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A Serial Killer's Daughter
A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming | Kerri Rawson
What is it like to learn that your ordinary, loving father is a serial killer? In 2005, Kerri Rawson heard a knock on the door of her apartment. When she opened it, an FBI agent informed her that her father had been arrested for murdering ten people, including two children. It was then that she learned her father was the notorious serial killer known as BTK, a name hed given himself that described the horrific way he committed his crimes: bind, torture, kill. As news of his capture spread, Wichitacelebrated the end of a thirty-one-year nightmare. For Kerri Rawson, another was just beginning. She was plunged into a black hole of horror and disbelief. The same man who had been a loving father, a devoted husband, church president, Boy Scout leader, and a public servant had been using their family as a cover for his heinous crimes since before she was born. Everything she had believed about her life had been a lie. Written with candor and extraordinary courage, A Serial Killers Daughter is an unflinching exploration of life with one of Americas most infamous killers and an astonishing tale of personal and spiritual transformation. For all who suffer from unhealed wounds or the crippling effects of violence, betrayal, and anger, Kerri Rawsons story offers the hope of reclaiming sanity in the midst of madness, rebuilding a life in the shadow of death, and learning to forgive the unforgivable. No easy answers here. No platitudes. Only raw honesty, written with the gracious authority of one who has glimpsed hell. Kerri Rawson shares her earned wisdom and a hope that has been bought with tears and nightmares. This book is a gritty must-read in the library of hope. Paul J. Pastor, author of The Face of the Deep and The Listening Day
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review
DieAReader
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Bailedbailed

#Wardens2024 #BookSpinBingo #ReadAway2024

Made it to 10% & completely bored. The narration imo falls flat & devoid of appropriate emotions. I was already getting feeling/impression that culpability would not be placed on BTK but everything/everyone else (although I could be wrong).

👎🏻Just not for me.

CoverToCoverGirl Bummer.. next! 9mo
dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 9mo
GHABI4ROSES lol 9mo
39 likes4 comments
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DieAReader
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#Wardens2024 #ReadAway2024 #BookSpinBingo

🎧Gonna give this one a go🤞🏻

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 9mo
34 likes1 comment
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britt_brooke
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️ BTK‘s daughter Kerri can shout it all she wants, but there‘s zero space for the forgiveness of serial killers. This forgiveness thread combined with her bizarre compulsion to tell people who her father is was very odd to me, as was her generally nonchalant attitude. Surely all of these things are coping mechanisms. IDK. I don‘t envy her experiences. Sadly, not a book I‘d recommend, though.

77 likes1 comment
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ElizaMarie
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Mehso-so

So. This book was not for me. Not really what I expected. (I should have known with “faith” in the title). I mean good for her that it helped her in her healing just … I just don‘t particularly like hearing prayers over and over. :(

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BridgetteM
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Woke up in the middle of the night not feeling that well, so I decided to read this. I‘m on a true crime kick and this book offers a much different perspective than the usual. I just want to give this woman a hug and tell her it‘s not her fault. (Also, I feel much better now.)

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KristiAhlers
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Mehso-so

This was written with little to no emotion. Yes, she‘s recounting the story of her learning about her dad being BTK and how she dealt with that. But it read robotic and at times as if she was writing a shopping list. As a memoir goes this is flat. As a true crime book it‘s lacking.

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Nicki_K
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. A heartbreakingly raw and honest memoir by Kerri. We learn of just how idyllic and normal her childhood was. Her father like any dad could have bad mood days where you give them some space but overall she was very close with him and they shared a lot of loving times and memories together. As an adult she finds out her dad is the BTK serial killer her world is upended.

