This is a true story written by the daughter of the famous author of True Crime books, Ann Rule. Leslie is truly following in her mother’s footsteps. This is the story of a cyberstalker, a love triangle and a murder. It takes place in Omaha NE and surrounds around 2012. It is a true story that was all over the newspapers and has been dramatized by several true crime programs on TV.

The author gives great details of all the happenings and subsequent investigations. She did her research well and that makes this a very intriguing story and will be a must read for all True Crime readers.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Leslie Rule is def her mother's daughter. She writes with the same passion and intensity as her mother. This wasn't a story I was familiar with but you better believe that I went and researched this case.
Rule puts in the same effort that her mother did and pay attention to every little detail. She puts the readers in the middle of the story. THis was an intense read and I hope its not her last true crime story!

Relentless Terror In A True Crime Story!

Dave Kroupa is a mechanic and a recently divorced father of two who wants to wade his feet in the single life and decides to join a few of the online dating sites. Dave first meets Liz and they enjoy each others company but Dave does not want to get serious and wants to date other women but Liz wants a commitment plus she has a jealous streak and Dave doesn't want all the drama. Along comes very pretty Cari Lea Farber and they seem to hit it off right away even though Liz is still trying to hold onto Dave. Cari and Dave are seeing quite a bit of one another until Cari just up and leaves town without telling Dave or her friends and family. She quits her job and leaves her son without a goodbye. Soon after, Dave starts receiving horrible text messages from Cari blaming him for ruining her life and calling him vicious names and then at the same time she tells him how much she loves him. Dave doesn't know what to make of this or how Cari continues to have access to his personal information after he gets new phone numbers and blocks her online but she continues to access all his online information and sends hundreds of harrassing texts daily so he continues to date other people including Liz and then the women he is seeing start getting text threats and they are reaching a violent level, so Dave goes to the police and the police are baffled since they can't track Cari down while months and months go by and every woman that Dave dates is a potential stalking victim of Cari and as the threats become more violent and sinister the detectives are frustrated and have tried everything to find Cari and put an end to this cyberstalking nightmare before Cari can carry out any of her murderous threats.

This book was wonderful in every way. Mesmerizing with great writing and terrific storytelling that had me on the edge of my seat and biting my fingernails at the same time. This story was so crazy that I had to remember it wasn't fiction but a true crime novel. That was the most frightening thing of all that this was a true story about a sociopath who was able to use the internet as a vicious weapon and as a result many, many victims were terrorized by an unseen monster who created paralyzing fear in almost every person who had the unfortunate timing of crossing Dave Kroupa's path.

I have always been a big fan of Ann Rule who was my favorite true crime author and I couldn't wait wait to see how her daughter's writing would compare. Leslie Rule has definitely made her mother proud with "A Tangled Web" and I am looking forward to many more true crime stories to be written by her. I enjoyed the forward that gave a lovely dedication to her mother and I truly appreciated now she included many pictures at the end of the book starring the key players who were so I intricately involved within this absolutely crazy nightmare of a true story.

I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Booms" and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity of reading this marvelous book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I highly recommend to any true crime reader or crime story reader or anyone who just wants to read an incredible and incredulous story and have given this book 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Cyberstalking Nightmare Stars!!

Very well written account of a most intriguing, sinister, and twisted cyber stalker. The narrative is chronological and details many events that transpired to end up in a conviction for murder.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this book when I saw it was by Leslie Rule, Ann Rule's daughter. I wasn't disappointed it was a decent novel. I liked her writing style but at times I found parts dragged on.
This book has it all, murder, mystery, stalking, identity theft, cat-phishing and more! The story itself is absolutely terrifying as it can honestly happen to anyone. We are all constantly on social media, on the internet it is one of our main staples in our lives.
As the reader you do get very frustrated sometimes as to how the men in the book are literally so naïve but as the author notes they were masterfully manipulated by a pretty face and it was easy to see from the outside looking in, but not so much when you're neck deep in it. Shanna "Liz" Golyar is a very sick woman and the horrors she inflicted on the people she encountered is truly tragic.
I found the book to be descriptive and as previously mentioned, dragged on in spots but then the book ended so abruptly I felt as the reader we missed out at the end.
For her first true crime novel I think Ms. Rule did a good job and I look forward to reading more of this genre from her.

