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Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer--America's Deadliest Serial Murderer
List Price: $26.00 Our Price: $16.38
Hardcover - 28 September, 2004
Free Press
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Author: Ann Rule
ISBN: 0743238516
Number of Media: 1
More books by Ann Rule
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| Hardcover Description Veteran crime writer Ann Rule is uniquely qualified to chronicle the grisly career of Gary Ridgeway, the man convicted of being the "Green River Killer," the most prolific serial killer in American history. Not only is she one of the more successful true-crime authors, but for nearly 20 years, Rule was exceptionally close to the case, reporting on it for a Seattle newspaper, preparing a long-delayed book on the subject, and living within a few blocks of the strip of highway where most of Ridgeway's victims were abducted. In Green River, Running Red, Rule lends unique humanity to the string of murders that haunted the Seattle area throughout the '80s and '90s by exploring the lives of the dozens of young women who fell into prostitution and were ultimately murdered. Similarly, she catalogues Ridgeway's troubled and bizarre life in such a way that the reader becomes uncomfortably familiar with Ridgeway, although it's never truly clear what drove him to commit such heinous crimes. Along the way, she traces the decades-long struggle of the law enforcement officials assigned to the case as they tracked down countless leads, questioned innumerable suspects, and explored multiple theories that came up empty before finally cracking the case through a series of technological advancements and a little luck. But the most disturbing aspect of the Green River killings (named for where the first victims were found) is how they occurred in relatively plain sight, with Ridgeway, seemingly living an unremarkable life, dwelling and working within a few miles of where his lengthy killing spree took place and evading capture for years. Rule skillfully weaves herself into her account, relating the psychic and cultural impact of the case as it evolved, but she never takes the spotlight off Ridgeway, his eventual captors, and the women who died at his hands.--John Moe |
| Reviews From Our Customers
As always, Ann Rule remarkably captures the victim's voice Heard GREEN RIVER, RUNNING READ, the true crime story of America's deadliest serial murderer, by Ann Rule . . . the author, long one of my favorites, had to wait 20 years to write the book until law enforcement authorities captured the Green River killer (named for where the first victims were found).
What's incredible is that he ever was taken into custody . . . a seemingly ordinary man, Gary Ridgeway comes across as a quiet next-door neighbor who managed to hold down a steady job and have a wife and child--and somehow found the time to murder some 48 young women.
This is definitely not a book for everyone, given its subject matter . . . yet that said, it is extremely well-researched and quick reading . . . you'll get a feel for the murdered
women, many of them young prostitutes, as well as for why the investigation took so long to complete . . . you'll also appreciate Michelle Pawk's detached narration.
Digressions ... YUCK! All of Ann's books (I've read this and two others) are well written and obviously well researched through numerous interviews. Thereby lies the problem: The books never seem to "pick up." They contain endless digressions into the past while they pick apart every minor detail of every life. At times I expect to read about the childhood of a victim's milkman.
These endless digressions retard the story's progress. I found myself lost after one such instance.
ANN RULE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS GR,RR was most informative! I have remained a faithful reader of Ann Rule for over two decades. She has never disappointed me! The really scary thing that comes through to me is that such a non descript little man like Ridgeway could get away with all the killing for so many years. He had tremendous luck. He could have made a fortune at the race track with such luck.
The thing that Ann does is that she gives you enough background and information so that you learn. So that you can understand what the police were up against. With Serial Killers the victims can be you, your neighbor, anyone. With Ridgeway, he wasn't even that bright, charming or good looking. He had nothing going for him except luck. He could be the shoe salesman, construction worker or a painter. Anyone. He acted so normal, why would the average person suspect him? The personal experiences and education that Ann has in criminal behavior enables her to be the top True Crime Writer of our time. I couldn't even hazard a guess at how many women have saved themselves from horrific situations because of her books. Thank you Ann Rule for educating us.
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