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The Boy Next Door
Details the true story of Jon Dunkle, a seemingly innocent young boy who turned into a psychotic killer and who was able to outsmart investigators to kill again. Reissue.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
369 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 19, 2019
this is a true story of a boy who from the time he was little, wanted to kill. He was a sociopath, schizophrenic who ultimately ended up killing three boys and savagely injuring two others. It us a frightening depiction of what a killer is really like.
April 13, 2010
During the early days of his incarceration, Jon Dunkle talked about how his reading of the Bible helped him through. "'I like the Desiderata too,' he added, though he couldn't begin to pronounce it," writes author/researcher Gretchen Brinck.
Dunkle was undiagnosed as being dyslexic for much of his life, so any attempt he made to read a text as dense as the Bible would have had that much more impact than it would have on the average person. What remained unproven at the time he revealed this information, though, was the fact that he had murdered three local children - including one he had considered his best friend.
Though legally an adult, Dunkle found himself pairing up with younger people as friends. They smoked marijuana together, and he helped them to procure alcohol, which they often shared at the home of his first victim (with the child's parents looking on, in the hopes of providing a safe haven for the experimentation). When Jon Dunkle made that final decision to take the life of that child, there was no reason nor explanation - simply the urge to do it, and to do it quickly.
This case was considered to have been that of a runaway teenager for several years. The local police were at a loss, although the parents of the boy strongly sensed Dunkle's involvement with the disappearance. In fact, when the third child was found murdered, several eyewitnesses aided in the comprisal of a composite sketch which was unmistakably in Dunkle's image - and yet, there was not enough evidence to even consider a conviction.
The Boy Next Door tells the dramatic story of how officials attempted to pry the truth out of the murderer through confrontation, undercover investigation, and eventually isolation. In this case, though Dunkle took no extra pains to conceal his crimes other than those opportunities which were immediately available to him on the scene (the concealment of bodies in nearby shrubbery, for instance), it was all but impossible to prove his guilt - until he proved to be the biggest liability to himself.
Brinck is a fair writer, covering a case which received a lot of press at the time (the mid-to-late 1980s), giving some new insights as to how the cases were eventually solved. Though not a groundbreaking book in the true-crime genre, The Boy Next Door was written competently.
Dunkle was undiagnosed as being dyslexic for much of his life, so any attempt he made to read a text as dense as the Bible would have had that much more impact than it would have on the average person. What remained unproven at the time he revealed this information, though, was the fact that he had murdered three local children - including one he had considered his best friend.
Though legally an adult, Dunkle found himself pairing up with younger people as friends. They smoked marijuana together, and he helped them to procure alcohol, which they often shared at the home of his first victim (with the child's parents looking on, in the hopes of providing a safe haven for the experimentation). When Jon Dunkle made that final decision to take the life of that child, there was no reason nor explanation - simply the urge to do it, and to do it quickly.
This case was considered to have been that of a runaway teenager for several years. The local police were at a loss, although the parents of the boy strongly sensed Dunkle's involvement with the disappearance. In fact, when the third child was found murdered, several eyewitnesses aided in the comprisal of a composite sketch which was unmistakably in Dunkle's image - and yet, there was not enough evidence to even consider a conviction.
The Boy Next Door tells the dramatic story of how officials attempted to pry the truth out of the murderer through confrontation, undercover investigation, and eventually isolation. In this case, though Dunkle took no extra pains to conceal his crimes other than those opportunities which were immediately available to him on the scene (the concealment of bodies in nearby shrubbery, for instance), it was all but impossible to prove his guilt - until he proved to be the biggest liability to himself.
Brinck is a fair writer, covering a case which received a lot of press at the time (the mid-to-late 1980s), giving some new insights as to how the cases were eventually solved. Though not a groundbreaking book in the true-crime genre, The Boy Next Door was written competently.
May 5, 2020
The cover of this book has a reference to Thornton Wilder's "OUR TOWN" on the cover, in the hair of the victim on the top. I don't believe Ms. Brinck had anything to do with the book cover or a coverup but I do believe she was led down the prairie path by crooked cops, attorneys and a murderous pedophile government to expose only the portion of the criminal evidence which would connect to their official version. My belief is this crime was orchestrated for many reasons, by the Federal government with all State and official agencies working together. There was a contamination issue at Waterdog Lake and the result of the crime was to install Federal cameras in Ralson. The indication that the Pinkerton Security company bred and engineered Dunkel is evident with the zany connection to pig breeding (he injected pig fat into his penis, supposedly which is not real likely) and worked at Pinkertson Security. In my opinion, Pinkertons took over the country with a coup de'tat' by creating Abraham Lincoln's presidency through Scottish Rite Freemasonry. Pinkertons privately own the US police forces, officially. Don Matte found the body, not Russell. The book 'OUR TOWN' is referenced by the script of the crime.
August 7, 2011
I normally like true crime novels but this one was very hard to get into. Jumping back and forth with, what I believe to be, useless information at times. In fact, the book could have had 150 less pages and still told the same story. I would not recommend it to anyone that is a big fan of true crime because it falls short of the page-turners I'm used to.
November 30, 2019
The story of a humble little serial killer in Anytown, USA who preyed on little boys. Pretty well-written and not overly sympathetic to the killer. Never drags. The trial section doesn't just rehash everything; it focuses on how the attorneys painted a picture for the jury using witness testimony, and documents the defendant's decompensation.
June 29, 2017
One of those frustrating reads where everyone seems to know who's guilty, but no one can prove it. The author keeps things interesting though, as the layers of the onion are peeled away. A solid first effort by Gretchen Brinck, who as far as I can tell never wrote another book.
April 6, 2009
From front of book:
"He lived in their peaceful town. He went to their church. And he was killing their children."
Excellent book!!
"He lived in their peaceful town. He went to their church. And he was killing their children."
Excellent book!!
September 17, 2020
I devoured this book in a day and a half.
Very smoothly written account of this weird psycho.
Would have made an exciting, suspenseful, great fictional novel, but unfortunately it is all tragically heartbreakingly true.
Very smoothly written account of this weird psycho.
Would have made an exciting, suspenseful, great fictional novel, but unfortunately it is all tragically heartbreakingly true.
January 13, 2020
Quite interesting and well researched.
April 4, 2009
This is a compelling story about a young man who murdered three children within a span of five to six years, frustrating a small police department with little money to finance a long running investigation. I have not yet finished the book, but so far it is pretty good. I know it's not great because I am able to put this book down!
December 7, 2012
This story frightens me as a mom. Several deaths of young boys, only thing in common is who killed them. His first victim being his best freinds little brother. He is a vicous young man who assaults victims other than ones he kills. Making you wonder how he got away with so much for so long. I own this book, part of my collection.
April 15, 2011
really interesting book , makes you wonder about people.
June 6, 2012
Intense thriller. I couldn't put it down, but couldn't fall asleep afterwards.
March 8, 2012
Well researched and well written. A bit a of difficult read as this took place in my home town, and I knew one of the victims and his family.
December 22, 2016
i liked this book it was a little sad to read about the boys death though
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews