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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
I've got to be honest and say that this book didn't quite live up to the hype for me... and that's coming from a major true crime junkie.
I thought the book was beautifully written (particularly with it being such a brutal topic), and that it was excellently researched and very thorough in the details. Michelle was clearly passionate and relentless... and I completely admire that.
I walked away from the book feeling confused and flustered though. I really did not like how everything was written so out of order with the timeline. Part one just jumps back and forth in time from year to year, leaving it hard for me envision the trail of crimes that the Golden State Killer committed. I read a lot of true crime, and they're typically written in a linear fashion, enabling me to understand what really happened. Not so with this one. I also couldn't keep all the various players straight: detectives and so on.
All in all, I kind of had to slog through this book, reading just a few pages at a time. It was a slow read for me, though the level of research and expertise was very evident. The biggest shame is that Michelle didn't live to see him caught.
I thought the book was beautifully written (particularly with it being such a brutal topic), and that it was excellently researched and very thorough in the details. Michelle was clearly passionate and relentless... and I completely admire that.
I walked away from the book feeling confused and flustered though. I really did not like how everything was written so out of order with the timeline. Part one just jumps back and forth in time from year to year, leaving it hard for me envision the trail of crimes that the Golden State Killer committed. I read a lot of true crime, and they're typically written in a linear fashion, enabling me to understand what really happened. Not so with this one. I also couldn't keep all the various players straight: detectives and so on.
All in all, I kind of had to slog through this book, reading just a few pages at a time. It was a slow read for me, though the level of research and expertise was very evident. The biggest shame is that Michelle didn't live to see him caught.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder
I’m not in a mood or time in my life that I want to read about such a criminal. There is nothing uplifting about murder and rape.
dark
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Gun violence, Torture, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 narrated by Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn, and Patton Oswalt
This one was absolutely captivating to listen to. The passion and care that Michelle McNamara poured into investigating the Golden State Killer and seeking justice for his many victims comes through on every page. Knowing that this book had to be completed from her notes after her sudden passing only added to the weight of the story, and those who worked to finish her vision did a phenomenal job.
Going into this, I had no idea that McNamara was married to comedian Patton Oswalt. His afterword completely wrecked me. Hearing him describe her passion, the loss felt by those closest to her, and his thoughts on the progress in the case and her book was incredibly moving. Having him narrate it himself made that section feel even more personal and emotional. I was sobbing by the end.
The subject matter here is vile, dark, and at times difficult to stomach. It is important to know that going in. But what stood out to me is that while McNamara does not shy away from detailing the horrors of the case, she never loses sight of the victims or their humanity. She writes about them with care and respect, which is something not always handled well in the true crime community.
I also really appreciated the transparency throughout, with editor’s notes explaining how various sections were pieced together from her notes, blog posts, and other sources. It added to the experience and gave me even more respect for what it took to bring this book to life.
Highly recommend this one if you enjoy meticulously researched true crime that blends personal obsession with investigative rigor. Just be prepared, this is a dark and heartbreaking read.
🎧 narrated by Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn, and Patton Oswalt
This one was absolutely captivating to listen to. The passion and care that Michelle McNamara poured into investigating the Golden State Killer and seeking justice for his many victims comes through on every page. Knowing that this book had to be completed from her notes after her sudden passing only added to the weight of the story, and those who worked to finish her vision did a phenomenal job.
Going into this, I had no idea that McNamara was married to comedian Patton Oswalt. His afterword completely wrecked me. Hearing him describe her passion, the loss felt by those closest to her, and his thoughts on the progress in the case and her book was incredibly moving. Having him narrate it himself made that section feel even more personal and emotional. I was sobbing by the end.
The subject matter here is vile, dark, and at times difficult to stomach. It is important to know that going in. But what stood out to me is that while McNamara does not shy away from detailing the horrors of the case, she never loses sight of the victims or their humanity. She writes about them with care and respect, which is something not always handled well in the true crime community.
I also really appreciated the transparency throughout, with editor’s notes explaining how various sections were pieced together from her notes, blog posts, and other sources. It added to the experience and gave me even more respect for what it took to bring this book to life.
Highly recommend this one if you enjoy meticulously researched true crime that blends personal obsession with investigative rigor. Just be prepared, this is a dark and heartbreaking read.
It's sad that Michelle McNamara died before this book could be completed but she never gave up. It's interesting how the Golden State Killer could get away with their crimes for all these years and I hope the research that Ms. McNamara put into her investigation helps bring the killer to justice. Related, I do hope the man they arrested as a suspect this year (2018) is who they've been searching for.