A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book is one of the best true crime novels I have read., 31 Jan 1998
The courage of these three brave women personifies the plight of American women in a society of preditors.

Sensational story about our courts accomidating killers., 22 Jan 1998
It is mind boggeling that three women are standing up to the Florida Supreme Court. A man who killed 9 women and raped women and children shouldn't be taking up so much time and money. Every time I remembered the story was true, I'm enraged. Still I couldn't put it down. Jane Bowen

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book is one of the best true crime novels I have read., 31 Jan 1998
The courage of these three brave women personifies the plight of American women in a society of preditors.

Sensational story about our courts accomidating killers., 22 Jan 1998
It is mind boggeling that three women are standing up to the Florida Supreme Court. A man who killed 9 women and raped women and children shouldn't be taking up so much time and money. Every time I remembered the story was true, I'm enraged. Still I couldn't put it down. Jane Bowen

Well Done!, 25 Aug 2006
When I read the first quarter of this book, I was sickened beyond belief as to what these 2 men had done to this innocent girl. I had almost decided not to read anymore, but I felt compelled to find out what happened to them. The author did such a good job of describing the victum and the corrupt legal system that seems to defend savage criminals, while the loved ones of the victims are forced to suffer through years of legal stalling by the defense. I couldn't sleep well at night for a while after reading this book! Steve Jackson did a great job of bringing to life the events that led up to this crime. I also learned a lot about other brutal crimes and again how the defense attornies are allowed to spend millions of tax payer money to defend brutal murderers. Steve Jackson-Well Done!!

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book is one of the best true crime novels I have read., 31 Jan 1998
The courage of these three brave women personifies the plight of American women in a society of preditors.

Sensational story about our courts accomidating killers., 22 Jan 1998
It is mind boggeling that three women are standing up to the Florida Supreme Court. A man who killed 9 women and raped women and children shouldn't be taking up so much time and money. Every time I remembered the story was true, I'm enraged. Still I couldn't put it down. Jane Bowen

Well Done!, 25 Aug 2006
When I read the first quarter of this book, I was sickened beyond belief as to what these 2 men had done to this innocent girl. I had almost decided not to read anymore, but I felt compelled to find out what happened to them. The author did such a good job of describing the victum and the corrupt legal system that seems to defend savage criminals, while the loved ones of the victims are forced to suffer through years of legal stalling by the defense. I couldn't sleep well at night for a while after reading this book! Steve Jackson did a great job of bringing to life the events that led up to this crime. I also learned a lot about other brutal crimes and again how the defense attornies are allowed to spend millions of tax payer money to defend brutal murderers. Steve Jackson-Well Done!!

Emotional, but ultimately inspiring, 19 Jun 2006
I recently bought this book as I was short of things to read and promptly read it within a day of starting. I am not normally a particularly emotional person, but it had me in floods of tears. Now, over a month later, I still can't get it out of my head. I cannot even begin to describe how much I admire Alison, and her courage astounds me. Her story (which thankfully has a happy ending) broke my heart but at the same time it was fascinating to read her views on her experience and how she can tell it so matter of factly. Modest does not begin to cover it. Alison is an amazing woman - I think very few people would be able to experience what she did, and go on to lead a happy life (since the book was published she gave birth to a baby son - which, given what she went through, is amazing in itself). I was thrilled too that the book ended with her finding happiness with her husband - No one deserves it more.

GUT WRENCHING STUFF, 07 Feb 2006
A stand against crime is a stand against evil. This woman was in the cluthces of evil and survived, proving we all stand a chance of survival in our everyday lives.

A truly remarkable story of courage, 01 May 2003
I was told about this book from a South African pal and I was very interested. I was not disappointed I started on Monday morning and finished on Tuesday night. What immpressed me most was Alison's modesty saying that she was just an ordinary person and how she does not hate her attackers. A inspiring tale of bravery from a very inspiring woman

Truely Amazing., 24 Jan 2003
This is the most amazing story of determination, strength, hope and faith I have ever read.
This woman went through a terrible time. The book does not mince words as to what happened to Alison, it is very gaffic in it explanations of her injuries, but it has to be to describe the sheer extent of it all.
This is a story that will SHOCK you, AMAZE you and make you feel such admaration for this young woman.

Written very well, it tells the story (TRUE STORY) of Alison, a young girl, raped and stabbed and left for dead, her head was barely attatched to her body! Yes really!
You have to read this, theres more, and you really can't put it down.
A real inspirational book.

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book is one of the best true crime novels I have read., 31 Jan 1998
The courage of these three brave women personifies the plight of American women in a society of preditors.

