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A Stranger in the Family: A True Story of Murder, Madness, and Unconditional Love
Who would ever connect this handsome, charming, straight-arrow son of a perfect all-American family with the gruesome crimes of a serial killer? Richard Daniel Starrett was the dangerous visitor for too many unlucky young women in Georgia and South Carolina in the late 1980s. Answering “for sale� ads in the classifieds, he was a buyer hunting for victims, not bargains, and he paid in grim rape, kidnapping, murder.
Because of his articulate intelligence and prestigious job, no one suspected this “golden boy� of such heinous acts. This gripping, intimately detailed account by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors probes every tortured thought and twisted urge of a “boy-next-door murderer”—as well as the dynamics of the model family that shaped him. The result is both a stunning portrait of a diseased mind and the moving story of a loving family’s emotional nightmare and painful disintegration.
Because of his articulate intelligence and prestigious job, no one suspected this “golden boy� of such heinous acts. This gripping, intimately detailed account by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors probes every tortured thought and twisted urge of a “boy-next-door murderer”—as well as the dynamics of the model family that shaped him. The result is both a stunning portrait of a diseased mind and the moving story of a loving family’s emotional nightmare and painful disintegration.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 7, 2017
R.D. Starrett's case seems to be one for the "nature" rather than "nurture" theory of violent crime. By his own admission, he was raised in an "Ozzie and Harriet" family environment. Still, he grew up to become a violent sociopath who kidnapped women he found selling items through classified ads.
Even though the authors had a penchant for puns and cheesy lines, the writing was better than average in a genre not known for boasting many stellar authors.
I did think the book relied a bit too heavily on excerpts from the convicted man's journals. He was highly intelligent, no doubt, and the passages occasionally served up some dark humor (a serial kidnapper/rapist/murderer extolling Reagan and Bush as "tough on crime"). However, Starrett's motives in writing and releasing these journals were abundantly clear: he was trying to escape punishment, pinning his awful crimes on an evil double personality. In the crime reporting genre, it's a fine line between exploring the psychology of the murderer and making a celebrity out of them.
Even though the authors had a penchant for puns and cheesy lines, the writing was better than average in a genre not known for boasting many stellar authors.
I did think the book relied a bit too heavily on excerpts from the convicted man's journals. He was highly intelligent, no doubt, and the passages occasionally served up some dark humor (a serial kidnapper/rapist/murderer extolling Reagan and Bush as "tough on crime"). However, Starrett's motives in writing and releasing these journals were abundantly clear: he was trying to escape punishment, pinning his awful crimes on an evil double personality. In the crime reporting genre, it's a fine line between exploring the psychology of the murderer and making a celebrity out of them.
June 8, 2017
A fascinating case (a seemingly normal young family man turns out to be a serial criminal), but this book is mostly about the mother of the offender, and while she's portrayed as a 'steel-willed' 'warrior' with unwavering loyalty, she's really quite annoying, and most certainly in denial (after her son's third conviction she still has the gall to say, 'Danny is basically a good boy'). When her daughter-in-law justifiably seeks a divorce from this now-notorious husband, the mother sees it as 'an attack' on her son. The killer's psychiatrist/advocate is nearly as delusional, arguing that the offender isn't a 'classic rapist' because 'he didn't beat the women he kidnapped, he didn't whip them, he didn't mutilate them,' a distinction that is no doubt very comforting to the numerous young women he assaulted. The mother (and worse yet, the authors) seem to think that she and her rapist/murderer son are the victims in this sorry saga.
June 5, 2010
This book was good, but it just was not quite what I was hoping. They spent too much time covering what Danny was thinking rather than what was actually happening. It was more about what the lawyers and doctors were saying than the actual court case. I may choose to read it again, but this book by far is not one of the best that I have read.
February 7, 2019
I appreciated that this book addressed how poorly families of offenders are treated in the court of public opinion. So often in these sorts of narratives, the families are demonized or ignored even though they are frequently victims in their own right.
