Rating: 
Summary: Diane Downs is the epitome of evil!
Review: When I read this book I almost became physically ill when I got to the chapter in which Diane Downs commits the murders of her children. How in the name of God could she have done this to those innocent kids who were like lambs to the slaughter? During the reading of this book I cried many many tears at the thought of those children. Diane Downs didn't deserve the priviledge of being a mother. I often wonder what has become of Diane and how she feels about what she did to her kids? Does she have any remorse? This book upset me so much that I couldn't watch the t.v. movie with Farrah Fawcett. Ann Rule did an excellent job of writing this book, but it would be very difficult for me to read again. This tragic account of a horrible crime, will definitely make you want to hug your own children much tighter.
Rating: 
Summary: Great view into the unexpectable
Review: Small Sacrifices indeed. Elizabeth Diane Downs was completely off-whack. Her youth may have contributed to her warped view on society, but that's still no excuse for her crime. Not as drawn out as the investigation itself, I'm sure, but to relive the frustration experienced by everyione involved became a little tediuos. A great read, nevertheless, but I would only reccomend this book to those who enjoy reading books over 400 pages. It does, however, reveal to us how normal a sociopath may look, or act. She had half the world convinced she was innocent, and half the world convinced she was faking innocence. The question of "why?" doesn't linger in my mind, though. I could tell from the start of the book, as it described her arrival at the hospital, that she did not have her priorities straight... What good does standing there honking your horn do when anyone who might be able to help your poor, suffering, dying children is inside the hospital, out of earshot? I saw from the beginning that she had more than one screw loose and she didn't really want to save her children. Life plus 50 years in prison seems like nothing compared to what her beautiful children could have been. It's not enough to just know that two of them barely survived.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turning fantastic read
Review: I have to say that this is Ms Rule's finest piece of writing so far. This book is wonderfully written and I could not put it down until I finished reading it. Throughout the whole book I was in delimma whether Diane did murder her kids or was she a pawn of the police system? I think the evidence speaks more than what anyone has to say but one thing is for sure this is an excellent read and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner to the End.....
Review: This book is truly one of Ann Rule's best true crime books. The story of Diane Downs is so shocking one cannot help but think, "Who could shot their own children in cold blood?" Ann Rule looks in depth at the life of Diane Downs to unearth the hidden motives of this murderess. This book is incredibly interesting to those who like the psychology behind criminal motives. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in true crime and the mind. It was definately a page turner that left me wanting more. Ann Rule has a website that keeps her fans up to date on the subjects of her books. You to can find out where Diane Downs is today.
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: Review for English Assingment
Review: The book Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule is the chilling true story of Elizabeth Diane Downs. While driving home from a friend's house late one night, with all three of her children in the car, Diane alleged that a "bushy haired stranger" tried to take her car from her. When she refused, he reached his arm into the car and fired at Cheryl, 7, Danny, 2, and Christie, 8. Diane herself was shot in the left arm, but she was right handed and still able to drive to the hospital. Cheryl was dead by the time Diane reached the hospital, though unbeknownst to Diane. A barrage of nurses and doctors ran out of the emergency room to tend to the family.
Nothing could be done for Cheryl, but Christie and Danny were in stable, yet critical condition. The only two possible witnesses for the case were Diane and Christie, as Danny was sleeping when it happened. While in remission, Christie suffered a stroke on the left side that cast doubt on whether or not she'd ever be able to talk again. A police investigation started as soon as they could.
Right away, the search for the "bushy haired stranger" and the murder weapon started. Police could find neither. As the investigation continued, police disbelieved more and more Diane's story of the BHS (bushy haired stranger) as police called it. Police got permission from Diane to search her home, and they recovered a diary that was unsent letters to a man named Lew. If Diane, and not the BHS, was responsible for the murder of Cheryl and attempted murder of both Christie and Danny, police theorized that Lew may have been the motive.
But with their only witness (Christie) unable to verify or dismiss the BHS story and without the murder weapon, police investigators did not have much of a case against Diane. What's worse, the police believe Diane may try to take Danny and Christie out of the hospital, and then the case would be lost if the Downs' could not be located again. Police must act fast if they want to have a case against Diane.
The major theme in this book is the search for the truth. Child abuse, spousal abuse, searching for pure love and sexuality are fairly constant themes in this book.
Because of the graphic detail of both child abuse and sex, I would recommend this book for high school-ers and up. If TV shows such as Law and order, The Practice and ER interest you, this book is a must-have. It's a bit lengthy, my copy of the book has 494 pages, but the pages fly by. I hope this review is helpful and that you consider reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Story, not for the feint of heart
Review: Having seen the TV movie based on this book, and not being able to believe it, or turn it off, when I saw this book at a used book store, I bought it, thinking it would shed more light on the story. It does. It is a horribly sad, disgusting story of a woman who brutally killed one of her children while trying to kill them all. It is also a stunning story of the lengths people acheived in bringing her to justice. A story of bravery of an 8-year-old survivor who faced more horror than most adults could stand and overcame it. I don't read mysteries or horror novels - I read this because the truth is scarier than anything anyone could make up and I needed to understand how this could happen. Of course, it is incomprehensible. Rule, now one of my favorite authors, writes this like all her books in a style that allows the action to unfold naturally as you read. I do get a little weary of complete histories of all invovled, police, DAs, etc, but appreciate some detail when it adds to the story. I also identify with the oldest child, who is the same age that I am. When I read it, I remember myself at that age at that time, and it makes the story that much more real. God bless you, Christie, wherever you are today. I have read this book probably 4 or 5 times, bringing it out every couple of years, to reread it and look for answers that no one but Diane Downs has. I recommend it to anyone interested in true crime not as voyeuristic entertainment, but as proof that sometimes justice wins.
Rating:
Summary: It still shocks
Review: Before Susan Smith and Andrea Yates there was Diane Downs. One day a seemingly normal woman killed one daughter, cripled another and seriously wounded her oldest child. Anne Rule was at her best with this book and has never written so well again. She get's into this monster's head and it's a terrifying ride. If you 've been unhappy with Anne's later works get this one and see what True Crime can really be.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling!
Review: This is the best true crime novel that I have ever read. I love anything by Anne Rule but this story in particular grabbed my attention and just drew me in. The fact that a mother or parent could do to her own children what Diane Downs did is unbelievable and heartbreaking in itself. Anne Rule does a great job profiling Diane Downs. This is definitely a real page-turner!
Rating:
Summary: Downs was not "railroaded"; Rule's book NOT "biased"
Review: I had to laugh when I read the review from "lazza." Ann Rule's account of this case was NOT "biased journalism." Diane Downs was not unjustly convicted. Anyone who believes she is innocent probably also thinks Joe McGuinness was unfair to triple murderer Jeffrey MacDonald when he wrote "Fatal Vision." "lazza", I see, is from London. It's amazing how people overseas are so quick to defend American criminals...e.g. (a) the French not wanting to send murderer Ira Einhorn back to Philadelphia because they didn't want him to get the death penalty; and (b) foreign apologists for Philadelphia cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal. My sympathy is always with the victims in a crime; fortunately, so is Ann Rule's! That's the way it SHOULD be.
|
