While They Slept: An Inquiry into the Murder of a Family [Hardcover]

I've read a few of Harrison's books over the years (though not The Kiss, which is about an incestuous relationship with her father)and think she's a fine writer. As she amply shows in her latest non-fiction about the murder of a family by the 19 year old son, who spares one sister, while killing his second sister and his abusive parents.

The book is about how both the brother (locked up in an Oregon prison for life) and his sister, who made a productive life for herself, including a degree from Georgetown College, have lived in the years since the murder.

The ONLY reason I'm giving this book four and not five stars is the way Harrison inserts her own "story" into that of the Gilley siblings. Now, I know WHY she did it, but I would have rather read a straight forward account of the crime and aftermath, rather than have to deal with Harrison's intrusion into the story.

I know that Norman Mailer inserted himself as writer into "Executioner's Song" about Gary Gilmore and, of course, Truman Capote did the same in "In Cold Blood". Maybe Kathryn Harrison's writing isn't quite as good as Mailer or Capote's or maybe the crime she wrote about just isn't as compelling as the ones written about by Mailer and Capote.

In any case, the book is well worth reading. Most readers probably won't be as put off by Harrison's story told in tandem with the Gilleys'.

Kathryn Harrison is an immensely gifted writer. I read one of her earlier novels, Exposure, many years ago, and was enthralled with her perceptions, intuition, and tone. As most of her fans know, she was also the victim of an incestuous relationship with her own father, which she documents in her non-fiction work, The Kiss.

And herein lies the problem with her latest non-fiction work, focusing on the April morning when young Billy Gilley, Jr., murdered his sleeping parents and younger sister, allowing only his cherished sister, Jody, to survive. Jody somehow psychically survives this violent night, and, in fact, becomes Chief of Staff for President Clinton's National Campaign Against Youth Violence, among other things.

Harrison conducts many face-to-face interviews with Jody and Billy, who are estranged. It doesn't take long, though, for the reader to realize that this book is less about their tragedy than Harrison's own. She writes, "For a long time I understand my pursuit of the Gilleys' tragedy as driven my identification with the two older of the family's children: with Jody, in whom I saw an outline of my better self, intelligent and capable...then with Billy, whom I allowed to represent the wounded and murderously angry child that I was..."

Based on her transference to the Gilley tragedy, Harrison goes into deep analysis of Jody and Billy. At times, I almost felt as if I were reading a psychiatrist's transcript. One example: "It seems likely to me that Billy's memory is inspired by his wish for a grandmother who was powerful enough to save him -- a woman with a weapon she was willing to use..." Examples like this abound. Since the author has had massive therapy but is not, in fact, a trained psychiatrist, these passages sometimes seem arrogant.

Moreover, Harrison seems unaware, at times, of how her own tragedy colors her perception of the Gilley tragedy. For example, her distaste of Thad -- who became a self-appointed guardian to Jody -- is palpable. My own read is that he made a major difference in Jody's life, but he is a father figure, which, I believe, is threatening to the author. (And yes, I'm aware I'm doing precisely what I'm accusing Harrison of doing!) There are other examples of this as well.

Ultimately, the reader finds out more about Kathryn Harrison than Jody and Billy Gilley. The escalating violence, the suspense, the redemption -- all are dulled and the characteristic nuances of this gifted writer don't show through. While I recognize the courage it took for her to accept and write this book, I believe it hits too close to home for her to give true justice.

The author had a unique and rare opportunity to explore and report the murder of a family and the aftermath of its effects on the remaining members of the family as well as the murderer. Instead, she barely went into any depth about what led to this heinous event. She interjects with her own familial tragedy and compares herself with Jody and Billy and their tragedy. I can't help but be annoyed and find it slightly narcissistic and presumptuous of her to assume that we are interested in her life and how it relates to The Gilleys. I bought the book because the NY Times gave it a stellar review however, that particular review was misleading. The author is clearly not an investigative reporter. Objectivity and in depth reporting are what make true crime fascinating to read and this book lacks both components ("Just the facts, m'am"). While I sympathize with the author's own familial misfortune, I bought the book to read about The Gilleys not Kathryn Harrison. The author would benefit from reading Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" or Vincent Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter". All in all, this book was a waste of time to read.

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