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Audiobook (abridged)3 hours
Small Sacrifices
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
Interweaves eyewitness accounts, police records, and personal interviews into the chilling account of Diane Downs, a woman convicted of the ruthless shooting of her own three young children for the sake of passion. Book available.
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Reviews for Small Sacrifices
Rating: 4.1378090795053 out of 5 stars
4/5
566 ratings18 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fascinating and creepy, but it got a bit tedious and repetitive.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ann does a great job at letting you glimps into the mind of the killer
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story was interesting but I didn’t love the narrator.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved it Anne rule is an absolute amazing writer
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Well written but very sad story. I recommended this book.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It's a pretty solid book, though I feel like there's something lacking, storywise. I don't think this is as well written as it could have been.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ann Rule does a phenomenal job, and five stars are not enough. This story is about much more than a murderous mother and the innocent lives devastated by her heinous actions. It's also about courage beyond measure, love, and the triumph of the spirit. Before Susan Smith, there was Diane Downs.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good story. Pace was good. I wish that more books would be written about this case.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was such a good book. She narrated it perfectly. Thank you!!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a tragedy and a sad book but amazing narration and writing by Anne Rule.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This case is just unbelievable. I still cannot understand how a mother can do this to her kids. Good read, gained some more knowledge.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What could possibly motivate a mother of three to shoot her own children? This very question is posed and answered in Ann Rule's best seller, Small Sacrifices. Diane Downs is a sociopath and complex character. Her story, Small Sacrifices,will break your heart.
The story begins with Diane Downs driving to the hospital and reporting her children have been shot by an unknown man who stopped them on the road. Through flashbacks we get to know Diane, her early life and her experiences. We follow the police investigation as they start to tie her to the horrible act. We then move on to the court case which plays out with so much drama you don't realize you're reading about an actual event.
I originally read this book when it was first published and recently watched the late 80's made-for-TV movie starring Farrah Fawcett. Probably because of that, when I had a reading challenge that called for rereading a book, I immediately thought of this one. No matter how many times you read it you will still be horrified by what Diane Downs did. Horrified or not, you'll be gripped by this fascinating true crime story. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was fascinating! This is the first book by Ann Rule that I've ever read. Diane Downs was such an interesting case study. If you like reading about female pathological liars and sociopaths, this is your book. I couldn't put it down. It's written in a style that makes you feel like you're right there as this case is unfolding. I like that the author tried to make you spend a little time in Downs' head and get a little of what her background was, and what led up to her shooting her children.
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the book that hooked me on true crime novels. Diane Downs committed a horrifying crime. She killed one of her children and tried to kill the other two. She blamed a imaginary assailant, but the truth quickly came out. Rule unravels the motivation behind Diane's actions, the determination of authorities to uncover the truth and hold her repsonsible and the unbelievable courage of her daughter - who testified against her. An awesome and terrible book, a must read.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Aside from the horrific crime, this was a very engaging read. Diane Downs is an absolute narcissistic, cold-hearted, selfish, psychotic sociopath. I felt complete disgust for Diane and utter sympathy for her children, and all children who must suffer at the hands of others - especially a parent(s). Ann Rule does a fantastic job relating the true story of the tragedy of these children (and others who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Diane). She leaves no stone unturned and tells an unbiased account of the events leading up to the horror, the aftermath, and the trial. She even includes how irate Diane was at this book. This is a must read for any true-crime reader, but be prepared for your emotions to run wild.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Think this was the first Ann Rule book I ever read. Have been a fan of her books ever since.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Riviting... and exciting. This book was about a woman who care only for herself. She was selfish and demented. The kids were adoreable and living in hell and no one ever knew... Thank you Fred Hugi... and others.... Great read and a moving story about how a criminal's mind works... The Lord works in His magic in His own time... Great write and author Ann Rule does wonders with crime stories. Would highly recommend.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Small Sacrifices is a gripping and suspenseful read, even for those familiar with the case of convicted child killer Diane Downs, who shot her three young children to secure the love of a married man. Bestselling true crime author Ann Rule dissects the actions and character of all the main players in the shooting tragedy, exploring in forensic detail the possible motives of Downs, a diagnosed narcissistic sociopath. A chilling and fascinating book.
1 person found this helpful