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A Season of Darkness
The horrific true crime cold case of Marcia Trimble, the little girl who disappeared while selling Girl Scout cookies and was discovered a month later, strangled. This mystery haunted her family for over 30 years...When nine-year-old Marcia Trimble was murdered in 1975, her devastated parents believed justice would be served. But without a clear suspect in sight and without the ability to analyze DNA evidence, fingers pointed toward the family and toward neighborhood boys without any definitive conclusion. Police were left at a loss to find any kind of evidence that would lay this brutal murder case to rest and bring peace to the long-suffering family of this innocent little girl.A Season of Darkness catalogs the gruesome account of the murder and its awful aftermath, detailing the thirty years of wondering, silence, and investigation that would eventually lead to a shocking, unexpected, and long-awaited concusion.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2010
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207 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 14, 2014
Not sure what to say. It started out great. I did enjoy the writing. Maybe it was a bit too long? I also had a lot of questions afterwards. How come they say it was a whole white neighbourhood but that nobody noticed the big dark black guy? Second:There was the photo of her classroom and there were 13 black kids and 14 whites,15 including Marcia. so in my eyes that is a lot of black kids.Was that school not in the neighbourhood?
I just do not get it that nobody noticed him. So when they were looking for her, he was raping her? They said a rape can take only 10 to 15 minutes.
I did notice on youtube that the boy who was blamed by lot of the cops wrote a book.
O and yes another thing. Yes there were rapes at the same time but I did not think the Trimble case was so much the same as the other cases as was stated in the book.
First of all, the others were women,this girl was 9 years old! Second, he got the others when they entered their houses. To me it sounded so different but I also could see the point that he wanted revenge on the one woman, and her parents lived nearly next to the trimbles?
I do think that this was another murder research gone wrong by cops.
3.5 stars.
I just do not get it that nobody noticed him. So when they were looking for her, he was raping her? They said a rape can take only 10 to 15 minutes.
I did notice on youtube that the boy who was blamed by lot of the cops wrote a book.
O and yes another thing. Yes there were rapes at the same time but I did not think the Trimble case was so much the same as the other cases as was stated in the book.
First of all, the others were women,this girl was 9 years old! Second, he got the others when they entered their houses. To me it sounded so different but I also could see the point that he wanted revenge on the one woman, and her parents lived nearly next to the trimbles?
I do think that this was another murder research gone wrong by cops.
3.5 stars.
February 12, 2019
I loved this book. As a native Nashvillian, I vividly remember the Marcia Trimble disappearance and murder. This was truly a watershed event for Nashville back in the '70's and the author correctly states the "Nashville has lost its innocence". If a sweet little 9 year old girl in an upper middle class neighborhood could get murdered going to a neighbor's to sell Girl Scout cookies, then it could happen anywhere. The authors give a wealth of little details surrounding the event and also explain how police finally solved the case some 30+ years after it occurred. The story grips you and keeps you in its hold until the conclusion. If you are a fan of true crime stories, I highly recommend this book.
July 27, 2025
This book was really good! Since I’ve been reading a lot of murder mystery and thrillers my mom had recommended a couple books on true crime murders that happened in Tennessee. This book focused on several rape/ murder stories that occurred on Belmont and Vanderbilt as well as the infamous Marcia Trimble murder. This book was fascinating and I liked how the author wrote from fact rather than opinion. You could tell she really did her research in understanding every person’s psyche who was involved in this case. It also was cool to see that my uncle was mentioned in this book as he wrote a headlining paper once the verdict was decided. Highly recommend if you are interested in learning more about the history where I grew up in Nashville!
December 23, 2015
I was very interested and engaged in the 1st 50% of this book. It is well written and I would read other books by this author. I skimmed the last 50% of the book because I found it boring. The author is just trying to get us to end of a 30+-year old cold case where nothing changes for 30 years, but we go through the story with the author. The only thing that changes after 30 years is they then knew who the killer was, but because nothing changed for the 30+ years in between, including the behavior and thought processes of the investigators, the actual 30-year reiteration of the cold case story is something I found repetitive, boring and tedious until the author brought the story to its conclusion.
April 15, 2013
The case itself was interesting as most true crime cases are. The book itself however was a tad bit repetitive. The killer was named at the beginning of the book and throughout the pages, however the authors just ran on and on on other things. It almost felt like they were trying to fill up the pages.
