Amy: My Search for Her Killer: Secrets and Suspects in the Unsolved Murder of Amy Mihaljevic Paperback – June 13, 2013

I remember this case all too well. I live in Akron, Ohio which is just south of Cleveland. People were just hoping and praying that they would find this little girl alive. On the anniversary of the discovery of her body, the Cleveland stations will run updates on the case. I learned more from this book than I’ve learned from the updates. I think anyone who likes true crime stories will find this tragic case interesting. Whoever did this to Amy is really responsible of a double homicide. Her poor mother basically drank her self to death afterwords she was in such anguish. The author was a little boy when this happened and he so wanted to solve this case when writing this book. At this point, I don’t know if it will ever be solved. But there are still people working on the case who have committed themselves to finding her killer. I can’t help but wonder if this was a one off thing or if this criminal did this to other little girls, not just Amy.

I wanted to love James Renner based on his work on the Maura Murray case. I listened to his audiobook of that case, so I thought I should read this one, since Amy's story is so frequently referenced by him. But I don't love James Renner - not with the Maura book, or this one. I enjoy his narration in the audiobook, but James, as a figure, comes off as pretentious, self-indulged, and sorry for himself in a way that is almost beyond empathy. Really he strikes me as a bit of a douche. But, as a true crime junkie, the stories were worth the read.

I was the same age as Amy when she died, living not too far south in North Canton, which is a similar town to Bay Village. Even 20 years later, I still remember her face, her story and why you shouldn't talk to strangers. Ironically, like the author, I have to give thanks to Amy in a way because not too long after her abduction, my parents sat me down and gave me the very stern talk that I was NEVER to take a ride from anyone but them or someone that knew our special keyphrase "goldenrod." That following spring, a bunch of high school guys tried to get me into their car on my walk home, they didn't know the word (and laughed at that idea) and tried to grab me but I screamed, kicked and ran. Would I have been more willing to go had it not been for Amy? I don't know. Would anything bad have happened to me? Probably not, but you never know.When I heard about this book on the news recently, I immediately ordered it and read it in one day. To me the story is concise and amazing. Being so young at the time there were a LOT of details I had no idea about - most importantly that someone called her and this was an arranged meeting. The amount of information in this novel is amazing. Anyone that lived in the area, or that is interested in true crime novels is sure to want to read this book. It isn't too over the top with details that aren't important but full of the ones that are.I'm curious to know where the investigation has gone and if they are any closer to killing Amy.

I just ordered this book from Amazon and read it all in about three days. My husband has also just finished it, on my recommendation. I should say that my husband has a master's degree and a year of PhD work in English literature. I mention that fact only to establish that my husband knows a fair amount about good quality writing. Both of us think that the book is excellent and that the writing is top notch. Very gripping, a real page-turner!I had never heard of the case before myself, having grown up in downstate Illinois, nor had my husband who grew up in Chicago. We were both impressed with the amount of legwork the author put into his research, some of it trying to interview individuals who were pretty scarey people.I do wonder why the author made no mention of reporting to the local police what he saw looking into the window of an empty building having some connection to the case, located near where the poor little girl was taken. I don't want to get into specific details, but certainly what he saw was worth a police search, at least. This incident was reported right at the end of the book with no follow-up.Initially I rather suspected that the author's emotional involvement with the case would "cheapen" the story, but he handled it well and honestly, and it ended up being a positive addition.As with the other reviewers, and the author himself, I fervently hope that the case can somehow still be solved as the disappearance of Etan Patz may have been just recently. How can people do this to little children?

Awesome book! Renner does wonders! Waiting for a new one from him! I've read them all! U like how he never gives up on a case!

This book was a little disappointing. I thought I was purchasing a detail accounting of the murder of Amy and not the lovelorn writing of an individual who worshipped her, but didn't really even know her! The book was boring in too many parts and drug along limply to the end. It was a lesson to learn about buying a book that I was unsure of. Next time I shall make sure I read the description a little bit better before I spend my hard earn money on a book to be shipped to me.

Really good read. I'm a My Favorite Murderino and one of the gals recommended this book so I gave it a go. This was different from most true crime books in that the author has a personal and connection to the case so his search for the killer is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Which I liked, it kept me reading. Occasionally some facts were repeated but to be honest it probably helped keep track of the myriad of suspects, witnesses and law enforcement individuals involved. All in all, I stayed up late to finish it. I almost never give 5 star reviews so if you're less picky, make this a 5 in your head!

Excellent story.

Just finished this...Fascinating... and this isn’t even the half of it!Loved James Renner’s candidness. Refreshing.I have actually had readers block for YEARS. Haven’t been able to finish a book. Read this in 48 hours! Feel like I’ve been on a journey.Fully recommend it.Looking forward to reading another Renner page-turner soon...NB Not to make light of this utter tragedy.

Good read