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A Special Kind Of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings
For four years a killer, or killers, stalked Virginia’s Tidewater region, carefully selecting victims, sending waves of terror into the local community. Young people in the prime of their lives were the targets. But the pattern that stitched this special kind of evil together was more like a spider web of theory, intrigue, and mathematics. Then, mysteriously, the killing spree stopped. The nameless predator, or predators, who stalked the Colonial Parkway stepped back into the mists of time and disappeared.
Now, father-daughter true crime authors Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester blow the dust off of these cases. Interviewing members of the families, friends, and members of law enforcement, they provide the first and most complete in-depth look at this string of horrific murders and disappearances. The author-investigators peel back the rumors and myths surrounding these crimes and provide new information never before revealed about the investigations.
Now, father-daughter true crime authors Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester blow the dust off of these cases. Interviewing members of the families, friends, and members of law enforcement, they provide the first and most complete in-depth look at this string of horrific murders and disappearances. The author-investigators peel back the rumors and myths surrounding these crimes and provide new information never before revealed about the investigations.
382 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2017
439 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Blaine Lee Pardoe
94 books116 followersBlaine Pardoe is a New York Times Bestselling and award winning author of numerous books in the science fiction, military non-fiction, true crime, paranormal, and business management genre's. He has appeared on a number of national television and radio shows to speak about his books. Pardoe has been a featured speaker at the US National Archives, the United States Navy Museum, and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. He was awarded the State History Award in 2011 by the Historical Society of Michigan and is a silver medal winner from the Military Writers Society of America in 2010. In 2013 he was awarded the Harritt Quimby Award as part of the induction ceremony at the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Pardoe is also a member of the League of WWI Aviation Historians.
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 16, 2017
3.5 out of 5 stars A father-daughter true crime writing team takes an in-depth look at a 30-year-old series of cases known as the Colonial Parkway Serial Killings. This was a group of murders that came in pairs until it suddenly stopped after there had been 8 killings total. The cases have haunted many of those left behind, not just the victim's families, but many of the investigators and others who cannot forget...the people left wondering is it really over now or not. Most especially the families of the 2 victims whose bodies have never been recovered. We can only hope that this fresh attention to these killings can trigger the right kind of information coming out, and help move this case forward to a conclusion. If the responsible people are still alive they need to be caught and made to pay. The families need to finally get an outcome.
This is the second family team of true crime writers I've encountered recently doing such work, as I just finished a book by another father and daughter team, Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James, authors of "The Man from the Train", due out on September 19, 2017. Perhaps it's a new trend in writing?
My thanks to NetGalley, BlueWater Press, and the authors, for making the ARC available to me for my review.
This is the second family team of true crime writers I've encountered recently doing such work, as I just finished a book by another father and daughter team, Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James, authors of "The Man from the Train", due out on September 19, 2017. Perhaps it's a new trend in writing?
My thanks to NetGalley, BlueWater Press, and the authors, for making the ARC available to me for my review.
August 20, 2017
As a local who grew up hearing about the chilling Parkway killings, I was excited to read this and learn more about what happened. The facts are presented clearly, from the cases to the investigations, and all of the popular whodunit theories are also explored - and some even debunked. This was an engrossing read, and I liked that the authors dedicated much of the book to describing the victims. So often they're grouped together by last name or murder number only, but this book remembers them for the individuals that they were.
I did notice a few editing errors (ie: misspelling a local vacation spot), but overall this was a very well done work and all of the local areas (places, towns, etc) were described in spot on detail. It was actually a bit surreal reading about places I know so well and how they relate to the murders. These murders have long haunted the area, giving the beautiful parkway a sinister edge and leaving all of us wondering who the killer (or killers) could be. I think this book sums up the general feeling quite well, as well as giving respect to the victims and their families. I'd definitely recommend it.
I did notice a few editing errors (ie: misspelling a local vacation spot), but overall this was a very well done work and all of the local areas (places, towns, etc) were described in spot on detail. It was actually a bit surreal reading about places I know so well and how they relate to the murders. These murders have long haunted the area, giving the beautiful parkway a sinister edge and leaving all of us wondering who the killer (or killers) could be. I think this book sums up the general feeling quite well, as well as giving respect to the victims and their families. I'd definitely recommend it.
