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Book Review: Green River, Running Red #150Books

May 17, 2014 by Kenna Griffin

The Green River Killer is responsible for the murders of at least 50 women during the 1980s, most of whose bodies he left along the Green River in Washington.

Ann RuleAnn Rule, my favorite true crime author, spent more than two decades researching the killer’s story for her book Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer–America’s Deadliest Serial Murderer.

It seems obvious that she would be interested in the murders, since there were so many, they all were women and some of their bodies were found nearby her home. She also later discovered that the killer attended signings for some of her other books, watching from a distance. How creepy is that?

What was so interesting to me about the murders is how long the killer got away with it. Gary Ridgway killed women for 21 years before finally being caught. His killing spree outlived even some of the detectives assigned to the Green River Task Force, but it didn’t outlast Rule’s curiosity or determination to write a book about the killings when he finally was caught.

As always, Rule does an amazing job of piecing together these women’s stories and attempting to help the reader understand as best they can the efforts police took to find the killer and the true hatred that resulted in his actions.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above (typically those to books) may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I promise that I only recommend products or services I use personally and think will provide you value. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comments

  1. TammyL says

    May 17, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    I’ve only read two true crime works before – Helter Skelter and In Cold Blood. I thoroughly enjoyed them, but as a whole I keep forgetting about the genre. I really should try out this author. Thanks for the recommendation.

    Reply
  2. profkrg says

    May 19, 2014 at 11:41 am

    TammyL  You should try Ann Rule. I really love her writing. The Stranger Beside Me is about her personal relationship with Ted Bundy. They were friends and she was writing about his murders while they were happening. How crazy is that? It’s a great book.

    Reply

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Prof KRG

Prof KRG aims to create an ongoing educational dialogue among media professionals, students and educators.

Please let me know what resources you need or topics you wish you better understood. If I don't know the information, I'm happy to seek out someone who does.

Contact me via email at kennagriffin@gmail.com.

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About Kenna Griffin

I am a mass communications professor, journalist and collegiate media adviser. I teach classes including those on writing, reporting, media law, media ethics, social media marketing, and public relations. I am married, have two children and live in Oklahoma. More about this site's purpose

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