July 12, 2015
I've had this book on my self for a decade now and I finally got around to reading it. Now I can't understand why I never read it sooner. This true account of the Starret family's ordeal during Richard Daniel Starret's trial is riveting, compelling, and most importantly, true. It delves deep into the delusional crevices of a man driven mad by the machinations and compulsions of his own twisted reality and slowly throughout the course of the novel you see him spiraling further and further into his own hallucinations, beliefs, and theories. If you want to get inside the mind of a deeply disturbed individual this is the book for you. Beware though, if you're like me and have a weak stomach when it comes to the abuse of adolescents you may find this book difficult to digest, but once you disassociate yourself from the subject material a little bit you'll find one of the most well-written accounts of the criminally insane ever conceived. If I could give this six stars I would, but alas, I cannot. So five stars and accolades are all I can offer. If you own this novel, don't be like me and let it collect dust for a decade. Open it up and immerse yourself in it. If you don't own it, then what are you waitin for? Buy it! It will be well worth your time.
April 23, 2022
I don't generally write reviews, however this book needs it. The lens is mainly through Danny's family, lawyers, and himself-- therefore, there is a lot of attempted sympathy and very conflicting accounts. His family all stated that they saw absolutely nothing in Danny that would lead them to believe he had these tendencies, yet later in the book, and during the trial phase, they suddenly explained all the strange behaviors he exhibited. Which was it? Danny stated that everytime he had these mysterious headaches, his thinking changed-- basically trying to connect the headaches and head trauma as the reason for his behavior, except he mentioned when he was seven that he drew pictures of mutilating women, well before the head injury.
This beginning of the book was interesting and kept my focus, but halfway through this book, I started getting really disgusted with all the excuses for sympathy. The writer constantly focused on his mom and how upset she was that her "baby" was being mistreated-- how dare he be handcuffed, be in a dirty cell, and not be allowed more than two books. She does realize that he was being treated for better than his victims?
It's an OK read, but don't expect too much.
This beginning of the book was interesting and kept my focus, but halfway through this book, I started getting really disgusted with all the excuses for sympathy. The writer constantly focused on his mom and how upset she was that her "baby" was being mistreated-- how dare he be handcuffed, be in a dirty cell, and not be allowed more than two books. She does realize that he was being treated for better than his victims?
It's an OK read, but don't expect too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2008
The only reason I read this book was because a friend of mine was one of Danny Starrett's defense attorneys in this case, and I had heard about it for years before the book came out. From the outside, Starrett looked like a regular guy. He had a wife and child, and worked as a nuclear engineer at the DOD's Savannah River facility. Starrett was first discovered to be a serial rapist, and finally discovered to have killed one of his victims. A portion of the book consists of alternating chapters written from the perspective of Danny and his mother. In Mom's chapters, Danny is a happy little boy, who got hit on the head a couple of times, but always kept his room neat and never gave her any trouble. His chapters revolve his discovery of a cache of pornography and bondage magazines as a prepubescent, stealing "naughty books" from a neighbor's house, and buying his first VCR, which he describes as "a big mistake." This book is interesting enough for a rainy day read, and written well enough to sustain the reader's interest.
April 4, 2009
Very good typical true crime!
From back cover:
"Who would ever connect this handsome, charming, straight-arrow son of a perfect all-American family with the gruesome crimes of a serial killer? Richard Daniel Starrett was the dangerous visitor for too many unlucky young women in Georgia and South Carolina in the late 1980's. Answering "for sale" ads in the classifieds, he was a buyer hunting for victims, not bargains, and he paid in grim coin: rape, kidnapping, murder.
Because of his articulate intelligence and prestigious job, no one suspected this "golden boy" of such heinous acts...until, after a nationwide manhunt, the police finally caught Danny Starrett. This gripping, intimately detailed account by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors probes every tortured thought and twisted urge of a "boy-next-door murderer"-as well as the dynamics of the model family that shaped him. The result is both a stunning portrait of a diseased mind and the moving story of a loving family's emotional nightmare and painful disintegration."
From back cover:
"Who would ever connect this handsome, charming, straight-arrow son of a perfect all-American family with the gruesome crimes of a serial killer? Richard Daniel Starrett was the dangerous visitor for too many unlucky young women in Georgia and South Carolina in the late 1980's. Answering "for sale" ads in the classifieds, he was a buyer hunting for victims, not bargains, and he paid in grim coin: rape, kidnapping, murder.
