Unfinished Murder: The Capture of a Serial Rapist: Unfinished Murder: The Capture of a Serial Rapist

I'm a huge fan of award winning journalist James Neff and have been since his days at the "Plain Dealer" in Cleveland where he wrote a fantastic column about the city and its inhabitants. This book can be hard to read, but Neff doesn't pull any punches and holds nothing back. In addition to this book please check out "The Wrong Man, The Final Verdict In The Sam Sheppard Murder Case," "Mobbed Up" and if you're lucky enough to find it, "City Beat, Stories From The Heart Of Cleveland." James Neff is incredible and I love his work. I highly recommend anything by him. Oh did I mention I love his work?

James Neff's book is a disturbing account of the crimes, trial, and conviction of serial rapist Ronnie Shelton. The chapters are divided into very short subheadings, and initially the episodic nature of the writing is somewhat distracting. However, the book gains momentum as the investigation draws to its climax and Shelton is captured. I was appalled to learn that during the years of Shelton's crime spree, he was arrested fifteen times for a variety of lesser offenses, yet every time he was released with no connection made between him and the highly-publicized rapes. There was little effective coordination among investigators in various precincts and divisions, who were slow to realize that they were all looking for the same man. The investigation was also hampered by the common misconception that voyeurs (like Shelton) don't engage in, or progress to, violence and rape