Jack Olsen’s book ‘The Man with the Candy’ is a punchy and haunting deep-dive into one of America’s most chilling true crime stories. This isn’t just a tale to send shivers down your spine – it’s a look into the shockingly overlooked tragedies of the past.
At its core, this book takes you through the harrowing case of Dean Corll, whose evil deeds in Houston in the early ’70s went unnoticed for way too long. Olsen never shies away from the gritty details, shedding light on how Corll, with the help of his teenage accomplices, managed to evade justice while taking the lives of nearly thirty young boys.
The night David Hilligiest didn’t come home paints a grim picture of those times. His family’s desperate attempts to find him – hiring a detective, putting up posters, even consulting clairvoyants – speak volumes about their heartbreak and frustration with the system. And it’s not just their story. It’s the story of countless families who had no closure.
This story hints at a bigger issue – how societal attitudes and the police’s dismissive stance towards missing boys as mere runaways allowed these horrific acts to slip under the radar. It’s a stark reminder of the flaws in our systems and the urgent need for vigilance and change, something Olsen captures brilliantly.
Olsen gets into the thick of it, interviewing everyone he can find – from the families of the victims to those who might know more about the criminals and the city itself. His relentless search for truth is a testament to what investigative journalism should be: fearless, thorough, and impactful.
The community’s reaction – from anger to defensiveness – is laid bare, showing just how complex and debilitating collective responses to such crimes can be. Olsen’s portrayal of Houston at the time keeps the tension real, reminding us of the human cost of such horrors.
As a guiding star in the true crime genre, Olsen’s style is both detailed and dramatic. It’s more than just a recounting of facts; it’s a journey that challenges readers to reflect on how these crimes reshape our understanding of justice and vigilance today. link to buy book>> https://amzn.to/3Cq0vje
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