The Serial Killer's Apprentice: And 12 Other True Stories of Cleveland's Most Intriguing Unsolved Crimes
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 News20081215)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 Plumcrimecritics.com20090108)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 McNamaratruecrimediary.com20090216)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 TrickeyCleveland Magazine20090301)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 KennellyMorning Journal20081214)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 MapesNews Journal20090125)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 ReynoldsCrimeNe.ws20090318)