About the Author

James Renner is a novelist, freelance journalist, and blogger. In his spare time, he hunts serial killers. His true crime stories have been published in the Best American Crime Reporting and Best Creative Nonfiction anthologies. His film adaptation of a Stephen King story was an official selection at the 2005 Montreal World Film Festival. A graduate of Kent State University, Renner lives in Akron, Ohio.

Reviews

A most fascinating book. I know journalists are constantly told to stay objective, but it's obvious that these cases have touched Mr. Renner on a personal level . . . I highly recommend this book to any true crime fan. It is one of the best I have read in a long time.--Trench Reynolds "CrimeNe.ws" (3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM)

James Renner is genuine. He cares about these victims. They have become a part of him. He's not writing from a distance with apathetic cynicism. He's right in the heart of the cases, digging and searching for answers. When it comes to true crime, this is the kind of writer we need.-- "Crime Shadow News" (12/15/2008 12:00:00 AM)

Most of [Renner's] mysteries are as enticing as any you are likely to see on any network crime show. The only difference is that in these real crime stories, the guilty remain at large.--Terry Mapes "News Journal" (1/25/2009 12:00:00 AM)

Not for the faint of heart. This well-written book delves into 13 true and as yet unsolved Northeast Ohio cases--many involving grisly murders . . . Renner tracks down leads as he reviews the cases and confronts suspects. Although new techniques, such as analyzing DNA may someday be used to discover what really happened, Renner's book makes clear that today the truth stubbornly remains elusive.--Laura Kennelly "Morning Journal" (12/14/2008 12:00:00 AM)

Renner's book is chilling because it reminds us that the bad guys often get away. Instead of the neat closure that we find at the end of every "CSI" and "Monk" episode, we have nothing but a pile of frustrating questions . . . This book is for the true-crime aficionado that understands the frustration of a cold case . . . It is for those of us that find the ice-cold splash of reality intellectually more refreshing than the perfect neatness of fiction.--Professor Plum "crimecritics.com" (1/8/2009 12:00:00 AM)

Takes the imagination to a dark and chilling place. This, Renner's second book, shows off his talents in the [crime reporting] genre: an investigator's persistence, a strong sense of mystery-suspense storytelling and a direct and restrained style that can both pull back to describe a crime scene and turn sympathetic to illuminate victims' vibrant but lost lives . . . Renner's writing is gripping, well researched and hard to put down.--Erick Trickey "Cleveland Magazine" (3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)

This is a great book for true crime aficionados who don't necessarily require a tidy ending . . . Renner has a great, documentary-like feel to his storytelling--you experience the cases firsthand as he sorts through the clues, theories, conjecture and intrigue.--Michelle McNamara "truecrimediary.com" (2/16/2009 12:00:00 AM)