Wednesday, July 10, 2019

I'll Be Gone In the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

I'll Be Gone In the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
by Michelle McNamara
HarperCollins, 2018. 328 pages. Nonfiction

True crime enthusiast? This is your next book! Michelle McNamara was a journalist who became fascinated by the man she dubbed, "The Golden State Killer." Infamous for committing many heinous crimes all over the state of California from 1974 to 1986, this man has eluded capture and identification for almost fifty years. McNamara's debut novel was published posthumously and is currently being adapted into an HBO series. The book takes you through the beginning of her research in 2013 up until her unexpected death in 2016 - at which time she was not finished writing. The book was finished by crime writer Paul Haynes and journalist Billy Jensen. These men were able to put together her manuscripts, interviews, exhaustive research, and detailed notes into a riveting chase for an abhorrent criminal.

The fact that Michelle McNamara wasn't able to see her work come to fruition is heartbreaking to me. This book kept me up late at night, turning page after page until I couldn't keep my eyes open. While reading, I wanted to find The Golden State Killer as much as Michelle did; her passion for justice is almost palpable. The audio book is read by the talented Gabra Zackman and adds an extra layer of depth to an already addicting investigation. Has "The Golden State Killer" been caught? Will he ever? I'll let you decide if you want to look this information up after you finish reading Michelle McNamara's remarkable novel.

LKA

1 comment:

Breanne said...

I was drawn to this book after the capture of "The Golden State Killer" brought attention to Michelle McNamara's work. I was surprised to discover that her writing is completely compelling, drawing the reader into the details of each case described and lending suspense and anticipation to this chilling story. I highly recommend this book for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in this specific case. BHG