Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark
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5 stars. I knew it would be good. But I didn't expect to walk away completely awe-inspired and dumbstruck by Michelle McNamara's approach to such an incredible, sad story. She's a FANTASTIC writer and completely humble. She's a charming, relatable obsessive with a clear, true voice - a voice I will cling to, as a member of the Wikipedia generation and true crime fanatic. Her story is sad but invigorating; the type that will make you sit back and say WOW.
The case itself is fascinating - not just the study of a a man who enters homes and terrorizes couples, but the study of his methods, his victims, his hunters plus the tangible and intangible impacts of his crimes. We as readers are treated to a sort of sociological painting, including info about what California was like in the 70s and 80s, tidbits about interrogation techniques, and other delicious moments about amateur crime fighting.
It has all the elements of a great true crime book: juicy details, sinister quotes, hardened detectives, boxes of evidence, and a frank narrative. But it also, in a way I've possibly never encountered before, honors the victims - the 50+ victims of this monster. And it acknowledges the author's personal investment with endearing threads of first person storytelling. I couldn't put it down.
I'm sure thousands of readers feel this way, and perhaps it's cliche to say, but Michelle McNamara is my type. Her dogged pursuit of answers, coupled with her determination to tell the story in the right way, warms my heart. She's sheepish, but not sheepish enough to stop; like many of us experience that drive to hit the return button one more time. This book was about him, but I can't stop thinking about her. It's a must-read for true crime fans, but also for fans of the chase, the hunt, the clues, and good people doing tough jobs.
It's totally heartbreaking that Michelle never saw a solution to her mystery. But we can revel in the fact that her legacy is underscored by a significant contribution to the investigation. She left behind, among many things, an instant classic.