July 12, 2017
A chilling look back at eight unsolved murders from Virginia's Colonial Parkway area. Leaves you wondering where is this killer now? Dead? In prison? Or stalking others in some new location? Well-written with lots of current information and interviews with the long-suffering families of the victims!
February 27, 2018
I don't usually read true crime books -- I only read this one because I remember these murders happening in our area. The book does appear to have been thoroughly researched. However, I found the awful grammar and other mistakes distracting. These authors need an editor!
November 20, 2017
This was an interesting book since I grew up in the area. As a writer, I was a bit distracted by the technique and wish they’d spent a bit more time in the editing process.
July 31, 2017
A most excellent book
This is a thorough coverage of the Colonial Parkway Murders and the investigations of the crimes. The murder victims were all young couples (the oldest being 27, the youngest, 14) who lost their lives to an unknown murderer or murderers.
One of the most devastating aspects of the story is that the killer has never been found; therefore, there has been no justice for the victims and their families. In addition, the bodies of one couple have never been recovered.
The number of errors in the book was disturbing to me -- I noted at least 110 errors. This is distracting for the reader and takes away from the quality of the work.
This is the most thorough treatment of a true crime story I have read in that the authors stay with the case and do not chase rabbits or include useless information. However, I thought the Introduction and Foreword (or Prologue) were both unnecessary and gave away too much of the story.
110
This is a thorough coverage of the Colonial Parkway Murders and the investigations of the crimes. The murder victims were all young couples (the oldest being 27, the youngest, 14) who lost their lives to an unknown murderer or murderers.
One of the most devastating aspects of the story is that the killer has never been found; therefore, there has been no justice for the victims and their families. In addition, the bodies of one couple have never been recovered.
The number of errors in the book was disturbing to me -- I noted at least 110 errors. This is distracting for the reader and takes away from the quality of the work.
This is the most thorough treatment of a true crime story I have read in that the authors stay with the case and do not chase rabbits or include useless information. However, I thought the Introduction and Foreword (or Prologue) were both unnecessary and gave away too much of the story.
110
August 22, 2017
This was a different kind of true crime book as the crimes are considered cold cases and have never been solved. The authors wrote the book so that us the "readers" could maybe help solve the cases as all the murders happened in Virginia and the killer or killers have never been brought to justice.
The killer took eight lives and obviously is still walking this earth, while the families are wondering if the person will ever be captured. The book contains very graphic detail and also includes photos of the victims. Giving it a four star read as it was fast paced and kept me reading to the end of the book.
The killer took eight lives and obviously is still walking this earth, while the families are wondering if the person will ever be captured. The book contains very graphic detail and also includes photos of the victims. Giving it a four star read as it was fast paced and kept me reading to the end of the book.
July 18, 2017
Who gets away with murder? Not just one or two, but eight? True crime writers Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester want to know, and with A Special Kind of Evil, delve into what has become known as Virginia's Colonial Parkway killings. Dating back to the late 1980s, these horrific and unsolved crimes make for chilling, yet compelling reading. Pardoe and Hester deliver their detailed accounts of the crimes and the subsequent investigations through interviews with family, friends, and investigators. Their somewhat folksy and conversational style is disarming, and at times one forgets the shockingly brutal nature of the crimes. As quickly as these crimes surfaced, they ended. And like the authors, one is left anxiously asking questions and seeking definitive answers. An auspicious work for this writing duo.
August 1, 2017
In "A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings" authors Blaine L. Pardoe and Victoria R. Hester have penned a stunning and evocative true-life crime book that should be the benchmark for how other books are written in this genre. With care and respect for the victims and their families and investigative writing that examines all the facts and details, Pardoe and Hester's book is a must-read on many levels.
I was especially moved by the way the authors told each of the victim's stories; by the time you finished reading each one of them, you felt drawn into their tragedy as though you personally knew each victim. I was also impressed with their thorough analysis of how law enforcement agencies responded to the killings and their attempts to find out who the killers were.
