The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts

Murder and Memory in an American City

By: Laura Tillman

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

“A haunted, haunting examination of mental illness and murder in a more or less ordinary American city…Mature and thoughtful…A Helter Skelter for our time, though without a hint of sensationalism—unsettling in the extreme but written with confidence and deep empathy” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

On March 11, 2003, in Brownsville, Texas—one of America’s poorest cities—John Allen Rubio and Angela Camacho murdered their three young children. The apartment building in which the brutal crimes took place was already run down, and in their aftermath a consensus developed in the community that it should be destroyed.

In 2008, journalist Laura Tillman covered the story for The Brownsville Herald. The questions it raised haunted her and set her on a six-year inquiry into the larger significance of such acts, ones so difficult to imagine or explain that their perpetrators are often dismissed as monsters alien to humanity. Tillman spoke with the lawyers who tried the case, the family’s neighbors and relatives and teachers, even one of the murderers: John Allen Rubio himself, whom she corresponded with for years and ultimately met in person. Her investigation is “a dogged attempt to understand what happened, a review of the psychological, sociological and spiritual explanations for the crime…a meditation on the death penalty and on the city of Brownsville” Star Tribune (Minneapolis).

The result is a brilliant exploration of some of our age’s most important social issues and a beautiful, profound meditation on the truly human forces that drive them. “This thought-provoking…book exemplifies provocative long-form journalism that does not settle for easy answers” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Skip chapter 1 and 6

These two chapters play no significance to the story and do not add any value

Disappointed

This book talks more about Brownsville then the crime or even the family. This is a history book of Brownsville, TX

Okay

The story is good. I liked that she made it about the community as a whole. The author used powerful imagery, and good structure for how the chapters are divided. I did not like the anti-death penalty tangent she went on. For someone that seems to give such a balanced perspective on each issue in the rest of the book, she ruined the overall effect in that chapter, choosing to focus on the quotes of those against the death penalty. Her bias came through more in that chapter than any other and it came across uncomfortably one-sided. She glossed over quickly reasons why people might support it, and gave long flowery quotes from experts against it. Although it is an uncomfortable topic, I feel it could have been handled in more balanced manner. Her conclusions may not have changed, but without weighing both sides equally, she's unlikely to change anyone's mind and only alienate those who feel differently. Overall it reads very little like a typical crime novel. Its more flowery and poetic than typical for that genre which for fans of the genre is a little offputting and gets to be distracting after awhile. It might be a good introduction for those new to True Crime. The narrator was a little monotone in the begining, but she really got her rhythm as the story unfolded and did a pretty good job. Overall, an average book. It however, is not one I would ever read a second time.

Heartbreaking

I cried. I got a headache. I had an anxiety attack. How??? How could they do this to these babies. My heart broke for these two parents who are mentally disabled and no one cared to help them. Growing up no one nurtured and loved them. No one helped them become successful adults with special needs. Their parents failed them. Which in turn lead them down the wrong path and they ended up murders. This is NOT an excuse for with they did. These murders are horrible. I cried for the babies back then and I cried more while reading this book because this time I had details of how they suffered. The sentences the parents got are appropriate for their crimes. I just wish someone would have loved them enough to make sure they had a good life along with their beautiful babies.

Extremely well written!

Somehow this is a beautiful book about an extremely ugly crime. It makes you think. The author in no way glorifies the crime or the murderers. It goes into so much more than just the murders. Mental health, good and evil, drugs, and poverty and how they make up our culture in America. It is so well written that you feel you know Brownsville, TX and the building the murders took place. I hate this crime happened, of course, but this book was so caring and thoughtful you feel grateful for it.;t o help deal with the horrors of three dead children. Well worth the time to read!!