The Night Stalker: The Disturbing Life and Chilling Crimes of Richard Ramirez

I got this book after watching the Netflix documentary and being completely astounded by this killer's brutality and wanting to know more about his spree and the background behind the killer and how he turned out to be this way. I was so happy to discover that Carlo's writing in this book is both factual but also reads like an actual fiction book. Very interesting all the way through, extremely informative, and well written. I will say that the trial portion of this book became a little TOO detailed and factual, but I understand the purpose behind it, as he's actually recounting the trial itself. I think this part is the only part that reminds you you're reading a nonfictional book. Towards the end, we get to read the transcript of his interview with Carlo, and you can almost sense Ramirez's introvertedness by the way talks. Its exactly what you expect, especially if you've ever heard him in interviews. It was fascinating that Carlo was able to describe this part of him in a way that makes you really get a glimpse of what its like to SPEAK to the night stalker. Overall, this book is an excellent read for those wanting to supplement the Netflix documentary. You really get all the details of his childhood, upbringing, and adult life, which actually gives such great insight into how he became this crazed killer. The only bad part of this book was that towards the very end, when Carlo describes his own relationship with Ramirez, I got an inkling of a creepy vibe from Carlo hisself. He seems to allude to happily riding the coattails of Richard Ramirez, gaining benefits from his affiliation to this infamous serial killer, and not even including the financial benefits he receives from telling this story. He admits to readers that he received nudes from Richard's groupies, and Richard even shared some of his collection with Carlo for "safe keeping." You get a sliver of this vibe that Carlo is also a bit pervy himself, making physical judgments on some of the groupie girls, when you know he probably would not get this type of female attention if he was not affiliated to Richard as he is. That last part definitely took a bit of credibility away from Carlo, but I believe this part of the book was a special update/edition that was added later, so the actual book and story itself shouldn't be tainted by Carlo's own character flaws. Overall, highly recommend!

This is a well-researched true account of the "Nightstalker" killings. The book captures the rapes and tortures Richard Ramirez whose visit’s upon Southern California in the mid-80s left a fear and reign of terror wherever he went. It is a terrifying book and pulls no punches with the crimes and their aftermaths, so for true crime buffs this is definite a book to read and add to your library.The story in this book goes through the mass destruction left behind as the trail of the victims tortured, raped, and murdered by Richard as he enters house after house getting bolder and sicker as his arrogance grows and he thinks he is Satan himself. Next the killer himself and his family and how his early childhood shaped who he became. Followed by the detectives who sought Richard Ramirez for months and the build up to the trial, the sick delusional groupies Richards fame attracts during the trial, and finally a verdict.This is an exceptionally well-told true crime book which I could not put down. The author releases interview’s with Richard Ramirez and some of his groupie’s personal reasons for wishing to see Richard and finishes the book with photographs.The book will haunt you for ages as to how sick and depraved Richard real was and have you check your windows and doors before you go to sleep.

The reason why I'm giving this book four stars is the writer's style. It's a well written, well edited book without common mistakes that hinders book reading.The crimes committed by Richard were disgusting and deserves no spotlight, no fanfare, and certainly no ratings.I'm not draw to true crime stories for the most part. I find them frightening and cause me stress and nightmares. I read this book because a friend suggested it. The friend has just watched the Night-Stalker docu-series on Netflix. Knowing that I hate watching, the suggestion was that I should read the book. It's a shocking & sobering reality to realize that among human kind also exists a few deviants (for a lack of a better term) who choose to hurt others for the neck of it.Yet, for me, what was most traumatizing & bewildering at the same time were the Stalkers Groupies aka the Ramirez Groupies. I have never heard of women who would want to be so near a scum for good looks!!!The guy had horribly damaged teeth that were enough to spook a rational mind away for good and they belied his "so-called good looks".Why on earth were women so drawn to him? The author tried, but I think unsuccessfully, to explain why these women felt attracted to someone who might have done horrible things to them, given the chance.I don't get the women! I don't get their thought process. I don't get their rationalization and certainly their failure to notice that once Ramirez was arrested the murders stopped.I would think they would be attracted to the people that protected them from the monster, not the monster itself!It's a weird world we live in.

This book is an interesting book, extremely detailed I could not put it down , I highly recommend this book I even learned some things about the U.S government that I had no clue about!

I loved the book. It arrived in perfect condition and the writing is very well done, it's as if we were inside some scene described in the book. Very good, it's like I'm there. I really felt like I was there, in the same place as Richard Ramirez. There are a lot of important stuff that people usually leave out in documentaries, necessary stuff. Not just the police rush to catch a serial killer. It really talks the whole thing, from another perspective. You guys won't regret it. Philip Carlo is awesome.

Ottimo libro, interessantissimo, l'autore non giudica, sembra obbiettivo e riesce a descrivere i punti di vista dei protagonisti, senza giudicare il colpevole, ma neppure giustificarne le violenze, consigliatissimo anche per la capacita' di coinvolgere il lettore nella vita tormentata di Ramirez, nel periodo storico degli USA anni 70 - 85

No soy lectora habitual y este libro me está encantando. Dividido en varias partes (asesinatos, pasado/infancia, persecución y encarcelamiento, etc)

Worth the money. The book came in such a good quality