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The Pursued
The terrifying true story of a woman at war with a violent stalker who eluded the police for years—until they found the truth in the last place anyone would have dared to look.
From 1977 to 1981, Ruth Finley, an ordinary wife and mother from Kansas, was tormented by an elusive maniac known as The Poet. The police, already on edge from BTK’s reign of terror, spent years searching for the stalker. Meanwhile, his cryptic letters in rhymed verse grew more disturbing and violent, spilling into deeds like stabbing and kidnapping.
In this propulsive nonfiction account, as Ruth is surveilled from all sides, her nightmare takes a chilling the stalker is no stranger at all. It’s someone the police have been close to for years, someone nearer to home than Ruth dared to admit. The revelation recasts what seemed like a cruel twist of fate as something far more disturbing.
The Pursued is not just a gripping true-crime story. It’s also a darkly textured portrait of the deceptions that drive us and the explosive reckonings that occur when they finally tumble down.
From 1977 to 1981, Ruth Finley, an ordinary wife and mother from Kansas, was tormented by an elusive maniac known as The Poet. The police, already on edge from BTK’s reign of terror, spent years searching for the stalker. Meanwhile, his cryptic letters in rhymed verse grew more disturbing and violent, spilling into deeds like stabbing and kidnapping.
In this propulsive nonfiction account, as Ruth is surveilled from all sides, her nightmare takes a chilling the stalker is no stranger at all. It’s someone the police have been close to for years, someone nearer to home than Ruth dared to admit. The revelation recasts what seemed like a cruel twist of fate as something far more disturbing.
The Pursued is not just a gripping true-crime story. It’s also a darkly textured portrait of the deceptions that drive us and the explosive reckonings that occur when they finally tumble down.
283 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2025
2013 people are currently reading
4624 people want to read
About the author
Corey Mead
6 books29 followersCorey Mead is an Associate Professor of English at Baruch College, City University of New York. He is the author of Angelic Music: The Story of Benjamin Franklin’s Glass Armonica and War Play: Video Games and the Future of Armed Conflict. His work has appeared in Time, Salon, The Daily Beast, and numerous literary journals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
January 2, 2026
From 1977 to 1981, Ruth Finley, an ordinary wife and mother from Kansas, was tormented by an elusive maniac known as the Poet. The police spent years searching for the stalker.
These events took place in the same time frame as the BTK killings which could explain why the circumstances are unfamiliar to many people. If you're not familiar with the Poet already, it's best not to know too much ahead of time if you plan to read this book. It's an interesting story although there's quite a bit of repetition which is usually the case with true crime but definitely worth the read, proving once more that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
Thanks to Little A publishing, via Netgalley, for providing an advance copy of this true story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: December 1, 2025
These events took place in the same time frame as the BTK killings which could explain why the circumstances are unfamiliar to many people. If you're not familiar with the Poet already, it's best not to know too much ahead of time if you plan to read this book. It's an interesting story although there's quite a bit of repetition which is usually the case with true crime but definitely worth the read, proving once more that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
Thanks to Little A publishing, via Netgalley, for providing an advance copy of this true story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: December 1, 2025
December 12, 2025
THE PURSUED
by Corey Mead
Narrated by Nikki Zakocs
3.5 stars (rounded down)
The Pursued follows “The Poet,” a stalker who terrorized Ruth Finley from 1977 to 1981, in a slow-paced true-crime police procedural that often reads like fiction. There are some disturbing twists and a few genuinely interesting moments.
Despite being only about 300 pages, it felt a bit dragged out at times. I also struggled with the audiobook narration — it came across flat, with little emotional depth, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. The book does, however, highlight how trauma impacts not just physical safety but mental and emotional wellbeing.
The most surprising element for me was how long it took—three years—for police to piece everything together.
Themes of stalking, memory and perception, mental health, and vulnerability all play significant roles throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the audiobook.
This is a review of the audiobook.
by Corey Mead
Narrated by Nikki Zakocs
3.5 stars (rounded down)
The Pursued follows “The Poet,” a stalker who terrorized Ruth Finley from 1977 to 1981, in a slow-paced true-crime police procedural that often reads like fiction. There are some disturbing twists and a few genuinely interesting moments.