Very powerful and evocative writing. Well-done, Mr. Pardoe, and Ms. Hester.
I was especially moved by the way the authors told each of the victim's stories; by the time you finished reading each one of them, you felt drawn into their tragedy as though you personally knew each victim. I was also impressed with their thorough analysis of how law enforcement agencies responded to the killings and their attempts to find out who the killers were.
Very powerful and evocative writing. Well-done, Mr. Pardoe, and Ms. Hester.
August 14, 2017
Father and daughter True Crime author team, Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester, explore the Colonial Parkway Murders that occurred in the late 1980s in Virginia. The eight victims ranged in age from 14 to 27 with only six bodies being recovered. The authors do a very good job going over the evidence and re-interviewing people involved in the cases at the time they happened. As quickly as the murders started, they suddenly ended. There was much speculation concerning the murders, were they connected, and who might have committed them although no one has ever been charged or convicted of them. This was a very informative read but there were a lot of grammatical errors in it.
April 2, 2018
I'm a bit dubious about the rationale these authors have for writing this book. Each of the victims is described in depth through interviews of family and friends. Known facts and various theories of the cases are presented in detail. Remaining questions are clearly outlined. But these are very, very cold cases and suggesting this book might prompt a resolution seems a stretch. And if it does, who will let us know?
Lee Ann Howlett's performance is quite satisfactory. I didn't catch any glaring errors in either delivery or production.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Lee Ann Howlett's performance is quite satisfactory. I didn't catch any glaring errors in either delivery or production.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 23, 2017
Interesting read. I normally do not read unsolved books but because I loved a book about another unsolved case Long Island serial killings, I decided to give this one a try. The authors were quite good at giving the victims a voice which I liked a lot but this case has so many questions. Most importantly they are not even sure they are all connected. Good true crime book.
July 30, 2017
Finally, a true crime book about families waiting to get answers...
June 7, 2024
2.5. Good overview of the cases but had a lot of difficulty with the storytelling. Did excellent job covering the lives of the victims but not told particularly compellingly. It was fine but I want more in my true crime.
October 4, 2017
Too often, we - readers of true crime and society in general - get caught up in the killer's vortex. We want to know how and why he/she wound up as a cold-blooded killer. We are drawn to and fascinated by that dark side. In the process, it's too easy to overlook the victims. We typically learn much about the killers, but little about the people he killed.
This book is the exact opposite of the typical true crime story. We learn nothing about the killer(s) because no one knows who he is. The murders remain unsolved. Instead, we get to know the victims as the people they were before someone made them a footnote in true crime history.
The book's format is well put together, and the writing is a conversational style. The authors introduce us to the victims and their families, showing us the lives lost and the devastation left behind by their murders. Instead of just 'victims', we have people with hopes and dreams, whose futures stretched out ahead of them with so much promise before a killer took it all away. Showing us this humanity is where the authors excel.
At times the writing gets slightly repetitive, with quotes and information repeated, but this is only a minor issue.
The problem I had with this book is not a fault of the authors. For reasons unknown, all law enforcement agencies involved in these murders refused to cooperate with the writing of this book. Despite this case being nearly 30 years old and as yet unsolved, the police would not share case files or any details at all that weren't already public knowledge. The authors were forced to rely on old newspaper articles and interviews with surviving friends and family members. Consequently, the story told feels lopsided. We're missing information typical of this genre about how the investigation played out. We also only see these crimes by way of media accounts, which are often unreliable, and family, who have their own biases. The authors do their best to navigate around the absence of the investigative viewpoint, though we're still left with a giant hole in the story.
Law enforcement's refusal to cooperate highlights and enforces how badly these crimes were handled by the organizations involved. (Local police, state police, and FBI) Long before these organizations refused to cooperate with the authors, they refused to cooperate with each other. This proprietary nonsense may well have allowed the killer or multiple killers to continue on the murder spree.
In reading this book, I found I'm not a big fan of a crime story told without the investigative elements. Really, shame on the quagmire of law enforcement agencies that refused to cooperate with the Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the authors. Even though this book felt somewhat incomplete to me, I commend the authors for humanizing the victims and bringing their story to the masses. I hope someone out there, even after all these years, knows something that finally brings closure to these murders.
