• Green River, Running Red

  • By: Ann Rule
  • Narrated by: Barbara Caruso
  • Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,222 ratings)

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Green River, Running Red  By  cover art

Green River, Running Red

By: Ann Rule
Narrated by: Barbara Caruso
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Publisher's summary

In the most extraordinary journey Ann Rule has ever undertaken, America's master of true crime has spent more than two decades researching the story of the Green River Killer, who murdered more than 49 young women.

Green River, Running Red is a harrowing account of a modern monster, a killer who walked among us undetected. It is also the story of his quarry - of who these young women were and who they might have become. A chilling look at the darkest side of human nature, this is the most important and most personal audiobook of Ann Rule's long career.

©2011 Simon & Schuster Audio (P)2004 Ann Rule

Critic reviews

"[C]onveys the emotional truth of the Green River case." ( Los Angeles Times)
"Riveting." ( People)
"Perhaps Rule's finest work." ( Statesman Journal)

What listeners say about Green River, Running Red

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • 9S
  • 07-02-11

Suspenseful and chilling

This is one of the better true crime books I have ever encountered. Ann Rule succeeds in chronicling nearly every step of the two decade investigation, yet it is never tedious. At different times during the story suspects are named, questioned and dismissed. The book is more like a suspense/thriller than a typical true crime novel. The frustration and anger of the numerous investigators, and the author, is evident. This very frustration led to a high rate of illness and death among those who worked on the GRK task force. I will not tell you which suspect is the actual killer, but it is so chilling to realize how "normal?" he appeared. It is important to understand he worked for decades to appear normal. The killer was really twisted. Caruso narrates perfectly, putting the listener within the ranks of the task force searching for this monster. I put this audiobook in the few dozen of the over 1300 I own as a "can't stop listening" category.

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85 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Narration was the big drawback

As a fan of other Ann Rule books - and having just finished listening to the Audible version of 'The Stranger Beside Me' (which I loved) - this one left much to be desired. In 'Stranger', Rule lamented that the sheer volume of Bundy's killing removed a specialness to the victims, that due to their vast number no one victim would be remembered as an individual. It was clear she felt some guilt that she wasn't able to celebrate who the victims were as people prior to becoming a Ted Bundy victim, and she tried to make up for it in 'Green River'. However, it's too much. I felt like the book was dragging when I began listening - three hours in and it was still discussing just the victims with barely any touches on the investigation or how they linked the earlier crimes to one individual. It's clear, without the personal touch provided by Rule's personal friendship with Bundy, something is lost in the telling of a crime novel.

Beyond that, I could not get in to Barbara Caruso's reading. As a Seattle-ite, absolutely no attempt was made to ensure PNW names were actually pronounced correctly. Drove me crazy and really pulled me out of the experience.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written story, faulty narrator.

The book is very well written and documented. It only feels long because the narrator speaks as if she cannot breathe properly and is breathing through her mouth all the time.

I had to make an effort to ignore the constant sound of the narrator pulling air through her mouth at the beginning of each sentence, as if she had a cold and was congested during the reading of the book.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story and narration

Anne Rule tells the stories of several of the young women who were removed from this world by the Green river monster before they had a chance to better their circumstances. Young people believe they're invincible and prositutes are no different. Gary Ridgeway deprived them of the opportunity to grow up and find other ways to make a living. I would like to say that I hope he can/does read the book, but I'm not sure it would matter at all. How could it matter to someone with no soul?

As a side, I'll look for more books narrated by Barbara Caruso.Great vocal pitch and intonation that doesn't need exaggeration to elicit our sympathy.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Chilling Nightmare Come True

She's done it again.
Beginning with 'Stranger Beside Me', her story of her once good friend, Ted Bundy, and his hellacious killing spree, then moving onto Washington States most notorious serial killer, Ann Rule out does herself in this horrifying tale of a man gone mad.
The Green River Killer put himself on the map by inspiring use of the term, Serial Killer. Mass Murderer just wouldn't cut it.
Ann takes us behind the scenes with the detectives who worked for years on this case. They devoted their lives to catching one man; A journey that would last much longer than anyone had anticipated.
She dives into the lives of the prostitutes Ridgway chose as his prey. By telling their stories, she presents them as the wonderful women they were. Though their profession was anything but glamorous, she portrayed them as women with dreams, hopes, families, kids, and friends. The vicious cycle these girls were caught up in was pointed out and explained the way it should be, with an open mind and an open heart.
One of her best works, Ann has truly outdone herself in this tale of psychosis, murder, tragedy, and success.
I would recommend this read to anyone, especially in the state of Washington, as a reminder that the monster that can hold you in a grip of fear can be the last person you would ever expect.



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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Detailed account--worth the listen!

Caruso tells it as if you were in her living room and she wanted you to know everything that happened. Pretend she's your favorite aunt and you can forgive her the mispronunciations and slight lisp. She really put her all into the telling.

Anne Rule wants you to know these girls intimately before you meet the Green River Killer and she does a thorough job honoring their memories. The frustration of the law enforcement teams becomes our own and what great satisfaction to finally nab the real GRK.

What a sicko.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very, VERY detailed!!!

This is Ann Rule's most detailed and specific book to date...almost too much so! We kind of lost track of which girl was which!!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

T...M...I...

Waaaaay too much information. While each life taken by the GRK absolutely should be cherished and remembered, this book may not be the correct place to remember them. Much attention is paid to the various victims while relatively little attention is given to the pursuit and capture of Gary Ridgeway.

Although historically accurate, the story trudges along until the end.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Long, drawn out, bland

I am a lover of mystery, murder stories, serial killer stories, etc., so when I saw the reviews and read the summary, I was hooked and used one of the credits. Without getting too wordy, the best way to describe what this book was is that it feels like you’re reading someone’s very bland journal about the GRK. The book gives us the facts about each victim and most of the book is just that. Maybe I just thought I was getting into a different style of book? If you’re looking for great storytelling, some suspense and a creative take on this serial killer story, I would unfortunately look elsewhere.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Awful

Would you try another book from Ann Rule and/or Barbara Caruso?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Ann Rule again?

No

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Not her fault

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Green River, Running Red?

80% of what was read

Any additional comments?

This book should have been titled "The Lives of the Green River Killers Victims" ...I couldn't finish listening to this book. I got half way through it and couldn't listen anymore! All this book talks about is the lives of the victims, hardly anything about Gary Ridgeway. i don't know if she was waiting until the end to actually talk about the killer himself, but needless to say the book is very boring for the first few hours.

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9 people found this helpful