Perseverance, protection, and psychology.

I have been following this case since it happened in 2017. Seeing/reading it from media is much different than this intimate story of loss. Kelsi, Libby’s sister is carefully placed in this story, as she has been instrumental for this investigation, never giving up on finding justice.

The journalism perspective’s timeline felt a bit jumpy, and hard to follow while reading specific parts. But I can truly see how she has invested her career into reporting this story, and helping these families through this unimaginable process. I want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Books publishing for this opportunity to read the advanced copy.

The double murder that took place in Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017, has been all over the media for years. Living in an adjoining county I heard about the case on the very first day, when it was just two young girls who went for a hike and weren't there when their ride came to pick them up that afternoon. In such a small area, while I didn't know either of the girls, I do know one of their family members, everyone in the community does. So when they were found the following day we were all devastated. How could something like that happen here? We all assumed the killer would be behind bars in a matter of hours, maybe days, but none of us ever dreamed it would take almost six years to make an arrest. And none of us ever thought that when that day came we'd all feel so unsure that the case was really resolved.

Hendricks has done a nice job of recounting the case, given the scant details that have been released by law enforcement. Having gotten close with the families, Hendricks was able to share their personal memories and grief and their determination to get justice for these two wonderful young ladies. Though Hendricks also became close with law enforcement personnel I think she's done a particularly nice job of applauding their commitment to the case, while simultaneously questioning their tactics and results. There are several things that have really bothered me about this case and about the arrest, all but one of which Hendricks discusses in this book.

First, why isn't law enforcement giving us more information? You want us to identify bridge guy but you start out giving us only a still image from the video. Years later we get a few steps. Why can't we see more of the video? While I certainly appreciate that they don't want to jeopardize the case, what harm could a few more seconds of the video do? If we could see a few more steps we might get a better picture of his body type, we might see another angle of his face, maybe then someone could say, oh hey, that's [fill in the blank]!

Next, the police sketches. One sketch was released almost immediately after the crime was committed. That sketch seems to be of bridge guy, we can tell he's got a bit of facial hair, he's got a hat on, it's a clean comparison between the photo and the sketch. We looked for that guy for two years before they gave us a completely different sketch - a sketch that had been made within days of the crime - and told us to quit looking for the other guy, this is the guy we're after. But three and a half years later the man who's arrested looks nothing like the second sketch. So we should have been looking for the guy in the first sketch all along? Then why was the second sketch ever released?

Another red flag was thrown up by Paul Holes, a professional profiler. He mentions that we would expect the perpetrator to make some moves to cover up his crime. He'd ditch any weapons that were used, the clothing he was wearing, the vehicle he drove. He'd change his hair, shave or stop shaving, lose or gain weight, move away. These efforts to cover up guilt would theoretically become more important the smaller the community because there's fewer places to hide. But Allen didn't do any of these things. After the crimes, he immediately and voluntarily went to the police and told them he was there that day. He kept the coat he wore, the car he drove, the beard he wore was a bit longer but covered the same parts of his face. He kept the gun. He changed nothing and in fact he got a job working in the one place that everyone in Delphi goes at some point, the local drug store pharmacy.

There are a few things that really bother me about Richard Allen as a suspect in this case. I will start by saying that although he hasn't done any of the things a murderer might typically do after committing a crime, that's not necessarily an indication of innocence. It could also be an indication that the perpetrator is a stone-cold psychopath who was confident enough in their skills not to worry about being caught. The fact that he doesn't have a criminal history doesn't preclude him being a psychopath. Everyone who knew Chris Watts thought he was the nicest guy in the world until he strangled his pregnant wife and smothered his two little daughters and stuffed them into oil tanks. But there are two things that for me make Allen's arrest questionable.

First, we know that Kegan Kline had catfished Libby. He'd posed as a teenaged male model and exchanged messages with her the night before the murders took place. He admitted that he went to the bridge that day to meet Libby and supposedly when he got there he didn't find her. (Watson, 2022) Kline was later arrested and charged with multiple counts of child pornography and solicitation. He's a serious child predator and we know, based off his own statements, that he was targeting Libby at the bridge that day. What are the chances that a child who is being targeted by one predator could be murdered by another predator before the first predator had a chance to get to her? What are the chances that two predators could have been after the same girl in the same place on the same day? Perhaps the girls were both being catfished, or Libby was being catfished by two people and not just one. But if there was another catfisher after the girls, why would we have heard all about Kegan Kline and nothing about the other catfisher?

The second thing that Hendricks kind of glanced off of at one point in the book is the timing of the arrest. Hendricks frequently mentions the confidence that the families have in law enforcement. But I think it's important to separate. The law enforcement that the families were working with were primarily Indiana State Police and FBI. The Carroll County Sheriff's Department lost a lot of the confidence of the people they serve throughout this case. The Sheriff was on his way out and the election was a hotly contested one, with an internal Republican candidate and an outside Independent candidate. The Independent candidate was a Carroll County resident with a sterling career in law enforcement, someone who is greatly respected and has tremendous integrity. I remember saying, the only way the internal candidate can pull out a win in this election is if they arrest the Delphi killer. And wouldn't you know. With about two weeks to go before the election, they announced an arrest. Correction, they announced an arrest, but they demanded that all the details surrounding the arrest be kept sealed. Coincidence? You decide.

Though an arrest has been made in this case, I think the story of the double murders in Delphi is really just beginning. I think throughout the trial there will be many metaphorical bombs being dropped and I think that contamination of evidence and chain of custody is going to play its biggest role since the OJ Simpson trial. More than anything, those girls deserve justice. Libby gave us a video! Imagine the bravery of a 14-year-old girl to be confronted with a situation like that and to act in the way she did. Imagine the courage of those girls to stick together when one might have been able to get away. They were true heroes and they deserve justice.

Watson, D. (2022, March 25). Kegan Kline's police, HLN interviews show Delphi murder investigation focus on fake profile. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved from https://www.jconline.com/story/news/local/lafayette/2022/03/25/delphi-murder-kegan-kline-interview-last-contact-liberty-german-tony-kline/7171377001/

I received a free copy of, Down the Hill, by Susan Hendricks, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Abby and Libby had their whole lives ahead of them until they were brutally murdered. This book takes you thru the crime and aftermath. Such a sad story but well written.

I have been following the case of the Delphi double murder of Libby and Abby since it happened back in February 2017. I have watched so many true crime documentaries on it and have been hoping for an arrest and conviction of the person who could commit such a heinous act on children. I saw this book and knew I had to read it. It's a look at what was going on behind the scenes of the investigation. It's not so much about the murders as it is about what was going on with the families and media during the long 6 year investigation. I thought this was very interesting and I hope that there will be justice in the end. I would like there to be follow up book after the trial. That would be one I'd definitely want to read.

Out September 19.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes.

As someone who has watched press conferences and dug into this case for years, this one really did not do it for me. Unfortunately, I think this book was written too soon. There is just not enough public information available yet to make a book out of it. Huge swaths are just quotes from pressers or TV segments which any person who is brushed up on this case will have already seen. I enjoyed seeing a little bit behind the scenes conversations with Libby's family but otherwise this book was just reiterating known information.

I cannot recommend this book because the story of the murders of young Libby German and Abby Williams seems to be so unfinished. Usually, true crime stories describe the crime scene, the apprehension and the arrest of the suspect, as well as some discussion of the trial. This did not happen in this book. While I am sure the residents of Delphi, Indiana are lovely people and I am sorry for their loss, I really did not feel the need to read all those pages about that.

If you are looking for an inside view into the Delphi murders, this is it. With quite a few quotes from family and police, you are offered a front row seat into the devastating crime and search for Abby’s and Libby’s murderer. There are still so many unanswered questions and a trial to be held, but this gives you a good start.

I have to say, I’ve been following this case since day one. Because I followed it so closely, I truly didn’t think that this book would provide me with any new or valuable information.

I was immensely wrong.

This book carefully cradles the love and legacy of Libby and Abby with the utmost care without compromising any details. The author’s closeness with the families of the victims can be felt through each page.

Initially - the firsthand investigative journalistic account from the author felt…unnecessary. After completing the book, I felt the exact opposite. The author’s ability to write this book and almost make it feel like a work of fiction (think sharp objects) was devastatingly refreshing. This was an incredibly unique approach to true crime, and I simply could not put it down.

I recommend this to those who closely knew the case beforehand, and also those that knew nothing about it. “Down the Hill” is one of the most respectfully informative takes on such a delicate and tragic occurrence.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. I have following this case since it was first televised on the news. My heart breaks for the families involved. Even though I knew a lot of the information, it was still an interesting read.

"Former CNN/HLN anchor and 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"

I thoroughly enjoyed this and read through it pretty quickly. I'm quite familiar with the case and thought the author did an excellent job detailing the victims, the crime, the suspects, and big players, including investigators and family members. "This wasn’t really about me. It never was. It was about the families and telling their stories." Not too bogged down in details like Gregg Olson or Richard Chizmar.

For fans of I'll Be Gone in the Dark and Unmasked; if you love true crime, this is a must grab! Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Books & the author for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 9/19/2023.

I've been fascinated by this case ever since I first heard about it on the True Crime Garage podcast. When I saw that there was finally a book about it I really was interested to read it because I thought it would shed some more light and get into specific detail about the case. Especially now that a suspect has been arrested. I was kind of disappointed though as the writing is very fluffy, often focusing too much on things that aren't really pertinent to the case. I understand that you want to humanize the victims and give us a glimpse into what they were like as young people but there was just so much about who their favorite music groups were and what kind of videos they liked to post to social media, favorite clothes, food, etc... I would have liked a more in-depth dive into the actual investigation and how the police eventually figured out who their man was. It was an okay read but I think a different author may have brought some more professionalism and forensics to the account of what happened.

Admittedly, I have been obsessed with the Delphi murders since 2017. I have listened to every podcast, watched every documentary, am a member of Facebook groups about the case, etc., so when I saw this book on Netgalley, I had to read it!

As someone who has followed the case, I really could appreciate the different perspective of someone who not only is a member of the media, but now also a friend of Abby and Libby's families. I felt like a "local" when the author described Delphi. It definitely made everyone seem so much less a news story and more human. I could feel the agony of the long wait for justice through her words.

I hope that this book (or a subsequent one) will be updated to include the newest developments in the case as they are unfolding - and hopefully it will develop into a story of how justice was served.

I've watched all the documentaries on this curious case of little Abby and Libby going missing in Delphi. It's chilling. So, of course I had to read this book.

On Valentine's Day of 2017 that missing persons' case switched to a double homicide investigation. And the list of suspects was hairy. A frenzy ensued and the whole town was involved.

"It was like a sick 'locked-room' mystery--a killer among them--with a villain more devious than any that Agatha Christie could muster up."

This was a quick read but a good one. It was objective and informative. I appreciated the angles it took.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

What an absolutely heart breaking read. Once I started I could not put the book down. Poor Abby & Libby will never see where life would of taken them. I feel for their families as they wait for justice for their babies. It’s crazy how in broad daylight in this day and time. A crime can happen and no one really seen anything.

This book is about the murders of two young girls in Delphi, Indiana. It's a fascinating case and deserves a book, but this isn't it. I feel that writing a book before the conviction of a suspect is premature. Also, because there aren't many details about the murders themselves that are publicly available (not that we are entitled to such details), it just feels unfinished.

Thank.you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy that I received in exchange for an honest review.

An investigative look into the Delphi murder case by broadcast journalist Susan Hendricks.

3.5 ⭐️ I’ve been invested in this case since it happened. My husband and I would regularly visit nearby Lafayette, Indiana, and we still pass Delphi on our drive home for the holidays, so it all felt close to home.

If you’ve followed the case closely, much of this book will rehash things you know and interviews you’ve already heard. However, the book also relies on firsthand interactions and interviews the author has had with Libby German’s family. It appears as though she’s struck a close friendship with the family and that definitely shows through and sets the book apart. While the book felt a bit repetitive at times, it was nice to get to know the girls outside of the crime - Abby as an animal lover, crafter and reader, and Libby as a good student and someone who loved to laugh. 🩷 I also enjoyed the interview with Paul Holes included at the end of the book. For the family’s sake, I very much hope the Indiana State Police have gotten their man and they’ll soon have some much needed closure.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 9/19/2023.

I would rate this a 3.5/5 overall. I'm familiar with the case but haven't followed it in recent years. I found this to be a concise overview of the case, from the interesting perspective of someone who has been covering it since day one. It doesn't dive into deep analysis, but if you want an overview of the case I think it's sufficient.

I don't really understand criticism from others about the author writing this book and its timing; she has a clear connection to the case, seems to have the acceptance of the victims' families, and doesn't come across as trying to hype up her role in everything. Sometimes it does wander into some unnecessarily personal areas (I was confused by the section about Rutgers University), but I'm not too upset about the author mentioning things like her uncertainties and anxieties - after all she, like everyone else in this case, is human, and that's an important thing to remember. I would probably choose to tone down some of the personal emotions myself, but I don't think it's some grave sin that the author feels emotionally involved with this case.

Overall, if the victims' families are okay with this book being written and published, then so am I.

Funny how shortly after the police make an arrest there are two books released about this case, both of which keep going off on tangents about the author's life. With this one the author is at least connected but the timing is a bit too good and everything about this is just all over the place.

I was quite disappointed with this book and a little horrified. Oh certainly about the murders. Millions of people have been horrified for about six years. No, a little horrified at the author’s mindspace. With bated breath she hurries to tell us how, 3,2,1 I’m on the air, having to relay the latest drivel. There’s nothing in this book we haven’t read before, except for Paul Holes explanations on killers and his own guesses about the Delphi killings of two young girls.
I expected more. Why read this if it is nothing more than a regurgitation of other media regurgitations. She writes with bated breath, which is offensive. She doesn’t know anything extra. She just wants to get out there with the “first book “.