A Tangled Web: A Cyberstalker, a Deadly Obsession, and the Twisting Path to Justice by Leslie Rule is an exciting, fast-paced read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I could not put this book down. I love true crime stories and this is one is excellent. Leslie Rule has written several books so she is not a new author and her writing shows her skills. This is her first true crime book and she rocked this one. Leslie's mom is Ann Rule the queen of true crime writing and I think she would be very proud of this book. I highly recommend this book too all, but especially fans of true crime, Ann Rule and Leslie Rule will all find this well written book worth reading. Thank you NetGalley, Citadel Press, and Leslie Rule for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

I think the main reason people requested this book is because of Ann Rule. I see the similarities but it has a modern edge that separates Leslie Rule from Ann Rule. Worth checking out.

Leslie Rule has some big shoes to fill as she follows in her mother Ann’s steps as a true crime writer. Ann Rule’s book about Ted Bundy (The Stranger Beside Me) is considered by many as THE seminal book on Bundy, and Ann Rule wrote any number of superbly researched, fascinating true crime stories. Leslie started as a photographer for her mother, and since Ann Rule’s death in 2015, Leslie has decided to move into true crime writing herself. A Tangled Web is her first case story and it’s an absolutely fascinating read.

A Tangled Web is very much a modern murder case, with technology at the very heart of it, as the killer perpetrated not only a murder but also identity theft, catfishing, stalking and more, all triggered because of meetings which occurred because of online dating. Sending over 20,000 emails and text messages to support her crimes, the killer fooled law enforcement for several years as the victim’s family couldn’t get anyone to believe their daughter was actually missing. It took a team of dedicated and computer-savvy detectives to finally unravel the web and build a case (without a body!) to finally get justice for Cari Farver.

Leslie Rule builds a very thorough case. The killer’s state of mind is opaque throughout, her motivations obviously something of a mystery to the author at times because of her contradictory actions, but the facts and timeline are established through the incredible digital trail painstakingly constructed for the trial. At times I think the author got a little bogged down in the sheer volume of data available; 20,000 is a lot of emails to sift through. They’re obviously not all reproduced here, but even so I think there are some things which could have been left out or drawn with broader strokes. That said, the level of detail did make the sheer pressure of stalking Dave Kroupa endured feel very real and immediate, almost claustrophobic.

One thing the book does is bring into sharp focus the dangers of online dating and the fact that you have no idea who you’re exposing yourself to. Dave Kroupa was a decent guy, but the women he met online had no idea he had a dangerous stalker who might on a whim decide they would be her next victim of online harassment… or worse.

This is a solid read and fascinating in the almost forensic inspection of the technology the killer used to support her crimes, but I do think it could have been pared down a little. It’s a bit too dense and the message is at times lost in the details. Overall, I’ll give it four stars and look forward to Leslie Rule’s next case study!

Sooooo excited to see a true crime book by Ann Rule’s daughter, Leslie!!! I own all of Ann’s books and have read them over and over. I was so sad when she passed away and while there are other true crime authors I read and enjoy, no one quite compares to Ann Rule. Thankfully, her daughter Leslie Rule does! She has a similar writing style to her mom, but her own flair to it as well. A Tangled Web is a super compelling story that I couldn’t put down. I’d never heard of this case before and love reading about lesser known cases that haven’t already been done to death in the press. This book delivered and I’m crossing my fingers that Leslie writes more true crime books in the future.

I was a devoted fan of Ann Rule and have missed her true crime books immensely so I was thrilled to obtain a copy of this book written by her daughter. Obviously, Leslie Rule had an excellent teacher and mentor with lots of experience alongside her mother and this was excellent. The story is a sordid one and also very scary as it deals with the way the murderess used technology to terrorize and taunt the family and acquaintances of the woman she killed. What a "tangled web" indeed.

