Smile: Behind the Lens of the ‘Dating Game Killer’

by Ryan Green

In 1978, Cheryl Bradshaw was a contestant on the popular TV matchmaking show, ‘The Dating Game’. From a lineup of eligible bachelors, she selected the handsome daredevil photographer, Rodney Alcala.

As the charmed audience watched the couple embrace, a chilling truth lurked behind the camera lens. Rodney Alcala was a serial killer in the midst of a chilling rampage. Hiding in plain sight.

Alcala lured in his victims by offering them the chance to be a part of his professional photography portfolio, with the promise of launching their modelling careers. But the 1,020 photographs, later found in a secret storage locker by the police, revealed a devastating ulterior motive.

Smile is a chilling account of Rodney Alcala, one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Ryan Green gives a suspenseful narrative that draws the reader into the real-life horror experienced by the victims with all the elements of a captivating thriller.

This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and extreme violence. If you are sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read any further.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Ebooks

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2023

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not doing a small backstory on this book just giving out my thoughts!

Thoughts:

This story was the most in-depth I have ever read of the dating game killer. Even though the story was less than 200 pages the author was able to get tons of information crammed into the book about the killer and all the victims. This killer was one smooth talker and was able to lure his victims easily to go with him as he used a photography angle to get them. What the victims families went through was sad and at least the killer is no longer around. All of the things the killer did to his victims was shocking and disturbing.

This book is not for the faint of heart however if you like to read true crime stories and like to see how justice is served then pick up this book, but be warned - there are some graphic details within this story.

If you want to read a full informational story on this killer this is the book. I am going to check out more of the author's work as I would parallel him to the late true crime author Ann Rule with details and background research. Giving this book four "Evil Killer" stars!

[Lisa Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5 stars

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rodney James Alcala was a serial killer and sex offender who was sentenced to death in California for five murders committed between 1977 and 1979. He pleaded guilty to two further homicides committed in New York earlier. Alcala's true number of victims remains unknown and could be much higher. Using modeling/posing opportunities as a lure, Alcala compiled a collection of more than 1,000 photographs of women, teenage girls, and boys, many in sexually explicit poses. In 2016 he was charged with the 1977 murder of a woman identified in one of his photos. Even today these photos are being used to try and identify victims.

In the unabridged audiobook narrated by Steve White, Green relates cases of victims and survivors of this homicidal maniac who appears to have "toyed" with his victims, strangling them until they lost consciousness, then waiting until they revived, sometimes repeating this process several times before finally killing them.

Alcala's alias as the "Dating Game Killer" is because of his 1978 appearance on the television show The Dating Game during his murder spree. This comes back during one of his trials where he hilariously claims that he wore the large, gold earrings kept as a trophy from a victim during this episode. This comes across to me as an expression of his abiding psychopathy where he acted as if these young lives (he was a pedophile) were his due and indeed he could will his own reality.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Camera, Murder!

Once again, Ryan Green shows his incredible writing and researching skills in this wonderful book about serial killer Rodney Alcala. I had previously read another book on this horrible human being (if you can call him that), but I found more information through Ryan's work than I had ever known before.

Interesting from start to finish, this book shows how little some killers like Alcala value human life and instead prey on others until they are forcibly stopped. Highly recommend!

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently my husband watched the movie directed by Anna Kendrick called woman of the hour which is about the serial killer rodney alcala also known as the dating game killer. While the movie seems to focus more on his appearance on a dating show in the 70s this book goes in depth from start to finish about him and his story. It's absolutely insane! I had no idea about this guy until this book, which I only thought to look for after my husband had finished the movie. Definitely a spooky read, it's all a true story and there is much they still don't know even now.

[Blagica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Happy to give this back to Kindle Unlimited


Diving into "Smile: Behind the Lens of the 'Dating Game Killer'" by Ryan Green, I approached it with my inherent fascination for true crime. However, despite my background in psychology, this Kindle Unlimited find fell short of my expectations, earning a mere two stars. I regret to express my disappointment, and I understand this may not align with the sentiments of others who found merit in the book.

The narrative delves into the heinous deeds of Rodney Alcala, shedding light on the unimaginable suffering endured by his unfortunate victims. While acknowledging the existence of legitimate mental illnesses, such as the personality disorders attributed to Alcala, it's crucial to emphasize that the majority of individuals grappling with mental health challenges do not resort to violence. In grappling with the story, I struggled to attribute his actions solely to mental illness, as a sense of malevolence seems to permeate his character.

