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"Son" by Jack Olsen. It's about a serial rapist in early 1980s Spokane named Kevin Coe. I don't scare easily, but this book is so vividly written that it creeped me out more than the books I've read about actual murderers. There was a tv movie based on this book starring Elizabeth Montgomery called "Sins of the Mother" (Kevin was a mama's boy, to put it mildly).
I'm a true crime afficianadoand this book was my first thought. I've read probably hundreds but this one resonated.
Jack Olsen is a wonderful true crime writer.
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Originally Posted by Cliffie Many of the books youse have mentioned have stuck with me over the years, but one that really still makes me feel sick just to think about is Darcy O'Brien's Two of a Kind, about the Hillside Stranglers. They were just so depraved and cruel.
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Originally Posted by StuartGotts
I just finished this one on my Kindle and it has a similar effect on me.
I looked it up on Amazon and it doesn't seem to be available for Kindle.
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Originally Posted by Cliffie Many of the books youse have mentioned have stuck with me over the years, but one that really still makes me feel sick just to think about is Darcy O'Brien's Two of a Kind, about the Hillside Stranglers. They were just so depraved and cruel.
I looked it up on Amazon and it doesn't seem to be available for Kindle.
I actually read it on my nook. (I go back and forth between them and mixed it up, sorry)
The scariest one I ever read was Journey Into Darkness by John Douglas. I'd read his previous book, Mindhunter, but the cases in Journey Into Darkness were so disturbing that I didn't sleep well for the next two nights after I finished it. It's just frightening that there are people like this out there, and some of those who committed these murders have never been caught. I lent it to a friend who began to read it and then said, "I can't read this, I just can't" and gave it to her cop boyfriend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliffie Many of the books youse have mentioned have stuck with me over the years, but one that really still makes me feel sick just to think about is Darcy O'Brien's Two of a Kind, about the Hillside Stranglers. They were just so depraved and cruel.
I looked it up on Amazon and it doesn't seem to be available for Kindle.
It's been re-released under the title The Hillside Stranglers, if that helps.
I got into True Crime stories when I worked at the Women's prison. All the female officers were talking about this one book, "Small Sacrifices". It was an Ann Rule book about Diane Downs. If you haven't read it, this is THE Ann Rule book to read.
I also read 'The Burning Bed', about Francine Hughes who was abused for many years by her husband, Mickey. She set his bed on fire with him in it. This was a Michigan case, in 1977. I met her one time when I worked for the local bank. I support her 100% after reading this book.
But the one Ann Rule book that really opened my mind to a Sociopath or Psychopath was "Dead by Sunset". The perpetrator's name was Brad Cunningham. OMG, I still believe EVERY high school and or college should require this guy's case to be part of a mandatory class about the human mind and how it thinks and works.
Back in the 1980's-1990's I worked at 4 of Michigans correctional facilities. I was aware of every crime that happened when the perpetrator was sentenced to prison. I even went to school with some of the convicts.
I was one of those people in SoCal in the 1980s. In reality, I wasn't and most people weren't scared since the probability that one of us would be a victim was a lot less than getting killed in a car crash.
Well I am just getting started in true crime books (I've only read a handful). I mean, I read all of the OJ Simpson books and I guess that qualifies. But I would say the first one that stayed with me was Helter Skelter. I'm still scared of people just walking into my house.
I have the sample of "Stranger Beside Me" on my kindle but it didn't grab me. I don't think I gave it the attention it deserves. I have Truman Capote's book and also the Night Stalker book in my wish list to get.
I love these threads because I read about all the good books to read. Keep the posts coming!!
Anyone who has read Helter Skelter might like the documentary "Six Degrees of Helter Skelter". It's a really well made movie and the host takes you to the locations important to the story with a great narration.
Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule. I will never forget this book. Never.
Last edited by Ketabcha; 09-08-2013 at 12:06 PM..
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