Sensational story about our courts accomidating killers., 22 Jan 1998
It is mind boggeling that three women are standing up to the Florida Supreme Court. A man who killed 9 women and raped women and children shouldn't be taking up so much time and money. Every time I remembered the story was true, I'm enraged. Still I couldn't put it down. Jane Bowen

Well Done!, 25 Aug 2006
When I read the first quarter of this book, I was sickened beyond belief as to what these 2 men had done to this innocent girl. I had almost decided not to read anymore, but I felt compelled to find out what happened to them. The author did such a good job of describing the victum and the corrupt legal system that seems to defend savage criminals, while the loved ones of the victims are forced to suffer through years of legal stalling by the defense. I couldn't sleep well at night for a while after reading this book! Steve Jackson did a great job of bringing to life the events that led up to this crime. I also learned a lot about other brutal crimes and again how the defense attornies are allowed to spend millions of tax payer money to defend brutal murderers. Steve Jackson-Well Done!!

Emotional, but ultimately inspiring, 19 Jun 2006
I recently bought this book as I was short of things to read and promptly read it within a day of starting. I am not normally a particularly emotional person, but it had me in floods of tears. Now, over a month later, I still can't get it out of my head. I cannot even begin to describe how much I admire Alison, and her courage astounds me. Her story (which thankfully has a happy ending) broke my heart but at the same time it was fascinating to read her views on her experience and how she can tell it so matter of factly. Modest does not begin to cover it. Alison is an amazing woman - I think very few people would be able to experience what she did, and go on to lead a happy life (since the book was published she gave birth to a baby son - which, given what she went through, is amazing in itself). I was thrilled too that the book ended with her finding happiness with her husband - No one deserves it more.

GUT WRENCHING STUFF, 07 Feb 2006
A stand against crime is a stand against evil. This woman was in the cluthces of evil and survived, proving we all stand a chance of survival in our everyday lives.

A truly remarkable story of courage, 01 May 2003
I was told about this book from a South African pal and I was very interested. I was not disappointed I started on Monday morning and finished on Tuesday night. What immpressed me most was Alison's modesty saying that she was just an ordinary person and how she does not hate her attackers. A inspiring tale of bravery from a very inspiring woman

Truely Amazing., 24 Jan 2003
This is the most amazing story of determination, strength, hope and faith I have ever read.
This woman went through a terrible time. The book does not mince words as to what happened to Alison, it is very gaffic in it explanations of her injuries, but it has to be to describe the sheer extent of it all.
This is a story that will SHOCK you, AMAZE you and make you feel such admaration for this young woman.

Written very well, it tells the story (TRUE STORY) of Alison, a young girl, raped and stabbed and left for dead, her head was barely attatched to her body! Yes really!
You have to read this, theres more, and you really can't put it down.
A real inspirational book.

'The' First Book To Read After Being Raped, 11 Mar 2007
Firstly-being raped is 'the' most disgusting crime that a 'man' can commit upon a woman.I was raped 17 years ago by a 'man' I knew and who I thought was a friend.At the time Acquaintance/Date rape was not as recognised back in 1990 as it is now and for many many years I suffered in a silent turmoil, only recently being diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which has affected my life at times beyond repair.I read this book 16 years AFTER I was raped-mainly out of curiosity-but it has helped me in a subconscious way to realise, believe and come to terms with that my being raped was not my fault (which my parents lead me to believe was for many years and so fuelled my depression).Although Ms Matsakis has not herself been a victim of this crime (she is a PTSD counsellor) she writes with a 'knowledge' that feels as though she has-she says things that I have only ever verbally experienced with other (female) rape victims and because of this the content did at times make me cry-mainly I suppose my way of finally coming to terms with what happened to me.I originally gave this book 4/5 stars because there are a few things I don't agree with (e.g.the contruction of a 'safe space' in a corner of a room-your whole house should be a safe space not just a corner) but I changed it to 5 because it is only a small piece when compared to the whole of the book content.I do advise this book being 'the' first book a victim of this crime reads before tackling anything else.I don't think you will be disappointed.

A gripping read, 21 May 2008
I found the start of the book where Alice describes the rape quite disturbing but gripping at the same time. I wanted to keep reading to find out how someone could possibly recover from such an ordeal.

Like others have said I felt like the book lost momentum in the latter chapters. After her attacker was brought to justice and Alice left University it kind of felt like the story finished. I suppose this is inevitable as it was a true story and not a piece of fiction with drama right up until the end.

I think it's worth reading for anyone to gain an insight into how a victim of such a crime might be feeling.

