Son

Jack Olsen has always been one my favorite authors, so I wasn't about to pass on this one. In his classic, straightforward style, Olsen weaves a chilling tale of the everyday psychopath who doesn't really fit in the mainstream, but who, at the same time, fits in with enablement to a point. The years roll by with grandiose plans, but Fred (Kevin) Coe has many secrets that take incredible police work and many suffering victims to bring to light. This book is invaluable for anyone trying to understand the mindset of the psychopath, and how manipulative he can be to continue to control others while fulfilling his own devastating lusts.

This is how the true crime genre is done. An absolutely riveting story of a serial rapist and psychopath. Olsen puts the pieces together in a book that reads like a novel. Best of all is the depth of discussion of the rapist' s relationships with his family.

This is a true crime novel about a serial rapist in the 1980s in Spokane, Washington. I don't normally read true crime, but I was taken by the cover art. I also have a personal interest as my youngest son and his family live in Spokane and have since about 2000. The author paints a much different Spokane as it was back then.

This is an older book ... first published in 1983. The author has since passed away. However, it's been re-published with a new Forward .. written by another author a lot of us know ...Gregg Olsen (no relation). Gregg relates how he met the author and how he influenced Gregg in his own writing endeavors. It's like getting a short story, as well as the book.

As of 12/2013 ...Fred Coe, being held indefinitely at a secure state facility for sexually violent predators, has filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking immediate release from what he calls unconstitutional confinement. No hearings on the request have been set.

After serving 25 years in prison for rape, state authorities blocked Coe’s planned release in 2006 and a Spokane County jury deemed him a continuing danger to society following a month long civil commitment proceeding. He’s being detained indefinitely as a sexually violent predator at the state’s special commitment center on McNeil Island.

Coe has been diagnosed with personality disorder not otherwise specified, along with narcissistic and antisocial traits.

The author takes us to the beginning ... the beginning of Coe's life as a rapist ... the women he loved, hated, lied to, cheated on. He was a braggart although he never really accomplished anything to brag about.

And then we meet his mother .... she was really something else! She knew what he was doing, but did nothing to stop it. Nobody was good enough for her SON, even though she berated him constantly. His father was a very quiet man, who stood in the corner and obeyed his wife.

The book goes through some of his victims and we find out how they dealt in the aftermath.

The book was very well-written. He did a great job in humanizing the victims. Coe was painted as a narcissistic psychopath. As far as I know, that has never changed.
I can't say I loved the book ... I am far more comfortable reading about the fictional monsters..... but it was a compelling read.

My thanks to NetGalley / Scribner for furnishing an electronic copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I am a fan of some true crime books but not all. This has been one of my favorites and is similar in style to Anne Rule's books. I have read every Anne Rule book mainly because she provided so much information with details, history etc. You got to know all of her characters intimately. This book reminded me of her style and I was captivated from the first page. I've always been intrigued with what leads a criminal to the crime and the aftermath for all those involved from investigators, victims to the actual perpetrator. Meticulously researched. Well done!!!