Download PDF Chase Darkness with Me How One TrueCrime Writer Started Solving Murders Billy Jensen Karen Kilgariff 9781492685852 Books

Product details Hardcover 336 pages Publisher Sourcebooks (August 13, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 1492685852

Chase Darkness with Me How One TrueCrime Writer Started Solving Murders Billy Jensen Karen Kilgariff 9781492685852 Books Reviews

• Great book, just finished it on Audible. Really kept my attention the whole time, so interesting!
• My thanks to Audible for allowing me free access to this audio book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher. This audio book is currently an Audible Exclusive.
  
  True crime can be a touchy subject. What are the ethics of consuming someone else's tragedy as entertainment? Jensen's work and the way he works to essentially crowd-source murder investigations means that this book necessarily tangles with some of the thornier ethical questions surrounding true crime. The overall impression is of a man with deep respect for the wishes of families searching for answers about their loved ones; there is no hint of voyeurism or sensationalism.
  
  Chase Darkness with Me explores Jensen's early work as a journalist, working at the beck and call of news organizations and being told what to cover. After experiencing the shame and discomfort of being pressed to pester a grieving family for an interview, he decided to do things his own way, which would not involve sitting idly on the sidelines. Jensen began digging into unsolved crimes, using social media ads to blast targeted areas with surveillance footage, sketches of suspects, or whatever else he had to work with. The method is simple but effective. Jensen walks the listener through the twists and turns of the cases he was able to help solve with the aid of the public and social media.
  
  Michelle McNamara, author of I'll be Gone in the Dark and friend of Billy Jensen, also plays a role in this book. Jensen was one of the writers who helped to complete I'll be Gone in the Dark from Michelle's notes after her sudden death in 2016. Chase Darkness with Me touches on Jensen's friendship with Michelle and his efforts to ensure that her tireless research into the then unsolved case of the Golden State Killer was not wasted. Michelle McNamara unfortunately passed away before police ever made an arrest in the case, but Jensen was able to see his friend's work come to fruition in 2018 with the arrest of James DeAngelo. (The official stance of police is that Michelle's book did not have an impact on the case, but Jensen and many of Michelle's fans have their doubts.)
  
  The book is as much a call to action as it is storytelling, with an addendum outlining the do's and don'ts for readers who may want to do investigative work of their own. Jensen's rules place the wishes of the victims' families at the forefront and also emphasize the importance of backing off when police have a suspect in their sights; the last thing anyone investigating a crime wants to do is give the culprit a heads-up that they're being watched closely and cause them to run. While extra-judicial investigative work is necessarily controversial, Jensen clearly adheres to a strict set of guidelines which maximize his chance of being an asset rather than a liability.
  
  Chase Darkness with Me is true crime at its best, told with utmost care and compassion for the victims of each case. It's not true crime writing in the typical sense, as the author has inserted himself into these stories in a much more direct manner than most writers, but I think the writing is stronger for it. Each case is intensely personal to Jensen and this absolutely shines through in the final product.
• Interesting story of a reporter that became very interested in trying to solve cold case crimes, especially the ones that have never gotten lots of exposure. He gives quite a detailed list of steps in how to go about helping to gather information on a criminal , sometimes only from pictures or video of the crime, or time right before or afterwards. He’s got quite a good success rate. He was also one of the authors who helped complete “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” , and was friends with that author before her death. Audio is very good on this. One of those books that really doesn’t sound like the book is being read, but more like the author is just talking to you and telling you his story. He now also hosts a new true crime podcast with Paul Holes called The Murder Squad.
• I very much enjoyed this. If you are into true crime, then this will be right up your alley. It’s a great story about how a journalist became a victim’s advocate, and helps law enforcement with murders and cold cases. I applaud his unselfish efforts to go above and beyond to help find these monsters!
• Jensen's voice is matter-of-fact but still deeply moving-- his compassion for victims and their families shines through every story as he weaves his memoir. From memories of his father, who first sparked his interest in true crime, to his friendship with Michelle McNamara on her quest to catch the Golden State Killer, to the elation that came when GSK's capture was announced, Jensen's innovative approach to citizen detective work is utterly enthralling and a must-read for any fan of true crime.
  
  Also he's just a really cool guy, and his podcast Jensen and Holes The Murder Squad is very, very good.
• Loved this book - can't want to research these cases on my own )
• Good book
• I love how Billy shares his passion for attempting to solve unsolved murders. His life story and how he became engrossed in true crime is a great read.