Rating: 
Summary: Who let this guy get into print?
Review: If you just want a recitation of crimes and facts, then this book will probably satisfy you. But if you want analysis and insight, you're out of luck here. If you expect continuity, good grammar, and proper spelling -- in other words, basic good writing -- you'll be even more disappointed. Shame on the editor who let this mess get into print.
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Summary: one of the most chilling books I have read
Review: The Night Stalker is one of the most interesting books I have read, alone with Stranger beside me, is one of my favorites, I am planning to read it one more time. I really recommend it to all true crime fans. You cannot let it go! Richard Ramirez was one of the most brutal serial killers that had lived.
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Summary: Superb True Crime about 1 of the most interesting minds EVER
Review: I love true crime, and this book was a special treat. All of us sickos out there will get our fix of horrific real-life events, and there's one particular courtroom accusation that will make anyone's eyes mist up. Some people don't like the quite detailed courtoom forensic stuff, but it brings to light the fact that it takes SO much evidence to get a guilty verdict even when someone is so obviously GUILTY. There are some gruesome pictures resulting from these crimes, but unfortunately, as it often is in the world of True Crime novels, they are not featured in the "8 pages of shocking photos" section. Over all, exellent modern True crime epic, you learn to love Ramirez.
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Summary: A great book, but here's what it lacks:
Review: Although comparing the book to Capote's masterpiece "In Cold Blood" is a misunderstanding, this story of the notorious killer Richard Ramirez is an excellent read. Because of numerous praises for it, I will not repeat them here; instead, I will point to some of the weak points of the book.In the very beginning of "Night Stalker", Carlo tends to embellish the story. Thus, the text seems artificial, particularly due to the use of some unnecessary, exaggerated metaphors ("The cocaine raced to his brain and limbs like a speeding train on its way to no good"). The opening chapter suffers most here: it seems that either Carlo wrote it in the very end, when he was tired and impatient, or in the very beginning, when he was not sure of the style he would use. Fortunately, he drops this annoying way of writing very quickly, and what we get then is a chilling, well-written story. In the last sections, however, Carlo almost loses it again when he dwells too much on meaningless details of the trial, almost as if he simply wanted to make the book a bit longer, and thus get more. The photo inlay should contain more reproductions of the newspaper articles from the Night Stalker "era" (particularly the ones telling of his having been identified, on the day he was captured - what did the "La Opinion" journal that Ramirez first saw his mugshot in look like on that day, for example?), and a few pictures from the day he was apprehended - such as a shot of the police escorting him in his "Jack Daniels" t-shirt. Also, a chapter with some more personal view from Philip Carlo would be great. What does _he_ think about Ramirez? Is he just a cash cow for him? Carlo says to have spent over 100 hours talking to Ramirez; how about an "Interview" chapter with some actual quotes from the conversation? What was the Stalker's language? What was Phil's first impression of him - and vice versa? If (when?) Ramirez gets executed, and Philip Carlo writes a new chapter on it, he might consider adding the above as well.
Rating: 
Summary: A great True-Crime novel...
Review: Carlo did a great job of telling about Rameriz's actual crimes. He made it seem as real as possible and actually made me cry! The only part I was bored with was when he was getting into the court trial, but that is because I am more interested in what he did. I am not a courtroom person, so I am not interested in that section of the story. I was very pleased with the detail of his actions. The psychology behind the criminal mind is what I am interested in. I think a true crime buff would really enjoy this one!
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Summary: Scary! One guy kills so many at random! Harrowing!
Review: This book was very well written - factual, eloquent, thorough, detailed, objective. The writer takes you from beginning to end of this vicious, evil and heartrending account of a serial killer's trail. This book will give you goose bumps especially if you live in the LA basin, even now. It's a "hit home hard" story that will give you lumps in your throat at the obvious disregard this killer had for his victims. His allegiance to the devil incited my hunger to increase my awareness of and find out more about devil-worshipers and their love for Satan. It will make you check your doors and windows twice before going to bed at night.
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Summary: Beautifully researched true crime.
Review: Though I found this book annoyingly badly edited, in terms of numerous typos and grammatical errors, that did not stop me from being incredibly absorbed in reading this, the single best true-crime non-fiction I've ever read. Philip Carlo did a truly awesome job of researching this book, and though his accounting of the crimes is painstaking, it never, ever gets tedious or boring. Carlo did an incredible job of getting into the mind of the killer, his background, everything true crime non-fiction usually leaves out, to the reader's usual dissatisfaction. His accounting of the crimes was stunning, in that the reader finds his/herself "right there," and can relate so well to the victims that the reader feels, sees, hears what they saw....including terror. At the same time, Carlo uses absolutely no gratuitous material, which he could easily do. He fully describes, in enormous and graphic detail,crimes that were, in themselves, graphic, bloody, sexually violent, and horrifying, without ever once crossing the line into gratuitous "stuff." Another reviewer said that Carlo lets the crimes speak for themselves, and that's really true...he doesn't need to embelish these crimes, and he doesn't. This is really a mesmerizing and engaging book. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in forensics or true crime.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Never wanted to put it down!
Review: Carlo did an excellent job capturing Ramirez's thoughts during his rampage of hate and violence. I felt the fear he put into L.A. I make sure my doors AND windows are locked. But never did I feel sorry for the killer, the victims yes. So many true crime books are poorly written. Great job Carlo!!!
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Summary: Great True Crime
Review: This book was definitely one of the better true crime books I have read. Truly horrifying and very well written. I however don't understand how readers can cry for this monster who deserved a punishment like what he inflicted on his helpless victims. I can't understand how readers cried for him. I have the feeling if he weren't an attractive man there would be no tears. A great, throught provoking book.
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Summary: this was a great book that went through all of his actions.
Review: THIS BOOK WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FASCINATED IN THE MIND OF SERIAL KILLERS, READ THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK GOES THROUGH ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT RICHARD RAMIREZ WENT THROUGH, IN DEPTH WHERE YOU ACTUALLY CAN SEE HIS MIND SET, SICK AS IT IS. I DEFINATLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
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