I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
McNamara's sole standalone book and definitive introduction to her true-crime writing.
Author guide
Michelle McNamara Books in Order
Michelle Eileen McNamara (1970–2016) was an American writer of true crime. She founded the website True Crime Diary and wrote for Los Angeles magazine and other publications about unsolved crimes. Her sole book, I'll Be Gone in the Dark, was published posthumously in 2018 after her unfinished manuscript was completed and edited by collaborators including Paul Haynes, Billy Jensen, and Patton Oswalt.
true crimenonfictionjournalism
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Novels (1)
- I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
nonfiction · 2018
For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police…
Frequently asked questions about Michelle McNamara
Who was Michelle McNamara?
Michelle McNamara was an American true-crime writer and journalist who founded True Crime Diary and reported on unsolved crimes. She became widely known for her investigation of the Golden State Killer.
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What inspired Michelle McNamara’s interest in unsolved crimes?
Her fascination began after Kathleen Lombardo, a woman who lived near McNamara’s Oak Park home, was murdered when McNamara was 14. The unsolved case remained a formative influence on her later work.
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What was Michelle McNamara’s career before she became known for true crime?
McNamara moved to Los Angeles to write for television and film. She sold television pilots to ABC and Fox, sold a screenplay to Paramount, and worked as a consultant for Dateline NBC.
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What awards did Michelle McNamara’s work receive?
Her posthumously published book won the 2019 Anthony Award for Best Critical/Nonfiction Work. It was also named the 2018 Goodreads Best Nonfiction Book of the Year by its publisher’s listing.
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What is Michelle McNamara’s legacy?
McNamara helped shape modern true crime through investigative, survivor-centered reporting that combined empathy with persistent research. Her work also became the basis for a six-part HBO documentary series, extending her influence beyond her lifetime.
Sources: time.com (opens in a new tab)oprfmuseum.org (opens in a new tab)