Customer Reviews

The Boy Next Door

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I did not expect this to be such a great book, and only picked it up as I am familiar with the SF Bay Area. What a surprise! I am a true-crime book afficiondo, and this is one of the best books I've ever read. It takes the reader through each event in an easy-to-follow format, and it was difficult for me to put this book down. A very sad story, very touching, brought tears to my eyes at the end. Presents both the police standpoint and victim/parent standpoint in a compelling manner, making me have so much sympathy for the victim/parents' frustration, yet believing the police did all that they could at the time. A must read book--I found it at my library in paperback.

I was a youth in this town as these murders were taking place. The author does a great job of conveying the terror beset upon my community -- a small town not akin to the world of serial killers. Chilling account.

As a sibling of one of the murder victims I have to say I learned more from the book than sitting in court or the keystone cops oh I mean Belmont cops ever told me. It is true and real and will grip you. I guess that i have to say it can happen to you and this book is a real account of just that. I have to say it is almost all dead on but for afew minor details and only i know them so read and enjoy without the personal pain and suffering that I had to go through. She is great and did her best to get everything right if it wasn't for those darn attorneys. Read and don't live it. It will be much more fun.

Once you begin reading this amazing story about one of the youngest serial murderers in the country, you won't put it down!

One of the interesting aspects of this book is the way it shows how the panic around child abductions in the 80's actually caused in-action by law inforcement and public policy. It's really a good book. I normally don't read true crime but I found Ms. Brinck book quite readable.

Gretchen Brinck's THE BOY NEXT DOOR is the story of Jon Dunkle, a nasty little borderline socio/psychopath who became a serial murderer, just because he wanted to, and who killed at least 3 young boys and assaulted others.
While the book is written in standard true crime format, Brinck's writing is far from standard. THE BOY NEXT DOOR is written reportorially; there is no filler, repetition, or wasted motion of any kind; the police work is reported interestingly, which is often not the case, and the police personalities are presented as they relate to the lengthy investigation as opposed to the fawning hero worship often served up, as a Rule, by lesser writers. And thankfully we are not treated to descriptions of the way they dress.
Brinck also eschews the too often seen semi-pro device of inserting her own personal asides, and her objectivity while dealing with a highly disturbing story is commendable. In summary the writing is intelligent and professional.
And the research, which includes a great deal of psychological material as reported by numerous psychiatrists who examined Dunkle, is exhaustive. I do wish there had been more information about Dunkle's childhood, but based upon Brinck's description of his parents, it is unlikely that she would have been able to get anything from them. There is no indication, however, that she attempted to broaden this area.
Nonetheless THE BOY NEXT DOOR is a thorough work of true crime, the product of an author who clearly worked hard to produce a good piece of work. She has succeeded.
True crime fans will love this one.

I bought this book because of it's great reviews by the readers below. And they were right! This was one of those hard to put down books. It is a great book for reference and a good addition
to a true crime library; But what distinguishes this book is it makes it personal. It speaks of the victims and their families and actually gives them (the victims) a face and a personality.

It is most refreashing to see that Gretchen Brinck and others like her cover all angles of these horrendous crimes. They make it be known that the victims are whats important here, not the criminal. In this book you will find the struggles both the family and the police go through, and also the twisted mind of a killer. Well written book.