Kevin Ryan is a writer in the much-maligned genre of true crime who desperately needs a devious, over-the-top story for the subject of his next book. How else can he keep his wife Valerie’s roots dyed and keep himself from handing out taco samples at the local supermarket?
When Kevin isn’t Googling himself or spot checking his books’ stock at stores around the country or online, he’s bringing the hazards (ie, criminals and other crazies) of his job home to wife Val and twin daughters Taylor and Hayley. Kevin is on the hunt for the big one, the story that could break him out of the mid-list and onto the bestseller lists. And then there’s a knock at the door – a story finds him…
A distraught 20-year old Jett Carter shows up at the Ryan house because her mother and sister are imprisoned – perhaps if Kevin writes their story and reveals the truth, he might help exonerate them. The Carters’ tale is the perfect white-trash-attempted-murder-love-triangle that Kevin’s editor will love and his fans will devour. He begins to write “Love You to Death.”
Then on a beautiful summer day, the wheels of homicide are set in motion and Kevin’s own story begins to eclipse the crime he is chronicling. When his #1 fan is murdered and another body turns up, the Ryans’ life in Port Gamble and all that Kevin holds dear is in jeopardy. Somewhere in “Love You to Death” and within the “bunch of low rent losers” he’s interviewing is the killer.
Shocking twists and turns Loved the combo of fiction and the aspect of true crime. It was like reading two books at once but it never got confusing. It made you want to read it faster to find out what happens. The characters are easy to follow but at the same time keep you guessing. This book is just one more reason why Gregg Olsen is my favorite author.
Shockingly Terrific I can’t say enough good things about Gregg Olsen’s “Shocking True Story”. I picked this book up thinking I would take it on vacation as a nice and light beach read. However, the minute I scanned the first few pages I was hooked! It kept me up most of the night, so now I really need that vacation. This is a great story with characters you can relate to, although you would not want most of them in your life. The twists and turns will keep you riveted, wondering how will it all turn out. I’ve…
Not true crime/shame on you Olsen It was very disappointing to discover this was a FICTION, not one of his true crime books, which I did not discover until I was 1/3 of the way through this miss-mush of too many characters, and too many sub-plots.Â