I didn't realize it was true crime until I was almost done. I don't find true crime entertaining. It's just not for me. It is presented as a series of facts in the order the facts rolled out in the case so it doesn't really read like a novel making it a little dry, but it was insightful to see what police have to go through in finding a killer. ( )

This was a pretty good true crime book - it makes you realize that you really don't know who your neighbors are and what they are doing - this book would have been a five star read but in my opinion the time leading up to the trial and during the trial dragged on way to long - so only giving it 4 stars. ( )

I didn't realize it was true crime until I was almost done. I don't find true crime entertaining. It's just not for me. It is presented as a series of facts in the order the facts rolled out in the case so it doesn't really read like a novel making it a little dry, but it was insightful to see what police have to go through in finding a killer. ( )

Just remembered this book. This was such a sad story. 2 families whose life would never be the same. ( )

This is a short book which describes the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and murder of thirteen year old Kelly Ann Tinyes in surburban Valley Stream, New York.

Watkins makes it very easy to understand the sequence of events and the location of all the players when the crime occurred. Also, the science of DNA was not as commonly known at the time of this writing, and Watkins does an excellent job of making the complex science very understandable.

The main players – the victim and the perpetrator as well as their families are well drawn and their motivations examined in the course of the story. The details of the crime were compelling enough reading, but the additional levels of the reactions of the two families and the persons who chose to align themselves with either camp took the emotional aspect of this story to another level.

I found the discussion of the crime, investigation, arrest and trial, complete with the alternatives put forward to be interesting reading. However, when the book focused on the fallout of the crime including the harassment accusations brought by the parents of the victim against the parents of the perpetrator, I began to lose interest and to wonder whether anything good could ever come of it.

I was left with a feeling of bitterness, and while I understand that the Kelly Ann’s parents have the right to remember what was done to her, I couldn’t help thinking that her memorial was sad and depressing.