"True-Crime Writer"

Master true-crime writer Ann Rule spent two decades researching the story of the Green River Killer, the man who murdered more than forty-nine young women in the Seattle area in the ‘80s and ’90s. Uniquely close to the case, Rule reported on the killings for a Seattle newspaper as the bodies were being discovered. She lived and raised her daughters just a few blocks from the highway where most of the victims were being abducted. She did not know the killer, but he apparently knew her, and attended many of her book signings.
 
“Green River, Running Red” chronicles the grisly career of Gary Ridgeway, the man recently convicted of being the "Green River Killer". In the first part of the book, the author explores the lives of the dozens of young women who fell into prostitution and were ultimately murdered.

The second half of her book focuses more on Ridgeway, the people in his life and the investigation of the killings. The author uses her skilled writing talent to allow the reader to become uncomfortably familiar with the killer’s seemingly unremarkable life. If Rule could be faulted, however, it is in her inability to describe why Ridgeway committed such heinous crimes of luring his victims to their deaths.

The author traces the decades-long struggle of the law enforcement officials assigned to the case as they tracked down countless leads, questioned innumerable suspects, and explored multiple theories before finally cracking the case through a series of technological advancements and a little luck. A few men -- including a law student, a truck painter, and a taxi driver -- eventually emerged as the prime suspects by the Green River Task Force. It wasn’t until 2001 that physical evidence linked Ridgeway—the truck painter--to the murders. Investigators used a new DNA process on a saliva sample they had preserved since 1987 to confirm Ridgeway as the killer.

When finally apprehended and convicted, the killer’s detailed confession of his twisted sexual obsessions will shock even the most jaded reader. “Green River, Running Red” is a harrowing account of a modern monster who lived among us undetected. It is also the story of his quarry. Ann Rule tells us who they were and who they might have become.

Some of the 20 Ann Rule true-crime books owned by the Library include:

“Last Dance, Last Chance”, the account of the life and crimes of Dr. Anthony Pignataro, a cosmetic surgeon with a penchant for forged credentials, botched surgeries, and attempted arsenic poisoning of his wife.

“Every Breath You Take”, a true story of Allen Van Houte, a multimillionaire genius but violent sociopath who left a trail of deceptions, ex-wives, and death in his wake.

“Empty Promises”, recounts several true cases where the search for love brought only lies, betrayals and violent deaths.

“And Never Let Her Go”, a real-life drama of a doomed young woman hopelessly trapped in a web of sexual intrigue, political manipulation, and emotional deception by her charming and successful -- but ultimately deadly -- lover.

For these books and more by Ann Rule, check out the Library’s website at www.columbuslibrary.info. From this site, the browser can access the on-line catalog, check the Columbus Telegram’s obituary index , read previous articles from the “Librarian’s Shelf”, check out what local book club members are reading, and much more.