Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

It's taken me 5 years to finish this audiobook, and I'm still not quite sure why that is. I hate reviewing works that are clearly lives' works, passion projects, and post-humous publications because giving a "meh" review feels like an insult.

In theory, all the pieces are there.

But I think what it is that held this back for me are: 1) The victim's stories being told in a style that comes across as almost fictional. While I understand the stylistic decision, I find it almost disrespectful? Cheapening of the victims' stories? Especially since so much time is spent describing the EAR. I didn't want to hear about his penis or him crying for his mom again. But it happened every time. I don't know. 2) Because of that, I feel like so many stories just blend together and cause the book to lag through the middle and to the end. 3) What I really wanted was less on the actual case and more on Michelle's process. Or the process of all the internet sleuths that helped put this together.

I think that last reason is why I enjoyed the docuseries so much more.

Content Warnings

judassilver's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

srah's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative

4.5

Content Warnings

weird_but_fucking_beautiful's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.5

I appreciate Michelle’s persistence and dogged determination that she devoted in her later life in the pursuit and capture of the man she dubbed the Golden State Killer. The beginning of this book reads like a novel, it is both engrossing and chilling. It is as it gets pieced together by others through her case notes that it loses its grip and became a dry textbook narrative. I mean no detriment to the wonderful folks who stepped in on Michelle’s behalf to finish this book. It just shows what an amazing talent she had for story telling and what a lasting gift Michelle gave the world through her writing. I am a huge proponent for “ the book is always better”, but in this case I enjoyed the HBO series far more.

I’d like to express my deepest condolences to the McNamara/Oswalt families. Michelle would’ve been beyond thrilled to see that the jaws of justice finally snapped shut around the neck of GSK’s reign of terror and anonymity…

somehow though I think she already knows.

Rest easy gentle and sweet lady.

Content Warnings

brynnbmn's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

Content Warnings

bug23's review against another edition

Go to review page

I could not stomach finishing this book. I usually am not as affected by the subject but it’s just too much for me to handle. Not a bad book, just not the book for me

Content Warnings

kkalicky94's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Content Warnings

More...