Alcala's demonstrated intelligence and social ineptitude further complicate the narrative. The book suggests that his capacity for meticulous planning and awareness of societal norms, as evidenced by his evasion of law enforcement and concealment of his crimes, indicate a conscious understanding of right and wrong. In essence, he appeared cognizant of the repercussions of his actions.

While the book explores the malevolent actions of Alcala, it left me yearning for a more comprehensive examination of his background, particularly his family dynamics. An exploration of his sisters' experiences and any potential signs of abusive behavior could have enriched the narrative. I found myself questioning the effectiveness of the mother's seemingly well-intentioned efforts and pondering whether a more proactive approach, such as involuntary institutionalization, could have altered the course of events. Though not a cure for evil, such intervention might have provided an opportunity for intensive therapy, necessary medications, and a prolonged stay to potentially mitigate the tragic toll on victims.

In summary, "Smile" left me with mixed feelings. I desired a deeper exploration of Alcala's family life and more nuanced perspectives. While the book unveils the darkness within the 'Dating Game Killer,' its narrative shortcomings make it challenging for me to recommend wholeheartedly.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Chilling Glimpse into the Darkest Corners of the Human Psyche
Having read quite a bit about Rodney Alcala, I was eager to read this book on him by Ryan Green. I consider Alcala to be quite an evil piece of work yet a fascinating subject to read about.
Rodney Alcala was an American serial killer and sex offender who was sentenced to death in California for five murders committed between 1977 and 1979. Alcala, who was known as the "Dating Game Killer" after taking part in a US TV show, was convicted in 2010. It can be a hard one to follow, since Alcala was able to be active for so long and bounced around in location, but Ryan gives a detailed account of One Mans Brutal Campaign of Terror.
This is a well-written and well-researched story about California serial killer Rodney Alcala. His story is told in sufficient detail that one cannot doubt his guilt. Alcala was tried three times for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe, receiving the death penalty after each conviction.
 
This book is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts, offering a chilling glimpse into the darkest corners of the human psyche. It was an informative book if you have never heard about Alcala. I Feel that Ryan Green has done an amazing job researching everything for this book. The writing is captivating and told with real heart and honesty focusing on the victims while still thoroughly telling Alcala's story. It made the book more about the people who had the horrendous misfortune of meeting Rodney Alcala.
Ryan once again did an excellent job and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime. I am part of the ARC group for Ryan Green, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chilling

The evil perpetrated by Rodney Alcala is horrible and his poor victims suffered needlessly! Despite the psychological background and his personality disorders which are legitimate mental illnesses, I think it's important to note that most people with mental illness don't act violently towards others! Aside from that, I have a hard time saying THAT is the reason he killed -- and I'm a mental health worker with two undergraduate degrees! I think evil exists in this world and this guy had been proven to be very intelligent but also socially inept. I guess what I'm saying is if he had not only the capability to plan his dastardly acts as well as the knowledge of right and wrong based on the facts that he kidnapped or molested in secrecy away from the public eye, traveled cross country and used an alias to avoid law enforcement, and hid the bodies of his victims, he sure as heck knew he was doing wrong and that he would ultimately pay the price!
I thought the book was just mediocre. I would have wished for more background info as to his family life, how his sisters fared as they grew up, did they exhibit abusive evil behavior and what they thought of their brother? I think the mother , though seemingly well intended, should have had her son not only evaluated but institutionalized even involuntarily if he wouldn't cooperate. Granted, it wouldn't cure evil but perhaps with intensive therapy, even shock treatment if indicated, the appropriate medications and an extended stay, he may have been helped just enough to be able to have control over his impulses and urges. Not sure but at least maybe it would have reduced the victim count!
Can't really recommend this one.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never imagined what I had read about Rodney Alcala. But Ryan Green brought Rodney's story to life by demonstrating just how depraved and ferocious a killer he was The title comes from his very deceptive The Dating Game appearance. The big smile that he used to charm women, teens, and little girls Into heartless clutches.
I've wanted to read more about Alcala and This was Was an excellent opportunity. Despite him being a savage killer he is not as well known as other serial murderers though they don't have as high a body count as Rodney.

