by anyone who is in an abusive relationship. Not so they can cry but so they can see themselves in Shele and get help before it’s too late to get help and all that is left is for their families to grieve them. This story has such a sad and satisfying ending. It is sad because these kids were shown that their father was the only one who loved them and it is so far from the truth. Satisfying because after ten long years justice was served.

Holy *insert naughty words here* #truecrimecommunity #truecrimeaddicts let me tell you #atanycost #rebeccarosenberg #selimalgar is a freaking sad terrible but phenomenal read. You feel like you are there in the moment #flyonthewall #sheledanishefsky and #rodcolvin I am sitting here currently obsessed. My heart aches for the Danishefsky family. And the children. Who aren’t children anymore. But. Ugh. Get it. Read it. Become obsessed with me. Thank you #netgalley for the arc thank you #stmartinspress #bookstagram #readersofig #truecrimebooks #bookrecommendations

I am a fan of True Crime and I really enjoyed At Any Cost. This book was very detailed and I was amazed at how terrible Rod was as far as a husband and just a person in general. A very disturbing case but also very interesting. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the authors for my ARC in exchange for my review.

I was actually directly invited to read this one - and I am so glad that I was because I am not sure that I would have otherwise read it! This true crime novel spans a decade and reveals the details around the murder of Shele Danishefsky Covlin. A NYC mother of two, Shele recently separated from her husband of ten years, Rod Covlin, just prior to her death. What unfolds is a horrifying account of Rod's terribly callous and disturbing behavior - from spying on his wife to extreme psychological and even physical abuse. This is true crime that reads like fiction. Shele's murder took place in 2009, but I don't recall seeing anything about it in the news at the time, so I really didn't know what to expect from this one at all.

Rod's behavior almost defies belief at times with some of his plainly psychopathic attempts to skew facts and plot outlandish ways to support his backgammon addiction. This tragically dark story really doesn't have much happiness at all within, but I honestly could not stop turning the pages. It's a compelling story that takes one unexpected turn after another. It's not a good showing of the NYPD, that's for sure. And it shows plenty of determination from Shele's family - not to mention the greed and depravity from the Covlin. I am not typically a true crime reader, but this one makes me want to investigate more in this genre. It's very well-written!

Normally I read fiction, but this is a true crime story that is as engrossing as any fictional read.Researched and told in minute detail, I hate to say I enjoyed it and was captivated by it.So much is depicted-spousal abuse,children manipulated by a scheming parent,”red flags” in the couple’s courtship , shoddy police work, and captivating courtroom scenes as the lawyers assert their respective arguments.
It was at times fascinating, at times horrifying, at times so sad that not only the victim, but so many other members of both families involved were destroyed.
A caveat: I tend to be cynical about the law/ legal process , and without spoiling the plot for any future reader, there were countless times over the ten Year process of the legal wranglings I found myself thinking : “how could the courts decide that”. But, you will have to read it for yourself to reach your own conclusions😂😂😂

This is by far one of the best true crime books I've read in a while. I didn't have insanely high expectations for this book because I'd already seen a one-hour special about the crime. I figured I pretty much knew what the story would be about. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book delves much deeper into the story of Rod Covlin and the murder of his wife, Shele. There were so many unbelievable moments in this story - so much so that you wouldn't believe it was possible if it was in a fictional story. I won't delve too much into the actual case because I think it's better to go in without a ton of knowledge about the details. But Rosenberg and Algar did a crazy amount of research - and it shows in their highly-detailed and insightful breakdown of the case. I sincerely hope that these two authors go on to write more true crime books - I would definitely read more about twisty, fascinating cases like this one!

True crime isn't generally what I flock to in my reading, as many who know me know. But when I got an email about this from Netgalley, I knew I had to take a look at this one. The compelling tale of the murder of Shele Covlin, I remember hearing about this case while it was going, and always wondering what exactly happened here. Of course, the details in full are lost to time, this book brought together with the not necessarily sparse, but not necessarily deep, information from her family and those around her. The fact that there was a lack of input from some affected parties makes this difficult to know if there was a proper verdict, but just from an outside perspective, and the beautiful yet precise writing of Rosenberg, it's easy to see what happened here on the surface. An interesting read, and one I'd recommend to any true crime buff, Rosenberg portrays Shele's case with an elegance and class it deserves.

This was true crime at it craziest! It felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. It’s unbelievable to me how this crazy situation kept getting crazier.
Abuse is really hard to see and understand when you’re right in the middle of it, I know first hand. And these poor kids! GRRRRR.....
I’m not going to give anything away and if you like true crime then you’ll really enjoy this. There was a lot of background story told that I didn’t know anything about.
I thought the whole thing very well done. Thanks to St. Martin Press via Netgalley for this eARC. I’ve voluntarily given my review.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, as I had never heard of the case, but WOW. This book is gripping from beginning to end! It is well-written and completely detailed without EVER being boring or off topic. Grab this one-sitting true crime book soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for sending me an eARC!