6 likes1 stack add
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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Can you imagine finding out your dad is a serial killer? Not the best written book but give her a pick. My #bookspin for October. @TheAromaofBooks #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick 16 pts

Clwojick I have this one! I need to red it soon. 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
23 likes2 comments
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JenReadsAlot
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My #bookspin and #doublespin for October! Need to put together my #bookspinbingo board yet. @TheAromaofBooks

squirrelbrain Ooh, White Fragility is my #bookspin book! 4y
JenReadsAlot @squirrelbrain it's my book club pick for October as well. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts! 4y
squirrelbrain That‘s serendipitous for you then! I look forward to seeing your thoughts too..... 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
20 likes4 comments
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AsYouWish
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Pickpick

Wow!! This book was intense to say the least. I went into it thinking it was going to be her saying what an amazing man he was, how shocking & unbelievable it was that he could commit these murders, & how it didn‘t change how she felt about him. While it was those things a bit, it was also heartbreaking. I cried when she revealed how she found out & how it has impacted her life & the way people view her. Highly recommend!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Pageturner1 was this the BTK killer? 4y
AsYouWish @Pageturner1 Yes, it is. The book doesn‘t go heavy into his crimes, it is mostly his daughter talking about her life and her life with him. (edited) 4y
Pageturner1 I just finished If You Tell about Michelle Knotek. She is a crazy one. anyways a psychologist spoke at the end of the book explaining why children being tortured don‘t tell and said that BTK daughter had a tv show that brought families of abused on to talk about what happened. 4y
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AsYouWish @Pageturner1 I think she has a podcast too where she talks about everything and interviews others that have experiences with serial killers. I haven‘t looked into it though, I am still digesting everything from the book. 4y
Pageturner1 i am too. hard to fathom something so cruel and people get away with it. it‘s disturbing. I do like reading about stories like this. Don‘t know what that says about me.? 4y
AsYouWish @Pageturner1 I am fascinated by those stories too. I mean how did no one know what they were doing? How did some of them go on for so long committing their crimes? One of my groups is doing a serial killer theme this month, so I have been looking into quite a few stories this month. 4y
Crazeedi I recently read a book in which an FBI profile interviewed this psychopath killer. Very scary 4y
AsYouWish @Crazeedi It is scary how most serial killers don‘t see what they did as wrong or they try to justify their crimes. 4y
AsYouWish @Crazeedi Ooo... that looks super good, added to my TBR!! 4y
39 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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BlameJennyJane
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Pickpick

I‘ve been away from Litsy a bit. My world, like so many, has been topsy-turvy. I tend to retreat like a turtle in those times. It‘s time to come back though, I‘ve missed the connection with you all! 🥰

And I do recommend this #audiobook. It wasn‘t narrated by the author, which I never love with memoirs, but it was fascinating.

Texreader So good to have you back! Litsy is a bit of sanity in an insane world. 5y
BlameJennyJane @Texreader thank you so much. I think you are so right- just the kind of sanity I need. 😊 5y
70 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LauraJ
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Bailedbailed

So boring. I just can‘t keep listening.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I've hear bad things about this book. Which is too bad, because it could be an interesting story. 5y
LauraJ @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego My life is more interesting than this and that‘s not saying much. 5y
eanderson Oh crud... I think I bought this book. I‘m seriously glad I saw your post! Life is too short to spend on a boring book! 5y
Chrissyreadit I did not like this book either. 5y
40 likes4 comments
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Godpants
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The BTK killings were always a case that I wanted to know more about, I remember weirdly reviewing the case a week before he got caught since it just has a pull for me. When I saw the audiobook was available for this one, I knew I had to check it out.

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Mirazzles
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Going to try giving this one a read! I‘ve heard mixed things but I guess I‘ll see! My first day of my winter break and I can finally begin to read all the books piling up guilt free now! #truecrime #memoir #nonfiction #bibliophile

36 likes3 stack adds
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Maude
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Panpan

I really disliked this, a mediocre memoir at best, it was boring and disturbing at the same time. She writes about her family history like a grocery list. There is absolutely no emotion, not even when she adds a victim's name to the list. If you want a true crime book or insight into what living with a serial killer was like this is not your book. Thanks to #netgalley for providing an ebook for review.

