Green River, Running Red

By: Ann Rule

Narrated by: Barbara Caruso

Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins

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)

clueless author

his son name was Matthew not chad smh takes away from the story when the author is clueless

Green River Audiobook - Running Long!

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook. It took some getting used to though, but I finished it. At almost 20 hours, the story was too drawn out.

Ann Rule did a thorough job in writing this book. A great true crime author. The narration, however, took some getting used to. Her voice seemed a bit formal, almost scholarly, as if she were reading stories to young students. But I soldiered through, and I’m glad I did.

Regarding the content, don’t want to give away spoilers. I will say I was frustrated that the police took so long to charge this killer who blended into the community, as well as not taking more initiative to protect the young female victims, as the body count mounted.

Love Ann Rule

Great book. Love Ann’s other books as well. She goes into detail about almost each victim and I appreciate her compassion for the victims and their families.

On and on and on and on

First of all, I could barely stand the affected raspy voice of the narrator. I can’t honestly tell if the trivialization of details is because of this voice which doesn’t know how to express profound ideas or if the writer enjoys the pile on of meaning less detail (for example, naming reporters in her presence) to serious content, an overwhelmed courtroom. Ugh.

Disturbingly Brilliant.

Although this accurate accounting of one of history's most calculating and non repentant serial killers may well seem slow to start there is definitely 'method' to Ms. Rule's 'madness'! As with all good stories they are recalled in 'layers' and this is what Ann Rule does with excellence. Unlike so many authors in this genre we get the 'cake' before we get the 'frosting'! This makes a most welcome change.

We learn so much about the victims and what a relief as how many times do we learn all about the perpetrators rather than the victims who somehow get 'lost'. In this particular case it was so dreadfully sad as I remember hearing people say, "Well these women were asking for trouble weren’t they?" I look back and literally seeth when I think that I should have spoken up but it was the 1980's and 'ladies of the night' (Prostitutes) were deemed somewhere down there with roaches and rats where it came to priorities in some people's hearts. Now after reading Green River Running Red I know more about the victims and couldn’t care less about ‘what’s his name’s notoriety!’

Of course, as ever Barbara Caruso gives a simply BILLIANT performance. However do we think that she could do anything less? I think not.

Great book.

Detailed, all about the victims

This was one of the few true crime books I have read that has brought me to tears, and I think that's because Ann Rule takes the time to tell you about the victims. Whether they were addicts long in the life or misguided kids in over their heads, you can't help but feel for them. If you were looking for a juicy murderer oriented story that, like so many of them, glorifies they psychopath, this is not for you.

Poignant

I think that this story was incredibly told by Anne Rule. She did an amazing job at bringing the victims justice, spending a majority of the book looking into who they were as people. Many crime authors only examine the deaths of these women as if it was all they lead up to be.
They were people with loved ones and lives and goals and dream.

Narrator ruined it.

I have been reading Ann Rule’s book since I was a child and was looking forward to this one as I am from the Seattle area. However, Caruso’s narration was so bad that I couldn’t finish it and returned it. Beyond the horrible wheezy tone and cadence of her narration, her consistent mispronunciation of our towns was highly annoying. (Puyallup should be pew-allup not poo-allup).

Good, but…

Love the book, but I can’t handle the narrator. It’s giving “I’m an older woman from a small town who’s husband has money and I think I’m better than everyone else” vibes. They way she pronounces words is like nails down a chalkboard. I have found myself rolling my eyes and saying “just say it normally” too many times.

great

a slow start but overall good, some weird pronunciation of local places and random words but still 5 stars