Misleading Title, Awesome Story
Review by Kim Cantrell
Harvey Carignan is a prime example of why the US Constitution so frequently works against victims while offering loopholes for perpetrators; often setting them free to repeat their crimes as is this case with Carignan.
On the other side of the fence, readers develop sympathy for Mary Miller, whose daughter was the first known victim of Carignan after his most recent prison release.
Ann Rule, despite The Want-Ad Killer being one of her early works, does an outstanding job of providing an in-depth look into the childhood, teenage years and adulthood of Carignan.
Much of what we learn is based on Carignan’s “accusations” and Rule does a superb job of noting that, most likely, this are just what they are…only accusations.
While the title is a bit deceptive (Carignan only murdered one young girl, that is known, from a classified ad), the overall content of the book is intense and intriguing; so much so that I completed the book within 24 hours.
This is the last of the Ann Rule books I had not read to date.
This early work is proof that Rule has a natural talent for writing about America’s worst citizens.
Want to read it? Go get it!
Updates from this book:
Having been declared a “snitch,” Harvey Carignan is housed in Minnesota prison in Stillwater.
