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Darker than Night: The True Story of a Brutal Double Homicide and an 18-Year-Long Quest for Justice
On a cold, snowy night in 1985, two men begged for their lives
In 1985, two 27-year-old friends left their suburban Detroit homes for a hunting trip in rural Michigan. When they did not return, their families and police suspected foul play. For 18 years, no one could prove a thing. Then, a relentless investigator got a witness to talk, and a horrifying story emerged.
For nearly two decades, their killers went free
In 2003, this bizarre case hit the glare of the criminal justice system, as prosecutors charged two brothers, Raymond and Donald Duvall, with murder. With no bodies ever found, the case hinged on the testimony of one terrified witness who saw a bloody scene unfold—and who was still nearly too frightened to talk.
Then a witness told her chilling story
Now, the truth behind an 18-year-old mystery is revealed against the backdrop of an unusual, electrifyingly dramatic trial. Raymond and Donald Duvall bragged to friends that they killed their victims, chopped up their bodies and fed them to pigs. A Michigan jury soon had evidence of this brutally methodical execution—evidence that would lead a shocked courtroom through the heart of evil and beyond a shadow of a doubt.
In 1985, two 27-year-old friends left their suburban Detroit homes for a hunting trip in rural Michigan. When they did not return, their families and police suspected foul play. For 18 years, no one could prove a thing. Then, a relentless investigator got a witness to talk, and a horrifying story emerged.
For nearly two decades, their killers went free
In 2003, this bizarre case hit the glare of the criminal justice system, as prosecutors charged two brothers, Raymond and Donald Duvall, with murder. With no bodies ever found, the case hinged on the testimony of one terrified witness who saw a bloody scene unfold—and who was still nearly too frightened to talk.
Then a witness told her chilling story
Now, the truth behind an 18-year-old mystery is revealed against the backdrop of an unusual, electrifyingly dramatic trial. Raymond and Donald Duvall bragged to friends that they killed their victims, chopped up their bodies and fed them to pigs. A Michigan jury soon had evidence of this brutally methodical execution—evidence that would lead a shocked courtroom through the heart of evil and beyond a shadow of a doubt.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 3, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 11, 2018
Darker Than Night: The True Story of a Brutal Double Homicide and an 18-Year-Long Quest for Justice
I’d read this in probably 2007 or so and was horrified by the story, having grown up in the same part of Michigan. I'd gone hunting with my dad as a kid in those areas, and my ex and all of our friends all went hunting every fall. This is a part of my culture, basically. The guys that work hard all year and look forward to deer season and their time to gather up their gear and get together with their buddies. They hit the road and head "up North", usually meaning northern Lower Michigan to a motel or someone's cabin somewhere, for a weekend or if they are really lucky a week or more of deer hunting. Of course, for many, this may involve more partying and boozing than actual stalking through the woods and spending time in a blind awaiting that score of a buck or doe. Perhaps it may be mostly spent in a roadside honky-tonk or dive bar in some small town you'd just as soon never see again and the only thing you bag is a hangover.
But usually there are good times to remember at the end of the trip, and funny stories to tell when its over. Not 911 calls, and upset families filing missing person's reports, wondering why loved ones never arrived at their destinations. That's nearly unthinkable to imagine having to go through. Let alone the torture of wondering for all of those years too what happened and where they are. The vehicle was never even found.
This story is simply beyond the pale. It's even difficult to read at times and should come with a trigger warning because of extreme violence. Yet the story still needs to be told because people such as the Duvall brothers exist out there and we need to be aware of and on guard against others like them.
When I was recently writing to a couple of ladies on a blog and we were talking about their new podcast about Michigan Murders and Mayhem and the first story was to be about a couple of hunters who disappeared on a hunting trip long ago, I knew instantly that it was this same case. It has stayed with me all of these years very vividly since reading about it, and sure enough, it was. The disappearance of David Tyll and Brian Ognjan. I hope the victim's families are doing ok after all these years, though I'm sure it's still hard. The book was really good and explained the case, the convictions and all that. A worthwhile read that shares the case in gruesome detail. So be warned, it's really bad as far as that goes. It's a hard read. Simply unforgettable.
The author-- TOM HENDERSON, a native of Michigan, has worked as a news reporter for many years. He has been a columnist for Detroit Free Press, a freelance writer for Detroit News, and has been a Senior Editor for a monthly business publication called Corporate Detroit.
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
I’d read this in probably 2007 or so and was horrified by the story, having grown up in the same part of Michigan. I'd gone hunting with my dad as a kid in those areas, and my ex and all of our friends all went hunting every fall. This is a part of my culture, basically. The guys that work hard all year and look forward to deer season and their time to gather up their gear and get together with their buddies. They hit the road and head "up North", usually meaning northern Lower Michigan to a motel or someone's cabin somewhere, for a weekend or if they are really lucky a week or more of deer hunting. Of course, for many, this may involve more partying and boozing than actual stalking through the woods and spending time in a blind awaiting that score of a buck or doe. Perhaps it may be mostly spent in a roadside honky-tonk or dive bar in some small town you'd just as soon never see again and the only thing you bag is a hangover.
But usually there are good times to remember at the end of the trip, and funny stories to tell when its over. Not 911 calls, and upset families filing missing person's reports, wondering why loved ones never arrived at their destinations. That's nearly unthinkable to imagine having to go through. Let alone the torture of wondering for all of those years too what happened and where they are. The vehicle was never even found.
This story is simply beyond the pale. It's even difficult to read at times and should come with a trigger warning because of extreme violence. Yet the story still needs to be told because people such as the Duvall brothers exist out there and we need to be aware of and on guard against others like them.
When I was recently writing to a couple of ladies on a blog and we were talking about their new podcast about Michigan Murders and Mayhem and the first story was to be about a couple of hunters who disappeared on a hunting trip long ago, I knew instantly that it was this same case. It has stayed with me all of these years very vividly since reading about it, and sure enough, it was. The disappearance of David Tyll and Brian Ognjan. I hope the victim's families are doing ok after all these years, though I'm sure it's still hard. The book was really good and explained the case, the convictions and all that. A worthwhile read that shares the case in gruesome detail. So be warned, it's really bad as far as that goes. It's a hard read. Simply unforgettable.
The author-- TOM HENDERSON, a native of Michigan, has worked as a news reporter for many years. He has been a columnist for Detroit Free Press, a freelance writer for Detroit News, and has been a Senior Editor for a monthly business publication called Corporate Detroit.
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
April 18, 2020
This was shocking. Definitely not what I was expecting. I think in order to get into this book you need to be very interested in true crime. Not just intrigued or you only like to read it here and there. Because if you aren't, I think you will get lost in the stories. There is so much information thrown at you, it can get a bit overwhelming.
January 23, 2016
This gives me a greater appreciation of how tough it can be to solve a cold case. How funny and sad that these guys had to LEAVE Detroit to get killed. The book was a little slow for my taste, but that is probably in keeping with the fact that it took 18 years to solve.
April 21, 2009
Not as good as expected because of the raving reviews on amazon. It was interesting but so slow, I got bored.
June 2, 2017
This book is very well written. This story is beyond sad. Here's the thing that's tough for me...
I've listened through the book as I got it as an audio, and maybe I missed something I can't be sure. But despite the trial, despite the fact that I think the Duvall brothers are slime balls. Despite the fact that I have absolutely no doubt I would find these men despicable. I can't say that this case has been presented in such a way that would have allowed me as a juror to vote guilty. I'm not saying the star witness Barb is being honest. I even think they MIGHT have been guilty. Even very likely they were guilty. But might, and very likely are not beyond a reasonable doubt. My heart breaks for the families of these lost young men. I know as a mother the need to find justice would be the only thing that kept me alive if my son were to disappear without a trace. Still... from a legal perspective, this case... Well I just can't say there is justice here. I can say only maybe. I hate that feeling. I like everyone else want to believe they are guilty. I want to believe that after 20 years people could remember but I have doubts... It stinks.
As for the writing style of the book, it was good. I would purchase from this author again. I would recommend this book to individuals that enjoy nonfiction, true crime, and murder mysteries.
I've listened through the book as I got it as an audio, and maybe I missed something I can't be sure. But despite the trial, despite the fact that I think the Duvall brothers are slime balls. Despite the fact that I have absolutely no doubt I would find these men despicable. I can't say that this case has been presented in such a way that would have allowed me as a juror to vote guilty. I'm not saying the star witness Barb is being honest. I even think they MIGHT have been guilty. Even very likely they were guilty. But might, and very likely are not beyond a reasonable doubt. My heart breaks for the families of these lost young men. I know as a mother the need to find justice would be the only thing that kept me alive if my son were to disappear without a trace. Still... from a legal perspective, this case... Well I just can't say there is justice here. I can say only maybe. I hate that feeling. I like everyone else want to believe they are guilty. I want to believe that after 20 years people could remember but I have doubts... It stinks.
As for the writing style of the book, it was good. I would purchase from this author again. I would recommend this book to individuals that enjoy nonfiction, true crime, and murder mysteries.
November 15, 2023
Four stars only because it hit so close to home, literally. If I wasn't from the same city & state I would only give it 3 stars because of the writing style. I'm a lover of true crime and struggled (boredom) thru some of the back and forth antics until about half way thru, then it started getting interesting.
September 30, 2018
Too much of the first half of this book was devoted to extraneous tips, leads and characters which lead to nothing. Since each chapter was very short, I began to actually look at the final sentence for the statement about it being a dead end, and would just SKIP that entire chapter. Once the book FINALLY started focusing on the actual killers and bringing them to justice, it was much better.
November 24, 2014
Really messed up story. Great book. Almost Deliverance style feel to this one. Weird backwoods town. Creepy people. Brutal murder. Crazy read.
January 16, 2023
Interesting story and a wonderful look into the extensive work often put in to many cold cases. I just personally had some difficulty following along at times and understanding what was going on.
April 29, 2024
This story was fairly interesting. It definitely had moments where it felt very repetitive. Honestly, I feel like the book could have cut a couple chapters out of the middle because it felt like certain sections were just on repeat. There are a ton of names thrown at you from investigators to victims to suspects and various people attached to the case, it definitely makes your head spin at times. With a case spanning almost two decades, I can understand the redundancy and sheer number of "characters" that would come along with a case of this manner. The actual trial portion of the book is much more interesting than the first half, so if you can get past the drag that comes with the first half, you may enjoy this book. I'm glad I stuck it out until the end, but I'm not sure this will be one I rave about.
September 3, 2023
This was originally recommended to me by a coworker who realized that I knew at least one of the folks involved in the investigation of these murders - whilst not (normally) a true-crime reader, I took a chance and was not displeased!
Yes, my acquaintance played a part in the investigation, but he was just one of a team of Michigan State Police investigators who doggedly followed up every lead......
Did they get their man?
Read for yourself and find out.
Yes, my acquaintance played a part in the investigation, but he was just one of a team of Michigan State Police investigators who doggedly followed up every lead......
Did they get their man?
Read for yourself and find out.
February 7, 2022
3.5
Knowing the areas discussed in this book helped me connect to it. The first half however is very drawn out - I think if I'd went into this blind I'd have been more interested but I knew the basics of the case ahead of time.
Knowing the areas discussed in this book helped me connect to it. The first half however is very drawn out - I think if I'd went into this blind I'd have been more interested but I knew the basics of the case ahead of time.
September 8, 2024
Heard about this book after listening to a Morbid episode about this case. Such a great deep dive into this case. Especially with the court transcripts and different interviews definitely showed how difficult fear can be a factor to navigate around. Definitely recommend this one.
October 23, 2023
This is a well-researched, clearly recounted story about two young deer hunters in Michigan who went "up north" for a weekend and never returned. It makes "Deliverance" sound like Disney once you meet the screwy clan that murdered them and then protected the killers for 18 years before they were brought to trial thanks to the tireless efforts of a dogged investigator.
June 21, 2022
I read this book solely because I live in an area close to where this crime took place. I know some of the players and have visited the locations mentioned. I have driven through this area many of times. I will never think of it again in the same manner. Many years ago, a friend had told me about a short cut through the area of Alcona, it was down a short unpaved part of 489, suddenly a very uncomfortable, fearful feeling came over me. This book refers to this area. I never took this road again. The author does a great job of illustrating the locations.
January 12, 2012
The disappearance of two hunters in the Michigan Woods in 1985 took 18 years to solve and prosecute. This story was not so much a who-done-it as it was a how-to-prove-it. The break in the case came when one eyewitness to the brutal homicide was eventually persuaded to testify by state policeman Bronco Lesneski. He worked the case every day. He spent many of his off hours tirelessly re-interviewing witnesses. Everybody seemed to have an opinion as to what had happened, but nearly all fingers and lines of questioning pointed back to the Duvall brothers. It’s a story straight out of Deliverance. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this case was that it was successfully prosecuted without a body, without a weapon, and without one iota of physical evidence. The courtroom testimonies are the most fascinating and at many times rather amusing parts of this story. It’s a horrific crime. No doubt about that. And certainly nothing amusing about it either. But the cast of characters is so unbelievable that one can’t help but laugh. And some of the testimonies were beyond belief.
The writing however was sloppy, and the editors missed many an error. The mystery didn’t really carry the story either because early on, the reader had a good idea of what happened and who had done it. What keeps the reader engaged is perhaps one of the same motivators that kept Lesneski plowing away. The reader wants to see justice done and the truth come out.
I’ve read better true crime novels. Ann Rule is hard to compete with in terms of quality of writing and storytelling. However, the courtroom drama in this book makes it worth the read for true crime fans. It leaves the reader shaking his head and wondering if he picked up a work of fiction or non-fiction. There’s a quote attributed to different people that says the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense. That’s how I know this crime and these players are real. No one could have made them up in their wildest imaginations. The witness who by his own definition was a recovering amnesiac still has me laughing. The world can be a crazy…and scary…place.
The writing however was sloppy, and the editors missed many an error. The mystery didn’t really carry the story either because early on, the reader had a good idea of what happened and who had done it. What keeps the reader engaged is perhaps one of the same motivators that kept Lesneski plowing away. The reader wants to see justice done and the truth come out.
I’ve read better true crime novels. Ann Rule is hard to compete with in terms of quality of writing and storytelling. However, the courtroom drama in this book makes it worth the read for true crime fans. It leaves the reader shaking his head and wondering if he picked up a work of fiction or non-fiction. There’s a quote attributed to different people that says the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense. That’s how I know this crime and these players are real. No one could have made them up in their wildest imaginations. The witness who by his own definition was a recovering amnesiac still has me laughing. The world can be a crazy…and scary…place.
October 31, 2011
I think a reader has to meet at least one of several criteria to enjoy reading this book:
(1) You grew up or live in northeast Michigan. That's what held my interest, as I was familiar with the case, but not the details.
(2) You're a hunter that wants to get a bit creeped out about the consequences of ticking off the wrong people in small towns when you're up north deer hunting.
(3) You're a lawyer or law-buff that is interested in how murder cases are investigated and prosecuted when there are no bodies and no physical evidence.
If you don't fit into one of these categories, I'm not sure the book would hold your interest. It's a bit repetitive and lacks cohesiveness. Also, the police detective and prosecuting attorney are presented as flawless individuals. This actually serves to challenge the validity of the information in the book, as I then question the impartiality of the author and his interpretation of the details.
(1) You grew up or live in northeast Michigan. That's what held my interest, as I was familiar with the case, but not the details.
(2) You're a hunter that wants to get a bit creeped out about the consequences of ticking off the wrong people in small towns when you're up north deer hunting.
(3) You're a lawyer or law-buff that is interested in how murder cases are investigated and prosecuted when there are no bodies and no physical evidence.
If you don't fit into one of these categories, I'm not sure the book would hold your interest. It's a bit repetitive and lacks cohesiveness. Also, the police detective and prosecuting attorney are presented as flawless individuals. This actually serves to challenge the validity of the information in the book, as I then question the impartiality of the author and his interpretation of the details.
Read
October 7, 2008The other day, my mom asked me what kind of books I liked and I told her books that have to do with murder/investigations. Mysterious stuff. So she gave me 'Darker Than Night'. I'm not so far into it, but so far, it is by far one of the most interesting books I have ever read. Two hunters were scheduled to head up north (in Michigan, also interesting) to go hunting with a couple of their buddies and their father. But they never showed. Pictures, posters, ads on tv, anything to give investigators a slight clue as to where these two would be. To make this book seem even weirder to me, the two men that were prosecuted are relatives of one of my close friends. Creepy.
December 6, 2010
I don't really care for this authors writing style. He's repetitive, needs a copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, and his style is a little too casual. That said, this was an interesting case. In 1985, two guys from Detroit go hunting up north and are never seen again. 18 years later, two brothers are accused of brutally killing the hunters.
July 8, 2012
This was good because I knew a lot of the places and people in the book. Makes me rethink where I live and what streets I travel. Glad it ended the way it did.
July 17, 2017
Very good.
April 1, 2021
Slow. I bit hard to get through. From my area though so it was interesting.
July 23, 2020
Slow. Hard to complete for me. Only interesting cuz it is from my area and with people ive heard of.
February 9, 2021
Longer than it needed to be, repetitive. Held out because it happened at places in Michigan I’ve been to.
November 26, 2021
Unfortunately I stopped reading around page 200. Too many people involved to keep track of. Told in a very journalistic way.
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May 29, 2021Darker Than Night is a chilling book about a double homicide that happened in our home state of Michigan. This book by Tom Henderson was given to me by my Algebra II teacher. I read the back of the book and immediately I was intrigued. Two best friends, Brian Ognjan and David Tyll, set out for a hunting trip on the weekend and never return. Their murderer was never caught and the case was unsolved for eighteen years. A member of the Michigan State Police SWAT team spent all his time trying to crack the case.
Agent Bronco Lesneski spends all of his free time knocking on doors just trying to find out what happened to those two best friends who never showed up to their cabin near White Cloud. Bronco puts his blood sweat and tears into this case. Every person in the small town has their own little opinion about what happened to the brothers. No matter who was talked to, all fingers pointed to the Duvall brothers. This case was prosecuted without a weapon, without physical evidence, and without a body. What’s keeping this case alive? A testimony from a horrified witness that watched the murder unfold. The Duvall brothers even bragged to their friends about what they did. About how they murdered Brian and David. About how they chopped them up. And most frightening, about how they fed the body parts to pigs.
From an early point in the book, you as a reader can connect the dots and figure out what happened. What kept me hooked was seeing if the two best friends ever got justice. There were some spelling and grammatical errors but it's easy to look past them when you’re more concerned about finding out what happens next. My favorite part was seeing that Bronco never lost hope or interest in the case. Bronco’s hope spreads to the reader. When you look at a book and see how long it is, you can easily be discouraged. Long books like these are easy to get through when you’re constantly turning pages, unable to put it down.
If you’re into true crime, this is a great book. When you think of crime in Michigan, you think of places like Detroit. This book shows you crime can truly happen anywhere. Our world is a dark and scary place, but there’s always people with hope. People who want to see the world be better. People who want justice for others. People like Bronco Lesneski.
Agent Bronco Lesneski spends all of his free time knocking on doors just trying to find out what happened to those two best friends who never showed up to their cabin near White Cloud. Bronco puts his blood sweat and tears into this case. Every person in the small town has their own little opinion about what happened to the brothers. No matter who was talked to, all fingers pointed to the Duvall brothers. This case was prosecuted without a weapon, without physical evidence, and without a body. What’s keeping this case alive? A testimony from a horrified witness that watched the murder unfold. The Duvall brothers even bragged to their friends about what they did. About how they murdered Brian and David. About how they chopped them up. And most frightening, about how they fed the body parts to pigs.
From an early point in the book, you as a reader can connect the dots and figure out what happened. What kept me hooked was seeing if the two best friends ever got justice. There were some spelling and grammatical errors but it's easy to look past them when you’re more concerned about finding out what happens next. My favorite part was seeing that Bronco never lost hope or interest in the case. Bronco’s hope spreads to the reader. When you look at a book and see how long it is, you can easily be discouraged. Long books like these are easy to get through when you’re constantly turning pages, unable to put it down.
If you’re into true crime, this is a great book. When you think of crime in Michigan, you think of places like Detroit. This book shows you crime can truly happen anywhere. Our world is a dark and scary place, but there’s always people with hope. People who want to see the world be better. People who want justice for others. People like Bronco Lesneski.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2023
I like the book. Mainly because I connect with the area more than anything. I live downstate but bought a cabin in 2020 up in the area. I drive by Barb's house (witness) on Mapes Rd as I am on final approach to my cabin. I go up like 25 times per year. Her little house is literally only one mile South from the Bar the men were last seen in. Linker's (now known as Lost Creek Sky Ranch). I have eaten there like 10 times in 2021/2022 before it closed for good. Every time time I cross M-72 heading North on Mapes its hard to not visualize all that happened. Creeps me out every single time as I pass by the spot on the West side of the road where they were killed. Right out of Deliverance.
I spent the last two days watching every crime drama about this story on YouTube. Cold Case Files, Unsolved Mysteries, etc. You name it. I bought the book only because I stumbled on those videos and I remembered the story when they went missing in like 1986 while I was still myself just a junior in High School. It was all over the news in Detroit back then. Downstate.
Here's my one question I would love to ask the author, whom I presume knows everything about this case. The story goes.... the witness crawls out her back window and makes her way through the woods as she hears yelling and cries for help as well as "pinging" noises. She lives on the East side of Mapes Rd. There is an actual photo in the middle of this book that demonstrates her view of the killings (from her perspective). Across the road. She is hiding behind a bush yet is watching this all happen across a very typical two lane black top road in Michigan? Its cold out, dark, and very late. Not a good vantage point to say the least. This means for her to hear and see anything, this must have happened very very close to the actual road itself. How brazen. These scumbags have these poor two guys, illuminated with car headlights, with seemingly no worries about who might drive by? Chilling.
I spent the last two days watching every crime drama about this story on YouTube. Cold Case Files, Unsolved Mysteries, etc. You name it. I bought the book only because I stumbled on those videos and I remembered the story when they went missing in like 1986 while I was still myself just a junior in High School. It was all over the news in Detroit back then. Downstate.
Here's my one question I would love to ask the author, whom I presume knows everything about this case. The story goes.... the witness crawls out her back window and makes her way through the woods as she hears yelling and cries for help as well as "pinging" noises. She lives on the East side of Mapes Rd. There is an actual photo in the middle of this book that demonstrates her view of the killings (from her perspective). Across the road. She is hiding behind a bush yet is watching this all happen across a very typical two lane black top road in Michigan? Its cold out, dark, and very late. Not a good vantage point to say the least. This means for her to hear and see anything, this must have happened very very close to the actual road itself. How brazen. These scumbags have these poor two guys, illuminated with car headlights, with seemingly no worries about who might drive by? Chilling.
May 2, 2025
Well-written and researched, Tom Henderson's meticulous eye for detail brought to life the brutal murder of two best friends from metro Detroit who took a fatal trip into north Michigan during deer hunting season in November 1985.
While David Tyll and Brian Ognjan owned guns, they weren't really deer hunters. In fact, Henderson wrote how their drunkenness and bad behavior could have led to their extremely ghastly deaths that went unsolved for 18 years.
