In Light of All Darkness

Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America's Child

By: Kim Cross

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Paced like a thriller and full of insider information, this book embeds listeners in one of the most famous true-crime stories of our generation—the kidnapping of Polly Klaas.

On October 1, 1993, a 12-year-old girl was kidnapped at knifepoint from her bedroom in Petaluma, California, during a sleepover with two friends, while her mother slept soundly in the room next door. This rarest of all kidnappings—a stranger abduction from the home—triggered one of the largest manhunts in FBI history.

New York Times bestselling author Kim Cross has written the first comprehensive account of what happened on that fateful night in October, as well as how the case forever transformed the Bureau’s approach to solving crimes. With unprecedented access to case files, crime scene photos, a videotaped murder confession, and inside sources, In Light of All Darkness follows the investigators who pieced together the evidence that led to the arrest and conviction of the kidnapper—and made the victim a household name and a girl who will never be forgotten.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Kim Cross (P)2023 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Kim Cross has taken a story we thought we knew and shown so much more, a life beyond the headlines. I cut myself on parts of it, as the author put a human face—and spirit—on this great sadness, and the mystery that haunted us. It is written without adornment, but still rich in details. That is a hard thing to do.”—Rick Bragg, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

"Riveting… reported with empathy and Cross’s signature combination of unflinching detail and gut-punching revelations."—Beth Macy author of Dopesick and Raising Lazarus

"A terrifying story told with compassion, empathy, and insight. Meticulously researched, In Light of All Darkness illuminates a murder that stunned the nation and the complex forensic science used to solve the case. Try as I might, I couldn’t turn these heart-thumping pages fast enough–and neither, I suspect, will you."—Kathryn Miles, author of Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

Riveting

Riveting story and performance. I couldn’t stop listening to this book. It may make you cry.

Intriguing,, Detailed History of Tragic CA Murder

This is a very detailed, skillfully told story about the Polly Klass murder that stunned northern CA. It makes you attempt to recall exactly where you were during each major turn. The case is very disturbing, but very easy to follow as told from the many different perspectives. The impact of the case & the investigation are also very informative. The narrator was very good.

Intricate, Thorough & Riveting

The details in this book are thorough. I learned so much about the history of behavioral and forensic science. Could not stop listening to this book. It will captivate you for so many reasons from page one.

The Polly klass abduction and murder.

Narration is clear, varied, and holds the listener’s attention.

Content: the kidnap is clearly explained from its inception to the trial. As well, the author explains in detail all the key players, including, of course, the victims, Polly’s family, what is known about abductions, frequency, unfolding events, police procedures, fascinating forensic practices, interviewing strategies, effective modifications of what were conventional investigative practices—the whole shooting match.

Hats off to the indefatigable, empathic, brilliant police.

Highly recommended

The thorough investigation of the police and FBI.

I liked that the author included a lot more information than what was reported on the news.

Never lost interest

Very interesting information about how police and children laws were changed.
I never knew this.

Great true crime

Story, narrator and overall coverage was great. It's well written and well spoken. I highly recommend.

Compelling

For a true crime story, it is very well written. I couldn’t put it down.

Fascinating insight into FBI

It's hard to imagine the FBI before the organization developed many of the policies and procedures that resulted from the Polly Klaas abduction. Well written. Glad someone shined a light on interviewing child witnesses....

Haunting

As a person who was alive during the Polly Klaas, abduction and death, this book was like reliving that time in the past. This book is very well researched, and it is a haunting look into a psychopaths mind. Very sad, but I am glad that I now know the nuances of the story that I did not know when I was younger.