Catch the Sparrow: A Search for a Sister and the Truth of Her Murder

by Rachel Rear

The gripping story of a young woman's murder, unsolved for over two decades, brilliantly investigated and reconstructed by her stepsister.

Growing up, Rachel Rear knew the story of Stephanie Kupchynsky's disappearance. The beautiful violinist and teacher had fled an abusive relationship on Martha's Vineyard and made a new start for herself near Rochester, NY. She was at the height of her life-in a relationship with a man she hoped to marry and close to her students and her family. And then, one morning, she was gone.

Around Rochester-a region which has spawned such serial killers as Arthur Shawcross and the “Double Initial” killer-Stephanie's disappearance was just a familiar sort of news item. But Rachel had more reason than most to be haunted by this particular story of a missing Rachel's mother had married Stephanie's father after the crime, and Rachel grew up in the shadow of her stepsister's legacy.

In Catch the Sparrow , Rachel Rear writes a compulsively readable and unerringly poignant reconstruction of the case's dark and serpentine path across more than two decades. Obsessively cataloging the crime and its costs, drawing intimately closer to the details than any journalist could, she reveals how a dysfunctional justice system laid the groundwork for Stephanie's murder and stymied the investigation for more than twenty years, and what those hard years meant for the lives of Stephanie's family and loved ones. Startling, unputdownable, and deeply moving, Catch the Sparrow is a retelling of a crime like no other.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Memoir, Mystery, Audiobook, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2022

About the author

Rachel Rear is a writer, teacher, actor, and sometime aerialist living in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA at Rutgers University, her MA at Teachers College, Columbia University, and her MFA at The New School. She has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Crab Creek Review, Off The Coast Poetry Journal, and Ducts Webzine. She also hangs around Circus Warehouse in Queens, NY. Her first book, CATCH THE SPARROW, a true crime/memoir, is out now from Bloomsbury Publishing and Sphere UK.

Reviews

[Jen Juenke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love true crime and I dived into this one head first. I shouldn't have dived so quickly.
The premise is that the author had a tenuous "step' sister who disappeared.
The author begins the book with the discovery of Stephanies body in the woods by a creek by 2 young boys.
The next chapter is the author INSERTING herself into the investigation.
The author goes on about how in 2015 she was SERIOUS about finding out what happened to her "step" sister.
I grew weary of the author CONSTANTLY saying how alike her and Stephanie were. Lets be clear, they never met, did NOT know each other and I believe the author projected alot onto Stephanie.
The biggest issue that I have with this book is that the author begins to "investigate" in 2015.
THE MURDER WAS SOLVED IN 2012!
She is looking to cash in on something she is VERY REMOTELY apart of.

For me, this book fell flat. VERY FLAT!
Too much of the author grandstanding and basically saying that she was instrumental in solving this crime when in fact, it had been solved.

I do not recommend this book for any true crime fan.

Thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Molsky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book, largely due to what a disturbingly narcissistic creep the author, Rachel Rear, is. I’m too annoyed to write an actual review, but here are thoughts I jotted down while reading:

Pg18– author is weirdly possessive! I know this is her step sister, but she never met her!!! What is with this need to create memoir and personal meaning out of murder victims? So far, getting a Becky Cooper vibe. “This time, she’s mine.” Yikes!

Pg 29 - more possession:

“She’s almost reanimated within my imagination, and I wonder if that’s what I’ve been after. I’ve begun to picture her facial expressions, though I never saw her face in person, hear her inflections, though her voice never hit my ears, assume I know what she would have thought, though we never met. She’s become more than my muse now; she’s my creation. I see her now when I look in the mirror.” WHAT?!?????? What the fuck is this? Sometimes it feels like people view murder victims like public domain humans/props/characters. As vehicles for their own needs. It almost feels like a flip side to the coin of a murderer, who sees their victim as an object of possession. The victim stops being a person and rather becomes a vessel for the killer’s (and writer’s apparently) ideas/whatever drove them to kill. The author uses this phrase to indicate why she knew “something was up” with Stephanie moving from the island…but why? It is so creepy and unnecessary. And is an unhelpful author insertion. It robs Stephanie of her personhood, as she existed wholly and completely outside of the author. UGH. These kinds of wild assumptions and possessiveness statements also undermine the legitimacy of the rest of her interpretations of Stephanie’s life. She’s a good writer and when she’s not inserting herself (she mentions on several occasions that people comment that she looks “just like her sister” even though they are stepsiblings) the sections on Stephanie’s life are readable, compelling, and bring her to life— or at least, a VERSION of her to life. Because when an author has such a difficult time separating from her subject and with so little introspection, self awareness or analysis, one wonders what percentage of the Stephanie in the book is the Real Stephanie and what percentage is Rachel. What is Rachel looking for in writing this book?