Gripping but a bit disjointed, 27 Apr 2008
Like some other reviewers I found this book gripping, reading it in 1 sitting, and was full of admiration for her strength and courage, but found the later sections of the book of how her life drifted into drug use and general lack of direction very disjointed and without sufficient explanation - I think she should either have ended it sooner or kept it for a second volume.
I also initially did not like the way the book started just like the Lovely Bones i.e. with the awful event itself - a bit unoriginal I thought to myself at the time - but I suppose I can understand the logic of starting with the central event.

Disappointing , 26 Aug 2007
This book is quite different to the excellent lovely bones. Although this book is also very well written & hard to put down, I found it very hard to read as a person who has also been attacked. Alice Sebold let herself become a rape victim, rather than survivor. I thought this ruined the book for me a little, especially in the way she seems to have judged her friend & thus other girls who have suffered this hideous crime.

Harrowing but worthy of a read., 06 Aug 2007
Had mixed feelings about reading this considering the actual topic but I have to say although very harrowing in parts I found it a compelling read. Sometimes I could barely come to terms with the fact that the story contained an actual factual account of something that had happened to another human being. How she could actually face going back to write about what happened to her is beyond me. What a brave lady Alice is. Glad to say I have read, having heard so much about this book, but not one I would want to read again.


Great read though disturbing, 24 Apr 2007
Totally different to "The Lovely Bones." This is the true story of the author Alice Seabold's rape and the terrible effect it had on her life and those around her. I can't begin to imagine going through something like this, I found the book disturbing but also quite unputdownable.

Pointless, 04 Nov 2008
There is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from this opportunistic waste of paper and ink - which has not been published or transmitted by any reliable source of news on this tragic story.
Elizabeth and her 'cellar children' have thankfully refused to nourish the voyeuristic desires of the media - the only interviews they have given were to the police and health care professionals.
The claim by the author of this book that the 'full story' is revealed are blatantly untrue.
Personally, I hope that Elizabeth and her children are left in peace to reconstruct their lives and never succumb to the pressure or financial enticements to disclose what is and should remain private.

an unbelievably tragic story.., 20 Nov 2008
If it was fiction you would not find it in the least bit credible. The author tells the story with a huge amount of empathy to the victims, and as a consequence the self serving drivel of Kennedy is important to the book as a whole in that we can feel free to almost ridicule him and his pathetic excuses, therefore leaving us free to be outraged, as we all should be, at the nasty, callous murder of a child,and his self-fulfilling excuses.Bad child-hood. blah blah blah!YEAH, ME TOO...DOESN'T MAKE ME DO THAT! .And as to the repercussions of that night ... I will not spoil the story but it is important to understand who the real victims are.And for them it never ends. The author conveys this admirably.

THE DARKEST NIGHT INDEED..., 08 Jun 2008
In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyses. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book is one of the best true crime novels I have read., 31 Jan 1998
The courage of these three brave women personifies the plight of American women in a society of preditors.

Sensational story about our courts accomidating killers., 22 Jan 1998
It is mind boggeling that three women are standing up to the Florida Supreme Court. A man who killed 9 women and raped women and children shouldn't be taking up so much time and money. Every time I remembered the story was true, I'm enraged. Still I couldn't put it down. Jane Bowen

Well Done!, 25 Aug 2006
When I read the first quarter of this book, I was sickened beyond belief as to what these 2 men had done to this innocent girl. I had almost decided not to read anymore, but I felt compelled to find out what happened to them. The author did such a good job of describing the victum and the corrupt legal system that seems to defend savage criminals, while the loved ones of the victims are forced to suffer through years of legal stalling by the defense. I couldn't sleep well at night for a while after reading this book! Steve Jackson did a great job of bringing to life the events that led up to this crime. I also learned a lot about other brutal crimes and again how the defense attornies are allowed to spend millions of tax payer money to defend brutal murderers. Steve Jackson-Well Done!!

Emotional, but ultimately inspiring, 19 Jun 2006
I recently bought this book as I was short of things to read and promptly read it within a day of starting. I am not normally a particularly emotional person, but it had me in floods of tears. Now, over a month later, I still can't get it out of my head. I cannot even begin to describe how much I admire Alison, and her courage astounds me. Her story (which thankfully has a happy ending) broke my heart but at the same time it was fascinating to read her views on her experience and how she can tell it so matter of factly. Modest does not begin to cover it. Alison is an amazing woman - I think very few people would be able to experience what she did, and go on to lead a happy life (since the book was published she gave birth to a baby son - which, given what she went through, is amazing in itself). I was thrilled too that the book ended with her finding happiness with her husband - No one deserves it more.

