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Unsolved Child Murders: Eighteen American Cases, 1956-1998
An estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States. Only one in 10,000 are found dead. Yet unsolved child murders are almost a daily occurrence--of nearly 52,000 juvenile homicides between 1980 and 2008, more than 20 percent remain open. Drawing on FBI reports, police and court records, and interviews with victims' families, this book provides details and evidence for 18 unsolved cases from 1956 to 1998.
242 pages, Paperback
Published November 20, 2017
66 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Emily G. Thompson
8 books117 followersEmily G. Thompson is an author and freelance writer based in Northern Ireland.
Her first book, Unsolved Child Murders, was published by McFarland in 2017, followed by three more books published by Dorling Kindersley: Unsolved Murders: True Crime Cases Uncovered, in 2019, Cults Uncovered: True Stories of Mind Control and Murder, in 2020, and Mysteries Uncovered: True Stories of the Paranormal and Unexplained, in 2020.
Thompson is also the founder of the true crime website and award-winning podcast, Morbidology, which won the "Best International" podcast at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in January 2022. The weekly true crime show takes a look at cases from all across the world, and highlights systemic failures in various systems.
In addition to writing for her own website and podcast, Thompson is a freelance writer for Crime + Investigation, Law & Crime, A&E Network and other true crime podcasts.
Her first book, Unsolved Child Murders, was published by McFarland in 2017, followed by three more books published by Dorling Kindersley: Unsolved Murders: True Crime Cases Uncovered, in 2019, Cults Uncovered: True Stories of Mind Control and Murder, in 2020, and Mysteries Uncovered: True Stories of the Paranormal and Unexplained, in 2020.
Thompson is also the founder of the true crime website and award-winning podcast, Morbidology, which won the "Best International" podcast at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in January 2022. The weekly true crime show takes a look at cases from all across the world, and highlights systemic failures in various systems.
In addition to writing for her own website and podcast, Thompson is a freelance writer for Crime + Investigation, Law & Crime, A&E Network and other true crime podcasts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 9, 2017
4.5 stars.
I would have finished this book earlier but house chores waits for no one. Which is too bad because I was hooked. Anyhoo. I first became aware of Emily by stumbling unto her blog Congenitaldisease on Tumblr. If you interested in true crime, you should check it out or her website morbidology which has a lot of interesting stuff. Anyways, I always found her blog posts to be very thoughtful and sincere. To bring attention to the cases but not to glorify the criminals. The same can be said for this book.
The murder, really any harm, caused to a child is horrific and unimaginable. The cases mentioned in this book are even more sad because they are unsolved and the not knowing what happened to your child or who did it has got to be gutwrenching. Emily treats these cases with the respect and the honesty that they deserve. It is a very engrossing book with a lot of fascinating information and you can tell that the author researched and put a lot of effort into telling these children's truth.
I honestly cannot wait to read any future books!! Fantastic job, Emily.
I would have finished this book earlier but house chores waits for no one. Which is too bad because I was hooked. Anyhoo. I first became aware of Emily by stumbling unto her blog Congenitaldisease on Tumblr. If you interested in true crime, you should check it out or her website morbidology which has a lot of interesting stuff. Anyways, I always found her blog posts to be very thoughtful and sincere. To bring attention to the cases but not to glorify the criminals. The same can be said for this book.
The murder, really any harm, caused to a child is horrific and unimaginable. The cases mentioned in this book are even more sad because they are unsolved and the not knowing what happened to your child or who did it has got to be gutwrenching. Emily treats these cases with the respect and the honesty that they deserve. It is a very engrossing book with a lot of fascinating information and you can tell that the author researched and put a lot of effort into telling these children's truth.
I honestly cannot wait to read any future books!! Fantastic job, Emily.
January 6, 2022
This book details unsolved child murders between 1956 and 1998. Pulled from FBI reports, family interviews, and police reports, you are thrown into the investigation for each case. All the cases are gut-wrenching and sad. I hope that someone will see one of these cases and have information to bring peace to these families.
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September 9, 2020
Despite this not being a terribly long book, it took me a long time to finish it, mainly because I could only read one or two chapters at the time. I truly had nightmares about it sometimes. I really have to hand it to Emily G. Thompson, for being brave enough to write about two topics not many people would normally read willingly: child murders (because they are just horrible) and unsolved cases (because they are insanely frustrating).