Pg 97– I sure hope she got this survivors permission to put this level of detail in this book…

Pg 110– were they also obsessed with the murders of the sex workers? Did those murders get solved??

129– omg pls talk more about how dumb hypnosis is!!!! She has so many opportunities to educate the reader but just blows past those opportunities in favor of a breezy narrative

Pg 170– the idea of stranger danger could be REINFORCED???!!!??? What???????? Is that her motive for writing this book????? What?????? Ugh girl get your thesis together, this book is just a story of something bad that happened with very little analysis (the police corruption part is the most journalistic part but it’s so…blasé)

Pg 210-211 —YIKES. She is going to give details on how Stephanie died against stephanie’s sister’s wishes because she feels it must be told?! And because she thinks she knows better? Oh man there are so many different ways she could have done this. The author’s lack of insight is so tragic and sad. Poor Stephanie :( it isn’t clear to me why this book was written. Why does Stephanie’s story need to be sold? Why not publish this work as a blog post series? Why make money off of it? Who is to gain by having the details of her death? We don’t really learn anything other than a portrait of who Stephanie was…interpreted by someone who never met her and has dubious ability to critically analyze her own motives. It feels really exploitative at this point.

It’s like Rachel rear derives all of her identity from being the step sister of Stephanie (WHO SHE NEVER MET!). On the cover it says “sister”, not step sister. She talks about experiencing Stephanie’s ghost when her step father is dying, but notice how the other two people present experience ghosts that were important to them personally. Neither Stephanie’s living sister nor her father when he was alive wanted to know the details of how Stephanie died. Rachel makes a big ruckus at the end of the book that she was only the second woman to know what was done to Stephanie. And for what? Why blast it all over the world in a book? She tries to tie everything together with “well men are a big threat to women,” and we know! This book doesn’t add anything to that body of knowledge. I think Rachel needs Stephanie’s story to feel special in this world and couldn’t cover her tracks. Poor Melanie. To have her wishes so thoroughly trashed and disregarded so that Rachel could write a book without a point.

[Elizabeth George]

Rachel Rear tells the story of her quest to find her step-sister's killer. It's a well-written account in which we delve into the author's past and the victim's past as the author attempts to bring some justice to her step-sister who was missing for seven years before her remains were found in a creek by two young boys who decided to sneak onto private property to fish. She had been dumped there the very night of her murder. By tracing her movements, interviewing her friends, and engaging the interest of the detective who worked the case, the killer is located. This is a book about a killing, certainly. But it's also a book about refusing to give up even when one is most discouraged. I recommend it.

[Stephanie Carrobourg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m stunned by anyone calling the author a creep, people are constantly writing stories about unsolved murders! And inserting herself into the story makes sense when her mother was married to Stephanie’s father.

I find it hard to believe anyone would have a stepdad whose daughter was killed and not wonder what happened. Maybe you wouldn’t spend years of your life going through evidence but someone needs to. It sounds awful!

I read this in one sitting mostly to know what happened and to let it go but it’s not badly written by any means. It’s just sad.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

The heartbreaking and devastating story of the disappearance and murder of Stephanie Kupchynsky in 1991, in Greece New York, just outside of Rochester, as told by the step sister who never really knew her. Disappearing in 1991, recovered in a stream 7 years later in 1998. The book tells of her life and misadventures. She was twenty-seven and a violin virtuoso. The first half of the book tells Stephanie's story - the later half how her killer was apprehended and finally confessed.

The author of the book is Stephanie's step sister - 14 yrs her junior. She used interviews, court records, police and DA notes, and family history to tell the story. This is easy reading, but of a horrendous crime. A step sister who wanted to right the wrong that was done to her older sister.

