Scan barcode
sproutedtofu's review against another edition
4.0
Details of Ridgeway's life were mixed into the narrative, but the spotlight was on the victims and Green River task force.
aliteracja's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, and Child abuse
iamshadow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
jeffprov's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
kellylittlehansen's review against another edition
4.0
What sets Ann Rule apart from other true crime authors is the level of detail and dignity she gives victims. In the Green River Killer cases, the majority of the 70+ victims were sex workers and as such went ignored by the media. Once the lurid spectacle of another PNW serial killer drew reporters in, the victims often faced harsh reporting due to their work. Rule takes the time to share as much of each woman's story and life as possible taking the time to interview parents, call up old childhood friends, and elaborate on the circumstances that brought each woman into this line of work.
Her coverage of Ridgeway is fair, enough to shed light on his psyche, without overemphasizing the villain in the story. When Ridgeway does make appearances, it's mostly in the context of his arrest and sentencing, not a book wholly dedicated to his existence. True crime isn't for everyone, but if you're going to pick up a book, it's helpful to have such a thoughtful and respectful author. It's also wild that the killers in her two biggest books, Green River, Running Red and The Stranger Beside Me, have personal friendships with Rule (Bundy) and many interactions with Rule as a neighbor.
Her coverage of Ridgeway is fair, enough to shed light on his psyche, without overemphasizing the villain in the story. When Ridgeway does make appearances, it's mostly in the context of his arrest and sentencing, not a book wholly dedicated to his existence. True crime isn't for everyone, but if you're going to pick up a book, it's helpful to have such a thoughtful and respectful author. It's also wild that the killers in her two biggest books, Green River, Running Red and The Stranger Beside Me, have personal friendships with Rule (Bundy) and many interactions with Rule as a neighbor.
ksiazkoty's review against another edition
3.0
~3,5
Bardzo rzetelny reportaż, w którym było wszystko co dotyczyło tej sprawy, myślę, że ciężko byłoby dodać tu jakieś informacje. Autorka skupiła się również na ofiarach, nakreślając kim były, co spowodowało, że mogły znaleźć się na drodze mordercy.
Jednak… czy my, jako zwykli czytelnicy potrzebujemy aż tylu szczegółów i informacji? Wydaje mi się, że nie. Było to dla mnie za długie, w pewnym momencie poczułam się po prostu zmęczona. Z resztą pamiętałam bardzo dobrze podcast, który słuchałam o tej sprawie. Trwał około 2 godzin, a ilosc informacji, jakie wyciągnęłam z książki… są porównywalne do tego co zaoferował mi podcast.
Bardzo rzetelny reportaż, w którym było wszystko co dotyczyło tej sprawy, myślę, że ciężko byłoby dodać tu jakieś informacje. Autorka skupiła się również na ofiarach, nakreślając kim były, co spowodowało, że mogły znaleźć się na drodze mordercy.
Jednak… czy my, jako zwykli czytelnicy potrzebujemy aż tylu szczegółów i informacji? Wydaje mi się, że nie. Było to dla mnie za długie, w pewnym momencie poczułam się po prostu zmęczona. Z resztą pamiętałam bardzo dobrze podcast, który słuchałam o tej sprawie. Trwał około 2 godzin, a ilosc informacji, jakie wyciągnęłam z książki… są porównywalne do tego co zaoferował mi podcast.
crystalvaughan0603's review against another edition
5.0
How do you review this book? It's well told. I liked that the author focused plenty of attention on the girls. Ann Rule was superb at the job. She managed to tell the story gently and with humanity
sopharesogood's review against another edition
3.0
A very thorough telling of the events surrounding
the investigation of the Green River Killer. The book is not easy to read, one because of the horrific details of the way too many crimes and two because reading all about the women that were victimised really makes it feel almost too ‚close‘ like you are reading about your neighbour or an old friend.
The way so much time was given to each victim is great as the author gave space to tell their life from many sides and with one big message: being a sex worker does not stop you from being a daughter, a mother, a friend, a human.
This should of course be common sense but I had to put the book aside a few times because I was so furious how this monster thought he was "doing the right thing to clean up the streets" and how many people didn't really care at first because the victims were mainly sex workers. Shocking how the ‚worth‘ of a women was measured this way and sadly still is a lot of times. If I ever read again that people say it was no surprise that there would be disappearances etc because the women were ‚working in a high-risk environment‘ and it was ‚expected/their own fault that they were hurt/killed’ I will scream. (Not the author saying this but the media/people in the 70-90s as documented/described in way too many true crime books/series/documentaries/etc)
Summed up this man is a monster - nothing to add. I‘m glad that the victims families at least got some form of closure (at least regarding the murdered women he confessed to) and that the nightmare of the Green River Killer is over.
the investigation of the Green River Killer. The book is not easy to read, one because of the horrific details of the way too many crimes and two because reading all about the women that were victimised really makes it feel almost too ‚close‘ like you are reading about your neighbour or an old friend.
The way so much time was given to each victim is great as the author gave space to tell their life from many sides and with one big message: being a sex worker does not stop you from being a daughter, a mother, a friend, a human.
This should of course be common sense but I had to put the book aside a few times because I was so furious how this monster thought he was "doing the right thing to clean up the streets" and how many people didn't really care at first because the victims were mainly sex workers. Shocking how the ‚worth‘ of a women was measured this way and sadly still is a lot of times. If I ever read again that people say it was no surprise that there would be disappearances etc because the women were ‚working in a high-risk environment‘ and it was ‚expected/their own fault that they were hurt/killed’ I will scream. (Not the author saying this but the media/people in the 70-90s as documented/described in way too many true crime books/series/documentaries/etc)
Summed up this man is a monster - nothing to add. I‘m glad that the victims families at least got some form of closure (at least regarding the murdered women he confessed to) and that the nightmare of the Green River Killer is over.
baypot's review against another edition
4.0
Our Lady Ann Rule did here what she always did best: give voices and faces to forgotten victims. I hate this cover almost as much as I loved the book.