It states it plainly in the cover, but I’ll say it anyway. The book consists of 18 chapters, each one dedicated to the unsolved murder of a child (or several, in some cases of unidentified serial killers). The dates range from 1956 to 1998, and they all happened in the United States. Some are more famous cases, like JonBenét Ramsey and Adam Walsh; others would probably be known only by serious true crime enthusiasts, if that.
Because of the nature of the subject matter, it would be easy to feel like you’re reading in a loop sometimes. Most of the cases described in the book follow a similar pattern: child goes missing –> panic ensues –> communities that used to feel safe now won’t let their kids go outside unsupervised –> parents plead desperately for the return of their child –> child’s body is found, usually in horrific condition –> witnesses come forward with conflicting reports –> police try to find the killer, but he manages to slip through their fingers. It goes almost without saying that Unsolved Child Murders leaves you with more questions than answers, and that makes it a very unsatisfactory experience in many ways.
But here’s the thing. In the hands of a different writer, this could be a case of “what’s the point of reading, then?” But this author manages to do something very remarkable, and gives each victim the chance to be unique. In just a few paragraphs, she builds a profile strong enough of them for us to remember that we are talking about a real human being, an innocent person who had dreams and a future ahead that was taken away by some monster. It’s so easy, in true crime, to get too involved in the crime itself, the investigation, the trial, the mind of the killer. Victims often become a footnote, the prologue in a story in which they end up disappearing. But not here. Every time one of these children were slain, I could understand the depth of the horror it meant (which in turn made the book even harder to read), and just for that, this is a worth read.
Clearly a great deal of research went into this book, although because these are chapters and not whole novels about a case, in a few episodes it feels like there was more to tell. This is especially evident in the chapter about JonBenét, where a lot is left out. I can’t really fault the author for that, though. That case is an endless rabbit hole and it’s just impossible to cover it fairly in the space of one chapter. I do think the book could have benefited from some tighter editing, details than in my experience only a good editor can really take care of. However, I applaud the narrative structure of each chapter. I’ve noticed quite a few books, articles and papers that don’t seem to grasp the proper way to weave a narration; here, the story usually streams seamlessly from beginning to end.
Emily writes with an evident compassion and sometimes righteous rage directed at the killers. I’m not sure if that’s everyone’s cup of tea; it is mine, and I liked it. There’s no sensationalism and not often an exploration of the more eerie details of a mystery. The victims and their loved ones are held with utmost respect and dignity, as they deserve. I do wish that there had been an About the Author, to tell the readers who don’t know her from her blog who she is, why she ended up writing about crime and what was her research process.
Lastly, if you’re wondering why should anyone read about tragic child murders, let me tell you this. The cases were brilliantly chosen in a way that remind us why, with all its morbidity and unpleasantness, registering true crime stories is important for society. Most of the murders told in this book had long reaching consequences and helped shape new laws and new ways we now raise kids and face danger. I’m very glad Emily dedicated plenty of time in those chapters to explain how from something truly awful something productive can be born. Not just by the laws themselves, but the way communities band together in the face of tragedy. If anything, this is a book that really helps understand how the American society (and possibly others) works.
It states it plainly in the cover, but I’ll say it anyway. The book consists of 18 chapters, each one dedicated to the unsolved murder of a child (or several, in some cases of unidentified serial killers). The dates range from 1956 to 1998, and they all happened in the United States. Some are more famous cases, like JonBenét Ramsey and Adam Walsh; others would probably be known only by serious true crime enthusiasts, if that.
Because of the nature of the subject matter, it would be easy to feel like you’re reading in a loop sometimes. Most of the cases described in the book follow a similar pattern: child goes missing –> panic ensues –> communities that used to feel safe now won’t let their kids go outside unsupervised –> parents plead desperately for the return of their child –> child’s body is found, usually in horrific condition –> witnesses come forward with conflicting reports –> police try to find the killer, but he manages to slip through their fingers. It goes almost without saying that Unsolved Child Murders leaves you with more questions than answers, and that makes it a very unsatisfactory experience in many ways.
