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While Idaho Slept: The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students Paperback – October 3, 2023


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The author of the acclaimed true-crime memoir, The Kill Jar, tells the inside story of the “University of Idaho Murders,” offering a memorable, thoughtful dive into our societal fascination with true crime, the media’s seeming blood-frenzy, and the future of homicide investigations, while cultivating an intimate look into the minds and hearts of the victims and their suspected killer alike. 

Just after 4:00 am on November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were viciously stabbed to death in an off-campus house. The killings would shake the small blue-collar college town of Moscow, Idaho, dominate mainstream news coverage, and become a social media obsession, drawing millions of clicks and views. While a reticent Moscow Police Department, the FBI, and the Idaho State Police searched for the killer, unending conjecture and countless theories blazed online, in chatrooms and platforms from Reddit and YouTube to Facebook and TikTok. For more than a month, the clash of armchair investigators and law enforcement professionals raged, until a suspecta 28-year-old Ph.D. candidate studying criminology—was arrested at his family home 2,500 miles away in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania on the day before New Year’s Eve.

While Idaho Slept is a thought-provoking, literary chronicle of a small-town murder investigation blistering beneath the unceasing light of international interest, as traditional investigators, citizen sleuths, and the true-crime media acted—sometimes together, often in conflict—to uncover the truth. As J. Reuben Appelman brings this terrible crime into focus, he humanizes the four victims, examining the richness of their lives, dissects the mind and motivations of their presumed killer, and explores the world of northern Idaho, a rugged, deeply conservative stronghold steeped in Christian values and American patriotism. 

Going deep inside the case, Appelman addresses a crucial question: With so many millions of citizens armed by access and hungry to take part in a true crime hunt of their own, has the nature of homicide investigations permanently changed? Rising above the sensational, While Idaho Slept illuminates the intrinsic connection between today’s media, citizen sleuths, our societal mania for murder tales, and an impatient public’s insatiable appetite for spectacle as never before. Running beneath, the pulse of the story is a heartbreaking narrative of the people we love, the dreams we all share, and the uncertain time left for sharing them.

 


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Editorial Reviews

Review

This is an extremely rigorous book. Appelman uses first-hand sources (police files and interviews with people involved in the case) whenever possible, and, while he rightly gives credit where credit is due, he also doesn’t shy away from revealing the investigation’s weaknesses, including the fact that the prosecution’s ongoing case isn’t airtight. A chilling, haunting work of crime nonfiction. — Booklist on While Idaho Slept

Appelman’s fastidious attention to detail here is admirable, but what really sets this apart is his examination of the tension between Moscow police and the self-appointed investigators who descended on the town. The result is a propulsive real-life thriller with a conscience. — Publishers Weekly on While Idaho Slept

"J. Reuben Appelman has successfully captured the strained relationships between police, media and victim's families during the investigation into the deaths of four Idaho students and how the forensic sciences identified the perpetrator." — Michael Baden, M.D., Former Chief Medical Examiner, NYC and author of American Autopsy, on While Idaho Slept

About the Author

J. Reuben Appelman’s true-crime memoir, The Kill Jar, inspired the popular Hulu docuseries, “Children of the Snow” (2020), with Appelman serving as an on-camera investigator and Executive Producer. He received an MFA in poetry from Boise State University and has published across all genres. Appelman currently works as a private investigator in the state of Idaho, where he has lived for nearly twenty-five years.

 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Paperbacks (October 3, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063346699
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063346697
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.35 x 0.49 x 7.94 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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J. Reuben Appelman
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J. Reuben Appelman has published across genres and has written and produced multiple feature documentaries. He executive produced Children of the Snow, the Hulu-streamed docuseries based on his research for his true-crime memoir, The Kill Jar, about the Oakland County Child Killings. The Kill Jar was named among the best true-crime books of the year by the New York Times Book Review, Elle, Oxygen, Bustle, Crime Reads, and USA Today. Appelman has been an ongoing special lecturer on the issue of Human Trafficking for the Honors College at Boise State University, is a two-time State of Idaho Literature Fellow, and works as a private investigator. His most recent work, While Idaho Slept, is due for release by HarperCollins on October 3, 2023.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
657 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book informative and well-written, mentioning that it tells us about the victims and the impact they all left behind. They also appreciate the victims' stories and the effect they left behind, which makes the book a good read.

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28 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written.

"This book is incredibly well written! I am a true crime follower and I have to say, J. Reuben Appleman is the real deal!..." Read more

"Book was well written but it would have been a better book if it had been written after the trial...." Read more

"...Well written. Much of the middle of the book goes into more extraneous details about the early lives of the four victims than was necessary...." Read more

"...This book was an easy read, but did not give any new information that isn’t already in the news. I enjoyed this book because I am very in the case...." Read more

13 customers mention "Content"10 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative, well-written, and informative. They also appreciate the good reporting and details surrounding the case. Readers also mention the author is a master of true crime investigative journalism.

"...He has proven himself to be a master of true crime investigative journalism!..." Read more

"...It also tells us about the victims and the impact they all left behind. Very enjoyable read - I hope he updates this after the trial." Read more

"good reporting" Read more

"...This book was an easy read, but did not give any new information that isn’t already in the news. I enjoyed this book because I am very in the case...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024
Took my wife two days to read it and she loved it
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2024
The author tried to find a balance of sharing the facts yet keep the story real and gain an understanding of what the families went through.
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023
This book is incredibly well written! I am a true crime follower and I have to say, J. Reuben Appleman is the real deal! First with the riveting “The Kill Jar” true crime book turned Hulu series called “Children of the Snow” which he co-executive produced, and now with “While Idaho Slept.” He has proven himself to be a master of true crime investigative journalism! Listen to his podcast, “You Know They Know” about the Oakland County child killer case, and I believe he teaches true crime writing as well. I read he was a professor in Boise. He’s extremely talented and I am hooked! Looking forward to his next project!
15 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
I’m definitely not a huge fan of this author.. the way he wrote this book was weird. There’s like 60 chapters and each chapter is about 4 pages… which is weird. There’s also 11 parts of this book and I’m not sure what each “part” is supposed to represent. I’ve been obsessed and moved by this case since day 1. I’ve read a lot, watched a lot, and know a lot and there’s so many wrong or misleading things in this book (ex. “They had reportedly not seen him since his arrest but had talked on the phone” talking about Bryan’s parents when they literally showed up at the one hearing after his arrest and saw him there) and so many things that you ask yourself “how the hell does the author know this?” (Ex. Pg. 14 - “from Xanas bedroom they could often hear people coming and going through both the slider and front door”, pg. 20 - “On the thirteenth, Dylan told investigators afterward, she had been sleeping but was awoken just before 2:00 a.m. by her housemates and Ethan. Based on investigative reports, she had apparently dozed, fell back into a deep sleep, and was awoken again by a commotion in the house, this time shortly after 4:00 a.m”, pg. 35 - “Kaylee had been trying to get back together with jack the previous night”, pg. 214 - “And then he brought up something similar in his studies that had to do with being able to catch criminals because of their relatives DNA. Almost as if he knew that he himself would soon be a case in point.”, and so many more) also, Maddie’s dad wasn’t the only one who got a Maddie tattoo… her ENTIRE family got them. It’s was like 30 of them . Even her like 80 year old grandma . It was posted on their Instagram’s . But he only talks about Ben’s tattoo like… none of those things were ever said or confirmed and I never heard any of that.. so where is this author getting his information from? He has a part at the end of the book where he basically just says that everything in the book is from interviews and basically it’s all public knowledge. Well…. No it’s not. And I feel like so much he included is pure speculation but he makes so much sound like it’s fact and I feel like he was trying so hard to put his opinion about things in here but I couldn’t even figure out what his opinion was half the time… he’s criticizing so much of what’s been said and speculated and then he’s doing the same thing in this book. He brings up SO much irrelevant crap that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever , like the thing about the buffalo university student and when he explains his conversation with Dr. Michael Baden, it literally made NO sense whatsoever when he talked about the body bleeding inside of itself rather than it rarely ever happening where someone bleeds out and then says “death usually occurs from the loss of blood , which takes time” like what? LOL completely opposite of what he just said. “each human body holds roughly a gallon of blood and four gallons were at least partially spilled that night inside 1122 king road” soooo is that a fact ? Did they actually see/ find 4 gallons of blood? Or is that just him talking ? And at the end of that chapter he repeats “the brain goes first, and then the heart follows” and I have no idea why he repeated that or what he’s implying . He says a lot of things and then he’ll imply something else and his comparisons are awful. I knew I was going to be judgy with this book, but there’s already so much misinformation out there. Idk why someone’s publishing a book with things that is speculation and not the facts and I feel like he really just wanted to cash in on being the first person to write a book on these murders. When he absolutely should have waited. Then , he would have had the facts right and only the facts and would have been able to write what happens at Bryan’s trial. He just wrote a book in the middle of this whole thing. There’s a few parts I specifically liked his style of writing and quotes he uses but just be prepared to be questioning a LOTTTTT when reading this lol. It iiiiiight tho
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3.0 out of 5 stars Not a huge fan of how this book was written but I definitely appreciate this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
I’m definitely not a huge fan of this author.. the way he wrote this book was weird. There’s like 60 chapters and each chapter is about 4 pages… which is weird. There’s also 11 parts of this book and I’m not sure what each “part” is supposed to represent. I’ve been obsessed and moved by this case since day 1. I’ve read a lot, watched a lot, and know a lot and there’s so many wrong or misleading things in this book (ex. “They had reportedly not seen him since his arrest but had talked on the phone” talking about Bryan’s parents when they literally showed up at the one hearing after his arrest and saw him there) and so many things that you ask yourself “how the hell does the author know this?” (Ex. Pg. 14 - “from Xanas bedroom they could often hear people coming and going through both the slider and front door”, pg. 20 - “On the thirteenth, Dylan told investigators afterward, she had been sleeping but was awoken just before 2:00 a.m. by her housemates and Ethan. Based on investigative reports, she had apparently dozed, fell back into a deep sleep, and was awoken again by a commotion in the house, this time shortly after 4:00 a.m”, pg. 35 - “Kaylee had been trying to get back together with jack the previous night”, pg. 214 - “And then he brought up something similar in his studies that had to do with being able to catch criminals because of their relatives DNA. Almost as if he knew that he himself would soon be a case in point.”, and so many more) also, Maddie’s dad wasn’t the only one who got a Maddie tattoo… her ENTIRE family got them. It’s was like 30 of them . Even her like 80 year old grandma . It was posted on their Instagram’s . But he only talks about Ben’s tattoo like… none of those things were ever said or confirmed and I never heard any of that.. so where is this author getting his information from? He has a part at the end of the book where he basically just says that everything in the book is from interviews and basically it’s all public knowledge. Well…. No it’s not. And I feel like so much he included is pure speculation but he makes so much sound like it’s fact and I feel like he was trying so hard to put his opinion about things in here but I couldn’t even figure out what his opinion was half the time… he’s criticizing so much of what’s been said and speculated and then he’s doing the same thing in this book. He brings up SO much irrelevant crap that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever , like the thing about the buffalo university student and when he explains his conversation with Dr. Michael Baden, it literally made NO sense whatsoever when he talked about the body bleeding inside of itself rather than it rarely ever happening where someone bleeds out and then says “death usually occurs from the loss of blood , which takes time” like what? LOL completely opposite of what he just said. “each human body holds roughly a gallon of blood and four gallons were at least partially spilled that night inside 1122 king road” soooo is that a fact ? Did they actually see/ find 4 gallons of blood? Or is that just him talking ? And at the end of that chapter he repeats “the brain goes first, and then the heart follows” and I have no idea why he repeated that or what he’s implying . He says a lot of things and then he’ll imply something else and his comparisons are awful. I knew I was going to be judgy with this book, but there’s already so much misinformation out there. Idk why someone’s publishing a book with things that is speculation and not the facts and I feel like he really just wanted to cash in on being the first person to write a book on these murders. When he absolutely should have waited. Then , he would have had the facts right and only the facts and would have been able to write what happens at Bryan’s trial. He just wrote a book in the middle of this whole thing. There’s a few parts I specifically liked his style of writing and quotes he uses but just be prepared to be questioning a LOTTTTT when reading this lol. It iiiiiight tho
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31 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
In-depth characters, to understand the lived lost, sad but helps understand how it happened. Live your life protecting your self
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
Book was well written but it would have been a better book if it had been written after the trial. I can understand why the author went ahead & wrote it considering there is no definitive date for the trial. I hope you write a second book regarding the trial & outcome
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
I couldn't put this book down yesterday and had to force myself to get up off the sofa and do some chores.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
While Idaho Slept is an intense page turning account of the evil perpetrated in Moscow Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022. The murder of four young students at the University of Idaho traumatized students, parents and first responders at the scene. The author J. Reuben Appleman does a very good job of recounting the events leading up to that evening as well as the investigation and media hysteria that followed. He devotes coverage to each of the victims and their families and their friends memories of them, this I feel was done with respect. His coverage of the alleged murderer , his background and family history was compelling and I felt hints at his potential defense. This story is not over and I'm sure there will be other books written when the trial concludes. Four young lives were hideously ended in an off campus house at the University of Idaho that night , this case demands justice and this book supplies the known facts up to this point. If you are a reader of true crime you will not be disappointed with this account. Recommended .
14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Alice d’Entremont
4.0 out of 5 stars Evidence
Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2024
Knowing who the victims were was nice.
Kelly D.
1.0 out of 5 stars Misinformation and lies
Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 23, 2023
This book contains a lot of information stated as facts while they are not. Unfortunately this only has a lot of misinformation and lies, mainly fed by the media for viewer counts, this book is no exception.
The trial didn't even take place yet, how is there already a book written about this? The gag order is here for a reason. Stop spreading lies.
Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Safe and fast
Reviewed in Germany on October 22, 2023
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Safe and fast
Reviewed in Germany on October 22, 2023
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e.
3.0 out of 5 stars It's OK, but no new info or perspective
Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2024
It's fine. Decently written, but don't expect to learn anything new or gain any more insight into this case if youre already familiar; most of the info is derived from the same police reports and news articles you've likely already read. For readers who are new to the case, this is a good basic summary.