"Do roses know their thorns can hurt?" -JBR

I've spent the last few days reading Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder by Lawrence Schiller. This is unlike many other books relating to the JonBenét Ramsey story in that it tries to provide the reader with a larger, more objective view. It does not take a stance upon who may have killed JonBenét, but tries to bring together all the information available to the public in a chronological way that flows well and is easy to follow. A short list of people involved in the case in the back helps to get through the first couple hundred pages where there are many people being introduced in the story. The book relates, in detail, the progress and setbacks of the local police department and district attorney's office as well as the huge effect of the media on all sides of the story. The story is so strange due to the actions on the part of the police, da, and suspects, like the Ramseys, all of whom at times behaved in what seem to be unconscionable and/or confusing ways. There are a small number of inaccuracies in some parts of the book, but considering the amount of information it contains, it is well-put together overall. I say "put together" in that although it tells a story, it is not simply a storybook. It is a compilation of written statements and stories as well as a narrative of a horrible murder and the situation surrounding its investigation. It is not pulpy as true crime books tend to be. It is more like a non-fiction reference story, giving background, overviews, and conversations and memories that give a clearer idea of just what happened or deteriorated in the investigation in Boulder and many of the emotions, situations, and catalysts that contributed to the story of JonBenét Ramsey becoming the phenomena that it is today.

I would not call this 500 and some pages of light reading. The very idea of a six year old child being murdered in her own home on Christmas is appalling enough to make anything related to it seem heavy. So even though the book is very involved in things that seem simple and factual, evidence, background stories, the investigations that literally took over peoples' lives--no matter what the chapter, there is always that sense of everything being wrong; because so much of this story and this huge injustice to a child are just wrong. There are any number of disappointing choices and mistakes made by people in this story. The book uses so many direct quotes from people (because of the huge basis for providing these with the influence of the media in the story), that there is always a very personal feel to it, and at times the book is a little harrowing. It is realistic and as factual as possible. Not an easy one to get through unless you really do want to know the story, although it offers little in the way of conclusion. It seems very much a case that will almost certainly never be solved due to its peculiarity and no simple straight answer to proving who killed JonBenét, although there are theories and speculations galore.

I think everyone recognizes how truly sad and awful a story like this is. Many are often disgusted by the circus that was made out of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey, and rightly so. This book doesn't just feeds the fire to try to make a circus and bad situation worse. It is honest, clear, and to the point, presenting what is known and what is not known about a child and a murder that changed hundreds of lives, and that continues to be scrutinized even 10 years later. It's an old story, and if you've heard enough, you've heard enough. But if you are interested in the JonBenét Ramsey case and the progression of evidence and the interaction of many different parties (all with uncharacteristically different agendas), this is a good place to start reading about it.