*I was provided with a review copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
This book is the exact opposite of the typical true crime story. We learn nothing about the killer(s) because no one knows who he is. The murders remain unsolved. Instead, we get to know the victims as the people they were before someone made them a footnote in true crime history.
The book's format is well put together, and the writing is a conversational style. The authors introduce us to the victims and their families, showing us the lives lost and the devastation left behind by their murders. Instead of just 'victims', we have people with hopes and dreams, whose futures stretched out ahead of them with so much promise before a killer took it all away. Showing us this humanity is where the authors excel.
At times the writing gets slightly repetitive, with quotes and information repeated, but this is only a minor issue.
The problem I had with this book is not a fault of the authors. For reasons unknown, all law enforcement agencies involved in these murders refused to cooperate with the writing of this book. Despite this case being nearly 30 years old and as yet unsolved, the police would not share case files or any details at all that weren't already public knowledge. The authors were forced to rely on old newspaper articles and interviews with surviving friends and family members. Consequently, the story told feels lopsided. We're missing information typical of this genre about how the investigation played out. We also only see these crimes by way of media accounts, which are often unreliable, and family, who have their own biases. The authors do their best to navigate around the absence of the investigative viewpoint, though we're still left with a giant hole in the story.
Law enforcement's refusal to cooperate highlights and enforces how badly these crimes were handled by the organizations involved. (Local police, state police, and FBI) Long before these organizations refused to cooperate with the authors, they refused to cooperate with each other. This proprietary nonsense may well have allowed the killer or multiple killers to continue on the murder spree.
In reading this book, I found I'm not a big fan of a crime story told without the investigative elements. Really, shame on the quagmire of law enforcement agencies that refused to cooperate with the Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the authors. Even though this book felt somewhat incomplete to me, I commend the authors for humanizing the victims and bringing their story to the masses. I hope someone out there, even after all these years, knows something that finally brings closure to these murders.
*I was provided with a review copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
July 16, 2017
“A Special Kind of Evil” is that special kind of true-crime book that is both compelling and proactive, bolstered by solid research to shed unsettling light on a notorious crime spree from decades ago. Father-daughter true crime writing duo Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester deliver a page-turning account of the Colonial Parkway Serial Killings that is well-paced and expertly researched. Their methodical narrative marks the first in-depth exploration of this case, leading the reader through this 1980s crime story that terrorized Virginia’s Tidewater region. Taking full advantage of the benefit of time, the authors expertly pull together the many threads of this unsettling string of murders, weaving a compelling book that works on many levels. This is just the type of book that should hopefully lead to a renewed effort to close this cold case and write the last chapter in the true-crime tragedy. Well done!
September 15, 2017
I don't really have much to say for this book so my review will be brief.
I found this book a little more daunting then informative. A lot of things were missed due to no fault of the author's bit to authority figures that refused to digress information. Therefore, I feel, the book was only written halfway as it should have been and shouldn't have been done without all information readily available... like the hundreds of other true crime books I've read over the years.
I'm an aspiring criminologist, and this book just made me bite my lip in frustration. It wasn't amazing, it wasn't completely terrible, the writing was great but you can tell the author's tried too hard; inciting big words that weren't necessarily needed.
I think their overall objective was ambitious; wanting to bring forth new leads or similar. But unfortunately this case is over 30 years old and I'm sure that wouldn't be possible but the authors' hearts are in the right place.
Thank you netgalley, and the publishers, for giving me a chance to delve into this true crime book, I'm just sorry I couldn't rate higher.
I found this book a little more daunting then informative. A lot of things were missed due to no fault of the author's bit to authority figures that refused to digress information. Therefore, I feel, the book was only written halfway as it should have been and shouldn't have been done without all information readily available... like the hundreds of other true crime books I've read over the years.
I'm an aspiring criminologist, and this book just made me bite my lip in frustration. It wasn't amazing, it wasn't completely terrible, the writing was great but you can tell the author's tried too hard; inciting big words that weren't necessarily needed.