Because of his articulate intelligence and prestigious job, no one suspected this "golden boy" of such heinous acts...until, after a nationwide manhunt, the police finally caught Danny Starrett. This gripping, intimately detailed account by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors probes every tortured thought and twisted urge of a "boy-next-door murderer"-as well as the dynamics of the model family that shaped him. The result is both a stunning portrait of a diseased mind and the moving story of a loving family's emotional nightmare and painful disintegration."
May 27, 2013
This "man" abducted, raped, and murdered one of my best friends from High School. the book is well written, and details the "man" in a way that few of us as teenagers realized people could actually exist. We grew up in a very secluded, protected, and privileged suburb of Columbia, SC. This man terrorized and traumatized many in our community by his acts and the lack of ability to capture him.
I enjoyed reading this book, for it gave me insight into this "person" who stole from me a person I loved and cared about.
GREAT READ!
I enjoyed reading this book, for it gave me insight into this "person" who stole from me a person I loved and cared about.
GREAT READ!
July 8, 2020
I'm a big fan of true crime books but this one was just so-so. The authors spent WAY too much time agonizing over Danny's mother Gerry as if she was the star of the book - and if they weren't talking about Gerry, there was an inordinate amount of time devoted to what Danny was thinking. The book needed more action but instead just filled pages with semi-meaningless chatter.
March 9, 2017
Not a big fan of this book. For one, he killed one person, that doesn't make him a serial killer. And for 2, it doesn't tell us what happens to him in the end, with Danny, his mother, or his wife and daughter.
April 23, 2014
I'm sorry, I am half way through this book and am struggling to finish it...is the book about the "beloved son" Danny....or about his mother??? Seems to be more about Gerry rather than the actual criminal...would no recommend. Poorly written
November 9, 2015
Starts off strong, but gets too long-winded and repetitive in the last third. Including all of Richard Starrett's accounts of his crimes twice - once normally and once as he claimed to have a second personality - was unnecessary.
February 6, 2017
This got really good in the final third, when the questions about Starrett's sanity and his family become really conflicted. I wish the entire book had been like it. That said, it's a fine true crime book with a great deal of insider info.
November 15, 2020
I’m gonna give it a 3.5 it’s very one-sided bc that’s where the authors were given access but it’s a really unique look at the mind of a killer and the result is a bit ambiguous but that’s realistic.
February 15, 2017
Danny Starrett. A typical all American kid or so everyone thought.
September 23, 2018
I thought the book was very well written. You never fully know someone. Denial. Denial, and more denial is dangerous and can lead to delusions. By the end of the book I felt sorry for the main guy.
April 18, 2022
Not a bad true crime book but not a great one either. First, the blurb on the back made it sound like Richard Danial Starrett was a serial murderer. Second, is the ending. It was not about Danny but instead about his mother. And the way it was written? Very strange and then abruptly...done!
I wish the authors would have delved more deeply into Danny's psychosis. There was definitely something mentally wrong with him. I believe falling 8 feet on his head and then falling out of a moving car should have been explored more. But those facts were glossed over.
I liked the parts of Danny's diary/journal we were allowed to see. Was he playing with the courts, the psychiatrists, his family, the reader or was he serious about there really being another "person" who took him over?
And what was the abuse that Dr. Storms thought Danny might have undergone as a child? What were his thoughts on why the family was covering up something and that they weren't the perfect family they claimed to be?
This book did give the reader insight into the family of an accused. It told how they suffered when someone in the family went "bad". I've read many true crime books and never really gave a thought to the accused family. Unfortunately, I just did not like the rest of Danny's family. His father definitely had issues and his mother? Well, she wanted a perfect world and thought she had it.
If you like reading true crime, you should like this book up to a point. I learned a few things I didn't know before and that's always a plus.
I wish the authors would have delved more deeply into Danny's psychosis. There was definitely something mentally wrong with him. I believe falling 8 feet on his head and then falling out of a moving car should have been explored more. But those facts were glossed over.
I liked the parts of Danny's diary/journal we were allowed to see. Was he playing with the courts, the psychiatrists, his family, the reader or was he serious about there really being another "person" who took him over?
