I would have given this book one star if this were a made-up story. The characters were shallow, stupid, selfish, creepy people, and the plot was all over the place. The fact that this is a true-crime story is downright horrifying, but I think the author did an excellent job laying out the "all-over-the-place" facts. Some of Mr. Wambaugh's humor was inappropriate, but I understand why he couldn't resist while researching and writing about such extreme stupidity. It would be hard not to poke fun even in this tragic murder case. ( )

"Echoes in the Darkness" is a true-life crime drama. In 1978 Susan Reinert- a teacher at Upper Merion High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania- was found naked… dead in her car in a public parking lot. Her two young children were missing, presumed dead, and never to this day have their bodies been located.

Joseph Wambaugh, a retired police officer, tells the story, dropping back in time while providing all the known facts in sequential order leading up to the day of the murder. Suspects included William Bradfield – head of the English Department of Upper Merion and Dr. Jay Smith, the school Principal. Both men were diagnosed as sociopaths, their everyday behavior was bizarre and frightening.

Dr. Jay Smith was a recluse living a double life. A connoisseur of pornography, he was also burglarizing stores in his spare time.

William Bradfield was a womanizer, always targeting needy and timid women that he could manipulate and control. William was married to two women at the same time, and living with a third woman while simultaneously having affairs with several others. Susan Reinert claimed to be one of them – but, of course William denied it. And there were rumors that Reinert was also having an affair with Dr. Jay Smith.

Several years transpired from the moment Susan’s body was found until the final day of the trial… six frustrating and exhausting years for the investigators, lawyers, the prosecution team, and relatives of Susan Reinert. My husband always says “Truth is stranger than fiction” and indeed, in this case it certainly is. Many of the uncovered details of both suspects lives were absurd and eerie.

Because the story is told revealing only known well-documented facts, you may at times find it dry. It tends to skip large chunks of time and becomes somewhat scattered and confusing. However, when the week-end arrives during which the murder is committed, and William Bradford is presumably setting up his alibi, Susan’s body is found and the story becomes very intense. The FBI is called in because the case involves missing children. The details of the investigation are interesting and the court scenes are vivid. It is truly an amazing story.

The fact that King of Prussia is just an hour from my home made the story all the more compelling. Recognizing the locations where events occurred added to the suspense and drama. The story did not appear in our local newspaper so I did not know the outcome of the trial before reading the book. However, even if you did hear about it, and know the final verdict, it still makes an interesting read.

"Echoes in the Darkness" was woven into a TV mini-series in 1987 and is still appears on some internet movie sites. ( )

A true story for a switch: Author Wambaugh rattles the eggheads of Pennsylvania's intellectual community. Object: to try to solve a murder mystery that the FBI couldn't unravel during a seven-year investigation. Whodunnit this time? ( )

A so-so true crime book. By its very nature, this story is fairly tedious, albeit with a fascinating undercurrent of a charismatic teacher manipulating his followers to accept an unbelievable murder plot by another party. But Wambaugh is capable of much better writing than he displays in this book. ( )

Group D1