I think their overall objective was ambitious; wanting to bring forth new leads or similar. But unfortunately this case is over 30 years old and I'm sure that wouldn't be possible but the authors' hearts are in the right place.
Thank you netgalley, and the publishers, for giving me a chance to delve into this true crime book, I'm just sorry I couldn't rate higher.
June 17, 2018
I picked this book up after sitting through the Colonial Parkway Serial Killings at CrimeCon 2018. The speakers were all so passionate about the stories. And intent on finding answers. So I decided to buy the book.
I really enjoyed how the authors told the stories. They were so great in honoring the victims as the people they were. This book was very victim-centric, which is so important in the world of True Crime.
The book was well-structured, going along in a very logician way. I appreciated that the authors obviously side in favor of all these murders being connected, but they still explored how they might be separate. It was just a well-done book. I wish more law enforcement had been willing to take pet. This case needs all the attention it can get.
Definitely worth a read.
I really enjoyed how the authors told the stories. They were so great in honoring the victims as the people they were. This book was very victim-centric, which is so important in the world of True Crime.
The book was well-structured, going along in a very logician way. I appreciated that the authors obviously side in favor of all these murders being connected, but they still explored how they might be separate. It was just a well-done book. I wish more law enforcement had been willing to take pet. This case needs all the attention it can get.
Definitely worth a read.
July 25, 2017
I liked this true crime book. I think that the authors laid out all of the reasons why they think 8 murders can be attributed to one murderer (or a pair of killers). The authors spent time writing about the victims and law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, the reader can tell that the police, multiple jurisdictions, and law enforcement agencies did not cooperate, and let the murderer get away.
The families of the victims are left with nothing but memories and hope that this 30 year old mystery will ultimately be solved. A good book, easy read, leaves you frustrated for the poor families.
The families of the victims are left with nothing but memories and hope that this 30 year old mystery will ultimately be solved. A good book, easy read, leaves you frustrated for the poor families.
July 26, 2017
Good story about still unsolved murders
These killings occurred not very far from where my and I live, yet I have never previously heard about any of them, even though there is a pretty good possibility there are eighty young people dead or missing and this is probably the work of one or more serial killers. Well written.
These killings occurred not very far from where my and I live, yet I have never previously heard about any of them, even though there is a pretty good possibility there are eighty young people dead or missing and this is probably the work of one or more serial killers. Well written.
September 19, 2017
Mixed feelings on this one. It was very intriguing (particularly because it is an unsolved case) but it was very repetitive. The author repeated quotes and facts over and over. It got to the point where it bogged down the flow of the book, but overall the book was still a good read. Very scary that the killer has not been caught.
August 10, 2017
Interesting read
This book does a great job telling the story of the victims. It offers a very clear roundup of current ideas abut who might have killed the 8 people, and if the 4 cases are related.
This book does a great job telling the story of the victims. It offers a very clear roundup of current ideas abut who might have killed the 8 people, and if the 4 cases are related.
August 26, 2017
Wow.
This book started out slow but picked up very quickly. I felt bad for the families. What a horrific way to know how your child died. I loved the author's attention to details. I would recommend.
This book started out slow but picked up very quickly. I felt bad for the families. What a horrific way to know how your child died. I loved the author's attention to details. I would recommend.
November 1, 2018
Interesting subject
While seemingly well-researched, the author rambles and repeats facts unnecessarily. The writing was strangely worded at times, could use some editing. But overall seems to be a solid overview of the cases.
While seemingly well-researched, the author rambles and repeats facts unnecessarily. The writing was strangely worded at times, could use some editing. But overall seems to be a solid overview of the cases.
September 5, 2018
Eh. This wasn't exactly well written. There were a lot of quotes that were repeated. The material was interesting though. Crazy story.
July 17, 2017
‘A Special Kind of Evil’ by the father and daughter team of Blaine L. Pardoe and Victoria R. Hester examines the so-called Colonial Parkway serial killings, named after the national park where two of the victims’ cars were abandoned.