But here’s the thing. In the hands of a different writer, this could be a case of “what’s the point of reading, then?” But this author manages to do something very remarkable, and gives each victim the chance to be unique. In just a few paragraphs, she builds a profile strong enough of them for us to remember that we are talking about a real human being, an innocent person who had dreams and a future ahead that was taken away by some monster. It’s so easy, in true crime, to get too involved in the crime itself, the investigation, the trial, the mind of the killer. Victims often become a footnote, the prologue in a story in which they end up disappearing. But not here. Every time one of these children were slain, I could understand the depth of the horror it meant (which in turn made the book even harder to read), and just for that, this is a worth read.
Clearly a great deal of research went into this book, although because these are chapters and not whole novels about a case, in a few episodes it feels like there was more to tell. This is especially evident in the chapter about JonBenét, where a lot is left out. I can’t really fault the author for that, though. That case is an endless rabbit hole and it’s just impossible to cover it fairly in the space of one chapter. I do think the book could have benefited from some tighter editing, details than in my experience only a good editor can really take care of. However, I applaud the narrative structure of each chapter. I’ve noticed quite a few books, articles and papers that don’t seem to grasp the proper way to weave a narration; here, the story usually streams seamlessly from beginning to end.
Emily writes with an evident compassion and sometimes righteous rage directed at the killers. I’m not sure if that’s everyone’s cup of tea; it is mine, and I liked it. There’s no sensationalism and not often an exploration of the more eerie details of a mystery. The victims and their loved ones are held with utmost respect and dignity, as they deserve. I do wish that there had been an About the Author, to tell the readers who don’t know her from her blog who she is, why she ended up writing about crime and what was her research process.
Lastly, if you’re wondering why should anyone read about tragic child murders, let me tell you this. The cases were brilliantly chosen in a way that remind us why, with all its morbidity and unpleasantness, registering true crime stories is important for society. Most of the murders told in this book had long reaching consequences and helped shape new laws and new ways we now raise kids and face danger. I’m very glad Emily dedicated plenty of time in those chapters to explain how from something truly awful something productive can be born. Not just by the laws themselves, but the way communities band together in the face of tragedy. If anything, this is a book that really helps understand how the American society (and possibly others) works.
January 18, 2018
Emily Thompson is that rare true crime writer who educates, informs and tells a riveting story.
I read a lot of true crime from the trashy to literary. I've been reading the genre for thirty years at least. I believe my first was Helter Skelter when I was a teenager. So I'd like to think I know a good true crime book when I read it. This book is above average. It is extremely well researched and written. Quality true crime books not only have a compelling story, but also good writing style and form. Ms Thompson has delivered quality.
The book covers eighteen separate unsolved cases of murdered children in the United States spanning the years 1956 to 1998. Because she presents the cases in chronological, historical order she shows us the progress that forensic science and police procedure makes from the 1950s through the 70's 80's and late 90's. She makes us see how frustrating it is that even with this progress the cases still remain unsolved. Ms Thompson includes well known high profile cases like Adam Walsh and Jon Benet Ramsey as well as some I'd never heard of. She made excellent choices. She introduced me to new crimes and offered new angles and information on some I'd been familiar with. Personally I was most affected by the case of Angie Housman. I was unfamiliar with the murder of this young girl in the 1990s but am haunted by it after reading Ms Thompson's chapter. I am emotionally affected by the details of the crime and the suffering of the child. That is how good Ms Thompson is.
The balance between facts and feelings as well as even handedness covering unsub and victim is perfect and that is hard to achieve in this genre. The crimes are detailed enough that an avid reader of true crime is satisfied (admit it part of the reason we read about this subject is because we have a fascination with human depravity and the horrific deeds a person can commit because we want to know why and how such people exist among us) but it is equally fact focused and victim focused for readers who prefer academic and human interest story angles. Ultimately, Ms Thompson wants to make sure we know who these children were in life which makes the way they died all the more tragic. Some true crime writers focus is exclusively on the victims and those they leave behind when the perpetrators are unknown. This leaves us wanting more information about the crime and investigation, theories and suspects. What I love about this book is that Ms Thompson focuses on both equally. She knows that true crime aficionados want both and she delivers. In my opinion, she works harder than some writers to give a well rounded account of a crime. At no point did I find myself bored or wishing for a different angle to be covered in any of the chapters. Her treatment of the victims and their families is respectful and in every case I was left with a feeling of how ordinary little things that make family life special are often taken for granted and when they are lost along with a child the emptiness is devastating. Especially when there is no closure to who took their baby from life.
