The Night Stalker (Pinnacle True Crime) by Philip Carlo
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Book Reviews of The Night Stalker (Pinnacle True Crime)
Book Review: A Very Detailed Account of the Night Stalker!
Summary: 5 Stars
Philip Carlo's book is well-researched and very thorough. We know more about the Night Stalker also known as Richard Ramirez who terrorized Los Angeles area and San Francisco in 1985 and 1984. He is a self-admitted Satanist who got his kicks and highs from terrorizing even the most vulnerable of victims. He raped, sodomized, tortured, and terrorized not only women but the entire Southern California area lived in fear--changing their locks, getting guns, dogs, etc. anything to make themselves feel safer. They hadn't seen a crime like this since Manson but Ramirez was a one man crime spree who worshipped Satan. His family history provides a better understanding of the man's background and the incidents as well provides some insight into why he became such a terror. To this day, what surprises me is the most is that women fell for him as if he was a desirable catch. One fan even married him in prison while he is on death row which means life in California. The proceedings because Ramirez refused anybody but a Hispanic lawyer to represent him may have hurt his chances. I don't care what race or ethnicity or religion regarding an attorney. The best defense attorneys cost money and they do defend regardless of whether they are Jewish like Robert Shapiro or African American like Johnnie Cochrane. His lawyers were inept to handle the magnitude of such an enormous case and they didn't have the expertise or experience to know how to handle Ramirez's defense. Of course, Ramirez' crimes are just unthinkable and unforgivable especially how he went after mature women in their sixties and eighties. Even though he's on death row, he still gets to get married to one of his fans. He's not that attractive and he's not that nice. There is a diabolical side to him. I think the Satanism, the crimes, and the brutality is enough to disuade any women from being attractive to a man like that knowing what he has done without much remorse or apologies to his family, friends, and others.Book Review: Extensive, exhaustive, excruciating.
Summary: 5 Stars
Richard Ramirez was different in a lot of ways from 'normal' serial killers in that his victims were not stalked (despite his nickname), not obsessed over, and they did not fit one profile or gender. They were random innocents who never dreamed they'd be so unlucky. Philip Carlo effectively makes us care about the victims instead of treating them as arbitrarily as Ramirez did, although I have to confess I started to lose track of them as the murders piled up. But that serves well to remind the reader of the enormous amount of life that was taken by the Night Stalker. If Ramirez's crimes were a freak show, his trial was a circus. Carlo's work on the trial is as thorough as I've seen such a thing presented, for better or worse. Fully half of the near-600 page book is steeped in court proceedings, so you've been warned. Through no fault of the author's, it slows to a crawl in places. Every motion, hearing, and decision is slavishly detailed. During the trial, Ramirez gained a legion of faithful admirers (mostly women) who followed his every move. Carlo lets them explain why they are so drawn to him, without making value judgments. Do they realize he could have raped or killed them? Of course, some wish he had... I would like to read a book on why so many women are attracted to famous killers; there's probably at least a few out there. Richard Ramirez is an example of a life gone wrong. The book based on his life makes him all the more unforgettable.Book Review: Very good book
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read a lot true crime books, most of them you'll find in the recommendations amazon will offer you as soon as you've
purchased this one. This book however will make you consider buying something for protection or at least make you a little
more aware of the weak spots of your house. The nickname "Nightstalker" in my opinion is a bad choice. According to the book
Ramirez never really stalked, he randomly(?) entered homes at night and terrorized/killed the people in them. The first part
of the book discribes these crimes in detail. What shocked me the most was, how much bad police work enabled R. to repeat these
vicious acts over and over again. One can only hope, that the authorities have read this book too and learned from it.
As for Ramirez himself I admit he had a bad start in life (like many, many others), but to be honest I still want him wiped out.
Something like this should not be alive. Not on the streets, not in the joint. His Groupies in my opinion are all sickos and
should be under 24/7 surveillance. They must carry the potential within them otherwise they would not support this scumbag.
The lovely Mrs. Ramirez included.
Book Review: Outstanding!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read other "true crimes" books before, but The Night Stalker stands out above the crowd for the following reasons:
1. It is actually quite well written, instead of slapped together.
2. Carlo, the author, went beyond an account of a serial killer to explore the female groupies who are attracted to Richard Ramirez. I don't know who's sicker: Ramirez or these women, some of whom actually fantasize being raped by and, in at least one case, being raped while being murdered by Ramirez.
3. At the end of the book, Carlo includes a fairly extensive interview he conducted with Ramirez.
4. Lastly, but not the least, Carlo does not shy away from the Satanic aspect of Ramirez. I just wish in his interviews, he had asked Ramirez more probing questions on this subject, e.g., exactly why Ramirez was and remains attracted to Satan and actually relishes the thought of going to Hell.
Book Review: Very well researched and written. Horrifying...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez) made Ted Bundy look like a choir boy. Seriously. This guy's crimes were far worse than most serial killers. Only a few come to mind that can stack up against Ramirez in pure brutality and lack of consience. Ramirez, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffery Dahlmer might be able to challenge for the title of Most Sick. Carlo goes through gut wrenching research to detail each victim during their final moments. This book will indeed make you cringe as Carlo let's (makes) you relive the moments of torture, rape, and assault. I hope the U.S. never sees another killer like Ramirez, but reading about him was fascinating. The backstory on his childhood and teenage years reveal how life's challenges, family and environment created this monster.