Vanished in Vermillion follows a very cold case that happened in South Dakota in 1971. Two missing teenaged girls and one missing Studebaker! The story itself was fascinating with many true crime staples, rude know it all cops along with good cops, unreliable witnesses, jail house snitch, dogged defense attorney, grieving families this one had it all. #NetGalley

In 1971 in a small rural town in South Dakota, 17 year olds Pam and Sherri drive off in search of an end of school keg party. They are never seen again. Vanished in Vermillion is an intensive look at the investigation conducted by local police, and later, by the Cold Case Squad and other authorities. The author, an investigative journalist, painstakingly recounts the police missteps in the early stages of the disappearance, as well as a deep-dive into the bungled cold case investigation which nearly resulted in a catastrophic prosecution. Obviously well researched, filled with interviews, courtroom drama, and a hard look at the sometimes haphazard nature of a police investigation gone awry. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly researched and beautifully narrated;
The story about the missing girls is told chronologically and so the reader is always up to date without any knowledge advantage. The book is very well structured. The biographies of some of the participants are interspersed in between, usually when they first appear in the story. The whole thing reads like a story about crime-fighting and forensic methodology because you've been involved in the activities and searches for over 40 years. I really liked the fact that the author always described the story objectively and neutrally and supplied small digressions, e.g. about the scientific status of witness statements / hypnosis. Different points of view are highlighted and thus the various people affected are given a voice. There are some photos that add depth to the narrative. Since I didn't know the case, I didn't know in advance how and whether there would be a solution, and the truth also amazed, relieved and affected me.

3.5 stars

A very sad story. My heart breaks for the family and friends, especially those who died before ever finding answers.

Well researched but I just found it dragged a bit and I was struggling at times.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

If you are a true-crime buff, this is the book for you. No spoilers ahead, so I won’t give you much of the story, and advise you not to look any further into the case. Just pick it up, start reading and wait for the twists and turns of a roller coaster ride, keeping you guessing as to how this story ends.

On May 29, 1971, Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller were just a couple of 17 year old girls looking to do what teenagers do, party and drink beer. This was a first for the girls, and they weren’t quite sure how to get to the remote party location. Luckily, they ran into some boys from school who told the girls to follow them in their car. Somewhere along the way, the girls vanished from the face of the earth for the next 43 years. Unfortunately, they were treated as runaways, and not much was done to find them. Thirty years later, their case was reopened as a cold case and investigators had a chief suspect in mind. From that point, the book takes so many twists and turns, you won’t be sure what to believe. The story is gripping, and the author does a great job of keeping it easy to read while presenting all sides.

I will admit my main motivation for reading this book was the setting, South Dakota. We visited there many years ago, and I was picturing the remoteness of the Black Hills. It has always stuck in my mind that you could hide a body there without it ever being found. Should have looked at a map sooner, as Vermillion isn’t in the Black Hills. No matter, because this story was great.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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As someone who's read their fair share of true crime, I was very interested in this book for many reasons. It's fascinating to me how a cold case is handled in smaller areas, as opposed to large cities.

I really enjoyed Vanished in Vermillion, though some parts could definitely be cut for length.

It's a shame that it took so long for this case to come to a close, and that many of the family members didn't get the answers they deserved.

As a criminologist who works solely on cold cases, I've seen more than my fair share of shoddy police work, however in the case of the disappearance of Sherri and Pam- the level of laziness is beyond even my comprehension. This book tells an important story, one that doesn't even really have anything to do with Sherri and Pam. It tells of how easy it is for an investigator to fall into confirmation bias- to decide themselves how the story will end.

Raguse was wonderful at capturing the ineptitude of the local law enforcement when it came to this case. He was great at making even you believe you knew what happened, but at the same time- giving you the questions of are we really sure? Though I will say, if the attempt at framing an innocent person had never happened, this story wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.

I love true crime in any format and especial when it involves, like this one, crimes that I know little to nothing about, It is incredibly well written and it is easy to tell that it has been highly researched without the book coming over as too heavy. It was an eye opening and heartbreaking read in so many ways and has stuck with me since I read it, I just can't stop thinking that if the police had done their jobs well back in 1971 and not just assumed the girls were runaways then the outcome for the families and the girls might have been very different.
A very powerful read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I love true crime novels.
This one did not disappoint. A lot of well thought out research went into this.
It is a very revealing book on bad police work as well.
If you like true crime try it his one.

A Bizarre Case With Plenty Of Twists And Turns.
Vanished in Vermillion is a cold case story about two girls called Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller. In May 1971 the two seventeen-year-olds girls were driving to the end of school year party at a gravel pit in South Dakota. Sherri and Pam drove to the party in Sherris dads rundown Studebaker Lark when they seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.

The book details the story over forty years, and it shows how the police back then didn’t do enough to try and find both girls believing the girls had run away and would come back at some point. When the girls do not show up the police eventually start to investigate. Two families have had to endure decades of pain as they await answers of what happened to their daughters. Then thirty years later Cold Case Investigators and the police department find they are in way over its head as they focus the blame and terrorize a serial rapist and his family.

This is the first book I have read by Lou Raguse and would be one of the best investigative journalisms finally bringing about the real truth of Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller. The book is a well-documented story of terrible police work, and the embarrassment of Law enforcement in South Dakota once the case is solved. A fast-paced book and a real page turner with a surprising ending. If you love true crime, then this book is definitely for you. A bizarre case with plenty of twists and turns.
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Vanished in Vermillion
By Lou Raguse
4 stars
This is an extraordinarily well-researched and written book. The sheer lack of police follow through on this case is baffling. Two 17-year-old good girls go missing and there is no investigation? No interviews? No search? I realize things were different in 1971, but still...
I am from the Midwest but had not heard of these two girls, Sherri Miller and Pam Jackson prior to the reading of this book. This is just a fascinating case that took way too long to solve.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

Holy bad policing, Batman!

Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse is one of the best documented stories of terrible police work I have ever read. Chronicling the disappearance and search for Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller in 1971, Raguse covers all aspects of the case from beginning to end. I often find myself at the end of true crime books feeling like the narrative is rushed to focus on the more salacious details. Raguse will never be accused of that (in a good way) and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I will avoid spoilers but can say this story has an ending which should be satisfying for anyone who believes in facts. This book is just as much about Sherri and Pam as it is about a family terrorizes by a police department in way over its head. One particular sheriff makes you question whether or not sheriffs as an elected position should even exist.

This true crime book has everything. If you love true crime and want a fully developed story then this book is definitely for you.

(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Post Hill Press. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 2/16/2023.)

An interesting old true crime story about two 17 year old girls who went missing back in 1971 on their way to a party at a gravel pit. It details the story over 40+ years of issues with the case, and the surprising ending when it did come decades later. Good investigative journalism bringing out the real truth.

First off!!! HOLY CATS! This story is (for lack of better words) INSANE!!! the whole thing from start to finish is WILD!!! The story was told in an impeccable way, leaving you wanting more with each page. With that being said I think that the author kind of dragged it out a little farther than it needed to be! 4/5 stars for me!

This book has an excellent storyline, but it goes on way too long. Tighter editing would make it flow better. The true story of a cold case in SD, over 40 years old, two missing teens, and a serial rapist. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.