Chrissyreadit I agree! 5y
bookaholic1 Thanks for the heads up👍👍👍 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Dang. That could have been so fascinating. 5y
50 likes3 comments
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Kodak2057
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If you‘re going to ruin a restaurant by eating there after you find out your dads a serial killer it may as well be Arby‘s 🤢

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PumpkinSpicedAlpaca
Bailedbailed

Impossible to read. Written as though it was written by a child. Should have been marked as a religious memoir not a true crime novel. #truecrime

rretzler Welcome to Litsy! 📖 #litsywelcomewagon 5y
Sace Welcome from a fellow hufflepuff knitter! 5y
PumpkinSpicedAlpaca Thanks so much! 😊 5y
8 likes3 comments
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ElyssaReads
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Mehso-so

Well this book was unsettling. On one hand, it was a surprisingly hopeful message from the author as she works to rebuild her life. Her story of faith plays a central role in the story.

On the other hand, reading about BTK and his crimes as she writes about coming to terms with the truth gave me nightmares. I have family in Wichita and watched the news as a middle school student when he was caught. Scary stuff.

36 likes2 stack adds
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Chelsea.Poole
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Mehso-so

Not what I thought it was going to be. Ho-hum account of BTK's daughter finding out her father is the the infamous serial killer. The details of her life were more about jobs, internal struggles, and past with her father, but no real deep details about their family. Not horrible but I wouldn't recommend for true crime fans.

thereadingowlvina Thanks for sharing your review! I wanted to read this for so long, but now I think I'll pass! 😁 6y
81 likes1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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I was really looking forward to this one. I started it yesterday, but something isn't working for me about this. I guess I failed to read the subtitle -- "My story of faith, love, and overcoming". Not as much true crime as memoir about the author's life (working at target, moving, etc.) that I don't really find compelling. ? I'm going to keep on trucking because Kerri has just been told her father is BTK, so the story may move quickly now.

Chrissyreadit I did not like this one. 6y
73 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Cinfhen
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Mehso-so

Day One of #BFC (thank you for the hashtag @catebutler ) was a rude awakening!!! Im in TERRIBLE physical shape! Good Lord, I could barely breathe through the first 7 minutes of my 20 minute work out. I did slay the book portion of the challenge😂Finished the tagged memoir. It‘s quite the story & I felt for Kerri & her family but this book is not for true crime fans. It‘s more of a finding faith & healing memoir with a serial killer father.

