While Idaho Slept: The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students by J. Reuben Appelman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“Crime has no boundaries…And these murders have shaken us to our very core” – Colonel Kedrick Wills, Idaho State Police, pg 45.

The case that shocked the nation – a modern-day Ted Bundy strikes the residence of four college students in Moscow, Idaho.
Appelman gives a brilliant and in-depth recollection of events that transpired on November 12, 2022, and led to the capture of Bryan Kohberger, a student who had no connection to the four students he viciously massacred at 1122 King Road.
Rather than playing more attention to the life of Bryan Kohberger, Appelman focuses the story on the lives of the victims, dedicating a chapter each to everyone, so that the world knew what was lost on November 12, 2022.
Applelman gives a detailed report on how police and internet sleuths came together to find who was responsible for the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

Overall, Applegate’s organization of the evidence and timeline of events was her greatest strength when reporting facts of a messy case of homicide. It was a simple read and very informative, and emotionally captivating. Her glimpses into the victims’ lives honored them, and I appreciated the fact that the book was not spotlighting the killer, but rather gave a summarized background on his upbringing.
Pretty sure I cried at the end and have been keeping up to date with the case.



View all my reviews