It’s not easy to get true crime writing right. It’s so easy to fall into ghoulish exploitation of the really horrible acts committed. Certain true crime writers leave me feeling ashamed of having read their books. Jack Olsen always manages to explain the truth of the events and participants with an eye towards the victim’s humanity, while carefully examining the mechanism behind whatever makes the monsters he describes tick. I feel better-educated afterwards, rather than feeling like a voyeur. Kevin Pierce does an excellent job as always.