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Sun Gone Down: The True Story of the Richmond Spree Murders
NEW, REVISED, EXPANDED EDITION COMING EARLY 2026
Over a period of seven days in 2006, two ex-cons, Ricky Gray and his nephew Ray Dandridge, terrorized the city of Richmond, Virginia, during what was known as the Richmond Spree Murders. Among their victims were the rock musician Bryan Harvey and his “two daughters and beautiful wife." To this day, Richmonders find the senseless brutality of the crimes hard to fathom and impossible to forget.
In Sun Gone Down, Chris Orlet delivers a haunting account of two Americas, one where the American Dream is very much alive, and another where life in these United States is a post-traumatic nightmare, and that fateful morning when those two Americas collided.
Over a period of seven days in 2006, two ex-cons, Ricky Gray and his nephew Ray Dandridge, terrorized the city of Richmond, Virginia, during what was known as the Richmond Spree Murders. Among their victims were the rock musician Bryan Harvey and his “two daughters and beautiful wife." To this day, Richmonders find the senseless brutality of the crimes hard to fathom and impossible to forget.
In Sun Gone Down, Chris Orlet delivers a haunting account of two Americas, one where the American Dream is very much alive, and another where life in these United States is a post-traumatic nightmare, and that fateful morning when those two Americas collided.
- GenresTrue Crime
187 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2023
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Chris Orlet
6 books27 followersChris Orlet is the author of the true crime book Sun Gone Down (coming early 2026), and the novels Jacks Fork (Down & Out Books); So Many Things to Bury (Down & Out); A Taste of Shotgun (Down & Out); In The Pines (New Pulp Press) and a contributor to Dirty Boulevard: Stories Inspired by the Songs of Lou Reed (Down & Out). He was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois.
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING
"Chris’s books are among my favorite noir reads. I can't wait to sink into his next one.” –Jim Thomsen, The Killing Rain: Left Coast Crime Anthology
“Finally a worthy successor to James Crumley and Newton Thornburg and Kem Nunn, the 1970’s godfathers of true noir’s long-needed revival.” Jonathan Ashley, author of South of Cincinnati, Out of Mercy, and The Cost of Doing Business
“Often very funny, and true to the “noir” tradition in that its central characters are terminal screw-ups who get themselves deeper and deeper into horrible fixes. The more they try to dig themselves out, the worse it gets.” Rory Costello, Hard Sentences: Crime Fiction Inspired by Alcatraz
“A great view of small-time crime and its working-class in America roots as people struggle to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families.” David Nemeth, Unlawful Acts
"JACK’S FORK is a standout novel. JACK’S FORK knows the hell young teen boys experience on an everyday basis — and how that hell multiplies a million-fold when they get swallowed by circumstances they can’t control." Jim Thomsen, editor, The Killing Rain
“White trash noir at its finest. Dirt balls, criminals, and other assorted living train wrecks doing crazy stupid things, and it is funny as well. What is there not to love? I look forward to other titles by this author.” Paul McBride, book reviewer
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING
"Chris’s books are among my favorite noir reads. I can't wait to sink into his next one.” –Jim Thomsen, The Killing Rain: Left Coast Crime Anthology
“Finally a worthy successor to James Crumley and Newton Thornburg and Kem Nunn, the 1970’s godfathers of true noir’s long-needed revival.” Jonathan Ashley, author of South of Cincinnati, Out of Mercy, and The Cost of Doing Business
“Often very funny, and true to the “noir” tradition in that its central characters are terminal screw-ups who get themselves deeper and deeper into horrible fixes. The more they try to dig themselves out, the worse it gets.” Rory Costello, Hard Sentences: Crime Fiction Inspired by Alcatraz
“A great view of small-time crime and its working-class in America roots as people struggle to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families.” David Nemeth, Unlawful Acts
"JACK’S FORK is a standout novel. JACK’S FORK knows the hell young teen boys experience on an everyday basis — and how that hell multiplies a million-fold when they get swallowed by circumstances they can’t control." Jim Thomsen, editor, The Killing Rain
“White trash noir at its finest. Dirt balls, criminals, and other assorted living train wrecks doing crazy stupid things, and it is funny as well. What is there not to love? I look forward to other titles by this author.” Paul McBride, book reviewer
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December 15, 2024
There isn't a lot here. I could see this being covered by Dateline or a true crime podcast. One thing I really appreciated was that the author kept himself out of the story. This is extremely straight forward and to the point. At times I felt the author included details that felt unnecessarily strange (kids commenting about the size of a murder victim, a lawyer who stole a book, commenting on the lack of anything good being on television). As far as the story of the band - it struck me as typical.
Displaying 1 of 1 review