I'll Be Gone in the Dark

One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

By: Michelle McNamara

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn - introduction, Patton Oswalt - afterword

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The basis for the major six-part HBO documentary series.

Number one New York Times best seller.

A best book of the year:

Washington Post | Maureen Corrigan, NPR | Paste | Seattle Times | Entertainment Weekly | Esquire | Slate | Buzzfeed | Jezebel | Philadelphia Inquirer | Publishers Weekly | Kirkus Reviews | Library Journal | Bustle

Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards for Nonfiction | Anthony Award winner | SCIBA Book Award winner | Finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime | Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence

The haunting true story of the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California during the '70s and '80s, and of the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case - which was solved in April 2018.

Introduction by Gillian Flynn

Afterword by Patton Oswalt

“A brilliant genre-buster.... Propulsive, can’t-stop-now reading.” (Stephen King)

For more than 10 years, a mysterious and violent predator committed 50 sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated 10 sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.

Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true-crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called "the Golden State Killer". Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark - the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death - offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true-crime classic - and may at last unmask the Golden State Killer.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Tell Me Productions (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Ghost

Devastating. When the book reaches Michelle's death, the difference in writing is unmistakable, despite being read by the voice you've come to know as the author's. It's like listening to a ghost, and it broke my heart.

Too close to home

I only stumbled upon this book AFTER they arrested the golden state killer, after he stepped into the light as Michelle so accurately predicted...oh did I mention this serial killer has been living a mile from my house for 30 years. Michelle and her life’s work is captivating and frightening all at the same time. I found myself listening to her book while gardening with headphones on, constantly looking over my shoulder for “him”. Locking all my windows and doors; this book will make you relive what it was like to live in a time of uncertain fear...but in a GREAT way! A safe way! Way to go Michelle!!!

Breath taking but sometimes hard to follow

Well written and well read. This story is really breath taking, but sometimes hard to follow as the author bounce back and forth in location and times.

A very good piece of work on a fascinating topic.

It's so very sad that the author was not able to finish this work. It makes for a strangely organized presentation. Overall, though... recommended!

Chilling and maddening

This book seriously got under my skin and freaked me out a little. I had to stop listening to it in the evening (only daytime!!). That aside, this book is very thorough and has a lot of details and is very much a crime investigative story. I listened to it which I am not sure was the better route (reading it would have allowed me to focus in a different way) as I don't think I absorbed all of the details. All of that to say, McNamara is a very thorough investigator and it is evident this case, of the Golden State Killer, was her life's obsession. I was not aware when I started this book that she was Patton Oswalt's wife, so did not put it together that she died before the book was finished, and I did not know that shortly after the book was finished (by her research assistants and others) the police arrested the Golden State Killer, who now awaits trial. All of these added an extra layer of intensity for me. It was kind of a long, crazy trip into the world of a sick man who terrorized an entire area for over 10 years robbing, stalking, raping, and killing. Honestly, it is mind blowing that he got away with it for so long, but it does show that every field evolves (hopefully for the better).

not my cup of tea...

not my cup of tea but a great book nonetheless. I lost interest in the book because I realky am not the type to read this type of books. but I respect the author incredible style.

A wonderfully written but bittersweet book.

Any additional comments?

This book was excellent. The perfect blend of personal stories about Michelle as well as the people she worked with, the recounts and descriptions of the victims, and the necessary insight into the Golden State killer himself. I am so glad this was finished after her death, but so sad she is no longer here to share her mind or her way with words. It was truly the most bittersweet feeling I have ever had when ending a book.Thank you to her husband for sharing her last project with us.

RIP and Thank you Michelle.

Wonderful book Michelle, I hope you can rest easy knowing the EAR/GSK has finally been caught.

Fascinating story

It was easy to become as obsessed with this story as the author was. Very detailed, while still reminding us of the humanity of the victims. The narrator did a good job of distinguishing different characters by using different voices. Well done!

“Think you got him, Michelle.”

I first heard of The Golden State Killer and Michelle McNamara listening to episodes of the My Favorite Murder podcast. Never in a million years did I ever think this case would be solved, but just a few short days ago it was. I was almost halfway through this book when I heard the news and it’s a moment I won’t ever forget. The feeling a lover of true crime gets when they hear about the arrest of a suspect in such a prolific case, a real life monster, is similar to what I imagine a diehard NFL fan feels when their team wins the Super Bowl.
Michelle McNamara weaves such a beautiful prose into this story of horror and terror. It was my distinct pleasure to read her words, and I am saddened by the fact a woman, writer, friend, sister, daughter, mother and wife of her caliber is gone from this world. It was too soon.
“Think you got him, Michelle” her husband tweeted the day the Golden State Killer was arrested. Yep, I agree. I think she did.