Title: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
Author: Michelle McNamara
Narrator: Gabra Zachman, Gillian Flynn – introduction, Patton Oswalt – afterword
Published: February 2019, Harper Perennial /HarperAudio
Format: Paperback, 368 pages / Audio: 10 hours 7 minutes
Source: Personal copy – both book & audio
Summary:
Features new material on the Golden State Killer’s case and an updated afterword by Patton Oswalt.
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.
My thoughts: Lately I have been dabbling in true crime and I knew that if there was one book I had to read, it was Michelle McNamara’s. This was a gripping, chilling, haunting book but I was totally captivated by it and I’m so glad that in the end, this guy was caught, though I really wish Michelle had been alive to see it.
I admit, I didn’t really know much about this investigation so this book was completely fascinating and made more so by Michelle’s utter obsession with it. I really liked how Michelle balanced the details of her research with her own obsession and how it all started – what led to this obsession in the first place. This kept the book from being too bogged down in any one direction. I also loved learning about the different research methods that the different researchers and investigators put forth.
This book really pulls you in and you feel as if you are right there in the middle of the investigation with Michelle. Her passion really comes alive on the pages. It truly is heartbreaking that she did not live to see the capture of the killer, to see all her hard work come to fruition.
Audio thoughts: This audio was amazing. First, Gillian Flynn pulls you in with her introduction and then Gabra Zackman does a great job telling the story – she calm voice really kept me from freaking out! And let’s not forget Patton Oswalt – his afterword is the most fitting ending.
I love true crime, but I've never listened to one on audio. I think I'll check this one out. Thanks, Kristin!
I knew a little bit about this case and then I watched a documentary of the making of this book and wow what a story! It is so sad that Michelle MacNamara wasn't able to see it published but what a testament to her that there was so much of a push to get the book published posthumously. I definitely need to read this one.