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noesbookishthings's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly well-written for a true crime book. I couldn't put it down. And not overly gruesome. Kind of freaks you out how well Gacy blends into society.
teddereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Child death, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Homophobia, Mental illness, Hate crime, Drug use, Grief, Drug abuse, Death, Blood, Torture, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Biphobia, and Body shaming
pbraue13's review against another edition
3.0
Having experienced "Killer Clown" by Terry Sullivan in audiobook format, I found the storytelling to be elevated, offering a more engaging journey through the chilling details of the famous serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Interestingly, my appreciation for the book extends beyond the lukewarm reviews it has received on Goodreads, where some readers handed out one or two stars.
The audiobook undoubtedly played a significant role in keeping the narrative flowing. The dynamic narration provided a necessary impetus to the story, making it easier to navigate through what could have otherwise been a dry and procedural account of the police's step-by-step process to apprehend Gacy.
However, the writing style does lean towards the dry side, lacking the emotional depth one might expect when delving into such a grim and disturbing subject. The detached narrative, while informative, makes it challenging to connect with the characters on a more personal level. This absence of emotional resonance is a notable shortcoming.
Despite this, "Killer Clown" manages to offer insights into the investigation process that led to Gacy's arrest, shedding light on the intricate details that unfolded behind the scenes. The book also serves as an eye-opener, teaching me things I hadn't known previously about the infamous case.
One poignant aspect that struck me was the empathy I felt for the victims whose bodies were discovered but never identified. The narrative also touched on the survivors who never came forward to the police, revealing a societal context where fear of judgment and potential legal consequences hindered justice. It became apparent that, under different circumstances, Gacy might have been apprehended sooner if societal attitudes had been more accepting.
In conclusion, "Killer Clown" by Terry Sullivan is a mixed bag of commendable audiobook narration, informative content, and a lack of emotional depth. While it falls short in some areas, it succeeds in providing valuable insights into the Gacy case and the societal challenges that may have contributed to delays in justice. If you can overlook its dry narrative style, there's much to glean from this exploration of a notorious chapter in criminal history.
The audiobook undoubtedly played a significant role in keeping the narrative flowing. The dynamic narration provided a necessary impetus to the story, making it easier to navigate through what could have otherwise been a dry and procedural account of the police's step-by-step process to apprehend Gacy.
However, the writing style does lean towards the dry side, lacking the emotional depth one might expect when delving into such a grim and disturbing subject. The detached narrative, while informative, makes it challenging to connect with the characters on a more personal level. This absence of emotional resonance is a notable shortcoming.
Despite this, "Killer Clown" manages to offer insights into the investigation process that led to Gacy's arrest, shedding light on the intricate details that unfolded behind the scenes. The book also serves as an eye-opener, teaching me things I hadn't known previously about the infamous case.
One poignant aspect that struck me was the empathy I felt for the victims whose bodies were discovered but never identified. The narrative also touched on the survivors who never came forward to the police, revealing a societal context where fear of judgment and potential legal consequences hindered justice. It became apparent that, under different circumstances, Gacy might have been apprehended sooner if societal attitudes had been more accepting.
In conclusion, "Killer Clown" by Terry Sullivan is a mixed bag of commendable audiobook narration, informative content, and a lack of emotional depth. While it falls short in some areas, it succeeds in providing valuable insights into the Gacy case and the societal challenges that may have contributed to delays in justice. If you can overlook its dry narrative style, there's much to glean from this exploration of a notorious chapter in criminal history.
brandy_me's review against another edition
4.0
It was pretty good. There was a lot of the book that focused on the trial and a lot of that was detail given in other parts of the book which made it kind of repetitive at times. Overall, it was really entertaining and eerie.
ominouslilraven's review against another edition
4.0
As a Chicagoan, I naturally know about Gacy. He was the cucuy, the reason your parents gave you several warnings about talking to strangers and weird cars in the neighborhood. But, reading this, there’s just so much I didn’t know.
I can see how people can be bored with this but I was fascinated. I recognized so many of the streets, and the subdivisions. The story is very clinical but I also enjoy the play by play.
If you want to know more about Gacy and his last days the depths of his depravity, this book is worth the read.
I can see how people can be bored with this but I was fascinated. I recognized so many of the streets, and the subdivisions. The story is very clinical but I also enjoy the play by play.
If you want to know more about Gacy and his last days the depths of his depravity, this book is worth the read.
lacyk_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars say it all: this book was okay. It was extremely detailed, down to the day by day actions of Gacy and the officers leading up to his arrest. At first, I was hanging on every word, certain it played an important part later. Then I realized: this was just a very detailed, moment by moment account. I found the first two thirds interesting if a little bogged down in details. I was less interested in the trial, though the end of that was quite exciting.
Mr. Sullivan’s first pass on this book ended very strongly. In 2012, he revisited it and added chapters, but I found those to be self-serving and not in the best taste. Except for his shoutout about loving dogs and working with dog rescues. Yeah, that seemed a little misplaced, but I’m thinking the author took the opportunity to add in some autobiographical content.
Overall, this book was a good bit longer than it needed to be, but it was a firsthand account of a truly incredible team. Parts were fascinating, parts were brutal. If you’re into true crime, it is likely worth the read for you.
Mr. Sullivan’s first pass on this book ended very strongly. In 2012, he revisited it and added chapters, but I found those to be self-serving and not in the best taste. Except for his shoutout about loving dogs and working with dog rescues. Yeah, that seemed a little misplaced, but I’m thinking the author took the opportunity to add in some autobiographical content.
Overall, this book was a good bit longer than it needed to be, but it was a firsthand account of a truly incredible team. Parts were fascinating, parts were brutal. If you’re into true crime, it is likely worth the read for you.
raspy_reviews's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
minzzi's review against another edition
I will not give a rating to this book, since it is the real story of a serial killer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Drug use, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Body horror, Death, Child death, Homophobia, Rape, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Grief, and Sexual harassment
gee_clev's review against another edition
3.5
3.5⭐️ based solely on the writing. I cannot rate the story as it is true and devestating
krbeers4's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really interesting, and I learned a lot about Gacy that I never knew or imagined...but it was incredibly monotonous at times. Overall I think the content was intriguing and worth a listen, but not the best performance.