The Forest City Killer: A Serial Murderer, A Cold-Case Sleuth, and a Search for Justice

Description

Dig deep into the unsolved murder of Jackie English and join the hunt for a serial killer. Fifty years ago, a serial killer prowled the quiet city of London, Ontario, marking it as his hunting grounds. As young women and boys were abducted, raped, and murdered, residents of the area held their loved ones closer and closer, terrified of the monster - or monsters - stalking the streets. Homicide detective Dennis Alsop began hunting the killer in the 1960s, and he didn't stop searching until his death 40 years later. For decades, detectives, actual and armchair, and the victims' families and friends continued to ask questions: Who was the Forest City Killer? Was there more than one person? Or did a depraved individual commit all of these crimes on his own? Combing through the files Detective Alsop left behind, researcher Vanessa Brown reopens the cases, revealing previously unpublished witness statements, details of evidence, and astonishing revelations. And through her investigation, Vanessa posits the unthinkable: is it possible that the Forest City Killer is still alive and, like the notorious Golden State Killer, a simple DNA test could bring him to justice? 'When I talk about crime, at the top of the list is murder - preferably, multiple murders and, ideally, unsolved murders that have become a fixation for the authors who obsessively investigate them. After spending four years researching and writing The Forest City Killer, Vanessa Brown still lies awake at night, her mind 'host to a constant parade of theories' about the unsolved serial murders she investigated in her hometown, London, Ontario.' - New York Times Book Review, read full review here. 'A truly impressive account of this dark chapter in the province's history...Not just a sharp work of investigative journalism, The Forest City Killer is a poignant portrait of children and young people whose lives were cut short in horrific circumstances and a clarion call for long overdue justice. It is destined to become a classic of Canadian true crime.' Quill & Quire, Starred Review 'Though Brown proposes her own theory about the Forest City Killer, she presents evidence in such a way to allow readers to draw their own conclusions. A must for true crime fans.' Booklist 'Brown's smooth prose is a plus. True crime fans who don't need conclusive answers will be well satisfied.' Publishers Weekly

Vanessa Brown has lived her entire life in London, Ontario. Her previous books include The Grand Old Lady: A History of Hotel London and London: 150 Cultural Moments, which was honored by the Ontario Heritage Trust. She is married to Canadian poet Jason Dickson, and together they own Brown & Dickson Booksellers.

"Brown has done an admirable job of compiling a tremendous amount of information and combing through clues in order to provide an intriguing possibility." -- Winnipeg Free Press