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40th out of 318 books
—
453 voters
The I-5 Killer
by
Ann Rule
As a young man, Randall Woodfield had it all -- a star athlete, good looks, and an award-winning student. Working in the swinging West Coast bar scene, he had more than his share of women. But he wanted more than just sex. An appetite for unspeakable violent acts led him to cruise the 1-5 highway through California to Washington, leaving a trail of victims along the way. A...more
Paperback, Revised, 296 pages
Published
March 1st 1984
by Signet
(first published 1984)
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I recommend this and every other book by Ann Rule for any true crime reader who hasn't read her. You will not be disappointed!
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I had to get this book...the first one of Ann Rule's I read...because I knew Randall Woodfield - the infamous "I-5 Killer" which is what the news media dubbed him.
Randall was handsome, nice, accommodating and a good dancer. He was the bouncer at a tavern near my home where I wasted a few brain cells and diminished my quarter reservois on the pool table. Randall and I started to become friends...but not in a romantic way, necessarily. He didn't give me the impression of wanting to have a girlfri...more
Randall was handsome, nice, accommodating and a good dancer. He was the bouncer at a tavern near my home where I wasted a few brain cells and diminished my quarter reservois on the pool table. Randall and I started to become friends...but not in a romantic way, necessarily. He didn't give me the impression of wanting to have a girlfri...more
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Randall Woodfield seemed to have it all. Growing up he had a stable home life, did well in school, and was an exceptional athlete, excelling in every sport he tried. He was such a good athlete, in fact, that the Green Bay Packers drafted him. But Woodfield didn't make the team and he never finished college, instead drifting from job to job, from city to city. He also went from woman to woman, pursuing all of them intensely. Still, he seemed like a nice enough guy and people who knew him were sho...more
This is one of Ann Rule’s earlier books, and it kind of shows. Don’t get me wrong--it’s still a great read. But the timeline is hard to keep track of in places, and I think there could have been a better flow between the actual murders and the investigation.
Randy Woodfield is the freakiest serial killer you’ve never heard about. (I suspect that has a lot to do with Ted Bundy killing in the same time frame and area, though.) The frequency and speed at which he caused so much violence is terrifyi...more
Randy Woodfield is the freakiest serial killer you’ve never heard about. (I suspect that has a lot to do with Ted Bundy killing in the same time frame and area, though.) The frequency and speed at which he caused so much violence is terrifyi...more
Rule may not be the most skilled writer but she surely knows how to pull you into her nonfiction murder accounts. I'd not ever heard of Randy Woodfield, probably b/c I was busy following the rampant stories about Ted Bundy's trails throughout the country around the same time. I picked up this book at a library's 'used' sale, and having read a few of her other books, figured it would be worthwhile. Part of me wishes I'd have passed it by! However, I was hooked immediately and couldn't put it down...more
I don't think that Ann is a very good writer but when she sticks to just giving you the facts of the case then the story gets interesting. I'm always horrified about how long it takes to find and stop these repeat killers/offenders. Seems they get away with anything for years before they are finally found. The I-5 Killer wasn't even all that bright, but by just being so unpredictable he was able to stay way ahead of the detectives. Hopefully there are more modern ways to catch these guys now. Th...more
Good lean but tasty tale from the days when Ann Rule, now the unrivaled Queen Of True Crime, had to make her bones in the business by publishing under the name non de plume Andy Stack (as she's explained, publishers of the late 1970s just didn't think that readers would accept hard-boiled true-crime writing from a woman, a mindset that seems beyond bizarre today).
Randy Woodfield was tailor-made for a true-crime book: He was a handsome ladies' man, a star athlete who was drafted into the NFL, an...more
Randy Woodfield was tailor-made for a true-crime book: He was a handsome ladies' man, a star athlete who was drafted into the NFL, an...more
The depths of darkness that some humans delve into never ceases to amaze me. This side of human behavior is a reality, as evidenced in many of Ann Rule's true crime novels. While I like positive and motivational stories, I feel it is important to be cognizant of all types of behavior, as this is a reality in our world (unfortunately). Like most of her novels, this one is an eye-opener and reminder of the importance of being aware (without hopefully also being paranoid).
Not as compelling a case as some of Rule's book (I thought), but still an easy and interesting read. Rule is a decent enough writer (I would say that, while she's not an amazing writer, she's extremely good for her genre - very much better than many others who write these kinds of books) and her true crime stories are trashy, lurid escapes. If you're morbidly interested in the seedy and okay with the disturbing, Rule is definitely worth reading.
