Customer Reviews

The I-5 Killer (Signet)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Randall Woodfield seemed to have it all. Growing up he had a stable home life, did well in school, and was an exceptional athlete, excelling in every sport he tried. He was such a good athlete, in fact, that the Green Bay Packers drafted him. But Woodfield didn't make the team and he never finished college, instead drifting from job to job, from city to city. He also went from woman to woman, pursuing all of them intensely. Still, he seemed like a nice enough guy and people who knew him were shocked to find out that he was the I-5 killer, committing a series of robberies, terrorizing and assaulting young women, killing some of them.

"The I-5 Killer" is one of Ann Rule's early true crime books and it shows. It's not a bad book, but it's not as good as her later efforts. Rule focuses more on Woodfield than his victims, consequently, although the crimes against the victims were horrific, I felt detached since I never came to know what any of them were really like. There are eight pages of photos, but only one picture of a victim, which also adds to the feeling of detachment. Woodfield's trial had a bit more detail to it and was quite interesting.

This isn't a bad book, but someone trying Ann Rule for the first time should try reading one of her newer books.

The title of my review is kind of taken from the back of the book which I think is understandable. Again, Ms Rule has written with knowledge & with an edge that keeps one hooked from page to page. This book was the most terrifying I've read so far just because the killer, Randall Woodfield, spent a great amount of time in the area where I grew up (SW Portland) and at the same time when I was 16 years old (the age of girls he was attracted to). The bar where he worked is less than a mile from where I lived at the time. I probably saw him at some point but did not know it. I think that's pretty scary!

Randall Woodfield was a sick, disgusting pervert that received exactly what he deserved...LIFE in prison. Ms. Rule's research states that he is not eligible for parole until he is the age of 81 years old. God help us all if he is still alive! This book just goes to show that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Even though someone may look like an Adonis, it does not mean that they are the same way on the inside. Randall Woodfield still is every young woman's nightmare. Ann Rule writes with such detail and really brought this story to life for me.

I have read two previous books by Ann Rule when she wrote underthe pen name of Andy Stack: Lust Killer and the Want-Ad Killer. Thisbook, The I-5 Killer, I think, is the worst in the Andy Stack Trilogy. The crimes of Randall Woodfield are so horrific and sickening that I felt my stomach churn with disbelief and anger. His crimes were not just relegated to women, but to children as well...Any woman or women who looked as though they would be free targets for his sexually warped, frenzied, psychotic mind would be the target of Randall Brent Woodfield -- the I-5 Killer. My summation does not do the horror in this book justice -- as it gets extremely worse and bizarre....Ann Rule is a tremendously talented writer and deserves every honor and Edgar Allen Poe Award for this difficult genre.

This book was a pure example that a sick mind has no limitations. Randall Woodfield came from a good family background and had everything going for him. But that still was not enough. Reading Ann Rule's books have made me aware that you have to be on guard at all times. You never know who's lurking in the shadows. Her books are not only shockingly true, they also serve to 'educate' those who read them. Once you start reading one of her books, you cannot put it down!! You will be wide-eyed and open-mouthed through the whole book. Keep up the good work, Ann!!

Ann Rule does a good job here of keeping the suspence at a high leval well into the story. This is an improvement on the "Stranger Beside Me" where the public was partially familiar with the Ted Bundy story from news reports. It's also an improvement on "Dead by Sunset" which told the story of "only" one murder-with an obvious culprit. "The I-5 Killer" also features a truely sick and evil murderer-there is not the hint of good that Mr. Bundy may have had in him. The bad guy is really a bad guy. We feel for his victims and are glad when he is bought to justice. Readers who actually live along Interstate 5, especially in Oregon, should be especially interested.

This book was OK, but not one of Rule's best works. I am a true Ann Rule fan, but I had trouble following this book. It was not written chronologically, and the transitions were ineffective. For example, she wrote about the murderer's job hopping, ending with his being fired from a certain bar. She later switched to when he met certain women, and we were back at the time he worked at the job he was fired from. I could not keep track of when things happened or who each person was. There was not much detail given on the players, and it was hard to formulate an attachment to any of them as a result. Worth reading, but not the kind of book you'll want to read again and again (like most of her other books).

This being an early Ann Rule book it lacks in some areas, including the meticulous detail that she is known for. While some did not like the event sequence of the book, I found it easy to follow. I especially liked the beginning of the book where Ms. Rule spends time getting to know Woodfield's "girlfriends". It made the murders all the more chilling.

Not one of her best works, but good nonetheless. I'd recommend this to any true crime fan.