Catch the Sparrow

I remember when this murder took place and I lived and still live in the Town of Greece. I thought the book was well written, although sometimes repetitious. The author was on a journey to find the entire truth of her step sister and I don't understand why some reviewers seem to take issue with it. She does a very thorough job and I believe that Stephanie would be very proud of her. The book includes pictures. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

4 stars
Catch the Sparrow - A Search for a Sister and the Truth of her Murder
by Rachel Rear
Rachel Rear has written a fascinating book about her stepsisters disappearance and murder, the effect it had on her life and all of those who knew Stephanie Kupchynsky. This is a book about the intricacies of how corruption in a police station and the pure evil of a murderer add to the horrors of a missing woman.
Rear has managed to make her stepsister, a woman she never actually met, as a multi-faceted woman who deserved so much more from her life. The amount of research Ms.
Rear did into both Stephanie and the killer's life are evident, which in turn makes this a compellingly good read.

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

This was a good true crime biography about a woman investigating her own step-sister’s disappearance. There were many suspects in this cold case by the time the author was deep into the many files the police and others had given her. She interviewed everyone that she could find from Stephanie’s life that would agree to talk with her. Many thought that she looked like the sister or a twin of the murdered young woman she had never gotten to meet. Very haunting and stays with you, like it did in so many who knew Stephanie or investigated the case. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a long time reader of all things true crime. I started reading this genre when I was around 13, beginning with The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story by Ann Rule, So suffice it to say, I am well versed in true crime. So when I read the synopsis, I figured this might be a good to add to my never ending collection of not only books but true crime books.

I was very intrigued by the story. A young woman cut down in her prime by a maniac. Who could have murdered such a well liked person? Stephanie Kupchynsky seemingly disappeared in 1991. She was a violinist and teacher who had fled an abusive relationship and had ended up in Greece, New York. She was dating again and everything seemed good for her. Rachel Rear, the author, is her step-sister, although they never met. Her mother married Stephanie's father when Stephanie had already been missing for 6 years. Rachel was 20 then after Stephanie's bones were found in 1998, she was determined to find out who had murdered her. She does a really good job of describing how she started to investigate and how she spoke to everyone involved not only in the case itself but of Stephanie's life when she was alive. The book goes into how the town was a place of dysfunction and corruption, something that most likely played into not only her death but the inability to find her murderer sooner. I felt there was a bit too much time spent on this topic and a lot of filler here and there but overall the story itself was interesting.

What I did not like was all the social justice, man hating, feminist rhetoric that I read in parts of the story. I am so tired of reading about how woman are always the victim and all mean are out to get all women. Women can be just as evil, especially to other women and sometimes even children. Honestly, had I known this author had written a book supporting the murderous Planned Parenthood, I would not have chosen to read this book. Because of the women are always the victim mentality coursing through the story, I am giving this book 4 stars., based solely on the topic.

The fact that this book is written by the stepsister of the victim who never actually met the victim is interesting. I learned about Stephanie as the author did. I really enjoyed this book and am happy that the perpetrator was found, despite the fact that he was never convicted of the crime since he died.

An incredibly unique blend of personal and objective. Rear does a phenomenal job walking through the timeline of her step sisters murder. Each suspect and person involved in the case is laid out with extreme attention to detail and a thorough investigation.

The amount of factors that tie into how Stephanie's murder went unsolved for so long is sadly not unique. Even so, the journey and historical breakdown of this town and a few others that Stephanie inhabited were extremely interesting. The amount of interviews and people included in the novel really emphasized how one person can impact so many and created a better big picture.

Rear did not shy away from showing the full truth, the good and the bad, of each person revolving around Stephanie and including Stephanie herself and Rear's late stepfather. Rear highlights the true complexity of each person and does justice to the full story of Stephanie's life and death.

While I was fully engrossed in this book from the beginning, there is some extremely ableist sentiment near the end of the book regarding the person who is talked about then which did not sit well and in fact cheapened the integrity of that part of the book for me. If I understood it correctly, it was not even necessarily the opinions of Rear but those of the officers involved in the case but there was some nuance that needed to be added after the fact to balance that. Many other places Rear adds the nuance, this instance was a large hole to miss for me.

I need to preface this by saying choosing adjectives for true crime books is a difficult and delicate process. It's like reviewing 9/11 things; it feels weird saying they're 'good', or 'enjoyable', because though I have a vested interest in true crime, it's still a rough, dark, heavy thing.

That said, I thoroughly appreciated the gargantuan amount of research executed by the author. It shows, as does the care and love. For me, it came off as mostly unbiased, mostly neutral. I try to go into true crime blind and that was the case here - I had never previously heard of Stephanie nor those involved and/or suspected in her case. For that, the author does an excellent job at laying out every minute detail available and doesn't reveal the outcome until the very end. The book is very well written with a constant, easy flow. There are harrowing, brutal moments that I felt were handled sufficiently.

If you're a true crime buff, I recommend this read. Rear took exceptional diligence sharing her step-sister's story, bringing awareness of more than just Stephanie's murder.

Superficial things; I liked the title before, but I love it after finishing. I think the cover is clever (and I like the chosen font).

This was a well-written and very personal true crime read about the cold case of a missing young woman, the author’s step-sister. I easily became invested in this tragic story, as the writer navigated a background of sadness, family dysfunction and vulnerability. She beautifully communicated the complexities and struggles of a young woman trying to find her way in the world, only for it to be brought to a brutal end. She emboldened Stephanie’s resilient and vivacious character, through the people that loved her, bringing her to life and telling her story. A thoughtful, emotional, and worthy read.

Five stars for the most comprehensive investigation on a true crime murder story. It was one I won’t soon forget. Rachel Rear investigates her stepsister’s murder from many years ago. She had never met Stephanie but from an impressive amount of interviews with everyone that knew Stephanie the reader will finish this book feeling like they knew and lost an old friend.
The crime was committed and solved over 25 years ago but the author really delves in with research and interviews. The murderer is unmasked mid story and the hows and whys will make it feel like an episode of “ Making a Murderer”. A fascinating reveal of a criminal mind, it was hard to read at times and it took me a month to get through.
The descriptions were so detailed and the book very well written. I finished the story feeling like I knew Stephanie. There is a lot of background information. I finished the book feeling like I knew the victim, her murderer,and many family members . It is a story that will be on my mind for a long time Truly impressive investigative journalism.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for my review.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

This book was extremely fascinating to me. If I were the author I feel as though I'd be extremely interested in what happened to my step sister as well, and Rachel's journey to not only get every fact she can about the case but solve the mystery of who her sister really was was very interesting. So many people involved and interviewed that have nothing to do with the case but everything to do with who Stephanie was, and I really appreciate the dedication that went into this not just being another true crime novel where the victim is secondary to the mystery. I also appreciated that pictures were added in where they fit in the story and not just gathered at the end, because it made it easier to picture what Rachel was describing (or to see what she was describing in some cases). This is a pretty good read for fans of true crime.

A gripping and unique recounting of a murder, told from the perspective of the victim's stepsister who never met her. Part true crime, part memoir, part meditation on a dysfunctional American justice system, it is a gripping account of a murder left unsolved for nearly two decades. Highly recommend.