I have typed my review and deleted it so many times. I liked this book. I always wanted to be an FBI agent so reading books written by former agents are some of my favorites. Jeffrey Rinek did a great job at talking about his job, and how the job was on his family. The cases he talked about are HARD. They involved children. The things he witnessed....I have no words. My heart breaks for the families involved in these stories. If you are interested in true crime then this is for you.

This book was insightful and hence incredibly useful to the postgraduate dissertation on the realities of true crime publishing. Indeed, it proved a point that I had been building towards: that the genre isn't just gratuitous and exploitative, sometimes it is about people doing the right things for the right reasons. And honestly, don't we need more assurances that people are actually doing that in the world right now?

Jeff Rinek is an FBI superhero. This book shares his endeavors and captures the moments he was able to get child predators to confess and off of the street. There are many families that have been affected by his abilities and we are all grateful. This book, while written by him and about him, does not gloat about Jeff or boast him up higher than one would think, although I will gloat and boast about him. It took Jeff many years to attain his position with the bureau and then to give of himself so selfishly is almost unheard of at that time. The stories are well written and documented with a great pace. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a true hero.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

RATING: 2.5 STARS
2018; BenBella Books

The cover art is so haunting, as are some of the stories in the book, but the writing is not as great. In my opinion only, it did not keep me engaged.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

An interesting read about the life and work of an FBI Agent who deals with crimes against children. Some parts of the book were difficult to read due to the nature of his job.

If you like true crime novels, especially those in the same vein as John Douglas' (Mindhunter), then you will enjoy Rinek's In the Name of the Children. Although perhaps enjoy is the wrong word. Rinek takes you deep into his world as an FBI agent who specializes in crimes against children. It's dark and gruesome yet also oddly fascinating. Rinek was relentless in his pursuit of justice and it shows in the cases he highlights here. Nothing is more disturbing and heartbreaking than when harm comes to a child and this book looks at these cases and brings to light not only these tragedies but the men and women who fight for justice and bring hope that maybe one day this won't happen anymore.

True crime and memoir is one of my favorite literary intersections, and this book delivers just that. Well informed and articulate, "In the Name of the Children" is a haunting look at the ways in which we attempt to protect the most vulnerable in our society and those who are seeking to do them harm.

Jeffrey Rinek has one of the toughest jobs ever. Not only is he an FBI agent, but he specializes in kidnappings and horrific crimes against children. What he had to see every day and help solve is what makes horror movies.In the Name of the Children isn’t a "fun" read. A vigil for the children who “refuse to be erased from the book of life,” and a reckoning for our society.

I would highly recommend this book. It is very well written and I kept thinking what happened next. It also makes me respect FBI agents more. I will definitely read more by this author.

Jeffrey L. Rinek is a former FBI agent who was assigned to work cases of murdered and missing children because of his ability to connect with, and show empathy towards, those involved. These skills translated into a high confession and case solved rate. Unfortunately, the skills came as a result of personal anguish; they were gained when he and his wife nearly lost one of their sons to a rare medical condition. After experiencing that, he became determined to do all he possibly could to help the families of murdered and missing children.

In the Name of the Children is well-written, raw, chilling and horrific. The reader gets an inside view of the workings of the FBI, the art of interrogation, and the effects of the cases on the families of the victim, the perpetrator, the agents working the case, and their families. Each chapter is named for the child victim of a case he worked and gives details of that case.

One of the things I most appreciated about this book is how very forth-coming the author is about how agents deal with difficult cases and the lasting toll the work takes on them. I cannot imagine having to deal with the horrors of this work, dealing with the acts the most heinous among us commit upon the most innocent, day in and day out. I definitely have a more defined appreciation of those who serve us in the never-ending war against crime.

My thanks to NetGalley and BenBella Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reminiscent of the memoirs of John Douglas and Robert Ressler, Rinek does more than just discuss the cases he's been involved with; he also delves into his struggles with being so intimately entangled with individuals who could truly be described as evil. It's often very difficult to read - the crimes perpetrated against the most innocent members of our society leave you feeling more than a little sickened, but they serve to illustrate exactly what agents like Rinek have to deal with day in and day out. After reading the book, it's obvious the terrible toll that doing this kind of work takes on a person, but we're better off for having people who are willing to do such difficult work.

In the Name of the Children
Jeffrey L. Rinek & Marilee Strong.

First I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for fair review.

Being a lover of True Crime books & TV docudramas, I was aware of Mr. Rinek's work and some of these cases and was eager to here his take on them. I was not disappointed. These are heart-rending, horrendous stories that need to be told in humanly a way as possible, this book exceeded my expectations.

