cbr10bingo…Cannonballer Says
I remember hearing or reading something about this book back in April of this year, because that’s when aggregate DNA from family tree / ancestry sites matched the killer’s DNA to an actual person. I’ve always been intrigued by serial killers, and I’ve been reading true crime books since high school. That’s really what drew me in, Michelle partially wrote this book, then passed away, then her husband and another author finished it, it was released, and then through a totally different process, he was caught.
I know that once I heard about the book, I went to CBR to see if anyone had read it, and how they liked it. I can’t remember which Cannonballer inspired me to read this, so I’m listing two different reviews:
Here’s faintingviolet’s: http://cbr.bgwdesigns.com/2018/03/i-am-actively-choosing-to-be-a-consumer-of-someone-elses-tragedy-so-like-any-responsible-consumer-i-try-to-be-careful-in-the-choices-i-make-i-read-only-the-best-writers-who-are-dogged/
Here’s Jen K’s: http://cbr.bgwdesigns.com/2018/03/a-true-crime-book-and-a-husbands-tribute/
Michelle McNamara’s the one who named him the Golden State Killer, she’s the one who was obsessed enough with his capture that it scared her, and she’s the one who got anniversary presents for two consecutive years from her husband relating to the case. She knew she was obsessed, but she just wanted justice. Unfortunately she died before that happened, but it did happen! My title quote was from the afterword written by her husband Patton Oswalt. It underscored the only important thing in this case – that he was caught.
Michelle researched this case for years, and connected with other civilians, former cops, and others interested in finding the identity of the Golden State Killer. I don’t know if Michelle actually ever considered Joseph James DeAngelo, the man whose DNA matched the rapes and murders committed by the GSK, because she used aliases for her suspects. I am sure however that her interest in the case and the publishing of her book renewed the interest in finding the killer. It was really satisfying to read this book knowing that the bad guy was behind bars. The voice talent was great too, which always aids enjoyment of an audiobook.
He was caught a few weeks after I finished this book and I remember thinking vividly “they got him Michelle”, which was not the reaction I was expecting myself to have. But, I think its because so much of the book was conversational. I’m glad the reading experience holds up knowing that the suspect is in custody.