The I-5 Killer

Although I have read a considerable number of true crime novels, this is the first Ann Rule book I've ever read. I generally avoid books that have covers where the author's name is in bigger print than anything else, but as the saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover." Sure enough, Rule has crafted a very suspenseful story about serial rapist and murderer Randall B. Woodfield.
I've seen a number of ...reviewers bemoan the absence of a rigid chronological approach in this book, but I feel that this book would not have been nearly as successful in conveying the horror of Woodfield's crimes if they had simply been discussed one after another. By first introducing us to various women who had the misfortune to become involved with Woodfield, we are even more shocked when some of them turn up dead. Also, this book is generally oriented around the investigators who were hunting an unknown serial rapist and murderer; these detectives were not able to piece together a complete catalog and timeline of Woodfield's crimes until late in the investigation.
There seems to be no consensus about Rule's body of work -- whether or not she's getting better as time goes on, or whether or not she's "lost it." Regardless of what you think about her writing career as a whole, "The I-5 Killer" is a gripping true crime story. Woodfield's life and crimes are introduced and explored from a variety of perspectives. This certainly isn't the best true crime story I've ever read -- at times it feels like the story wanders a bit, and sometimes there seems to be extraneous detail -- but this is still an above-average book.

Though Randall Woodfield committed incredibly frightening and really unspeakable crimes, Ann Rule, when she wrote this, was apparently just beginning her writing career, and it shows. Her usual well-researched detail is not as much in evidence here, though she does better here than with Lust Killer and Want-Ad Killer. The courtroom scene was so boring that I found myself skimming paragraphs, something I only do when I've lost interest and want to get DONE.
Anyone who's interested in Ann Rule would be better served by reading her later works, which are superb.
When Ann Rule is at her best, she carries me along to the point that I'm up locking doors. In this case, though Woodfield's crimes were utterly terrifying, Rule seems so distanced as an author that the crimes' true impact is lost.

Ann Rule is the queen of true crime. Sadly, she passed away this year. The I-5 Killer was written by her under a pen name…Andy Stack…when she was getting started as a true crime writer. It was thought that a female writer would not be accepted in the true crime drama. The nerve! Ann Rule proved them all wrong.

The I-5 Killer is story of Andy Woodfield. As with all Ann Rule books, The I-5 Killer chronicles Woodfield's early life and his decline into cold blooded killer as well as the investigation and the investigators that led to his capture. Woodfield was a killer of women...good looking on the outside, super creepy on the inside. It is fascinating that many serial killers can carry on somewhat normal relationships in addition to their extracurricular activity. Woodfield is no exception.

The title of my review is kind of taken from the back of the book which I think is understandable. Again, Ms Rule has written with knowledge & with an edge that keeps one hooked from page to page. This book was the most terrifying I've read so far just because the killer, Randall Woodfield, spent a great amount of time in the area where I grew up (SW Portland) and at the same time when I was 16 years old (the age of girls he was attracted to). The bar where he worked is less than a mile from where I lived at the time. I probably saw him at some point but did not know it. I think that's pretty scary!

Randall Woodfield was a sick, disgusting pervert that received exactly what he deserved...LIFE in prison. Ms. Rule's research states that he is not eligible for parole until he is the age of 81 years old. God help us all if he is still alive! This book just goes to show that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Even though someone may look like an Adonis, it does not mean that they are the same way on the inside. Randall Woodfield still is every young woman's nightmare. Ann Rule writes with such detail and really brought this story to life for me.

"The I-5 Killer" lacks the elements that make Ann Rule books so fascinating. Granted that Randy Woodfield is a complex criminal, and his story is interesting, but when Ann Rule wrote this book she had not yet started delving into the perpetrators' pasts and psychological makeup. Like her other early works, "Lust Killer" and "The Want-Ad Killer", Randy Woodfield's story is a better-than-average true crime offering when compared to books by lesser authors, but not nearly up to the level of Ann Rule's writing today.

As a first-time true crime reader I'm glad I started out with "I-5 Killer" by Ann Rule. Truly Ann has the inside mind of Randall. He had everything going for him. Family money; good looks; athletic; charming, but something happened to his persona Randall never grew a conscience never felt sympathy , never felt empathy for anyone or anything. Was he born like this? Or was he made like this? Having 2 older sisters isn't enough reason to kill, maim, or hate women or have oral sex as your turn-on through-out life. We are missing something here in his early childhood! Overall ,I enjoyed this book very much...I reccomend it to True Crime readers.

Much more interesting of a case than I initially thought. Ann rule spares no gory or elicit detail, but it makes it all more real. This I-5 killer is such a twisted individual, rule takes a real deep narrative look into a monster. I had never heard of this man before the book and now I don’t know how it wasn’t a bigger deal or case than it was. It Sickening and raw to read but a fascinating case study.

I have read a few Ann Rule books (one of my favorite authors) especially her early
work & this one did not dissapoint. She has a certain way of writing about a horrible
subject that is not gory but does not skip details & never glorifies the killer & always
has the reader to keep in mind that these are innocent victims & the toll it takes on their friends
& loved ones......

The I-5 Killer is the shocking story of a serial killer that nearly played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers. It is supposed that he may have been cut for his tendancy for exposing himself which he may have exercised in Green Bay. It was after Randall Woodfield was cut that his life began spiraling into a muderous cycle.

Randall Woodfield was a gifted athlete even at a young age. Even in his youth, he was a sexual deviant with a strong propensity for exposing himself in public. Unfortunately, his deviancy was never treated. He was arrested once, but it was overlooked as he initiated his football career. After the Packers cut him, he returned home and was arrested when he attempted a sexual assault on a plain clothed female officer. After two years in prison, he was on the street with a greater thirst for sexual assault. All of his murders were along the I-5 highway between Oregon and California which led to his nickname. It is believed that he was responsible for twenty-two crimes ranging from rape to murder.

While this book was a great work of true crime, it also highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system. Randall Woodfield was incarcerated too many times for predatory sexual crimes to be allowed future opportunities at freedom. It is sad to realize that his murder spree could have been avoided. At the very least, treatment for his sexual deviancies could have been attempted.

This being an early Ann Rule book it lacks in some areas, including the meticulous detail that she is known for. While some did not like the event sequence of the book, I found it easy to follow. I especially liked the beginning of the book where Ms. Rule spends time getting to know Woodfield's "girlfriends". It made the murders all the more chilling.
Not one of her best works, but good nonetheless. I'd recommend this to any true crime fan.