Amber

Informative

Reviewed: 07-13-21

Thpugh I did not always agree with Mr. Douglas' conclusions, especially about the Ramsey case, I do think he presented his findings and reasoning well here.

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Not great

Reviewed: 06-24-21

I found this writer to be more of a shock jock than anything. The story itself is pretty normal, nothing unique or special about it. You can see all of the plot points coming. But, then he puts in cringy sex scenes, weird political banter that doesn't really fit in with the story, and intense gore that seemed weirdly placed in the text. To be honest, I just didn't like it.

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Meh

Reviewed: 06-08-21

It's predictable. You can guess the killer way ahead of time and the personal story reads like a Hallmark movie. The reader was all right, but the make voices sounded contrived. It was okay.

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it's soooo boring

Reviewed: 05-16-21

I can't understand how a story of royalty, jealousy, lesbianism, political intrigue, and rivalries be sooo freaking boring? the reader is terrible. She has a deadpan voice and pauses every three words for no reason. And the writing turns all of the tragedy and drama of Anne's life into a drone of dates. Skip this one.

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Better read as a companion book.

Reviewed: 01-24-21

Though this story is interesting and well written, the author does not really introduce the beliefs of the cult beyond polygamy and pedophilia. The lack of context makes the overall story a little harder to understand. I had read "Escape " by Carolyn Jessop, which is about similar things and gives way more background and helped add the missing context for me. I suggest you do the same.

Also, be prepared for a disjointed and confusing tale.

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I wish there was more.

Reviewed: 11-24-20

I was intrigued and wanted to know more of Ms. Warden's story because I didn't feel it was fleshed out enough.

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So boring

Reviewed: 10-17-20

I wanted to try this book after seeing the movie, which I quite enjoyed, but it's impossible to listen through. The story jumps from side bit to side bit without really explaining what's happening, straying constantly from the main storyline. And these sidelines are not engaging, so you find yourself drifting off. The narrator tried to make it entertaining, but I think even he was lost occasionally.

It's not worth it, guys. Watch the movie, it cuts through the endless clutter.

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1 person found this helpful

Self indulgence

Reviewed: 10-10-20

I was disappointed to find that so much of this was about the angst-riddled, self indulgent author than about her grandmother. It was not at all what I thought or wanted.

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Not what I thought it was going to be.

Reviewed: 07-04-20

I guess because of it's connection to Steve Hodel's "Black Dahlia Avenger" and the obvious connection to her suspicious and notorious grandfather, I assumed this book would dive more into infamy surrounding the Hodel family. And all of the reviews and advertising I saw about it made me think I was right. And though it does touch on these subjects, the mention is brief and superficial. So, it absolutely was not what I wanted it to be.

However, it was still an incredible story that shares important lessons so valuable in our age of social unrest. I wish it wasn't advertised in connection with the Black Dahlia murders because it will alienate a huge group of readers not interested in true crime who would otherwise be very interested in this book.

This is a story that discusses racism, poverty, love, and criminality from every point-of-view possible, giving the reader a complete picture of life growing up in the 50s and 60s. It's honest and insightful. I think you'll love it!

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1 person found this helpful

Deeply Personal

Reviewed: 01-28-20

I'm surprised this did not rate better because I enjoyed it. Though I didn't agree with many of his views and opinions, I appreciate the honesty and bluntness with which Sedaris shared his stories. There wasn't the self aggrandizing feeling you get in many other memoirs; Sedaris let it all hang out for better or worse. And I feel no one else could have narrated them better.

To me this was like going out for coffee with Truman Capote. He's sharing it all with a poetic prose and trusting frankness. And I had a good time.

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