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feyley's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook edition which was brilliantly done, I teared up when listening to Patton Oswald talk about his wife and how sad he was that she was not there to see the Golden State Killer after all the years she had spent hunting him down. While the case of the Golden State Killer might not be the most interesting for all true crime enthusiasts, I do think the audiobook of this is worth listening to. The desperate search for him comes through so clearly in the narration of this book. The introduction read by Gillian Flynn and the afterward read by Patton Oswald were amazing, they were each so personal and provided insight into the kind of person Michelle was.
Listening to this kept me on the edge of my seat. It was so sickeningly detailed. At times, it felt like we were sorting through the facts and leads with Michelle McNamara. Each new lead was an excitement that was quickly proved false or a dead end. Each thread to the Golden State Killer lost broke your heart, for the victims and for Michelle. She was so invested in finding him. She knew that her searching would eventually find him, if only she could dig deep enough in the files and evidence that was already there.
I was quite disappointed that some law enforcement involved in the capture of the Golden State Killer tried to diminish the impact of Michelle's research or the fact that her book did lead, in some part, to his capture. While the evidence and leads she dug up did not directly lead to his capture, she did shed new light on the cases and brought people's attention back to the Golden State Killer. I do believe that without her research or her book, this case might have remained a cold case. He was caught because a new task force was formed and they used her name for him when he was eventually captured.
This book illustrates what it is like for cold case hunters and armchair detectives everywhere. While Michelle was certainly more invested than others, this is what it looks like. A particular cases can completely consume your mind and you spend hours, or years in Michelle's case, trying to figure out what really happened with what limited evidence exists on the internet. This fervor is what creates true crime enthusiasts.
Listening to this kept me on the edge of my seat. It was so sickeningly detailed. At times, it felt like we were sorting through the facts and leads with Michelle McNamara. Each new lead was an excitement that was quickly proved false or a dead end. Each thread to the Golden State Killer lost broke your heart, for the victims and for Michelle. She was so invested in finding him. She knew that her searching would eventually find him, if only she could dig deep enough in the files and evidence that was already there.
I was quite disappointed that some law enforcement involved in the capture of the Golden State Killer tried to diminish the impact of Michelle's research or the fact that her book did lead, in some part, to his capture. While the evidence and leads she dug up did not directly lead to his capture, she did shed new light on the cases and brought people's attention back to the Golden State Killer. I do believe that without her research or her book, this case might have remained a cold case. He was caught because a new task force was formed and they used her name for him when he was eventually captured.
This book illustrates what it is like for cold case hunters and armchair detectives everywhere. While Michelle was certainly more invested than others, this is what it looks like. A particular cases can completely consume your mind and you spend hours, or years in Michelle's case, trying to figure out what really happened with what limited evidence exists on the internet. This fervor is what creates true crime enthusiasts.
shelbyslifer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
sammy_hen2's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
Michelle McNamara was a true crime author who spent a big portion of her career investigating the elusive Golden State Killer up until her untimely death in 2016. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is the posthumously published account of her obsessive vigilantism. Her writing was sharp and detailed, and I learned a lot about the GSK, a prolific rapist and murderer whom I had never even heard of before this. But I have to say, I was a bit bogged down by the details of the case and finished the book feeling very underwhelmed with the impact of her journalism. Michelle never did crack the case—it’s public knowledge that the GSK was not caught until 2018 via DNA testing. So what we end up with is a fragmented account of her amateur detective work, which also did not give enough voice to the victims (but that’s another discussion on the ethics of true crime). Overall I felt this was very over-hyped and forgettable, and I have some beef with the way it was marketed.
nicreads420's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not really sure what to say. Hmm. This was very interesting, and informative, I didn't find it frightening like a lot of people have, but I also consume a lot of true crime content, so maybe I'm immune to it?
I mean it's horrible obviously that these events have taken place, and that people have died. But from reviews I've read people talk about how this book scared them and I guess my point it, I wasn't scared. I listened to the audio book as well, and quiet enjoyed that experience, because it reminded me of listening to true crime podcasts.
Solid read. Glad I read it
I mean it's horrible obviously that these events have taken place, and that people have died. But from reviews I've read people talk about how this book scared them and I guess my point it, I wasn't scared. I listened to the audio book as well, and quiet enjoyed that experience, because it reminded me of listening to true crime podcasts.
Solid read. Glad I read it
katesbookcart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
htrevino22's review against another edition
5.0
As someone who loves true crime I was immediately drawn to this book. If you love true crime and devour true crime podcasts like I do, this is the book for you.
The book is a perfect mixture of memoir, retelling of events, and current events. The book is broken into three parts, the third part is not written by Michelle as she passed before she finished it, that being said it is still very well put together and the authors do well to channel her passion and voice into those pages. Michelle’s ability to make nonfiction read and draw you in like a thriller fiction novel usually does is unmatched.
The book is a perfect mixture of memoir, retelling of events, and current events. The book is broken into three parts, the third part is not written by Michelle as she passed before she finished it, that being said it is still very well put together and the authors do well to channel her passion and voice into those pages. Michelle’s ability to make nonfiction read and draw you in like a thriller fiction novel usually does is unmatched.
aguywhopatsdogs's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
hongstoes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I absolutely loved this read and would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime or not. It is so immersive and well-written. My only complaint is that it gets a little slower toward the end of part 2, but I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Stalking, and Violence