Despite being only about 300 pages, it felt a bit dragged out at times. I also struggled with the audiobook narration — it came across flat, with little emotional depth, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. The book does, however, highlight how trauma impacts not just physical safety but mental and emotional wellbeing.
The most surprising element for me was how long it took—three years—for police to piece everything together.
Themes of stalking, memory and perception, mental health, and vulnerability all play significant roles throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the audiobook.
This is a review of the audiobook.
December 6, 2025
3.5 Stars
November 12, 2025
This book started off strong, lagged greatly and ending rapidly. Really enjoyed the ending and taught some extremes about the incredible human brain and psyche to protect itself. I didn’t necessarily like the writing style but was intrigued by the actual story.
November 10, 2025
Truth is stranger...
Man what a story. Its strange, heartbreaking, awful, weird, and seems like fiction.
The human mind is a scary thing and what happens to some people is so sad. This story has some weird twists and you can't say too much without spoiling it.
It is worth a read if you know nothing about the story.
Man what a story. Its strange, heartbreaking, awful, weird, and seems like fiction.
The human mind is a scary thing and what happens to some people is so sad. This story has some weird twists and you can't say too much without spoiling it.
It is worth a read if you know nothing about the story.
January 30, 2026
True crime that reads like fiction.
This is an obscure true crime story that I'd never heard. Sharing a setting with the BTK murders, it initially appears quite chilling. I was glued to the pages throughout the investigation but when we got to the flashbacks and mental explanations, I was ready for it to end. This writer is wonderful though, I hope he does more similar books.
This is an obscure true crime story that I'd never heard. Sharing a setting with the BTK murders, it initially appears quite chilling. I was glued to the pages throughout the investigation but when we got to the flashbacks and mental explanations, I was ready for it to end. This writer is wonderful though, I hope he does more similar books.
December 28, 2025
I can't believe this isn't fiction... this story is pure madness. I have read and watched many things about BTK and didn't realize this happened around the same time frame.... I am still just awestruck that this took place and went on for as long as it did!
November 3, 2025
A solid story, mostly well-told
The story is incredibly thorough and there are plenty of details. It reads like a piece of fiction, with lots of insights into thought processes and some internal monologue. I didn't know anything about the story, so I was in suspense for a decent amount of the book before the truth started to become more apparent. While the ending wraps everything up, it still leaves you wondering a bit about if everything really is as it says it is. I would have liked it a bit shorter, and the writing is a little lacking in energy, but it was a good read.
The story is incredibly thorough and there are plenty of details. It reads like a piece of fiction, with lots of insights into thought processes and some internal monologue. I didn't know anything about the story, so I was in suspense for a decent amount of the book before the truth started to become more apparent. While the ending wraps everything up, it still leaves you wondering a bit about if everything really is as it says it is. I would have liked it a bit shorter, and the writing is a little lacking in energy, but it was a good read.
December 30, 2025
Wild and creepy true crime story that I’ve never heard before, despite growing up in the general region.
November 5, 2025
overall it was interesting but the choppiness made it hard to push through
This story definitely had my attention from the start, and I found myself pushing through because I needed to know who the “poet” was. However, the writing felt a little scattered and hard to follow in some places, which made the pacing feel choppy at times. I was also hoping for more closure when it came to the past—there were moments that felt like they could have had more emotional impact if they were developed further.
Overall, the plot had strong potential and the tension held me, but with a bit more clarity and elaboration in certain areas, this could have hit even harder.
This story definitely had my attention from the start, and I found myself pushing through because I needed to know who the “poet” was. However, the writing felt a little scattered and hard to follow in some places, which made the pacing feel choppy at times. I was also hoping for more closure when it came to the past—there were moments that felt like they could have had more emotional impact if they were developed further.
Overall, the plot had strong potential and the tension held me, but with a bit more clarity and elaboration in certain areas, this could have hit even harder.