WOW from page one I was in this book 110% and could not put it down! I feel like the detail in this true crime book was spot on and heavy thru out and had me sitting on the edge of my couch. With most true crime books the storyline is very disturbing and while reading At Any Cost there were defiantly parts that I wanted to skill because it was horrible, but the nature of this story is truly horrible and sad.

When greed becomes the prime motive for murder, a person will do just about anything to get their hands on the object of that desire. Rod Covlin pursued and married Shele, and then systematically wore her down over the years. He berated her for everything from her looks, her weight, and made her feel guilty for everything. He was abusive, but managed to hide it from most people. Once she filed for divorce, the gloves came off.

When she was found dead in the bathtub, a huge battle began for the massive estate that she left behind. Child custody, life insurance and more led to a ten year battle in court over what Shele left behind. And no one could foresee the lengths to which her husband would go to gain control of her estate.

Oh my goodness! This was a great book, and I enjoyed reading it. This has everything a true crime should have. You will be horrified at some of the information contained in this book, but the story weaves together, and doesn't leave out any details that would confuse the reader. It is there in black and white for the reader to gain a full sense of the struggles and bitterness that ensued. 100% would recommend!

<i>At Any Cost</i> is a work of non-fiction that delves into the murder of Shele Danishefsky in NYC in 2009.

At the time of her murder, Shele was going through a separation with her husband, Rod Covlin. Rod and Shele fell in love quickly, got married and had two children. After their second child was born their marriage began to breakdown and Rod became unfaithful to his wife. He also began playing backgammon and betting money on games. He eventually lost his job and was living off of Shele's income from finance job on Wall Street.

After suffering years of abuse from Rod, Shele decided to get a divorce. Rod, who had been accessing Shele's emails, found out that Shele had contacted her lawyer to set up an appointment to remove Rod from her will. Prior to the appointment happening Shele was found dead in her bathtub by her young daughter early one morning. Unfortunately, detectives did not do a good job of securing the crime scene and collecting evidence to be used later. Shele and her family were Orthodox Jews and their families Rabi advised against the autopsy, as the detectives at the scene thought this was an accidental death from a fall and not a homicide. Many of the facts of the case were not adding up which led the Medical Examiner to try and push for an autopsy, but it was overruled by the Chief Medical Examiner.

Much of the book deals with the aftermath of Shele's death, including the ugly custody battle between the Danishefsky family and the Covlin family. Rod effectively kept the children from seeing the Danishefsky's after Shele's death - feeding them lies about their grandparents, aunts and uncles making them not want to have any relationship with their maternal family. Rod's parents ended up having custody of the children, however, Rod frequently tried to intervene going to great extremes to try and get full custody of his children.

Eventually, the police had enough evidence after 8 years to charge Rod with the murder of Shele. Rod went on trial and was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

This story was incredibly heart wrenching, leaving the reader questioning what may have happened if Shele had she taken further steps with the orders of protection and divorce sooner. My heart was also broken for the Danishefsky family who were alienated from their grandchildren/niece and nephew who they loved dearly. Unfortunately, Shele's parents were not able to see the children after her death, leaving them feeling a great sadness until their deaths.

If you are a fan of true crime books, this one will definitely grab your attention and leave you up late into the night absorbing it's pages.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic true crime book that is absolutely horrifying. I had no idea about this case, and it is so crazy. There were so many red flags leading up to this, and it is very sad that it got to this point that Shele finally decided to do something about it, only to find it was too late and she would not be alive the next day. I have been in a similar situation, so I completely understand the 'closing your eyes and hoping it gets better' mentality. I am grateful my situation did not end like Shele's but it very easily could have, and I am so saddened by the fact that it constantly takes so much before we say enough is enough. Adding children into the mix is oftentimes another reason for the delay in leaving. This book is very well done, the pacing never slows down, and I liked the amount of detail given to both Shele and Ron, their backstories, how they got together, and how it all went wrong. It is key to understanding these behaviors as they are often consistent on both sides. What I did find interesting was the amount of enabling by Ron's girlfriends, they should have been running when Shele died but yet they did not and one even did so much more, and it was shocking. But it seems that true to psychopath form, everyone around him was manipulated and/or enamored until he decided to show his true colors and then it was hard to extract themselves from the situation. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you are a fan of true crime, it is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the digital copy to review.

I have a hard time with true crime, since my sisters accident showed me we are not off limits, but occasionally I’ll read one and I’m glad I chose this one. It was captivating, well written, and written in a manner that didn’t bore you with tedious details, but still felt like they were being Honest to the case it involves. It was riveting, captivating, and like app crime unbelievable. I would definitely recommend to those who love true crime and even my fellow thrill lovers, as I do think the way it’s written will truly keep them in suspense and chills!

