Lost Girls
Oct 2011 · Pinnacle Books
3.7star
137 reviewsreport
Ebook
384
Pages
family_home
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About this ebook
“Rother is the next Ann Rule.” —Gregg Olsen
Chelsea King was a popular high school senior, an outstanding achiever determined to make a difference. Fourteen-year-old Amber Dubois loved books and poured her heart into the animals she cared for. Treasured by all who knew them, both girls disappeared in San Diego County, just eight miles and one year apart. The families’ anguish galvanized the community and captivated the media. A desperate search led authorities to John Albert Gardner, a brutal predator, convicted sex offender hiding in plain sight—and a complex man whose own mother, a psychiatric nursing professional, failed to see the signs of trouble.
Ultimately, Gardner shared a prison unit with Charles Manson. In 2010, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Chelsea's Law: anyone convicted of certain sex offenses against a child in California would get life in prison without parole. Based on Pulitzer-nominated author Caitlin Rother’s exclusive access, Lost Girls is an incisive, heartbreaking true-life thriller that strikes at our deepest fears.
“A a cautionary tale and a horror story, done superbly.”
—Los Angeles Times
“A terrifying portrait of a man who was sweet and cuddly one day and a crazed killer the next.”
—San Diego Reader
“Gripping . . . chilling . . . a must-read.”
—Sue Russell
“Boldly dissects how a boy with psychological problems formed into a man indifferent to his monstrous acts.”
—Katherine Ramsland
“Caitlin Rother stirs up the lethal stew of family dysfunction, mental illness, substance abuse and deadly psychopathology. . . . Frank and riveting.”
—Diane Fanning
Includes dramatic photos
Chelsea King was a popular high school senior, an outstanding achiever determined to make a difference. Fourteen-year-old Amber Dubois loved books and poured her heart into the animals she cared for. Treasured by all who knew them, both girls disappeared in San Diego County, just eight miles and one year apart. The families’ anguish galvanized the community and captivated the media. A desperate search led authorities to John Albert Gardner, a brutal predator, convicted sex offender hiding in plain sight—and a complex man whose own mother, a psychiatric nursing professional, failed to see the signs of trouble.
Ultimately, Gardner shared a prison unit with Charles Manson. In 2010, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Chelsea's Law: anyone convicted of certain sex offenses against a child in California would get life in prison without parole. Based on Pulitzer-nominated author Caitlin Rother’s exclusive access, Lost Girls is an incisive, heartbreaking true-life thriller that strikes at our deepest fears.
“A a cautionary tale and a horror story, done superbly.”
—Los Angeles Times
“A terrifying portrait of a man who was sweet and cuddly one day and a crazed killer the next.”
—San Diego Reader
“Gripping . . . chilling . . . a must-read.”
—Sue Russell
“Boldly dissects how a boy with psychological problems formed into a man indifferent to his monstrous acts.”
—Katherine Ramsland
“Caitlin Rother stirs up the lethal stew of family dysfunction, mental illness, substance abuse and deadly psychopathology. . . . Frank and riveting.”
—Diane Fanning
Includes dramatic photos
Ratings and reviews
3.7
137 reviews
Kelly Hartman
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August 26, 2019
This book was boring and very drawn out. I struggled to finish this book. I feel like the autor could of sumed it up in just a few short chapters. I did not like how deep into detail the autor got about minor role character in this book. I feel annoyed by "beating around the bush" kinda author.
2 people found this review helpful
Debbie Box
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January 21, 2015
Whilst I found the story and the writing style to be pretty good, I found it to be protracted and rather long winded. Too many references back to the author. There was a lot of bouncing about which stilted the book's flow. Overall a good read.
3 people found this review helpful
Anna Womack
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August 25, 2013
Read this book over the weekend. Loved the background stories that explained the family disfunctions. And I thought MY family was disfunctional! Tastefully done without gore.
4 people found this review helpful
About the author
Caitlin Rother is a New York Times bestselling true crime author and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist. She worked for nearly two decades as an investigative reporter and has had work published in Cosmopolitan, The Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, among others. As a TV crime commentator, she has done more than 200 media appearances on episodes of 20/20, People Magazine Investigates, Crime Watch Daily, Australia's World News, Nancy Grace, Snapped, and numerous shows on Netflix, Investigation Discovery, HLN, REELZ, Oxygen, E!, A&E, C-SPAN and various PBS affiliates. Rother also works as a writing/research coach and consultant, and plays piano and sings in an acoustic band. She lives in Southern California and can be found online at CaitlinRother.com.
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