November 26, 2025
2.75/5 stars
This was an Amazon First Reads selection. I hadn’t heard of this case before. It’s pretty wild and yet it dragged on for me. Jumped around quite a bit too. All in all, I struggled to finish, but the end was definitely a bit of a shock.
CA | Contains some strong profanity.
This was an Amazon First Reads selection. I hadn’t heard of this case before. It’s pretty wild and yet it dragged on for me. Jumped around quite a bit too. All in all, I struggled to finish, but the end was definitely a bit of a shock.
CA | Contains some strong profanity.
December 12, 2025
Nonfiction is always tricky to rate—beyond evaluating the strength of the prose, who am I to judge whether someone’s lived experience is “worthy” of being written about? I went back and forth on giving this five stars because I was fully engaged the entire time, but I think the audio format played a big role in that.
The case itself is devastating, and the writing has the pacing and tension of a thriller. You almost forget you’re in the realm of reality—especially when you hit some of the baffling decisions made by law enforcement. It’s a fascinating, unsettling look at what the human mind is capable of and how internal distortions can completely warp someone’s actions. Would a deeper psychological analysis have made this even more compelling? Absolutely. But even taken as a narrative-driven true crime account, I found myself “enjoying” the journey—largely because of the narration.
Nikki Zakocs delivers the material with a steady, gripping presence that kept me locked in. I’m not convinced I would’ve had the same experience with the print version, especially since the middle section drags a bit.
In the end, this is a niche true-crime story that likely would’ve faded into obscurity if the author hadn’t revisited it. I’m glad I picked it up—there’s always something to learn or be reminded of, even for those of us in the psych field, about just how powerful and unpredictable the human mind can be.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
The case itself is devastating, and the writing has the pacing and tension of a thriller. You almost forget you’re in the realm of reality—especially when you hit some of the baffling decisions made by law enforcement. It’s a fascinating, unsettling look at what the human mind is capable of and how internal distortions can completely warp someone’s actions. Would a deeper psychological analysis have made this even more compelling? Absolutely. But even taken as a narrative-driven true crime account, I found myself “enjoying” the journey—largely because of the narration.
Nikki Zakocs delivers the material with a steady, gripping presence that kept me locked in. I’m not convinced I would’ve had the same experience with the print version, especially since the middle section drags a bit.
In the end, this is a niche true-crime story that likely would’ve faded into obscurity if the author hadn’t revisited it. I’m glad I picked it up—there’s always something to learn or be reminded of, even for those of us in the psych field, about just how powerful and unpredictable the human mind can be.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
January 13, 2026
This is the true story of Ruth Finley. If you don't know her story, it's really best to read the book without a lot of backstory and knowledge. Now that I know what happened, I don't think I'd read it the same way. This is a terrific "true crime" book, one well worth the read!
November 2, 2025
Shocking
Heart breaking ,shocking true story detailing th he horrific abuse suffered by Ruth and the terrifying affect on her life.
Heart breaking ,shocking true story detailing th he horrific abuse suffered by Ruth and the terrifying affect on her life.
November 13, 2025
Read this as an Amazon first reads. it was a decent book it was just a little too detailed at points and it took a while for anything to actually happen. I figured out the " twist" fairly early and I spent the rest of the book waiting for the police to figure it out and too find out the " why". The ending was the glue that held it all together..I needed that initial thing and boom 💥.
November 29, 2025
I enjoyed the build-up and meticulous detail. The last chapter broke my heart and will trigger some readers.
January 27, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for this audiobook!
I am a big true crime person and was very excited to get into this one!
Now I had no idea what to expect, I haven’t heard anything about this case before (makes sense considering it was going on around the same time and place that BTK was active 😬)
Ruth and Ed are a typical middle aged couple who are going through very threatening calls, some assaults, and terrible notes- aimed towards Ruth.
Now Ruth had had a terrible experience as a kid that the stalker, known as The Poet, was trying to exploit, and over the course of 3 years the case just got weirder and more aggressive.
The inconsistencies of the case were all over the place and the whole thing was very confusing, but the police were all over it which is a great thing I wish we saw more of in these sorts of cases!✨
I did not know at all where this was going, and I won’t tell you here because I do think that you should take a look into this yourselves!