And what was the abuse that Dr. Storms thought Danny might have undergone as a child? What were his thoughts on why the family was covering up something and that they weren't the perfect family they claimed to be?
This book did give the reader insight into the family of an accused. It told how they suffered when someone in the family went "bad". I've read many true crime books and never really gave a thought to the accused family. Unfortunately, I just did not like the rest of Danny's family. His father definitely had issues and his mother? Well, she wanted a perfect world and thought she had it.
If you like reading true crime, you should like this book up to a point. I learned a few things I didn't know before and that's always a plus.
August 14, 2019
Super baffling that these writers chose to tell this story through the eyes of a narcissistic, enabling, suffocating mother in denial of the absolutely heinous crimes her son admitted he did, was tried, and found guilty of. They deny any abuse occurred in the same sentence they describe both of his parents neglecting and abusing their kids. They portray her as a "warrior" and his innocent wife as betraying him because she wanted a divorce after she found out he raped and murdered women. I think this mentions the victims' names maybe twice before I peaced out, and expects us to read forever as the killer goes on for pages in his personal diary about how much he "loved" the one he brutally killed without giving us any semblance of what really happened to her. Absolutely appalling trash. I'm so mad.
July 24, 2019
Tositapahtumista kertova kirja. Ihan tavallisen oloinen perheellinen mies jää kiinni siitä että on kaapannut naisia ja pakottanut näitä seksiin. Miten se on mahdollista? Hänen perheensä ei voi uskoa että näin on. Mutta kun kirjaa lukee, käy ilmi ettei perhekään ole niin täydellinen kuin väittävät olevansa, eikä Dannykään ole niin tavallinen ja normaali kuin päällepäin näyttää. Tätä lukiessa taas tuli tajunneeksi ettei asiat aina ole sitä miltä ne näyttävät. Kuten ei tässäkään tapauksessa. Rikoksista kiinnostuneille hyvä kirja.
July 17, 2020
This books focus is really on the mother and it seems to shine the light on just how sick SHE was! I do not for one second think that Danny was mentally ill but the way his mother was portrayed makes her definitely seem to have a mental problem. The book never really explains the reason why Danny became the way he was and if the doctors truly thought he was ill. Would like to have more of an in depth understanding of him and his family.
August 15, 2021
Not really the story of a crime, but the story of the prosecution, and it simply drags. The problem is that the crime that led to arrest was pretty easily solved and led to confession of more crime. Not much to tell there, so instead we get the in and outs of the legal process. Anyone expecting an effort similar to the authors' MORMON MURDERS, which details a complicated crime and lengthy investigation, will be disappointed.
October 6, 2019
The title says it all, A Stranger in the Family. The bad guy, Danny Starrett, seemed like the good guy until he went very, very wrong. Being close to your family can be all smoke and mirrors, for everyone, until a strong wind blows one person’s cover and you discover how much of a stranger he is. Plus he’s just plain Strange, with the capital S. I mean, weird. Not to mention a murderer.
March 22, 2020
Great true crime read. The reader is shown a glimpse of what happens to a person whose mind deteriorates. Told from three perspectives - Danny Starrett's journal, Danny's supportive mother and a third person's narrative. Very well written.
April 14, 2024
Whipped thru the first 90% quickly, then got bogged down in Danny's delusions. There was a lot of emphasis on the mother and it felt like there was an effort to paint her as domineering and place the blame on her. Very common in psychology but the authors seemed to waver. Ended oddly.
February 1, 2025
Book started out interesting and was a sad look into how the perpetrators families are treated. But then they tried to make me feel bad for the guy and his mom was so annoying! You'd think after the mountains of evidence they had against this guy she'd get a grip.
October 24, 2018
Very interesting.
December 8, 2020
Could have easily shaved 200 pages of this.
June 25, 2021
Fascinating! How the mind works in this case is very interesting. Scary but still fascinating.
December 29, 2021
Nicely written from the killer's family's point of view, as well as his own.
The book could have been shorter, it seemed to repeat quite a bit.
The book could have been shorter, it seemed to repeat quite a bit.
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