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Diane Downs: Best Kept Secrets
Ms. Downs gives a chilling first-hand account of how she and her children were gut down by an assailant's bullets only to find themselves further victimized by Oregon State legal system. She reveals alleged misconduct by arresting authorities and gives detailed accounts from court transcripts to substantiate her claim of innocence. She tells about her escape from prison and her recapture following a nationwide manhunt. At time of publication she was in a prison in New Jersey. Paperback, 318 pages Danmark Pub (March 1989) English 096227450X Product 7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches Shipping 6.2 ounces
- GenresTrue CrimeCrime
Paperback
Published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 12, 2011
I'm giving this book five stars, not because it's great writing (it's not), or because it tells the truth about the crime (it doesn't), but purely because it gives such a close look at a sociopathic mind. It's 318 pages of "Me, me, wonderful me!" Diane tells us what a loving, dedicated mom she is, how men have done her wrong, and how lazy and corrupt lawmen sent her to prison for a crime she didn't commit (in her version).
I suggest reading Anne Rule's Small Sacrifices first (a great true crime read!), then read Diane's book. It's out of print, but easy to find online.
I suggest reading Anne Rule's Small Sacrifices first (a great true crime read!), then read Diane's book. It's out of print, but easy to find online.
April 3, 2022
Three stars because as a factual account of real life events it's a complete fabrication unworthy of notice (and only a single star), but as a view into the delusional thought process of a narcissistic child murderer it's a brilliant, invaluable (5 star) document.
The crime occurred in 1983, when I was eight years old, less than 100 miles from where I lived. I got to follow the trial in the news and even saw the made for TV movie where she was portrayed by Farrah Fawcett. That lead me to read Ann Rule's book, Small Sacrifices, on which the movie was based, and it became a favorite to reread and ponder just what really happened inside Diane's head. I never questioned what happened inside her car the night her children were shot--blood spatter forensics was well advanced at the time and Ann Rule quoted enough trial transcripts for anyone to understand it. But Diane? How crazy was she, really?
In 2005 I got to find out when I stumbled across this out of print paperback on Amazon. She wrote it entirely on her own with no co-author to help clarify her thoughts, polish her words, or keep her story straight. As a result, you get to experience what the police did during countless interviews and basically watch her hang herself in a tangled web of contradictory nonsense, which she inexplicably believes to be exonerating. It's bizarre, fascinating, vulgar, gross, and overwhelmingly sad. Even in prison, even after being convicted of killing her youngest child in cold blood and badly wounding the other two, leaving her only son paralyzed with a bullet in his spine, her primary concern is the same as it has been all her life: Assuring the world (herself) that everyone loves, and wants to have sex with, Diane.
I especially recommend it for anyone who's read Ann Rule's Small Sacrifices and wants to know if Diane read it, and if so, what she thought. There are many many pages on that subject, but the short version is: Diane did interviews with Ann because Ann promised to write a book proving Diane was innocent, and then sided with the police, prosecutors, jury, judge, evidence, facts, and reality instead. Diane has different words for most of those things, tho, and I won't even try to replicate her unique style.
My favorite part is probably her attempt to frame her escape from prison and subsequent week hiding out in a Salem crackhouse with her former cellmate's husband as an attempt to "rescue" her surviving children from their adoptive parents (the DA who prosecuted her and his lovely wife). Of course you feel bad for the kids, who were terrified the entire time she was on the loose, especially the daughter who testified against her. But Diane's insistence that she was somehow on her way to Eugene to right a grievous wrong against all of them by rescuing her babies from evil--when she was in fact shacking up with a total stranger whose wife actually helped her escape (and she wonders why the friendship ended)--is so frustrating to a logical mind that all you can do is laugh.
The crime occurred in 1983, when I was eight years old, less than 100 miles from where I lived. I got to follow the trial in the news and even saw the made for TV movie where she was portrayed by Farrah Fawcett. That lead me to read Ann Rule's book, Small Sacrifices, on which the movie was based, and it became a favorite to reread and ponder just what really happened inside Diane's head. I never questioned what happened inside her car the night her children were shot--blood spatter forensics was well advanced at the time and Ann Rule quoted enough trial transcripts for anyone to understand it. But Diane? How crazy was she, really?
In 2005 I got to find out when I stumbled across this out of print paperback on Amazon. She wrote it entirely on her own with no co-author to help clarify her thoughts, polish her words, or keep her story straight. As a result, you get to experience what the police did during countless interviews and basically watch her hang herself in a tangled web of contradictory nonsense, which she inexplicably believes to be exonerating. It's bizarre, fascinating, vulgar, gross, and overwhelmingly sad. Even in prison, even after being convicted of killing her youngest child in cold blood and badly wounding the other two, leaving her only son paralyzed with a bullet in his spine, her primary concern is the same as it has been all her life: Assuring the world (herself) that everyone loves, and wants to have sex with, Diane.
I especially recommend it for anyone who's read Ann Rule's Small Sacrifices and wants to know if Diane read it, and if so, what she thought. There are many many pages on that subject, but the short version is: Diane did interviews with Ann because Ann promised to write a book proving Diane was innocent, and then sided with the police, prosecutors, jury, judge, evidence, facts, and reality instead. Diane has different words for most of those things, tho, and I won't even try to replicate her unique style.
My favorite part is probably her attempt to frame her escape from prison and subsequent week hiding out in a Salem crackhouse with her former cellmate's husband as an attempt to "rescue" her surviving children from their adoptive parents (the DA who prosecuted her and his lovely wife). Of course you feel bad for the kids, who were terrified the entire time she was on the loose, especially the daughter who testified against her. But Diane's insistence that she was somehow on her way to Eugene to right a grievous wrong against all of them by rescuing her babies from evil--when she was in fact shacking up with a total stranger whose wife actually helped her escape (and she wonders why the friendship ended)--is so frustrating to a logical mind that all you can do is laugh.
February 3, 2015
I knew this book would be verbal vomit, because that's all that ever comes out of Diane Downs' mouth. It's funny to me that the man who wrote an introduction is only known by the first name "Robert". Also, it seems that every man Diane ever met was attracted to her, and she never cared much for them, not even "Bert", who is believed to be the main reason why Diane tried to kill her 3 kids. I've watched a few videos of her on youtube, and she is a disgusting excuse for a human being. They say she is narcissistic? Oh man, is she ever! I read this book because I heard that she wrote it, and I was so curious. Diane, you make me sick, and I hope you rot in hell. Don't bother to read it, unless, like me, you've read Small Sacrifices and are curious.
May 9, 2016
Four stars for being able to see so clearly into what she had to tell herself to be able to go on living after murdering her children. Took crazy to a whole new level.
January 12, 2013
Diane spewing lies, and poor written ones at that. Supports the guilty verdict while arguing against it.
February 28, 2026
I’ll be honest, I truly am on the fence. Was she the shooter?! Maybe. But I do feel like she was railroaded and evidence that would have helped her case was hidden. So sad.
March 15, 2023
Having read Small Sacrifices many years ago, this story captured me. When I realized Diane wrote a book, I had to read it. Poor writing, so many lies and contradictions, even pages apart. Knowing it was all a bunch of lies, it fascinated me how much her mental health problems came out. Narcissistic, histrionic, I’m also guessing g some borderline personality disorder traits. Overall an okay read ( the bs get tiring) would recommend if you’re looking for more of the story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews