That Summer I hunted the serial killer at night from my daughter's playroom.
-- Author (Prologue paragraph 1)

Importance: Michelle McNamara's interest in uncovering the identity of serial killers borders on a self-assessed obsession. She stalks the stalker, thereby assuming the identity of the hunter, and reversing the position of power. The Golden State Killer stalks his victims and prowls neighborhoods trying to find ideal point of invasion and maximize his ability to escape detection. McNamara traces his movements and follows after him, thereby taking away the power of his invisibility. McNamara creates an ironic contrast between the gruesome nature of her search, and the place where she sleuths, her daughter's playroom. From her world, within the safety of her home, she tries to combat a killer.

Most violent criminals smash through life like human sledgehammers. They have fists for hands and can't plan beyond their sightlines. They're caught easily. They talk too much. They return...
-- Author (Dana Point, 1980 paragraph 3)