Starkweather

by Jeff O'Donnell

The true story of a 19-year-old serial killer who murdered eleven people in 1958. Includes photos, letters, and an interview with Charles Starkweather's 14-year-old accomplice.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 20 year old and his 14 year old girlfirend spend days killing, robbing and traveling along the highway of Nebraska. There is a feel that the male is the one killing and making the choices, but an undertoe of wonder about the girls part. Once in court the question of the girls part is even larger. While it seems she went along for the ride, was she riding because she was a part of it all or was she riding to save her own life?
Caught in WY the couple them goes to court and faces the results of the killing spree.

This is more like a 2 1/2 star book, I liked it for general information on the story, but it seemed a bit dragged out for the court event as it was saying the say things the pages before did telling the story. I did enjoy the questions at the end of the book, but again found the answers were all found in the telling of the story.

Perhaps it's a matter of not being able to truly get into the minds of the killer or killers but there seems to be something missing and I just can't put my finger on it.

[Willow Chitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good but weird. I get the fact that we should learn about past history like where we live and all but this book is about a psycho killer that "just wants to know what it's like to kill someone," so he just does, and he does more than once. This book makes you picture everything; the graphics of how he kills these innocent people, popped up in my head after reading these gruesome details that he did to certain people is just gross. This book is pretty much about him and his girlfriend and how they go places and just kill people or they steal peoples items. He does get away with most of the people he killed, he only technically got busted for one of them because they were of higher class and the cops caught him. I would recommend this book to people who like to read about murders, but I would say if you do not like to read about murders and what not, not to read this book.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in Nebraska, Starkweather was a name I always heard. In fact, two victims were friends of my grandfather's. I've read memoirs of and books about many killers, but this one really got to me. I knew guys in Nebraska like Starkweather, even dating ones like him. Not too smart, awkward, angry, bitter, and feels the world owes them. This book puts you along the ride on their murder spree, theorizing why he decided to kill in each situation, and how Fugate was less a captive and more a willing sidekick. There's also the question of his "diseased sick mind." The headaches, paranoia, and delusions suggest a serious undiagnosed mental issue, which would explain his actions and lack of remorse or emotions during such acts. This book has made Starkweather less an entity and more a real person. A real 19 year old kid, just like so many kids today, who decided one day to pick up a gun and make the world pay.

[Joseph Condon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gets better as it goes, although the writing in the beginning had me a bit scared to finish. The book is a work of “faction”, meaning they told the story based on what probably occurred after hearing several version of the story from both suspects. I was a bit put off by the number of grammatical errors and outright misspellings, but it didn’t degrade the book that much. I’ve lived in Lincoln much of my life and visited Starkweather’s grave not too long ago. It’s crazy to think that something of this magnitude occurred in our nice little city.

[Whitney Lovegrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pays attention to detail and the storylike version of everything leading up to the murders, during, and after being caught by police is truly chilling. The pictures and trial information towards the end is very interesting as well. If you want to know more about this case, this book does a great job of filling in the blanks and continues to leave you wondering if Caril actually pulled the trigger at all during the murder spree. In my opinion, she did not BUT she is guilty for never fleeing and in ways I think she helped murder without pulling a gun. Excellent read!

[Lana Wilkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being Lincoln born, I appreciated the story and the details but the writing was lacking delivery. It became very redundant in the end.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

didn't know my area of the United States ever had murderers

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up because of my Moms note (found in the book)😊

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick but good read. Not very detailed but a lot of info for such a small book. Since any details of the killings or events leading up to them had to come from Starkweather or his girlfriend, it's hard to know how accurate any account is. Obviously 11 people died at his hands. Whether or not she was an accomplice or held hostage(as she claimed) is open for debate. I think she was on board until she realized the fun was over then went turncoat. If you are looking for a good, quick read and are interested in the Starkweather case this book should do you right. I personally enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-researched account of the terrifying killing spree in and around Lincoln and Bennett in 1958, Starkweather reads like a novel, with some interpretive details thrown in. The main part of the book is supplemented by appendices which include interview transcripts and other documents. Starkweather and Fugate's testimonies are often contradictory and confusing, but the author provides enough information to allow the reader to understand pretty well what happened.

[James watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. Being that it was a story that is so close to Lincoln drew me in that much more. I cant say how appropriate it is for your students but I enjoyed it. This was one of the largest killing sprees ever. 11 people in 3 days, and to think it was right near us.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just started...Again.

[Kristi Rastede · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to "like" this book. It was very informative. It got a little...too much by the end. Very slow in some places. Interesting analysis of the two, however.