This is a book that has some triggers. Alcala preyed on young girls. He treated them with the same savagery and brutality like when he viciously attacked his adult murder victims. He worked on both coasts. He was very charming with his camera...until he wasn't. It was as if a switch was flicked and he turned into a monster from your worse nightmare.

Ryan Green's portrayal of Rodney Alcala has left an indelible make on my soul. I feel so bad for his victims, especially the young girls. He had a similar approach and appeal as the much more popular Ted Bundy, luring his victims into a false sense of security before his mask slipped and the truly evil monster underneath was revealed and emerged to commit unspeakable atrocities. I always look forward to Mr. Green's true crime books. He puts a great deal of research into the perpetrators' crimes, their back stories, and who their unfortunate victims were.

[Daniel Kupres · Rating 5 out of 5]

American psycho

Rodney Alcala was a true American Psycho that somehow slipped through the cracks into obscurity. What sets Alcala’s live long pursuit, especially when it comes to subjects that Ryan chooses, there’s no real reason behind his attitude towards life. Many of Ryan’s works, there was extreme physical and mental abuse that guided each killer on a path to destruction. But with Rodney, there’s really no speculation to why he behaved the way he did aside from how bad his dad was. It seemed though that his father played a very minor role in his development. Living with his mother and sisters, it seems he just knew the right things to say to mom to keep her from learning who he truly is/was.

With a whole new plot, Ryan adjusts his storytelling to fit the subject matter and as Ryan described that the reason Randy wasn’t as popular as the rest because his story cannot be romanticized in any manner. Ryan seemed to chose to tell this story in a style similar to Jessica Jackson, where the lurid details are provided first and then the facts come in at the end to detail his crimes and convictions. In Rodney’s story, the victims seem to take to the shadows where it is time in court that takes the light as it seems, he was fighting his case for almost 30 years.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you remember this guy?

In this riveting examination of one of society’s most reprehensible individuals, Ryan Green shines a spotlight on the incredibly twisted but largely forgotten Rodney Alcala. Most people, if they remember him at all, remember him as someone who charmed a bachelorette into choosing him for her date on ‘The Dating Game’ TV show back in the 70s and was later discovered to be a cold-blooded serial killer. While it is true that his story has garnered some recent media attention with him being the subject of a new movie release, there is so much more to know about Rodney. This book will enthrall and enlighten you as it chills you to the very marrow of your bones. Reading the carefully chronicled events of Rodney’s life left me astounded at how utterly devoid of empathy a person can be and horrified at how our legal system can permit such depraved individuals to thrive for far too long. I would urge anyone interested in true crime, criminal psychology, or personal security to read this book. It is truly an eye-opener.

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of true crime/serial killer books. Rodney Alcala is probably the worst. First of all, he was a serial rapist, who posed as a photographer, convincing young girls and women they could be models, only to photograph them during the violent rape later. He became a serial killer after he realized leaving a victim alive resulted in prison time. While only convicted of 7 murders, photographs found and missing people have him linked to possibly 120. The nail in the coffin for his murder trial was an early victim, an 8 year old girl who was raped and beaten into a coma, who showed up 4 decades later as a witness in his murder trial. Interesting events during Alcala's spree, he was a student of Roman Polanski in college, shortly after Polanski's wife was murdered by the Manson Family, he worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield at the same time as The Torso Killer, and in 1978 made an appearance on tv game show The Dating Game, all while being a serial killer.

[Ferne Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually read murder mystery fiction. I have read a few true crime, but this is the first I have read from author Ryan Green. I had never heard of The Dating Game Killer and watched the Dating Game all the time. Rodney Alcala was beyond twisted he was evil. He beat and raped his victims and took pictures as he was doing it. When he was finally caught, the investigator found thousands of pictures in a storage locker he kept. He killed young girls age 8, 13 and 16 and hundreds of adult women. His crime spree began in the mid 1970's and he did not have a trial until the early 1980's, when DNA was new and the authorities could connect him to the murders. The first trial was one of many. The book was written well and kept me reading. The author's detail was amazing. I am hooked. I'm looking forward to Ryan Green's next book.

[Zelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling, mesmerising, terrifying.
Ryan Green has, once again, written an excellent true crime book about a monster in our midst. He shows a keen insight into what makes this killer tick. Rodney Alcala was like a fox among the hens; a slippery eel that managed to elude capture a lot of the time. His prey of choice was usually either young girls or teenage girls; people who were easier for him to overcome. The thing that horrified me the most was the cruel, excrutiating, long drawn out torture that he put his victims through before killing them. And the hundreds of girls that he is believed to have murdered, in spite of being sentenced for a mere fraction of that figure. I found this book gripping and engrossing. And quite graphic.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Smile, Ryan Green does what Ryan Green does best. Gives us a chilling and riveting narrative of a true crime. He writes in a straight forward manner that brings the story to life. Anyone who is an aficionado of true crime stories will know of Rodney Alcala as a winner of a game show called The Dating Game. He was later found to be a ruthless serial killer who thought nothing of his victims and the taking of their lives for his own gratification. Ryan Green has a way of taking us into the story and filling in blanks which may have not be divulged before. If this is a genre that you are drawn to or fascinated by, then this is for you.

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Smile" is like those books that simultaneously give you chills and fascination. A few days later, the story of Rodrigo or Rodney grabs my attention. It's puzzling how someone intelligent can lack compassion. The most disturbing part is what he did to his victims and the terrible state he left them in. One of them, Tali Shapiro, was only eight years old when she encountered the creepy Rodney.

On a brighter note, it's a gripping tale. Ryan Green keeps me hooked on his books, creating a lasting impact for days.

Worth a try.

[jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serial killer/rapist was a monster hiding in human form

Such intense details on this man. Why he chose to rape & kill. How he made the choice over and over again to lie, manipulate and hurt those too weak to fight him or even how he valued his life but no one else. Terrible person glad the police were able to stop him and I feel terrible for the victims and their families. Such sadness created by 1 monster. Thanks Ryan for another wicked interesting story

[John Lyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. As much of a true crime fan as I am, this was still difficult to read. Alcala was among the worst of the worst. The author calls him evil and I agree. It’s great that this child molester and murderer is dead, would probably have been better if it had happened as punishment rather than natural causes. It’s frightening to think that someone got away with so much and more frightening to think it might happen again.

[Richard Yount · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW…. Horrific central character written in the usual straight forward, gritty manner of Ryan Green. Hard to believe this guy was as diabolically evil as it turns out. Glad I read it and recommend to anyone who wants insight into what is probably the worst killer in American history you have never heard of and worse than most you are very aware of.

[Melanie Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew a bit about Rodney Alcala before this book but Ryan show that there was so much more to this evil man. Even from an early age he showed warning signs. Nature vs Nurture example? For those of us who watched the Dating Game, you can picture what was going on. I do enjoy the way Ryan makes his books into more of a story and not just the facts.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but poorly executed.
The writing was just rather dull—usually I do enjoy true crime and it's likely well researched so do check it out if you enjoy this genre.

Based on this read, would I read any more of this author’s work? Probably not.


Audio:
Narrator sounds robotic, there’s no performance, just emotionless dictation. 1 star on this front.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic, suspenseful, pulse-pounding true crime thriller. Ryan Green's expertly-crafted stories NEVER disappoint!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Ryan Green.
Horrible events told with such expertise and knowledge.
One of the best true crime authors I have the honor to read.

He has a way of telling the stories that keep you engaged and interested, with tactfulness to respect the victims.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual murderer who liked to photograph his victims. it is notable that, although handsome and intelligent, when he won a Dating Game Contest, he was turned down by the contestant who chose him once she met him in person. He was simply too creepy. no pictures or sources,

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be quite a good read on Rodney Alcala. I’ve read some on him before, and this expanded what I knew. The author makes a good case for there being lots of other victims possible.

[Clive Willcocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Ryan. The writing as always is well researched and superbly written. Highly recommended.

[Ann237 · Rating 5 out of 5]

True crime genre your thing? Then this book is for you, along with all others written by Ryan Green.

[Tina Bartholomew · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 128 pages, don't expect the greatest prose, but this was a succinct background on the Dating Game Killer.

[Nichole Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I had never heard of this crime spree before it was fascinating the way it was narrated but the research and the analysis that was involved. At the end when the author made some conclusions they made sense and helped put it in perspective.

Very interesting but also chilling that there can be people like that around.

The narration worked for me.