A review by booktalkwithkarla
I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

A friend who listened to the audiobook recommended this book to me. I’m so glad she did. I read it right on the tails of Unmasked by Paul Holes, both books in part about the Golden State Killer. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was the first I had heard of these crimes. So grateful that killer is behind bars. 

Barbara Rae-Ventner was a key player in solving that and many other crimes. In this book she details her process and her extensive experience starting with her own family history and connecting adopted families through genetics research. This was a compelling read. There was some repetition in explanation of the process throughout but the stories and understanding her background were parts I really enjoyed learning about. Other than the repetition I found the writing organized and easy to read.

Getting an inside account was great. My respect for Rae-Ventner and other amateur sleuths plus the agencies they work with is higher having heard her story. And it was already high. I am grateful for her willingness to come forward and to work so hard at meaningful work - in “retirement”. I hope more people find success at this work, getting more criminals off the streets.