Reviews

Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen

belinda1979's review against another edition

4.0

Really interesting book and an explanation into how he has managed to catch some criminals using social media.

melissa_bookworm's review against another edition

4.0

Billy's take on solving crime is really refreshing. He has a little more agency than usual internet sleuths but his dogged passion is evident, especially when he is able to contribute to a solve. If you liked the Netflix series "Don't F**k with Cats" you'll enjoy the look into the inner workings of finding killers with social media.

riviwriter's review against another edition

5.0

I'd probably give this 4.5/5 stars but I like to round up. I've read quite a bit of true crime, listened to the podcasts, and have my favorite murder merch. This was not necessarily what I expected going in-- the author talks about solving cold cases and using internet sleuthing to do it. It's a different take on true crime, and while they do mention the hunt for the golden state killer throughout the book, it's primarily a look into finding justice for victims, their families, and providing closure in a country that has far too many unsolved cases.

amarettto's review against another edition

2.0

I didn’t end up finishing this book (or even half of it actually). The topic seemed so interesting and Bill seems like an interesting and dedicated true crime journalist but the organizational layout of the book was a disaster.
There were far too many names and descriptions of short encounters and conversations that made me zone out. It was also filled with a lot of frilly details about his personal life which I couldn’t figure out why it was in a true crime recount. Not the book for me!

gracefullypunk's review against another edition

5.0

Can I give it six stars? Well, no, there were a few places it *could* have used a bit of editing. But for once I'm willing to overlook that. Once I started reading I simply couldn't stop. I know that's a cliche, but it was so true in this instance. I know there's no way I can do what Billy has done, and what he wants others to help him do—become a citizen sleuth, spending all my spare time looking into unsolved cases. I know once i fall down that rabbit hole it will consume me. But I loved reading about how someone else allowed it to consume him. I loved how he interwove the stories of cases he was working on, the feelings he had when he actually solved his first case, and even the remorse he felt when he learned that one of his solves might lead to the perpetrator getting the death penalty (which I didn't realize had been reinstated in California?). The best part of the book, though, was how he integrated Michelle McNamara and her own story, which is so tangled up with the Golden State Killer, into his own memoir. Her story is his story; she was and is his inspiration. And what he shares about her, and in turn about himself, then becomes others' inspiration. Perhaps we can't all devote the time needed to find justice for the 200,000 unsolved murders in the United States. But we can all use our talents in some way, each day, to make this world just a bit better.

Between Michelle McNamara, Karen Kilgaraff, and now Billy Jensen, I firmly believe that being on the very-wrong-side of 30 does not mean I can't realize my dreams and chase my passions. These three demonstrate that if you don't give up, you'll find a way to do what you love. Sadly, Michelle also reminds us how quickly life can be snatched away...but hearing her story through Billy's voice made it clear just how incredible she was, and just how important it is to not put off doing what you love.

And oh hey there are a bunch of crime stories in here and guess what? You likely won't have heard about many of them, because Billy is determined to solve the crimes few people are looking into, the crimes that don't catch the attention of Nancy Grace and People Magazine. His compassion combined with his thoroughness are what tempt me to try and rate this book as more than five stars.

jessecaw97's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

This is a good book if you are wanting a true crime book. It’s reads more as a memoir though. The book takes you throughout Billy’s life and a bunch of different cases he solves/tries to solve. It has a good writing style, the genre just isn’t for me! I think I would have liked it better if I listened to it. 

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

3.0

Pretty good stuff. The first 85% of the book or so was about the author pursuing criminals through social media and some of his successes. This section of the book was great. The last section of the book was about DIY criminal pursuit. Hmmm...not something I’m looking to jump into so a little less interesting.

cr4nkyp4nts's review against another edition

4.0

I've read a quite a bit of true crime over the past year or so and Chase Darkness with Me is one of my favorites. I was drawn to it for a few reasons: it was cheap on Audible, I loved Michelle McNamara's [b:I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer|35068432|I'll Be Gone in the Dark One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer|Michelle McNamara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1499131009l/35068432._SY75_.jpg|56363890], and I fantasize about solving cold cases and wanted to read about someone who ended up doing it.

Jensen, who also narrates the book, lays out numerous cases that he worked on and I was interested in all of them. Whether it was the discussion of his methods or the family and friends of the victims, I had a tough time hitting pause to do other things.

Just like I did during and after reading I'll Be Gone in the Dark, I hit reddit looking at cold cases and all the true crime subs I could find. Almost immediately I was overwhelmed by just how many cases there are being talked about. And also by the daunting task of figuring out where to get started on even picking a case to start researching. The author clearly expects readers to feel this way and devotes time in an addendum to the book giving steps to follow to get started. I've already created my new reddit account and email address.

Jensen is coming to a local bookshop in the next few days and I've got my tickets to hear him speak. I'm hoping he'll offer some more tips on being a citizen detective.

lexx_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

4.5

kittyka0s's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25