Reviews tagging 'Violence'

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

122 reviews

wandering_canuck's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

Although this book pulled me in from page 1, it lost me about midway through. Though McNamara was obviously thorough in her research, I found my mind wandering throughout the second half. To be fair, this book was cobbled together by other writers after McNamara's early demise, so one can't judge it too harshly. I, of course, wanted the book to end with the capture of the Golden State Killer but, alas, McNamara didn't live long enough to witness his arrest and conviction. Though well written, the test of a great book for me is whether I would recommend it to others. Sadly, this one falls short of the mark. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder

cardigann's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

4.75

This is an incredibly powerful and respectful piece of true crime journalism, one that led to real life impact and justice. I wish she’d lived to see the impact of her work, to finish this book with the true finality only she could’ve given it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

dejasquietplace's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I'll Be Gone in the Dark is a tense investigative recounting of the Golden State Killer's horrific crimes and the obsessive search for him by a few very dedicated people. It delves well into the circumstances of every rape and murder attributed to him, with a focus on the victims, never once straying into tactless humor about the situation, portraying it as it was-- almost beyond words. While a couple parts could meander a little, I enjoyed pretty much every minute of McNamara's writing. It's obvious how dedicated she was to the case.
What lingers large over the book that gives it an even sadder air is the knowledge that the GSK was found through ancestry DNA only a couple short years after the author's passing. And of course, the answer is the most boring, obvious, and gut-wrenching one: he was a cop. I had a distinct melancholy while listening to the audiobook, knowing she would never get to see him served justice, although the victims' remaining families do, thankfully. This is a great read that I would recommend to anyone interested in a thorough history of a true monster in the dark, written maturely and unflinchingly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual assault

flygon's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Violence, Blood, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking

ghost_rider's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

4.0

Extensively, painstakingly researched and well-written. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

mirandahems's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Stalking, Confinement, Torture, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, Rape, Body horror, Death, and Emotional abuse

jrd622's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

booksandmarvel's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Death, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Stalking, and Physical abuse

probablytoolate's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Stalking

bethboo's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

2.0

This is the story of a true crime junkie becoming obsessed with a serial rapist and murderer. To the point that she worked with detective from the cases, knew all the sordid details, and made several attempts at naming a suspect. She died before she could finish her book or catch the guy, so the author put together her story.

This book kind of solidifies my opinion about weird true crime junkies. Look man, I get it. It's morbidly interesting and makes you feel a little adrenaline. It's all so mysterious and violent that it feels separate from real life. I've been there, I've listened to true crime podcasts and watched the youtube videos. But at some point you have to realize that this is weird and those events truly happened to someone and that you, a random person, is not the "key to the case". You're just consuming trauma-porn of the worst day of someone's life. Like if you can't be self aware, then wtf. This lady let it take over her entire life. 

I thought the book was well written and I thought the case was well laid out, thought I wish we hadn't focused on the lady obsessed with this guy rather than the victims. I feel like we really skipped over a lot of women, like they were just pins on a map. I'd never heard of this guy before and I hate to think that all those women had to live through such a horrid experience. Their safety had to be shattered so thoroughly. And I can't imagine you being married to one of those women and having to see someone you love so much be hurt like that. It's horrible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexual violence, Violence, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Blood, Rape, and Murder