Seriously, Read a Book!

Author Sheriff David Reichert obviously knows a thing or two when it comes to the case of the Green River Killer. He was on the scene from the first dump site discovery in 1982, and conducted some of the final interviews with Gary Ridgway before they locked him up and threw away the key in 2003. However, Reichert is not much of a writer and falls into the common trap of law enforcement-written true crime tales of trying too hard to set the record straight with respect to injustices done unto him and his department. 

We get it! G-men and the local 5-0 don't tend to mix well (Bob Keppell and the Mindhunter himself, John Douglas didn't tell you anything you didn't already know- fine!) The media is blood-thirsty and they simply don't get just how much they can trip you up every step of the way. You did everything you possibly could to bring justice to the women murdered and their families, and (though their feelings are misplaced) you're willing to forgive the mothers and fathers who lashed out at you in the aftermath of the case because you are like the best Christian ever. 

If you do decide to bother with this one, go for audio, because hearing the actual tape of interviews with an all too excited Ted Bundy (serial killer consultant extraordinaire) and the Devil himself, Gary Ridgway (as Reichert "plays his game" trying to get him to reveal mementos the Sheriff's sure he kept) is a pretty creeptastic affair. 

What I wish I had read:

In a situation of too little too late, I just discovered that the son of Detective Tom Jensen, who worked the case starting in 1984, co-authored a graphic novel Green River Killer: A True Detective Story (by Jeff Jensen, Jonathan Case), which seems infinitely more interesting. [Check out ‘Green River Killer’: A father and son follow murderer’s trail from the LA Times for an interesting interview with Jeff Jensen, and some peeks at the artwork]. 

Conclusion: There are way more interesting sheriffs out there.

With the likes of Nick Corey, Jim Dangle, and Lou Ford running around in the fictional world, you might want to pass on Reichert.

And, of course, let's not forget everyone's favorite capezio-wearing sheriff down in the Holler, E.Z. Ponder.