Book Log 2018 #41: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

This is one of those rare (to almost being non-existent) cases where a book becomes its own story. McNamara, a journalist/blogger with a focus on true crime, became interest in a series of crimes from the 1970s and '80s that spanned California. She came up with the name Golden State Killer to emphasize the statewide nature of the crimes and focus the investigation into one perpetrator. She wrote and researched the cases, even getting the help of law enforcement after proving she could be trusted with sensitive information, and signed the deal to produce this book.

And then, in the middle of writing the book, she passed away unexpectedly.

This left her staff and her husband (the actor/comedian Patton Oswald) to organize her material and finish the book. In doing so they all pulled off the unexpected feat of both helping to uncover the identity of the killer and putting together a highly readable and engrossing work while mourning the loss of a friend and partner.

I don't read a lot of true crime, but liked this book a great deal and would certainly recommend it.