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Review
* 'Superb... the most riveting true-crime account since IN COLD BLOOD' - Kirkus Reviews * 'Vivid... extraordinary... a page turner' - New York Times Book Review
Product Description
'Somebody just shot my kids!' Diane Downs brought her car to a halt in front of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital, her three gravely wounded children beside her. Thus begins the shocking tale of a truly unthinkable crime that shattered the tranquility of a tight-knit community. As police searched for the 'shaggy-haried stranger' Diane accused of shooting 8-year-old Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 3-year-old Danny in cold blood, a suspicion grew that was even more horrifying than the crime itself: Did Diane shoot her own children? A dedicated district attorney, haunted by this question, searched for the destructive forces that seemed to possess this beautiful young mother and uncovered a chronology of incest, psychological wounding, desperate affairs and surrogate motherhood.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
I have read all of Ann Rule's books and I think she is one of the most talented writers to come down the pike in a long time. My cousin was living about five miles from Dianne Downs in Oregon and she kept me up-to-date on this horrendous crime, via the local newspapers, "gossip from neighbors," etc. When the book came out, I couldn't wait to read it and have read it a couple times over. Ann Rule is a master at reporting the facts, as she does in all of her books. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in true crime. The book grabs you from the start and does not let go until the very last page! The story is gripping, very sad, and all too real. What a book!!!!
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I remember watching the tv film version of these events (Diane Downs being played by Farrah Fawcett), but after reading this book the tv film version is very weak. This is a tremendous book and an awful subject to cover. How could a mother possibly try to murder all 3 of her children in cold blood? Ann Rule covers every aspect of Diane Downs upside life, her self obsession of what I want I shall have no matter what attitude. You can literally feel your heart breaking as you turn page after page knowing what this so called caring mother did. If there is any consolation to be found after reading this book, then it surely must be that Diane Downs is behind bars where she truly belongs, and at least 1 of her children did survive the shooting and testified against her in a court of law. Highly recommendable reading.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
From the opening pages, this story of lies, manipulation and murder will keep you turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. Rule's analization and representation of Diann Downs is right on the money. Rule did not miss a beat as she recounted the unbeleivable steps a woman would take to grab her man. One little girl died from a gunshot wound and never got to see what a normal life really was. The other two chidlren are permenenty damaged from the sycosis of their mother. Rule takes the story from the beginning and leads it to the end, where increadably, the children were orphaned. Downs finally gets incarcerated for the murder and attempted murder of her own flesh and blood. Not all stories end unhappily though. The two survivors were adopted by the DA who made it his goal to bring Diann Downs DOWN! Do not miss this book, It is one of Rule's finest and will impact your thoughts for years
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Small Sacrifices: A True Story of Passion and Murder
I was interested in reading the book after seeing a TV programme about it. However I found the book far too long and
began to lose interest. Read more
began to lose interest. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Penny
small sacrifices
i watched the film so thought i would read the book and its got a lot more in the book that whats in the film well worth the read
Published 9 months ago by sarah79
This book is an amazing look at a mother's love and lies.
I think that Small Sacrifices is one of the best novels I have ever read, it tells a complex story of many personalities and weaves them together so at the end of the book you... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 1999
ONE OF HER BEST!!!!!!
THIS THE FIRST BOOK I HAD READ BY ANN RULE AFTER SEEING THE TV MOVIE. IAM NOW HOOKED ON THIS WONDERFUL AUTHOR. SHE MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE THERE AT THE CRIME SCENE. Read more
Published on 8 July 1999
Amazing story
but Ann Rule writes like she's in a movie and it is irritating when you are only interested in what happened. Read more
Published on 22 April 1999
The first and best true crime book I have read, BAR NONE!
I borrowed this book from a friend, and after reading it started my own Ann Rule library. She is the only true crime writer that I now read. This book is gripping and tragic. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 1999
the best book in this genre i have ever read
I first saw this book after Ann Rule was a guest on a Philly Radio Station. I bought it, and couldnt put it down, was up the entire night reading it! Read more
Published on 28 Jan 1999
EXCELLENT;PAGE-TURNER, IMPACTED FOR LIFE.
THIS BOOK I WAS UNABLE TO PUT DOWN UNTIL I HAD REACHED THE LAST PAGE. I HAVE REREAD THE BOOK 4 TIMES. IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT WENT ON IN DIANE'S HEAD. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 1998
One of Ann Rule's Best!
Ann Rule has done it again! This gut-wrenching, unforgettable book is one of the best-written true-crime stories in print. Read more
Published on 24 Aug 1998
A tragic story
Ann Rule examines the mind of Diane Downs, a woman who cold bloodedly shot her three children, killing one and crippling the others. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 1998
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