The crimes had four pairs of victims over a four-year period, namely, Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski in 1986; David Knobling and Robin Edwards in 1987; Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey (whose remains have yet to be discovered) in 1988; and Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer in 1989.
These crimes have not been solved and Pardoe and Hester write that rather than theorising they will simply state the facts, in the hope that this might “generate new tips, new leads”, so as to bring closure to these cold cases and justice to their victims.
This is doubtless a noble aspiration but it seems a rather forlorn hope not only given the length of time since the offences were committed but also because some of those involved refused to be interviewed and the authorities (the FBI and Virginia State Police) have refused to open their files to the authors, despite Freedom of Information Act requests.
Superficially Pardoe and Hester appear to have been very conscientious in sifting through all the evidence that is otherwise available to them but alarm bells ring when they state that many quotations from contemporary newspapers come from “clipping files from a number of libraries around the country” but that often these clipping files “were incomplete in terms of identifying the source newspaper, date or page.” Are any libraries really so slapdash as not to provide such basic information? And if this is so, how were Pardoe and Hester able to locate this information in the first place?
Despite this not very promising framework for their investigations, the authors do manage to produce a readable narrative and deserve credit for managing to focus much of their attention on the victims and their loved ones rather than on their unknown killer or killers. Nevertheless, the open-ended nature of this case is bound to render any book on the subject leaving its readers feeling better informed by the end but still fundamentally up in the air.
The crimes had four pairs of victims over a four-year period, namely, Cathy Thomas and Rebecca Dowski in 1986; David Knobling and Robin Edwards in 1987; Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey (whose remains have yet to be discovered) in 1988; and Annamaria Phelps and Daniel Lauer in 1989.
These crimes have not been solved and Pardoe and Hester write that rather than theorising they will simply state the facts, in the hope that this might “generate new tips, new leads”, so as to bring closure to these cold cases and justice to their victims.
This is doubtless a noble aspiration but it seems a rather forlorn hope not only given the length of time since the offences were committed but also because some of those involved refused to be interviewed and the authorities (the FBI and Virginia State Police) have refused to open their files to the authors, despite Freedom of Information Act requests.
Superficially Pardoe and Hester appear to have been very conscientious in sifting through all the evidence that is otherwise available to them but alarm bells ring when they state that many quotations from contemporary newspapers come from “clipping files from a number of libraries around the country” but that often these clipping files “were incomplete in terms of identifying the source newspaper, date or page.” Are any libraries really so slapdash as not to provide such basic information? And if this is so, how were Pardoe and Hester able to locate this information in the first place?
Despite this not very promising framework for their investigations, the authors do manage to produce a readable narrative and deserve credit for managing to focus much of their attention on the victims and their loved ones rather than on their unknown killer or killers. Nevertheless, the open-ended nature of this case is bound to render any book on the subject leaving its readers feeling better informed by the end but still fundamentally up in the air.
July 18, 2017
Highly recommended: the new book on the unsolved Colonial Parkway Murders, 'A Special Kind of Evil: The Colonial Parkway Serial Killings' by true crime authors Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester, out now. Well worth reading, it explores how four young couples were killed in lovers' lanes in and around Williamsburg, Virginia from 1986 to 1989, four double homicides that remain unsolved. Blaine and Victoria spoke with a number of friends and family of the eight victims, together with knowledgeable journalists and reporters who have been covering the case for decades, as well as first responders and law enforcement investigators who worked the case, both on and off the record.
The authors capture the frustration of a group of family members still waiting for answers, pushing back against bureaucratic responses from agencies who often seem more interested in protecting their institutional interests than helping the families, including the FBI, National Park Service, and Virginia State Police. Amazingly, they even manage to get former FBI agents to speak with them, a rare feat. Blaine and Victoria use a conversational style, backed up by in-depth research, which paints a strong picture of the time and place and makes the sometimes heartbreaking details of young lives cut short a bit easier to take. Their contrast of the beauty of the Tidewater area of Virginia, home to historic sites Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown and a major military complex in Norfolk, with the terrible crimes that occurred along these lovely back roads is particularly striking. If you enjoy true crime or historical fiction, you will enjoy 'A Special Kind of Evil.'
Full disclosure: my younger sister, Cathy Thomas, along with her friend Rebecca Dowski, were the first two victims in the Colonial Parkway Murders. We have also set up a new Facebook group, Colonial Parkway Murders, to discuss developments in the case. We hope that the book will help lead investigators to closing on the person(s) responsible for the Colonial Parkway Murders.
The authors capture the frustration of a group of family members still waiting for answers, pushing back against bureaucratic responses from agencies who often seem more interested in protecting their institutional interests than helping the families, including the FBI, National Park Service, and Virginia State Police. Amazingly, they even manage to get former FBI agents to speak with them, a rare feat. Blaine and Victoria use a conversational style, backed up by in-depth research, which paints a strong picture of the time and place and makes the sometimes heartbreaking details of young lives cut short a bit easier to take. Their contrast of the beauty of the Tidewater area of Virginia, home to historic sites Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown and a major military complex in Norfolk, with the terrible crimes that occurred along these lovely back roads is particularly striking. If you enjoy true crime or historical fiction, you will enjoy 'A Special Kind of Evil.'
Full disclosure: my younger sister, Cathy Thomas, along with her friend Rebecca Dowski, were the first two victims in the Colonial Parkway Murders. We have also set up a new Facebook group, Colonial Parkway Murders, to discuss developments in the case. We hope that the book will help lead investigators to closing on the person(s) responsible for the Colonial Parkway Murders.
October 28, 2017
The Mystery Lingers
I thought this was a well-organized and thoughtful work on these murders and I recommend it for anyone interested in this case.
What I took way from this book is that the handling that delayed the investigations played a critical part failure to solving these murders.
Each time the agencies made rush judgements that eventually were disproven. The failure of various agencies to pool evidence and work together allowed opportunities to fully research the evidence and make essential connections between the cases.
It should be a textbook case on the reasons for agencies to work together.
I'm not so sure it had to be two people working together. There have been multiple cases of a single killer murdering multiple victims. This person who did these crimes thought out methods to gain and maintain control of the victims. If the victims thought the person was an officer, they may have initially cooperated thinking they could clear up the situation and realized too late that they were dealing with a killer.
I wonder if the killer in the first case may not have realized until he got a better look at his victims that he was dealing with two women. By that time he could not let them go free because they would likely report the incident and they may have gotten a good enough look to identify him.
A drug deal gone wrong does not sound likely in one case does not ring true either. It seemed like a convenient conclusion because of the reputation of the area rather than the evidence and facts of the case. It seems like a lot of violence for a small amount of drugs and so little money.
I wonder if the killer spotted the victims elsewhere and figured out a way to herd them onto the parkway by flashing lights like a police car. Then the nature of the area made everything else necessary to commit the crimes fall into place, especially in the case where both victims were known to hate this area and avoided it as often as possible.
May be the book will inspire more discussion and encourage the development of a cold case task force that pools the evidence from all agencies to solve the case.
I really feel a sadness for the families. I have two close friends who lost family members to murder. One was the nephew of a friend who was the victim of an unsolved murder in a sting effort to shut down a major drug operation. The other was my friend's sister who was the victim of a serial killer. The case remained unsolved for 17 years. I also was friends in high school with two girls whose brother and his friend disappeared almost 45 years ago and the case remains unsolved. So I have seen first hand the suffering of family members and what a toll crimes like these take on families.
Hopefully this book will shake things loose on these cases and the families will get answers and some justice.
I thought this was a well-organized and thoughtful work on these murders and I recommend it for anyone interested in this case.
What I took way from this book is that the handling that delayed the investigations played a critical part failure to solving these murders.
Each time the agencies made rush judgements that eventually were disproven. The failure of various agencies to pool evidence and work together allowed opportunities to fully research the evidence and make essential connections between the cases.
It should be a textbook case on the reasons for agencies to work together.
I'm not so sure it had to be two people working together. There have been multiple cases of a single killer murdering multiple victims. This person who did these crimes thought out methods to gain and maintain control of the victims. If the victims thought the person was an officer, they may have initially cooperated thinking they could clear up the situation and realized too late that they were dealing with a killer.
