The I-5 Killer (Signet) [Paperback]

Ann Rule (Author), Andy Stack (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Signet | Publication Date: March 1, 1984

Award-winning student Randall Woodfield was every college girl's dream - and nightmare. This "boy-next-door" type cruised an 800-mile-long northwestern highway, the I-5 in search of his prey - woman of all ages. He subjected them to horrifying abuse and notched up at least 44 victims before he was caught and convicted. This is his story.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451160436
• ISBN-13: 978-0451160430
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A gripping tale, January 28, 2001

By 

Paul Cerra - See all my reviews

This review is from: The I-5 Killer, Revised Edition (Mass Market Paperback)

Although I have read a considerable number of true crime novels, this is the first Ann Rule book I've ever read. I generally avoid books that have covers where the author's name is in bigger print than anything else, but as the saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover." Sure enough, Rule has crafted a very suspenseful story about serial rapist and murderer Randall B. Woodfield.

I've seen a number of ...reviewers bemoan the absence of a rigid chronological approach in this book, but I feel that this book would not have been nearly as successful in conveying the horror of Woodfield's crimes if they had simply been discussed one after another. By first introducing us to various women who had the misfortune to become involved with Woodfield, we are even more shocked when some of them turn up dead. Also, this book is generally oriented around the investigators who were hunting an unknown serial rapist and murderer; these detectives were not able to piece together a complete catalog and timeline of Woodfield's crimes until late in the investigation.

There seems to be no consensus about Rule's body of work -- whether or not she's getting better as time goes on, or whether or not she's "lost it." Regardless of what you think about her writing career as a whole, "The I-5 Killer" is a gripping true crime story. Woodfield's life and crimes are introduced and explored from a variety of perspectives. This certainly isn't the best true crime story I've ever read -- at times it feels like the story wanders a bit, and sometimes there seems to be extraneous detail -- but this is still an above-average book.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Rule's best work, June 12, 2000

By 

One Fancy Angel "Life-Lover" (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The I-5 Killer, Revised Edition (Mass Market Paperback)

Though Randall Woodfield committed incredibly frightening and really unspeakable crimes, Ann Rule, when she wrote this, was apparently just beginning her writing career, and it shows. Her usual well-researched detail is not as much in evidence here, though she does better here than with Lust Killer and Want-Ad Killer. The courtroom scene was so boring that I found myself skimming paragraphs, something I only do when I've lost interest and want to get DONE.

Anyone who's interested in Ann Rule would be better served by reading her later works, which are superb.

When Ann Rule is at her best, she carries me along to the point that I'm up locking doors. In this case, though Woodfield's crimes were utterly terrifying, Rule seems so distanced as an author that the crimes' true impact is lost.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am only half way through this book but....., May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The I-5 Killer, Revised Edition (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow! What a page turner! I just bought this book yesterday and I haven't been able to put it down but just long enough to sleep and write this review! I have recently moved to a part of town with only one book store. I have been searching like mad for an Ann Rule book. Before I could find one that I hadn't read yet, I had to settle for some other true crime books. I didn't like them at all. Finally, I have another Ann Rule book in my hands and it is just what I wanted. Although I am only half way through this book, this is some kind of story. After reading a couple of other true crime books, I now know for sure why I look so forward to an Ann Rule book. The difference is obvious. This story in particular, is horrific. How can anyone be so cruel, so heartless? It boggles the mind. Ann Rule gives you insight on the killers home life and social life as a child and teenager. You keep asking yourself where it all went wrong. He could have had the world. True crime such as this is more than just reading. It gives the reader knowledge and teaches that you must always be cautious of your surroundings and the people that you meet. You can never be too careful. No one tells a story of true crime as well as Ann Rule. No one.