Green River Running Red

Some 20 years ago, I went on a true-crime kick and read all the books I could get my hands on about such unsavory serial killers as John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy and family-killers like Dr. Jeffry McDonald and Diane Downs. My first hubby asked, "Do I need to be worried?"

No, I just had this morbid curiosity. I was especially fascinated with Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me, which was about Ted Bundy. She'd done volunteer work with the man, how scary! I read several of her books--she is a very good crime writer in that she can tell you the facts along with heart breaking details about the victims and you are just totally hooked.

The thing is, if you read a whole bunch of these books at once you can get physically sick. I couldn't read any more and moved on to another genre, something much more wholesome--like horror (think Stephen King).

In the 1990s, I remember coverage about the notorious Green River Killer. Washington state sure had its bad karma with serial killers, eh? The victims were young women on the streets--many of them prostitutes but some not. The police and detectives were going nuts trying to catch this guy. Well...but he was in Washington, far far away.

Not too long along, I watched a special on A&E about the Green River Killer. I can't remember when it was filmed but after so many years, he was still on the loose. And then...thanks to advances in DNA and forensics...he was found, arrested and stopped!

Ann Rule finally got to publish her book about the monster, Gary L. Ridgeway. She'd been keeping notes for years and years and planned on writing a book if he was ever caught and brought to trial and convicted. It turns out that the man came pretty close to her several times which really gave me the creeps.

I was curious to know more about Ridgeway and that's why I decided to read the book. I got it through Paper Back Swap and for the longest time the book sat unread. I was reluctant to pick it up even though I was curious to read it.

Around New Year's, I'd resolved to read all the books I had on hand and I happened to pick it up next.

Ann Rule is a very good writer but this is a very gruesome story. Ridgeway was an abused child who grew up to be a heartless killer. I don't feel sorry for him because most abused kids grow up and get through life without murdering people.

Rule wrote about each of the victims so that they became much more than another number of the list of murdered women. She wrote about the impact the womens' murders had on their families. It was heart breaking.

I just don't have the stomach for this anymore. I don't know if she's planning to write about the BTK Killer but I don't think I could stand to read about it. It's just too awful to think that someone could be so uncaring toward people.

3xThursday

1. What's your favorite type of candy? Why?

Well...I shouldn't have a favorite anymore but I will always have a weakness for the Cadbury egg. We're coming into that time of the year again for them too.

2. What's you're favorite piece of clothing? Any spechul reason?

My favorite is whatever is comfortable just because it feels good.

3. Oh, icecream! What's your favorite kind of icecream or frozen treat?

ACK! More food questions! Maple walnut, that's my favorite at the moment


Bonus Question for Comments: Red licorace or black?

Red, black licorice is way too bitter tasting for me!