This is a very interesting and all-encompassing look at the Grim Sleeper serial killer, who I had not heard of prior to picking up this book. Keep in mind that while this is non-fiction, it is not a true crime story told in narrative format like In Cold Blood or Executioner's Song; it is written by a reporter and told as such, so be prepared for that informative style of read. Regardless, you still get some scenes from the lives of the victims. This book delves into each of the known victims whose cases led up to finding the Grim Sleeper, offering some details about each of their lives and what they were doing shortly before their deaths, as well as how they were found. It also discusses many details of the investigation, including many of the countless dead ends and frequently useless tips that investigators received. I also appreciated that the reporter told both the police's and the public's side of the story, as there was a lot of public unrest regarding how long the investigation took and how seriously the police appeared to be taking it. This frequently became a question of race and class, as all the victims were Black and most were prostitutes. In our current era of Black Lives Matter, it was eye-opening to see nearly identical fights happening decades ago, and I was glad the book didn't gloss over this.

A bit clinical or dry in places, but that's probably better than over-sensationalized.

The main title of this book may be The Grim Sleeper but it’s really a well-researched, empathetic insight into the many women who lost their lives to this terrible man. These women were marginalised and slipped through the cracks of the society, which made it easier for Lonnie Franklin to commit his crimes undetected. The author gives those women, and their families, their stories back. It makes this book a worthwhile and compelling read.