BarbaraJean Hahaha... I had a similar awakening, and felt soooo lame gasping for breath at the top of a hill, during the first 5 minutes of my walk around my neighborhood! Lesson learned: I need to work up some hill stamina! 6y
Cinfhen I have a feeling many lessons will be learnt @BarbaraJean but we‘re all in this together and that‘s the BEST part! (edited) 6y
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catebutler Just think how different we‘ll feel the more we do this challenge. I can‘t wait! 💪🏼 And I give all credit to the #BFC hashtag to @wanderinglynn! 😄 6y
BookwormAHN A few reps of lunges almost killed me this morning so I sympathize. It will get easier though. 6y
BarbaraJean @Cinfhen Yes!! I‘m loving all this cheering each other on! 6y
jenniferw88 You can do it! 6y
Marina_h You got to start somewhere 😊 6y
Kaye When I first went to the gym, I got tired really fast. After 20 minutes I had to stop. Each week, I gradually built up. On good days now I can go 2 hours. It takes time, so be patient and don‘t give up. (edited) 6y
Bookwormjillk Great job! I got a rude awakening yesterday when I decided to climb some stairs yesterday. After 6 weeks we won‘t even feel it! 6y
tdrosebud I received that same lesson just doing calisthenics. It will get better though. 6y
marleed Oh good luck. It really does get easier. 6y
Chrissyreadit @Cinfhen your response about the book was very accurate. 6y
alisiakae Just think how satisfying it will be at the end of the challenge when you kick ass during the whole workout and can look back on all the progress you made! 🏋️‍♀️ 💪🏼 6y
Laughterhp At least you‘re moving! Good luck! 6y
guinsgirlreads Great job roughing it out! It gets easier! 💪🏻 And thank you for the clarifying review, it definitely helped me out. 6y
Ash.on.the.line We never seem to realize until we actually get up and do it! 😂 Just keep going! 😁 6y
MaleficentBookDragon Beautiful photo. 6y
wanderinglynn Way to stick with it! The important thing is you did it! The hardest part is just getting started. In 6 weeks you‘ll look back and be amazed how far you‘ve come! 🙌🏻 6y
Megabooks Great review!! 😘😘 6y
Cinfhen Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon my flowers are so colorful I had to share them 🌼🌺🌸 6y
jillannjohn Great start. It‘ll get easier! 6y
Cinfhen I think I was more humbled than defeated yesterday and honestly today wasn‘t much better but onwards! Thanks #TeamBFC @catebutler @BookwormAHN @jenniferw88 @Marina_h @Kaye @Bookwormjillk @tdrosebud @marleed @4thhouseontheleft @Laughterhp @guinsgirlreads @Ash.on.the.line @wanderinglynn 😜👊🏽 6y
Cinfhen I wanted to like this book more but I found myself doing too many eye rolls @Megabooks @Chrissyreadit I think her editor did a terrible job!!!! @guinsgirlreads (edited) 6y
CafeMom Too bad this book was so-so. I saw her interviewed on the Dr.Phil show and I had great sympathy for her. She really was kept in the dark her whole life. 6y
Clwojick I know what you mean! My Fitbit app straight up says my “cardio health” is poor for women of my age! 😂 I‘m here to fix that though, so we can power through together! 6y
Cinfhen She definitely has a compelling story @CafeMom which is why I think the editor did her a disservice. It needed to be branded differently and weeded out. There were dozens of unnecessary stories from childhood & multiple mentions of meals at Arby‘s & Taco Bell 🙄 6y
Cinfhen I think I want a FitBit for my birthday @Clwojick I could use a daily kick in the ass 😂😂 I‘m so glad to know we are all in this together 🥰 6y
Clwojick I wholeheartedly suggest you get one! 💙♥️ 6y
TheSpineView Now I want a FitBit.😋 good job! 6y
kspenmoll Beautiful flowers! Thanks for the review. I had to push myself this morning after a long day/night Fri with work & HS prom . Keep it up!!! 6y
Caterina Beautiful pic! And great job not giving up after those first 7 minutes - you can do this!! ❤ 🙌 6y
Cinfhen Thanks for the good cheer @TheSpineView @kspenmoll @Caterina Hope you‘re all having a good day 😁 6y
dariazeoli I‘m out of shape too, but I highly recommend the Fitbit anyway. Nice start to the challenge! 💪 6y
Reviewsbylola The religious slant was so not for me. I gave it a so-so too. 6y
112 likes36 comments
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Cinfhen
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This caused me to snort. In a letter written by Dennis Radar, the BTK serial killer, musing to his daughter that his brothers are not communicating with him. He finds that “not very Christian”. Dude, you strangled, brutalized and killed 10 people! Really, in my book that‘s #NotVeryChristian 😆 This book is interesting in some parts and very unnecessary in others.

wanderinglynn It always amazes me how people compartmentalize and can see faults in other, but not themselves. 6y
MicheleinPhilly 🙄 Also dude, your grammar. 6y
Kalalalatja My thought exactly @MicheleinPhilly 🙄 6y
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Cinfhen Yea, that‘s for another rant @MicheleinPhilly @Kalalalatja 😂 6y
Cinfhen So true @wanderinglynn I mean, talk about denial!!! 6y
KarenUK My new favorite understating hashtag! Serial killing = #notverychristian 😂 6y
CouronneDhiver Ugh 😑 6y
Blaire BTK lived near my neighborhood in Wichita...think it might creep me out too much to read more about him. Shudder. 6y
Cinfhen I‘m sure it would @Blaire this guy was a total psychopath although the book does not go into much detail. It‘s more about the daughter‘s healing from the trauma of discovery. It needed better editing @CouronneDhiver @KarenUK It‘s a crazy story but it never really went anywhere. 6y
Reviewsbylola BTK is a very deranged dude. 6y
76 likes10 comments
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Cinfhen
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Playing catch-up on my #NetGalley #ARCs Up next, true crime.

