This book is 3 stars for me. The writing was great, but it was too soon. Despite being on the edge of my seat and begging for this story to be told, it needs the closer we don’t have yet. This is the authors story of how they worked through the case. The case isn’t over, we can’t dive into the majority of the facts, we can’t speculate on the why.

I have been following this story forever and am glad that this guy has been caught!! I wish it talked more about the actual kidnapping and what they found out.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
GENRE: Forensics Biographies & Memoirs/True Crime

A BIG “Thank You” to NetGalley and Hachette Books for gifting me this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

SYNOPSIS: Former CNN/HLN anchor & veteran broadcast journalist Susan Hendricks takes an investigative deep-dive into the still-unsolved double homicide of two teens in Delphi, Indiana—and its lasting impact on the community. On 2/13/17, 13-year-old Abby Williams & 14-year-old Libby German decided to enjoy a day off from school by exploring the popular hiking trails near the Monon High Bridge in their hometown in Delphi, IN. Libby’s sister, Kelsi, dropped the two girls off at the head of the trail & waved to them as they walked down the path, which was the last time they’d ever be seen alive. Less than 24 hours later, their bodies were found on the north bank of Deer Creek, about a mile from where they were last seen. There were few clues & little to go on in terms of physical evidence, except for the visual & audio remnants of a strange encounter the girls had with a stranger just hours before their disappearance, an encounter unsettling enough that Libby had thought to record it on her cellphone as it unfolded. In the years since the murders were first made public, Libby’s audio & video recordings have been released, & 2 very different composite sketches of the suspect have been shown, but local law enforcement remained vague about developments for years—until finally, on 10/20/22, the long-awaited suspect was arrested & a trial date was set. A year after the murders, Susan went to Delphi to interview the victims’ families for an in-depth special report. Over the years, Susan has built close relationships with family members, and law enforcement officials & armchair detectives alike who are determined to get justice for Abby & Libby.

REVIEW: I was so pleased to have been approved for a copy of this book because being the true crime junkie I am, I’ve followed this case for years. The first 70% of the book gives you the background on the town, the victims, & their families. Susan does a great job of filling you in on the crime that occurred & of law enforcement’s communications (with the town, other reporters, & media) about the case.  I, like most everyone, has never understood why law enforcement hasn’t shared more about this crime & the manner of the girls’ deaths. However, it wasn’t until the last 30% of this book that it goes into detail about the reasons for that. I especially enjoyed Susan’s conversations with Paul Holes (the detective that identified the Golden State Killer), & Dr. Ann Burgess (an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of criminal profiling. His insight into how a predator (or serial killers) can develop oddities in their sexual behavior, & that over time, they can become “fantasy-motivated,” wherein those fantasy oddities known as “signatures” are left at a crime scene, as they’ve been confirmed in this case. Dr. Burgess does a great job explaining how profiling of a criminal can be determined.  I was also interested in learning as much as possible about the man they arrested last year, Richard Allen, whose next hearing is today. Even though a trial may take years to occur, I plan to follow along, and I’m hopeful that justice comes soon for the victim’s families. 🙏🕊️

I was not very familiar with the particulars of this horrendous case involving the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams in tiny Delphi, Indiana - a town so small it doesn't have a motel, and where everyone knows everyone. And that's the real horror of this story - SOMEONE in this town murdered these two teenagers.

If you're looking for the traditional "true crime" book, this is not it. Instead, Susan Hendricks gives us a nuanced story of the effect such a crime has on the community, on the family, on law enforcement and on social media. Delphi's murder rate was virtually nonexistent and as such, Delphi's law enforcement was relatively untried. But they had heart, and truly cared about the families and solving this crime. Hendricks spent time with LE over the years she covered the case and knew how deeply they cared about this case and how much it affected them.