In short, Ms Thompson is that rare true crime writer who educates, informs and tells a riveting story. I hope to read more by her in the future. If this is what she does with eighteen different cases, I can only imagine how incredible a full length book focusing on one case or one killer would be. I'd be thrilled if she'd take on a book about Angie Housman, but I'll read anything else she writes in the future.
I read a lot of true crime from the trashy to literary. I've been reading the genre for thirty years at least. I believe my first was Helter Skelter when I was a teenager. So I'd like to think I know a good true crime book when I read it. This book is above average. It is extremely well researched and written. Quality true crime books not only have a compelling story, but also good writing style and form. Ms Thompson has delivered quality.
The book covers eighteen separate unsolved cases of murdered children in the United States spanning the years 1956 to 1998. Because she presents the cases in chronological, historical order she shows us the progress that forensic science and police procedure makes from the 1950s through the 70's 80's and late 90's. She makes us see how frustrating it is that even with this progress the cases still remain unsolved. Ms Thompson includes well known high profile cases like Adam Walsh and Jon Benet Ramsey as well as some I'd never heard of. She made excellent choices. She introduced me to new crimes and offered new angles and information on some I'd been familiar with. Personally I was most affected by the case of Angie Housman. I was unfamiliar with the murder of this young girl in the 1990s but am haunted by it after reading Ms Thompson's chapter. I am emotionally affected by the details of the crime and the suffering of the child. That is how good Ms Thompson is.
The balance between facts and feelings as well as even handedness covering unsub and victim is perfect and that is hard to achieve in this genre. The crimes are detailed enough that an avid reader of true crime is satisfied (admit it part of the reason we read about this subject is because we have a fascination with human depravity and the horrific deeds a person can commit because we want to know why and how such people exist among us) but it is equally fact focused and victim focused for readers who prefer academic and human interest story angles. Ultimately, Ms Thompson wants to make sure we know who these children were in life which makes the way they died all the more tragic. Some true crime writers focus is exclusively on the victims and those they leave behind when the perpetrators are unknown. This leaves us wanting more information about the crime and investigation, theories and suspects. What I love about this book is that Ms Thompson focuses on both equally. She knows that true crime aficionados want both and she delivers. In my opinion, she works harder than some writers to give a well rounded account of a crime. At no point did I find myself bored or wishing for a different angle to be covered in any of the chapters. Her treatment of the victims and their families is respectful and in every case I was left with a feeling of how ordinary little things that make family life special are often taken for granted and when they are lost along with a child the emptiness is devastating. Especially when there is no closure to who took their baby from life.
In short, Ms Thompson is that rare true crime writer who educates, informs and tells a riveting story. I hope to read more by her in the future. If this is what she does with eighteen different cases, I can only imagine how incredible a full length book focusing on one case or one killer would be. I'd be thrilled if she'd take on a book about Angie Housman, but I'll read anything else she writes in the future.
June 17, 2021
This didn’t take me long to read because I like anything and everything true crime. I would love a part two about the solved cases (not that many were solved maybe 2-3 since the book came out). I knew about a good chunk of the cases but it was good reading on some I had no clue that existed.
Moral of the story: People are who hurt kids are scum.
Moral of the story: People are who hurt kids are scum.
March 5, 2018
In her first book, Thompson tackles a very dark and difficult subject; child homicide. It is a mixture of darkness and of hope, as well as the unfortunate reality.
For those who are familiar with her work online, it comes to no surprise that her book not only contains a large amount of research and knowledge. Thompson writes in a sensible manner, never short on detail or explanation. Whether the murder case is globally famous or is known on a smaller scale, she shows an equal amount of attention to each story and most importantly the central figures; the victims.
All together it's a fantastic first book. Well worth the read!
For those who are familiar with her work online, it comes to no surprise that her book not only contains a large amount of research and knowledge. Thompson writes in a sensible manner, never short on detail or explanation. Whether the murder case is globally famous or is known on a smaller scale, she shows an equal amount of attention to each story and most importantly the central figures; the victims.
