Review: Gary King at his utmost best!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2012
It is rare to find an author with such an unique ability to weave a suspense-filled novel while at the same time not getting personally involved. He possesses the rare quality in a writer to be able to stand outside of himself and describe in the words of Sgt. Joe Friday from the old Dragnet series: "Just the facts ma'am, just the facts." Unlike other true crime authors he doesn't get bogged-down with "personalities." This is not to say that Mr. King is unfeeling for he is anything but. He demonstrates great sympathy for the family of Darren Dee O'Neall's first victim and follows the horrible emotional trials endured by the young woman's mother, Edna.A large portion of the story centers around three or four states in the northwestern part of the United States. Mustering all the latest "technology" the investigators in each of the respective states along with the FBI who places O'Neall on their "Top Ten Most Wanted" list they are still unable to apprehend him. O'Neall seems like a ghost who has the uncanny ability to commit his atrocious crimes and slip the law every time all the while evading police dragnets. He is also a chameleon who changes his appearance but the one thing he can't hide are two features: a tattoo of the name "June" across the knuckles of his hand and another tat of a tear-drop near the corner of one of his eyes. A lot of people recognize him from wanted posters and those tattoos. They telephone the police reporting the sightings but no sooner do the police arrive and O'Neall has vanished. He is constantly on the move.I will not betray the ending revealing how O'Neall is finally apprehended but truth, as they say, is stranger than fiction.At risk of using a shop-worn phrase this novel is a "real page turner." Thrilling! Absolutely thrilling!I plan on reading every single one of Mr. King's brilliant novels for I do not believe one will find a better true crime author.