Very well and written and researched. I read alot of true crime books and I hadnt heard of this case. I found it to be very interesting.

This was a true crime case I have not heard about before, so I was excited to have a chance to review this book. I loved the first 2/3 of this book, but the last part of the book was disappointing. The first 2/3 of the book was well written and gave plenty of details of the case. It is clear that the author of this book researched court documents to give precise details on things such as interviews and coroner reports. I liked that the writing contained dialog to keep the information more digestible. The last part of the book focuses on the author's thoughts on the unsolved case. I dislike when authors talk about themselves in books like this. I also dislike when authors talk about their thoughts on a case, especially if they weren't part of the case from the beginning.

Thanks to Kensington Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This book covers the murder of Lisa Pruett, a teenager in Shaker Heights, the ensuing investigation, trial of the suspect and then everything that happened after. The author had to conduct many of his interviews and research during Covid, which makes for an interesting background. Having lived through those dark days many of us can identify with feelings of helplessness and despair, and there is a pathos to the writing which ties in with this tragic story.

The book is thoroughly researched, well-written and engaging. It's not disrespectful or salacious, but there are many twists and turns that read a bit like a thriller. I believe the author has treated this tragic case with empathy with a focus on exposing the truth, wherever it may lead.

If you're a fan of the genre and you like good storytelling (without the pomposity of Pulitzer Prize Winners) then this is the book for you.

James Renner does a deep dive into the murder of Lisa Pruett in the Cleveland, Ohio suburb of Shaker Heights in 1990. Mr. Renner does an excellent job of clearly laying out the investigation and subsequent trial for the reader. It grabs you from the very beginning and keeps your attention throughout. I definitely would recommend this book to true crime readers. Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a digital ARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for an eARC copy of Little, Crazy Children by James Renner.

This was my introduction to the Lisa Pruett murder case and it was heartbreaking. Imagine sneaking out of your home in the middle of the night to see your boyfriend who was freshly out of the hospital, only to be murdered. I could imagine that the sound of the screams and not knowing who or where they came from haunting the boyfriend and his family. James Renner does a wonderful job detailing the case and the history surrounding the neighborhood. One of my favorite true crime novels.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Thank you NetGalley.

This was my first book by James Renner, and it was quite interesting. This was a true crime book about 16 year old Lisa Pruett in Ohio. If you have not heard about this story / crime, Lisa was on her way to her boyfriend's house at midnight in 1990 when she was horrendously stabbed to death just a few feet away.
The community teamed up against another young teen - Kevin, certain that he was the murderer. He was arrested withh zero evidence and later acquitted.

30 years later, there are still so many questions left unanswered. James Renner did an amazing job with this book and the facts.

Would definitely read another by him.

This book had me hooked from the start. I love a true crime story, and this book covered all of the angles. In the end I have my own suspicions and opinions. It is sad that the truth will never be known about who really killed Lisa. If you are a true crime fan, I definitely recommend this book!

riveting true crime novel. I couldn't put it down

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy for review

This was a true crime story I had not heard of before I read the book. I enjoyed the story and thought it was well researched. It was a little heavy on the details in places and that made the story drag slightly for me. All and all I'm glad I read it.

Thank you for a copy of this true crime story. It tells the story of Lisa, a young girl living in Shaker Heights, OH who was brutally murdered in the middle of the night on her way to her boyfriend''s house for a secret meet up. It unravels the mystery of who killed her, why, and how the town itself had a role in all of this, thus the title of the book. This book is well researched, intelligent and fascinating. And it unfortunately doesn't have a happy ending, but that is life. I enjoyed this true crime story and definitely recommend if that is also a genre you enjoy. Very well written!

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. I enjoyed the beginning but quickly lost interest because I couldn't keep up with all the names and characters. Also, I feel like we received a lot of information that didn't seem relevant to the case. I may re-read this book in the future when I'm in a different mood, but for now it's a two-star read for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books Citadel for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest true crime book by James Renner - 5 stars!

In 1990 in the upscale Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, 16-year-old Lisa Pruett is brutally murdered on the way to her boyfriend's house late at night. Her body is discovered just feet from the boy's home. Yet it is another boy, Kevin Young, who is eventually charged and prosecuted for the murder, even though there was no real evidence. Renner takes the reader through the trial and beyond, as the case affects the lives of so many and the community at large.

Since I lived in another Cleveland suburb at the time of Lisa's murder, I remember reading about the case in the Plain Dealer. But Renner shows the difference between what was reported and therefore what the casual observer believed, and what the true story was. He looks at the police's focus on Kevin to the exclusion of others, just because he was different. And Shaker Heights is different - well-to-do families closing rank and protecting their own. Highly recommended for those interested in true crime!

I feel the author did a great job writing about this tragic murder. He made sure to add needed details to be able to follow the case closely. I definitely recommend reading this book if you're into reading about true crime.

Thank You to Net Galley, Citadel Press, and the author James Renner for the ARC ebook.

I was so thrilled to receive this one. I had other works by James Renner, that were a little disappointing and was hoping this book was more put together, not to so choppy, and with an easier reading storyline. I was pleasantly surprised. I do love true crime and I think this is his best book to date.

