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Bogeyman – Why I Chose This True Crime Story

Bogeyman Detective Gary SweetSince the August publication of BOGEYMAN, I’ve frequently been asked how and why I chose this particular story to write about. I know what drives some of that: True Crime authors usually steer clear of stories about the murder of children, particularly those involving a killer who’s a stranger … a bogeyman.

Sure there are the books in which the parents murder their offspring (and sometimes spouse), and we’re all justifiably horrified. But there’s something about a serial, or mass, killer of children that goes a step beyond into a realm where even the most ardent True Crime readers don’t want to go.

I certainly wasn’t looking to do a book involving a serial child killer when I spoke to Detective Gary Sweet of the Garland Police Department. I met him several years ago at a courthouse in Dallas, Texas while researching another cold case murder for which he was the main investigator. As authors do, I asked him if he had any other cases that might make a good book. He sort of hesitated and said, “Well, the case I’m the most proud of is …” and proceeded to give me an overview of the investigation that became the book BOGEYMAN.

At first I had the usual apprehension about a book involving a child killer, but what struck me was that Sweet didn’t call his investigation his most “interesting,” or “dramatic,” of the case that took the most clever detective work or had the most exciting scenes to describe. He said he was the “most proud,” which even if I didn’t hear it in his voice—and I did—meant it was a case that was personal to him.

A seasoned, well-regarded homicide investigator, Sweet is a bulldog when it comes to solving cases, and they are all important to him. But something about solving the murders of three little girls nearly two decades earlier had touched him in a way no other case had. So we began talking about the case, and I listened to the remarkable story of his efforts. Then I met other detectives like Bruce Bradshaw of the Mesquite PD and Jeff Heck of the Indiana State Police who, even before Gary Sweet got involved, had let these little girls into their hearts, and into their lives and the lives of their families, in a way that went beyond the call of duty. And I met Molly Robertson who talked to me about her ex-husband and Bradshaw’s partner, Bob Holleman, who never could let go of the murder of one of the children until it had devastated his marriage, his career, and his life.

It was through them, once they let me into those areas of their psyches normally hidden from the public, that I knew how to write a book involving a serial child killer. I wouldn’t dwell on what happened to those sweet children, nor would I concentrate on the evil man who terrorized and murdered them. Instead, in a time when it seems that all we hear about law enforcement are the bad apples, I would write a book about the emotional, psychological and physical sacrifices of those good men, and their families, to answer the questions the victims’ families had been waiting for and bring justice to those children. I wanted readers to come away knowing that if there are monsters in the world, there are also monster-hunters and we can all rest easier because of them.

Filed Under: Blog, BOGEYMAN, True Crime Tagged With: Cold Case, Dallas, Detectives, Gary Sweet, Indiana, Murder, Serial Killers, Steve Jackson, Texas, True Crime
September 20, 2014 By Steve Jackson 5 Comments

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What Others Are Saying About BOGEYMAN

“Jackson writes deeply… It’s all in BOGEYMAN, a fascinating, well-paced read about the lows and highs of cold case investigations.”—bestselling author and professor of forensic psychology Katherine Ramsland in Psychology Today.

"Jackson gives a master class on true crime reporting in Bogeyman. He writes with both muscle and heart as he chronicles every parent's worst nightmare. Taut and smart, his prose defies any reader to set it aside." - Gregg Olsen, New York Times bestselling author of IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU

"Absorbing and haunting! BOGEYMAN spills creepily across the page with Steve Jackson’s hellacious verve and insight, reminding us there are few better explorers of the American berserk."– Ron Franscell, bestselling author of THE DARKEST NIGHT

“Bogeyman is a very scary but very real true-crime story that tracks the actions of a terrible demon all over the country. Great writing and a compelling story line. You should read it!”- John Ferak, author of BLOODY LIES.

“I highly recommend Bogeyman byAuthor Steve Jackson to my true crime friends. It's actually quite touching and written with a great deal of respect.”— R.J. Parker, author (with JJ Slate) of SOCIAL MEDIA MONSTERS.

“After having read his riveting MONSTER non-stop, I didn’t see how Steve Jackson could top Steve Jackson with BOGEYMAN. I can’t say he has, as they are both equally riveting. In BOGEYMAN, he doesn’t so much focus on the monster he calls “the darkness,” but on the fine detectives who made it their life mission to put an end to his reign of terror. I highly recommend both fine works!”"– Diana Montane, bestselling co-author of MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD.

"Steve Jackson's latest, BOGEYMAN, reveals a living, breathing nightmare that haunted parents as well as detectives. Be sure to add it to your reading list if you're a fan of true crime books."-Aaron Habel, host of Generation Why Podcast

Hear Detective Gary Sweet’s Podcast About the BOGEYMAN Chase

Check Out Entertainment Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with True Murder on BlogTalkRadio

In the News

Buy Steve Jackson’s True Crime SMOOTH TALKER, Get A Free Copy of BOGEYMAN

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WFAA-TV Dallas

Bogeyman Detective and Author Steve Jackson Appeared on Dallas WFAA television

Date: August 7, 2014 Garland police detective Gary Sweet discusses on Dallas WFAA television how he got involved in the case that was the basis for … [More...]

Steve Jackson BOGEYMAN Media/Events

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Crime Beat Hosts Steve Jackson to Discuss His New True Crime Book SMOOTH TALKER

New York Times bestselling author Steve Jackson will be on Crime Beat with host Ron Chepesiuk on Thursday, August 11th, at 8pm Eastern Time. Steve will be discussing his latest … [Read More...]

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  It was a stimulating and inspirational day at our most recent salon in Cardiff-by- the-sea (or so I’m told). I was thrilled that a couple of repeat attendees said they … [Read More...]

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Check Out Preview of Steve Jackson’s New True Crime Book SMOOTH TALKER on Investigation Discovery’s Epic Mysteries

New York Times bestselling author Steve Jackson's latest true crime book, SMOOTH TALKER, will be featured on the Investigation Discovery's Epic Mysteries show on April 9th, 2016, … [Read More...]

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True Murder Radio Hosts Three WildBlue Press Authors

Kevin Sullivan, Monte Francis, and Steve Jackson were featured on True Murder Radio with host Dan Zupansky to discuss their new true crime books. Kevin Sullivan's second book … [Read More...]

April Means It’s Time for the Beach House Writing Salon III

Join award-winning and bestselling authors Steve Jackson, Susan Carol McCarthy, Caitlin Rother and three-time Pulitzer-winning editor Susan White on Saturday, April 30th, … [Read More...]

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Bogeyman – Why I Chose This True Crime Story