I feel very bad for the young man who was accused of this when he was a teen and was a suspect for many years afterwards. It truly is amazing how DNA has solved many cold cases, this one included.
I feel very bad for the young man who was accused of this when he was a teen and was a suspect for many years afterwards. It truly is amazing how DNA has solved many cold cases, this one included.
February 5, 2016
This one was OK, but not spectacular. Maybe I'm just burning out on cases that hinge entirely on DNA evidence and set aside good old-fashioned police work. But I have to admit this is a glittering example of how DNA can blow old-fashioned police work out of the water.
July 17, 2013
Kinda your stereotypical true crime book. Very thorough. A good book but nothing extraordinairy.
February 6, 2015
4 1/2 Stars
November 13, 2011
I am a huge fan of true crime books, yet I had to force myself to finish this one. Turgid.
October 28, 2024
As a Nashville native, I was 14 years old at the time of Marcia’s abduction/murder. Young John Thorpe was a dear classmate and I remember watching the helicopters frequently fly over our school during the day. Exceptionally sad time. However, what I found to be equally alarming was the brutal rapes, assaults and murder of the young women in the Vandy, Belmont, West End and Berry Hill areas. Such horrific violence towards women. Excellent read.
May 1, 2023
Great book especially if you are from Nashville. I’ve heard about this story my entire life and the details about old Nashville are interesting yo read about. It’s really unfortunate that the pictures in the middle of the book spoil who the killer is before the book does. It really ruins it. MAKE SURE to not look at them until you are done reading. ☹️
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September 2, 2024Very informative. This book sets the Nashville scene well, through the decades before and well after the Marcia Trimble case. Paints a very clear picture of the evolution of the Metro Nashville Police department, it's hang ups and heroes.
Follows the Sarah Des Prez case as well as numerous crime sprees connected or seemingly connected to the Trimble case.
Follows the Sarah Des Prez case as well as numerous crime sprees connected or seemingly connected to the Trimble case.
February 5, 2025
Justice at last
I was in high school in Nashville at the time of the murder and felt the author got the "temper of the times" spot on. I also remember the many times Jeffrey Womack was in the press. Pridemore, Pastiglione and Thurman deserve thanks, as well as the female detective who first came up with rhe killer's name in conjunction with another case.
I was in high school in Nashville at the time of the murder and felt the author got the "temper of the times" spot on. I also remember the many times Jeffrey Womack was in the press. Pridemore, Pastiglione and Thurman deserve thanks, as well as the female detective who first came up with rhe killer's name in conjunction with another case.
November 21, 2018
I think it's a great book and how to. Or take
It somewhere where there are no distractions so that the book can really be read ,where there will b my pjs app Wii ae any comments and
It somewhere where there are no distractions so that the book can really be read ,where there will b my pjs app Wii ae any comments and
April 26, 2019
Good book
It was very interesting. I was 17 at the time this happened and remember it. I didn't know a lot of the facts and details. It was a little boring at times but kept my attention. Good book.
It was very interesting. I was 17 at the time this happened and remember it. I didn't know a lot of the facts and details. It was a little boring at times but kept my attention. Good book.
December 2, 2020
This book was good, but was this case ever frustrating! The fact the police wasted 30 years chasing after a suspect when he was repeatedly cleared instead of looking for the actual suspect was infuriating.
February 6, 2025
I really enjoy historical fiction and this story is based on an actual event. Having recently moved to the Nashville area, I liked learning more about Nashville this way. Like many reviewers stated, there is a lot of repetition in the telling of the story so it really went too long for me.
April 25, 2020
Loved it from start to finish. So well written and descriptive that you can truly picture every scenario and person.
October 17, 2024
2.95 bumped to 3. A bit dull at times; would've been better if 25% shorter, but overall it's a decent crime story.
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May 22, 2019When nine-year-old Marcia Trimble was murdered n 1975, her parents believed justice would be served. But it would take more than thirty years before the case finally came to its shocking, unexpected, and long-awaited concusion
May 21, 2019 - I finished reading it and I plan to send to my friend in Tucson
May 21, 2019 - I finished reading it and I plan to send to my friend in Tucson
December 11, 2014
This is some "Birth of a Nation" bullshit, jfc.
