Murders in the Mist: Who Killed Dian Fossey?

by Nicholas Gordon

Chronicles the author's investigation into the unsolved murder of the zoologist, exposing the bureaucracy and corruption involved

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Animals, Biography

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's investigation into the officially-nearly-ignored murder of Dian Fossey. This book was fascinating and hard to put down despite the fact that it was essentially a series of interviews, with what seemed to be every single person in Rwanda. Really gave me a picture of how a single word or phrase that drops from an informant's mouth can send the gumshoe off in a completely new direction. He ties the murder into all the other craziness going on in Rwanda at that time, up to and including more than one round of genocide. Well written, and full of colorful characters. Not to be missed.

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really an annoying book and that's primarily because it's much more about the author himself than it is about Fossey and her murder. He does, eventually, get to an alleged theory and "solution," but there's really no way to know if it's the truth or not. I got really, really sick to death of reading about his friend Abdul's dumb obsession with "tuning" women and, apparently, gorillas (?) and ended up skimming much of the last 1/3 of the book because it was so boring and self-absorbed. A lot of fat could have been cut from this book to make it more concise and readable. But lacking the needed editing, it was a total drag to read and I'm really glad I'm finished so I can more on to something better.

[Dr Susan Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been a 'gorilla' afficianado since a young age (over 45 years now) and have many books on these apes. I was horrified of course when Dian Fossey was murdered. Gordon's research brings out some answers but the whole outcome is a depressing story. I wasn't keen on his journalistic style (and lack of index). I let this book go.

[De Wet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a particularly engaging read. Too many interviews and persons of interest added nothing to solving the mystery while only serving to make the book longer and the intrigue more confusing than it should have been. A lot could have been cut out to form a clearer picture for the reader.

[Abi Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

The actual content on the murder investigation was interesting but the endless objectification of women and sexualisation of everything by authors travel companion made it a long and boring read

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that confirms half of who I thought had killed Dian Fossey in 1985. I thought it was the poacher but it was funded and called by the government. The Author talks to everyone who knew her or had some dealings with her. It all came down to the fact that the government and politicians wanted to control and use trafficking of not only the gorillas but other items as well. Dian tried to stop it and it got her killed because she knew who these people were including a man called Mr. Zed who it turns out just got off on the charge of killing 800,000 people during the Rwandan genocide killings in 1995. Very good book. Highly recommend.