Caitlin Rother is one of the best at writing True Crime stories!
New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored eight books, including Poisoned Love
Rother, a Pulitzer-nominated investigative journalist with more than 310,000 copies of her books in print, has also been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and The Daily Beast. She has done dozens of TV and radio appearances as a crime expert on Nancy Grace, the Jay Thomas Show, E!, the Oxygen Network; Greta Van Susteren’s “On the Record,” Investigation Discovery, “America at Night,” American Radio Network, XM and numerous NPR/PBS affiliates. Rother also works as a book doctor/editorial consultant and teaches journalism and creative writing at University of California, San Diego Extension. She has done dozens of TV and radio appearances as a crime expert on shows including Nancy Grace.
Her latest true crime project, Lost Girls
Lost Girls
Pinnacle Books
Kensington Publishing Group
The desperate search for two lost innocents, Chelsea King and Amber Dubois, led authorities to a brutal predator hiding in plain sight: John Albert Gardner, a convicted sex offender who could have been returned to prison several times over. Pulitzer-nominated writer Caitlin Rother delivers an incisive, heartbreaking true-life thriller about a case that galvanized its community, first by grief and goodwill, then by anger and injustice, as it came to grips with a flawed system that failed … and adopted a law that will forever change how we keep our children safe.
“I was out of control … I was aware of what I was doing and I could not stop myself. I was in a major rage … at my whole life and everyone who’s hurt me and I hurt the wrong people.” — John Gardner
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Caitlin Rother is one of the best at writing True Crime stories! Her books grab you and hold on tight.
Chelsea King would have been 20 years old this year, she and I share a birthday, though I am much older. I know her family does not support this book but it does draw worldwide attention to a very flawed criminal and mental health system. It also shines a light on Chelsea’s Law and awakens parents everywhere to a very real problem. Every state should have similar legislation. We must protect out children in every way possible.
The events of this story rocked California and people around the nation to their core. Many have hit the review sites telling us not to buy this book. How are we supposed to learn about these predators if there aren’t books like this? Rother gives us an in depth study into one monster’s life, much more than we would ever get from a basic news article. I do not believe she wrote the book to hurt the victims. This is what she does, she is a excellent true crime storyteller. She researches and investigates thoroughly and makes this tragic story to a level we can all understand. I believe she has presented accurate information in an extremely well written tome. She delves into Gardner’s past for clues for his behavior but in no way condones anything he did.
Living in the Midwest this story was not front and center of my news watching or reading at the time like it was for those who live in California. Rother gives us a clear and concise account of the story. People reading this story may have their eyes opened to be aware of people’s behavior around them. This book shows us the people around the predator are usually blind to things that should raise red flags about an individual. It is hard for a parent or sibling to believe a member of their own family could commit such heinous acts. After reading a story like this a neighbor or co-worker may see behavior that needs to be brought to the attention of law enforcement. They may be able to act in advance and save a child. Laws that have been enacted to protect children may be more well known and a predator living too close to a school or park may be identified.
I understand the family’s hurt in reliving this story but if one child is saved because we are now more aware after reading this book, isn’t it worth it? 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for the review Lori. Sounds like a very emotional book.