Never mind describing the victim as "sunny" while telling us the killer had a "hard face" and did not have to be checked for student identification when he was picked up by police on an upscale university campus. Or describing the victim's neighborhood as "safe" and its privileged residents as embodying the town/community of Nashville.
But choosing light vs. dark as a leitmotif in a book where a black adult man was convicted of stranger-abducting a pre-teen white girl? Give me a goddamn racecrafting break.
Instead try Demetria Kalodimos's documentary "Indelible":
http://www.wsmv.com/category/251136/i...
Anywho, to be fair, Jones and Gobbell do offer an interesting critique of the "cowboy"/old-boy culture in the Nashville Police Department, with its petty interdepartmental turf wars, its fixation on the neighborhood kids' "sex" play, and its rampant sexism that shut outJane Tennison's Detective Diane Vaughan's work on the related crimes in the neighborhood.
Never mind describing the victim as "sunny" while telling us the killer had a "hard face" and did not have to be checked for student identification when he was picked up by police on an upscale university campus. Or describing the victim's neighborhood as "safe" and its privileged residents as embodying the town/community of Nashville.
But choosing light vs. dark as a leitmotif in a book where a black adult man was convicted of stranger-abducting a pre-teen white girl? Give me a goddamn racecrafting break.
Instead try Demetria Kalodimos's documentary "Indelible":
http://www.wsmv.com/category/251136/i...
Anywho, to be fair, Jones and Gobbell do offer an interesting critique of the "cowboy"/old-boy culture in the Nashville Police Department, with its petty interdepartmental turf wars, its fixation on the neighborhood kids' "sex" play, and its rampant sexism that shut out
June 23, 2012
One of my favorite genres is true crime so when I saw this book and realized that it was the story of the rape and murder of 9 year old Marcia Trimble I had to read it.
Marcia was a Girl Scout delivering cookies in her Nashville neighborhood in 1975 when she disappeared. I am from the Nashville area and was familiar with the names and places in the story.
I was a young child when Marcia was murdered but I still remember the fear that changed our community.
Now, as an adult I personally know several of the individuals involved in the prosecution of that horrible man. Which, of course, makes the story even more interesting to me. But, as for this book, you need no connections to the story, it's just the reason I picked it up.
It is a very good retelling of the horror surrounding the loss of that sweet girl. The authors dig deep and give the whole story.
It's a must read for any true crime fan.
Marcia was a Girl Scout delivering cookies in her Nashville neighborhood in 1975 when she disappeared. I am from the Nashville area and was familiar with the names and places in the story.
I was a young child when Marcia was murdered but I still remember the fear that changed our community.
Now, as an adult I personally know several of the individuals involved in the prosecution of that horrible man. Which, of course, makes the story even more interesting to me. But, as for this book, you need no connections to the story, it's just the reason I picked it up.
It is a very good retelling of the horror surrounding the loss of that sweet girl. The authors dig deep and give the whole story.
It's a must read for any true crime fan.
March 25, 2011
Even though I wasn't living in Nashville in 1975, I still knew about Marcia Trimble. If you had any connection to Nashville, you couldn't help but know about it. A little girl out delivering Girl Scout cookies disappears and is found a month later having been strangled. The murder wasn't solved until 2008 and then only thanks to DNA technology. This book tells the whole story in hindsight and helps to make sense of what happened although there will always be questions about the exact circumstances (unless the murderer finally confesses one of these days). It was fascinating to read about the detective work and how hard they tried to pin the murder on a neighborhood teenager. So glad they found the real murderer and finally gave peace to Marcia' mother.
April 24, 2015
30 Year Mystery
In 1975 in Nashville, 9 year old Marcia Trumble left home to deliver Girl Scout cookies, but never returned. The innocence of the time was no more. This was a time when kids played in the streets, where neighbors knew neighbors, a time before computers took away childhood. She left home just to go across the street, didn't even wear her coat. This story tells how police finally solved the crime, how a good old boy system focused on a neighbor kid, never looking at anyone else. A female officer came close, but was stymied in her search. Finally a Cold Case unit found DNA testing was now available and finally solved this murder and another. A very good book, well researched taking you back to the crime, and bringing you forward to the trial.