A veteran journalist, Henderson showed off his reporter's chops by carefully piecing together information in the three thick binders of police reports and investigative notes that spanned nearly two decades and several police departments. For color, he interviewed key players who solved and prosecuted the crimes.
At multiple times over the years, the investigation seemed an unsolvable cold case. That was until the Michigan State Police took over the sprawling and sometimes incomprehensible investigation. Finally, when MSP Detective Bronco Lesneski, the ultimate cowboy cop, started knocking on doors and piecing together clues until he found a key witness who finally came forward to help him crack the case.
Fans of true crime stories will love the way Henderson weaves clues, witness accounts, the family's anguish, Tyll and Ognjan's erratic actions during their last few hours, the unmasking of the murderers and their sensational trial.
North Michigan is a beautiful, sometimes mysterious place. As Henderson descriptively points out, the woods can also be dangerous to outsiders who don't respect nature and run afoul of twisted people. It is a story worth reading.
While David Tyll and Brian Ognjan owned guns, they weren't really deer hunters. In fact, Henderson wrote how their drunkenness and bad behavior could have led to their extremely ghastly deaths that went unsolved for 18 years.
A veteran journalist, Henderson showed off his reporter's chops by carefully piecing together information in the three thick binders of police reports and investigative notes that spanned nearly two decades and several police departments. For color, he interviewed key players who solved and prosecuted the crimes.
At multiple times over the years, the investigation seemed an unsolvable cold case. That was until the Michigan State Police took over the sprawling and sometimes incomprehensible investigation. Finally, when MSP Detective Bronco Lesneski, the ultimate cowboy cop, started knocking on doors and piecing together clues until he found a key witness who finally came forward to help him crack the case.
Fans of true crime stories will love the way Henderson weaves clues, witness accounts, the family's anguish, Tyll and Ognjan's erratic actions during their last few hours, the unmasking of the murderers and their sensational trial.
North Michigan is a beautiful, sometimes mysterious place. As Henderson descriptively points out, the woods can also be dangerous to outsiders who don't respect nature and run afoul of twisted people. It is a story worth reading.
October 18, 2019
This was the first "true crime" book I can recall reading. I see why the genre is so popular. It had me captivated from page one, and I would stay up late fighting my heavy eyelids to read more. Having grown up fishing and hunting in the same county in which the two hunters were killed (Oscoda County, Michigan) I recognized a lot of the roads, towns, and bars. A previous reviewer complained about all the dead end chapters, but I liked them, as they cause the reader to feel the same hope, letdown, and heroic resolve to forge on that the investigators must have felt while wading through the avalanche of leads that poured in when this cold case inevitably made its way to several Unsolved Mysteries-type TV specials in the 1990s. Props to Bronco (the detective), Donna (the prosecutor), and Tom (the author) for making sense of the three massive binders of reports accumulated over 18 years, including Bronco's list of 850 names of suspects, witnesses, family, and peripheral cast members (a portion of which would have been immensely helpful as an appendix).
December 4, 2023
This mystery took place in my hometown shortly after I was born, so I remember hearing the stories of the two hunters who were “fed to the pigs” despite no one being arrested for the crime. Then when I was just out of high school, the headlines of all the Michigan papers covered the arrest of the Duvall brothers. It was satisfying to everyone to feel that justice had finally been served.
Beyond the tragic story itself, though, I fully enjoyed hearing about all the places I grew up. When they mentioned Camp Ten Road, I could picture the party store on the corner. When divers searched the local lakes, I could picture those serene locales. Even some of the characters mentioned are known to my parents, such as Mike Larrison, the local sheriff. Definitely worth reading if you grew up in northern Michigan.
Beyond the tragic story itself, though, I fully enjoyed hearing about all the places I grew up. When they mentioned Camp Ten Road, I could picture the party store on the corner. When divers searched the local lakes, I could picture those serene locales. Even some of the characters mentioned are known to my parents, such as Mike Larrison, the local sheriff. Definitely worth reading if you grew up in northern Michigan.
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