Customer Reviews

The girl on the Volkswagen floor,

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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It was wedged between a pile of other long forgotten volumes in a used bookstore. The only thing that caught my attention was the title. Other non-fiction books, particularly those that almost sensationalize crime, appear with the usual flashy covers and bold titles 'PREDATOR: The Shocking True Story of *insert Mr. X here*" This fascinating book simply tells a strange story about a mysterious murder in an Ohio town. The Author, a local Reporter who decides to cover the case, finds himself working directly with the police to solve the mystery. The rest of the book involves a mixture of common-sense facts, numerous unfolding twists, and probably the strangest element of all - ESP (Extra-sensory Perception)

The latter makes this book worth the discounted price alone.

There are authors out there who, like vultures, make a living off death. The more sensational and bloody the crime, the more dollars they hope to make. Then there are those peripherally involved in a famous case, and hope to convert their 15 minutes of fame into some cold, hard cash.

This story is different. The author is a professional writer, but unlike the Ann Rules and Catherine Criers of the world who simply swoop down on a well-known case, Clark lived it. He could easily have written the book from a more distant perspective, but he chooses to let the story unfold gradually, with the reader discovering things in the order he did.

Although not as famous as the Manson case or the MacDonald murders, the tragic and unsolved murder of a young schoolteacher sent shock waves through the town in which it is set. Having grown up in Kettering, Ohio, only a block from where the "girl" of the title is found, I can testify that Clark gives an accurate assessment of the white-bread community, its values and its prejudices. On this background, he paints a compelling mystery that centers not only on the murder itself, but also on Clark's relationship with a psychic who reveals to him insights about himself and the killing. Clark, a skeptic, is eventually persuaded that the psychic is more than a lucky guesser--but how?

Be prepared: Clark's obsession with the psychic overpowers at times the murder mystery--and it is quite a mystery, with numerous suspects who all seem to have an alibi. If you take too long to read the book, you may find yourself forgetting the suspects, who have no interaction with Clark. The book, though, is an easy read. I rarely put it down, and finished it in a couple of days.

This book was made into the movie, Man on a Swing, which featured Joel Gray in the title role (the psychic).

I found this book at a used bookstore around 20 yrs ago. Didnt know it was from Dayton, Ohio area til the store owner told me. Ive read it at least 3 times. Its a great book. Always interesting to read about something that happened in your hometown. After reading it the last time, i paid more attention when i read the prosecutor's name back then, and realized I know this lawyer personally. I would tell anyone who likes true crime books to buy this book.

I recently remembered the title of this book and I am delighted to find a copy available. I first read this book, discovered in a discount book store in Massachusetts, almost forty years ago. In reading other reviews I am surprised to discover the story took place in Ohio, in a town near where I lived for several years as an adult. I am thus even more eager to re-read this book I so enjoyed as a 12-year-old, a book that sparked a life-long interest which lead me to my eventual profession in psychology.