The title of this one well-encapsulates what it's about - a serial killer, but also the women whose lives were tragically taken. And I think that's what I most appreciated about this true crime book: I didn't feel like a voyeur learning gruesome details. Instead I was right there with friends and family, grieving the loss of their loved ones.

The Grim Sleeper targeted women of color, several of whom were prostitutes. This added to my frustration regarding the investigation. Often, reading true crime, I have to stop myself from yelling at the book because it seems like they could have found the murderer so much sooner than they did. But here that frustration was compounded given "society's lack of concern for his chosen victims." That's not to say the book's flawed - as far as I'm aware, it details what actually happened.

I agree w/Kirkus' review, in that I'd have re-shaped how suspects were described, and cut some of the background information about the lawyers involved. Otherwise, The Grim Sleeper is a great book about an awful reality.