Do you read True Crime? When a Killer Calls by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker is about a case that was first mentioned in Mindhunters - the Shari Smith kidnapping and murder by Larry Gene Bell. This happened in Lexington, SC in the mid 80s - right before we moved to the Columbia area. Shari Smith was abducted from the driveway of her family home a few days before her high school graduation. Bell called the family from multiple pay phones putting them through hell over the fate of Shari. Several days later he abducted 9-year-old Debra May Helmick from her front yard. The book shows the intense fear the community had - and the early lack of leads for Smith's killer. There's a lot of detail on the work of Douglas's profile group and just how close to describing Bell it was. There's a lot written about the courage and faith of the Smith family, especially Dawn Smith, Shari's older sister. (Bob Smith, Shari's father, was actually a prison chaplain.) Douglas was a big help in the interrogation of Bell, getting him as close to a confession as anyone. Douglas also testified in the trial where Bell's behavior was demonstrative and silly at times. A good choice for readers who want true crime and the impact and process of criminal profiling. #whenakillercalls #johndouglas #markolshaker #mindhunters #truecrime #harpercollins #harpercollinspublishers #netgalley #lexingtonsc #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #sodacityreads #bookish #bookreview #hardcover #bookcover #bookhaul #goodreads #homelibrary (at Lexington, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYG8YrKL-4i/?utm_medium=tumblr











