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A review by gretchenplz
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
2.5
It's taken me 5 years to finish this audiobook, and I'm still not quite sure why that is. I hate reviewing works that are clearly lives' works, passion projects, and post-humous publications because giving a "meh" review feels like an insult.
In theory, all the pieces are there.
But I think what it is that held this back for me are: 1) The victim's stories being told in a style that comes across as almost fictional. While I understand the stylistic decision, I find it almost disrespectful? Cheapening of the victims' stories? Especially since so much time is spent describing the EAR. I didn't want to hear about his penis or him crying for his mom again. But it happened every time. I don't know. 2) Because of that, I feel like so many stories just blend together and cause the book to lag through the middle and to the end. 3) What I really wanted was less on the actual case and more on Michelle's process. Or the process of all the internet sleuths that helped put this together.
I think that last reason is why I enjoyed the docuseries so much more.
In theory, all the pieces are there.
But I think what it is that held this back for me are: 1) The victim's stories being told in a style that comes across as almost fictional. While I understand the stylistic decision, I find it almost disrespectful? Cheapening of the victims' stories? Especially since so much time is spent describing the EAR. I didn't want to hear about his penis or him crying for his mom again. But it happened every time. I don't know. 2) Because of that, I feel like so many stories just blend together and cause the book to lag through the middle and to the end. 3) What I really wanted was less on the actual case and more on Michelle's process. Or the process of all the internet sleuths that helped put this together.
I think that last reason is why I enjoyed the docuseries so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Torture, and Stalking