Vicki S. (curledupwithabook) - , reviewed on 5/24/2017 + 169 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Written by a cousin of the murder victims and sister of the surviving victim, this true-crime book is personally-inspired and fact-driven. The personal tie lends a poignancy to the book that one doesn't get from the usual true-crime books written by 3rd parties. It is that aspect of it that drew me into the book and wouldn't let go. The details of the heinous crime as recalled by the lone survivor, Tom Cummins, are devastating. One can feel his desperation, his bone-deep exhaustion, and, ultimately, his survivor's guilt.

Ms. Cummins did an excellent job of imparting the sense of rage and despair felt by the victims' family as Tom was bullied by the police and, later, as the youngest murderer was portrayed as a "victim" by the media years later when his execution date loomed close while the victims, Julie and Robin Kerry, were relegated to the hazy background if mentioned at all. As Ms. Cummins concluded, the victims and their loved ones are often forgotten in the aftermath of a crime and this is a sad reality of our criminal justice system and of our society in general.

A very interesting and intense book. Lovers of true-crime books will enjoy it, but so will victim advocates and those interested in death penalty cases.

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