Charley's Web by Joy Fielding

Joy Fielding always does a great job of melding suspense or mystery with characters of substance. Charley (born Charlotte Webb) is a newspaper columnist who writes about provocative things in "Charley's Web". She lives with her two children (both different fathers and no marriages) and tries to keep some contact with her disapproving family. She often receives hateful emails - but one day they reference her children and she is freaked out. Soon after she receives a letter from a young woman who has killed three children and is scheduled to be executed. She wants Charley to write her story and tell more than came out in the trial. Charley accepts the challenge to write this woman's biography. So she is listening to the sick stories of this murderer and trying to make sure that her children are safe. How do you know who to trust? You'll just have to read the book to find out who was really trustworthy!