"Down the Hill" by Susan Hendricks is a compelling and empathetic exploration of an unsolved case that has gripped the nation. I, like many others, first heard about the Delphi, Indiana double homicide through the podcast Crime Junkie, and I've been following it closely since then, hoping for justice for Abby and Libby. Susan Hendricks, with her extensive journalism background, brings a unique perspective to the story. What stands out most is her genuine care for the families involved, which is evident in her interviews and interactions. It's clear that this case isn't just another story for her; she wants the families to feel supported, not exploited.

The book delves into not only the heartbreaking details of the case but also the enduring resilience and advocacy of the victims' families. It explores the broader impact this tragedy has had on the Delphi community. It also sheds light on the challenges faced by local law enforcement and the role of technology in solving cases like these.

Given that someone is now in custody for the murders, with a trial set for 2024, it's an especially intriguing time for readers invested in this case. The fact that law enforcement has kept much of the information under wraps hints at a potentially significant amount of evidence. I share your interest in seeing how this trial unfolds and whether justice will finally be served. "Down the Hill" offers an insightful and compassionate perspective on this heartbreaking story.

In 2017, two teenage girls are found murdered near a bridge in Delphi, Indiana. The case soon captured the nation’s attention, and was featured on many true crime shows. Down The Hill is written by veteran TV journalist Susan Hendricks, and this is not your typical true crime novel, as Hendricks softly humanizes this tragedy by getting close to the victims’ families instead of a re-telling of the facts of the crime. It’s a unique perspective, as the reader gets a rare glimpse at a different side of the investigation and the way the families, as well as the law enforcement members, react and respond to the crime. Once the trial is complete, a follow up book detailing that experience would be welcome. Overall, an interesting read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This non-fiction novel was more of a memoir than a true crime novel. It covers the basics of the case of the Delphi Murders, but focuses more on the author's relationship with the victims' families, with whom she had grown close to after the crime. There were not a ton of facts to cover in this case, which has always been a frustration since it happened, and it doesn't cover the trial of the accused murdered, which has been delayed several times, but the author, who was a CNN journalist at the time, also doesn't even delve into details that would have rounded out the story. Facts such as where did the sister Kelsi work and why did Kelsi and Libby live with their grandparents instead of their parents? If you're looking for just a cursory overview of the events of the Delphi Murders, this book would be satisfactory, but there are probably other sources that would be more informative and in depth.

In February 2017, two teenage girls were brutally murdered in Delphi, Indiana. Author (and former CNN reporter) Susan Hendricks writes a riveting book covering the case from the murder to the arrest of Richard Allen in October 2022. What I found unique about this book was the author writes it from her journalist point of view. She not only discusses the case, but gives an insight and voice to the victims’ families. Allen has not been to trial at this date, so there is more to come to this story. I was not very familiar with this crime but feel that this book has increased my knowledge. Overall, if you are a true crime reader, I would recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the ARC of this book.

I was fortunate enough to read the ARC of this book. I have followed the journey from podcast to TV special to this book. Susan did a great job of telling the story of the terrible murders of two young girls, Abby & Libby, not only from her point of view, but from talking to the family, experts (including Paul Holes), law enforcement, and fellow journalists. At first I thought I was going to hear the same story that the podcast told, but the last third of the book gave more intimate knowledge of the murders, murder scene, suspect, and Delphi now. Definitely a must read for True Crime junkies!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a nicely researched and well told true crime novel. The author put a lot of effort into telling the story of what happened and the impact that it had on others.

This case was one that I was quite familiar with from listening to various podcasts over the years, so I was very interested in reading this book! I knew that there had been developments in the case since I had last heard an update so I was quite excited to get to that part of the book. While the first 1/2 was a rehash of what I already knew it was still a good refresher and for someone who had no previous knowledge of the case it was necessary. While it neared the end of the book when we got into the stuff I was not aware of, I still was enthralled with this book and ate it up. I wish there would have been a conclusion to this court case by the time the book came out, but now that I have all of this information rolling around in my brain I will continue to search for the trial date and keep updated. Thank you to this author for writing about a brave topic which included being sensitive to the family of the victims. Great job!

I enjoyed watching Susan Hendricks on HLN tv. I always wondered where she went. I have also listened to various true crime podcasts over the years about the Delphi Murders, i.e. True Crime Garage, etc. Thank You to NetGalley for this free digital earc to devolve more into this case and learn more.

I liked the flow of the book. It was a quick easy read. Hendricks had obviously did some research. She made the book read more like fiction than a nonfiction book, which was nice. The chapters were short and the story was told in such a way too not overwhelm, confuse with too many unneeded details. I would definitely read another by Susan Hendricks. Maybe if the case goes to trail, etc. she can another book about the Delphi Murders.

I’m not quite sure what I was thinking by requesting this book. I started it, but as someone that lives in Indiana with a teenage daughter who likes to explore with her friends, this hit a little too close to home. I appreciate the opportunity to try this one out as I have followed the new story, but I’m taking a break from the book.

