By The Book Reviews

Review by By The Books Reviewer

"The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy" by James Patterson and Vicky Ward is a true crime account that delves into the harrowing 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. Despite the authors' reputations, this book regrettably falls short of delivering a compelling or insightful narrative.

The book's structure is disjointed, with six sections—"The Innocents," "Inception," "The First Six Weeks," "On the Run," "Blame Game," and "Warpath"—that fail to coalesce into a coherent story. This fragmented approach disrupts the narrative flow, making it challenging for readers to engage with the material.

Character development is superficial at best. The victims—Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves—are presented with minimal depth, reducing them to mere names rather than fully realized individuals. This lack of depth diminishes the emotional impact of their tragic stories.

The portrayal of the accused, Bryan Kohberger, is equally lacking. Described as a "brilliant grad student, loner, apparent incel," the book offers little beyond these clichés, failing to provide a nuanced understanding of his background or motivations.

The authors' research, purportedly based on over 300 interviews, does not translate into new or revelatory insights. Much of the information presented is already accessible through public records and previous reporting. As noted by Kirkus Reviews, the book "doesn’t add much to what can easily be found online." ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/james-patterson/the-idaho-four/?utm_source=openai))

Stylistically, the book suffers from a lack of cohesion. Patterson's attempt at a semi-noir tone feels forced and inconsistent, detracting from the gravity of the subject matter. The narrative is further marred by sensationalism, which undermines the credibility of the account.

In conclusion, "The Idaho Four" is a disappointing addition to the true crime genre. Its fragmented structure, shallow characterizations, and lack of original content make it a tedious read. Readers seeking a comprehensive and insightful exploration of this tragic case would be better served by other sources.

Recommendation: Not recommended.

written on: 7/24/2025