Customer Reviews

Justice For Marlys: A Family's Twenty Year Search for a Killer

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With great candor and heart Munday tells the story of his family's long search for justice after his step-daughter's murder in the 1970s. Munday uses transcripts, interviews, research, and personal recollections to recreate the events that surrounded this terrible tragedy. The writing is engaging and the facts are well researched, but the author also spends ample time discussing the personal impact of the murder on those who knew and still love Marlys. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in true crime stories, the criminal justice system, bereavement, Minnesota history, and stories about personal strength during the most turbulent times.

As a former police officer this was not always easy to read. That is because better police work might have prevented this tragedy. Even serial killers can be lucky at times, as this story points out. The story also points out that victims can play a role in bringing about some measure of justice, and that not giving up can be rewarded.

The author, an attorney, doesn't spare us from the failings of the criminal justice system, and there are many in this story. He also doesn't spare us from the grief and fear a family goes through when the killer and motive for the crime aren't known for a long time.

Justice for Marlys is a fast paced, easy read, but one you will long remember. And what this story brings home for me is a message police officers at all levels need to be reminded of, that police work is not just another job, anymore then brain surgery is just another job. It is very important that it be done well.

This book is a real experience on losing someone close in a most horrific way. The real details makes you feel real sad, terrified, happy at times.
The way the story is told is no more than telling a friend an event you had lived through so it is very easy to read, more like a documentary.
I recommend it to everyone, even to gaze into what people live through many years when they lose someone.