I'll be Gone in the Dark : : one Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle, 364.152 McN
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	364.152 McN	4-week checkout	Due 05-13-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle	4-week checkout	Due 05-09-2024
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / True Crime / McNamara, Michelle	4-week checkout	Due 03-07-2024

"Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by her husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by Michelle's lead researcher and a close colleague [Paul Haynes]."--Amazon.com.
Time line map -- Cast of characters -- Introduction, by Gillian Flynn -- Prologue -- PART ONE: Irvine, 1981 ; Dana Point, 1980 ; Hollywood, 2009 ; Oak Park ; Sacramento, 1976-1977 ; Visalia ; Orange County, 1996 ; Irvine, 1986 ; Ventura, 1980 ; Goleta, 1979 ; Goleta, 1981 ; Orange County, 2000 ; Contra Costa, 1997 -- PART TWO: Sacramento, 2012 ; East Sacramento, 2012 ; The Cuff-links coda ; Los Angeles, 2012 ; Contra Costa, 2013 ; Fred Ray ; The one ; Los Angeles, 2014 ; Sacramento, 2014 ; Sacramento, 1978 -- PART THREE, by Paul Haynes and Billy Jensen -- Afterword, by Patton Oswalt -- Epilogue: Letter to an old man.
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, true crime journalist Michelle McNamara 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. At the time of the crimes, the Golden State Killer was between the ages of eighteen and thirty, Caucasian, and athletic, capable of vaulting tall fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim -- he favored suburban couples -- he often entered their home when no one was there, studying family pictures, mastering the layout. He attacked while they slept, using a flashlight to awaken and blind them. Though they could not recognize him, his victims recalled his voice: a guttural whisper through clenched teeth, abrupt and threatening.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Amazing true story submitted by Pooh3238 on June 17, 2018, 5:44pm I couldn't believe that I hadn't heard of this before reading the book. Michelle Mcnamara is an amazing writer, and when she dies the rest of the book just wasn't the same. Still, this book helped catch the Golden State Killer and it is an amazing true crime drama.

a beautifully written horrifying story submitted by jensinden on July 1, 2018, 9:31am Any fans of true crime will love this book. Not only for the facts and amazing detail, but for the refreshing change of writing style. Michelle paints a picture so vivid, you can picture these neighborhoods in the 1970’s and feel like you’re there. At the same time, this is a terrifying true story that could keep you up at night. Michelle’s final letter to GSK just shows what an amazing investigator she truly was and how close she really was to solving it. The fact that the killer was caught is thanks in no small part to Michelle and this book. Borrow and then go buy!

Well-written, gripping submitted by amandasreel on July 18, 2018, 1:48pm Michelle McNamara did a fantastic job of capturing this story, without being gratuitous with violent details and while trying to maintain the dignity of the victims by being factual and straightforward. This is a must-read for true crime fans.

Good not great submitted by jayzwack on August 11, 2018, 9:38pm I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. I like true crime but this one didn't quite hold my interest throughout.

Don't read in the dark submitted by steveiew on June 14, 2019, 10:43am With the Golden State Killer now in custody this is a fascinating read about the terror he unleashed in California. It was difficult to read at times and often left me spooked. It will be interesting to see how this story develops now that he is in custody.

fascinating submitted by johnbiancke on July 12, 2019, 8:36pm I will never sleep with an opened window again

Great if you love unsolved mysteries submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 17, 2020, 8:41pm (Review written in July 2019) 4/5 stars. My two strongest thoughts as I read this book were (1) I can see how people get caught up in unsolved mysteries (even if some of these folks were a weeeeee bit excessive) and (2) some White people could really put that energy into something more productive.

This is the story of a woman who became obsessed with learning everything she could about the Golden State Killer, and as someone who works with people with trauma, parts of this were a really hard read (she describes, though clearly not in as much detail as she could, stalking, home invasions, terrorizing people, rapes, and murders). It was tremendously well researched and well written, and if unsolved mysteries are your thing, then this is a great book for you. This particular mystery was solved through DNA evidence after the author died, but it was her research and process that were so fascinating and make the book absolutely worth reading despite her not knowing the end of the story.

But really, there are hundreds upon thousands of unsolved Black deaths in this country, videos of police brutality and mistreatment occurring regularly (with the advent of cell phones and body cameras to match the stories that POC have been telling for generations), and studies that back up minority communities’ perceptions of racist mistreatment. The author talks about online communities of people who are obsessed with solving a series of crimes from decades ago. If we could turn that energy toward current events, imagine what could be accomplished!

Absolutely terrifying! submitted by mickplu on July 1, 2023, 11:08am This was one of the most terrifying true crime books that I've ever read. The author goes into as much detail about each rape/murder as possible, gathering the facts from police reports, past news articles, and interviews with the victims. The reader is also educated about true crime blogs and their role in solving cold cases. Fascinating read.