Caril

by Ninette Beaver

In 1958, Caril Ann Fugate followed Charles Starkweather on a cold-blooded murder rampage. This is the story of a young woman who found faith and hope behind bars.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime

398 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very absorbing read. It's the only treatment of the Starkweather/Fugate murder spree from the point of view of the local news people. We seem to read about it in real time, by newscasters and camera crews thunderstruck as each new murder happened and who were anxiously waiting to hear all along when and where little Caril Ann would be found dead. It then follows her through her trial for complicity in the murder of her family and 8 other people. I learned a great deal more about the crimes here than I have in any other book on the case so far. It does a lot to cast doubt on Caril's guilt in the crimes she was convicted of, but gives you the other point of view as well and in the end leaves you to make up your own mind. A curious biography -- it tells you almost nothing about Caril's life before her imprisonment, and I'm not sure what to make of that. There is a lot of food for thought in here. Warmly recommended.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough, no-frills account of the Fugate/Starkweather case. Their murder spree resulted in the deaths of 10 people in Nebraska and Wyoming in the 1950s and was notorious at the time, but is largely forgotten today. The author, one of the journalists who originally covered the story, records the trials, Starkweather's execution and Fugate's prison sentence and appeals in meticulous, minute-by-minute detail.

I only wish there had been some speculation or insight into what caused Starkweather to go off, and whether his girlfriend was a willing accomplice or a terrified hostage as she later claimed. I wish Ann Rule would write on this.

[Stinajane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book at least twice before and been intrigued each time. The first time I this book, I was around 14 years old (the age of the protagonist). Now my daughter is 15. Lends a whole new perspective. Still like it.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was dry as dust ... eventually I just quit.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caril by Ninette Beaver, B.K. Ripley, and Patrick Trese (J.B.Lippincott Co. 1974)(Biography)(3621).

This is a poorly constructed true crime book about a notorious
1957-1958 Nebraska killing spree when nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather and his fourteen-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate murdered eleven people including Fugate’s parents and baby sister.

This account has nothing to offer except mountains of excruciatingly trivial facts and imaginary dialogue. Reading this was simply a waste of a few hours.

The three attributed authors are, according to the book’s dust jacket, a television reporter from a local station in Nebraska, a ghostwriter, and a television network producer who hoped to cash in by claiming shares of the writing credits.

Though the authors attempted to create a compelling narrative, there is no “there” there in this book.

The crime itself made an engrossing story, but a reader who wishes to learn about this case will be better served by spending a few minutes on the internet than by slogging through this book’s collection of mundane trivialities.

My rating: 5/10, finished 2/19/22 (3621).

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book details the story of Caril Ann Fugate- a teen ager that accompanied Charles Starweather on a killing spree through Nebraska. Was she a hardened criminal- or held captive? Was she just a frightened teen in love. The decision rests with the reader. Interesting from a sociological perspective- what makes a good girl go bad.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very moving and compelling narrative of a troubled girls life. It colored my views on capital punishment. If Caril was truly unable to be rehabilitated, why keep here alive with so many years ahead of her. Execution would seem more humane and in the end perhaps she really was rehabilitated, despite the utter lack of hope provided by her conviction.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough and detailed. That's all I got.