All together it's a fantastic first book. Well worth the read!
November 23, 2019
What is worse than the loss of a child? Sometimes not knowing what happened? And not having any sense of justice as the case remains unsolved even decades later.
This well written and well researched book relays just a few of the many unsolved child murders in the states. Refreshing everyone’s minds on these cold cases can give new awareness of these cases.
I don’t know how people can live with themselves knowing something and not revealing it to give peace to these families. Someone somewhere knows the answer and these families deserve closure.
This well written and well researched book relays just a few of the many unsolved child murders in the states. Refreshing everyone’s minds on these cold cases can give new awareness of these cases.
I don’t know how people can live with themselves knowing something and not revealing it to give peace to these families. Someone somewhere knows the answer and these families deserve closure.
September 1, 2020
4.5 stars
This book is heartbreaking. I cried, I got angry and I felt sad. How someone can decide our destiny and take away our lives. It is so unfair. I hope someday they can find justice... Even if the killers are no longer here, I just want to give peace to these children and their families.
This book took me months to finish, because it was too rough to read.
This book is heartbreaking. I cried, I got angry and I felt sad. How someone can decide our destiny and take away our lives. It is so unfair. I hope someday they can find justice... Even if the killers are no longer here, I just want to give peace to these children and their families.
This book took me months to finish, because it was too rough to read.
February 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be real compassionate and didn't skim past the facts. It really is a sad book but and really shows how incompetent the police force can sometimes be... Maybe with new forensics etc we can see some of these cases solved.... It gives us hope. Parts of the book really brought a tear to my eye because of the writing style of the author.
January 3, 2018
When I started to read the first page of this book I couldn’t put it down! It’s incredibly interesting and very well written. I loved it so much!
March 4, 2018
Things you need to know
Accounts of murdered children are always heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. When those cases go unsolved, the pain goes on and families cannot heal. This book is filled with stories of murdered children whose killers have not been caught and punished.
Perhaps there is no adequate punishment for a child killer. But we must still do our utmost to remove them from society, to lock them in a secure place, to protect other children from their evil.
Progress is being made with tougher laws and penalties for those who harm children. That's why it sickens us when law enforcement refuses to do their job and sometimes obstructs the course of justice.
We need the information in this book. We need to be aware of the dangers our children face. We need to know these stories because at some point we may learn something that would help to solve a cold case.
I haven't said anything specific about the book because the title speaks for itself. Read this book. Read more books like this one. Be aware. Be observant. Teach your children self-defense.
8
Accounts of murdered children are always heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. When those cases go unsolved, the pain goes on and families cannot heal. This book is filled with stories of murdered children whose killers have not been caught and punished.
Perhaps there is no adequate punishment for a child killer. But we must still do our utmost to remove them from society, to lock them in a secure place, to protect other children from their evil.
Progress is being made with tougher laws and penalties for those who harm children. That's why it sickens us when law enforcement refuses to do their job and sometimes obstructs the course of justice.
We need the information in this book. We need to be aware of the dangers our children face. We need to know these stories because at some point we may learn something that would help to solve a cold case.
I haven't said anything specific about the book because the title speaks for itself. Read this book. Read more books like this one. Be aware. Be observant. Teach your children self-defense.
8
December 19, 2021
Many well-known child murders addressed going decades back. A number of them are so recent we remember when they happened. Jon Benet Ramsay, Adam Walsh, as well as some we are not as familiar with. All unsolved. The bodies have been found in some, in other cases there is no evidence. It brings back a lot of cases in which DNA evidence would have helped early on, and cases that are so baffling DNA may not have helped anyway. It highlights positive results from some-- America's most wanted, Meagan's law. Interesting book if you just want a general overview of 18 cases. Doesn't dig deep into any specific one. Just depends what you are looking for.
July 19, 2018
I've been following Emily's blog Congenitaldisease for a few years now, and when I found out that she was releasing a book I was beyond excited! Her blog is very well written, thoroughly researched and has a writing style that keeps you coming back for more.
As a mother, it's always disheartening to read about this sort of subject matter, but these children deserve a voice. I highly recommend this book to anyone with even a smidgen of interest in true crime.