I wonder if the killer in the first case may not have realized until he got a better look at his victims that he was dealing with two women. By that time he could not let them go free because they would likely report the incident and they may have gotten a good enough look to identify him.
A drug deal gone wrong does not sound likely in one case does not ring true either. It seemed like a convenient conclusion because of the reputation of the area rather than the evidence and facts of the case. It seems like a lot of violence for a small amount of drugs and so little money.
I wonder if the killer spotted the victims elsewhere and figured out a way to herd them onto the parkway by flashing lights like a police car. Then the nature of the area made everything else necessary to commit the crimes fall into place, especially in the case where both victims were known to hate this area and avoided it as often as possible.
May be the book will inspire more discussion and encourage the development of a cold case task force that pools the evidence from all agencies to solve the case.
I really feel a sadness for the families. I have two close friends who lost family members to murder. One was the nephew of a friend who was the victim of an unsolved murder in a sting effort to shut down a major drug operation. The other was my friend's sister who was the victim of a serial killer. The case remained unsolved for 17 years. I also was friends in high school with two girls whose brother and his friend disappeared almost 45 years ago and the case remains unsolved. So I have seen first hand the suffering of family members and what a toll crimes like these take on families.
Hopefully this book will shake things loose on these cases and the families will get answers and some justice.
May 20, 2018
Super fascinating and well researched; The authors had access to a wide variety of highly placed sources and resources. It's also evident that they care about the families of the victims and are completely respectful of them.
I live in Virginia and had no idea any of this happened; that includes the other murders referenced in the book like the serial killer on route 29 and the women killed in Shenandoah Park. The fact that this person (or persons) have never been caught is all the more terrifying.
My only problem was that the book really needed an editor. There were a wide variety of grammatical mistakes, lack of verb tense consistency, and a couple of really clunky paragraphs that left me unsure of background information. The one that still sticks out is the chapter about Robin Edwards. I couldn't tell if her mother and father were dating without seeing each other or if they had kids before they were married; it didn't make sense.
I hate to be nitpicky, but these errors and instances were prevalent enough to take me out of the story. That's unfortunate and frustrating, because the story is really compelling.
Sidenote, I hate using the word "story" since these were real life murders. Does anyone else feel this way or have any preferred word?!
That said, I do recommend it especially if you live in the area or are interested in true crime. I actually spent time doing some research after reading the book and wishing I could do something for these families.
I live in Virginia and had no idea any of this happened; that includes the other murders referenced in the book like the serial killer on route 29 and the women killed in Shenandoah Park. The fact that this person (or persons) have never been caught is all the more terrifying.
My only problem was that the book really needed an editor. There were a wide variety of grammatical mistakes, lack of verb tense consistency, and a couple of really clunky paragraphs that left me unsure of background information. The one that still sticks out is the chapter about Robin Edwards. I couldn't tell if her mother and father were dating without seeing each other or if they had kids before they were married; it didn't make sense.
I hate to be nitpicky, but these errors and instances were prevalent enough to take me out of the story. That's unfortunate and frustrating, because the story is really compelling.
Sidenote, I hate using the word "story" since these were real life murders. Does anyone else feel this way or have any preferred word?!
That said, I do recommend it especially if you live in the area or are interested in true crime. I actually spent time doing some research after reading the book and wishing I could do something for these families.
August 27, 2018
A special kind of evil is in one word interesting. There is a lot to digest in this book and it isn't always easy to do so. For those expecting a resolution to the case you will be sorely disappointed because this case is far from solved. What this book does is take all the existing information and puts it into one place while also going very deep into the lives of the victims to it's detriment at times which might make it hard for some reader's to get through. I will say that the authors state at the beginning of the book the focus was going to be on the victims and most of this book is about them by far more than most true crime books do. Having purchased the audio version of the book and while the narrator wasn't bad she wasn't great either, and the audio quality was pretty good. All in all if your looking for a true crime book more focused on the victims then the crime this is the book for you, a very interesting group of cases, bad police work and bad coverage by media at the time make the case even more interesting then most.
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