This book felt a little all over the place, but I'm assuming some of that has to do with Michelle's death before finishing the book. The other authors even say as much.

That being said, this is a fantastic read on a subject (serial killer) that I knew nothing about. What makes it fascinating is how Michelle wrote it--intertwining her own story with such rare honesty and introspection that it made it hard to put down. The way Michelle writes about others is generous, truthful, and perceptive. To me, it seemed that she had a very real gift for looking at people and figuring out what makes them tick, or what makes them unique, and finding the humanity in those moments. It was very well done.

In fact, the serial killer parts are probably the least interesting parts of the book. I found it fascinating the trails Michelle followed trying to find this person and the magnitude of how many years and lives have been ruined or consumed by one person.

Overall, this is a great book. I wish she had lived long enough to tell the story exactly how she wanted, but this is tragically a reflection of the uncertainty of the future, of life. ( )

I didn't find this book as jaw-dropping brilliant as my coworkers... maybe it would have been easier to follow if I had held the actual book instead of reading the ebook version. I got bogged down with the descriptions of housing developments. The one outstanding part was the attention given to the victims and their stories. It would have been nice if Michelle had lived to see the Golden State Killer caught. ( )

This was an excellent read that fulfilled my true crime reading needs. Most importantly, this book went beyond just the facts of the case and gave insight into the lengthy and involved process that is required to solve these old cases, especially ones that occurred when law enforcement agencies did not necessarily cooperate with each other. This book also showed how easily an armchair detective can get caught up in the information available online. Although, I would not classify Michelle McNamara as an armchair detective. She definitely hit the streets. She worked through the case as an investigator would -- compiling information and reviewing it to see where the information leads. I do wish that she had lived long enough to finish writing this book because I wanted more of her voice and perspective. I do believe that those who finished this book after her death did their best to maintain her voice and objectives when finishing the book.

Full disclosure that I picked up this book because of the link to Patton Oswalt but this book had me hooked from the start as is evidenced by the fact that it took me a couple days to read it. ( )

Absolutely fascinating look at the exhaustive search for the Golden State Killer. It's a little exhausting to read at times, so I can only imagine how it must have been for McNamara. Reading it with the knowledge that he's been caught can be a little frustrating at times - you just want to scream the details at her. It's also very striking how gifted a writer McNamara is, once her colleagues pick up a chapter after her death (sorry guys). Overall, a great read if you can handle the creep factor. And the unbearable unfairness that she died not knowing who he was. ( )

This seemed like a thing I wanted to read, but I can't get into it, and that's probably for the better.

[Half-formed thoughts about white people with anxiety disorders and our domination of the True Crime Industrial Complex go here.]

Absolutely fantastic true crime read! You can feel all the hours spent slogging through thousands of leads for that diamond in the rough. McNamara's writing in the first handful of chapters creates a story focused around the suffering of the victims and their families. She takes care to protect privacy of the grieving families but still impart important details to the reader. Quite a delicate balance to hold.

After her passing, the novel was completed and built from interview transcripts and incomplete chapters. I appreciate that they did not attempt to copy her way of writing, instead focusing on breaking down the loads of facts that can take the search for the elusive killer in many different directions. The true capping point of the book was the letter to the Golden State Killer at the end written by McNamara. Her words are powerful and direct.

As a reader after the announcement of the capture of the alleged killer, it was unsettling to read about the methods she used realizing the exact same process is what eventually brought justice to lives of victims and their families. All and all a really good read.
( )

i am not one to read true crime. The story of the write appealed to me more than the crime story. All the work she put into her book and research I felt did have an impact on keeping the crimes in the minds f the people who did solve this. ( )

A really well written book. Be prepared because there is some serious bad shot that goes down. Not for the faint of heart. ( )

I've never read a true crime book before and to be honest I don't know that I ever will again. There are a few reasons for that - the first being is that Michelle McNamara did such a phenominal job with this book that bar has been set pretty high. Such a gifted writer. The other is that I normally read at night and come to find out true crime scares the hell out of me in the dark when everyone has gone to sleep. I'm glad I didn't dive into this before knowing that the killer had been caught. That would have left me frustrated and probably more frightened. A really great read that left me satisfied and needing a break from non-fiction for a bit. ( )

The Golden State Killer was one I had never heard of before hearing of this book. I heard about it on booktube when it was first published and so many people I follow were reading it. This true crime book was not in chronological order which threw me off at times. I wonder if it would've been more effective that way, but the way the novel was presented (which almost seemed to be in random order) allowed the author to showcase her immense knowledge and obsession with this sinister man. The first line of the prologue was by far my favorite: "That summer I hunted the serial killer at night from my daughter's playroom". This line offered insight into how deeply Michelle McNamara was invested in finding this killer.

