I love that Jack Olsen's books show so much care for the victims, including the friends and family, of the criminal. He gives a voice to everyone in the story and weaves a great, rich story together. ( )

Very detailed and very disturbing, but probably one of the best written True Crime novels I have read. Its a long book and goes into a lot of detail about the case, the victims, the perpetrator and all the players involved in his capture. One sick guy who needs to stay in prison for the rest of his life. Don't read it if you're squeamish or have a problem with language because its all in here. ( )

I read this when I was a kid and it totally scarred my mind. Urghs. ( )

Spokane had a reputation as a old-fashioned town, "the All-American City". The newspapers downplayed violent crimes like rape. This thinking was described as inward and backward and such comments where shushed, after all Spokane was "a safe and pure place in an unsafe, impure world." That was before Fred and Ruth Coe, Spokane would never be the same.

After reading this book, all I can say is WOW. The Coe's redefine dysfunctional family. Jack Olsen covers everything in this book. Background of the perpetrator, his relationship with his mother, with the other women in his life. He also gives us a look at this victims, treating them compassionately while telling their story, of the attack and the lasting effect it had on their lives and relationships. The women involved with Fred (or Kevin as he prefers to be called) are treated as victims, after all, what else would you call someone who one day wakes up to the news that the person they love is psychopathic criminal?

As much as I like this book I would have to say it is not for everyone, it might trigger flashbacks in sexual assault victims. While not sensational, the rape accounts are detailed and given in the victims own words. That being said, I do recommend it for true crime fans.

On a side note, I googled: "where is Kevin Coe" and found on a website titled, "Justice Denied" an letter from Kevin Coe it says in part:

The setup of Ruth Coe attracted the attention of a crackpot and little known novelist who announced he would write a book on the Coe cases. In late 1983, his idiotic and libelous book on the suppositious cases was published. The work was made into an even more idiotic and libelous TV movie, aired by CBS in 1991. The book flopped nationally but sold well in Washington State. This ruined my chance for a fair re-trial as jurors brought with them a cemented parti pris (prejudice) of my ‘guilt’.

At the bottom was a statement from the editor of the page that they believed his account. I have to wonder if they even checked his statement since the crackpot and little known novelist was Jack Olsen and the book was this book, which 7th edition was just published in 2015. His bio is below. I guess if your bio begins, "convicted rapist and psychopath", that might make you a little bitter huh?

Jack Olsen is the award-winning author of thirty-three books published in fifteen countries and eleven languages. A former Time bureau chief, Olsen wrote for Vanity Fair, People, Paris Match, Readers Digest, Playboy, Life, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, New York Times Book Review and others. His magazine journalism appeared in thirteen anthologies. His books included The Misbegotten Son, The Bridge at Chappaquiddick,, the eco-thriller Night of the Grizzlies, and his monumental study of a Nazi massacre in Italy, Silence on Monte Sole. Three of his works were adapted for the screen, including Have You Seen My Son? on ABC.

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This book was very well researched, and very well written. It was a bit long, but not belabored as so many books that exceed 400 pages seem to be. The story itself is dark. True crime novels usually are dark, but this one went deeper into the dark side and gave quotes from Fredrick (Kevin) Coe that showed him to be deeply disturbed.

After reading this book I felt compelled to Google the whereabouts of Mr. Coe and verify that the system has not failed society in allowing this monster back onto the streets. To my relief he has been civilly committed and will live out his days in an institution for individuals that propose a threat to society. His victims should never ever have to wonder if he might some day be allowed to attack more women. ( )