Where to start withI'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.
Start with I'll Be Gone in the Dark (Michelle McNamara, 2019) — the book. I'll Be Gone in the Dark exists in 2 versions across media, beginning as a book in 2019; each is ranked below by what it does best.
Michelle McNamara’s haunting, relentless investigation into the Golden State Killer exposes the intersection of cold-case obsession and personal trauma.
✦ 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) provides the definitive, intimate prose of McNamara’s original reporting, offering readers a deeply immersive look into her meticulous research and singular, driving investigative obsession.
2020 series
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
Liz Garbus · Series · 2020
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020) serves as a visual companion to the book, utilizing archival footage and interviews to emphasize the emotional toll of the case on the author.
Common questions
Is I'll Be Gone in the Dark a book or a show?
I'll Be Gone in the Dark exists in two formats. It was originally published as a book in 2019, which documents the investigation into the Golden State Killer. This work was later adapted into a television series that premiered in 2020.
Should I read the book I'll Be Gone in the Dark before watching the 2020 series?
You do not have to read the 2019 book before watching the television series. Both the book and the 2020 show cover the same investigative subject matter, so you can choose either format to experience the story of the hunt for the Golden State Killer.
Is the 2020 series I'll Be Gone in the Dark based on the 2019 book?
Yes, the 2020 television series I'll Be Gone in the Dark is an adaptation of the 2019 book of the same name. The show utilizes the source material from the book to present the investigative narrative on screen.
Does the 2020 series I'll Be Gone in the Dark cover different cases than the book?
No, the 2020 television series I'll Be Gone in the Dark does not cover different cases than the 2019 book. The series serves as an adaptation of the original book and focuses on the same investigation into the Golden State Killer.