As a mother, it's always disheartening to read about this sort of subject matter, but these children deserve a voice. I highly recommend this book to anyone with even a smidgen of interest in true crime.
March 19, 2023
My Review and Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book. It's heart wrenching. Intense, graphic and most of all it's an emotional reality of True Crime. Emily Thompson gives a voice to the victims and the family of the victims. Each case is written flawlessly and comes together in vivid realities. You the reader are placed there inside the crime. You become apart of the horror and sadness and brutality. The stories linger inside your mind long after the book is over and it makes you question and wonder what really happened? Who did what? Will they ever be solved?
I read this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I have always been fascinated with Cold Cases and Unsolved Murders and the details of what goes on in theses cases. There is nothing more disturbing and sad than the death and murder and rape of a child. Emily Thompson sheds light on these stories and gives a wonderful exploration of everything involved. I knew about many of these cases, but the way Emily writes it's as if your reading about them for the first time.
Emily Thompson has a unique and dynamic way of writing that truly grabs you and never lets you go.
The stories inside this book can haunt you. The murders of these children still haunt today, years, decades after the crimes. Each child, is calling out for justice and yet they have not received that peace they need.
What is good and stands out as important is when authors pick up the pen and share the stories of these unsolved crimes. Emily like many others shed new light on these old cases and that is very important to the cause of trying to solve these cases. These cases should never be forgotten or over looked. They need justice, they need to be solved.
Emily Thompson wrote a fantastic book. Many of these cases gave me nightmares. The reality of knowing so many of these cases just linger with no answers. Emily gave a voice to these crying children from the grave. Emily like so many others who write about cold cases spread the information throughout pages in books to help bring more awareness to these brutal unsolved child murders.
The Cases mentioned in this Book:
The Grimes Sisters
The Boy in the Box ( I have always been fascinated by this case. With all the technology we have we should be able to solve so many of these cases. I think the Detectives should take DNA from this boy and run it in Genealogy Data base and see if there are any distant relatives that have put there DNA into these data base.)
The Freeway Phantom
The Alphabet Murders
Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders
The Oakland County Child Killer ( Another case that has always stayed with me and given me great nightmares. I grew up and lived in the area where these murders took place and I have always been shocked and floored that this case has never been solved.)
The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders
Adam Walsh
Rachael Runyan
Johnny Gosch (Another weird and confusing case. I don't know what to make of the mothers claims. I have always kept an open mind while researching this case. I have read her book and also the books on the Franklin Cover Up Conspiracies and its one odd duck of a case that still to this day shocks and amazes me.)
April Tinsley
Jacyln Dowaliby (I remember when this case happened. I was young and just had gotten into researching and reading True Crime cases and this was one of the first cases that I ever followed in the newspapers and news. It's a case that haunts my childhood nightmares.)
Amy Mihaljevic
Angie Housman
JonBenet Ramsey
Amber Hagerman
Levi Frady ( A very odd and strange case. I had never heard of this one and was fascinated with what Emily wrote about it. Truly a weird unsolved crime.)
Christina Marie Williams
Final Thoughts: I highly recommend this book. It's well researched. Well written. It explores fascinating and tragic true crime cases. It explores the victims and also the detailed crime that took place. I feel this is a book worthy to praise and explore. I think any true crime buff will absolutely take to this book.
Would I Return to Again: Absolutely. I already have read several of the stories over again. Each one is a fascinating trip in true crime and the realty of unsolved cold cases.
Would I Recommend: Absolutely to anyone. This is not just a True Crime book, it's a well written book period. Each Chapter or Each case brings an emotional reality that creates inside you a complex emotional reality that lingers in your thoughts.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Four Word Description: Informative. Well Researched. Brilliant.
I absolutely loved this book. It's heart wrenching. Intense, graphic and most of all it's an emotional reality of True Crime. Emily Thompson gives a voice to the victims and the family of the victims. Each case is written flawlessly and comes together in vivid realities. You the reader are placed there inside the crime. You become apart of the horror and sadness and brutality. The stories linger inside your mind long after the book is over and it makes you question and wonder what really happened? Who did what? Will they ever be solved?