In 1975 in Nashville, 9 year old Marcia Trumble left home to deliver Girl Scout cookies, but never returned. The innocence of the time was no more. This was a time when kids played in the streets, where neighbors knew neighbors, a time before computers took away childhood. She left home just to go across the street, didn't even wear her coat. This story tells how police finally solved the crime, how a good old boy system focused on a neighbor kid, never looking at anyone else. A female officer came close, but was stymied in her search. Finally a Cold Case unit found DNA testing was now available and finally solved this murder and another. A very good book, well researched taking you back to the crime, and bringing you forward to the trial.
June 14, 2011
Back in 1975 in Nashville,TN, a nine-year-old girl left her home with a box of Girl Scouts cookies she planned to deliver to a neighbor. She shouted over her shoulder at her mother, "I'll be right back!". She was never seen alive again.
Thirty-three days later, her lifeless body was found in a garage less than two hundreds yards from her own front door. However, it took much longer than that for her family to find closure. Thanks to a determined detective of the TN Cold Case Unit, Marcia's killer was finally brought to justice in 2008.
This book is the real story of a senseless crime and of the hard, long path to its final resolution.
I highly recommend it.
Thirty-three days later, her lifeless body was found in a garage less than two hundreds yards from her own front door. However, it took much longer than that for her family to find closure. Thanks to a determined detective of the TN Cold Case Unit, Marcia's killer was finally brought to justice in 2008.
This book is the real story of a senseless crime and of the hard, long path to its final resolution.
I highly recommend it.
October 23, 2011
A Season of Darkness is an incredible and detailed review of the Marcia Trimble case and how Nashville lost its innocence and joined the ranks of large cities across the US in regard to crime and criminals and the chilling impact on our lives. I came to Nashville long after Marcia's' murder, but was here while the trial took place, and this book answered so many quandaries for me about the case and about Nashville in the 70's
Thank you, Phyllis and Doug, for telling this truth so thoroughly and masterfully. I must admit it was difficult to put down and go to sleep wondering what waited in the darkened shadows....
Thank you, Phyllis and Doug, for telling this truth so thoroughly and masterfully. I must admit it was difficult to put down and go to sleep wondering what waited in the darkened shadows....
March 9, 2015
Thank you!!
As a native Nashvillian who remembers fondly the innocence before the dark days of the Marcia Trimble murder, I want to thank the authors of this book for putting into words all the details of this horrific case so that we won't have to wonder about it ever again!
May God bless Marcia's family, and all who sacrificed so much to see that justice was obtained for that precious little girl, and for all the other victims and their families whose lives were forever changed by the predator known as Jerome Sydney Barrett. May he rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life, and burn in hell for eternity for all the misery he caused for so many!
As a native Nashvillian who remembers fondly the innocence before the dark days of the Marcia Trimble murder, I want to thank the authors of this book for putting into words all the details of this horrific case so that we won't have to wonder about it ever again!
May God bless Marcia's family, and all who sacrificed so much to see that justice was obtained for that precious little girl, and for all the other victims and their families whose lives were forever changed by the predator known as Jerome Sydney Barrett. May he rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life, and burn in hell for eternity for all the misery he caused for so many!
January 27, 2013
I was living in Nashville and about the same age as Marcia Trimble when she disappeared. Her disappearance and murder in 1975 changed not only her family but mine as well as the entire city and even filtered down to how I parented my own children. I thought "A Season of Darkness" did an excellent job of capturing not only the details of the case but how it impacted the culture and emotions of Nashville. I plan to follow this up with the new book written by Jeffrey Womack, the boy wrongly accused of Marcia's murder for three decades.
May 28, 2011
I am not sure what is the matter with me...I used to love true crime books, but I have two seperate ones going right now and both incredibly dry...this book included. As a result, I am having a really difficult time following the story and am finding myself easily distracted and needing to reread sections. I will finish the book, but it will probably be my last true crime for a bit.
February 24, 2011
This is about the disappearance and murder of a local child 30? years ago. Written by a prof. where I work--has people in it I know and know of through friends who lived in the neighborhood. The book is well-written and a page-turner; I'm not much into true crime, but I found it interesting and engrossing. I do not agree with the solution of the crime, however, based on other info. maybe 3.5.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews