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Book Review, © Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
John Walsh is the host of the TV show, America's Most Wanted. This is a book that I do not want to finish reading, even though it is obviously one of the best books that I have ever held in my hands. There is pain here, in the first story about a man who strangled and raped an eight year old girl, and then stabbed her grandmother dozens of times, and is now fighting to save is own life. I find tears in my eyes every few pages. All sorts of emotions flow through me here, sadness, joy, curiosity, puzzlement, anger, whatever. Walsh says, "... Child killers ... are the lowest form of human life. In that moment I know -- we have to catch this guy. And I know that we can catch this guy. This is what we're good at. This is what we do."
I suspect that I will finish reading this book. But, I will back off for a while. Why should I read painful things? I am not going to read this kind of thing often. But, I don't want to pretend that these things don't happen. I need to be reminded, now and then. And the stories are incredible.
John Walsh has also written Tears of Rage, about the murder of his son.
I have begun reading Public Enemies, by John Walsh, more great, powerful stories that are very difficult to read. But I can't put it down, except to breath a long sigh and shake my head. Read about the scum of the earth who molest and kill children. Read about the families torn apart by tragedy. Read about the wonderful police officers who track down and capture the criminals. Read about "the brutality of a criminal justice system that treats victims' families as though they were the criminals." Read about the wonderful people who recognize a face on America's Most Wanted, and call the 800 number. And read about heroism at ground zero, after the World Trade Center towers fell.
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