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

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

loved it!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! the narrator is amazing, and the story itself is very interesting. it’s written in a clever way that gives you the facts, but in a way you’ll remember them and actually enjoy hearing about them, rather than lists of things for you to remember

MICHELLLLLEEE!!!

Girl, your work lives on and when they no doubt catch this coward your work will have played an critical role.

in your life you inspired so many inquisitive minds and in your death you leave behind and incredible legacy showing what shear determination and will can accomplish.

I'm sorry you were not living to see your work published. What we as readers (and listeners) are left with is a testament to not just your incredible dedication towards finding an elusive killer but the impact you had on the lives of those around you.

For anyone who is looking to enter the world of True Crime know that this book and Michelle's prose is unlike any I've ever listened to before. she treats victims with respect. She does not dwell on unnecessary lurid details but rather on the strength of the victims and their families and the incredible determination of the cases lead detectives even decades on.

Incredible and Haunting

What did you love best about I'll Be Gone in the Dark?

Michelle is such an amazing writer and storyteller. I was actually driving through Oak Park, IL when she was talking about it. It was such a wild coincidence that I was actually driving through the town she was describing and it was like she was sitting next to me describing the streets I was on.

The greatest tragedy is that Michelle will not see this investigation all the way to the close. It seems that they are so close to catching, I hope she will be forever remember for her contribution to not only this case but to true crime overall.

The world lost an incredible woman when it lost Michelle McNamara, but her legacy lives on forever in this book.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Good

If only Michelle could see how much her work inspires

This book was wonderful from start to finish. I had a pang I’d hurt every time I’d hear parts were taken from Michelle’s notes. I’ve fallen for her writing style, her determination to find someone that has eluded so many for so long. I only wish Michelle had lived long enough to see just how great her work is in these pages.

Dark and engrossing

Michelle McNamara's unfinished opus on the East Area Rapist is more artful than most true crime books. Instead of merely listing the nuts and bolts of the crimes, she paints a vivid picture of where they occurred and how they forever changed those involved. She also describes in sad detail the effect of her obsession with the case on her life and health.

The presentation of the book is somewhat disjointed, understandably as it had to be finished posthumously by her husband and research assistants. But each individual section is mesmerizing and even soulful. When McNamara passed away, her loved ones lost the most, but fans of true crime lost the great books she would certainly have written after this.

Gabra Zackman reads McNamara's words with clarity and appropriate gravitas. I would happily listen to other books she has narrated.

This book is like crack for me

What made the experience of listening to I'll Be Gone in the Dark the most enjoyable?

Michelle McNamara's writing style is beautiful. You can feel her passion for this project in every single word. It's heartbreaking that she passed before EARONS was found.

What other book might you compare I'll Be Gone in the Dark to and why?

No other books compare

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

The narrator as whole did a beautiful job - this is by far the most well narrated book I have listened to.

Amazingly written

Wow! Just Wow! Her writing is amazing and takes you right there along with her on the journey to find the GSK. I just wish she was here to see all of her hard work pay off and that evil man go to jail! Thank you Patton for allowing her to follow her obsession of crime and this cold case! This is a MUST for any true crime fans!

Thought I knew everything there was to know about

GSK, but I was wrong!

This book is not a book of gory factual crime scene details (which is what I was afraid of, having already read all of those), Michelle McNamara is somehow able to make a book about a serial killer into more of a story... vs a crime scene report. She gives persepctive and context to the crimes, detailing what the victims may have been doing before their attacks and how they were perceived by their families. She really focused so much more on the victims and the mystery of it all vs. the killer and his dark sadistic ways. It was not creepy or boring in the least. At one point I started googling Eichler houses and going down the rabbit hole envisioning what the GSK might do while hiding in the bushes watching his victims in their beautiful mid-century mod house.

With that said, there was a change in pace and style once Michelle passed away. This abrupt change is not a negative, but makes you realize just how good Michelle was at writing and making a story out of a bunch of facts/clues/old cold case files. She was brilliant.

love loved loved it

I always listen to my audible books during my many hours in the car. This was riveting and so well pieces together. I found myself staying in my car longer so I could hear more!

Must read.

This book gives you a professional look at the dark world of the Golden State Killer. This writer investigated and shared with us the inside....the questions....the answers....
When I was finished with this book I felt like I had been privy to the crime scenes and background information. One of the best books I’ve read and Michelle McNamara was a very talented and extremely passionate woman. I hope she can see this.