GUT WRENCHING STUFF, 07 Feb 2006
A stand against crime is a stand against evil. This woman was in the cluthces of evil and survived, proving we all stand a chance of survival in our everyday lives.

A truly remarkable story of courage, 01 May 2003
I was told about this book from a South African pal and I was very interested. I was not disappointed I started on Monday morning and finished on Tuesday night. What immpressed me most was Alison's modesty saying that she was just an ordinary person and how she does not hate her attackers. A inspiring tale of bravery from a very inspiring woman

Truely Amazing., 24 Jan 2003
This is the most amazing story of determination, strength, hope and faith I have ever read.
This woman went through a terrible time. The book does not mince words as to what happened to Alison, it is very gaffic in it explanations of her injuries, but it has to be to describe the sheer extent of it all.
This is a story that will SHOCK you, AMAZE you and make you feel such admaration for this young woman.

Written very well, it tells the story (TRUE STORY) of Alison, a young girl, raped and stabbed and left for dead, her head was barely attatched to her body! Yes really!
You have to read this, theres more, and you really can't put it down.
A real inspirational book.

'The' First Book To Read After Being Raped, 11 Mar 2007
Firstly-being raped is 'the' most disgusting crime that a 'man' can commit upon a woman.I was raped 17 years ago by a 'man' I knew and who I thought was a friend.At the time Acquaintance/Date rape was not as recognised back in 1990 as it is now and for many many years I suffered in a silent turmoil, only recently being diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which has affected my life at times beyond repair.I read this book 16 years AFTER I was raped-mainly out of curiosity-but it has helped me in a subconscious way to realise, believe and come to terms with that my being raped was not my fault (which my parents lead me to believe was for many years and so fuelled my depression).Although Ms Matsakis has not herself been a victim of this crime (she is a PTSD counsellor) she writes with a 'knowledge' that feels as though she has-she says things that I have only ever verbally experienced with other (female) rape victims and because of this the content did at times make me cry-mainly I suppose my way of finally coming to terms with what happened to me.I originally gave this book 4/5 stars because there are a few things I don't agree with (e.g.the contruction of a 'safe space' in a corner of a room-your whole house should be a safe space not just a corner) but I changed it to 5 because it is only a small piece when compared to the whole of the book content.I do advise this book being 'the' first book a victim of this crime reads before tackling anything else.I don't think you will be disappointed.

DIFFICULT BUT FASCINATING READING, 03 Nov 2004
'Men Who Rape - the psychology of the offender' is an authoritative and in-depth look at one of the most horrifying and yet hugely misunderstood forms of criminal deviance. The text itself draws on much major research on the subject providing and accurate account of what motivates offenders and how they are subsequently grouped (anger rapists, power rapists & sadistic rapists). More importantly though, it dispels some of the most pervasive and ultimately damaging myths that surround the subject. The most prominent example being that rape does not predominantly serve a sexual need. Many rapists maintain healthy sexual relationships in a non-abusive context; yet have trouble 'performing' sexually, during a rape itself.

'Men...' looks not only at the rape of women by men, but also male rape and the female rape of men. This does not quite fit in with the title of course, but provides an interesting counterbalance to the perception that only men make sex offenders.

This is an honest appraisal of a difficult subject and consequently contains unabashed and explicit accounts from forensic files, victims and offenders alike. This means of course that it much of it is uncomfortable and ultimately disgusting reading, yet never exploitative, being as it is, an academic text.

I would recommend this book to any professional in the field, casual reader interested in what makes these people behave in the way they do (like myself), feminist (although the more radically minded might not always like what they read) and perhaps even victims of sexual violence, although I would advise caution here.

A seminal text about a complex issue., 09 Dec 1998
This text stands above most others in providing a depth, an intimacy, and a science to the perplexing question of men who rape. It even suggests, against all pc correctness, that men may also be victims of tragic circumstances that lead to their criminal acts. Provides good science, with little politics.

Excellent Rape Psychodymanics/ Victimology Text, 09 Jan 1998
Men Who Rape, though it was written in the 70s, is still a very important work. It covers victims issues and rapist motivational typologies through thoughtful case studies and interpretations. It provided the basis for the FBI serial Rapist Motivational Typologies explored further by Burgess and Hazelwood, and also covers myth and social issues. I use this book to teach on online Rape issues course and really can't think of a work that more competently gets into myths and psychodynamics behind rape behavior better. Even now, twenty years later. Still timely, still useful. Brent E. Turvey, MS, Criminal Profiler, Knowledge Solutions