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A review by emilyspex
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Part of me loves true crime, because I have a desire to understand how and why bad things happen to normal people. Another part of me hates true crime, because the genre can easily veer into gross voyeurism. It's a kind of balance that McNamara had to strive for, not only in her writing, but also in her personal life.
This novel is about the GSK, but it's also a window into McNamara's single-minded obsession to find and capture him. The lack of final editing (which couldn't be helped) can come across as meandering or unpolished at times, but ultimately gives the reader a deeper understanding of the writer's psyche and perspective.
As with much true crime, there can be a tendency to blow a bit too much smoke up the asses of police, but overall, it was a compelling read. I would easily recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in the genre.
This novel is about the GSK, but it's also a window into McNamara's single-minded obsession to find and capture him. The lack of final editing (which couldn't be helped) can come across as meandering or unpolished at times, but ultimately gives the reader a deeper understanding of the writer's psyche and perspective.
As with much true crime, there can be a tendency to blow a bit too much smoke up the asses of police, but overall, it was a compelling read. I would easily recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in the genre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Stalking