Will buzz around and use low Amazon reviewer number!

Wow...I am breathless after reading this non-stop for hours. It was gripping, without a single slow moment to pause and catch my breath. If you like true crime, courtroom dramas, or stories about psychopaths, you will love this.
Once again, I was impressed with the extraordinary amount of damage one single person with no conscience can do to a vast number of people, and how dangerous it is to get involved legally, or romantically, with one. Additional thoughts going through my head were how incompetent and biased police can be, and how broken the court system often is, so slow as to be almost useless, and often cruel and unfair in its judgements.
If I had a teenage daughter, I would have her read this to counteract all the romantic “happily ever after” nonsense that little girls are constantly barraged with. Or maybe give this to a friend who feels that her eggs are aging and thinks it’s time to settle for a potential mate who is exhibiting warning signs. This painful, true story is a good reminder to everyone that these predators are out there and they can be devastatingly convincing.

I couldn't put this well-written, well-researched book down. The authors detailed in chronological order the events of the mostly circumstantial case and, ultimately, the jury's conviction of the defendant.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book to read. The impressions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.

Shele Danishefsly, a successful, beautiful woman wanting to find the love of a good man, have children, and live happily, pays the ultimate price for her hopes at the hands of her husband Rod Colvin.

The research in this book is unfailingly expert; the narrative, superb. I found the inept clumsiness of the investigators, in this case, flabbergasting. The justice system failed to protect Shele, her children, and her family.

Devastating, heartbreaking. Compelling, riveting. At Any Cost is a must-read for readers of true crime.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the read Rebecca Rosenberg; Selim Algar’s, At Any Cost.

Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rebecca and Selim, and St. Martin's for an advance copy of At Any Cost.

What a difficult read. I love true crime and I always have podcasts or ID Network on as background noise, but somehow I'd never heard of this horrible and harrowing case.

Shele Danishefsky was found dead in her bathtub, her body discovered by her daughter. What follows is a ten year fight by Shele's family to keep her kids safe and put the man who did that unspeakable act behind bars.

Clearly there are trigger warnings all over this book, but I'd like to specifically mention that there is a lot of manipulation of children, Stockholm Syndrome, and just general mistreatment of the kids. Not outright abuse, it's lowkey and subtle, which somehow makes it feel even more disgusting. The calculated moves made by Shele's husband to keep their kids under his thumb just turn my stomach.

Shele was wronged. She was betrayed by her husband, the NYPD, her religion; all things that we should be able to put our faith in trust into. That's what makes this story so tragic for me.

Rebecca and Selim did an amazing job researching this case. Ten years is a lot of ground to cover with a case that was an 'open and shut' accident in the eyes of the police.

Shele Danishefsky had a hard time getting away from her abusive husband, Rod Covlin. Shele wanted to take Rod off her will so he couldn't have access to her millions. She was never able to because two days later, Shele was found dead in her apartment. Police ruled it an accident, but all the clues seemed to point the finger at Rod. What went wrong?

I love true crime, and this book was no exception. It was very well researched, and you get a lot of background information on both Shele and Rod, and both of their families. We see many instance where Rod is abusive and manipulative to not only Shele, but his own parents and ex-girlfriends. I won't spoil anything else, because there are many twists and turns that will shock you!

This book started out strong and hooked me in from the very beginning. It read like fiction which made it easy to follow even if you don't read a lot of non-fiction. It's very fast-paced, and every time I picked it up, I couldn't put it down!

If you're a fan of true crime, you will enjoy this! Even if you're new to true crime or non-fiction, this is a great place to start. I highly recommend reading this one overall!

Wow is all I can say about this book. This book just proves there are very sick people in this world. Well written true crime story. Very good read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving this book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

I'm so glad that I was reading this book on my phone, because if I'd been reading a physical copy, I would have thrown it across the room several times. The writing is amazing, but the actions of the people involved in this crime made me absolutely furious. It took all my self-control to not google the outcome of the trial before I got to the end. Despite my obsession with true crime, I hadn't heard of this case before, but now I want to learn as much about it as possible. If you're a fan of true crime books, I can't recommend this highly enough. And after you've read it, come talk to me, because I need to yell about it some more.

I’m a newbie when it comes to true crime. This was my third true crime book, and really enjoyed it. I really appreciated how Shele’s family life and upbringing were included.

I did have to pace myself though, and take breaks. It was a much heavier read than my usual. Because of the nature of this book, it was harder to read/watch what Shele went through with her husband, and what a piece of sh*t he was.