So many people were taken in by and fooled by this mistress of mayhem. Shanna (Liz) Golyar destroyed so many innocent lives through her deception and behavior over a 3 year period. Her obsession and madness was way beyond anything I can even comprehend and she takes stalking to a whole new level. The author captures and explains the entire case with interesting background information. I really enjoyed the way the roles of all of the victims as well as those responsible for her capture were detailed. What is truly mystifying is that she got away with murder for so long! Shanna definitely thought she was smarter than everyone and she indeed had some skills with computer technology that kept it all hidden for that length of time. One of my favorite parts of a true crime book is when I see the pictures of the people involved. You'd think you'd be able to see evil there, but you simply can't!

Highly recommended to anyone who loves this genre and I can't wait for Leslie Rule's next book -- she has a new fan here! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. The description of the book provided by the publisher gives the overview of the crime and names the characters and is well worth reading.

What a tangled world wide web of lies and deceit in the new true crime book by Leslie Rule. Liz is obsessed with Dave, whom she met on an online dating site, and goes to unbelievable lengths to keep him in her life. I highly recommend this book – it reads like fiction but I had to keep reminding my self it is based on real events of a fatal attraction.

Written by America’s best true-crime writers daughter; Ann Rule, A Tangled Web by Leslie Rule, explores the story of Cari Lea Farver, who unexpectedly vanished in November 2012. Her mother is a No.1 crime writer and Leslie would accompany her to court to photograph serial killers for her mum's books. She has written other books but this is her first true crime story.

Cari, 37, was a devoted mother, daughter and a reliable friend and employee with a new job that she enjoys. She is not the type of person to get up and leave, abandoning her son, her responsibilities as well as her family, especially while her father lay dying, yet many texts and emails show that this is exactly what she has done.
Leslie looks into the lives of Cari, her mother Nancy, her ex-boyfriend Dave Kroupa and his casual girlfriend Shanna ‘Liz’ Goyler and the tangled web of this love affair, that is not what it seems.
It is a well written book, and you can tell she has learnt a lot from her mother. There is so much history into the characters involved, so much sometimes it can be quite confusing with whose history you are reading about but it is not enough to pull you away from the story. The layout of the story shows how everything happened, the stalking, the murder and the mystery. For the most part, it was easy to read and the story flowed well. There were no parts that were boring or slowed the story down. I liked how interesting and how completely crazy it seemed and she made the effort to play out the story with a little mystery, getting you invested in the story making you want to know how and why it happened.
As mentioned, it could be quite confusing in places and there was quite a bit that I personally felt could have been left out; a whole section on how Facebook works for example. There was also some repetitiveness throughout the book in places and I felt that the story could have come to an end much sooner had some the ‘filler’ writing been taken out.
For the most part, well written and full of information about the police procedural side of things but also some in depth information on things that are not necessary, if it could be done again I would just say make it shorter and only put in essential information.
As I was given an ebook, there were some photos that were at the end of the book which I didn't realise until the end, but going over them it was nice to recap the book and look at all the people involved, reminding myself that this is a true story and happened to real people.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy true crime or anyone who is looking to get into the genre.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, to the author, thank you for writing a true crime book as I am sure your mother would have been very proud of you. I have heard of Anne Rule, but I have never read any of her books. This provided wonderful insight as to why this family does a great job with writing this genre.

What can I say about this book... Dave is a typical guy getting out of a long term relationship with the mother of his children, and like many of us (myself included, I met my husband there) decided to get back into the dating world via the Internet. He makes it clear he wants a no strings attached relationships, and he finds Liz on Plenty of Fish, a dark haired, petite woman who he has no true connection with, but the sex is great. She cannot seem to understand this whole "friends with benefits" concept and takes her obsession to a whole new definition of psycho.

What does Liz do when the first competition, Cari, comes along? She murders her, and pretends she's her for 3 YEARS and she somehow manages to get away with it, sending over 20,000 messages to Dave, his ex, some of the other girls he tries to date, and also the murder victim's friends and family. Any time Dave tries to pull away, she either tantilizes him with more sex or pretends she's the victim of "Crazy Cari". Some of these people caught on along the way, but Dave would just ignore their warnings as he had became accustomed to it. I guess after 3 years, you tend to shrug these things off?

