A woman obsessed. (Small Sacrifices - Ann Rule)

Member Name: nikkisly

Product:	Small Sacrifices - Ann Rule
Date:	06/03/01 (132 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See text

Disadvantages: See text

"Small Sacrifices" is one of the earliest books by former Seattle policewoman and crime journalist Ann Rule.It is, in my opinion, one of THE best true crime books written by anyone - ever.

The main character is Diane Downs, a narcissistic woman who falls deeply in love with Lew. Lew is not her husband, nor is he the father of her three children, Christie, Danny and Cheryl.Only two things stand in the way of Diane finding happiness with her soul mate Lew. The first is that Lew is married to another woman, and whilst he is happy to have a 'fling' with blonde, attractive Diane, he has no intentions of ever leaving his wife. The second is that Lew doesn't like children. However, to a woman like Diane, these are only minor obstacles...

Relying on her feminine whiles to eliminate the competition from Lew's wife, the children at first seem a more insurmountable obstacle. The book,then, opens in the emergency room of a hospital in Oregon, U.S.A., where a bleeding Diane has driven her three children. All four have been shot, allegedly by a mysterious 'bushy haired stranger'. One is dead, two are close to death and the fourth - guess who - has a minor wound in the arm.

"Small Sacrifices" tells of events both leading up to and following the shootings. The author slowly untangles the bizarre and complex strands which are the personality of Downs - looking at her childhood, her marriage,her relationship with her children, her love affair with Lew and it's tragic aftermath. And it askes the question that is soon on everyone's lips "Could a young mother try to kill her own children?"
(You will need to read the book to find out the answer to that question, I'm afraid.)

The book covers all aspects of the police investigation into the crime, paying particular attention to the methods used to help the surviving children remember the events of the night in question. It also cover
s the eventual trial of the perpetrator and, as in common in many of Ann Rule's book, goes beyond the trial, conviction and sentencing to update the reader on what happened next - in this case including a dramatic prison escape!

Not withstanding the distressing subject of this book, Ann Rule writes with the utmost professionalism and, as usual, her loyalties lie firmly with the victims. Hence, the book is not sensationalised, but a deeply compassionate and very humane account of the horrific consequences of dysfunctional familial relationships in blue collar America.Included are some entries from Down's diaries which help in building up the psychological picture of Down's character. There are no crime scene photographs included - in fact the only photograph is on the back cover and features a happy family shot of Diane, her husband and three children dressed in Sunday best. A tragic and poignant reminder of the horror of child abuse at it's most extreme.

"Small Sacrifices" is a long book - more than 600 pages. However, I would describe it as a 'page turner' - a book that is almost impossible to put down once you have started. There are a few four letter words (and mentions of masturbation etc) but these are not gratuitous and unless you are very easily offended, then you will hardly notice them since you will be so gripped by the unfolding tale of murder, madness and mayhem. As is usual with Ann Rule's books, it is well written. compassionate and dramatic.And, whereas I cannot truthfully say that I 'enjoyed' reading it, I found it compulsive reading and have re-read it at least twice a year since it was first published in 1987. It is the kind of book that you never forget - no matter how hard you try.

Summary: