Amy: My Search for Her Killer

Secrets and Suspects in the Unsolved Murder of Amy Mihaljevic

By: James Renner

Narrated by: James Renner

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

"I fell in love with Amy Mihaljevic not long before her body was discovered lying facedown in an Ashland County wheat field. I fell for her the first time I saw that school photo TV stations flashed at the beginning of every newscast in the weeks following her kidnapping in the autumn of 1989 - the photo with the side-saddle ponytail...."

So begins this strange and compelling memoir, which delves into the investigation of one of Northeast Ohio's most frustrating unsolved crimes. Ten-year-old Amy Mihaljevic disappeared from the comfortable Cleveland suburb of Bay Village in the fall of 1989. Thousands of volunteers, police officers, and FBI agents searched for the girl. Her picture was everywhere - anyone who watched the local TV news remembers the girl with the sideways ponytail. Tragically, Amy was found dead a few months later. Her killer was never found. 

Now, 15 years later, journalist James Renner picks up the leads. Filled with mysterious riddles, incredible coincidences, and a cast of unusual but very real characters, his investigation quickly becomes a riveting journey in search of the truth.

Contains mature themes.

©2006 James Renner (P)2018 Tantor

More than just a true crime story

This book is as much about the process of a writer investigating a cold case as it is about the cold case itself. The author gives a lot of insight into how he went about the investigation and his experiences dealing with the people around the case. It's refreshing to see a book that's this genuine and forthcoming. If you like this book you will also like his book about Maura Murray. Not much more I can say besides I enjoyed this book very much.

Read every Renner

I enjoyed both this and True Crime Addict. I enjoy Renner's style of writing and narration. I appreciate how deep he has gone to understand this case.

uncharted dedication

While you will find a new clear map of the crime Renners own dedication to this case is uncharted! I have often feared only my own mind was wired this way. it is refreshing to know others out there are obsessed with finding hidden clues & maybe even a bad guy! it is not about the blood or gorey details! It is about just wanting to help. I wish there were an ending to this however the resolve and persistence of this one man gives hope that one day there might just be an answer!

A different approach to true crime; I enjoyed it

I really got into the author's dogged hunt from one interviewee to the next for direct testimony that could explain what became of the murdered girl. And at the end the narrative was well wrapped-up, in my opinion, in spite of the fact that the answer is still yet to be found. I felt some satisfaction to know what probably happened, and what kind of murderer was likely involved.

The author spoke with dozens of people who knew Amy, and a few people who witnessed something on the day of her disappearance, and managed to keep it interesting as his trek wound on. The story begins on the fringes of the investigation with people who know a little something about something, and gradually works its way into the circle of people who knew Amy, and finally to those who saw Amy on her last day, even her last moments, alive in her normal life.

The listener is rewarded in the end with more details and firmer evidence of what is known and what is probable about Amy's fate.

And it is gratifying that Amy herself is brought to life through the memories of those who loved her. She is no longer just one more tragic childish image in the gallery of child victims in the media today. Amy emerges as a bright, talented, creative and much-loved child, who did not like the school photo that represents her into posterity, and who would have enjoyed a life of love and accomplishment had she not been cut down by a human predator.

This time the author was the right narrator.

A solid listen...

I loved True Crime Addict and was excited to see this recording of Renner's first book. It is presented in a similar style to True Crime Addict, in that it follows Renner as he blurs the line between investigative journalist and detective. I liked True Crime Addict better, as I enjoyed Renner's deep dive into his own psyche in that book. However, this is also a good listen and definitely worth the credit. This case is a bit more convoluted than the one detailed in True Crime Addict, even as the victim -- a ten-year-old girl -- is understandably less complex of a character because she is so young. That said, this is true crime at its most respectful, in that it is not a salacious rehash of a terrible crime, but an honest attempt at getting to the truth.

How-To Manual for Investigating a Murder and More

This True Crime book interested me a lot even though it’s not an edge-of-your-seat type of mystery. The murder of Amy occurred thirty years ago when the author was around her age and developed a crush on her from local news reports. Once her body was located, James (Renner) grieved her loss and so later in life — once he became a reporter — he set out to see if he could uncover new clues which might yet solve the mystery of what happened to ten-year-old Amy Mihaljevic. This genre of story is somewhat slow-moving because the progress includes much legwork and conversational interviews so it may not be a process for all readers but speaking for myself, I enjoyed the small-town (even rural) pace. I grew up in the large metropolis of Montreal and as an aside here, I recall that at age 8 I had a secret crush on Michael in my Grade 3 class: one day, there was a fundraising fudge sale down the hall and he had forgotten to bring money for it. He was so sad that I quietly offered him my own 2 quarters, saying i didn’t like fudge! What a lie that was LOL but it’s true that children do experience real love feelings. I think that the author’s decades-long caring of Amy drew me to want to know more about her, about him and about life as it’s lived in a village. The book was well written and well narrated by the same man.

interesting read

interesting read. hope they finally fing the little girl's killer. very tragic story. easy listening.

Poor little girl.

it is so sad that this little girl was murdered and the murder has still to be found and brought to justice. This in depth investigation by the author was intense and impressive. it is my hope that the murderer comes forward soon.

James Renner is a creative machine

This book is amazing! I also highly recommend True Crime Addict. Both are narrated by the man himself, I dare you to listen and not get hooked.
His writing is genius.
I was introduced to James through several different true crime podcasts. I have been hooked ever since.
After these reads, check out his fiction work such as the The Man from Primrose Lane or The Great Forgetting. His work does not disappoint!

Solar Battery Included

About as close as one can get to observing this entire true crime story unfold as if watching through a giant terrarium, Renner narrating Renner was a brilliant choice.

The intersections of the Author, victims, investigators witnesses and suspects serve to “charge” Renner’s missive here- to solve the nearly 30 year old murder of Amy Mijaljevic.

While the book was written in 2006, Renner only preformed the narration in late 2018. At times, I swore I could hear the very faint giggle of an innocent 10 year old making her approval and her presence known. When this case is solved it will be in no small part due to Renners work.