The story of an amateur detective who helped solve a notorious cold case, altering the field of criminology in the process. New Zealand--born Rae-Venter became an investigative genealogist purely by accident. Having just concluded a lengthy career as a patent attorney, the author honed an innate puzzle-solving disposition with a "postretirement hobby" of volunteering as a genetic genealogist working with adoptees. In 2017, her diligent work and background experience in biotechnology caught the attention of California cold-case investigator Paul Holes, who requested her assistance in the search to identify the Golden State Killer. Using revolutionary new techniques, including DNA genotyping, Rae-Venter scrutinized the details of the killer's "rape-and-killing spree that spanned the twelve years between 1974 and 1986." The author familiarizes readers with several other dauntingly complex, engrossing cold cases--e.g., that of Lisa Jensen, who was abducted by a paternal imposter as a child; the grisly quadruple-victim Bear Brook murders--to which she contributed before helping crack the riveting GSK case. Successfully overcoming cardiac issues, Rae-Venter devoted herself to the investigation, noting how the killer's sadistic "reign of terror and mayhem" sunk her into "some very dark places, darker than anywhere I had been before." Her chronicle is a solid testament to the evolution of genetic forensic science and how it has made investigators more effective in apprehending criminals, both from cold cases and those in real time. It's also an examination of corrupted humanity gone haywire and the thrill and release of an abuser being brought to justice. Rae-Venter was eventually encouraged by her son to rescind her request for anonymity (initiated for fear of her safety) and go public with her pivotal role in identifying and apprehending Joseph James DeAngelo as the GSK. In doing so, the author demonstrated the importance of forensic DNA testing as a consequential game-changer in criminal justice. Fascinating true-crime reportage infused with cinematic suspense. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Investigative genetic genealogist Rae-Venter debuts with a remarkable account of how law-enforcement tapped into her use of DNA matches "to build family trees and help solve unknown parentage issues." Upon retirement from her career as a patent attorney, Rae-Venter dove into researching her family tree, using DNA tests to identify relatives. In 2015, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department sought her help identifying the real identity of a 30-something woman, Lisa Jensen, who was abducted as a young child. Rae-Venter's use of Jensen's DNA enabled her to establish Jensen's real name, and in another case identify a serial killer. These successes paved the way for her involvement in the Golden State Killer case; her dogged research revealed ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. to be the person responsible for dozens of rapes and murders in California during the 1970s and '80s, crimes for which he pleaded guilty in 2020. Rae-Venter makes the science accessible and delves into the controversy that forensic genealogy has engendered because of privacy concerns. She is less bothered by those qualms, believing fears of a dystopian future stemming from law-enforcement use of genetic information are overwrought. It's an eye-opening and thought-provoking contribution to the true crime genre. Agent: Frank Weimann, Folio Literary Management. (Feb.)

After earning a PhD in biology and working as a patent attorney, Rae-Venter retired and turned her talents to the field of genealogy. What began as a hobby, researching her own family history, quickly turned to fixation. She began volunteering as a genetic genealogist to help adoptees find their biological families. News of her skills traveled all the way to Paul Holes, the lead investigator for the Golden State Killer cold case (chronicled in Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark, 2018, and solved following the book's release). Holes contacted the author, who, with her team, solved the 30-year-old case in a matter of months. Rae-Venter details much of the work involved in this case and several others, including the notorious Bear Brook murders. Her book is both an interesting take on true crime and a crash course in genetic genealogy and the qualities needed for a successful practitioner. While occasionally repetitive, it's ultimately a rewarding, inspiring read on the biggest breakthrough in solving cases and identifying remains since DNA testing.

After retiring as a biotechnology patent attorney, Rae-Venter decided to volunteer as a genetic genealogist for DNAAdoption. Her first case as an amateur sleuth was to help find the true identity of a child abductee using genetic genealogy, and she was successful. She was eventually asked to work on a case that had haunted law enforcement for nearly 50 years. Over the course of 44 years, the Golden State Killer had committed 13 murders, dozens of rapes, and 160 other violent offenses. It took her only 63 days to identify the killer, but there was backlash when people realized that their DNA had been used to identify the culprit. Still, Rae-Venter is now viewed as a leader in the field of investigative genetic genealogy, the newest tool used by law enforcement to solve both cold cases and current crimes. It's limited, however, since not all major genealogy/DNA analysis companies have agreed to make their data accessible. VERDICT Rae-Venter describes other cases she helped solve, which is fascinating, but she uses genealogical terms that may be challenging for some readers to follow. Nevertheless, this book belongs in libraries that have a solid true crimes collection.--Michael Sawyer