Search for the Strangler: My Hunt for Boston's Most Notorious Killer

by Casey Sherman, Dick Lehr

Originally published as "A Rose for Mary," this account by the nephew of the so-called Boston Strangler's last victim details his ten-year quest to find the real killer of 13 women in the early 1960s, and describes an unlikely alliance with the family of self-confessed murderer Albert DeSalvo. photos.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Casey Sherman is a New York Times Bestselling Author of 13 books including The Finest Hours (now a major motion picture starring Casey Affleck & Chris Pine), Boston Strong (the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg), Animal & Hunting Whitey.
Sherman is also the author of 12, Search for the Strangler, Animal, Bad Blood, Black Irish, Black Dragon, Above & Beyond and The Ice Bucket Challenge.
Sherman is a contributing writer for TIME, Esquire, Washington Post, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine and has appeared as a guest an analyst on more than 100 television news programs.
Sherman is a graduate of Barnstable High School (Cape Cod), Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg, Me.) and Boston University.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could picture every scene like I was watching a documentary while reading this book. You can tell how emotionally involved the author is with this cold case and the pain is ever apparent. If you're into true crime this is a book you won't want to overlook!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in the Boston area, The Strangler is part of our history/folklore.

What I liked most about this book is the approach from a family's perspective. I think I would've enjoyed the book better if I wasn't from the area and didn't know what happened. While I may not have been privy to some of the conspiracy, I felt like I already knew what happened.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit off the traditional track of true crime, and a bit toward a personal memoir of citizen-driven sleuthing. Still full of the details of bad, bad men that we expect, just with a twist where we learn what the bad guy did not do. This fellow is a good writer and I’d happily read more of his work.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

true crime and mysteries and thrillers all rolled into one

[Summer Leblanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting information on the Boston Strangler case. I couldn't put the book down.

[Joolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing, jam packed with information about the murders, cover ups, and mystery that surrounds the story. Written by the nephew of the last alledged murdered victim, he wanted to the know the truth and he found it...mostly. This is such a small paperback, that im astounded by its content, you really wouldnt need to read any other books on the murders, it all here!

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I was surprised and totally hooked. Read the full review on my blog Reading,Reading&Life

[Mary Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes you say hmmmm

It's especially interesting to read this in light of semi-recent developments establishing DeSalvo "definitively" as the killer of Mary Sullivan. I will never understand turf wars between groups of people supposedly working towards the same goal.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this one, as a solid work of revisionist history and as a well-written true crime story. Argues that Albert De Salvo was not the Strangler, as most people believe. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written/ told.

[Billie Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't read this as Non-Fiction or Fiction.. so I gave up..