I finally got around to reading this one. WOW, what a psycho Randy Woodfield is. I've read a lot of true crime in my life, but I can say this book skeeved me out bigtime. This sick, twisted waste of space orally sodomized women as young as 10 year old girls. Yes. My stomach turned when I read the descriptions of his crimes.
He's an interesting case study to read - very handsome, very insecure, yet acts macho and needy concurrently. It would be obvious to an adult woman that something was "off" wi...more
He's an interesting case study to read - very handsome, very insecure, yet acts macho and needy concurrently. It would be obvious to an adult woman that something was "off" wi...more
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I liked this book as it was detailed and informative. I was interested in the case of Randy Woodfield and it was good to see how he went about choosing his victims and how he came across as a charming young man, but behind the facade, he was a deeply disturbed person. Ann Rule is a good writer and I enjoyed this book immensely. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime books.
An interesting novel. Ann Rule's precise writing leads the reader in the footsteps of a man who has everything he could wish for and who became a cold blood killer.She draws a picture of that, his background, the first alarming details...
Good. If you live in MN or have (especially Minneapolis area), like a do it is a must. It takes place off Lake and Chicago. I am not going to say much but it is worth the read. It is a very small book maybe 180 pages. It is quick.
This is first Ann Rule book I've read, but definitely not the last. I would have liked a little more insight into the killer's thoughts and background, but that's just the way I am. This was a guy I've not heard of till this book. Definitely worth the read!
The first page has the I-5 killer committing a crime right here in Vancouver, WA - right there had been hooked. I enjoyed this book and the journey of the capture of the I-5 killer. I especially like the background the book gives of Randy. Excellent read!
Ann Rule's books always intrigue me. I'm always amazed that truth is more bizarre than fiction. This one was no different. The guy (Randall) could have had it all, and ended up a killer!
Lived in the same area and went to school with this guy. Very eerie to realize the gravity of all he did. Bone chilling. Ann Rule cannot be beaten in true crime writing!
Trying to clear my I Pod and had this for quite a while. Not usually my genre but it proved quite interesting. I may read more true crime in the future.
I like books that show me how twisted folks can be,,,,,multiple crimes a day, then off to a new date with a new gal, no social skills, overbearing, sociopath.
When I first started reading this book, I was unsure of whether it would be good. As I read this book I came to realize that it was going to be good. It is based on a true story of a man that did these murders right here in Oregon. As i read on, I became more intrigued by the story of this man and the female victims he preyed on.
Ann Rule can suck you into the story and make you feel like you are there watching every move of the characters. She really brings out the history of these murders and...more
Ann Rule can suck you into the story and make you feel like you are there watching every move of the characters. She really brings out the history of these murders and...more
This book took me inside a crime and showed me the inner process of crime investigation. This killer was brave, and not very careful.
I had a hard time concentrating in a lot of parts of this book. I found the court proceedings to be too quick and not as in dept as I would have liked. I found the 1988 update really interesting especially about his writings with Diane Downs which I would like to now read Ann Rule's book on her "Small Sacrifices"
Hec of scary serial killer. I doubt many people today except a few in the Pacific NW even remember this guy but I do.
a true crime story that will make you disgusted with what people can do to one another
Randall Woodfield had everything going for him - he was a star athlete, student, and was even drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He could have had anything he wanted in the world, but he threw it all away when he became a serial killer. Ann Rule chronicles this massive hunt to find the I-5 killer. True crime books always interest me because I think it is fascinating to delve into the darkest corners of the human mind. This book reminds us that it is important to be aware of what is going on aroun...more
This is book was interesting to me because of the subject. It's a piece of my history.
Sad state of mind when these guys can just kill without thought or remorse
Another great book from Ann Rule. She captures the details and makes you see and feel exactly what is happening in the book. I would highly recommend this book along with any other Ann Rule books for anyone who enjoys reading True Crime books.
Very detailed, sometimes too detailed. :( I enjoyed this book. I really got a good insight into this killer and the things he did. Well written. I also enjoyed seeing the pictures of his victims- it put a face to the name.
Ann Rule is the master of true crime writers. This was an old one but a good one. This guy was a piece of work!
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Ann Rule is a popular American true crime writer. She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders.
At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis...more
More about Ann Rule...
At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis...more
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