Where to start
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
2 versions · originally a book, 2019
Themes: Obsessive investigation, Unsolved cold cases, Impact of trauma on victims, Amateur detective, Legacy of serial violence.
These works chronicle Michelle McNamara’s relentless, obsessive investigation into the Golden State Killer’s reign of terror across California.
✦ Most fans start here
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2019)
The original novel
✦ Start hereI'll Be Gone in the Dark
Michelle McNamara · Book · 2019
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2019) serves as the definitive source material, offering McNamara’s intimate, haunting prose and meticulous research into the decades-long hunt for a prolific serial predator.
2020 series
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
Liz Garbus · Series · 2020
The 2020 television series visualizes McNamara’s investigative journey, providing a somber, atmospheric exploration of the case while highlighting the personal toll her obsession took on her life and family.
Common questions
Should I read the I'll Be Gone in the Dark book before watching the 2020 TV series?
You can consume the media in either order. The 2020 TV series adapts the 2019 book, providing a visual look at the investigative process. Reading the book first offers a deeper dive into the author's personal research and writing process regarding the Golden State Killer case.
Is the I'll Be Gone in the Dark TV series based on the 2019 book?
Yes, the 2020 TV series is a direct adaptation of the 2019 book titled I'll Be Gone in the Dark. The show covers the same investigation into the Golden State Killer that is detailed within the pages of the original book.
What is the release year of the original I'll Be Gone in the Dark book?
The book titled I'll Be Gone in the Dark was published in 2019. It serves as the primary source material for the subsequent television adaptation that was released in 2020.
How many versions of I'll Be Gone in the Dark are available to consume?
There are two primary versions of I'll Be Gone in the Dark available. The first is the 2019 book which documents the investigation, and the second is the 2020 TV series which adapts the book for the screen.