The Sunset Murders [Paperback]

Louise Farr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1993

The Sunset Murders dominated the Los Angeles headlines when the case broke in 1980. Young, beautiful, blonde runaways and prostitutes were turning up dead--their bodies violently assaulted by a necrophiliac. Now investigative journalist Louise Farr tells the story of a golden boy gone bad--and the shocking, obsessive love behind his gruesome crimes. 8-page insert.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1980 Douglas Clark, with his girlfriend Carol Bundy's help, murdered at least five young women from L.A.'s demimonde; here Farr captures the complex personalities of the two slayers, providing insight into the rootless youths who populate the seedier side of California life. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Grisly dual portrait of serial-killer Douglas Clark and his confederate Carol Bundy, whose murders of young women along the gritty, glitzy streets of Hollywood stunned southern Californians in 1980. Farr, a free-lance journalist, doesn't flinch when confronting her protagonists' depravities--which included decapitation, pedophilia, necrophilia, and sadomasochism. Douglas Clark spent his childhood as an ``Army brat'' constantly shunted about as his officer father was posted around the world. Carol Bundy's early background was marked by an alcoholic father, a physically abusive mother, obesity, and near- blindness. Douglas grew into a sex-obsessed, manipulative misanthrope, while Carol, equally passionate about sex, sought domination by the men in her life. When the two met and began an affair, they fed each other's neuroses, their indulgent, sometimes violent behavior gradually extending from the bedroom to the night streets in search of ``kicks.'' Clark would entice young prostitutes and drifters into his car and, while engaged in sex with them, would shoot them. In some cases, Bundy witnessed the slayings; in others, she actively participated. After Bundy confessed, Clark was arrested and charged with five murders, though the real number evidently was much greater. Bundy was charged with two slayings, and told one police officer, ``Murder is fun''--this from a woman who later confided to an examining psychiatrist that she had always considered Eleanor Roosevelt a role model. Clark is currently on San Quentin's Death Row; Bundy is serving life imprisonment. Farr organizes the tangled, multicharactered material with clarity and a fine sense of pacing, although her prose is merely adequate. (Eight-page photo insert--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (June 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671700898
• ISBN-13: 978-0671700898
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #664,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sunset Murders, August 27, 2003

By 

Barbara S. Catron (South Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sunset Murders (Hardcover)

Great book, very easy read. Unlike most "true crime" novels the author includes interesting background information on the criminals, victims and the people who put them away. What a couple of wackos those two were (are). Best lines include: murderer Carol Bundy: "Your treating me like a criminal". Victim's wife to Geraldo:"she would like Doug to go to the electric chair with Carol Bundy on his lap."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great research, but I wonder...., June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sunset Murders (Paperback)

The book "The Sunset Murders" is certainly well-detailed and fact based. I applaud Farr for her eyes and ears used to bring this twisted story to life, and yes, she does not glamorize the killers, instead displaying them obviously as what they are in real life - sick and disgusting losers. Clark a grandiose, overblown ass and Bundy his oversexed ignorant slave. I just wondered, after reading the book, if there was one single person involved in the story from witnesses to cosp, that was pleasant or had any redeeming qualities whatsoever. Not the killers, mind you, but there had to be someone in law enforcement and investigating worth applauding. I didn't care for some of the presentations of the investigators. Five stars for research though. And I wonder - what has become of Carol's sons? Crime fans - read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed, well written, August 2, 2000

By 

"tonlo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sunset Murders (Hardcover)

I read this book a few years ago and I still wonder about Carol Bundy. She is the most pathetic person, she still wants to help Doug Clark even though he has tried to blame the murders on her. This book was very detailed, Farr did a very thourough job in describing all the details that true crime buffs love.