I read this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I have always been fascinated with Cold Cases and Unsolved Murders and the details of what goes on in theses cases. There is nothing more disturbing and sad than the death and murder and rape of a child. Emily Thompson sheds light on these stories and gives a wonderful exploration of everything involved. I knew about many of these cases, but the way Emily writes it's as if your reading about them for the first time.
Emily Thompson has a unique and dynamic way of writing that truly grabs you and never lets you go.
The stories inside this book can haunt you. The murders of these children still haunt today, years, decades after the crimes. Each child, is calling out for justice and yet they have not received that peace they need.
What is good and stands out as important is when authors pick up the pen and share the stories of these unsolved crimes. Emily like many others shed new light on these old cases and that is very important to the cause of trying to solve these cases. These cases should never be forgotten or over looked. They need justice, they need to be solved.
Emily Thompson wrote a fantastic book. Many of these cases gave me nightmares. The reality of knowing so many of these cases just linger with no answers. Emily gave a voice to these crying children from the grave. Emily like so many others who write about cold cases spread the information throughout pages in books to help bring more awareness to these brutal unsolved child murders.
The Cases mentioned in this Book:
The Grimes Sisters
The Boy in the Box ( I have always been fascinated by this case. With all the technology we have we should be able to solve so many of these cases. I think the Detectives should take DNA from this boy and run it in Genealogy Data base and see if there are any distant relatives that have put there DNA into these data base.)
The Freeway Phantom
The Alphabet Murders
Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders
The Oakland County Child Killer ( Another case that has always stayed with me and given me great nightmares. I grew up and lived in the area where these murders took place and I have always been shocked and floored that this case has never been solved.)
The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders
Adam Walsh
Rachael Runyan
Johnny Gosch (Another weird and confusing case. I don't know what to make of the mothers claims. I have always kept an open mind while researching this case. I have read her book and also the books on the Franklin Cover Up Conspiracies and its one odd duck of a case that still to this day shocks and amazes me.)
April Tinsley
Jacyln Dowaliby (I remember when this case happened. I was young and just had gotten into researching and reading True Crime cases and this was one of the first cases that I ever followed in the newspapers and news. It's a case that haunts my childhood nightmares.)
Amy Mihaljevic
Angie Housman
JonBenet Ramsey
Amber Hagerman
Levi Frady ( A very odd and strange case. I had never heard of this one and was fascinated with what Emily wrote about it. Truly a weird unsolved crime.)
Christina Marie Williams
Final Thoughts: I highly recommend this book. It's well researched. Well written. It explores fascinating and tragic true crime cases. It explores the victims and also the detailed crime that took place. I feel this is a book worthy to praise and explore. I think any true crime buff will absolutely take to this book.
Would I Return to Again: Absolutely. I already have read several of the stories over again. Each one is a fascinating trip in true crime and the realty of unsolved cold cases.
Would I Recommend: Absolutely to anyone. This is not just a True Crime book, it's a well written book period. Each Chapter or Each case brings an emotional reality that creates inside you a complex emotional reality that lingers in your thoughts.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Four Word Description: Informative. Well Researched. Brilliant.
January 13, 2018
Judging from the other reviews this is this author's first book and wow what a great book it was. It takes a special sort of person to be able to write a book of this nature and to pull it off with the clear compassion that the author did. It really felt like the author cares for the children involved in the cases and wants to see the cases solved. I liked at the end she included the phone numbers for each task force if any reader knew any information. I felt that it was flowed well and very well written.
I was kind of sceptical at first because sometimes books that include multiple cases can often leave out much information and even seem kind of "copy paste" wikipedia articles but this book, which details 18 cases, was not one of those... There were some more known cases like JonBenet Ramsey and others which I hadn't even heard of like Rachael Runyan. I think I'm a true crime buff but there was lots of new information in here that I didn't know about.
Great read. I hope there is more to come.
I was kind of sceptical at first because sometimes books that include multiple cases can often leave out much information and even seem kind of "copy paste" wikipedia articles but this book, which details 18 cases, was not one of those... There were some more known cases like JonBenet Ramsey and others which I hadn't even heard of like Rachael Runyan. I think I'm a true crime buff but there was lots of new information in here that I didn't know about.
Great read. I hope there is more to come.
January 17, 2018
I loved this book! The author is so respectful, all through the book! It was an educational though exciting experience. The stories are well detailed and factual, which is a key element in a true crime book in my opinion. Despite of the dark and sad topic it was an uplifting reading.
April 6, 2018
Always a pleasure to read something from Emily! Her writing is on point and it always keep you interested.
Anybody can enjoy this book, really easy to understand.
Anybody can enjoy this book, really easy to understand.
June 18, 2020
It seems morbid to read about unsolved child murders but this book was a very interesting read. It provided all the facts of the cases without leaning towards one side or the other as far as who did it. As the reader, I felt like I was able to take the facts and draw my own conclusions where I could.
Some of the cases in this book have been solved since it’s publication but the fact remains that it took 20+ years for these children to get justice. Most of them still don’t have justice.
A truly fascinating read for anyone who enjoys true crime.
Some of the cases in this book have been solved since it’s publication but the fact remains that it took 20+ years for these children to get justice. Most of them still don’t have justice.
A truly fascinating read for anyone who enjoys true crime.
October 28, 2020
Really well written true crime book. Subject is distressing but an interesting read for true crime fans.
May 11, 2020
Extremely Informative and Well Researched
I greatly enjoyed this book and how much care clearly went into telling the stories of these children in a rational and sensitive way. I can only hope that one day, at least one of the cases in this book will be solved. An excellent read for anyone interested in True Crime.
I greatly enjoyed this book and how much care clearly went into telling the stories of these children in a rational and sensitive way. I can only hope that one day, at least one of the cases in this book will be solved. An excellent read for anyone interested in True Crime.
February 7, 2018
I have always had an interest in true crime but never took the leap from just reading free internet content to actually purchasing something on the topic until recently. I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase I could barely put it down. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in true crime or just someone looking for an interesting read. I can't wait for more from this author.
July 22, 2022
I have been following Emily's work since her tumblr days (when her account used to get deleted and we'd all have to hunt her down again when she'd pop up with a new username). She always struck me as an eloquent and intelligent writer who held a deep amount of respect for victims of crime, which I think is evident in this book. If you're a fan of true crime but want to learn about more obscure crimes, read this book but also check out her podcast, Morbidology. It's so good!
September 2, 2019
Both wonderfully written, and tragically sad.
A book you can't take your eyes away from, but is also so incredibly hard to real. Johnson really captures the unsettling feeling of loss and love that the families of these missing and murdered children's families feel.
What makes it most sad is knowing these are just a few cases of far too many lost children.
A book you can't take your eyes away from, but is also so incredibly hard to real. Johnson really captures the unsettling feeling of loss and love that the families of these missing and murdered children's families feel.
What makes it most sad is knowing these are just a few cases of far too many lost children.
January 11, 2024
Falling in love with Emily G Thompson! This is the second book I have read from her. With this one however, I listened to it on audio.
It was a difficult listen and should be given a lot of thought if you do decide to read/listen to this one.
With it being on child murders, it is upsetting and traumatic.
A perfect read for true crime readers.
It was a difficult listen and should be given a lot of thought if you do decide to read/listen to this one.
With it being on child murders, it is upsetting and traumatic.
A perfect read for true crime readers.
June 1, 2019
Tough topic to read about but the author did a great job at remaining empathetic and straight forward throughout. I would love to see another from this author from 1998 - 2019 like someone else suggested.
August 23, 2019
Excellent Compendium
It highlighted cases that faded from the headlines but still need resolution. Some of the cases I would like to research further. Their families need answers and these children deserve justice.
It highlighted cases that faded from the headlines but still need resolution. Some of the cases I would like to research further. Their families need answers and these children deserve justice.
June 27, 2022
This was very interesting and informative and surprisingly I knew alot about many of the cases with only a few I'd never heard of before. I also enjoyed the history of the amber alert and other changes that came from some of these cases.
January 9, 2018
Absolutely fascinating book. Some cases I have never heard of and will be researching more thoroughly! Well written! Loved it!
September 22, 2019
Amazingly in the year since this was written several of these cases have been cracked thanks to new DNA techniques. But that still leaves over a dozen with no answers. Really disturbing...
December 27, 2020
scary, quick but informative and gruesome chapters about the cases.
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