James Renner talks about how he became interested in the disappearance of 1990 killing of Shaker Heights teen Lisa Pruett, what happened, the trial, and backlash towards detectives and "arm chair detectives." It also talks about what was going in what everyone thought as a safe community. Renner also started a nonprofit to raise money to process DNA backlogs and use genealogy if and when possible to solve the case. 990 killing of Shaker Heights teen Lisa Pruett

When I read the title of this book “little crazy children “I had first thought it must be an anthology of children who kill but no it is about a boy named Kevin Young accused of killing a 16-year-old name Lisa Prude and shaker Heights Ohio they were all high school students and she was dating Dan Dreifort and on his way to his house they found her body on the side of a bush next to his home and during the investigation the main character witnesses and circumstantial evidence came from teenagers. This book is mainly about how they grossly over reached their authority and put Kevin Young through the ringer and upset the rest of his life. James Renner did a great job with the story and when I read the sentence that explained the title I was like OMG I should’ve figured that out but irregardless this is a book about the loss of a bright star not only in her family but in her community wrongfully accused boy in a crazy woman Bing the only witness to his confession. Head Chris been incredible witness it would’ve been a Parry Mason moment but as soon as the defense attorney who in my opinion said correct way too many times got the point across but the story seemed in Denton but you’ll have to read the book to get the ins and outs and it is so worth reading this is a True Crime book that will put you on the edge of your seat and it’s a book I highly recommend it. It has been a long time that I have read a cold case True Crime book it’s been so riveted and turning the pages as fast as I could this was a really good book and I mean really good! I received this book from NetGalley and Kensington books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I was intrigued by the premise of this one. It’s rare when the accused is actually acquitted. The author clearly did a huge amount of research on this case. The book started out well the an in-depth synopsis of the crime and the myriad of suspects. I was especially interested in the affluent community that this occurred in. A part of Cleveland, but also separate at the same time. And heaven forbid you are an outsider in this cliquish enclave.

This book has a huge cast of “characters” and that is where the book began to lose me. I don’t know if it was necessary to include every peripheral witness interview to make the case that the eventual suspect was not well liked. After a while it became confusing and repetitive. It did however enlighten me to the title of the book. These teens were a cruel bunch that make most high school students look like angels.

What I did really like about this book was that Renner includes the aftermath and fallout of this crime and acquittal. Some of it is infuriating and some heartbreaking, but I appreciated that a full picture was shown of the impact something like this can have on many lives and the reverberations that can continue for many years. So overall this one was a mixed bag for me. Didn’t love, didn’t hate but probably won’t remember.
@netgalley @citadel_publishing

Wow…what a well researched and detailed book. But not the kind of research where you are bogged down by numbers and statistics.
I grew up in this area. I was familiar with the story. I personally don’t believe Kevin was guilty. But the great thing about this book is that you are presented with everything and can make your own decision.
Well done…hopefully not as long of a wait until your next book!

The story is certain to be liked by true crime fans as it is more factual than fiction. It is all the more engaging knowing that you are reading an fairly accurate portrayal of a murder, trial, and following accounts.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Shaker Heights, affluent subdivision of Cleveland in 1990 and then many years later
Characters: A wide list of characters, including high school and college students, parents, community members, police force, detectives, and legal staff. One highlight is the role played by Mark Devan, the primary, acclaimed and resourceful defense attorney who is key to the proceedings and outcomes.
Overview: This is a good story in basically three parts. The first section is a compilation of interviews, recollections, and episodes that occurred during and directly after the murder of a young woman in the suburbs of Cleveland. At times, confusing, since there are so many characters and the disparate points of view are not necessarily chronological or organized. This is better explained in the second section, an almost a verbatim retelling of the trial of the young man accused of the murder. The final section makes this a very good book: a series of opinions from interviews with prime and lesser players in the murder that takes place over many following years. Renner did an excellent job of tracking down people, even those not previously thought of as principals in the crime, and persuading them to talk openly and candidly.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars and thoroughly recommend it to true crime fans.
Extras: As the book progresses, it is more involving and mystifying, allowing the reader to start drawing their own conclusions. Each chapter has a title, something you don’t see much anymore - and a welcome and clarifying addition. As a picky aside, there could have been a more accurate book title – the characters involved and suspected of the murder are high school age or above, hardly “little children.”
In summary, true crime fans should not hesitate to read this well-written and engaging book.
Thanx to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to provide this unbiased review.

I have followed James Renner since I first heard of Maura Murray. I think he can possibly be controversial, to families at least, but when he sinks his teeth into a story, there's no stopping him.

This was no different and an impressive telling of a tragic true crime story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

I struggle to find adjectives to describe quality true crime writing, because it can feel gross, as if I'm saying someone's tragedy was "riveting" or "enthralling." Like no, that was horrific. I can, however, say that Renner's writing and storytelling was engrossing.

As we so often see in tc, sometimes it isn't a straightforward story about good guys, bad guys, and justice. It's about flawed individuals whose choices and mistakes can do irreparable damage, create more victims, and effectively prevent justice from ever happening.

Other thoughts:
- Like the organization. pt 1-2 are the case, pt 3 is like an epilogue of sorts.
- I get the title reference, however I feel like "little children" makes one imagine kids under 10 (maybe 12), not 16-19 yos.
- Renner getting slammed for armchair detectiving. He is a journalist, no? So what, he just didn't work for a big enough outlet for his investigative and writing skills to be legit enough for those critics? Mmk.