European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Books cruel doubt is another in serial of Mcginniss works a Joe mcginniss1 latest Book involves another family murder this time in Washington  Alessandra Stanley the new York times n the annals of crime there Are serial murderers and then there Are the serial authors. Perhaps there was a moment when Joe Mcginniss the author of fatal vision the grisly Story of an army doctor who brutally killed his pregnant wife and two daughters and then Blind Faith another grisly Story about a brutal wife killer Felt like scrawling across his bathroom Mirror a Stop me before i write  if there was it passed. In his latest Book cruel doubt to be published this month by Simon amp schuster Mcginniss who is 48, has once again immersed himself in the details of a Small town family murder. This time he has focused on Chris Pritchard of Washington n.c., who with two College friends in 1988 planned the stabbing of his Stepfather Lieth von Stein and narrowly missed killing his own Mother Bonnie von Stein and once again a stricken family entrusted Mcginniss a exclusively a with their most private thoughts and innermost fears. This time those Mcginniss wrote about did not complain of betrayal after they read the Book. As Mcginniss put it rather Caref Tilly a in dealing with people who Are not convicted criminals i be tried to be very conscious of my obligation that there be no unpleasant surprises at the  Mcginniss said he changed As a result of the lawsuit filed by or. Jeffrey Macdonald a Green Beret doctor after his 1979 conviction. Macdonald contended that Mcginniss violated their contract by allowing Macdonald to believe the Book would exonerate him while in fact it strongly supported his guilt. Tie suit was settled after a seven week trial in 1987 that ended with a Hung jury. The writer Janet Malcolm wrote a highly unflattering description of Mcginniss reporting technique in the new yorker which led Mcginniss to add a rebutting afterword to later editions of fatal vision. Mcginniss likened the strains of that period to the trauma of War. Mcginniss who lives in Williamstown mass., said he was emotionally drained by that Case and by that of Robert o. Marshall a suburban new Jersey insurance Salesman who coldly plotted the murder of his wife in 1989. Both Best Sellers were made into television movies. Cruel doubt was bought by Abc before the Book was completed. A i had sworn that if someone approached me with anything to do with a crime or anyone getting Hurt even slightly a Mcginniss said a i would say to not interested. A yet when Wade Smith a North Carolina lawyer whom Mcginniss had befriended when Smith served As local counsel for Macdonald called to ask the writer to meet another client Bonnie von Stein Mcginniss agreed despite the do a amp Vul. A i could t resist a he said. Von Stein told him she had read fatal vision and wanted its author to find out the truth about her family a experience. She did not expect him to exonerate her son and she promised to hold Back nothing and to cooperate Only with Mcginniss. A it was an overwhelming Opportunity for unimpeded Access to everyone and everything that could shed Light a Mcginniss explained. He found Bonnie von steins Story a too strange and Loo compelling to turn Down. Cruel doubt describes How Pritchard a troubled 19-year-old deeply involved in drugs and the fantasy game dungeons and dragons plotted to kill his parents to inherit $2 million. His Mother who barely survived being stabbed and clubbed in her bed was briefly a suspect. The puncture wounds to her Chest though More severe nearly mirrored the wounds Macdonald inflicted upon himself to avoid suspicion. The Book is a ambivalent about von steins innocence but Hometown gossips Are not. A a you a be surprised a said Washington a police chief John Crone a How Many people still think Bonnie had something to do with  Pritchard is serving a life sentence As is his Friend Neil Henderson. The third accomplice James Upchurch is on death Row. At the time he was approached by von Stein Mcginniss had been working on a Book about sen. Edward Kennedy research he said he has put aside. He said he was partly put off by the a barricades Quot erected by the senator and his family. A i do my Best work when i have the Best Access possible to the subject i am writing about Quot Mcginnis said. A would i Ever get close enough to share his pain 1 done to  with von Stein Mcginniss had unrestricted Access to pain. The woman Mcginniss described As proud and intensely private gave the writer permission to interview herself her daughter her son her lawyer and her songs defense team As Well As her own and her songs psychiatrists. She did not ask As Macdonald had for a share of the royalties nor did she demand a Chance to review the manuscript before it appeared some thing that Mcginniss never granted Macdonald but that he elected to do for the sons of Marshall. Von Stein who did not cooperate with another account of her songs crime blood games by a North Carolina reporter Jerry Bledsoe declined to be interviewed for this article. But Mcginniss said she had instructed him to Tell anyone who asked about her views of the Book the following a Bonnie chooses to keep her feelings about the Book to herself but Bonnie and Joe still have a cordial personal relationship and she looks Forward to Reading whatever he might write  Macdonald who Only Learned the unfavourable Bent of fatal vision while being interviewed on 60 minutes was a to say the least a unpleasantly surprised by its Content. So were a few of the minor characters in Blind Faith even those whose names had been changed to Avert lawsuits. John f. Russo a new Jersey state senator thought he recognized himself in Raymond Diorio a powerful politician contemplating a run for governor. The Book hinted that Diorio intervened in the investigation to protect Marshall s mistress. Russo who abandoned plans to run for governor shortly after the Book appeared demanded but never received a retraction. Mcginniss said he warned von Stein that his Book would raise questions about the possible involvement of her daughter Angela in the crime. Angela Pritchard was asleep in the next bedroom when one of her brother s friends crept into the House and bludgeoned and stabbed her parents. Angela was never charged with participating. The stars and stripes Book department says cruel doubt is on order and could be available at its bookstores next month. Quot Arf 8 a sunday october 20. 1991