Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this true crime memoir by Tamara Leitner. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Tamara Leitner is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who writes of her decades-long investigation and personal connection to a serial rapist. In 1999, she woke to an active crime scene outside her Arizona apartment. Her neighbors had been sexually assaulted by a man later identified as Claude Dean Hull. Tamara suffered with guilt and fear after this near assault and became obsessed with investigating Hull and his crimes.

The crimes in this story are appalling, as are the struggles of the justice system when is comes to sexual violence. I'd like to hope that things have gotten better with the passing of time, but I'm not convinced this is true for the victims. Certainly, some of the technological advances we have today would have helped in the investigation of these crimes. I appreciated how Leitner focused so much on the victims of these crimes, letting us feel their pain and the resultant trauma. Intermixed are chapters about the author's personal relationship, which presented a different kind of trauma. The timeline wasn't straightforward throughout and I admit to not being able to keep everything straight in my mind while reading.

Thanks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While clearly well- researched, I found this book to be a bit repetitive and structured in a confusing way. Still an interesting read.

I was really confused about the genre of this book. It felt nonfiction at times, then fiction, then some sort of journalistic expose.

I felt a little let down with this one. I couldn't keep up. The story jumped between different time periods and we'd move from the author speaking to her telling us about a victim. Stories kept meshing together and ultimately, the mish mash got too sloppy. I stopped reading this one at 40%.

A well written thriller that felt part thriller part memoir. You can tell a lot of research went into this book but it also felt a bit repetitive and confusing at times.

A good book just didn't quite hit the spot for me.

A compelling account of a true crime. The writing is evocative and definitely sends chills down one's spine. The commitment of the author and the survivors' account of the crime is well documented in every page. Recommend to readers who can handle a true crime book.

fast paced thriller that i couldn't put down

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy for review

I was given an arc from Netgalley in return for my honest review,

I did not know about this true crime until I read this part memoir part true crime novel. The author was back to back neighbors with a girl that was raped during the night, The rapist continued raping and molesting women for over 20 years. This true crime novel includes many of the victims stories as well as the memories as told by the author.

The book was well written and painted very detailed descriptions. but became confusing at times because it kept jumping from past to present with different characters, past and present being mentioned.

I found it very interesting how the lack of communication between police departments and even less between different states delayed he arrest and allowed the rapist free run of his heinous crime spree for over 20 years until he was finally apprehended.

This is a sad story that needs to be told.

A blend of true crime and memoir, readers may find the parallel narratives a bit inconsistent. However, Leitner's focus on the victims and the gaps in the justice system adds to the book.

Thank you Tamara Leitner, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC e-book. Calling all the true crime fanatics this is a read for you! Leitner literally wakes up surrounded by this story and works tirelessly to tell the victims story all the while conquering her own demons. There is a reason she is an Emmy award winning journalist and this story 100% proves it. The truth shall set you free

Don’t Say a Thing is at times a true crime telling and at others a memoir. I knew nothing of Hull or the case prior to reading Don’t Say a Thing. It was a hard read. Difficult and detailed content told with honesty gives voice to many of Hull’s victims.

The pieces about Leitner’s relationship left me with more questions than answers. I think there is much more to tell and perhaps should have been left out and told later. However, given how almost obsessed and entwined Leitner became with Hull I can understand where she may be unable to separate the two.

The details of this story will stay with me. A truly horrifying man who took so much from so many.

⁉️: What are some social, moral, and cultural issues that the social justice system is still struggling with?

For me, it is the cultural silencing and shaming of rape and sexual violence victim-survivors. I recently completing reading Tarana Burke’s Unbound and the movie, She Said, which is based on the New York Times journalists who were able to play a role in the conviction of Harvey Weinstein. When I saw that there was another memoir that explores this theme was releasing soon, I was drawn to reading Emmy Award winning journalist @tammy.leitner’s powerful true-crime memoir, which has been on my list since the past two months. Given that my scholarship focuses on the #MeToo movement, it’s hard not to be drawn to the story she shares with her readers.

Perhaps, what I love about this memoir is the title of this book - Don’t Say A Thing - which is a sentiment many victim-survivors face as they make sense of the indelible trauma. 🤫🤐😶

So what is the story that Tamara tells us:

Set in April 1999, Leitner woke up to an active crime scene outside her Arizona apartment. Her neighbor has been sexually assaulted by a ma who would be later identified as Claude Dean Hull II - a serial rapist who had escaped justice for decades. Tamara then began to investigate and questioned a failed system, and began to learn of the victim-survivors to learn about Hull’s heinous crimes.

Through her intensive interviewing and connecting with Hull’s survivors, Tamara explores a unique true crime narrative, which is still struggling to help victims of sexual violence and reclaiming their power.

The memoir released on June 1st and is now available for purchase!

Thank you @ @tammy.leitner and @amazonpublishing for the gifted copy!

#TamaraLeitner #DontSayAThing #MeToo #AmazonPublishing #TrueCrime #Memoir #ThomasandMercer

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I am a true crime fanatic so I was excited to get this book. It fell a bit flat for my taste. The storyline was from different POVs but felt jumbled and confusing.

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

A true-crime memoir about a journalist who was neighbor to a crime that sparked an interest in the culprit that spanned 20 years. The chapters swapped in and out of the perpetrator's crimes and her viewpoint. I almost wish there had been more clear sections because it became a little hard to follow for me.

An interesting nonfiction book, Don't Say a Thing by Tamara Leitner is a true-crime memoir. An award-winning journalist, Tamara has published this book of historic crimes she reported upon, over twenty years ago. When her then neighbour was attacked in their apartment block in April 1999, it began an investigative journey that became personal and ultimately pays homage to the women that survived those horrific attacks. Although there are many bibliographic disclosures, the narrative of this true-life criminal investigation is presented in a distinct and factual manner. The brave women who shared their journeys with Tamara are anonymous, yet their courage, case failings and human determination to seek justice are powerfully presented. The author’s own self-realisation is entangled with her professional reporting and the life-changing events of so many women. A powerful telling of history and its impact on everyday lives that is a four star read rating. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

I have a lot of feelings about this book. It delves deeply into the trauma and courage of incredible rape survivors. These women are incredible and powerful. We are not spared the details of their assault which is why this book took me so long to process and read. While I am not a victim of sexual assault, there are so many moments of what I can best describe as claustrophobic. You are not just reading about trauma but experiencing it.

Perhaps I should give this book a higher rating because of how it deals with sexual assault, but it just left me feeling violated and deeply sympathetic to all assault victims. I did not like this book for how it affected me, but I suppose that is the point.

This book is a chilling account of an author who lived next door to a victim of sexual assault and the pursuit of the perpetrator who raped multiple women across several states. This book makes you realize these men sometimes don't have a "type" and will attack a woman who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He knew how to break in and how to escape and this book gives us women something to think about if we're living alone or being stalked without knowing. Do yourself a favor and read this book! I received an advanced copy for an honest review.

Don't Say a Thing - Tamara Leitner

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley, and most importantly the author for the eARC of this valuable memoir which tracks a rapist's sexual assaults.

This powerful work humanizes a terribly personally-invasive crime; it should be required reading for all individuals (detectives, police, 911 operators, hospital workers and all else) who regularly work with rape survivors.

The author of this important work highlights just how vital (particularly with this MOST personal crime) it is that those who work with rape survivors provide compassionate and humanized care.

First responders (and everyone else working with the rape survivors immediately following this dehumanizing and debasing crime) need to recognize that how they treat survivors may have a direct correlation to the survivor's ability to emotionally heal and/or their willingness to commit to pursuing justice in court (especially as so few rape trials result in conviction of the rapist). Based on data from Women's Rights and The Washington Post, it is estimated that only 4.9 percent of rape cases in the United States result in a conviction.

This is an excellent thought-provoking book that should be read far and wide, please help to spread the word by purchasing it and posting a review in as many locations as you can.

Until next time...

This is a gripping true crime read that leaves you thinking about it long after finishing the book. It is very emotional and uniquely written, and brings up several talking points to come back to.