The Boy Next Door [Paperback]

Gretchen Brinck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

In the peaceful town of Belmont, California everyone knew Jon Dunkle. What they didn't know was that he had killed before. And would kill again..."He's The Best Liar I've Ever Seen." - Police Investigator. On October 2, 1984, the body of 12-year-old Lance Turner was found in a tunnel of scarlet poison oak - only yards away from where his friends played. Someone had savagely plunged a knife into his chest and twisted it. A frantic police department soon suspected a local misfit named Jon Dunkle, but were unable to tie him to the brutal crime. Until another equally gruesome murder case surfaced. Until a young female police officer had the courage to pose as Dunkle's girlfriend, and begin a harrowing journey into the dark heart of a killer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"* "I Saw Him Go By On His Bike And I Knew I Was Going To Kill Him. I Just Had The Urge To Kill Him." - Jon Dunkle "It's Hard To Believe He Might Be Dangerous. He's Like Some Overgrown Kid." - Undercover Officer Lisa Thomas."

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786019956
• ISBN-13: 978-0786019953
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent true crime, riveting story of murder and denial, September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (True Crime) (Paperback)

I would not put this book in the category of "In Cold Blood" and "The Executioner's Song," if it didn't belong there. As a true crime fan, I can truthfully say this is one of those rare books that after you've finished, you vow to read again on a regular basis. Instead of a sensational account of lurid details, this book peels back the layers of unsuspecting communities, agonized families and struggling police departments. The book concerns a serial killer in Northern California, whose murders shock a small, wealthy community to its foundations. Along the way, his crimes become entangled in the politics of the missing children's movement of the 1980's, and lead to a breathtaking account of police undercover work that is equally audacious and brilliant. If you are fascinated by true crime, I promise that you will not be disappointed with this excellent book.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Didn't Die in Vain, September 11, 2000

By 

A teacher of all three (Belmont, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (True Crime) (Paperback)

As a middle school teacher of both the two Belmont victims and the murderer himself, I felt obligated to read this account to help fill in many of the missing pieces I didn't pick up from the newspapers, and to help me answer the question "why?" Gretchen Brinck's book was truly "a labor of love" in that it allowed the tragic story to be told so that all might learn from it, and in doing so bring some closure, some peace and some understanding to those who experienced it. Her thoroughness was much like Vincent Bugliosi's account of the Manson Murders in his book, Helter Skelter. It helped explain the thoughts and feelings of a shy little boy who was often teased by classmates and who became a psychopath, the dedication and mistakes of a police department, the perseverance of the victims' parents, the complex courtroom issues of psychotic and psychopathic behavior, and what probably happened in each of the three murders. The presentation seemed very fair, objective, and compassionate. Thank you, Gretchen Brinck, for your time, your research, and your publicizing of this human tragedy so that those who died and their suffering families might have died and suffered in vain.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Tragic, February 7, 2005

By 

ScarletM (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (Paperback)

I have read many true crime books and found this one rivetting. What was so unbelievable was how this sick young man managed to outwit the police, psychiatrists etc, all the while he continued to kill and hurt. It seemed so unfathomable to me how this kid was not stopped before he killed his 3 young victims. With so many DUI's, attacking a kid with a 2 by 4, running another over - how did he evade capture so long? Did the police truly bungle the situation as much as it seems they did. I also place the blame squarely on Dunkle's family - they were either in deep denial about Dunkle's violence, killing and drinking or just didn't want to face it. Their blindness and apathy lead to the deaths of the 3 boys. No question.
I have tried to google Dunkle to find out what has become of him. All I found out was that he is still on death row and that he is now believed incompetant. A guardian was appointed to him as he cannot represent his own interests. Is he truly psychotic or is he just a sick, fine actor? It looks like he will never be put to death as he will be deemed too ill. As long as he is in prison forever, where he can't harm others, sounds okay to me.

I highly recommend this book. It is chilling and will leave you wondering about how someone can devolve into a serial killer like Dunkle.