I received this book from NetGalley and couldn’t wait to read it, as I have followed the “Down the Hill” Case since the murders. I am torn between a 3-4 star rating. I found this informative in ways I could never get from the media. This book was an interesting take on this case, as it explored the relationship between the girls and their family and friends. Interviews were conducted so that no detail about the girl’s friendship was missed. The only downfall is that I did find this book wordier than necessary in some areas, where I would have liked more information in other aspects of the case.

Down The Hill discusses Susan Hendricks years long coverage of the Delphi Murders, her relationship with the families of the missing girls, and her desire to understand the kind of mind who could commit such a horrible crime.

This book was very highly anticipated for me, but ended up falling a little flat. My absolute favorite thing about this book is how much the author talks about Abby and Libby, and how their deaths have deeply impacted their families. Susan Hendricks got very close to the families, particularly Libby’s, during her reporting. Some people find that problematic, but I found that really added a layer of compassion and empathy to this book, and gave us a fuller picture of the impact of such a horrible tragedy. However, I found that most of this book was basically just a rehash of things anyone who even followed this case a little bit would know. There wasn’t really anything new or exciting here. I also didn’t enjoy how, when the author interviewed experts for this case, there were pages and pages of verbatim answers to the interview questions she posed to them. This made the book drag for me. If you know absolutely nothing about this case, you would probably enjoy this, but anyone who has followed the case won’t find anything new here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Delphi murders happened right before I got pregnant with my first child. They've captivated me ever since. This book was so well written that even someone who isn't familiar with the case would feel as if they knew about it all along. I enjoyed that whether you knew the case or not, you we're getting all the information without it feeling as though you were reading repeated information found everywhere else. Susan's ability to captivate her audience and make me feel that I was right there with her and the families is truly outstanding. By the time I finished the book, I felt like I knew Abby and Libby's families. I cried when they cried; I cheered when they cheered; I was angry and hopeful and happy and sad right along with them. I wanted to find them on Facebook and befriend them and then remembered I didn't actually know them and I shouldn't do that. That's how much Susan makes you feel involved.

While I can't recommend this to the families I work with, I will definitely be recommending it to my family and friends. Everyone should read this book if they have any interest in true crime.

Author Susan Hendricks does a great job of centering the victims and their families. Which, I'm just going to admit, is not usually something that I love. I am, for better or for worse, more interested in the details of the crime and the investigation than the messy truths of the families involved. And I hear how terrible that sounds. It's not that I don't care, but my honest interest is in how the thing got solved.

Here, we get that, to an extent. There is resolution in the book and, once you're finished, you can Google things and get even more closure. So, for those of us who hate an unresolved true crime case, you will be satisfied here. The author tracked the investigation (which lasted for 5 years!) very closely and had lots of ins with law enforcement along the way. It's a long and winding road, to be sure and we get a full picture of the time and extreme effort and skill was brought to bear on this case.

But the real hat trick that Hendricks pulls off is the way she weaves in other elements. She centers the victims and their families in heart-rending yet truthful ways. They really get to tell their story and the author herself doesn't shy away from how this case affected her personally. We also get segments on how social media and online sleuthing both helped and hindered the investigation and the families' experience of waiting for justice.

One of the most interesting chapters is a long conversation the author had with criminal analyst and retired police officer Paul Holes, who helped solve the GS Killer case. He brought some really interesting insights into the case and I was impressed by how Susan Hendricks weaved this into the narrative to such great affect. He explained in great detail some changes in tech that have vastly changed investigation techniques even in the time from 2017 to 2023.

I first heard this case from the Crime Junkies podcast. The small town of Delphi was rocked when 2 teen girls went missing and were later found murdered. As bits and pieces are shared by police the most haunting piece was a recording from Libby of the bridge guy saying "down the hill". This case rocked the small town and soon the nation. Susan does an amazing job sharing the little bit of details the police shared as well as a growing relationship with the families and town of Delphi. Susan details the raw emotions and feelings of the family as well as the town as they hunt for what had to be one of their own. She also shares the possible suspects and eventually an arrest. This story is far from over but this book gives you a glimpse into the lives of Abby and Libby as well as the small town of Delphi.

In recent years, my fascination with crime fiction has evolved into a deep interest in the realm of true crime. The narratives that unfold within these works often feel like they belong to the world of fiction, yet the knowledge that these events actually happened adds a unique layer of intrigue. Last year, I was captivated by a true-crime memoir and retrospective penned by Paul Holes, an investigator whose involvement in numerous high-profile cases over the decades was truly engrossing. Beyond his captivating insights into high-profile cases, it was his introspective exploration of the toll these investigations took on his personal life that resonated the most. They served as a powerful reminder that every headline-worthy story has a profound impact on the lives of real individuals.

It's this very idea, the resilience of people navigating the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy, that lies at the heart of investigative journalist Susan Hendricks' latest work, Down the Hill. When given the chance to receive a copy of this book from her publisher, I eagerly embraced it. Drawing on her extensive background in broadcast journalism and her personal intrigue with the case, Hendricks delves into the narrative of a tragic double homicide that sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Delphi, Indiana.

"Their family always said I love you in place of goodbye. Every single time. Just in case something happened."

Tragedy often strikes unexpectedly. While you witness it on the news daily, you never anticipate it happening to someone like you. Especially not in a safe haven like your own neighborhood. Delphi, Indiana embodied this sense of security, a tight-knit community where everyone knew one another. It was the kind of place where families felt at ease raising their children. When Abby Williams and Libby German planned a day of adventure on their day off from school, exploring the well-trodden hiking trails near Monon High Bridge, it seemed like a simple, harmless decision. The concerns were minimal. Libby's grandmother only reminded her to take a coat for the changing weather. As Libby's sister dropped them off at the trailhead, it was just another ordinary day. Little did they know that it would mark the final time they would ever see Abby and Libby alive.

"There are many dates in a lifetime that you're going to remember: The dates your children are born. The date you're married. The date you buy a first house. The date Abby and Libby went missing."

What began as a missing person case, characterized by concern rather than panic, took a tragic turn as the bodies of Abby and Libby were discovered on the north bank of Deer Creek, approximately a mile from where they were last seen. Susan Hendricks, then a reporter for CNN and HLN, was among the media personnel covering the incident. In the initial stages of reporting, Hendricks was struck by the limited information provided by investigators. The primary piece of evidence revolved around the visual and audio fragments of a disturbing interaction the girls had with an unfamiliar individual shortly before their disappearance—a disconcerting encounter that Libby had captured on her cellphone. This sole lead would become the cornerstone of the case for the years to come. The chilling audio of the man instructing the girls to go "down the hill" reverberated in the thoughts of those dedicated to uncovering the truth behind this devastating event.

Down the Hill sees Susan Hendricks take a detailed look into a crime that captured the nation's attention. The profound tragedy that befell such innocent individuals begs the question of how such horror could occur. Hendricks masterfully portrays the moments leading to the crime and the exhaustive pursuit of justice. The narrative spans from early 2017 to today, with a suspect now arrested and awaiting trial. While the ongoing nature of the case prevents a conclusive ending, Hendricks's storytelling is marked by meticulous care. Her personal connection with the victims' families during her investigation adds a distinct dimension to this true crime account. Their resilience, facing each day with courage while ensuring their loved ones are never forgotten, deeply moved me. Amid their tireless efforts to bring awareness and sustain a years-long investigation, they not only honored their daughters' memory but also offered support to other families grappling with similar tragedies. In the face of an incomprehensibly senseless crime of inhumanity, the families maintained their own humanity, ultimately inspiring the world through their unyielding strength.

My initial questions are why this book and why now? This book is a jack of all trades, a master of none. It is part memoir, part book about the crime, part profiling the accused killer, and it is being published before the trial so there is no closure. I will be doing a Booktube video that will be uploaded closer to the release. Link to come.

I’ve been a follower of the Delphi case since the beginning. My daughter is now the same age/grade as Abby and Libby were. There are so many strange things with this case; from the lack of information provided, to the way LE held their press conferences. This book was so neatly organized that I finally have a good understanding of the timeline and how the multitude of person’s of interest played a part.

This also focused so much more on the victims’s family than most true crime books and for that I was grateful. The author’s close relationship with Becky, the victim’s grandmother, was so inspiring. I liked that perspective so much more than the usual focus on the perpetrator.

Great read! I will definitely recommend!.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about the murders of two young teenage girls, Abby Williams and Liberty German, in Delphi, Indiana, on February 13, 2017. I have thought about these girls over the years but the last update I had was when the audio and video were released. I still remember watching the news and seeing/hearing the man suspected of murdering them and it gave me the chills. This book was well written and rehashed all the press conferences and news broadcasts that the author, who is a CNN journalist, did. This would not be anything new to people who have followed the case closely, but for me I had not heard anything about the case since the video. I did not even know they had arrested anyone. There has been no trial yet so this person is still assumed innocent until proven guilty. We also got behind the scenes conversations with Libby’s family that the author had with them so that was interesting. I think the book should have waited to be written until after the trial. We still do not know the manner of death of these girls. Maybe a future edition will include that. All in all, I really enjoyed this book.

Going into this book I didn't know much about the Delphi murders, and had only vaguely heard of "the Snapchat murders." I thought Hendricks' perspective as a journalist who really seemed to get to KNOW these families was interesting; this story felt much more personal than many true crime books I've read. But this felt unnecessarily long, and started to feel repetitive. Some of that is likely due to the length of time the case dragged on before an arrest, but without being privy to the information that finally led police to the accused, there's a lot of unfortunate gaps. Hendricks tries to fill in those gaps via some lengthy descriptions of interviews with forensic experts, but they also don't know the specifics so there's a lot of speculation and blustering.

I felt especially invested in the discussion of the crime conventions the author attended, and getting a behind the scenes look at those from both the presenter and victim's family side of things. I just think this book would have been better served for publication when we have more detail about what led up to the arrest.

This a very incomplete book of course, since the trial hasn't taken place yet. Susan Hendricks is a decent writer, but this book became extremely repetitive halfway through. She repeats certain facts or theories a lot. I'm glad she has a personal relationship with the families of the victims, but this book added new to the ongoing investigation. Average read. Can't wait for the trial to start. Here's hoping Richard Allen never goes free again, and justice for Abby and Liberty is served.