This book, shows you not only how some children are murdered/and/or are abused by those who should be protecting them, but how circumstances effect families of the child, the killers and the officers and even their families.Mr. Rinek shows how humane treatment of even the most depraved killers can result in closure to families.

I vividly remember the case of Cary Stayner and the deaths at Yosemite. I was always stuck by the knowledge that he was the brother of Steven Stayner, who had been kidnapped by a pedophile years before. While I was horrified by the murders, I always wondered how much Steven's ordeal effected Cary. This book answered that question for me.

This book is something anyone involved in law enforcement or law, whether working in crimes against children or not should read. It shows you the effect on those who fight for the children, their families and fellow workers. It shows you that all things are not black and white, but have grey areas. The light is shown on the FBI where petty egos and differences can hinder or derail cases just as they can in any organization. How these crimes effected the people involved and their families is something that must never be forgotten.

I am so glad I had the chance to read this book and hope others will read it with an open mind. I would love to read more like this. I will post this on Good Reads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Facebook.

This book tackles the real-life gritty reality of child predators. That topic that no one wants to talk about. It doesn't really happen. Except that it does. And this is a book that every person should read, so that they can't keep sticking their head in the sand and ignoring this. They exist.

This agent has told a detailed narrative that is very moving and a great read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy for me to read. This is my voluntary and honest review.

Eye opening book from the author. Very informative about the life of an agent. A must read for everyone. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Gives one something to think about and become aware of. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.

While it deals with a very difficult subject matter, this book is extremely well written. Rinek and Strong are natural story tellers, making you feel like you're sitting down with them and just talking and listening to Rinek's tales of the FBI.

I would give this 5 stars, but the topic gives me pause. It doesn't feel right, considering it's about kidnapped children. However, it's so, so well written. I can't stress that enough. Rinek expertly describes the processes he went through and the people he dealt with. He shows a lot of respect for his fellow law enforcement officers, stating that many of them became friends over the years, which makes sense; not many people go through what they go through and that forms bonds.

This book is clearly not for everyone, however, if you think you can handle it, I highly recommend giving it a try.

This book breaks my heart. Jeffrey L. Rinek relates tales of child crimes so horrible, you would think it would only happen on Law & Order. These children's stories live on as Rinek describes catching the perpetrators and finding justice. But justice is never easy nor quick. This book gives an honest look at how long it takes to solve child cases and how much longer it takes to get to court.
I took away a star because the first and last chapters are biographical. Some people would find that interesting but I knew who he was just reading about his passion for solving these crimes and just how much it hurt him.
Gripping, disturbing and honest, In the Name of the Children gives you an inside look into what it takes to solve crimes committed against children.

I have read (and watched documentaries) a lot about serial killers, murderers. I find the physiological aspect of what makes them do thee things fascinating. Sometimes I wondér why I read them and how I can be so clinical about it. However, this book made me sad. It was hard to read what has happened to so many people. Jeffrey Rinek sheds light on so many dark corners o this world. I wish it didn't happen, but as long as these things do happen, I am glad we have people like Jeff and his colleagues who fight for these children.
Definitely worth a read., these stories will stay with me for a long time.

Rinek’s In the Name of the Children is a gritty walk on the dark side of humanity. For decades, Rinek worked as an FBI agent, devoted to bringing to justice some of the most depraved among the criminal element- those who would abuse and exploit children. Kidnapping, assault, sexual abuse, torture, murder, and more, Rinek has seen it all.

The first chapter- Jeffrey- is a mini-autobiography for Rinek himself, detailing how he became an agent, and niched himself into this particular division. Each chapter after discusses various cases the author worked on, except for the last which covers Rinek’s own family, and how the cases affected him and them. You cannot fight monsters and not suffer from the trauma of it. It costs you, leaving behind a sticky mental residue that never fully comes clean. In Rinek’s case, working on cases of missing, exploited, or murdered children left him suicidal at times, and gripped by PTSD. With a unique empathy-oriented interrogation style, and fierce determination, Rinek has succeeded in bringing some of the worst offenders to justice. This is hard work, the ugliest side of humanity, a side no-one should ever be exposed to. Yet it exists, and it is people like Agent Rinek who help keep it under control. It is work that take a toll on the soul, affecting not just the investigators, but their families as well.

I'm an empathetic person myself, and have an interest in forensics. Medical complications put paid to that career path, but I realise now how good a thing that was. I would have burnt out quickly from the onslaught of such heinous acts as one human can afflict upon another. I have the greatest respect for Rinek, and those like him, who keep up the fight despite its toll.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and BenBella Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Five stars for In the Name of the Children by Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong. This true story was a great read that was interesting and informative. Thank you for the opportunity to review.