AmyG It‘s a decent book. But wow...it‘s crazy just wrapping your head around this. Enjoy. 6y
GripLitGrl Oooh sounds interesting. Gotta check back for your review. 6y
valeriegeary I just read this.... It wasn't what I wanted it to be, a little scattered in places. Interesting though, and brave of her to share her story. I just wish she'd had a more thoughtful, thorough editor. I skimmed parts. 🤷 6y
92 likes3 comments
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abookishbutterfly
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I love book mail! A friend sent out A Serial Killer‘s Daughter and Let Me Tell You and they just arrived today!

allureofbeauty I really want to see a serial killers daughter 6y
71 likes1 comment
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vkois88
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Busy Mama life and a horrible reading slump the last couple of months (though there have been a couple really good reads when I was able to consume some pages) have taken me away from Litsy most of the time... but this is my #CurrentRead. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

#NetGalley #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeTuesday #SerialKiller #MomsWhoRead

BlameJennyJane I wondered about this one after seeing several interviews with the author. 6y
vkois88 @BlameJennyJane it's... idk lol... 6y
CarolynM Nice to see you around again 👋😘 Hope LO is doing well 6y
vkois88 @CarolynM thank you 😘😘 LO is doing well... it's her house, she just lets us live here!! We are beginning the transition of Mama going back to work full time instead of just part time, so we are trying to get into the swing of things. And when I'm off, I spend my days chasing after her!!! 😊😊😊 6y
46 likes4 comments
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Bookwm85forever
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One day the FBI showed up at her door to inform Kerri Rawson that her father was the infamous BTK killer. #truecrime #bookworm #booknerd #bookaddict #bookaddiction #sundayread #snowyweather #snow

21 likes3 stack adds
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Reviewsbylola
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Mehso-so

Kerri Rawson was living the life of American #dreams until she found herself in a living nightmare. Feb. of 2005, FBI agents knocked on her door and told her that her dad, Dennis Rader, had been arrested as BTK, a notorious Wichita serial killer that had been on the loose for 30 years. An interesting book, it veered too closely to a Christian memoir to really appeal to me but hers is an interesting perspective. #anglophileapril #netgalley

vivastory Have you been watching Mindhunter on Netflix? 6y
Cinfhen I have this ARC which I have totally blown off. I‘ve been SO BAD!!!! 6y
Zelma @vivastory we just finished the season and loved it! 6y
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vivastory @Zelma I can't wait for the second season! I have a vivid memory of rader being arrested, I'm in KC so it was on the local news for quite awhile. 6y
Reviewsbylola No I haven‘t! Is it about BTK? @vivastory 6y
vivastory He makes a cameo in most episodes, but it is set in the late 70s 6y
vivastory As a true crime reader, I think you'd love it 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘ll have to check it out! @vivastory 6y
Mdargusch I can‘t even imagine. 6y
emilyhaldi That would be pretty rough 6y
98 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Bookwm85forever
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Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

The first third of the book was basically a normal girl w/ normal problems lives a normal life. It dragged a bit for me. Once Rawson got to the part where her dad was arrested, things picked up. It was sad to see how affected she was by what her father did and I think it‘s important to remember that the family of these killers are also victims.

Would recommend for fans of religious memoirs but not true crime fans.

⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #memoir

Kaye Thanks for that last sentence. Second time I‘ve heard it . I‘ve been pondering whether to read this or not. I believe I‘ll pass. 6y
Kristy_K @kaye I think they marketed it as a true crime read but I feel that is misleading. It really has more to do with Rawson‘s faith through the trials of her life and one of those trials just happens to be who her dad is. 6y
59 likes2 comments
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Jen2
Mehso-so

It was ok

Kristy_K Part way through this now and feeling the same. 6y
49 likes1 comment
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ceruleanjen
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Pickpick

Slow in the beginning but an interesting perspective. Can't even imagine having to find out that your dad is a sadistic serial killer.

A good reminder that loved ones of a killer who had no idea can also be victims & have a difficult time adjusting. She talks a lot about her faith, which was fine for the most part.

Not mind blowing but interesting. There isn't much detail about the murders or victims but that's understandable.

3⭐

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Callemarie
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Pickpick

This story does detail the gruesome and horrific murders carried out by the infamous BTK killer but it's also a story about a girl who discovers that the man she has loved and called dad is a monster that no one knew about. The book discusses elements of trauma that the family endured during the wake of the arrest and how they were left to pick up the mess their father left. It's an interesting read and a sad one at that. I gave this 3.5 🌟

109 likes3 stack adds
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Chrissyreadit
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Mehso-so

This book was my first request from netgalley- I read BTK first, and it may have made this book less enjoyable. The author portrays the concept that her father was a good family, and they had a normal life together. But parts of her story contradict that statement, and I am confused by how it is handled. It is also written from a deeply Christian perspective- and I am not the targeted audience there. I am glad she found support and help but am

Chrissyreadit Cynical because several victims family members struggled and ended up with very sad lives. 6y
73 likes1 comment
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EadieB
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Pickpick

Written for NetGalley and Nelson Book.
What is it like to learn that your ordinary, loving father is a serial killer? Kerri Rawson writes an insightful and honest perspective of another side of her father, the BTK killer. I was happy to see a supportive husband and how he helped her to overcome her PTSD and gave her the courage to go on with her life. I found the book hard to put down and I would recommend it to those who love true crime stories.

AmyG If you are a trume crime fan, I agree this is a must read. 6y
84 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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darklydreaming
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Pickpick

Bravo Kerri Rawson. Thank you for sharing such a difficult and tragic piece of your life.

Bookladylinda I so want to read this one! 6y
darklydreaming @Bookladylinda it was definitely an interesting read. So tragic! 6y
Bookladylinda @darklydreaming I saw her on Dr Phil and heard some of her story. 6y
17 likes1 stack add3 comments
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darklydreaming
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Good morning!! Although I wasn‘t able to join in #fridaynightbookclub yesterday (was out of town!), I‘m cuddled on the couch now to catch up on some reading! I LOVE this idea 💕
@JoScho @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Crazeedi @hermyknee @AmyK @Craftylikefox @Traci1

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Isn‘t it awesome!! Love spending time with my book buddies!! @JoScho 🥰💗 6y
JoScho 💗💗💗 6y
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Craftylikefox Yes!! 💕💕 6y
Crazeedi Love it so much! Enjoy your day!! 6y
16 likes6 comments
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FantasyChick
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Pickpick

A lot of true crime focuses on the victims, the victims' family and the crime itself...but what about the family of the criminal? This book, written by the daughter of BTK, gives us a look into what life is like as a child of a serial killer.
The first half is quite slow, focusing more on Kerri's childhood and her struggle finding faith, but it gets quite interesting and hard to put down.

AmyG I am almost done with this. I found the first part oddly interesting in that he seemed quite “normal”. Just a fascinating book. I can‘t begin to imagine... 6y
FantasyChick @AmyG Right? I was reading it and thinking "My parents never did stuff like that with me, that's awesome" and then he's killing people in between "good dad time". You just never know..... 6y
47 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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darklydreaming
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All schools in my city (London, ON) are closed today due to the icy road conditions (including my private school which NEVER happens!!) I think I will spend the day reading this one. May even finish it 😁👌

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Hestapleton
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I‘M NOT FREAKING OUT AT ALL.

Morr_Books Awesome!! 6y
68 likes1 comment