Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Author!!
Review: I've been reading Ann Rule's books for quite some time now and have enjoyed all of them. She is very knowledgeable in the area of true crime and is an excellent writer.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and riveting, truly a sad story!
Review: When I read this book, I didn't know much about sociopaths. But following the actions of Diane Downs life, it is so obvious that something was bound to happen! She was a pathetic loser in life, always searching for somebody to love her, and to make quick money. Unfortunately, the love her children gave was never noticed. What is so shocking is that she had no idea the path she was leading. Everything just happened! Could someone have intervened with psychiatric help, what about family guidance, there was none, even from those loser boyfriends who used her! She desperately needed help! Maybe nothing like this would have happened had she got treatment!!! How distrubing to read that all the way up to the trial, she still exhibited the actions of a pathetic sole, still not realizing that she IS AND WAS SICK; especially when "Hungry Life a Wolf" was played in court and she kicks her foot to the tune while mouthing the words!! Truly, a sick, deplorable person, who I believe to this day, does not even realize that "something is wrong with her".
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I've yet to be disappointed by anything Ann Rule produces, and this book is no exception. Her writing brings stories to life so that you will never forget them.
Rating:
Summary: VERY well written - Where is she now
Review: This is the most well written non-fiction "True Crime" book I've read-Diane is horribly fascinating and I guess the definition of amoral. Where is she now. Has she ever shown remorse or admitted to the murder.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredibly Fascinating Story of a True Sociopath
Review: I read this book quite some time ago and I must admit, it made me almost physically sick to think someone could actually do this to their own children and not even consciously be aware of how horrible their actions were. The real problem is that Diane Downs did not consider her children as "children", just possessions, belongings that were expendable if they stood in the way of her own self-interests. I have read it several times since; it is one book I will never get rid of. The movie with Farrah Fawcett was also excellent. This book is a MUST READ for anyone, especially those interested in the more troubling aspects of human nature.
I have always been interested in how Diane Downs is doing now, her status, etc. but have not been able to find any further information on her. If anyone out there has any current info on her, please feel free to pass it along.
Rating:
Summary: truly unforgettable
Review: One of the most disturbing books you will ever read. This is a masterful portrait of evil personnified. I read the book years ago and I have never been able to forget the children who were victims in this tragic story. Read this book
Rating:
Summary: Crossing The Line Is Unfortunately Not So Unreal
Review: As a mother myself, I had to ask myself, "How in the world could this have happened"? But also as a woman who gets the inside view of Diane Down's life, I have to see a desperate and immature woman on the border of madness. She is socially arrested and immature, not much more than a child herself. I am not forgiving her, only trying to understand the reasons for what she did. I also hope she burns in hell but also that she understands why she is burning
Rating:
Summary: A remarkable account of an absolute tragedy.
Review: After seeing the movie by the same title, starring Farrah
Faucett, I had to learn more; I was interested to know what
could ever lead a mother to murder her own children. "Small
Sacrifices" is an intriguing and insightful account of a
mother who did the unthinkable. This book explores the characters and components that are at work that could drive
a mother to attempt to kill her own children so she wouldn't lose her boyfriend. The book delves into the lives of those
involved and and reports on the investigation and insuing trial. It is a book that cannot be put down; it is gripping
and fascinating and yet sad and leaves a feeling of uneasiness- for it is true.
Rating:
Summary: Children Shine throughout the Book
Review: "Small Sacrifices" is a very well written book, and as with all Ann Rule books I have read, it's the innocent people involved, and not the criminal in these accounts that make these books worthwhile. They are always beautiful, wonderful people and that's what makes this story worth reading. The children in this book are so strong and courageous, they truly are heroes. Even though these books mainly focus on the criminals, the greatest story is always in the details of the stories of the people who overcome. Their great heart, wisdom, courage, tenacity and perseverence in these books by Ann Rule show most courageously and most amazingly the greatness of the human race, and none more so than Christie Ann, Danny and Cheryl Lynn Downs.
Rating:
Summary: Ann Rule's Best
Review: I first saw this book many years ago in a supermarket while I was looking for something to read. It was when it had first come out in paperback. The only reason I bought it was because I was determined to believe that a mother could not kill her children. I thought there was NO WAY. I bought the book, read it, and gave Diane chance after chance, every benefit of the doubt. When her story kept changing was a clue. But when Christie gave her testimony every shred of doubt was removed. Before that, I knew that Diane was lying, I just could not understand why. Now that I have read more true crime books and studied abnormal psychology, I know why. Diane was a sociopath with absolutely no conscience. Her father enjoyed molesting her and shooting her pets, and her mother stood by her father no matter what he did. Diane became obsessed with her very wishy-washy married boyfriend "Lew" who vacillated between his emotionally masochistic wife and Diane. He told Diane he would marry her, then told her he loved his wife more than her...he was astonished that Diane blew a gasket at this news. He then took a two week vacation with his wife to Texas, but came back to Arizona and asked Diane to move in with him in his apartment. A lot of mixed messages there....since he didn't want to be a "daddy" to her kids, Diane shot them (blaming a non-existant stranger) in hopes that "Lew" would come after her...but he finally woke up and smelled the coffee. There are still some things that the book just didn't go into, that I wonder about. Such as...why didn't her other two brothers say anything at all? Only her sister Kathy and and brother Paul were mentioned in the book, but Diane had two other brothers who never came forward to speak. Also, why was Amy Elizabeth Downs adopted out? Didn't Diane's mother or any of her family want to try to keep her? I'm now on my second copy of this book and could probably quote complete passages. The book is well-written, well-researched and organized. I feel as though I know Diane Downs as well as she would ever let anyone know her. While reading the book for the first time, I had nightmares that Diane was pointing a gun at me and about to shoot. I can imagine how terrified her children were to see the last person that they should ever expect to harm them at the end of that gun. Cheryl Lynn Downs was the Small Sacrifice in order that her brother and sister would be taken from their mother and able to live a normal family life (as much as was possible) afterward. I highly recommend this book.
|
