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xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book is on The Last Podcast On The Left suggested reading list. Richard Ramirez was given several names by the media while he was active in California. The name that stuck was The Night Stalker. It is a creepy name for a creepy guy. Philip Carlo put in several years of research and interviews to present this book in a factual manner, and I believe he did a good job of it. We get to know more about Richard the man, instead of the evil entity that struck fear in the heart of Californian's everywhere in that time period. Richard was witness to several violent events, his upbringing was poor, his adult life was poor. The parts of the book that led up to the trial were extremely interesting- his life, the murders, the police work. The parts of the book that covered the trial were fairly tedious, but the actual trial was also probably that way for those who participated in it. You can only sit and listen to lawyers argue back and forth so long before you want to run screaming, I'd imagine. It is also interesting to me that so many women were fawning over this man, who they know was a cold blooded killer. I'd like to know what goes on in their minds just as much as the murderer.
lalanier's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of feels weird to say and rate this read as I "really liked" it, so I'm comfortable with "like."
I read it in hopes of maybe learning some more details, which I feel I kind of did and compared this to the Night Stalker series.
I still believe the nature of these kinds of books are very sensationalized, and wish that weren't so, but also often find myself looking into these kinds of murderers nonetheless. Not in the groupie kind of way, that shit is so fucked.... but the psychological/behavioural kind of way. And it says something that America has had so many, I mean have you seen the wikipedia?? In addition to mass shooters.
This also touched a bit close to home because I had family living in Southern California during the time of his crimes, but most importantly my mother and my older sister who was born in 1970s, and it put things in a slightly different perspective as I was reading it. I wasn't born until the mid 1980s and thus alive in California during his trial. Cue Twilight Zone theme song, though not really. Anyway this is more of a record for myself than an actual review. I will say that I think Carlo did a good job documenting all this though.
I read it in hopes of maybe learning some more details, which I feel I kind of did and compared this to the Night Stalker series.
I still believe the nature of these kinds of books are very sensationalized, and wish that weren't so, but also often find myself looking into these kinds of murderers nonetheless. Not in the groupie kind of way, that shit is so fucked.... but the psychological/behavioural kind of way. And it says something that America has had so many, I mean have you seen the wikipedia?? In addition to mass shooters.
This also touched a bit close to home because I had family living in Southern California during the time of his crimes, but most importantly my mother and my older sister who was born in 1970s, and it put things in a slightly different perspective as I was reading it. I wasn't born until the mid 1980s and thus alive in California during his trial. Cue Twilight Zone theme song, though not really. Anyway this is more of a record for myself than an actual review. I will say that I think Carlo did a good job documenting all this though.
eponafyrefly's review against another edition
2.0
I have to admit I did not finishe this. Made it about halfway through. Though the subject matter is interesting, I found the writing style overly sensational and generally poorly crafted.
rheannachristine's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, well written. It's a bit graphic so be prepared. In my opinion it is one of the best written true crime books out there.
mouwuol's review against another edition
3.0
the cringiest serial killer.
He’s seen as the coolest, most bad ass, attractive serial killer but he is so cringe and I get second hand embarrassment from him.
he’s like “ah shoot me now, I don’t want to go to jail pls mr jailer, just kill me. I want to die“ but also he’s always like “pls don’t kill me please I want to live in prison, no death sentence pls :((( omg I don’t deserve this :(“
Dude is weird. Glad he is dead!
Died at age 53 but he deserved to die earlier as his prison time was actually quite pleasant to him because of all the insane women who sent him nudes and letters, so much so that he had no room in his cell for all of them so he had to get people to put them into storage for him.
He should’ve had a worse prison sentence.
He’s seen as the coolest, most bad ass, attractive serial killer but he is so cringe and I get second hand embarrassment from him.
he’s like “ah shoot me now, I don’t want to go to jail pls mr jailer, just kill me. I want to die“ but also he’s always like “pls don’t kill me please I want to live in prison, no death sentence pls :((( omg I don’t deserve this :(“
Dude is weird. Glad he is dead!
Died at age 53 but he deserved to die earlier as his prison time was actually quite pleasant to him because of all the insane women who sent him nudes and letters, so much so that he had no room in his cell for all of them so he had to get people to put them into storage for him.
He should’ve had a worse prison sentence.