THE BASIS FOR THE MAJOR 6-PART HBO® DOCUMENTARY SERIES
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR:
Washington Post | Maureen Corrigan, NPR | Paste | Seattle Times | Entertainment Weekly | Esquire | Slate | Buzzfeed | Jezebel | Philadelphia Inquirer | Publishers Weekly | Kirkus Reviews | Library Journal | Bustle
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards for Nonfiction | Anthony Award … | Jezebel | Philadelphia Inquirer | Publishers Weekly | Kirkus Reviews | Library Journal | Bustle
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards for Nonfiction | Anthony Award Winner | SCIBA Book Award Winner | Finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime | Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence
The haunting true story of the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California during the 70s and 80s, and of the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case—which was solved in April 2018.
The haunting true story of the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California during the 70s and 80s, and of the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case—which was solved in April 2018.
Introduction by Gillian Flynn • Afterword by Patton Oswalt
“A brilliant genre-buster…. Propulsive, can’t-stop-now reading.” —Stephen King
For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.
Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Utterly original and compelling, it has been hailed as a modern true crime classic—one which fulfilled Michelle’s dream: helping unmask the Golden State Killer.
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So creepy – if only agencies had shared info he might not have gotten away with all he did.
Parts of the book were “can’t put it down” good, and parts very dry criminology text. The best parts of the book were written by the author, and her writing is stellar. Because she died before the book was completed, others filled in parts of the book and the conclusion, and this writing was not as compelling. One wishes she had lived to see the arrest and charging of a suspect, and what further she would have to say about the frightening and fascinating case. Chilling for me to realize how many places I lived where this killer attacked. Worthwhile read. Necessary read if you want to follow the case of the Golden State Killer.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about the East area Rapists victims and the Quest to capture this individual over many decades!
All the authors research, and writing are phenomenal. Her death in 2016 adds a bit of a tragic note to the book, but knowing the Golden State Killer is behind bars because of her research, makes is a bit better. Great read.
An amazing account of a woman’s obsession to find a killer. Although Michelle McNamara died w years before the Golden State Killer was arrested, her impeccable notes and zeal for finding him are to be applauded. Michelle gives this horrific story some humanity by focusing much of her book on the victims, and the police departments various detective heroes who would not give up on finding this rapist and murderer.
After Michelle’s death, the police arrested Joseph DeAngelo, a former police office and a supermarket distribution warehouse employee. They were able to connect his DNA to the murders and rapes.
#IllBeGoneInTheDark #MichelleMcNamara
True crime written by a true artist of the written word.
The author is a writer’s writer. Her prose is awe-inspiring. The story she is investigating is jaw-dropping. It will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Not to be read alone in the dark.
Did not want to turn the lights off after reading.
I love true crime, but am often disappointed in true crime writers’ ability to put together a story that isn’t overly burdened with unimportant details. This book is so well written, doesn’t go off on unimportant tangents, and captures the terror the Golden State Killer inspired during his years as a serial rapist and later serial killer. Knowing that the author worked with the people who eventually caught the GSK makes it even more compelling, and the fact that she died before the GSK was caught makes her early death even more tragic.
Well-written true crime book. Listened to it on audio; reader did a very good job.
Recommend it in book form or on audio.
Good research, easy to read. I do wish the beginning had been organized differently. I had a hard time jumping around in the time line. It’s amazing how things ended, now I want to see all the pieces and how they fit together. Guess we’ll be waiting until after the trial for all the details.
This was book club selection and while I enjoy reading crime novels i didn’t expect to love this book as much as i did. This reads like a fiction novel and will leave you with a clear appreciation for the horror lurking around all of us who are just trying to live.
Due to the unfortunate circumstances of how the book was finished, it made it hard to read. It was informative
I give it 3 stars
I actually got the book the day before they guy was arrested, so I wound up putting off reading it so I could get as much information about him as possible. The book was still incredibly well written and gripping, though, and knowing his identity didn’t stop me from zipping through this.
Couldn’t put it down.
Haven’t read it yet but the introduction has definitely caught my attention. A must read
Amazing story of an obsession
Wanted to love it, but sadly, it’s overrated.
This was a great book to read! Very scary true story featuring an escalating serial killer’s path.