Bright Young Women

This is not the typical story about one of America's most infamous serial killers (who will remain nameless as he does in the book) in which the criminal is portrayed as a brilliant mastermind. Instead, this book tells the story through a different lens with the focus on the women he victimized and those who helped to bring him to justice. In that sense, it reminds me a bit of Notes on an Execution. Knoll creates a highly engaging, female-centered narrative that leaves the reader feeling both frustrated at society's glorification of the criminal and encouraged by the strength of the women impacted by his actions.

The book is told from the perspectives of Pamela Schumacher and Ruth Wachowsky in two separate timelines. Pamela is the president of the sorority attacked by the Defendant (as he is called in the book) in January of 1978, and Ruth is one of his victims in Washington state in the summer of 1974. Pamela and Tina, Ruth's friend, join forces after the sorority attack to find evidence that the police will take seriously in order to catch this killer.

This version of the well-known story seeks to actively diminish the image of this infamous killer and highlight the strength and innocence of his victims. The book criticizes the way in which the women are often portrayed as having invited violence by their behavior. Knoll correctly displays them as blameless, though not perfect, and focuses on their courage.

This is a really interesting book that reads quickly and effortlessly. I would recommend it to anyone, especially readers looking for a different take on over-glamourized serial murderer.