You also learn Liz has another boyfriend Garrett while she was seeing Dave. You feel sorry for him as she constantly takes advantage of him; he pays her bills and let's her live at his house rent free all while she's sleeping with someone else.

I am happy to hear this family finally got some sort of justice, but the body of Cari was never really found. May the evil witch who did this rot in prison the rest of her life.

Thank you Net Galley for providing such an intruguing book! I received this for an honest review.

A true crime story that shows in time she can do as well as her mother. The book was so close to the dateline episode it's almost like a manuscript for the show. Shanna (Liz) Golyar met Dave Kroupa on an online dating site, Plenty of Fish. Kroupa makes it clear from the start that he is not interested in any sort of relationship but Golyar has a different idea. Kroupa continues to date other women and meets one he seems interested in, Cari Farver. Golyar gets wind of this and that is when things heat up. Farver disappears and Golyar and Kroupa start to get threatening texts from her, mysterious things start to happen to them and their homes. The story is a rapid page turner that slows grreatly in the middle. Well written!

A twisted, true tale of stalking, murder and mystery. Lots of details and character depth in this well written novel. Definitely recommend!

This was so bonkers and I was totally sucked into the story. Shanna "Liz" Golyar is a terrifying person, and the lengths she went to to eliminate romantic rivals is chilling. I couldn't help but think the men around her were complete idiots, and none of this would have happened if they hadn't been such complete doormats who didn't ever want to hurt her feelings. But nevertheless, she was clearly adept at manipulating and gaslighting them. By the end she was clearly pretty desperate, because her attempts to frame Amy were pretty inept, especially as she was now trying to fool the police, not just gullible Dave. Anyway, totally engrossing story, but the writing style was just okay for me. I think this could have been shorter--it seemed like there was a lot of filler that was just there to pad out the book to the desired length. I didn't need a several page long explanation of how Facebook works, a whole paragraph about the statistical presence of herpes in the adult population (just because Liz was telling women that Dave had herpes), or tons of history on Cari's family going back to her great-grandparents. Also some instances of speculation by the author or drawing conclusions that would have been better left for the reader to infer that just didn't work for me. But overall an interesting read and a fascinating story for fans of true crime.

While I didn't find her writing as compelling as her mom's writing was, Leslie Rule still could easily have a career in true crime authoring. While heavy-handed with the suspense and foreshadowing at the end of each chapter, the story moved along at a pretty good pace, though there were a few times it seemed to drag the slightest but. There was a little bit of overexplaining about things like Facebook, which I feel most people understand, but there was also some good explanations for some of the terminology that had to do with the internet aspect of things. Overall, the case was very interesting and convoluted but was laid out in such a way that it was easy to see why the killer evaded justice for so long. I hope that Leslie continues to follow in her mother's footsteps for many years to come!

As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction. In this definitely the truth in this case. Stalking and murder tends to be something a man would do, well, not necessarily. Jumping across the Missouri River between Iowa and Nebraska, manipulation and jealousy abounds as Liz/Shanna is centerpiece with her focus and desire to "own" Dave.

The first half of the book kept up the pace and character development. I was ready to give the book a 5 star rating. About the midway point, either the author ran out of gas or the editor lost interest in tightening up the storyline.. The story became repetitious and the writing not as tight.

Thank you Kensington Books and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest feedback.

This was a very wild ride with this book. Leslie you wrote just your your mom, this book was great. It had a lot of twists and turns and a very interesting point. Thank you to net gallery for letting me read this amazing book.

A True Crime Novel

Following in her mother's footsteps, Leslie Rule has made her first stab at true crime.

This is the story of Cari Farver. Disappeared from Omaha in 2012, leaving a son she adored and her confused parents and friends.

It is the story of a woman who won't take no for an answer and makes these people's lives a living hell for years.

My issue? I watched this twice on Dateline in the last two weeks. The book mirrored the television investigation but with less detail.

Honestly from the first page I knew this story and was pretty bored halfway through since we all knew what was going to happen.

While I enjoy her other works, this may not be her genre. The Dateline story was much better.

NetGalley/ April 28th, 2020 by Citadel (first published 2020)