I saw the movie Chappaquiddick the day it opened in DC. This should be no surprise: Kennedy family, suspense made more compelling by the fact that it’s a true story, a comedic actor (Ed Helms) in a serious role – it hit every mark.
I’d heard about “the Chappaquiddick incident” earlier in my life, but I didn’t read much about it until after Ted Kennedy passed away. In my lifetime, Ted Kennedy was a veteran Senator with a huge personality that extended across the aisle and a strong record on healthcare, human rights and education that aligns closely with my beliefs. But there’s a darker truth, and this movie seeks to bring it to light.
What frustrated me about the movie – and all of the coverage of the incident, past and present – was the fact that Mary Jo Kopechne seems to be a footnote in her own murder. It’s sort of OG clickbait – the sensational parts of the story will get lots of eyes on the story. But Mary Jo’s death is the real tragedy, not the end of presidential candidacy. And we should be talking about her and allowing her story to live on.
This is a long journey to say that the exact opposite is true of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Michelle McNamara is a master storyteller – you get to know the victims, you get to know the people who worked on the case and you even get to know the Golden State Killer himself through her descriptions.
There’s a lot more to say on the subject of murder, but I’ve written about it before. Instead, I think the story of how the book came to be is remarkable: Michelle McNamara worked exceptionally hard to compile facts and information about this case in an effort to seek justice for the families of victims of brutal murder and then suddenly and tragically died before she finished writing.
If you’re a fellow Patton Oswalt fan, you may already be familiar with this story, as he was married to Michelle. He, along with her former colleagues, worked tirelessly to ensure that this book was completed, published and placed in the hands of millions.
And then – improbably, impossibly – the Golden State Killer was caught in April of 2018. He’s recently had charges brought against him. At long last, he’s in jail for his brutal crimes – all because a woman with a deep interest decided to dig in on the topic, to give voices to the victims.
As in my first review, I’ll lament that I’m writing this after the author’s sudden death with no ability to know what else she could’ve accomplished. At the very least – I’d have loved for her to see him get caught. And, of note: Patton Oswalt has done an incredible job continuing Michelle’s legacy – it’s clear how tight their bond was and continues to be.
To my knowledge, the LAPD has not acknowledged the huge part Michelle McNamara played in closing a long-elusive case, which is exceptionally frustrating. She poured every ounce of herself into this investigation. The victims weren’t footnotes thanks to her storytelling – and I hope that this book guarantees that she won’t be a footnote in the incredible story of the capture of the Golden State Killer.
You’ll like this if: there’s no way around it – you’ll like this if you you’re into reading about murder…but you’re interested in a human, delicate approach.
Happy reading!
Other Suggested Content
– Michelle McNamara’s blog, True Crime Diary
– “In the Footsteps of a Killer”, LA Times: the original published story.
– Patton Oswalt on Fresh Air: I listened to this while walking and at one point was so struck by one of his comments that I needed to sit down on the sidewalk to rewind, listen again and process it. This made me late for Pilates. It was January. I did not care.
– And, for that matter, Patton Oswalt on Seth Meyers the day after the Golden State Killer was caught.
carlyreads 