That being said, I found the writing a little too dramatic and almost fictionalized for my personal liking when it comes to true crime, But it did lay out the facts in a helpful and understanding manner, and I feel like the story was well done. The pacing worked well and the intrigue was there!
In the end I give it a 3.5 ⭐️
The audiobook I’d say is the way to go with this sort of stuff! Just pop on headphones and go!
I am a big true crime person and was very excited to get into this one!
Now I had no idea what to expect, I haven’t heard anything about this case before (makes sense considering it was going on around the same time and place that BTK was active 😬)
Ruth and Ed are a typical middle aged couple who are going through very threatening calls, some assaults, and terrible notes- aimed towards Ruth.
Now Ruth had had a terrible experience as a kid that the stalker, known as The Poet, was trying to exploit, and over the course of 3 years the case just got weirder and more aggressive.
The inconsistencies of the case were all over the place and the whole thing was very confusing, but the police were all over it which is a great thing I wish we saw more of in these sorts of cases!✨
I did not know at all where this was going, and I won’t tell you here because I do think that you should take a look into this yourselves!
That being said, I found the writing a little too dramatic and almost fictionalized for my personal liking when it comes to true crime, But it did lay out the facts in a helpful and understanding manner, and I feel like the story was well done. The pacing worked well and the intrigue was there!
In the end I give it a 3.5 ⭐️
The audiobook I’d say is the way to go with this sort of stuff! Just pop on headphones and go!
January 26, 2026
Well.
I never saw THAT coming. Every. Whoosh.
This was a crazy read with an even crazier ending and the range of emotions I felt while reading this were all over the place [with tears being the prominent one near the end of the book].
Well-written and researched, this is an excellent deep-dive into what happens, what doesn't happen, and what is the result of when someone isn't believed and makes for a truly fantastical story.
Nikki Zakocs is a new-to-me narrator and she does a good job here - this book has come very difficult topics and chapters and she handles it deftly and without being overdramatic [especially in spots where it could have been very easy to be overdramatic]. I really recommend this audiobook for this true-crime read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Corey Mead, Nikki Zakocs - Narrator, and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for providing the audiobook ARC [the kindle version is Kindle First pick] in exchange for an honest review.
I never saw THAT coming. Every. Whoosh.
This was a crazy read with an even crazier ending and the range of emotions I felt while reading this were all over the place [with tears being the prominent one near the end of the book].
Well-written and researched, this is an excellent deep-dive into what happens, what doesn't happen, and what is the result of when someone isn't believed and makes for a truly fantastical story.
Nikki Zakocs is a new-to-me narrator and she does a good job here - this book has come very difficult topics and chapters and she handles it deftly and without being overdramatic [especially in spots where it could have been very easy to be overdramatic]. I really recommend this audiobook for this true-crime read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Corey Mead, Nikki Zakocs - Narrator, and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for providing the audiobook ARC [the kindle version is Kindle First pick] in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2026
Good morning Goodreads, I gave the book
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Well before I start writing ✍️ I just want to say that I hope 2026 gives you all the blessings in the world!! Back to the review, the book is pretty good. It was about a woman named Ruth who is being stalked, threatened and pursued by someone called “The Poet” Her husband Ed who seems to be a very good husband to her stands by her side. Honestly, this book threw me for a loop. I would have NEVER guessed who the culprit is. It’s a lot closer than what you think?!?!?! You have got to read the book for you to know exactly what I’m talking about!! See you at my next review… 😊
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Well before I start writing ✍️ I just want to say that I hope 2026 gives you all the blessings in the world!! Back to the review, the book is pretty good. It was about a woman named Ruth who is being stalked, threatened and pursued by someone called “The Poet” Her husband Ed who seems to be a very good husband to her stands by her side. Honestly, this book threw me for a loop. I would have NEVER guessed who the culprit is. It’s a lot closer than what you think?!?!?! You have got to read the book for you to know exactly what I’m talking about!! See you at my next review… 😊
November 25, 2025
Wow, what a ride! I was truly horrified at what was being described, leaving me unable to sleep at the thought of how stalking could happen to anyone at anytime, and then the big twist came. Whilst that doesn’t take away from how horrific Stalking is, this book then made me think about how our minds work and the lack of control we have at times over how we think, feel, process events and emotions.
