Rating: 
Summary: Gorey story, but well researched
Review: I just finished Diane Fanning's true story of Cross-Country Killer, Tommy Lynn Sells. I ordered the book from Amazon.com and started reading it the same day it arrived. Since it's a small book, I had it finished in a day. But then I couldn't put it down either. Fanning did an excellent job of describing in detail the events that took place, as well as the trial. I can't help but wonder what drives a writer to want to speak directly with a convicted killer. Surely she knew that getting inside this man's twisted and tormented mind wasn't likely to happen. And yet, Sells apparently respected Mrs. Fanning enough to tell her as much as he did. I was living in southern Illinois not more than forty miles from Ina when Sells killed the Keith Dardeen family. I spoke directly to an IDCI agent about the horrendous crime. He stated that without a doubt it had to be the worst he'd ever seen in his entire career in law enforcement. It's sad that so many men have been sentenced to life in prision for crimes they may have committed, only later to be released because DNA proved this to be the case. But when a person like Sells is placed on death row for a crime he admitted to doing, I see no reason to prolong his stay there. He may well have been a victim of abuse as a child, and his childhood anything but healthy. But are we to believe that this sad state of affairs is to blame for his pre-meditated and vicious crimes of killing innocent children. I think not. If true crime readers enjoy a gorey crime story, then Fanning's Through The Window will be for them. I do highly recommend this book for being well written and providing the facts as they appeared to happen.
Rating: 
Summary: Fiend of the worst kind!!!!
Review: I pride myself with devouring at least one book per day, and this book is no exception. Diane Fanning's writing style and research of Tommy Lynn Sells is superb; the reader, as he goes through the manic pace of this book, gets the feel of being on a Starkweatherish spree of his own at the turn of each page. The end also gives you the feel of the predictable and catalysmic aftermath after Sells is captured and tried. The only downside to this book (some may disagree) would be the speculations of Sells' involvement in several unsolved cases in states he had reportedly visited and made confirmed murders. A case in point is the murder of Joel Kirkpatrick (whose mother is currently serving time for his murder) and the unsolved murder of a Philadelphia runaway whose strangled body was found in a Tropicana railcar in Florida. It is in this respect that Fanning treats her subject like modern day Henry Lee Lucas, although such speculations are not entirely fruitless concerning Sells lack of motive for his crimes. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in current crime cases, and how criminal trials for such individuals bring them to justice.
Rating:
Summary: A Cross-Country Spree in Itself!
Review: I pride myself with devouring at least one book per day, and this book is no exception. Diane Fanning's writing style and research of Tommy Lynn Sells is superb; the reader, as he goes through the manic pace of this book, gets the feel of being on a Starkweatherish spree of his own at the turn of each page. The end also gives you the feel of the predictable and catalysmic aftermath after Sells is captured and tried. The only downside to this book (some may disagree) would be the speculations of Sells' involvement in several unsolved cases in states he had reportedly visited and made confirmed murders. A case in point is the murder of Joel Kirkpatrick (whose mother is currently serving time for his murder) and the unsolved murder of a Philadelphia runaway whose strangled body was found in a Tropicana railcar in Florida. It is in this respect that Fanning treats her subject like modern day Henry Lee Lucas, although such speculations are not entirely fruitless concerning Sells lack of motive for his crimes. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in current crime cases, and how criminal trials for such individuals bring them to justice.
Rating:
Summary: Grotesque, horrifying & well-told
Review: The author brings precision and strong sentiment to a horrifying story. I was shocked and repulsed but found the author's craft a compelling, exciting read. Only a fine writer can make a reader feel so completely immersed and continue to read when the story sickens us.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done!
Review: This was a wonderfully written Book.Its a horrible story about Tommy Lynn Sells who killed one child and slashed anothers throat!She Lived to run get help.This book kept me up I could NOT put it down until I finished it and Knew that Tommy Lynn Sells was Put away! A Must Read!
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