Reviews

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

bookwrm129's review against another edition

4.0

Pretty easy read except for the jumping back and forth between cases.

Sooo many things are frustrating to me in the crime department. 1. Detectives don't have to upload Jane or John Does to the missing persons database. 2. Rape cases aren't logged into a DNA database that's looks at genealogy to find a culprit unless someone has time to do it.

Both of these things means that less unsolved cases are solved. We need to fund this!!!

62% of cases in the US are solved. 95% are solved in Japan. 83-92% are solved in Germany. What is wrong here?!

lookatjimmy's review against another edition

5.0

Hello I am DEEPLY in love with Billy Jensen.

fatalamelia's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.0

baileys_bookstagram's review against another edition

5.0

Chase Darkness with Me was an intriguing and gripping real life narrative by Billy Jensen. Up until this point I did not know who he was and I was surprised to find out just how much he has been involved in. Most famously is his involvement in the completion of Michelle McNamara's book "I'll be Gone in the Dark" with her husband after her tragic passing. But Billy Jensen has been involved in solving crimes for a long time. I enjoyed his style, the way he grabs the reader and takes you through his life starting with his relationship with his dad. Then moving on step by step to the man who is renowned for helping police solve cases. The most intriguing piece is how he has accomplished this task; his use of social media and crowdsourcing. The process of targeting specific areas, including streets to reach the most relevant individuals who may have information on the particular crime, is mind-blowing to me and so innovative. He also finds ways to utilize the DNA banks and familial DNA out there to help solve crimes. The only part of the book that I had a difficult time digesting was the "How to become an armchair detective" at the end of the book. Yes rules and such were outlined but the idea of average Joe Schmoes doing the complex work that Mr. Jensen has taken years to perfect and utilize is a huge risk but to each their own.
This is a must read for any true crime enthusiast and I'm very thankful I was given the opportunity to read and review.
Thank you to the Publisher & Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

alisonkinkead's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

angela005's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Rape, Pedophilia, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault

melissa_who_reads's review against another edition

4.0

Very much enjoyed it. An easy read. There are several false endings in the Kindle edition I read: the last chapter, the epilogue, the Bonus Chapter, the Addendum, and finally the Conversation with Billy Jenson and Paul Holes. Followed by the Reading Group Guide. And the Acknowledgments. Its all full of stories, some with endings, some with no endings (yet), and it is his personal memoir as well, as far has his relationship with true crime began and evolved. Like a good newspaper reporter, he puts together a story line that is mostly easy to follow and engaging.

stmajo084's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

daniellecaskinett's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

5.0

Billy Jensen is a highly skilled writer who takes you on a journey as you read this book. I look forward to reading more. 

michelles_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.5