Things I loved: there were so many details about this (at the time) unknown man's life, it was really interesting to compare what they know about the killer now that he has been identified as Joesph DeAngelo and what they thought about him then, references to a few other books on forensic science and the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer

Things I didn't love: many of the chapters endly abruptly (which makes sense as the author died will writing it and her researchers finished it for her)

There were over 50 rapes believed to be committed by this man. I lost count of how many were covered in this book, but definitely not all of them. I feel like there could have been more (and probably would have been more if the author was still living) details and cases covered.

I did not read this book as quickly as I could've partially due to schoolwork getting the best of me. After all, finals begin 3 days from the time I am writing this review. Additionally, this book holds some horrifying and gruesome information within. I feel that this is to be expected when reading about a serial rapist turned killer, but it could become quite disturbing at times. As someone interested in true crime and forensics, I really enjoyed this book. ( )

I don’t think I would have been able to read this before the GSK was finally arrested. This can be a tough read at times. I definitely was checking my windows more while I was reading this.

The writing is outstanding, and it is very clear how close she was to finding him. It was only a matter of time. This book is one of a kind and an excellent read. I think it might be the best book I have read in 2018. ( )

Totally lives up to the hype! ( )

Despite its promising premise, the book falls short in delivering a compelling narrative. The writing style is disjointed and lacks coherence, making it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. The excessive use of irrelevant details and tangents further detracts from the overall flow of the book. ( )

This is definitely one of the best written true crime books I’ve ever read. It’s so touching how so many people contributed to the book’s completion. Michelle McNamara was such a talented writer and selflessly dedicated to finding this monster. I believe, without question, the Golden State Killer wouldn’t have been caught without Michelle’s work. ( )

Oh boy. My anxiety was heightened while reading this book. I kept checking doors, locking windows, and freaking out someone was watching me. I can only imagine how those living in Sacramento felt as these crimes were happening. (It also would have been SO different in the media age we live in now!) I felt like I was in an episode of Criminal Minds or Law and Order: SVU.

Michelle was a fantastic writer. I felt her passion, her drive....how this case drove her. I can only imagine the anxiety and stress she had . I barely slept while reading I'll Be Gone in the Dark. Writing it had to have been a whole different story.

Facts and incidents did blend together. There were too many details every once and a while. But reading this NY Times Bestseller did "engage" me. ( )

https://sravikabodapati.blogspot.com/2023/05/ill-be-gone-in-dark-by-michelle.htm... ( )

Excellent articulate reader & well-written book. The story covers the evidence in a large series of gruesome unsolved crimes. ( )

Excellent articulate reader & well-written book. The story covers the evidence in a large series of gruesome unsolved crimes. ( )

Michelle McNamara is an amateur sleuth and a professional writer who becomes obsessed with solving the Golden State Killer mystery. Unfortunately, she dies shortly before the killer/rapist is found, but she left parts of this book, and her researchers and editors helped bring it to fruition. I like true crime, but there was a certain disjointedness (and worse a lack of suspense) to the story given the author didn't get the opportunity to bring her vision to fruition. Also, the way the book was constructed made it a bit hard to follow . . .there were quite a number of different investigators and following what each one did and how each contributed to solving the crime wasn't as clear as it could have been. Bottom line, the development of DNA technology was the real winner in this story as it tied the many crimes together definitively and ultimately lead to the resolution of the story. I felt saddened that this woman who worked so hard to move the case forward was unable to see her work (and that of many others) completed and the Golden State Killer behind bars. ( )

It's soooo good reading this book now that they got the fucker because that makes it so much more satifying. Especially the ending. ESPECIALLY THE ENDING.

Actually, I was wondering if the book would've been as good if it had published after the arrest, but I'm not sure it would've been. I think the way they are so sure he's gonna get caught and then that happening works much better than if it had been published afterwards and then being written all "well, we always knew, we promise". Now we know that they knew. They were right.

The book itself is amazing of course. It combines some of my favorite things, which is true crimes and stories about obsession. I love it when someone gets this obsessed with something and writes a book about it, it totally shines through and I can relate so hard (see: why The Expedition is one of the best books I've ever read).

