I was curious to read A Tangled Web by Leslie Rule, the daughter of Ann Rule (widely regarded as the queen of true crime writing). Thanks to Kensington Books/Citadel and NetGalley, I received a copy in exchange for this honest review.

First off, I have been a big true crime fan for years – my guilty pleasure. And I have read more than my share of crappy stories about real people and events, and am always pleased to find an author who is able to capture the facts of the crime as well as the personalities of the criminals and their victims. Ms. Rule has done a good job at both, and I expect we will hear more from her in the future.

The  “Web” in the title refers both to the situation in the book and the Internet, which plays a prominent role in this tale of multiple victims of crimes including identity theft, cyberstalking, and murder. Set in Omaha, Nebraska, the story involves recently single Dave Kroupa, a thirty-something guy who uses online dating websites to meet women. Recently divorced, he is clear to everyone that he isn’t looking for a long-term commitment or even a serious relationship. He has an ongoing casual relationship with  Shanna “Liz” Golyar, who wants more out of the relationship than he does. After meeting single mother Cari Lea Farver, it seems like Dave may have met “the one.” The, despite being a loving, dutiful daughter (close to her mother and dying father ) and a reliable employee, Cari suddenly disappears. She sends text messages to break up with Dave, quit her job, and basically give her young son to her mother to raise while she runs off.  Cari’s mother reports her missing and tells skeptical police that someone else has obviously gotten Cari’s phone and is sending the texts.

Over the next three years,  although Dave changes his phone number multiple times, he continues to get texts (over TWELVE THOUSAND of them), allegedly from Cari, increasingly foul and threatening. She is stalking him, somehow aware of his every move and obsessively slamming Shanna/Liz, the one friend who loyally stands by Dave and continues to be there for him (hoping all along that he will see the light and realize that she is the one for him). Together, Dave and Shanna/Liz are victims of vandalism, burglaries and death threats. In addition, any woman Dave begins dating is also the victim of foul messages, harassment, and threats. These are all supposedly from Cari, apparently alive and well, and the methods used to create and continue the cyberbullying are fascinating and horrifying.

Extremely detailed, it’s both a great story and a chilling cautionary tale. I will definitely read the next true crime book from Ms. Rule.   Four solid stars.