Hendricks very carefully shares how social media in particular can be a two-edged sword. As she notes "But what happens when the ask for a tip from law enforcement and family members turns into or perpetuates the public's desire to solve the crime no matter the cost? Can that desire lead to an online witch hunt? The short answer is yes."

And especially in this case, where virtually no information was released from LE and details on possible murderer(s) was vague and inconsistent, social media "influencers" posted speculation about many members of the community and family, not considering how deeply their careless conjectures could wound. As Libby's grandmother said "The best revenge is none. Heal more, move on. Don't become like those who hurt you."

As the book ends, a suspect has been arrested and a new phase of the case begins. It leaves the families in new territory, not setting their grief aside, but entering into a new and different stage of grief. 4 stars for this very insightful and heart-rendering account.

This is a deep dive from a more personal view of this case. I have followed this case closing and I found this book haunting, gripping, and full of facts that I never knew. Written respectfully like true crime should be.

This book centers around double homicide of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, Indiana. The author, Susan Hendricks keeps the families of the girls in mind and actually forms a friendship with the families. This brings a look into what family members like Abby's sister has to say about the tragedy.

If you don't know a lot about this case or you're interested in reading true crime, I recommend picking this up!

I struggled to rate this one. When I finished this I was disappointed and wanted to give a low rating. Then I remembered the title and that it was this authors dive into the story and that it wasn't really about the story. I went into it with the wrong mindset. But then I had to rely on how I still felt throughout the book. I felt like it was slow and repetitive. What kept me reading is hoping there would be a finality and closure. I didn't get that. I feel like this book came out too soon. If it had come out after the whole thing had wrapped up then I think it could have rated it higher than I did. I just felt like it dragged on and really repeated the same sort of thing over and over and talked about things that didn't really relate to what I was hoping it would. Over all I was disappointed. That could have been my fault as I went into it hoping for more of a true crime book about the actual story and closure but it left a cliff hanger. It was about her side as a reported and getting close to the family and if that's what you are looking for then I think this would be a good book but for me it was too slow and I could not get into that side of things.

Down the Hill
By @susan_hendricks
Available now

Thank you to @NetGalley and @hachettebooks for an advance copy of DOWN THE HILL in return for my honest review.

Imagine - a brave victim captures their killer AND his voice on their phone minutes before their abduction.
How could their murder possibly go unsolved?

On February 13, 2017, Abby Williams (13) and Libby German (14) disappeared just hours after they were dropped off for a hike in the woods in Delphi, Indiana.

A brutal double murder of two bright teen girls.
A remote location in the woods near a treacherous, derelict 60-foot high bridge.
A perpetrator who is likely a local resident in a town of less than 3000 people.

DOWN THE HILL is a true crime story that feels stranger than fiction. News anchor and journalist Susan Hendricks digs deep into this tragic mystery that has been kept so confidential by law enforcement.

💭 Like many of you, I had already heard about this devastating case on the news over the past few years. When police released the photograph and audio clip of the murder suspect, his voice left a permanent impression.
THIS. This was the voice of a killer. Caught by quick thinking Libby German, who knew something was seriously wrong. I could still hear him in my head on repeat as I read this book.

What makes this true crime story so unique is the authors’ focus on the victims and their families during this 6+ year investigation. Hendricks shares her journey to learn more about Abby and Libby through their family members, whom she develops close friendships with.

Some reviewers were disappointed that Hendricks published her book before the case was solved. However, her unique personal perspective on the victims and the widespread impact of this senseless crime is SO important during a time where investigators are asking for more information from the public.

One of the most intriguing, and to some people frustrating, aspects of this case is law enforcement’s mission to keep almost all details from their investigation out of the press. DOWN THE HILL does a great job of highlighting the tireless and relentless efforts of investigators despite what the public may think.

That is why it was so heartbreaking to learn that after more than six years, some of the crime scene photos were leaked to the public just yesterday. This could be devastating to a future murder trial.

I highly recommend DOWN THE HILL to anyone who is following the ongoing case of Abby and Libby. This book isn’t about the gory details of their murders or their murderer, but a deep look into the devastating effects of the horrific crime on their families and community.

Read this book if…
👮‍♀️ You are a true crime reader
📰 Have heard of Abby and Libby’s case
🔍 You are interested in learning more about current investigations
❤️‍🩹 Prefer reading from the perspective of victims’ families

I really enjoyed this true crime story and somehow had never heard of this case, which seems crazy because it was so recent and so widely known (do i live under a rock? lol). I thought it was well told and well written, my ONE disappointment (if you can even call it that) was that the author didnt wait until the trial was over and the case was officially closed. I prefer in true crime novels to have it all wrapped up in the end, so if something unexpected happens during the trial, we would have the full picture. Otherwise i really enjoyed it.

While I’ve listened to podcasts and watched documentaries, true crime books are relatively new for me. And since I’ve finished this book, I’ve been struggling to gather my thoughts on how to “review” a book about a real-life tragedy.

One of the reasons I wanted to pick this one up was because of the podcast of the same name, hosted by Susan Hendricks and her HLN colleagues. That podcast was a master class in combining investigative reporting while also emphasizing the human element of senseless violence.

There’s been lots of discussion in recent years about the true crime genre and the most “ethical” way to consume it, and I think most people would agree that stories that put the survivors/victims first are the ones we should be focusing on. Hendricks does an excellent job of this throughout both the podcast and the book, and even makes note that certain individuals weren’t interviewed because they wished to grieve in private.

In addition to focusing on the families, I also appreciated how Hendricks discussed how reporting on this case impacted her, while not making it the focus of the book. We don’t often think about the emotional impact reporting stories like this has on journalists at the forefront, so hearing her personal feelings added another perspective to discussions about the genre as a whole.

If I had one complaint with this book, it would be the final chapters. While a suspect is currently in custody, investigators have released little information related to that individual ahead of the trial (which has been delayed). Because of this, the latter chapters devolve into a lot of speculation and maybes about motive and means, which in my mind undermined the deep and thoughtfully reported chapters that made up the first 75% of the book.

Regardless, if you’ve listened to the podcast and are looking to go a little deeper into the story, I’d recommend picking this up as it’s a relatively quick and interesting read.

Down the Hill is out today. Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been trying to read more non fiction books lately and I love true crime so when I saw this book I knew I had to pick it up. I haven't been following this case super hard so this was a nice way to get a more full idea of the case. With the trial starting and what not.

Susan really mixed the case well with her news background. She told us about the community, the families, the case and so much more. It felt so well rounded. I also loved that she talked to some specialist in the book as well. Mostly Paul Holes, I really love him.

I truly hope the familaies are able to mack peace with the trial going on and hopefully they got the right guy and we can put a bow around the awful but interesting case.

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Hachette. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Down the Hill tells the story of two teenage girls, Abby Williams & Libby German who went missing while hiking on Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana. After searching for the girls, their bodies were found and almost 6 years later, authorities were still searching for the man who killed them. This is written by journalist Susan Hendricks, who has been there from the beginning and has formed a relationship with the girls families.

Through interviews with the families and law enforcement and also the press conferences she takes us through the investigation. We learn (as best we can) what the families went through and how a community came together to arrest 1 suspect. This case is not 100% closed, it has not gone to trial and Richard Allen is still assumed innocent, but there is a little bit of peace of Delphi.

I must say I am a little obsessed with this case so reading this, watching the specials and listening to the news/podcasts on this case was still interesting to me. Thank you NetGalley and Hachette.

"Down the Hill" by Susan Hendricks offers a detailed account on the Delphi case with the unique perspective of a reporter who has been covering the case since it's tragic occurrence. This perspective adds a layer of depth and understanding to the story that is both informative and engaging.

Her investigative deep-dive into the still-unsolved double homicide of two teens in Delphi is both thorough and respectful.

"Down the Hill" is one of the better books on the Delphi case, and as of this review, one of the most current. Previous books on the case were released before there was even a suspect in custody, which is not the case here. If you're interested in true crime and enjoy a journalist's viewpoint, then consider this book.

This was riveting true crime that kept me engaged from start to finish. I was not familiar with this case before reading the book. Down the Hill describes the investigation of the crime but also shares the personal relationships that formed between the author and the families. The families’ stories were at the heart of this book and made it a unique reading and learning experience.

What you expect from "Down the Hill" is exactly what you get - a comprehensive synthesis of the Delphi murders with a lot of filler. (The filler is understandable since little information about the crime has been publicly released and the trial is forthcoming.) This book is helpful if you've only caught snatches of news articles here or there or read the occasional Reddit thread.

Filler includes asides from the author about their personal life, full transcripts of police statements during press conferences, and conversations between the author and well-known violent crime experts.

"Down the Hill" is good as an overview but contains no new information.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for allowing me an advanced copy of "Down The Hill."

I have long been fascinated with this case, and being a native Hoosier, many around me have as well. This book offered a fresh perspective on it from someone immersed in it. The take of the media when they get close to families post-crimes is not very common in my opinion, and the author does a very good job of relaying the hardships of balancing reporting and also caring deeply about the victims. I also loved the cameos of Paul Holes, whos book i've also read. The way the media worked with law enforcement, despite not always understanding the motives behind their decisions, and pushing back when necessary was refreshing.

This book was thoughful, compassionate and told a story that was interesting and worth telling. 4 stars.

I've listened to several podcasts go over this well-known case, which went unsolved for years. .Just the title, which refers to the words of a man on a short video captured by one of his young victims shortly before her death, is chilling.

Reporter and true crime author Susan Hendricks was a reporter who covered the case for CNN. She became close to Abby and Libby's families and has kept following the case as it finally progressed to an arrest.

Down the Hill takes a different angle on the case as the podcasts I've listened to. It covers less information, but it is an interesting account (almost a memoir) written by a person who had a front row seat and watched the case unfold from the beginning.

Thanks to the author for helping raise awareness about this sad case about two young girls whose lives were cut short and to the publisher for letting me read and review this!

I've been fascinated with this case for a really long time, but this struck me as an odd time to release a book about it given how much we still don't know. what is missing as far as answers go is filled in with the author's personal life, which felt icky, even considering her good relationship with the families. i didn't feel like i needed documentation about what good sources they were. it should be a given that she was nice to them. idk. HLN-core.

"Down the Hill" by Susan Hendricks is a gripping true crime book that delves into the chilling case of the Delphi Murders, which serves as its central focus. The author provides a comprehensive and well-researched account of this tragic event that shook a small Indiana town and garnered national attention.

Hendricks skillfully navigates through the intricacies of the case, offering readers a detailed look at the timeline of events, the investigation process, and the emotional toll it took on the victims' families and the community as a whole. Her writing style keeps you engaged, and you'll find yourself eagerly turning the pages as you follow the twists and turns of this baffling mystery.

One of the standout features of "Down the Hill" is the empathetic and respectful treatment of the victims and their families. Hendricks pays tribute to the two young girls whose lives were tragically cut short, and she highlights the tireless efforts of law enforcement officials who worked diligently to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Overall, "Down the Hill" is a compelling and poignant book that sheds light on a haunting and unresolved case. It's a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in understanding the profound impact of a heinous crime on a close-knit community. Susan Hendricks' meticulous research and storytelling make this book a memorable exploration of a tragic event that continues to haunt the hearts and minds of many.

This is a really informative and interesting read. It covers the case in detail and gives updates on the families. It's also very respectful of the families which was really wonderful. It's very well written and detailed. This is a great book for those that want an update on the case and/or Abby and Libby's families or those that enjoy true crime stories.