Sooo if you have the lest curiosity about this case, you gotta read it. It doesn not feel incomplete, despite Michelle not finishing, and, as I said, him not getting caught until after it's release. It's still amazing. ( )

I'll admit, I put off reading this book because I wasn't sure what to expect from a true crime read. In the past, I've found books on the subject to be dry, more textbook than immersive story. Michelle was a gifted writer. This is a must read if you are at all interested in real life 'how to catch a killer' type content.

This book flows in an effortless manner that has you discovering not only the facts about the case, but also the mind set for the people that research these type of cases. It was fascinating on so many levels. The lives the Golden State Killer touched, and the way Michelle was able to get people to open up to here, all enthralling. This case shaped California and DNA forensics.

I found it fascinating to watch her profile unfold, then be able to compare it to the real person behind the crimes. How much simpler of a life he lead. The fact that he had been entangled with the law but somehow escaped the DNA link up they needed to close the case.

I don't know if all of the versions of this book have been updated with the items after Patton's afterword, once the killer was caught, but if your version doesn't have them. I highly recommend seeking out a version that does. It gave a lot more emotional insight into the aftermath.

It's easy for the police to say, "this book didn't help solve the crime." They don't want to create more Michelle's. But it's clear in reading this book, that her dedication, and pieces on this case kept it alive. While it's reasonable to say that the DNA link was always going to be discovered, as those genealogy sites were bound to be the next step in catching criminals, I don't think it's as easy to admit that without her constant discussion on this case, it wouldn't have been the one selected to pursue in the sea of DNA matches genealogy is bringing to light.

How many other serial rapists are still uncaught because they don't have a fancy nickname or a slew of couch sleuths looking into their cases? More than any of us realize, I'm sure. Cold cases are abundant, dedicate minds like Michelle's, keep the hope of finding the killer alive.

TW: While the crimes such as rape, and murder are obviously discussed in the book. I also wanted to warn that victim statements, and emotional mindsets are also throughout the story. Michelle lays it out in a respectful manner, but if you are sensitive to these topics, know they are major aspects of the book. ( )

I really enjoyed most of this novel. I listened to the audiobook but I think I should have read it because there was so much information to take in. I felt like I should have been taking notes the whole way through just to make complete sense of everything. Even though this novel was a bit laboursome, I was completely blown away by the intelligence and determination of the author. Her writing when not simply listing facts was wonderful. It is unfortunate that she passed away before seeing the Golden State Killer behind bars. I intend to learn more on this subject and hope to read more of her writing in the future. I recommend this novel but you have to be in the right mood for it and be prepared to read and reread certain passages. Taking notes wouldn't hurt so you can get the full effect. ( )

4.5 stars rounded up.

Wrote a longer review for C-Spot Reviews but here's the gist: I enjoyed this book so much. There were times when I felt overwhelmed by all the information, names, and dates but by halfway through, I didn't want to stop listening. (I think this might have been easier to read with a physical copy or an ebook. Highlighting would have been helpful.)

This is more than just a true crime book (one without graphic violence and crime scene descriptions), it's a story about the author and her obsession.

I absolutely recommend.

https://cspotreview.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/cheri-reviews-ill-be-gone-in-the-da... ( )

choppy, disjointed, goes nowhere ( )

I'll admit I took a hiatus while reading this. A long hiatus. Okay, a year.
For those unaware, the *principal* author, Michelle McNamara, died while still in the process of writing the book. Obviously this affected the final outcome.
The book is compiled into different sections in terms of writing. First come the sections written and completed by McNamara, then come incomplete written portions of text written by McNamara, followed finally by Billy Jensen, Paul Haynes, and Michelle's husband, Patton Oswalt, summing up everything and speaking about McNamara.
That last section is the problem. This book is about the Golden State Killer. Not about McNamara. Although McNamara did go into detail about her issues being so deep into the GSK case, she didn't make the story about her. The story was about finding the person who committed horrific crimes against other humans.
The text that is McNamara going through the case information, interviewing the detectives who had worked or were actively working the cold case, interviewing victims or family of the victims, THAT was so interesting. I raced through those portions of text. However it's when the story changed to being about McNamara that I was left with an unsavory taste in my mouth.
And of course, that comes on the heels of these friends of the author trying to pick up the pieces of her life's work and prepare it for publishing, all while still grieving her loss. McNamara may have wanted this book to be different. Unfortunately that mystery will remain. ( )