This lady has had some horrific experiences in her life and I hope that after her horrible ordeals, she has gone on to live some sort of normality.
This lady has had some horrific experiences in her life and I hope that after her horrible ordeals, she has gone on to live some sort of normality.
December 20, 2025
fascinating but long
Obviously I understand as a true story that this book is as long as it is because it it keeping with the facts, but at times I wished the author had elaborated less. I’m glad I didn’t know of the case before reading because the ending was astonishing and very sad.
Obviously I understand as a true story that this book is as long as it is because it it keeping with the facts, but at times I wished the author had elaborated less. I’m glad I didn’t know of the case before reading because the ending was astonishing and very sad.
December 24, 2025
This should have been a long magazine article. I’d not heard of this case previously, so I was intrigued. The book would have been much better if the author had delved more into the psyche of Ruth Finley instead of the monotonous details of the crime leading to the discovery of the (pseudo) stalker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 7, 2026Y want me hunted by poem
dark as night cant see my step
years to find y
i cant lose my pray
my hope
my freedom of decorated words
my heart from sad was cry
its nt in my mind what y want
words to dark window
nt for me that river
y miss pic take it nt for me
belive that nt me
beuty of words nt prison to me
by many winded years
yr words be in cage
as y
dark as night cant see my step
years to find y
i cant lose my pray
my hope
my freedom of decorated words
my heart from sad was cry
its nt in my mind what y want
words to dark window
nt for me that river
y miss pic take it nt for me
belive that nt me
beuty of words nt prison to me
by many winded years
yr words be in cage
as y
January 6, 2026
Having not heard anything about this case before, the ending of this was not what I expected at all. What an absolutely heartbreaking ending but the story was expertly told
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2026
Average
The Book started well and I was interested. However it became boring and repetitive. I wanted to know what happened to her so I did a lot of skim reading until almost the end. I then became interested again and completed it. It's very sad that her childhood fears were subdued for so long that it affected her adult life like it did.
The Book started well and I was interested. However it became boring and repetitive. I wanted to know what happened to her so I did a lot of skim reading until almost the end. I then became interested again and completed it. It's very sad that her childhood fears were subdued for so long that it affected her adult life like it did.
November 5, 2025
I didn’t see that coming
A riveting look at a strange and terrifying stalking case with an insane and brutal ending. Trigger warning for child SA. This book gave me nightmares and I imagine it will remain for me a haunting examination of madness, obsession and the sick places unresolved trauma can lead a person.
A riveting look at a strange and terrifying stalking case with an insane and brutal ending. Trigger warning for child SA. This book gave me nightmares and I imagine it will remain for me a haunting examination of madness, obsession and the sick places unresolved trauma can lead a person.
January 20, 2026
"The Pursued" was an interesting read. I liked learning more about the police work involved in solving a case, and this case in particular.
December 11, 2025
I didn’t finish it. The story dragged on and on at a very slow pace. It was a high interest topic and I ended up asking ChatGPT to give me summary of the details. 5 minutes later, I knew what went down. Interesting story but was bored with the pace and writing.
January 16, 2026
This was one of those books that I had to force myself to get through. I wanted to find out who the "Poet" was, but it took so long to get there. I felt that the author took too much time describing the backstory of unimportant characters in the book, such as the various police officers. These backstories were unrelated to the storyline. I also felt that there were too many characters (specifically the police officers) involved in the story, so I almost needed a sheet to keep track of all of their names. The author did keep me interested enough to read until the end; however, several times I was tempted to just skip to the last chapter to find out what happened. There was a lot of psychological terminology that I felt was unnecessary. It was fine to find out the diagnosis, but not to have an entire chapter devoted to it. I won't be reading any more of Corey Mead's books if this is his style of writing.
December 9, 2025
definitely check for trigger warnings. this had a twist I absolutely was not expecting!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews