Rating: 
Summary: Still Shaking
Review: ...and REMEMBERING to lock the windows. The story of Tommy Sells will take the joy out of sleeping with a cool breeze coming in! This man killed men, women and children, people he didn't know, friends... for no reason. Ummm, or rather for reasons with no sense of reason. Like he felt you diss'ed him in a convience store. 2 nights later he's through your window and killing your child. To get back at you for the supposed slight! The author follows this stumble-bum's trail thru decades of crimes; great and small. If this guy's in your neighborhood then crime is occurring. He was all over the United States but kept coming in and out of the beautiful area where I attended University. Good book. Strange that an author's writing can make you feel unsafe years after, just reading that he spent a month 2 blocks from my house. During a cool, wet Spring with wonderful breezes.
Rating:
Summary: Freaky
Review: All I can say is thank God he is on Death Row!!Tommy Lynn Sells was and is a nasty, nasty man. To read this book you have to deal with terrible lingering thoughts of the suffering of his victims, even after closing it's covers. He showed no remorse and took his anger out on many an innocent man, woman and child. Be ready to be horrified at what this man did with no real reason or explaination. My prayers are with his "numerous" victims and their families. I find it amazing that someone this violent and callous, not to mention not overly intelligent - could wander the streets killing the way he did and not get caught for such a long time. Definately a good read but not for the faint-hearted.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: An excellent book - but rather frightening! It is hard to believe that anyone could commit such horrendous crimes and not get caught for such a long time. And it is easy to read with a smooth, seamless delivery that glides from page to page. Even the courtroom scene was riveting with the notes that passed between the killer and his attorney adding a dimension to the coverage that you seldom see. The Afterword wrapped it all up so well with quotes from the Texas Rangers, a letter from Tommy Lynn Sells and the personal impressions of the author. A fascinating read.
Rating: 
Summary: I Threw It Out the Window
Review: Diane Fanning's "Into the Water" was the worst true crime book I have ever read. "Through the Window", while being equally amateur, is an improvement. Her use of similes and childish metaphors ruins her journalistic integrity. Take this gem from page 66 describing a forced rape and attempted murder, "Her gullibility gleam on its (the knife) blade." Or another Fanning classic on page 33 regarding the killer's wooing of a victim, "Like a leaf in a whirlpool, she was drawn into this world of uncontrollable violence." Fanning does not seem to know if she is writing a romance novel or true crime.
Aside from the cliches, the storytelling is passable. While the story is not chronological, it is effective. Tommy Lynn Sells killed women, children, and even an infant moments from birth by slahing their throats. In some cases he beat or shot his victims. What makes him somewhat unique is that he lacked a consistant M.O., yet his killing spree went on for years over many different states boundaries. The story of the thirteen year old girl with a slashed wind pipe, who survives Sells's attack, is frightening. If not for her, Sells's crimes may still be accumulating. What is most disturbing about the story is how the law apprehended this man so many times, yet could not keep him off of the streets.
Any points Fanning earns for content, she loses with the afterword. It is largely a letter written by the killer Tommy Lynn Sells to praise the work of Diane Fanning (which he has never seen) and call out all those who he feels have wronged him. It made me wonder who's side the author is on.
Rating: 
Summary: Fiend of the worst kind!!!!
Review: Gripping read even if disturbing and shocking in parts. How is it possible that one individual escaped the detection of police for such a long length of time???!!! Unbelievable! I recommend this book to read but be prepared to feel moments of disbelief, shock and anger. Anyone that can kill children, pregnant women and entire families has to be the worst type of fiend out there.
Tommy Lyn Sells, the serial killer, killed with no remorse and at times for the most trivial reasons. e.g. Being angry at someone. His reign of terror lasted many years and in various states of the USA, only everyone was oblivious to this fact, including the law.
I can honestly say it is a good thing that he has been caught.....or you might not be around today reading this about him!
WELL WORTH THE READ!!!!
Rating:
Summary: really scared and shocked the (...) out of me
Review: Hi, I read this book a couple of days ago. I had to stop reading for a while, cause it really got to me. The crimes Tommy Lynn Sells committed where so cruel, you cannot believe a human being can be so cruel.He killed a lot of children, a baby which only lived for 2 seconds ,dads,mothers,sisters. I had a hard time remembering who was who, so many crimes he committed.
The book is well written, i did like the style, a lot of details of Sells youth,but i really did not get the reason why he killed so brutally. sometimes there is no reason.He seemed to be a hard guy to interview .I think Diane Fanningg did a great jo and I am looking forward to her next book, Into the Water
If you are gonna read this, be prepared to be shocked.
(...)
Rating: 
Summary: Was not good!
Review: I found this book horribly written. I guess I may be spoiled by the best true crime writers, Ann Rule, Jack Olsen, and Jerry Bledsoe. They know how to tell a good story even with the most wicked, evil deeds. While Tommy's story is indeed horrific and disturbing, there was nothing to draw me in. I actually stopped reading it because it was so bad...which I never do! Pass on this...wait for another author to write Tommy's story.
Rating:
Summary: The Author must have had a strong stomach
Review: I have read many true crime books, but I must say this is one really unnerved me. Tommy Lynn Sells disgusting road to murder was shocking (to say the least). One of the strange things is how the killer himself came close to death a few times and managed to cheat it! How sad for his victims and the rest of the world for that? If you like true crime and have a strong stomach....this is for you. There was only one error that was a bit confusing...in one story the victim was called two different names. I don't know if that was a typo or I missed something. Other than that, the book was good.
Rating:
Summary: S C A R Y
Review: I haven't been that scared reading a book, since "Helter Skelter". Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: S C A R Y
Review: I haven't been that scared reading a book, since "Helter Skelter". Enough said.
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