This was a tough read. It was intriguing in the worst way because just when you think you have heard it all, it escalates. I found myself growing more and more furious as I read along and saw what Shele's family had to endure, especially her parents. The things that this vile man did and got away with before he was finally charged with the murder of his wife are outrageous. The way in which he has manipulated his daughter her entire life, and the things have made her (or tried to make her do unsuccessfully in some cases) are beyond belief. I read through the entire book in two days because I just couldn't put it down. If you are easily triggered, I wouldn't suggest this book for you, but if you are the type of person that likes to read stories about real people, and learn their stories, At Any Cost is a well written book that tells Shele's tragic story in full.

There's nothing like a true crime novel to get your emotions running hot and your blood boiling! I could barely get through this story about the evil Rod Covlin and what he did to destroy an entire family with his greed and malicious activities.

It was so clear, probably because it was already a fact that he'd been found guilty, that he had murdered his wife, Shele Danishfsky. If that wasn't bad enough, he then completely destroyed the lives of his own children by his selfish actions in keeping them from Shele's entire family and devastating the relationship his children had with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Reading this filled me with rage that a man like Rod could get away with all the hideous things that he did, wanted to do, and planned to do.

A contentious divorce is the ugliest thing on earth -- reducing people to their basest levels and watching them act out unbelievable scenarios. The two children, Anna and Myles, were pawns in a war between their parents and extended families, and I can see how they would be left so overwhelmed and confused about whom to believe and whom to love. I did find it very surprising that neither child ever testified in court or spoke to the authors so who knows what they really think.

I love a good courtroom scene and all the legal drama, but the personal anguish that came through the pages -- the suffering of Shele's family -- was hard to bear. I am always surprised, however, by the depth of loyalty that can be displayed even for the most depraved. How Rod's parents could support him after all that he did to them. How Anna and Myles could have a positive thought in their heads about their father. This mystifies me. How many lies can someone swallow -- I guess as many as they need to in order to preserve the notion that their son and their father are really not monsters. Hearing about all the things that Rod said and did and thought through the years made me sick to my stomach. I was so worried that justice would not prevail. But, then again, as in the case of any crime such as this, the result does not undue the suffering or bring back the dead.

It took 10 years for Rod Covlin to be held accountable for what he did. So many things went wrong from the discovery of Shele's body to the trial where her killer was finally given his just due. I loved reading the details of this story with all the background information and appreciate the work and research that the authors did to bring this book to publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to all true crime fans everywhere.

At Any Cost is a great read for True Crime story fans. I follow a lot of true crime via podcast, documentary and books but somehow was totally unaware of the tragic death of this young mother Shele. Maybe because it took about 10 years to bring charges against her husband who was ultimately convicted. This work contains lots of detail and comments by those who knew both in this couple, and follows the investigation through the trial and verdict. Sadly there were young children involved to live with this trauma to this day. It is quite readable and highly recommended. An advance copy was made available for my review via NetGalley without any obligation for positive feedback.

An amazing true crime book, well written and provides the reader with so much detail about the case. I had never heard about this case before even though I'm an avid true crime reader and podcast listener. So glad I found this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This book is amazing and heartbreaking. The story that is told is absolutely horrid. However the way it was written broke it down in digestible pieces rather than just all around bad news. I applaud the amount of research that went into this book as well.

This true crime story shows how Shelle was murdered and then had to wait 9 years before her family got any closure. What’s really interesting is the trial because it almost seems like the jury were going to find the killer not guilty. Fortunately, that’s not what happened.

A quick note: although this is true crime and has gore where it’s appropriate, the authors didn’t go over the top with it.

At Any Cost: A Father's Betrayal, a Wife's Murder, and a Ten-Year War for Justice is a non-fiction true crime book. This book tells the story of Shele, a wealthy, successful, mother of two children who was found murdered on New Years Eve, 2009 and the very long case it took to bring her murderer to justice. This is such a gut-wrenching book but very well told. I found myself unable to step away because I was so engrossed in this case. I won't say too much about this one as to not spoil it for others. I am glad I went into this book "blind" as I had not even heard of this case before the book. A definite read for those who enjoy true crime!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Very detailed, almost exhaustively so (do I need to know the kid's tuition?) but you really did get a sense of the world all these people lived in and what their "normal" was. I thought it was pretty clear the author had some journalism background which I prefer for true crime, some are sort of sloppy and almost fanfiction-y but this one was very solid and not super sensational.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance reader copy of this true crime book.

The authors do a great job telling this fabulous horrible story. Through horrible schemes the murder, marriage/ divorce story are told with a great voice. Loved the portrayal of the killer and his willingness to throw away everything a normal person would covet.

A tragic real life story that has been well-researched and well-summarized in this book. Even the trial section, where most books drag on and on, was an engaging read.

A true crime novel centered around the murder of Shele Danishevsky. I had never heard of this murder and this case was riveting. I like that it started from the beginning and included all of the trial and family reaction to it. It was like listening to a podcast. Very engaging.!