[Cherise Wolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billing this book as true crime does it an injustice - yes, it's an inquiry into the disappearance and horrific murder of Rear's stepsister, Stephanie Kupchynsky, whom she never knew - but it's also a candid memoir that puts front and center the truth that women are continually subjected to terrible men - mentally and/or physically abusive fathers, boyfriends, or random men who feel no compunction about expressing their desires to women who catch their attention, or stalking them, or invading their lives in some way- that men regularly subject women to terrifying and random violence, that most murders of women in this country are committed by men, men they know, men they've perhaps said hello to, men who have fixed their leaking toilet, men they've never seen before. It is absolutely chilling to be reminded how women are often not safe either at home or out in the world. Stephanie, a violinist and NY public school music teacher, was 27 when she went missing in 1991. Rear was 14. She did not know Stephanie, but she knew Stephanie's father, he was the music teacher at Rear's school, and in 1998, Rear's mother married him. The gentle stepfather Rear knew is at odds with what she learns, that he was overbearing and possibly abusive with Stephanie, a relationship that was similar to Rear's own relationship with her biological father. Both women suffered from that skewed seminal father-daughter relationship, both found themselves in romantic relationships with problematic, abusive men, the cycle of victimization continuing. And yet, even when a woman tries to break the cycle - as Rear seems to have done - as Stephanie had seemingly accomplished - she'd recently fallen in love with a kind man - they are still not safe.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is classified wrong. It is not what the title implies at all, IMHO. She never met or knew the woman. Time periods or living arrangements entirely disconnected.

It's an abuse tale in great measure about herself. And it also preaches in a whining repeat chorus. Very weird me, me, me saga that hugely decimates the past crime focus.

This is not a book I would ever recommend to criminal justice readers. Mainly it is cored on the reactive Rachel result.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catch the Sparrow: A Search for a Sister and the Truth of Her Murder, by Rachel Rear, is the type of true crime book that focuses more on the victim and those affected by her murder (of which the author is one) than on the murder itself. Even the part where we revisit the police investigation we do so as much through the eyes of those who knew her as through some cold detailed recounting of the police reports.

I realize some people read true crime mostly for the sensationalism many such books use in their presentation. Admittedly there are some that I read for that reason, though they are often the ones that I enjoy the least. But to address some horrible misstatements I've seen, I want to say a few things. First, when someone has been around a close family member of a murder victim and has had people often say you resemble that person, you have far more than a peripheral interest, especially when that victim's father becomes your stepfather. Second, the book, from the subtitle through every book description I have seen makes clear that this is as much about Rear coming to terms with feelings she admits to not fully understanding as it is about the murder and investigation. So the author is not "inserting" herself into either the story or the investigation. Reading comprehension is a wonderful thing. Finally, Rear never even implies that she is solving the crime, she knows, and lets the reader know, that it has been solved. She is investigating so that she can learn the facts of the case, as well as people's views and feelings, most of which had not been made public. Every single true crime writer, hell, every single writer of both fiction and nonfiction investigate what they are writing about before writing. This is not something strange or unusual. Some people seem to just have a negative reaction to a book about human feelings, says more about them than the book. Anyway, back to the book...

In the broad genre of true crime I have always found myself wishing for something more or different. Some books have every detail and are interesting in that sense but I don't sense any real narrative or any real humanity. These are interesting but not engrossing reads for me. There are ones that read like a novel but often forget to include some facts that help the reader to understand what happened and why. These are usually great reads but leave me with gaping holes in my understanding of the details of the case. Then there are ones that keep the narrative going while making sure to include the details that are essential to understanding the crime, and usually the investigation, itself. These usually have the humanity put back into the victim and, most of the time, some humanity put into the murderer as well. Most of Ann Rule's books fall, I think, in this category. These are both good reads and satisfying as far as understanding the crime. Rear's book falls into this last category. She brings all of the information from the investigation into the flow of the narrative(s). Being a stepsister not only brings the personal aspect in but gives her access to people and opinions an investigative journalist might not have had. Admirably she also gives some attention to understanding how the murderer became the person he did. And understanding the town, with all of its dysfunction, is important in understanding why the timeline dragged on for so long.

I mentioned multiple narratives above, so let me explain. Rear is taking us through her investigation with her rather than simply telling us what she learned. I enjoyed this aspect because it let me see how this was affecting her life and how Stephanie's friends and relatives were dealing with their grief well after the fact. Then there is the narrative of Stephanie's life, of which the murder is but part. I like this approach because it didn't just make her more real but showed that while the murder is what many who didn't know her think of it is her life in its entirety that is both important and remembered by those who knew and loved her, flaws and all.

I would recommend this to any reader of true crime, no matter what type you prefer. By virtue of there being a murder there is some sensationalism involved, so those who like that will find some of it here, though not overblown or the main feature. The human element runs throughout the book, from the victim and the murderer to friends and family of each. The narrative(s) make the book read very well and the details of the investigation, both immediately and after it became a cold case, are weaved into the story nicely.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing and compelling true crime narrative about one womans research into the murder of her step sister- someone she never knew in life.

It is highly readable, from the moment interest is sparked until decades later when resolution comes. The personal perspective is emotional- the author piecing together a picture of the victim from both the stories of those who knew her plus her own imagination.

The investigation that was stalled by problems within the police department tasked with it ends up being a complex journey from start to finish and the depth of the loss is felt by many from family outwards.

Fuelled by a peculiar grief for that which you never knew, Catch the Sparrow is emotionally resonant and really gripping. Recommended.

[Calyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catch the Sparrow is a fierce, graceful, uncompromising work of dauntless research into the life and of Stephanie Kupchynsky, as well as the documentation of systemic corruption, indolence, and apathy of the Greece Police department that botched and neglected the missing persons investigation of Stephanie Kupchynsky, and failed to connect her disappearance to other rapes in the same apartment building she went missing from.

This is an unfaltering account of the various inflictions of abuse that so many have faced over their lives and how they go on to frame and change the way people react to abuse, as well as the malaise of discovering someone you thought you knew was not the true version of them at all. There is a mosaic of people involved in Kupchynsky's life and the investigation, and the author never pulls any punches or shrinks away from the truth--just as Stephanie herself did not shrink away from the truth and pretend everything was fine.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(And especially thanks to the author for the courage to tell this family story and following through to the end no matter how brittle and sad the path was, and following through to the end and still finding the ability to breathe with joy and appreciation for life afterward.)

[James Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book even though the subject matter is difficult and the case is solved. I found the author's perspective an interesting one since she never met the person but was still interested in finding out who she was and the reason she was killed who killed her. It 's also a story of police incompetence as well as cronyism in small towns. We all know this kind of stuff still goes on today in many facets of our lives. Imagine if this was you tring to deal with solving a crime with this going on of a loved one! I would not be so nice as she or her family was. I find the opinions of some of the other reviewers odd about saying the author was making it all about her, It was all about her! This person was a member of her family! Is that a crime to write about it? It's well written and an absolute page turner. I will be strongly recommending this book to my instagram booksite members. Thank you to #bloomsbury and #netgalley

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written and very personal true crime read about the cold case of a missing young woman, the author’s step-sister. I easily became invested in this tragic story, as the writer navigated a background of sadness, family dysfunction and vulnerability. She beautifully communicated the complexities and struggles of a young woman trying to find her way in the world, only for it to be brought to a brutal end. She emboldened Stephanie’s resilient and vivacious character, through the people that loved her, bringing her to life and telling her story. A thoughtful, emotional, and worthy read. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

[Kori Potenzone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be haunted by Catch the Sparrow, for the rest of my life.

This is an insane true crime about a woman on a path to find out what happened to her step-sister, Stephanie. How far would you go to seek justice for a loved one? I know I would search until the end of time until I had the answers I was looking for. Having a sister, I really connected with this novel.

There were soooo many potential suspects that I believed each one could have been involved. I was so invested in this story that I found myself googling Stephanie's case after almost every chapter!

Five Stars!

[Shannon A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling, poignant investigation into the murder of the author's stepsister. A cold-case narrative so well told and researched, you simply won't be able to put it down!

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good true crime biography about a woman investigating her own step-sister’s disappearance. There were many suspects in this cold case by the time the author was deep into the many files the police and others had given her. She interviewed everyone that she could find from Stephanie’s life that would agree to talk with her. Many thought that she looked like the sister or a twin of the murdered young woman she had never gotten to meet. Very haunting and stays with you, like it did in so many who knew Stephanie or investigated the case. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not disappointed! One of my favorite true crime books is I'll Be Gone in the Dark and I think Rachel Rear's writing in this book is just as captivating. Her gripping story pulled me in and had me hooked from the beginning.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Well written, very straight forward true crime drama. Not a lot of suspense because it becomes clear who the killer was.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

CATCH THE SPARROW by author, teacher, and artist Rachel Rear is a True Crime book that is truly unique. 
I have read literally hundreds of true crime books and stories. They all follow a prescribed pattern and almost all are written by journalists. The best true crime books contain interviews and photos provided by the victim's family. However, this book rises above the rest.

In it, Rachel Rear writes the story of the disappearance and ultimately the murder of Stephanie Kupchynsky. So, what makes this book so unique you ask. Well, Rachel Rear happens to be Stephanie Kupchynsky's stepsister. That in itself is interesting and offers an inside look into the story. To make this book even more compelling is the fact that Rachel and Stephanie did not become stepsisters until after Stephanie had gone missing. 

In no other book have I been so enthralled. It is difficult to believe that this is Rachel Rear's first book. CATCH THE SPARROW is researched with the meticulousness of a seasoned journalist. This research makes the book a true deep dive into the disappearance and murder. Rachel's familial connection offers readers a view into what happens to a family who go years, and decades without answers as to what happened to their loved one.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Whether or not you are a fan of true crime, you need to read this book.

The detail with which Rachel delves into her stepsister's life cannot help but have readers invested in finding Stephanie's body and in determining exactly who was responsible for taking this vibrant young woman's life and in seeing that justice prevails.

The feeling and love that Rachel feels for her deceased stepsister comes through loud and clear in her writing.

I recommend this book with the highest possible rating. I am 100% convinced this book will be on the NY Times Best Seller List for many, many weeks.

I rate CATCH THE SPARROW as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book.

For photos and to learn more visit my blog post at
https://bit.ly/Catchthesparrow (link is case sensitive)

Follow me on Instagram at
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of true crime, but have never read any about the city I grew up in. It was so weird to see names of people in Rochester I’m familiar with and places I’ve been playing central roles in this story. It was fascinating how Rachel Rear never knew her stepsister but researched her and her death in such a way that she could learn more about her and make sure she wasn’t forgotten. This was more sensitive and thoughtful than much of the true crime I read. I was reminded constantly throughout of Stephanie’s humanity and vibrancy in life, which is something true crime can tend to fail in - the victims are often simply named and listed without making readers remember that they’re humans too.

[Carin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most true crime stories these days meander around, going off on tangents, trying to be about society, because often at the end–there’s no resolution. Sometimes those still manage to be satisfying (hello Michelle McNamara!) but other times they’re just… frustrating. I get that it seemed like telling the story of an unsolved murder sounded interesting but if after years of research you still can’t figure it out, well, in my book that book should have stayed in a drawer.

Catch the Sparrow does neither. Rachel stays on topic, and there’s a resolution! I won’t say any more about that to not give even a hint of a spoiler but yes, and the end you know whodunit. And I think Rachel was able to stay on topic for an unusual reason–she’s related to the young woman who was murdered. One might think the lack of distance would be problematic, but it’s not at all. Plus, she actually did have some distance because she never met Stephanie. See, Stephanie was murdered a few years before Stephanie’s father and Rachel’s mother got married. Although they were in a small town so she certainly knew of Stephanie’s disappearance since it happened.

Stephanie seemed rather glamorous–becoming a music teacher like her father, and escaping their tiny upstate New York town for the high income, full of tourists Martha’s Vineyard for a couple of years. After her return, escaping from a bad relationship, she seemed to be back on track with a new job and a new boyfriend and then… she vanished. Police followed several leads but they petered out.

Ms. Rear is in the perfect position to get people to trust her, and to give tons of backstory, of Stephanie, her father, and even Rachel’s own family history. And Rachel is of course in a position where she wasn’t willing to give up and was probably going to chase this story until its conclusion no matter how long it took. So here we have a well-written, riveting true crime story mixed with more than the usual amount of poignant memoir, with a satisfying end.

[A Broken Zebra · Rating 5 out of 5]

NETGALLEY ARC

I need to preface this by saying choosing adjectives for true crime books is a difficult and delicate process. It's like reviewing 9/11 things; it feels weird saying they're 'good', or 'enjoyable', because though I have a vested interest in true crime, it's still a rough, dark, heavy thing.

That said, I thoroughly appreciated the gargantuan amount of research executed by the author. It shows, as does the care and love. For me, it came off as mostly unbiased, mostly neutral. I try to go into true crime blind and that was the case here - I had never previously heard of Stephanie nor those involved and/or suspected in her case. For that, the author does an excellent job at laying out every minute detail available and doesn't reveal the outcome until the very end. The book is very well written with a constant, easy flow. There are harrowing, brutal moments that I felt were handled sufficiently.

If you're a true crime buff, I recommend this read. Rear took exceptional diligence sharing her step-sister's story, bringing awareness of more than just Stephanie's murder.

Superficial things: I liked the title before, but I love it after finishing. I think the cover is clever (and I like the chosen font).

[Sandy Gudaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing true life crime story ! The author is investigating her stepsister’s murder. Yes, it was many years ago and the murderer has been brought to Justice when this was written but the story delves so much deeper than most books.
Stephanie, a music teacher in New York, is the victim of a crime. Before the book is over you will feel like you knew her and her relatives, her friends and her relationships. You will understand , to some degree, the murderers thought process and attitude.
Investigative journalism at its finest. It’s a book I took a month to read. It is a lot to digest and think about. It’s a study of psychology in the human mind and is pretty terrifying.
I was very impressed by the author’s investigation. She literally left no stone unturned to bring the readers the complete story.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 true crime story. This is hard to rate as this is the tragic account of Rear's stepsister's abduction-murder and the investigation into this crime.


LIKED:
- Heart breaking and intriguing story
- Detailed exploration of the case and the, often poor, investigation(s) around it
- Personal/family account of the case
- Well researched
- Explored family, relationship issues/upbringing/the local town history and it's impact on the story.

LIKED LESS:
- Sometimes the writing/presentation of this was challenging for me
- Seemed a little self-indulgent at times.

I read this on audio and the narration was okay, it felt flat to me at times.

Overall though the story is fascinating and terrifying. Trigger warnings around: abuse, rape and sexual assault.

[Acnegoddess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The moral of this one is, if you trust a man……. No, you don’t!

[Haru · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was about to read this book, I thought it's gonna be a written version of netflix documentary. But turns out I was wrong, it was more than that.

Truthfully, i feel guilty everytime i read or watch true crime or documentary about murder. Because I treat it like a usual mystery story, something fiction that the author whipped up from their fantasy. And by doing so I feel like I dehumanize the victim, into a mere character. When they're actually so much more than just a 'murder victim'. Thankfully this book isn't only about the answer to that mystery. I didn't know before that this is also a memoir. So we could also know more about Stephanie when she was alive. And just like any other people, she wasn't perfect. She wasn't that 'girl next door' everyone thinking she was. She was more complex, because she wasn't just some two dimensional character.

And I think what the author trynna give to us isn't only about a memoir about her stepsister nor its about the answer of her stepsister's murder. She also included, explicitly, about racism and sexism, and how the world is never safe for women.

You know, for me a book, fiction or not, needs to have a lesson for its readers. Reading might be a hobby, especially reading fiction, but it's useless if by doing so we don't learn something new. We don't get a new perspective about the world, about things that we didn't know before.

So her including a fact to support her argument about women are never safe, because the law cannot even make repetitive sex offender rot behind the bars, is a very nice move. Maybe people pick this book expecting a true crime story, but by the end they finish and put this down, I hope they also learned a little, about feminism.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** four and a half stars ***

Meticulously researched and likely one of the most factually rich true crime novels I have had the pleasure to read, this tragically terrible story, written by the step-sister of a young woman, Stephanie Kupchynsky, who disappeared mysteriously on July 31, 1991 from her apartment in Greece, NY, is masterful in its execution.

Rachel, our author, had never met Stephanie, who disappeared almost seven years before her mother married Stephanie’s father, Jerry Kupchynsky. Even so, it was impossible for Rachel (fourteen at the time of Stephanie’s loss), to grow up in her shadow without developing a sense of fascinated affinity for her step-sister, her “ghostly twin”, - a woman whose life experiences, including her physical appearance, as well as her brushes with domestic abuse, rage (both externally and internally directed) and soul-crushing depression resonated with a primal tug that could not be ignored.

“We don’t fully believe we can be adored, because the people who should have adored us, should have made us believe in our own lovability, instead told us we were worthless. “

But, as our author chronicles in gorgeous and painstakingly-loving detail, Stephanie was much more than a victim - she was a living, breathing woman of her times, (the sadly corrupt and misogynistic 90’s), who knew joy, friendship, heartbreak, and passion, with an incredible talent for music, a love of parakeets and cockatiels, and a personality that sparkled and touched those that knew her.

The story of Stephanie’s disappearance, and the long and eventually somewhat desperate search for justice, is as fascinating as it is grim. With no spoilers here (you will need to read the book), all I will say is that this reader literally could not put this book down.

Highly recommended for lovers of true crime, this story is both a book-lovers treat and a brutal warning - a reminder of the evil that really does lurk, all around us, and the fragility of the bonds that hold us safe.

With an ending that thankfully offers closure, and justice (of a sort), this is the sort of book that will continue to haunt this reader, long after the lights are dimmed and the front door bolted and checked, yet again, for that (even more elusive now) sense of security.

A great big thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Heather Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of true crime stories, Catch the Sparrow is absolutely the book for you. Rachel Rear is a fabulous writer. She weaves an intriguing true crime story with elaborate descriptions, remarkable use of figurative language, and a personal connection to Stephanie Kupchynsky’s story that makes this, at times, an emotional read. Rachel Rear has followed Stephanie Kupchynsky’s story for years as Stephanie’s dad married Rachel’s mom. Rachel heard whisperings of Stephanie’s disappearance for years, and then actively began investigating to help her learn the story of Stephanie. Through Rachel's thorough research with local town residents, family members, police officers, lawyers, and more, Rachel writes a captivating story about Stephanie as a person including her life, the people who were affected by her disappearance, and more. Rachel tells not only the story of Stephanie, but also relates Stephanie’s experiences to Rachel’s own life and the life of women everywhere. Her words often pause to respect the trials and tribulations that women around the world face, and acknowledge that our criminal justice system is flawed and damaged. I also appreciated how she pays homage to her family, Stephanie’s family, and respectfully writes her words for justice, and out of love. All of these layers to this book make it one that I would recommend to all true crime fans.

[SalsaAram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply stated: read this true crime book. Rachel Rear is an amazing writer. More than that she is an incredible researcher and has the strength to never give up, so she can find the truth. I honestly can't explain how much this book has made me think. It is spine chilling.

I was lucky to have met Ms. Rear at the Tucson Festival of Books in 2022. It was before I read the book, so I didn't know anything about it or her. The way she spoke about writing this book, how Stephanie was her sister even though they never met, and her willingness to be vulnerable and talk about her own, was awe inspiring. Again, read this book.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t expect this non-fiction crime novel about the murder of Stephanie Kupchensky’s that is written by her “sister” to I don’t know, such a weird foray into the author somehow playing the victim at every turn and making this somehow about her? This was so self-indulgent by the author and I understand why Stephanie’s actual sister would be angry with her. She has every right. It’s like the author was like “oh, I know a murder that happened, that I am connected to somewhat, and crime is popular right now…. So I’m going to make this book because I can.” Idk bad vibes. 1.5 stars.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book from a victim's family's point of view. The author really did such detailed research and interviews with many people, even those on the periphery of the case (such as Stephanie's high school boyfriends). Considering the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, I paid more attention to Jerry's roots and personal history. The poor man had suffered so much in his life. The only complaint I had was the book seemed to be repetitive in many places.